The Nation July-3-2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

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South-East moves to displace North-East

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2011

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VOL. 05, N0. 1809

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‘Queen mother’ and the Queen

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12 ministers retain portfolios

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Two await posting

El-Rufai arrested, released

May be arraigned for sedition on Monday –PAGE 4

Our battle against runaway drug traffickers -NDLEA es Pag-7 6

‘Our Miss Nigeria will not be controversial’ – PAGES 29 & 32

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

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‘Why we don’t want to serve in Borno State’ A

S the authorities of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) release the postings of graduate students for the 2011 Batch “B” service nationwide, some students who are posted to Borno State for the one year compulsory service have rejected their deployment to the state. While expressing their willingness to partake in the service, they, however, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail on the DirectorGeneral of the scheme to effect a change in their posting to any other state than Borno.

This group of students numbering about 25 from Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe, and many of whom hail from Osun State made their intention known last Friday after they had gone to the Division of Students’ Affairs office to check their postings.

The rejection of their posting to Borno State is made against the backdrop of the troubling state of insecurity that the state is thrown into as a result of the heinous activities of the dreaded Boko Haram, a religious sect whose name in Hausa language means “Western education is sin”.

Since its debut in June 2009, the sect which claimed responsibility for a number of attacks in the North-eastern axis of the country including the recent bomb blast at the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja, has reportedly killed over 1,000 people.

Speaking with The Nation, the spokesperson of the group, Obaji Okereke, said that the posting was a rude shock to all of them.

According to him, “We saw our posting two days ago. And it is Borno State. The truth is that all of us are very surprised by this.

Many of us, as I gathered, did not bother to seek to influence their posting because they thought nobody would be posted to the North, and that even if they would post at all it won’t be the extreme North where there is continuous restiveness. Borno is one of these states. The truth is that those of us posted there are not ready to go, not even for the three weeks orientation because we never can say what the Boko Haram people will do. The Boko Haram people have made it clear that they don’t want Western education and this is what we represent. Three weeks in Borno is not safe. And that is what we are saying.

“We are not saying we will not serve.

What we are saying is that we want to have our orientation in a different state. It can still be in the North. We don’t mind doing it in Kano, Kaduna or any other place in the North apart from Borno, Yobe, or any of those volatile places. After all, some of our colleagues posted to Lagos and Abuja will not have their orientation in those places. The same can be done for us; they should allow us to do our orientation in a different state and after which

•Some of the new NYSC members posted to Borno State

By Ademola Adesola

they can then send us to other places. We are not going to Borno State but we want to serve.”

Noting that many of them considered the posting as a death warrant, the graduate of Electrical Engineering said that some of them had even refused to collect their posting letters. He also informed that their parents had expressed their willingness to bar them from going to the state.

He said, “The tension in Borno State is high. The state is not secure. We are not happy about the posting. Our parents too are not happy about it. Already they have told some of us to forget about the service and just return home. Our decision is that if our requested is not granted, we will all stay back with our parents.”

It would be recalled that after the killing of nine serving corps members in Bauchi State in April shortly after the announcement of the presidential election results by the

PHOTO: Ademola Adesola

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), many parents had said that they would not allow their children to serve in the North. This came amidst further calls for the scrapping of the scheme.

Another member of the group who spoke with our correspondent revealed that they had visited the office of the governor of Osun State to seek his intervention in the matter since majority of them are indigenes of the state. Adesakin Motunrayo, a graduate of English Studies, said that it was the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola that attended to them. According to her, the COS told them to make their reservation known to the Directorate of the NYSC, noting that there was nothing the state could do about the posting since the scheme is a Federal Government affair. She said, “The COS told us to raise the matter with the NYSC. We wouldn’t have had problem about going to Borno State, but the consistent onslaught of the Boko Haram group is discouraging. Many of us have been worried since we saw our posting. No one needs pretend that Borno is peaceful and safe. If the indigenes themselves are living in great fear, how will strangers cope in such a place? Assuring us that many soldiers have been drafted there will not solve anything. We just appeal to the Federal

Government to do something urgently about this case. We would appreciate it if we can do this serve elsewhere”.

When contacted, Oyetola confirmed the students’ visitation, adding on a personal note that “they have a right to complain about their posting. They are right to say that they are not going to serve in Borno State. We are all aware that the state is battling with the Boko Haram sect. The reports of the sect’s activities are enough to give anybody fear. I think something should be done about the posting of these students”.

In his address to reporters last Thursday, the Director-General of NYSC, BrigadierGeneral Maharazu Tsiga, announced that anyone posted to Bauchi State but prefers to serve elsewhere would be redeployed. He noted that security condition in the state informed the decision. But he didn’t say whether those posted to Borno State can as well seek redeployment owing to the security threat in the state. He, however, said that “corps members must take their personal security seriously, do not hesitate to inform the security agencies about any suspicious movement during the orientation.” According to the NYSC timetable, all the mobilised students are expected to report to their various camps on Tuesday.

Have your say What is your opinion of the plan by the Central Bank of Nigeria to reintroduce non-interest banking, popularly known as Islamic banking, in Nigeria?

— Send SMS with full name and location before Wednesday to 08074473182 Responses to previous week’s question are on pages 48 & 52

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Column

Dying beyond our means O

SCAR Wilde could have been a Nigerian. On his deathbed, soaked thoroughly in an appalling mess of his own bodily fluids, the great Anglo-Irish wit and dramatist moaned: “I’m dying as I lived: beyond my means!”. There is a compulsive and compelling prodigality about Nigeria which is beyond mere fiscal extravagance. It is a culture of wastage on an Olympian scale.

It beggars belief and turns prudence itself into an act of criminality.

We waste precious time. We waste our god-given resources. We waste our talents and prodigious human endowments. We waste our tomorrow at the altar of our wasted yesterday. We waste the future of our children at the shrine of today’s purposelessness. We waste ourselves with savage resolve. We waste a gifted nation even as we waste the destiny of the Black race. The Road takes a cue and completes the carnage for us. Take a look around and you behold a landscape foaming with blood; a huge killing field with expired bodies piled high. Oh lord of mercy, what exactly is going on here?

Any child born into this and fed on its gory rites must certainly turn out a blood-sucking Dracula.

Before our very eyes, and unless great care is taken, Nigeria is unravelling. In 2015, Nigeria ought to be a hundred and one year old.

But by 2015, if the Americans are to be believed, Nigeria would have joined the crematorium of departed nations. If what we are witnessing are the funeral rites, it is a cosmic extravaganza indeed. The heavens themselves and the atmosphere are crackling and blazing forth as the end approaches. Like a troubled and troublesome prince, Nigeria will not go down lightly. Let the world be told.

As usual, the delinquent and

But a compulsive suicide has to be lucky only once, while all those trying to save it have to be lucky all the time. Now, the Boko Haram people are trying to pull the plug from the life support machine.

In a typically Nigerian paradox, the current crisis comes in the wake of what has been adjudged the most successful election we have had in a long time.

The last time we had an election that was arguably superior to this one, it was swiftly followed by annulment which was in turn followed by the despotic inquisition of General Sani Abacha and the gravest threat to the corporate entity of Nigeria since the civil war. In between the two has been a pan-Nigerian struggle against rigged mandates supervised by the Nigerian •Late Boko Haram leader, Muhammed Yusuf selectorate as epitomized by a looming life presidency criminally resourceful Nigerian ruling class is working from the an- and the rule by a secretive cabal at swer to the question. There is noth- the behest of an expiring feudal oliing in the cocktail of national sui- garchy.

Only the most discerning cide pills that we have not experimented with. We have tried a terri- would have imagined that Goodluck ble civil war. We have tried bloody Jonathan’s triumph at the polls would and potentially dismembering have been stymied at source by state coups. We have tried several com- paralysis and a renewed insurgency munal uprisings. We have tried by the Boko Haram sect. With the elecmany religious insurrections. We tion of Goodluck Jonathan after a vihave tried a riverine insurgency. We cious power struggle, Nigerians have annulled the freest and fairest might be forgiven for thinking that election ever held in the country. they have managed to overcome and We have tried a serial life presi- overpower the pan-Nigerian reacdency and the abolition of the elec- tionary anti-democratic plutocracy torate itself. Like a cat with nine that has held the nation hostage since lives, Nigeria has survived them all. independence. Yet as this column

Okon is national hero I

T was just as well that Okon has been put away before the new phenomenon of suicide bombing and the Boko Haram scourge.

Knowing the disposition of the feckless boy for suicide verbal bombing of the Nigerian state, he could well have been fingered as being behind the real McCoy. The only hint of complicity was the crazy boy’s occasionally hilarious insistence that he should be addressed as Mujahdeen Ayatony Okon.

Strangely enough, the only group that expressed concern about Okon’s plight was a new NGO known as Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Human Beasts of Domestic Burden (SPCHBDB). The fiery, flamboyantly named group had issued an inflammatory release charging that having been denied a decent shot at the presidency, Okon is a victim of a plot by the majority monsters of Nigeria and should be regarded as a prisoner of war. AMNESIA INTERNATIONAL promptly adopted the crazy boy.

On the day of the hearing, the entire route was lined with wellwishers and admirers, hailing and swooning about Okon, calling him Junior Jesus. And there was the man of the moment himself, dressed in full Efik regalia and waving a snow white handkerchief to the crowd like Ignatius Kutu Achaempong on the way to the stakes.

The fireworks started immediately as a bleary-eyed Okon eyed his aging tormentor with saucy contempt. The old man shifted on the bench, threatened by a wave of amnesia.

“And who is this man?” he growled like an ill-tempered bear.

“You don send me to jail and your Yoruba coconut head no fit remember?” Okon cursed under his breath and was immediately whipped into line by Baba Lekki with a severe frown. The old codger quickly took over proceeding.

“My Lord, Okon is a common cook”, the old man began with a smile.

“Common cook? So where does he get all the crowd from?” the old president asked, nonplussed.

“Ah my Lord!” Baba Lekki began with a wicked smile. “ In Nigeria there are two ways to that. You will pull a crowd if you are either a politician or a mad man. And Okon is both”.

“I see”, the old man rumbled cynically as the court exploded in riotous laughter.

“Point of incorrection, yeye people!” Okon suddenly exploded above the din. “I no be common cook at all at all. I be domestic secretary”. “ I see, like Tokyo, Auxilliary and co?” the old man grunted.

“Shine your Yoruba eye well well. Those one na dem Political Secretary. Okon na Calabar prince. I no be thug. I no be dem Ibadan motor park Tyson. Na chicken I dey fight for kitchen”, Okon snorted.

“It seems to me that this mad boy has not learnt his lesson. By the time I finish with him he…” the president began with a surly scowl.

“Objection my lord”, Baba Lekki screamed as he lunged at the aging judge.

“In fact, who are you?” the old man demanded.

“I am Lambert Alekuso, SAP, senior advocate of the proletariat”, Baba Lekki snapped.

“And where do you practice?” the old man queried.

“Campos Square and Idumota”, Baba Lekki retorted.

“Listen, this is a law court. You cannot turn this court into a political rally”, the old man sulked.

“That is the point. The court has become a political rally. This is not about law but about lawlessness.”Baba Lekki crowed.

“Please read the charge again”, the president ordered the court clerk.

“That you Okon married another woman after being legally married thereby committing bigamy punishable by Law”, the clerk drawled.

“Objection”, Baba Lekki began with a fastidious frown. “Apart from the fact that this court has no jurisdiction to try bigamy, bigamy is not a justiciable offence in Nigeria because the foundation of this country itself is laid on bigamy. Lugard married one wife and then he added another.

That is the cause of all these problems. So we request that Lugard be brought back as the first defence witness.”

The court fell into a hush. The tension was palpable.

“Wahala dey ooo”, one man exclaimed.

“I no dey marry dem Yoruba women. I dey whack dem”, Okon objected belatedly.

The president quickly gathered his papers. “The accused is hereby discharged and acquitted”, he whined and quickly retreated to his chambers. The crowd broke through the tight security cordon chanting praise songs as they carried Okon and Baba Lekki shoulder-high and to the street in a historic procession.

And thus did Okon become a legend and national hero.

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nooping around With

Tatalo Alamu never tires of warning, elections do not resolve fundamental national questions, they merely beg them. In fact in certain circumstances, and as we have seen in many African countries, elections often serve to sharpen and accentuate the national question.

This development ought to have been anticipated. The Jonathan victory was borne along and powered by powerful contradictions. It was an unstable coalition of contraries despite its pan-Nigerian flavour.

Part of the problem is the fact that it was spearheaded by a dissident faction of the oligarchic plutocracy and not by the pan-national multitude as we have seen in several African countries. There were many people rooting for Jonathan simply because the alternative was too grim to contemplate.

The reasons were often mutually exclusive. Rather than being a hero of democratic struggle, Jonathan himself emerged in the national consciousness as a blue-eyed boy of the anti-democratic camarilla. With such a lineage and antecedents, anybody expecting a dramatic miracle in terms of a transformational agenda and actual purposeful governance is living in a fools’ paradise.

It is not surprising that the fireworks have started even before Jonathan could settle down to savour his wife’s pepper soup and the sweet scent of victory. An attempt to smuggle back the zoning clause earlier repudiated at his behest by his godfathers blew in his face with humiliating embarrassment. The northern phalanx simply massed against him in a hostile war formation forcing him to eat the humble pie. With the ACN which had earlier rebuffed his offer of a Government of National Unity voting against his candidate, it ought to be clear to Jonathan that he was very much on his own.

Had the ACN voted otherwise, it would not have been true to its own word and would have betrayed its main ideological plank of fighting with all its strength and might against the notion of mainstreaming. Mainstreaming is an obscene concept; a buccaneer’s ethos which places the interest of the few blue-eyed above the welfare of the many. There is nothing for the Yoruba people to gain from the speakership of structural disequilibrium and debased federalism except shame and misery. The last two Yoruba occupants of the seat have been brought back home in ethical body bags. If Patricia Ette managed to extract a suspect last minute reprieve from a house of cads, the Bankole tragedy stares us in the face in all its seamy and unseemly grossness and repulsiveness.

Whether it is proxied into war against the state by the sullen and disaffected residue of a feudal oligarchy or it is fighting its own war, the Boko Haram sect represents the gravest threat to the corporate existence of Nigeria since independence. With at least five hundred suicide bombers reportedly ready in the hatchery of mindless violence, how many divisions has the pious Pope of Aso Rocks, we may ask. As the Americans discovered in Afghanistan and Iraq this is not about a conventional warfare. We must fear the worst.

Unlike OPC,MEND MASSOB et al, which are mere platforms of elite disaffection, and unlike earlier religious insurrections in the north such as Maitatsine, Musa Makaniki and

all what not, which were wildcat religious disturbances led by crackpots, this one is powered by an ideology and a sectarian malice inflamed by wild and merciless fundamentalism.

This is what the Americans call the real McCoy. By its repudiation and disavowal of western learning and civilization, Boko Haram strikes a mortal blow at the very basis of the modern nation-state and its jurisprudential foundation in western modernity and rationality. In a profound irony, that development is not without the signal contribution of Islamic culture in its golden age, particularly in breaking the spiritual and epistemological deadlock of the Dark Age. But history is an ever unfolding continuum which cannot be held hostage by any group.

By its mindless and merciless fanaticism, the Boko Haram sect unhinges the very basis of western rationality, the amalgamation project of Lord Lugard and the democratic logic of the modern nationstate based on the mantra of consensus, conciliation and compromise.

This is a very delicate moment for Nigeria and for adherents of a progressive Islam particularly in the north of the nation. If they do not begin to shout from the rooftop, if they do not come out to collectively disown Boko Haram, they would have wittingly consigned Nigeria to the trashcan of expired nations.

Let all of those who are hiding behind the Boko Haram mayhem, opportunistically or otherwise, recognize this fact. You cannot use religious rebellion against the state as a platform for negotiating elite disaffection. How do you begin to negotiate with or grant amnesty to a group that does not believe in your right to existence or to freedom of religious and political affiliation? Equating this sect with MEND, MASSOB, OPC etc, except as a sociological index of the depth of disaffection with the Nigerian state, is an exercise in intellectual dishonesty.

To be sure, the Boko Haram sect is a byproduct of elite delinquency.

Had there been a more aggressive programme of modernization and enforced secularization, had the feudal elite taken a more self-enlightened interest in the plight of their people rather than viewing them as expendable canon fodder useful only for political offensive or rearguard attrition, the festering cesspool of dark rage and ignorance would have been properly canalized and chanelled to more productive ends.

Non-natives who had dared to preach this gospel in the past have ended up in political Golgotha. Yet as we are discovering, paradise cannot be surrounded by hell.

Jonathan is both lucky and unlucky. There is opportunity in every crisis. As the entire north succumbs to the Boko Haram menace, the threat of the militarization of the region looms. Under a non-military and southern commander in chief, this is going to present Nigeria with a security situation of unimaginable gravity. The stress and strain may prove the American Cassandra right.

But if our legendary luck holds, the stick must be accompanied by carrots and sweeteners. Nothing less than a massive Marshall project which must see the almajiris out of the streets into schools and productive trade will do. Otherwise, it is going to be an expensive and outlandish funeral in the heart of Africa.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

News

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El-Rufai arrested, released F

ORMER Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who was arrested yesterday mornng by the State Security Service (SSS) operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was released late last night.

“They accosted me on my return to the country, took my phone, interrogated me, and held me incommunicado for many hours. You can speak to me now because I am back in my house,” he told our correspondent early this morning in Abuja.

He declined to speak further on his release. But there are indications that he may be arraigned on Monday for alleged sedition.

The ex-Minister had travelled to the United Kingdom with the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare, for a symposium at Chatham House in London on the last general elections.

El-Rufai was reportedly arrested in the presence of his wife, Hajiya Hadiza, and a friend who came to welcome him.

At the SSS headquarters he was interrogated by a senior official.

Former Head of State and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu

• May be arraigned for sedition on Monday From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Buhari, condemned the arrest, describing it as a brazen act of intimidation, harassment and flagrant violation of citizen's rights in a democratic atmosphere.

According to him, the arrest signified that "there are more people in our country who know how to win by hook and crook than those who know how to make proper use of their 'victory'".

However, a source close to the intelligence community told The Nation on Sunday that the former minister was arrested for writing inciting articles in the media.

According to the source, “The ex-Minister may have a case to answer for allegedly inciting the military against the government.

Both at Chatham House and in his column on (This Day newspapers) Friday, el-Rufai allegedly tried to mislead readers with false figures by claiming that the National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi will control and spend N208billion this year to manage the nation’s security.

“He also said that the NSA, the Police and Defence will spend combined votes of N865billion.”

The said offensive aspect in el-Rufai’s column reads in part: “An interesting observation is the fact that the government said the problem of power shortage is a priority, yet the Ministry of Power got N91billion as total appropriation in 2011 while the National Security Adviser(NSA) controls and will spend N208billion(recurrentN51billion, capital-N59billion, and another N98billion for the amnesty programme!)

“This amount does not include the Defence budget. The Defence Ministry will get N348billion, while the Police will get N309billion. In other words, though Nigerians have never felt so insecure in recent history, the NSA, Police, and Defence will spend a combined N865billion-more than N2billion a day, weekends included! This does not include the 36 states’ socalled security votes.”

The reliable source in the SSS, who spoke in confidence, said: “We picked him up because he wrote lies. In the Appropriation (Amendment) Bill 2011 passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives on May 25 and signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan on May

26, 2011, the Intelligence Community got a total allocation of N109,855,099,466 (approximated to N109.855bilion) which splits as follows: the Office of the National Security Adviser – N40,846,937,023; Directorate of State Security (that is the SSS) – N23,452,705,993; National Intelligence Agency – N27,720,580,338; and the Presidential Air Fleet – N17,834,876,113. “So where did el-Rufai get his N208billion?

Even then, all the funds due to Intelligence Community are controlled by the Permanent Secretary (Social Services) in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

“When did Amnesty Programme become part of Intelligence Community whose votes are being managed by the National Security Adviser? It is very wrong and inciting to manufacture figures and present them as truth because you lost out somewhere and suddenly realised you should become relevant by writing a column in a newspaper. He is certainly appearing in court on Monday.”

A formal statement by the SSS by its Assistant Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, con-

12 ministers retain portfolios

L-R: Allison-Madueke, Mohammed, Ogienwonyi and Nwogu during the swearing-in yesterday Photo: AKIN OLADOKUN

T

WELVE ministers in the last federal cabinet are returning to their former ministry to resume work on Monday after being sworn in yesterday by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Two new ministers cleared along with the old ones by the Senate last week are to await their posting by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Pius Anyim.

The ministers were sworn-in in three batches of fives and four.

The 14 ministers comprise 10 male and four female.

The ministers sworn in are Emeka Nwogu (Labour); Bala Mohammed (Federal Capital Ter-

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

ritory); Diezani Allison-Madueke (Petroleum); Godsday Orubebe (Niger Delta); Prof. Chukwu Onyebuchi (Health); Caleb Olubolade (Minister of state FCT) and Prof. Rukqayat Rufai (Education).

Others are Dr. Shamusideen Usman (National Planning Commission); Mohammed Sada (Solid Mineral Development); Suleiman Yusuf (Transport); Bello Adoke (Justice) and Labaran Maku (Information and Communications).

The two new ministers who are awaiting their postings are Stella Ogiewonyi and Zainab

Maina.

The ceremony which commenced at 11am lasted about one hour. Suleiman Yusuf, Minister of Transport was the first to arrive the presidential villa at 9.34am.

The president’s pronouncement to returnee ministers to go back to their office which they vacated on May 29 was in line with his stand for continuity. He had said that constant changes do not help development especially, when they performed above average.

Apart from directing the ministers to go back to their last posting, the president said he was going to reserve his comment until

the whole ministers are swornin.

He also assured that henceforth, any nominee cleared would immediately be sworn in.

“Customarily I’m supposed to give a comprehensive speech but because we are taking the ministers in batches, you know we have stayed for quiet some time and the Senate is still screening, any group that is cleared even if it is one, that person will take the oath of office so that the ministers will go and hit the ground running and that is why we are doing it now.

“So, I will wait till the day we will take the last oath that will give the speech where I will comment on the cabinet and inform Nigerians about the focus of our administration in the next six months or so to end this year and then till 2015. For those of you who have taken your oath of office, most of you are returnee ministers. I have to congratulate you because there is always a big battle to come back and so for you to have gone through the Senate and security screening, I hope you will continue to do the work Nigerians expect you to do.

“Those of you who are returning are to go back to your ministries and start work. For the new ministers, the SGF will inform you of your posting Monday morning,” the president said.

Labaran Maku, one of the returnee ministers who spoke to journalists, revealed that the president gave them some documents which contain the government’s new direction.

Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State and the former governor of Nasarawa State, Aliyu Doma, were among the dignitaries and families at the short oath taking ceremony.

firmed that el-Rufai was arrested over inciting articles. The statement said: “At 0500 hours of 2nd July, 2011, Mallam Nasiru ElRufai, the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was intercepted on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

“This became necessary following Mallam el-Rufai’s recent articles in the cyber and print media which have been considered by well-meaning Nigerians to be inciting, inflammatory and grossly misleading. For instance, his column on the back page of This Day newspaper of July 1, 2011, titled “What Nigeria Pays FG” clearly attests to this.

“It is pertinent to note that the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI BILL) has been passed into law, yet he refused to cross check his facts before publishing. He rather chose to misinform the public with mischievously orchestrated data with the intent of causing disaffection among the populace thereby subverting Government.

“It is expected that the former minister should have been more circumspect against the backdrop of current security challenges in the country. Nigeria belongs to all of us and no one should take laws into their hands as no one is above the law.”

But in a statement, the media consultant to the former minister, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, said the SSS had made el-Rufai incommunicado. In the statement he said: “Mallam Nasir el- Rufai was this morning arrested at Abuja airport as he arrived from London aboard a British Airways flight. SSS operatives later whisked him to their headquarters where he was hauled before their Director-General.

“All efforts to establish contacts with him have since proved abortive and the SSS has given no word to his family and lawyers who have kept vigil.”

On the fact that the former minister’s arrest might be due to his newspaper column, Mr. Adekeye said, “This figure is in the 2011 Appropriation Act which is a public document.

Bringing information in the public domain to the people cannot by any stretch of the imagination be a crime even if it embarrasses security chiefs who, on the evidence of insecurity in the land, are not delivering value despite securing tidy budgetary allocations! If the facts in el-Rufai’s article, ‘What Nigerians pay FG’, are wrong in fact or context, that cannot be remedied by a denial of liberty.

The government should simply publish its alternative narrative, and let the public decide. Mallam el-Rufai has not done anything illegal by encouraging discourse about what our government costs us. He has been outspoken about his concerns regarding the direction the current government is taking this country, and he has written critical pieces on this matter on Nigerian and international media platforms. Free speech is a constitutional right, and it implies the obligation by the state to defend even those whose views are not congruent with the powers that be.”

He described the arrest of his client as a resort to “arm-twisting and harassment,”which should not be in a democracy.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

A

FRESH zoning crisis has erupted in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following latest demand by some stakeholders in the party that the South-East ought to produce the new National Chairman.

The stakeholders who recommended 15 candidates from the South-East have sent the list to President Goodluck Jonathan, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and all PDP governors.

The development has caused a twist in the race to succeed the out-going acting National Chairman of the party, Dr. Mohammed Haliru Bello, who has been nominated as a Minister.

About 23 likely candidates may now vie for the office of the National Chairman of the party.

Before the renewed interest of the South-East, the party had initially conceded the slot to the NorthEast leading to the emergence of eight aspirants.

The eight aspirants from the North-East are Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Hassan Adamu, ex-Governor of the defunct Gongola State, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammed Tukur; exMinister of Petroleum, Prof.

Jibril Aminu (Adamawa); ex-Minister of Commerce, Ambassador Idris Waziri (Taraba); ex-Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Shettima Mustapha. ASlso in the race are a former National Chairman of the defunct The Grassroots Democratic Movement, (GDM), Alhaji Gambo Lawan (Borno); exGovernor Adamu Mu’azu (Bauchi) and ex-Governor Danjuma Goje, who was recently elected a Senator from Gombe State.

But in a petition to the President and top leaders of the party, PDP Stakeholders Forum insisted that the slot should go to the SouthEast, which has no single representation in the party’s National Working Committee at present.

In the petition, signed

by Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (a former member, PDP Presidential Campaign Council); Ambassador Adamu Mustapha; and Chief Segun Babalola, the Stakeholders Forum asked the party to choose its next chairman from 15 potentially good candidates for the slot.

Those recommended are: Chief Ojo Maduekwe; Mao Ohuanbuwa; Senator Ike Nwachukwu; Chief Olisa Metu; former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju; Jerry Ugokwe; former Governor Sam Egwu; and Senator Emma Azu Agboti. Others are Senator Sylvanus Ngele; former Governor Jim Nwobodo; Enugu State PDP Chair, Chief Vita Abba; former Minister Frank Nweke Jr.; former Governor Ikedi Ohakim; Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu; and Jeff Ojinika.

The petition of the stakeholders reads in part: “As you are already aware, an emergency NEC meeting

News

5

National Chairman: Fresh zoning crisis hits PDP

SSANU, NASU, NAAT threaten strike over retirement age

• Stakeholders Forum petitions Jonathan, recommends Nwachukwu, Ohakim, Mbadinuju, Metuh, 11 others

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

of our great party is about to be summoned in the days ahead for the purpose of addressing crucial party matters, especially the appointment of an Acting National Chairman for our great Party.

“The South-East is the only zone in Nigeria that has the legal and political right to continue to produce the acting National Chairman of PDP till the expiration of its four-year tenure and that of the other members of the present (PDP National Working Committee) NWC on March 8, 2012.

“It must be noted here that the National Chairmanship of the PDP was zoned to the South-East in 2008 for a four -year tenure that will terminate in 2012, which led to the election of Chief Vincent Ogbulafor as the National Chairman and other PDP NWC members

in accordance with Article 14 and 16 of the PDP Constitution at the March 8, 2008 National Convention.

“The constitution of PDP in Article 14(5) has made provision that any vacancy in this NWC must be filled in acting capacity by the same zone which produced the former elected national officer and this was the same reason that made the PDP NEC to appoint Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo who was later removed as the acting National Chairman of PDP to replace Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, who is equally from the SouthEast.

“The issue of which zone that should produce the next acting National Chairman of PDP should not raise any controversy because the PDP constitution made express provision that the acting Chairman must emerge from the South-East.”

The stakeholders cited

Article 14(5) of the PDP Constitution to back their demand.

The said article reads: “Where a vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the party, the NEC shall appoint a substitute from the zone where the officer originated pending the conduct of election to fill the vacancy” “It must be shamefully noted here that the SouthEast since the removal of Chief Vincent Ogbulafor and Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo as National Chairmen of the PDP is the only zone in the country that has no single representation in the PDP 12-member NWC up till today as a result of the inability of the PDP NEC to appoint an acting Chairman from the SouthEast to replace Nwodo because of electioneering and closeness of the 2011 General election then.

“This situation is illegal and it is unfair that a whole

region which massively voted for the PDP can be denied its legal and constitutional position in the PDP NWC, while a zone like the North-East has been enjoying its three positions in the NWC uninterrupted since 2008 up till now.”

They urged the President and NEC members to ignore the agitation for the office of PDP National Chairman by the NorthEast.

They said: “It is embarrassing that majority of our party leaders are not aware of any single provision in the party constitution because if they do, the unnecessary lobbying and campaigns for the appointment of an acting chairman from the North-East would not have arisen because it is a blind agitation backed by political illiteracy and ignorance of the inner workings of the PDP and its constitution.”

• Rivers State Deputy Governor, Ted Ikoru (left), Gov. Godswill Akpabio, Vice President Namadi Sambo and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) President, Mohammed Garba, at the NUJ fund raising event in Abuja.

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BARELY 48 hours after the Nigeria Labour Congress,(NLC) and Trade Union Congress,(TUC) threatened an industrial action over Federal Government and the states government refusal to pay the N18,000 National Minimum Wage, the non teaching staff of the Nigerian universities yesterday vowed to embark on a nationwide strike over the non implementation of 2009 agreements.

The three unions under the auspices of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian University, (SSANU), Non Academic Staff of University, (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologies (NAAT), at a joint press briefing in Abuja, said that Federal Government’s reluctance to the 2009 pact was capable of affecting the relative peace in the universities.

According to the unions, an agreement on the 65 years retirement age and improvement on the condition of service for the non teaching staff was signed on the 5th of November,2009, but two years after, the Federal Government has not honoured it.

Speaking on behalf of the group, SSANU President, Comrade Promise Adewusi, said in a bid to remind the Federal Government to respect the agreements, a letter was written by the leadership of the unions to the Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

He alleged that three weeks after the submission of the letter, the unions had not heard from him.

Adewusi said that since government has refused to fulfill its own part of the bargain, non academic staff of the Nigeria universities would withdraw their services without notice.

According to Adewusi who is also NLC Vice President, apart from the salary aspect, the fundamental elements of the agreements such as issues of responsibility allowance, excess work load, laboratory/workshop/studio/clinical/hazard allowance, have not been addressed.

Specifically, he said that it was unfortunate that rather than addressing the issue of 65 years retirement age with the needed openness, government was employing “divide and rule tactics”, capable of causing disaffection among universities workers.

He said,” After so much pressure, following the signing of our agreements, the government sent an executive bill for the amendment of retirement age of non teaching staff of universities to 65 years and that of professors to 70 years to the National Assembly for enactment.

6

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

News

•Nleanya Emmanuel

•Nwachukwu Aloysius Nnamdi

•Gagga Baggio

•Ireke Ogba

•Anwuluora Godwin

•Nweke Chibueze Francis

Drug traffickers caught... now on the run 26 drug mules arraigned before the Federal High Court, Lagos have jumped bail. But, the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is determined they must face the wrath of the law, reports Joe Agbro Jr.

O

N a cold wintry morning on January 26, 2007, Tochi Iwuchukwu, a 21 year old Nigerian footballer was led to gallows at Changi Prison, Singapore.

He had been arrested in November 2004 for being in possession of 727 grams of heroin at the Changi Airport in Singapore.

In Singapore, possession of more than 15 grammes of heroin attracts a death sentence. Pleas from civil bodies worldwide and even a belated plea from the then Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo was not heeded by the Singaporean government.

Tochi, in accordance to Singaporean law, was hung.

Had Tochi been caught in Nigeria for the same offence, he would have been alive today and possibly a free man based on the country’s law and the discretion of the judge before whom he was arraigned.

Just the day before Tochi was executed, popular Yoruba movie actress, Taiwo Akinwande Hassanat, a.k.a Yetunde Wunmi was sentenced by Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Lagos to three years imprisonment with an option of one million naira fine. The actress had pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine. She was arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency

(NDLEA) in September, 2006 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on suspicion of drug trafficking as she was about to board a Virgin Atlantic plane to London. She excreted 92 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.2 kilogrammes. She had initially pleaded ‘not guilty’ when she was first arraigned.

While Hassanat got off with what many Nigerians feel was a smack on the wrist, 26 persons accused of drug trafficking on trial at the Federal High Court, Lagos might never be punished for various drug trafficking offences.

According to the Chairman of (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, the accused persons have vanished into thin air by jumping the bail granted them by the court.

Speaking on a recent Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) programme to mark the International Drug Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, Giade threatened to sue those that stood as sureties for the accused drug traffickers that have jumped bail over 796.39kg of narcotics worth 387 million naira. Among the 26 accused, 23 are being charged in connection with 33.126kg of cocaine. One was caught with 1.063kg of heroin while another was apprehended with 758kg of can-

nabis.

“They have been declared wanted and those that stood as sureties for them will either produce them or be made to face the legal consequences,” Giade said. He added that the inclusion of the Agency in the verification process of sureties will help to check the ugly incident of accused jumping bail.

Some of the accused persons include Aloze Chijindu Bright, Eruka Jonah Ogbah, Chukwudi Amaefuna, and Nleanya Emmanuel. Aloze, a native of Amatu, Obimangwa Local Government Area, Abia State was nabbed in March 2008 by NDLEA officials at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos during a screening of passengers to board a KLM flight to Madrid. Aloze, a 25year old factory worker in Sueca, Valencia, Spain had ingested 66 wraps of cocaine.

Ogbah, 50, a single father residing in Togo was also nabbed for ingesting 80 wraps of cocaine during the screening of passengers of KLM passengers to Amsterdam at the MMIA, Ikeja. Ogbah said he received the drugs at a hotel in Festac, Lagos, and would have gotten 3, 000 Euros had he successfully delivered the drugs.

Amaefuna, 39, a motor spare parts dealer, while being screened on a KLM flight to Amsterdam, Holland was arrested in August 2008 for ingesting 70 pieces of wrapped cocaine weighing 1.42kg. His final destination was to be Düsseldorf, Germany. He was to be paid 1,500 Euros.

Emmanuel was apprehended aboard a

•Eruka Jonah Ogbah

South African Airways flight from Brazil with 381 grammes of cocaine.

The quartet were duly arrested by the NDLEA and charged to court to answer for their crimes. But, drug trafficking, being a bail-able offence in Nigeria, the judges at the federal high court granted them bail once they fulfilled the requirements.

According to the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, any person who without lawful authority imports, manufactures, produces, processes, plants or grows the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to being sentenced to imprisonment for life. The Act also stipulates similar punishment for anyone who exports, transports, sells, buys, exposes or offers for sale the prohibited drugs. For those caught in possession or use of the drugs, the Act stipulates them being, ‘guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not less than fifteen years but not exceeding 25 years.’

While the law appears to be stiff enough, some pundits have laid the blame and easy letting off of accused drug traffickers on the judges whose prerogative it is to interpret the laws.

The Public Relations Officer of the NDLEA, Mitchel Ofoyeju, sees the challenge of ‘bail-jumping’ in the interpretation of laws by the courts. “What I will probably see as a challenge is the fact that the legal interpretation of life imprisonment has no minimum leaving the judges to exercise discretionary powers. This has been a source of concern to the Agency because we have sentences as low as 6 months,” he said.

According to Ofoyeju, the NDLEA would prefer that the accused are not granted bail. “This is because from experience, when they (accused) are on bail, they no longer feel the pain.”

According to the Nigerian legal system, the right of granting bail to accused falls within the domain of judges. This prerogative, however, seems to be frustrating efforts of the NDLEA to punish drug offenders. While the judges regard having a means of livelihood, owning of property within the jurisdiction of the court, and having a court official verify these claims as requisite for granting bail, some accused persons seem to have perfected means of defying the bail process. According to some lawyers, some court officials and prosecution lawyers fail to verify bail requirements; hence, some sureties go scot-free when accused persons jump bail. There is also the case of lack of proper filing of court records which have created a scenario where serial offenders have a field day.

Barrister Allens Agbaka, a lawyer is of the opinion that incidences of offenders jumping bail lies with the authorities verifying the address of the sureties. He further said, “if a person is authorized by law to verify the address of an accused person and he refuses, the judge can charge that person for contempt. It is a contemptuous act and the person can face the wrath of the law for negligence of duty. Although some may argue that we do not have a law in that regard, I dare say, that is a lie.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

News

7

‘Those who assist criminals should be arrested’ W

HY would an accused person jump bail?

My take on this is first, what is the whole essence of bail? It is to secure the attendance of the accused person on a later date and time, and in a proper court, for him to answer to the case. That is why we have sureties. Where the terms are so frivolous then, one would begin to say why would a judge, in such circumstance, give such terms of bail?

But where the terms are such that will secure the appearance of the accused person on a later date to answer his case, then you shift the blame to the table of those who are to enforce it. That is to say, whether the addresses of the sureties are verifiable? If it is verifiable as one of the precondition before they can validly stand as surety, did they verify it? On whose authority is it to verify? Is it the court officials or the prosecution?

If it is the prosecution and at the end of the day, the accused person jumped bail and the surety cannot be arrested to produce the accused person, then the blame goes to the man who verified. So, if it was the prosecutor that verified, then he should be held accountable.

There are cases where some judges will equally order, as terms or conditions of bill, that such a surety must have a landed property in Lagos. Now, if such a landed property has a C of O (Certificate of Ownership), that C of O ought to be verified before the bail is perfected.

Despite these, why do we still record cases of accused jumping bail?

It is laxity, laziness and the lack of attitude to work on the part of the verifying authority, who refused to verify the address of the surety. But having said that, if a person is authorized by law to verify

Allens Agbaka, in an interview with Eric Ikhilae, speaks on the implications of drug offenders jumping bail

•Agbaka

the address of an accused person and he refuses, the judge can charge that person for contempt. It is a contemptuous act and the person can face the wrath of the law for negligence of duty.

Although some may argue that we do not have a law in that regard, I dare say, that is a lie.

Is there any specific provision that characterize drug related offences as those on which bail could readily be granted?

Why drug related offence is bailable is that it is pursuant to NDLEA Act. And the Act is not superior to the constitution. And also, the innocence of an accused person in all given circumstances must be presumed under section 36 of the Constitution.

What remedy is available for the prosecution where an accused person jumps bail?

Once an accused person, who had been admitted to bail validly, jumps bail, the option is to arrest the surety. And the surety should be produced in court to show cause why he can not produce the accused person.

What happens where the surety could not be traced as a result of negligence on the part of the verifying official at the time of perfecting bail?

Then, if they cannot find the surety, the next thing to do is to look at the instrumentality that set the accused person free. And if on the face of it, it is discovered that either the court officials or the prosecutor or the NDLEA officer colluded in ensuring that the order made by the court is surreptitiously evaded, then such a person should be called to book.

Except we begin to arrest those who assist criminals to jump bail in a case they really deserved being punished then, we can never move forward.

Our problem with prosecuting drug offenders —NDLEA

H

OW serious is the threat to sue sureties of drug accused that have jumped bail? How soon will this

happen.

Suffice it to say that it is very serious but in order not to pre-empt or say anything that will ultimately undermine investigation I wish not to dwell much on the issue.

What are the present conditions for granting bail for the accused?

Bail conditions are usually the exclusive preserve of judges. Since bail is constitutional, judges can stipulates the bail conditions provided that the accused will not jump bail.

What is the present verification process that the agency is not included in?

Verification process for bail is not straight jacket. It is determined by the Judges. In every bail condition, the judge will state whether the NDLEA, the court registrar or both should carry out verification process.

In view of the large number of accused jumping bail, won’t it be better not to grant them bail?

The Agency strongly believes that accused should not be granted bail. This is so because from experience when they are on bail, they no longer feel the pain and will enjoy other bureaucratic processes of the court to delay justice. When they are in prison custody you will observe that they will be conscious of time and always argue and seek short adjournments. This, however, is not the case when they are on bail.

What the Agency wants is speedy trial and and stiffer sentences.

What other suggestions do you have to ensure quick trial of accused persons?

At present the Federal High Court has constitutional powers to entertain drug related criminal cases. In order to ensure speedy trial of accused persons, we need more courts and judges. If this is done, definitely there will be great improvement in

The issue of accused drug traffickers jumping bail is giving the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) cause for concern. In this interview, Mitchel Ofoyeju, the Agency’s PRO sheds more light on the development the dispensation of justice.

What has been the experience of the agency in prosecuting accused persons?

Our experience is not too pleasant in view of the cornucopia and avalanche of problems confronting the Agency. There is the process of slow judicial process resulting from several factors. These include court congestion. Some judges commence sitting 9a.m and end 3p.m and have over 70 cases.

Still on congestion, most judges may not be able to entertain criminal cases twice a week.

There is also the issue of note-taking by judges as well as adhoc assignment by judges. As we speak most drug cases are pending because the judges handling them are busy with the election tribunal. Ideally, a court should not take more than say seven cases daily. If for instance, a court has two cases for mention, another two cases for interlocutory application and two or three cases for substantive hearing the pressure on judges will be a thing of the past.

Is the present law against drug trafficking strong enough to discourage the crime?

I strongly believe that the law is adequate because it stipulates life imprisonment for unlawful exportation and importation of narcotics. There is also the provision of 15 years minimum, for unlawful possession. What I will probably see as a challenge is the fact that the legal interpretation of life imprisonment has no minimum leaving the judges to exercise discretionary powers. This has been a source of concern to the Agency because we have sentences as low as six months.

Does the agency have enough resources to prosecute accused persons?

We are doing our best given the resources available to us. The Agency certainly needs more funding to do more.

•Giade

8

Firm boosts e-commerce with online portals

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ANNA Group, a point of sales service provider, is set to boost e-commerce in the country with the introduction of online portals dedicated to sundry services.

The Managing Director/ Chief Executive of the company, a UK-based Nigerian, Mr. Ayo Benson Olarewaju, made this known at a press in Lagos over the weekend.

Justifying the need for the portals, he said his company decided to invest in e-commerce investment in order to serve a growing clientele within and outside the country and the world over who require premium services at affordable cost.

According to him, the desire to make Nigerians shop online without having to worry about payment cards acceptability or delivery informed the development of “our highly functional and secure (www.MannaStores.com ) where Nigerians can shop online”, adding, “this innovation makes the need to waste time and money travelling to buy goods abroad unnecessary and a lot cheaper for retailers of all kinds of products. We also pay school fees, subscriptions, gifts etc., on behalf of customers in UK or any other websites worldwide. Nigerians are also reluctant to use their cards online for fear of security but we take the risk on your behalf and you get your goods delivered.”

Tantalizers Plc posts N61m, pays 2k dividend

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

News

ANTALIZERS Plc, one of the frontline Quick Service Restaurant outfits in the country posted a marginal profit of N61milion at the close of business in the year ended 31st December, 2010, the chairman of the company, Dr. Jaiye Oyedotun, has said.

He made this disclosure at the 13th Annual General Meeting of the company while presenting the financial statements and accounts for the year ended 31st December, 2010, in Lagos recently.

According to him, “In spite of our inability to achieve our expansion plan for 2010, the profit for the year (after tax) of N61m for 2010 was marginally better than 2009 of N57million, adding that, “The issue of deferred taxation has been treated in line with the statement of Accounting Standard.”

Expatiating, he said: “In spite of the marginal profit made in 2010, the board recommended for approval the payment of 2 kobo per share as dividend” a marked improvement over non-payment of dividend in 2009.

The payment, Oyedotun stressed, “is a reflection of our collective belief in this organisation now and our hope for better performance as the economic environment for business improves in the near future.” He was, however, quick to admit that “the increasing competition in 2010, coupled with the decline in customer purchasing power, resulted in a lower revenue performance compared to 2009.”

4.4 million teenagers commit abortion yearly worldwide, says expert S A

UNIVERSITY don and community physician with the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dr. Clara Ejembi has said that about 4.4 million teenagers are engaged in abortion annually across the globe while 60 percent of pregnancies are either

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

mistimed or unwanted among adolescents globally.

Presenting a paper entitled: “Overview of Adolescent Reproductive Health in Nigeria” at the 2011 conference of the Nigeria Association of Health

Educators at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dr. Ejembi said that 50 per cent of such abortions take place in the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

She also said that 13 percent of all maternal mortality (worldwide) annually takes place among

adolescents, with Africa accounting for the highest maternal mortality in some countries, adding that between 40% and 58% of sexual assaults are committed against girls aged 15 years and younger.

According to Dr. Ejembi, two out of every five teenage

•L-R: Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Old Western State, General Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd), wife of former Governor of Ekiti State, Erelu Angel Adebayo, and President, Ekiti Parapo, Lagos Chapter, Chief Kola Akomolede, during the reception/investiture dinner in honour of Dr. Fayemi as Grand Patron of the association, in Lagos last Friday

pregnancies in Nigeria are believed to end up in unsafe abortion, while 50 to 70 percent of admissions for abortion complications take place in girls aged 15 to 19 years old with 72 per cent of maternal deaths in a university teaching hospital in 15–19 year olds due to abortion.

She argued that despite formulating and launching a national adolescent health policy in 1997 which was revised in 2001 by the Federal Government, there has been no concrete step by the government to provide a budgetary line for programmes targeting this important age group.

Dr. Ejembi disclosed that in 2001, as a result of pioneering work of Action Health (an NGO), the Federal Ministry of Education approved the teaching of sexuality education curriculum in Nigerian schools while the National Family Life (HIV/AIDS) education curriculum was adopted in 2003 with the various states expected to adopt the contents to suit their own requirements.

She lamented that as a result of public reactions against the curriculum mainly by parents and faithbased groups, the content has not been applied in schools, resulting in the high rate of reproductive health related risks among adolescents in the country.

Tribunal to rule on ex-Imo SSG, PDP senator case Friday

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HE election tribunal sitting in Owerri, Imo State would on Friday rule on an application filed by Senator Mathew Nwagwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to strike out the petition challenging his election by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) senatorial candidate for Imo North, Chief Cosmas Iwu. Chief Iwu, former Secretary to Imo State government, had dragged Nwagwu of the PDP to the tribunal on the ground that the election was invalid by reason of corrupt practices and substantial noncompliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act. He also averred that the election of Nwagwu as a senator was “characterised by corrupt practices, gross irregularity, electoral malpractice and large scale violence in the six local governments that make up Imo North Senatorial District.“ Chief Iwu sought the order of the tribunal to nullify the entire senatorial election for Imo North senatorial District and for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which is the second respondent to conduct a re-run election for the area.

However, counsel to Senator Nwagwu, Chief Assam Assam, SAN, filed a motion urging the three man tribunal to strike out the petition on the ground that it

From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

did not comply with the Electoral Act in applying for Form TF 007 and form TF 008.

At the sitting of the tribunal yesterday, Chief Assam argued that the fact that the petitioner failed to apply for those forms by way of a motion instead of a letter, the petition has been rendered useless.

Citing various authorities including a five-paragraph affidavit to back his claim, Chief Assam urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition and set aside the hearing notice for pre-trial session issued by the secretary to the

tribunal on 7th day of June 2011.

Barrister A.M Alozie, appearing for INEC adopted the submission of Chief Assam.

But counsel to Chief Iwu, D.C. De Nwigwe SAN who led six other lawyers to the tribunal described the submission of Nwagwu’s lawyer as a means of delaying the hearing of the petition.

He said the petitioner duly applied for the issuance of the forms TF 007 and TF 008 and that the forms have been duly issued by the tribunal.

He said the application to strike out the motion not only

lacked merit but intended to frustrate the main petition which, according to him, contained facts to unseat Nwagwu.

De Nwigwe noted that the 1st respondent insistence that paragraph 18 (1) of the First schedule to the Electoral Act as it affects the term “application” to mean only motion, was wrong.

He said the meaning and essence of paragraph 18 (1) can only be appreciated from the provisions of paragraph 18 (2) and 18 (3).

He regretted that hiding under technicalities as was being done by Nwagwu and

Africa has 11.5m displaced persons —ECOWAS …Ministers meet Thursday to ratify AU’s convention

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HE Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) has said that the African continent has 11.5million out of 27.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) globally. This figure represents nearly half of the world’s conflictinduced internal displacements.

The ECOWAS Commissioner in charge of Human Development and Gender, Dr. Adrienne Yande Diop speaking at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday revealed that about 70% of

From Tayo Owolabi, Abuja

the IDPs are concentrated in West African countries of Sudan (which has between 4.5 million and 5.2 million), Congo (which has about 1.7milion) and Somalia (which has 1.5million IDPs).

Diop who gave instances of conflict-induced internal displacement said that the post election violence in Cote d’Ivoire displaced about 1million persons.

She added that “virtually all of Liberia’s 2.8million citizens and half of the population of Sierra Leone

are estimated to have fled their homes at least once as a consequence of internal conflict. In Guinea Bissau, the 1998-1999 made up to 400,000 IDPs, while Guinea recorded a peak of 320,000 IDPs in 2001.

“In Senegal, about 60,000 people were displaced internally and externally in 2008 as a consequence of the Casamance conflict. In Niger, the Tuareg insurgency resulted in some 11,000 IDPs in 2007 and in Nigeria, communal violence has caused the displacement of thousands of people.”

his counsel to obstruct the course of justice was not the best, saying “the law of pretrial should aid justice and not obstruct it.”

He therefore, urged the tribunal to dismiss the application seeking to strike out the petition on the ground that it lacked merit and was intended to delay the hearing of the man petition.

The tribunal chairman, Justice U.E Essang, adjourned the matter to Friday for ruling on the motion seeking to strike out the petition.

Oshiomhole appoints National Life MD as commissioner

E

DO State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has appointed Mr. Louis Odion as commissioner. His name will be forwarded to the House of Assembly for confirmation.

Also appointed is Mr. Osarentine Edosomwan who is now a Special Adviser to the Governor.

A graduate of the University of Lagos, Odion until now was the Editor-inChief of National Life newspapers and former Editor, The Sun on Sunday.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

News

9

My last encounter with Christy Essien • Former Lagos State Commissioner for Enviroment , Tunji Bello and his wife, Prof Ibiyemi flanked by their daughters Olumide (left) and Temitope (right) at Bello’s 50 th birthday celebration held in Lagos on Friday night

•(L-R) Former Lagos State Commissioner, Mr Dele Alake, Lagos Speaker, Yekini Kuforiji, Fomer Governor of Ogun State Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Tunji Bello and family, former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the reception.

•Christy Essien-Igbokwe.

O

N Wednesday, May 25th, 2011, my editor, Lekan Otufodunrin had telephoned me. “Joe, go and meet Christy Essien. She has something to say about May 29,” he told me on the phone. As a reporter, I was used to such impromptu calls. I had to reschedule my day’s plan. My editor had even arranged a 10 O’clock appointment. No issues.

I was on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos around 9:30 am when I called Christy Essien’s husband, Chief Edwin Igbokwe to notify him I was coming to the office located off Medical Road. I was one of the journalists that attended a press conference to mark her 50th birthday there last year. That opportunity afforded me the opportunity to meet close-up with the woman whom I had watched on TV croon songs such as ‘Omo mi seun rere’ and ‘Ever liked my person’ and starred as Apena in the now rested soap opera, New Masquerade. I remember also accusing her that I did not see a copy of The Nation newspaper on the conference table. She replied; “No, we buy all papers. Someone probably took it.”

I remember telling her at that event how much I love her music. We all got a souvenir CD which had some of her evergreen songs. As the event proceeded, I got to know much of her story at that press conference. It was emotional for her recounting her travails as she cut her teeth in singing and acting.

Well, it happened that at the time I called Chief

PHOTO: BY JOE AGBRO JR.

Reporter’s Diary

By Joe Agbro Jr.

Igbokwe, Christy, as she is fondly called, was not yet at the office. And her husband asked me to come to the house. He asked if I knew the house. I didn’t.

He described it.

I hopped on an Okada (commercial motor-bike) and located the Igbokwes’ residence on Talabi Street, off Adeniyi Jones Avenue.

The gateman opened the gate after I identified myself. I sat under a tent in the garden waiting for a while. The margins of the tent were decorated with bottles implanted on the ground. I saw the limousine which she said she had hardly used when she celebrated her 50 th birthday.

Before long, Chief Igbokwe ushered me into an anteroom and immediately the Lady of Songs came in, a flash of recognition sparked in her eyes. “I know him, he was at the party,” she told her husband, referring to her 50th birthday. Addressing me, she said, “I never forget faces. It is names I don’t remember very well,” as she asked of my name.

I looked around as we sat in the simple but tastefully decorated ante-room.

A goldfish in a lit aquarium swam comfortably as we settled down to the purpose of my visit.

Christy quickly and briefly launched into her prophecy that May 29, the chosen date to celebrate Nigeria’s Democracy Day was a doomed one. She said she had shared this prophecy

with her friends who told her to share with other people, hence, the need of my presence. In less than five minutes, she said she was done.

As a reporter, I was stunned at her brevity and prodded her for more. She stayed to talk with me but after about twenty more minutes, she told me how many people did not know her as a prophet and how she had healed herself as a child, I was convinced she had said what she wanted to say.

As I asked a last question, I told her I was going to take a picture while she responded. Knowing she was not made up and in what would be house-clothes, I expected she would baulk and tell me she had other pictures, but no. Like many women, she probably would have wanted to freshen up, but she just shrugged and said, “okay.”

I took the pictures As I prepared to take my leave, I remarked on a cute picture of a boy hanging on the wall. “That is my son.

He is now over thirty years old.” Seeing me off to the door, she noticed I had pulled off my shoes. “Why,” she asked. I told her I was just following instructions placed on her door. She then began an explanation on how dust affected her. I could relate with that.

Following her death at age 50, her children said she had predicted it. As I pray her soul rests in peace, I now worry about her prophecy of doom on the chosen date of May 29. She was so emphatic about it. She was such a kind and passionate person. So sad she died now.

•Mr Tunji Bello and and wife with media colleagues.

F

IVE indigent, but academically deserving students of the Lagos State University (LASU), Friday, received educational scholarships to boost their academic pursuits.

The scholarships, presented to the five students by Hon. Tunji Bello to commemorate his 50th birthday anniversary, held at The Marquee, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Friday evening, said the gesture provided him the perfect opportunity to repay the kind investments he too had earlier received in his life.

Each of the students, Bello noted, will be selected from the faculties of law, medicine, engineering, mass communications and environmental studies encompassing all environmental sciences including Physical/ Town planning and Architecture.

In a proposal letter to LASU which was signed by the celebrant and addressed to the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institute, Bello indicated that the TBS grant, which will be presented in the sum of N200, 000 each to the respective students “and will subsists during my lifetime,” he added.

Bello however spelt out the selection criteria. He noted: “In addition, each of

PHOTOS: DAYO ADEWUNMI .

Five LASU students awarded Tunji Bello Scholarship

By Joke Kujenya

the five recipients must have and maintain a minimum of grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.50 and may be drawn from any year of their study. They must also be capable of demonstrating their financial need where required.

At the luxurious event largely attended by media executives and top dignitaries including three former state governors, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Ogun and Mr. Donald Duke, Cross Rivers, the celebrant said: “I undertake to provide the scholarship funds for the first five years of this scheme; a total of N5million, which can be placed in an interestyielding account to support the education of these deserving students. I firmly believe that my small contribution will go a long way in positively impacting the lives of truly impoverished students and would afford them the opportunity to achieve their potential. I would therefore be honoured if my request is considered favourably, while using the medium to appreciate the

LASU’s administrators for their selfless service to the institution,” he requested.

His proposal was immediately officially accepted.

Speaking on the person of the celebrant, Asiwaju Tinubu described Bello as a “resourceful fellow who would discharge any assignment entrusted unto him to the utmost satisfaction.”

Tinubu recounted his years of working with Bello whom he said “was surprised at his being appointed a Commissioner for Environment in Lagos State”. The Action Party of Nigeria (ACN) national leader said that “Though Bello was a green horn in the field of administering an enormous ministry as the environment, he, however, took up the challenge with dexterity and to the amazement of every one, he did so well.” He also enumerated the contributions of Bello to the recent April 2011 general elections and said: “Tunji Bello went beyond the call of duty as he rallied the electorate, campaigned, promoted the cause of the party till the party had a successful election.”

10

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Essay

Greece: Financialism consumes another victim No nation should be made to sell its future to pay for its past

I

RELAND went down the maw of greed months ago. It is Greece’s turn to be consumed by the large banks and powerful governments that do their bidding.

This past Wednesday, the Greek Parliament abdicated its responsibilities to its citizens while succumbing to the unfair dictates of the global financial houses. The Parliament passed an austerity measure imposed on it at the behest of banks. Just months after enacting painful budget cuts, the Greeks swallowed the pill again. They agreed to a combination of tax increases and budget cuts, totaling 28 billion euro, and the selling of 50 billion euro of government assets during the next four years. The measure includes bitter morsels such as a VAT increase from 13 to 23 percent, an increase in pensioner retirement age, a 15 percent reduction in government salaries, and the paring of 150,000 government jobs. In exchange, the ECB (European Central Bank) and IMF will release an overdue tranche of 12 billion euros this month pursuant to the 110 billion euros bailout agreed last year.

The 12 billion was being withheld because the EU and IMF concluded Greece’s previous austerity measures were pallid relative to the nation’s steep debt exposure.

Before concluding that this sounds like a square deal one should look closely. The money is not destined for Greece in reality.

The money is earmarked to pay 12.2 billion euros in government bonds that fall due during the July-August period. In effect, this is an indirect bailout of the nation’s overreaching creditors. It is a massive bank bailout with Greece and its pliant government acting serving as camouflage.

By the time Wednesday was upon it, Parliament had little recourse than approve the squalid arrangement. Otherwise the nation would have defaulted. This would have caused more trouble than benefit. Te government’s real fault was that it did not fight for an alternative plan when there was time to do so. Instead, the government acquiesced to the ECB/IMF/Big Bank triad’s interpretation of the financial situation and the triad’s unfair resolution of it. Being financial institutions with vested interests in the outcome, this triad was not an impartial judge capable of an objective verdict. In predictable accord with their nature, the three concluded that the debtor nation was completely at fault and should bare all the pain required to make whole its creditors. If this required plunging the Greek economy into recession through austere measures, let the austerity begin. Wedded as it were to the world of financialism, the Greek political elite was unfit and illprepared to fight against this imposition.

Yet, there were better ways out of this dilemma.

The most reasonable and just would have been restructuring the debt. By restructuring we mean any combination of an extension of the maturity date on the debt and a reduction in interest rates and debt principal. For example, imagine someone borrows 100 naira. The debtor must pay interest of five naira monthly and redeem the principal at year’s end. In total, the creditor is due 160 naira. However, the creditor entered the loan knowing the debtor owed many other creditors. The creditor also knew the debtor would be unable to pay unless his economic situation improved dramatically. The debtor’s flagging status was the reason the creditor imposed the harsh interest rate and short repayment period. The debtor’s situation worsens because of the increasing pressure of his aggregate debt. It makes no economic or moral sense to place total blame on the debtor. The creditor was also reckless for having sailed into a known storm. He should not escape without cost. In this instance, it would make sense to lower the interest rate to three percent, extend the loan to two years and reduce the principal by twenty percent. Instead of gaining 160 naira in one year, the creditor will get roughly 140

By Brian Browne naira in two years. The investor gains albeit not as much as originally contemplated. If he can structure similar deals with other creditors, the debtor can salvage his financial house.

That debt restructuring was ignored does not mean the architects of the current plan were unintelligent. It means they were motivated by greed. The international bankers weighed the options. Should banks share in the loss or should the burden all be foisted on the Greek people? We know how they answered. We also know how the sheepish Greek government responded. The austerity measure is tantamount to a besieged fortification raising surrender’s white flag while lowering the portcullis. The great emperors who previously tried to conquer Europe could learn lessons from today’s moneychangers. Had Charlemagne, Charles the Fifth, Napoleon or Hitler possessed the wiles of the modern financialist, they would not have occupied their time prosecuting war. They would not have fought their neighbors. All they needed to do was lend money to them. Tossing money at an eager debtor is a more potent means of subjugation than tossing missiles at a weak foe. The anonymous, shadowy kingdom of bankers accomplishes great feats of conquest by stealth and finance that the great kings did by fanfare and sword.

The banker kingdom has already subdued Ireland and now stakes active claim to Greece. Portugal, Spain, and Italy lie in their line of sight. Their tactic is to attack each nation, one by one. With each nation weak, isolated and vulnerable, the banks pick their bones clean. Because this occurs serially, people will not appreciate the cumulative effect. The standard of living of each nation will drop, unemployment rise, and assets once belonging to the public will be owned by a foreign elite. A great international confiscation is underway.

While calling it a financial crisis, banks are being strengthened to unprecedented degrees while governments are made less sovereign. If this is the fate of peripheral European nations, imagine what awaits any African nation that runs afoul of the global financial elite.

This situation is as much a crisis of political leadership as of financial recklessness. Clearly, the leaders of the creditor nations have not the moral gravity to dare engineer a just solution that would cause the large financial houses any lose no matter how little or justified. Nothing grand can be expected from the leaders of the big nations. It is the leaders of the debtor states who have failed their calling and their people. The ECB, IMF and creditors regularly assemble to plan how they will vivisect each national debtor. Meanwhile, the leaders of the debtors sit morosely in their offices like the condemned waiting to be called to the gallows. They never held a joint meeting or issued a set of principles to guide their workouts with the creditors. They never attempted to forge a common front to alleviate some of the creditor pressure. They walked about gingerly as if not to make the ECB/IMF mad. Yet, hadn’t the two institutions already gone mad? With government in forfeit, the only thing that might salvage the debtor nations is the people. This could be happening in Greece.

The people don’t understand spittle about high finance but they understand when they have been had. They have taken to the streets and called national strikes to take the veil of this costly charade.

The austerity measures will shackle the nation to recession for the better part of a decade. Worst, these measures do nothing to materially improve Greece’s debt exposure. The austerity package is a mean imposition that does not take the nation materially closer to permanent resolution to the crisis. The problem is one of interests.

The workout is in the interests of private

•Greek President, Karolos-Papoulias

creditors not of Greece. The banks want to treat this problem as one of liquidity, meaning the nation is temporarily short of cash but all else is fine. However, the Greek problem is direr. It is one of solvency, meaning the nation has insufficient assets and income to meet its liabilities.

International bankers want to downplay the problem because the remedy for illiquidity is to pump money in so Greece can pay creditors. This device will help banks recoup their funds in full. It does nothing to solve Greece’s ailment. If the banks admit that insolvency is the problem, the fix is not a simple infusion of money.

The fix is debt restructuring. The financial houses would have to take a loss by writing down their loans to Greece. Another reason the banks view restructuring as a lethal bacillus is because of the backwash it would generate in the credit default swap (CDS) market. Debt restructuring would like trigger default provisions of CDS transactions covering Greek debt. A CDS is a form of unregulated insurance. Many large financiers issued CDS to investors who purchased Greek bonds. These financiers would have to pay down their CDS liabilities to these bond purchasers if restructuring occurs. To avoid this crimp in their revenue stream, large financiers use their influence to incite ECB/IMF against restructuring until the bitter end.

The financialists have embarked on a mercenary trail. They know debt restructuring is inevitable. Instead of doing the proper thing now, they temporize as long as possible. The longer they delay, the more they can reap without suffering the just reduction in collections due them. Seen in this light, the austerity program is the acme of rude futility, of financial sadism. These dastards are intent on squeezing the limp rag dry.

Dire warnings in the mainstream press about financial contagion are mostly alarmist gibberish. The world of high finance would have us believe that unless the Greeks agreed to the austerity package the bailout tranche would not have been extended. Default would occur. With it, the global financial system would have capsized. They sought to scare the public into believing the austerity package was necessary to stave financial disaster. Most people were taken by the illusion. Yet, it made no sense. Austerity was not required; the 12 billion payment to Greece was the linchpin

to paying the nation’s debts due this month and next. If the 12 billion were not forthcoming, Greece still would have defaulted no matter the degree of austerity implemented. Had Greece not embraced austerity yet the 12 billion was provided, creditors would have been paid and default temporarily avoided. For the ECB/ IMF to withhold funds from the Greeks needed to make the immediate bond payments yet, in the same breath, claim Greek nonpayment could jeopardize European financial stability would be the height of irrationality. Why hold back a dozen billion euro when doing so threatened several hundred billion if not trillions of euro particularly when the vast portion of that dozen would circulate back to the giver of it?

The truth is not one of imminent calamity. This bleak mirage is being created to divert our eyes from the boulder being crammed down the throat of a financially prostrate nation. If this were war, the terms of this peace would be considered Carthaginian. What is being done to Greece is essentially a gang mugging where members take turns being a frail old man with his cane.

In the end, this crisis reveals a serious flaw in the structure of the euro zone. The monetary unit is conceptually suspect because it required nations to relinquish an important aspect of sovereignty: its currency. Until the union, each nation issued its own currency. Each nation controlled its money supply. Had this debt predicament occurred when the drachma was in use, Greece could have paid the debt simply by printing more money.

Greece’s risks would not be insolvency but inflation. Having this sovereign power over currency would have enhanced the nation’s bargaining position. Creditors fear inflation because it undercuts the value of their holdings. Due to creditor fear, Greece could have more easily insisted on an early, more favorable debt restructuring. As a junior member in a monetary union, Greece is reduced to the same status of a sub-national unit, like a state of the United States or Nigeria unilaterally fighting global financial giants as well as its own central bank. It cannot print its way out of the jam. It must rely on the mercy of the ECB for euros.

It must do as told. This ancient nation, the cradle of western civilization, has been reduced to the status of Arkansas or Mississippi.

The severe jolts suffered by the euro zone should slow efforts underway in Africa to create regional monetary zones. These zones will not work and will ultimately crumble unless monetary union is paralleled by a fiscal consolidation of the member nations.

However, this is politically impractical.

Without fiscal consolidation of its members, monetary union will not work because every member nation will retain its unique growth rates, interest rates, inflation, productivity rates, budgetary deficits levels, capital flows and debt levels. Ultimately, these differences become so pronounced that they inexorably rip the monetary union apart. Ultimately, the euro zone will disintegrate unless its members unify their fiscal selves as well.

This has little chance.

The most important moral of this sad tale for Africa is to avoid heavy debt written in a currency other than your own. To assume debt in the currency of another nation, especially one more powerful economically, is to forfeit a pinch of sovereignty with every dollar, pound or euro of debt. Given its history with the IMF and global banks, this is the last thing African countries should do, particularly during this era of strident financialism. In this new era, no debtor is safe and no debt will be forgiven unless it is one owed yourself.

THE NATION

11

ON SUNDAY

COMMENT and ANALYSIS JULY 3, 2011

Boko harassment The job of the authorities is to see that on those two levels, the criminals don’t have their way. We are doing the exact opposite with the FCTA curfew order

Festus Eriye efestus2003@yahoo.com 08052135878 (SMS only)

I

N the war of nerves between the extreme Islamist sect, Boko Haram and the Federal Government, the group is clearly winning hands down. Its relentless campaign of bombings has now harassed the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) into slamming a night time curfew on Abuja.

Henceforth, beer parlours, pool centres and similar recreation outlets would close at 10pm every day. The restrictions were outlined by FCTA official, Muhammad Hamzat Sule, as follows: “All operators of the above mentioned venues of recreation have been directed to adhere to the following time limit for their operations. Parks and gardens that admit children are to close at 6pm daily, including weekends. Cinema/film centres and disco/night clubs are to close at 10pm daily including weekends.”

These restrictions are supposed to improve security in the federal capital but, in reality, they make no sense at all. If anything, they are further evidence of how rattled the government is by the activities of an unpredictable and increasingly selfconfident foe.

For starters, the measures are night time ones whereas lots of Boko Haram attacks have taken place in broad daylight.

A prime example is the assault on the Nigeria Police headquarters not too long ago.

The focus on bars and parks is predictable given that the sect has made clear its determination to stamp out drinking as part of its larger campaign to get all of us to embrace Sharia law. But, again, it is not only beer gardens that have been bombed. Police stations have been attacked, bombs exploded near Eagle Square, churches have been targeted and a campaign rally in Suleija blasted.

The same logic that says shut down the bars and parks, would also suggest that all possible targets of Boko Haram’s violent campaign be closed down for security reasons. This would mean virtually all public buildings and places of worship.

This action by the FCTA is not a safety measure: it is an act of fear and panic. It was not thought through and should be speedily withdrawn. If it is allowed to remain it would be ushering us into the very first stage of a state of siege.

It is amazing that the symbolism of this outlandish directive is lost on FCTA officials. The fact that Nigeria’s federal capital is under a curfew because of the activities of a terrorist sect sends out the wrong signals about the state of insecurity in the country.

If local authorities can take such an extreme step, it won’t be long before the likes of the United Kingdom, United

States, France and Germany –with justification - start issuing travel advisories to their citizens warning them to steer clear of not just Abuja, but Nigeria as a whole.

I think the first thing that government officials need to do is take a deep breath and calm down. They have to stop reacting and start thinking.

Victory in this sort of war is won and lost in the head, not on locations of violent engagement between the opposing forces.

For so long people dismissed •Ringim the Boko Haram hordes as illiterate bumpkins with a death wish. Funny enough, the so-called backward Neanderthals are out-thinking the best of Nigeria’s security establishment.

We tend to forget that the sect is only opposed to ‘Western education’ – not all education. Their foot soldiers may be ignorant, unemployed vagrants, but all evidence points to a very smart and savvy leadership.

In a moment of candour the other day, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, blurted out that the Islamists had been deploying tactics strange to this country and its armed forces. Was he expecting them to adopt the sort of conventional warfare tactics taught at the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) or Sandhurst?

Guerrilla movements thrive on the unorthodox. In the case of Boko Haram they have proven to be brilliant military thinkers and strategists. They came up with an innovative and effective way of delivering their deadly cargo, and making a fast getaway using motorcycles.

They have been using this same tactic for more than two years – so it is not such a new or strange trick. What is strange is that despite the same manoeuvre being pulled under their noses time and again, the security agencies have not thought of a plan that neutralises this method of attack.

Even more shocking is the fact that after scores of deaths, not a single suspect has been arrested. It is almost as if sect members are spirits who disappear into thin air after every bombing. Following the assault on their Louis Edet House headquarters in Abuja, the police lashed out in frustration in Maiduguri corralling a hotchpotch of foreigners – many of whom probably have no links with Boko Haram.

Lekan Otufodunrin lotufodunrin@yahoo.com 08050498530 (SMS only)

NYSC: Who wants to die?

T

The Nigeria government is playing a game of catch-up and it knows it. It is only now that the terrorists have raised their game to a frightening new level that officials are running around looking busy. We now hear of soldiers being sent abroad for antiterrorism training. Good. But it should have started over two years ago.

The war on terror is always fought on two levels – the physical and psychological.

The terrorists have the goal of wreaking maximum devastation on their targets, instilling fear and disrupting a society’s daily routine.

The job of the authorities is to see that on those two levels, the criminals don’t have their way. We are doing the exact opposite with the FCTA curfew order.

After al-Qaida’s 9/11 attacks on New York, the American government took steps to ensure that normal daily routines were restored in the city. The same thing happened in the London after the bus bombings. This is not living in denial; it’s just a way of ensuring that terrorists are not gifted a psychological victory.

Former British war time Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, understood the value of a society keeping its chin up in a moment of severe testing. Even as Germany bombs rained down relentlessly on the tiny isle during World War 2, he always made sure to project a public air of confidence that suggested that ultimate victory was assured.

If we buckle psychologically in the face of Boko Haram’s harassment, the war is already half lost. The Abuja curfew is defeatist and must be reversed. Whether is Abuja or Maiduguri people must be allowed to carry on as normally as possible - while the security agencies regain the initiative by taking the fight to the killers in their lair.

“‘It is amazing that the symbolism of this outlandish directive is lost on FCTA officials. The fact that Nigeria’s federal capital is under a curfew because of the activities of a terrorist sect sends out the wrong signals about the state of insecurity in the country”

HIS week, a new batch of National Youth Service Corps members will be reporting to orientation camps nationwide in compliance with the law that requires that graduates under the age of 30 should under go a compulsory one year national service.

Unlike before when graduates looked forward to the service year as an opportunity to know the country better and contribute their quota to the development of the country wherever they may posted to serve, not many are excited about scheme again.

After the recent killing of nine corps members in Bauchi State during the postelection violence in the northern part of the country and kidnapping of five others in Rivers State, there is a lot of concern about the safety of the graduates.

It is unacceptable that all in the name of national service parents have to lose their children in whom so much has been invested. It is against this background that one understands why some people are calling for the scrapping of the scheme.

Such is the fear among potential corps members that many have been praying that they will not be posted to some parts of the country.

When the posting was released last week, some of the new corps members were not sure if they would accept the posting.

Some who are heading for the orientation camp can’t wait for it to be completed to seek redeployment.

A mother once told me that she was praying against her daughter serving in the North after the recent killings. Her daughter has since been posted to Jigawa State. The young lady is not bothered about going that far from Lagos to serve the country but what is certain is that her mother will live with the fear of her safety until the service is over.

There have been repeated assurances from NYSC on the safety of the corps members. We can only hope that everything possible will be done to ensure that the corps members are not exposed to unnecessary risk.

I also gathered that some corps members deployed to Borno State are reluctant to serve in the Boko Haram territory. I can understand their fears and I am at a loss how their safety can be guaranteed when virtually no one is safe in the State.

I would not be surprised if NYSC members become the target of the sect to prove whatever point they are trying to make with their senseless killings and destruction.

I am one of those who believe that the NYSC is one of the best programmes ever implemented in the country. Corps members have contributed to the development of many communities in the country and it is a shame that the scheme is being rubbished by the activities of some faceless persons.

No sacrifice is too much to make for one’s country, including dying for a good cause, but not the kind of cheap death presently associated with being an NYSC member.

12

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Comment & Analysis

Lottery regulation: still a hard nut to crack Despite concerted efforts by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) to sanitise the lottery and allied sub-sector, there are still many hurdles to cross, reports Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

T

O organisers and patrons of lottery games and other related ventures in the country, the received wisdom is that lottery is largely a game of chance, where anybody is expected to win or lose. But to the umpire, which in this case, is the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), it is not willing to leave anything to chance in its quest to win the war against individuals and corporate bodies who continue to act in breach of the Lottery Act (sorry, no pun is intended).

Taming the monster of illegal lottery operators In time past, lottery and other related promotions were an all-comers affair. Echoing the same view, Wale Akanbi, a brand expert, recalled that: “The evolution of lottery in the country was not any different from gambling judging by the way and manner in which most of these so-called operators went about the whole thing. We saw cases of individuals and corporate bodies swindling the unsuspecting members of the public through one phony scheme or the other. Things were that bad for the industry that you hardly could make a clear distinction between what was gambling and lottery as the case may be.”

From a regime of lawlessness, the Federal Government in no time decided to right the wrongs by setting up the NLRC which it armed with an enabling law, the National Lottery Act 2005.

The NLRC, which is a quasi-governmental agency under the Ministry of Special Duties in the Presidency, has a mandate to issue licenses and permits, set standards, guidelines, rules and promote transparency, integrity in the operation and business of lottery in Nigeria.

Besides, the commission is also mandated to carry out periodic assessment of the operation of lottery and submit reports to the President and the National Assembly as well as ensure accurate monitoring and assessment of proceeds accruing to operators to determine the value of the 50% prize money, and ensure 20% contribution to the Trust Fund.

The commission, it was learnt, has had to wield the big stick in its quest to whip operators into line. Lending credence to the foregoing, Rekiya Atta, who is of the Media Unit of the NLRC, said besides moral persuasion, “we have the full support and weight of the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we do not hesitate to use it as at when due.”

Challenges of regulation An industry which has the potential to generate over $1billion per annum when fully harnessed, analysts argue, deserves to be taking seriously. But despite the FG’s intervention through the agency, activities in the lottery and allied industry leave nothing to cheer about as majority of the operators are yet to come to terms with the regulatory framework governing the operations of lottery and related promotions.

Confirming this development, a highly placed source at the NLRC said: “In our assessment of mobile and promotional lotteries we discovered that many are still carried out with clear disregard to National Lottery Act that stipulates 50 % payment on proceeds to players and 20% to the National Lottery Trust Fund for good causes.

“Some licensees who rather than join this willing beneficial endeavour are taking NLRC to court,” the source said.

Attempts to bring other players in the sector to comply with the extant laws governing lottery “first met a brick wall, as most of them, especially the telecoms operators, claimed only the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) could regulate them, the source further said. But thankfully due to NLRC’s persistency most have now legalised their operations with NLRC.” However, in response to an email sent to one of the telecom giants operating in the country, MTN Nigeria, the General Manager, Corporate Communications Corporate Services Division, Funmilayo Omogbenigun over the weekend said, “As an ethical company, MTN always obtains all the necessary approvals from all the necessary regulatory bodies for any promo before we run it.”

Efforts to get the responses of Globalcom, Airtel, Etisalat, among others, were futile as at press time,

as most of them had not replied text messages and emails sent to them.

Fulfilling NLRC’s mandate The NLRC, led by Peter Igho and his management, has educated Nigerians on the great potentials of lottery by bringing sanity to the lottery terrain as well as made it clear that lottery must be played the right way.

Besides, the NLRC has established its enforcement team in partnership with the Nigeria Police, and the team has swung into action.

Expectedly, this has sent the right signals that illegality will no longer be tolerated in the industry.

“The NLRC has gone further to put in place a system to fully exploit the tremendous potentials of mobile lottery to be operated by vendors in collaboration with the National Lottery Licensees,” he said, adding, “We have made overtures to most of these companies under their umbrella body, the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), and most of them have made expression of interest to comply forthwith.”

Complaint against lottery operators A customer of one of the telecoms company recalled an unpleasant experience: “I wonder why a network operator will want to charge you N100 daily for playing “lottery” to win millions and qualify for a daily draw to win LCD TV. I got the SMS on my phone, read through then played the game. Since it was current affairs, I won all d questions sent. As I got close to 1000 point I was ask to subscribe at N100 daily to win millions. I wondered! N100 box per day? Nah! I don’t want that! A couple of days after I was reminded that I had huge score and should not let go, that I should play again. I played and after two questions I was asked to enter the draw again. I ignored it!

“It’s pretty amazing how aggressive they are promoting this scheme. I get less of it these days probably because I don’t look like their ‘customer.’

I understand a lot of their customers have been complaining about this and our ‘regulators’ have not been able to do anything to this especially because the lottery scheme is not regulated.”

Best practices around the world Whether in Minnesota, Britain or South Africa, lottery has made a tremendous impact. There is a

popular saying in Minnesota that, “No matter who plays the lottery, Minnesota wins.”

That’s simply because proceeds from the Minnesota State Lottery help finance a variety of projects that preserve, restore and enhance the state’s environment and natural resources.

Each year, the environmental and natural resources Trust Fund receives 40 per cent of lottery net proceeds, or about 6.6 cents of every dollar spent on lottery tickets.

For fiscal year 2008, the Legislature appropriated $23 million to 31 projects based on recommendations by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

Since it began in 1990, the Trust Fund has financed a total of 414 projects worth $254milion.

Lottery contributions to the Trust Fund totaled $30.6milion in fiscal year 2008. The remaining 60 per cent of net proceeds is allocated to the state General Fund to pay for.

In March 2007, the UK National Lottery has so far raised $20billion for ‘good causes’ through a programme which distributes money through grants. The Heritage Lottery Fund was set up by the government in 1994 to provide money for “projects involving the local, regional and national heritage.”

The funds come from the money raised by the National Lottery’s good causes. Since 1994, the Heritage Lottery Fund has given grants totaling approximately $4billion to more than 26, 000 projects.

All hope is, however, not lost. In the view of Rekiya Atta, Media Unit of the Commission, “There are several world examples for best practices ...The expectation for Nigeria is certainly not less than anywhere else in the world as we aim to be one of the best in the world as far as best practices are concerned in the lottery industry. It is not going to be an easy journey but we have started and started well too.

“We must always remember that every advanced country was once a developing country.

The idea of lottery is to borrow from these nations who have and are still harnessing the socioeconomic benefits of lottery to enhance the quality of life of the majority.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Comment & Analysis

13

Emergency unnecessary It is not the option to flush out Boko Haram elements in Borno State

T

HE spate of sporadic violence inflicted on the nation by the Boko Haram sect underscores the failure of the country’s intelligence network. The situation unfortunately is becoming helpless, especially in some northern states like Borno, Bauchi among others where its terror is becoming routine.

Boko Haram, as rightly observed in our previous editorials, has no respect for constituted authorities.

Its targets are not only vulnerable civilian members of the society but the police and military institutions that have lost men and properties to its destructive activities.

Owing to its injurious activities, the sect is almost making Borno state, for example, ungovernable. Not less than 800 people have been reportedly killed including the younger brother of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai EL-Kanemi, Abba Anas Umar Garbai El-Kanemi who was shot at his residence in Gangamari of Shehuri North. The apogee of the sect’s heartlessness was reflected in the killing early this year of Alhaji Modu Fannami Gubio of ANPP along with Alhaji Goni Sheriff, a brother of Ali Modu Sheriff, immediate past governor of Borno and their guard of four police officers.

The country helplessly watched how police and military barracks/stations including market places were bombed by the sect. Since July26, 2009 when the unscrupulous sect launched a blitzkrieg on security forces in Maiduguri destroying and setting ablaze government offices and schools, it has been in the news albeit for the wrong reasons. Prison warders were not spared of Boko Haram killings while at a point about 800 prisoners from Bauchi prison were also set free.

These acts of violence led to the arrest of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, and his subsequent death in ques-

I

T is high time President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan started being very serious with placing the right persons in the right places if he must succeed in this dispensation. The era of groping should be regarded over and governing Nigeria now a serious business. No more things like unbanning importation of bottled water and toothpick which our economic produce enough; therefore bringing Okonjo-Iweala (the IMF guru) and giving her free hand to handle the economic development of our nation is very important. Promises must now be fulfilled and sentinments put at back seat. He needs a thorough rejigging for the nation to move forward.

In a better organized society, the present happenings in the Police are enough for the Inspector General of Police to resign from office. The President should recognize how this man was in the first instance appointed; though nothing much is wrong with President Jonathan giving someone an opportunity. Nevertheless, when such is not yielding the expected results, he should be at liberty to review because such would reinvigorate citizen’s trust in his capabilities; he needs to take the bull by the horns.

Mr. President’s fraternity with Ringin started when Ringim was Bayelsa’s Commissioner of Police while Jonathan was the Bayelsa Deputy Governor; it is therefore normal if someone feels working with the ‘devil’ he

tionable circumstances. The evil of that religious sect has since assumed monstrous dimension. The sad situation has culminated in calls for a declaration of a state of emergency in Borno where the sect has particularly constituted itself into a menace.

We agree that these atrocious acts must not continue. But while admitting that some drastic steps must be taken to curb the Boko Haram cankerworm, we take serious exception to calls for a state of emergency in Borno State. The move might be counter productive except the root cause of the sect problems and how it emerged can be addressed by the government. The consequence of a state of emergency could be antithetical to sustenance of democracy.

For instance, must the nation declare emergency everywhere Boko Haram strikes? The implication of this is that virtually all states in the north will be affected; even the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, which has fallen victim of Boko Haram’s callous bombings, would not be spared of this call. The implication of this is that democratic governance will have been suspended in one important region of the country - the north.

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

•Editor Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Festus Eriye •Olayinka Oyegbile Deputy Editor •Associate Editor Taiwo Ogundipe

•Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi

The Boko Haram impasse is not beyond redemption if only the government will follow a more holistic approach in resolving it. The government should find out why Yusuf was hastily killed and what informed that decision? The public will be interested in knowing what information was extracted from the man?

Was the information not useful in the current effort to halt the activities of the sect? Then what is delaying the trial of sect members earlier arraigned in court?

Except government answers these questions, it will be giving credence to insinuation that some powerful elements in the society are behind Boko Haram. After all, Modu Sherriff as governor of the state reportedly gave allocation of about 80 kilometres of land to Yusuf, the sect leader at a point. Did Sheriff or any powerful person use the sect to fight political battles?

If not, how then did the sect become so powerful to a level that is threatening the stability of the nation?

We are sure that the Boko Haram’s obsession is not done in pursuit of anything noble. Frankly, democratic enterprise is far from being the root cause of the crisis. And now that the amorphous criminal group is becoming borderless, all Nigerians irrespective of region should be bothered and must show concern.

We should be our brother’s keeper in the attempt to rid our country of Boko Haram threat. Borno is worse because of poverty and ignorance arising from the United Nation’s observation that 72 per cent of indigenes of that state never attended any school. They have become misguided tools in the hands of greedy politicians.

The country should not be turned into a banana republic while we call for genuine efforts aimed at solving the current problems rather than taking the easy but short-lived emergency option.

What is Hafiz Ringim still doing at Louis Edet house? knows that the ‘angel’ he cannot predict. President Jonathan ensured that Ringim was promoted to Assistant Inspector General of Police sooner he assumed the position of Vic President; at least it was to encourage a perceived ‘hardworking’ cop and a friendin-need. But finally what many did not appreciate was that sooner Ringim became the AIG incharge of the south-east Police Zonal Command, criminality in

the area soared. As if trying to pour salt on an injury, the President double-promoted Ringim to head the entire Police Force and forcing Onovo who had not completed his tenure to retire prematurely. Many believe that that was gift too freely given to a man that could not control the smaller jurisdiction of the south-east command.

Ringim’s incompetency and compromise continued to grow

because he believes that he has the tiger (Mr. President) behind him.

That was why upon the entire outcry, the president kept quiet as Ringim reassigned all the State Police Commissioners on March 31st, 2011, prior to national elections, but openly left behind the one in Akwa Ibom State; a state many believed its chief executive was one of the major financial backers of Goodluck Jonathan to a new presidency. Ringim also

unguardedly ‘insulted’ the boko haram that decided to teach him a ‘lesson’.

What is Ringim waiting to resign? I am from Jigawa State as him but I do not care. What is President Jonathan waiting before doing the right thing, nay sacking Ringim at the backdrop of his failure to resign?

Alhaji Garba Salem, 298 Apapa Road, Ijora-Lagos garbasalem@yahoo.com

The task ahead of Governor Elechi Chief Martin Elechi has contested and won the 2011 governorship election as the governor of Ebonyi state for his final second term in office as the second elected Chief Executive of the young state. The task before Elechi is quite enormous regardless of what point one views the situation.

Ebonyi state has remained the least developed in the entire southeast of Nigeria, this is so due to a rough and painful past and the incompetence of successive governments of the state. The state, a merger of parts of old Abia and Enugu states has had to contend with criminal neglect from the successive administrations of East Central state, Imo and Anambra states.

Despite its historical challenges, Ebonyi state is quite blessed with a lot of resources, material and human. In terms of mineral resources, Ebonyi is abundantly blessed; in fact, available records show that Ebonyi state was the first place where oil was discovered in commercial quantity in Nigeria. There is also abundance of limestone between

Abakaliki and Nkalagu, vast salt deposits in Uburu, precious rocks and several other identified natural resources well distributed across the state. In Agriculture, Abakaliki and indeed Ebonyi rice remains unravelled in taste and nutritional value, groundnut, palm produce, maize, cassava and yam are among many other crops widely cultivated in the state.

Abakaliki and Afikpo are also noted for their commercial vibrancy and of course the state has vibrant and ready youths willing and ready to conquer the world-only they need someone to lead them!

It is against this background that it is imperative that Governor Elechi takes advantage of this his last term of office to make the difference and lay a good foundation for sustainable development in the state. Of course, no one tree can make a forest, therefore Chief Elechi needs to assemble a team of competent, efficient, well-educated and progressive minds that will work with him for the benefit of Ebonyi state.

For example, he needs a person of knowledge, quality swagger and positive energy to manage the state’s ministry of agriculture, a man or woman who will devote time and work with producers of Abakaliki rice to make it the no 1 (both in production and distribution) locally produced rice in Nigeria/West Africa, a person who will mechanize agricultural practices in the state. He or she should be someone that can go to the headquarters of Food and Agricultural Organization, FAO, and argue and convince the international support agencies to do business with Ebonyi farmers; someone who will go into productive and beneficial collaborations with our universities and agricultural research institutes to improve yields for Ebonyi farmers. She or he should be someone burning with the passion of making Ebonyi the food basket of the entire eastern Nigeria.

Governor Martin Elechi should create a Ministry of Mineral and Natural Resources where a competent Eboyian

will hold sway, devoting time, intellect, energy and resources to see to it that the exploration of natural resources in the state is done within the laws and ethos governing environmental protection and of course to the economic and social benefit of the state. The ministry should see to it that all the unexplored natural resources are activated to galvanize the state’s economy. For God’s sake why shouldn’t Dangote have a factory in Uburu? This ministry should see to it that they do all the leg and mental walk to make sure that NigerCem is back into production.

Nothing really is impossible; it all depends on careful planning, execution and tenacity; irrespective of the roadblocks that may be on the way, this ministry can really make Ebonyi a hub of economic activity in the east.

•Mazi Moses Eze Idika Olaari Media Nigeria Limited Plot 33, Mobolaji Johnson Avenue, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos maziidika@yahoo.com

14

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Comment & Analysis

Ropo Sekoni ropo.sekoni @thenationonlineng.net

Before another round of constitutional amendment Legislators should not embark on another diversionary re-touching of the constitution

T

HE new National Assembly is already thinking of starting another round of constitutional amendments. One of the legislators has said that the National Assembly wants to amend the constitution in response to citizens’ demand for what he called a broadbased constitution. I have been in Nigeria all these years and have been reading just about every release from civil society organizations, self-determination groups, and individual citizens. At no point have I come across demands for a broadbased constitution. I have also been unable to find the meaning of broadbased constitution in all political dictionaries. The legislators need to get it right before they embark a new round of amendments of the 1999 Constitution.

What Nigerians have been demanding since the unearthing of the 1999 Constitution after Obasanjo became president in 1999 is a people’s constitution. A constitution that reflects the desires and wishes of Nigerians. A constitution to which freely chosen representatives of the people contribute through the mechanism of a sovereign national conference or a constitutional conference. A constitution that reflects how the various regions of the country that took independence from Britain in 1960 as one country want to stay together in one modern nationstate. A constitution that is given life by a national referendum, not one that is crafted by appointees of military dictators and imposed on the

Femi Orebe femi.orebe @thenationonlineng.net 08056504626 (sms only)

T

HE title of this article derives from the lingering suspicion in which Sovereign National Conference is held in some sections of the country. But that fact needs not delay us as Snooper can more than give us a more charming name for what has become an urgent inevitability in our country.

In one of his most rigorous articles to date, the NATION’s Snooper this past week, took a penetrating look at a disappearing Nigeria -what with its new-fangled, jocose suicide bombers - its pitiable past of ramifying centrifugal forces, as well as its heedless, buccaneering politics of the moment, with ‘share the money’ as directive principle of state policy?

However, were Snooper to now take another look at the article, he would easily discover what essentially is a faulty premise from which he derived his conclusion that a Sovereign National Conference is now nothing more than an empty sloganeering. It is his belief that recent calls derive mostly from the gripping national misery in which we currently find ourselves. While not deriding the proponents, he thinks that it now only tantamounts to wanting to step into the same river twice.

While I agree that we are, indeed, in a suffocating national uncertainty, with a multi-obligated candidate Jonathan now finding it extremely difficult, as President, to put a cabinet together and probably also supportive of an amnesty for Boko Haram, it

nation in the middle of the night by another military dictator in 1999.

A constitution, like that of Ethiopia, that allows the citizens who surrender their sovereignty to indicate what type of government they want and what type of political structure they are comfortable with, and what citizens can do when they believe that the constitution is not fulfilling its intention.

Nigerians are not asking for a broad-based constitution, whatever that means.

Why should citizens be asking for a new constitution fifty years after their nation obtained independence? Nigerians have made their reasons for asking for a new constitution clear. They say that the constitution on which the country got independence in 1960 was negotiated by freely chosen representatives of the people. They say that even the Republican Constitution of 1963 was deliberated upon by representatives they voted for. That the 1963 Constitution that was suspended when military government came in 1966 was one that gave adequate powers and responsibilities to each of the regions that were amalgamated by Frederick Lugard in 1914 to form today’s Nigeria. That the present constitution, like other constitutions written under the influence of military dictators, removed the federal arrangement under which the various regions agreed to go together into political independence as one country in 1960. They say they want to return to a constitutional arrangement such

as in 1960 and 1963 that gave significant political, economic, and judicial autonomy to the regions.

What citizens have been telling the legislators is that it is time to get a constitution that has the imprint of those that are expected to use and benefit from it, not one document put together in the dark on behalf of the citizens by a military cabal and released to Nigerians after the election of 1999.

The new legislators need to do their own research about what Nigerians want and not rely on information given to them by returning legislators on how to ensure that the country has a constitution that Nigerians accept and respect. The amendments made in 2010 by the National Assembly amounts to nothing in terms of the clear demands of citizens. Legislators should not embark on another diversionary re-touching of a constitution that does not capture the core values that Nigerians believe can make the parts of the whole equal to the whole or that can lead to modern development (regardless of what Boko Haram preaches) of the parts and, by logical extension, the whole of the country.

Nigerians are not interested in distractions that peripheral amendments represent. It is not the timing of presentation of budget to the legislature by the president that is not making Nigeria work. It is even ridiculous that a legislature will ask for three months to study and approve the budget of a country. The

least that Nigerians want, if the present crop of legislators is up to the task, is a radical review of the constitution to reflect more devolution or return of power to the regions.

Nigerians in the various regions want fiscal autonomy for their regions, the power to raise tax and spend, as well as the power to derive economic benefits from the resources on their lands.

Nigerians want each state to have the power to plan its transportation.

They want each state or a cluster of states (regions) to have the power to build railway. They want the concept of federal road revisited to allow for joint ownership between federal and states, not the existing system where a federal road means that state governors cannot regulate the flow or inhibition of traffic on federal roads within their states. They want their states to be able to charge tolls on such roads without interference from the federal government, if doing so will lead to improvement of such roads and construction of new roads for the benefit of citizens.

Citizens of the country that have problems with the current constitution are demanding for an end to monopoly of law enforcement by the federal police. They want a situation where the governor of a state as its chief security officer gives orders to the police, not one in which it is the president that has the power to determine how a state is policed or the extent of which governors and legislators elected by citizens to govern

What is in a name

Why should it be offensive to any group that state or geo-political zones will have the fiscal freedom to utilise its own natural resources as it deems fit to develop according to its abilities? is historically incorrect to suggest that our current problems are any different from what Lord Lugard inflicted on us way back 1914.

My article, ‘Psycho-analyzing Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, of 5 September, 2009 is relevant here, and I quote: ‘In the paper, ‘Issues In Restructuring Corporate Nigeria’, which Sanusi gave ten years earlier in ‘99, drizzling with rampant vitriol, iconoclasm and blatant home truths, he clinically took apart various segments of the Nigerian elite at whose feet he laid the causes of the nation’s decay.

Sparing nobody, he demonstrated an uncommon clear-headedness in his analysis. On Nigeria ’s founding fathers, he wrote: ‘The truth is that irrespective of the motives which drove Chief Awolowo and Dr. Azikiwe to hold strong nationalist views, their position was indeed progressive.

Similarly, irrespective of the motives that drove Ahmadu Bello and the NPC to emphasize the differences between our peoples and resist the progress towards integration, those views in as far as nation-building is concerned, were reactionary. Ethnic and Religious chauvinism, in all epochs, are reactionary doctrine’ On Nigeria ’s structure, he posited: ‘A second objective factor was the lack of equity in the delineation of Nigeria ’s constituent parts. The North was too large, and was, in reality as well as perception, preponderant and overbearing’ Consequent upon this fact, he wrote, the Mid-Western Region was carved from both the West and the East,

whereas the Middle Belt agitation in the North was brutally put down’ With this reality , which has not changed till date, how can Snooper now say that : ‘the problem with Nigeria is not because it is a conglomeration of feuding nationalities but because within the same nation-space, expired and extant empires jostle to impose their cultural and political values on the rubric and template of the new nation’.

I see neither the writer’s new nation nor any expired empires because neither the Igbo nor the Yoruba were empires as visualized by him. In the North on the other hand, the messianic/expansionist ambition to dip the Koran in the ocean remains alive and kicking, even now. Not even in the masochistic Obasanjo years were we able to cleanly wean the nation off the incipient stranglehold of the North. Some have, in justification, drawn attention to Obasanjo’s sacking of some military ‘politicians’ but like many things in O B J’S first coming, that achievement must be chalked up to T.Y Danjuma who, as Defence Minister, called the shots in those early days before ‘katakata’ struck between the duo.

I am at a complete loss as to how the Yoruba, politically or in federal economic patronage, or the Igbo, also in these regards, can be regarded as being in real competition with scions of the oligarchy. What we have seen are Southern politicians as lackeys to their Northern counterparts. Whatever the merit or demerits of Islamic

Banking, there is a huge sense in which one can say that the C B N governor, Sanusi Lamido, unilaterally inflicted it on the country claiming some spurious cover under the banking laws’ permission of creating special banking. How the hell do you summarily take advantage of something so specious to impose the Sharia on the entire country seeing that you need a Sharia council for each branch wherever it is located? Can a C B N governor of southern extraction ever contemplate something comparable in favour of Christians without the entire country going up in flames?

Indeed, events post the April 2011 general elections, in which southerners, poor Youth Corpers amongst them, were butchered or incinerated, have made the call much more potent and, in the very foreseeable future, inescapable. Already, elements of the South-South militant groups and some leaders of the OPC in the South-West, have declared they would no longer look askance as their compatriots get killed up North. Must we wait for that point in time before jaw-jawing?

Of almost equal importance is the headmaster-ly affront of the federal government in its relations with states.

It takes an ungodly share of national resources; dictates to states what to do in too many instances example being in the creation of local governments as we saw in Lagos state. The issue of a unified police system has become a running sore even with worsening security. Value added tax is unjustly shared on basis of state equality irre-

their states are protected by federal police that is solely responsible to the president. Many Nigerians are asking for state and local government police systems, such as exist in other countries, including the ones that the country’s leaders like to use as reference point for development: the United States and the United Kingdom.

Many Nigerians desire an energy policy that allows regions, states, or a combination of states and business to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity. Nigerians no longer want to blame power outage on a national grid; they want to hold their local government chair or governor responsible for power failure. In addition, Nigerians want restoration of the judicial autonomy that was taken away from them by strings of military dictators behind the current constitution. In addition, some Nigerians are querying the cost-effectiveness of the presidential system and are asking for restoration of the parliamentary system upon which Nigeria’s regions chose to be together in 1960.

Finally, many Nigerians want a constitution that accepts the nonnegotiability of the secularity of the Nigerian State. If the country’s secularity has to be negotiated, it has to be at a constitutional conference, not through panel beating of the current constitution that late Abiodun Oki challenged in court as a fraudulent document until his death. spective of what each state brings to the table.

Until he died, allegedly murdered then by federal authorities, Pa Alfred Rewane, unarguably one of Nigeria ’s greatest patriots, made the nation’s restructuring his life long struggle pleading that the marriage which Lord Lugard forced these various disparate nations into nearly a century ago needed to be re-negotiated. A perspicacious Sadauna himself counseled that we recognize our differences, going forward.

Why should it be offensive to any group that state or geo-political zones will have the fiscal freedom to utilise its own natural resources as it deems fit to develop according to its abilities? I am yet to come across a proponent of the SNC who wants Nigeria divided or would like it wiped off the world map. Rather what they say is that restructuring will make for a better Nigeria .

The Scottish National Party which is giddy with its recent unexpected showing in the May, 2011 elections in that country, is deliberately pushing back Independence referendum, three or four years, knowing that Scots, much as they may want fiscal autonomy, do not wish to break the United Kingdom. Such is the nature of these unions; of shared values and a long history that all S N C proponents seek is to make the federation more workable and to more equitably meet the yearnings of the citizenry.

Whereas, a fractious Nigeria like we presently have cannot readily secure a seat on the U.N Security Council, a better structured, competently run Nigeria, with its current geo-political zones serving as federating units to which powers are devolved in several areas and therefore with much less of Snooper’s ‘bloody collision of altars’, will readily attract the support of the civilised world for that enviable position.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Comment & Analysis

15

Awaiting Jonathan’s austerity measures Tunji

Adegboyega tunjade@yahoo.co.uk 08054503906 (sms only)

E

VER since I could differentiate my left from my right arm, I have not seen any new government in Nigeria that promised easy life for Nigerians at inception.

Not even the ‘Better Life for Rural Dwellers’ initiated by General Ibrahim Babangida’s wife, Maryam (now of blessed memory), bettered any life; rather it put money in the pockets of a few cronies of the government and the then First Lady. Whenever the governments come, they come with bundles of hardship and promissory notes of hope. And they end up soliciting for sacrifices on our part so we could have a better tomorrow which till date has never materialised.

Alhaji Shehu Shagari christened his own version of hardship ‘Economic Stabilisation Act’, which became law in the early ‘80s, not long after its officials had said the Nigerian economy was ‘resilient’ and that there was no cause for alarm, contrary to the then claims of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Shagari’s predecessor, General Olusegun Obasanjo, had told Nigerians to brace up for sacrifices. (I remember a particular newspaper cartoon which showed an Obasanjo whose belt was bursting at its seam due to his sheer size, asking already lean Nigerians to make sacrifices so that the country could recover from its economic crisis), which was a

It is a ritual of Nigerian governments that was long expected perfect irony of the Nigerian situation.

When President Goodluck Jonathan did not make any such request of us four weeks after his swearing in to begin a fresh term, I thought he was going to make the difference; I thought he was probably ashamed to do the usual because of the fact that the calls for sacrifices had become a ritual (which never yielded anything in the end) for any government in the country.

But the president hinted of the coming of his own suffering package at the commissioning of the world-class May and Baker Pharma Centre in Sango-Otta, Ogun State, on Monday. He said we should expect some ‘hard choices’. Coming a few days after governors in the country asked him to remove fuel subsidy so they could pay the new minimum wage, one can see the nexus between the kite being flown by the governors and the president’s statement on ‘hard choices’. Soon, Nigerians will have to pay more for fuel.

Meanwhile, no one is saying anything sensible about why a crudeproducing nation should be importing petrol, necessitating the socalled subsidy.

The solicited sacrifices come with two common features: one, they affect only the ordinary Nigerian and two; their effects never

come soon; that is if they ever come at all. We saw so far in the lives of our lawmakers, especially at the National Assembly, how they made all the millions, even as they found it difficult to give Nigerian workers and the ordinary Nigerian their fair due of the national patrimony. Meanwhile too, we have seen how the good tidings promised by successive governments have remained futuristic; they never come to pass in the life of the administration asking Nigerians to make the sacrifices, necessitating a repeat of the cycle by succeeding administrations. Indeed, an aspect of it that baffles me is how these leaders do this ritual without remorse or shame, knowing full well that their successors would come and do same after their exit.

Jonathan’s ‘tough choices’ also came with the same promises of hope after the dark tunnel. “I want to appeal to Nigerians to understand because some of these decisions that government will adopt may be ‘hard’ initially but they should take it as a ‘sacrifice’ to be paid if we are to move the economy forward”. The president said at the commissioning of the firm that the government would ‘continue’ to protect local industries, as if it has a record of doing that. If it did, companies like Dunlop and Michelin, two foremost tyre manu-

“These are the issues President Jonathan should bear in mind before rolling out his own suffering package in the name of ‘hard choices’… ’Hard’ or ‘tough choices’, ‘austerity measures’, ‘sacrifices’ are one and the same thing; hardship. The only matter for regret is that we have nothing to suggest that whoever succeeds Jonathan would not roll out his own, even if they are from the same ruling party”

facturing firms in the country, as well as the many others that folded up and relocated would not have left. Now, the president is asking other firms to emulate May and Baker; yet, there is little if any, sustainable improvement in the infrastructure.

On the same page (on Tuesday) which this paper published the president’s commissioning of the pharmaceutical company, the Managing Director of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Hussein Labo, was explaining to Nigerians why power generation dropped from the 3,995 megawatts already being celebrated to 3,400 megawatts. And what were the reasons? The same familiar ones: low water level and gas shortages. I cannot remember how many times these same excuses had been recycled by succeeding administrations. I concede though that we must be making some progress; in the past, one little stray rat could throw spanners in the turbines and consequently throw the entire country into darkness! We no longer hear such stories. To God be the glory.

Without doubt, austerity is not peculiar to Nigeria. Right now, it is a big issue in Britain, where retirement age and benefits are being reconfigured; it is a big issue in Greece where the parliament has had to toe the hard line by approving of it, even as the people feel differently. Spain is another country where austerity has become an issue. Before our leaders see this as an excuse (i.e. to say that Nigeria cannot be immune from what is happening to the rest of the world, remember Senate President David Mark recently said we should thank God that the level of violence in the country is still a child’s play com-

pared to what is happening in some other parts of the world) one should quickly point out that none of these countries is in the same category with Nigeria. We cannot stand wherever any of them is. This is clearly demonstrated in the way the big countries are seeing the economic crisis, even in Greece and giving it attention, whereas we have had to carry our own problem like the orphan that we are.

I am not blaming these countries for the way they are treating us. As a matter of fact, even as a Nigerian, I know this country has money but it is not using it well. If well managed, and barring fraud and corruption, we should have no business with austerity, and even if we do, it should not be at this level when we are yet to be on top of even the most basic of human challenges.

These are the issues President Jonathan should bear in mind before rolling out his own suffering package in the name of ‘hard choices’. There is nothing he would say that we never heard before, even from his own Peoples Democratic Party. As a matter of fact, some of us can predict how the sentences would be framed because we have travelled that route again and again. ’Hard’ or ‘tough choices’, austerity measures, sacrifices are one and the same thing; hardship.

The only matter for regret is that we have nothing to suggest that whoever succeeds Jonathan would not roll out his own, even if they are from the same ruling party.

But this bubble of deceit would burst one day. Recent events, even in the least expected countries point in that direction. One day, Nigerians would simply say, ‘our mumu don do’. It is the ‘when’ that we do not know.

What exactly makes you and I ‘Nigerian’?

Postscript, Unlimited!

By

Oyinkan Medubi 08187172799 (SMS only) puchuckles7@gmail.com

T

HERE are obviously many fellow citizens of this country with whom I am convinced I do not share nationality, no matter how much they vehemently protest the fact that we both carry the same passport. I am about now telling one set of my neighbours they and I are no longer fellow Nigerians. This means, of course, they may have to go look for another country to claim. I don’t care. Anyone who persists in killing my roses by pouring unidentified flying liquids on them cannot share a country with me.

While I’m at it, I have also decided that I cannot ever be remotely related, by blood or nationality, to leaders who cream billions of Naira off the top of their lucrative positions to stash away in accounts so hidden in bank vaults that neither moth nor their closest

and dearest relatives can reach them. And I am very certain that I cannot be related either to eccentrics who think their idea of making a living or having fun is kidnapping people, i.e., depriving them of their freedom while maximally enjoying their own, for ransom or fun.

Come to think of it, there is very little that very many of us in this country have to share with one another. Take the matter of language in Nigeria. You cannot take five steps in this country without being accosted by some tonguetwisting tongue which you can indeed hear, but cannot make head or tail of because it’s all Greek to you. And when many of them are all going off around you like fireworks, it’s all you can do not to feel lonely, particularly when one feels left out of the gossip. Words, words everywhere, and not a sense in them.

Indeed, in places where people even share a similar language, such as some West African countries, geographical considerations have put so many miles of divisions between them that they cannot both agree on what a straight line is. I’m sure you have heard that England and America are one country divided by a common language. So, with so many tribes and tongues differing from each other, as the old anthem used to say, it is no wonder no one can hear what

anyone else is saying in this country. And I keep wondering, which one of them is really Nigerian?

Perhaps, the culinary system can give some clues. But, the same confusion besets the unwary gastronome who ventures out of the dishes of his own tongue and tribe. He soon finds that there are as many dishes in the land as there are possibly sounds in the languages. Worse, he finds that what is food in one tribe is anathema in another. Whereas I can swear by AMALA, some tribes think it’s the devil’s own food. Whereas some tribes regard a millet-based alcoholic brew as toxic, other tribes generally wake up their dead with it. But woe is that stomach that cannot stomach the lizards rejected by his own tribe but regarded as a delicacy in another.

Poor him, they will say, if only he speaks our language.

Perhaps, I tell myself, house designs might be the point of our unification, you know, like the igloo is for all Eskimo tribes. The igloo design is not only invariable, cone-shaped it is; it even helps the people huddle together for warmth in their huts, individually of course.

The designs in Nigeria, au contraire, are as unpredictable as the findings of Christopher Columbus when he set sail for India in search of gold and discovered America. Let us set sail from the north to the south and see.

Rolling from the north, we will find designs which combine Turkish, Moroccan and rococo styles rolled into elaborate court-yarded houses or single-space thatched huts. To the south, there are the rather staid and stoic bungalow, tenement and apartment houses punctuated occasionally by a design clearly imported from Italy and proclaiming loudly to those who care to listen, ‘My money has arrived!’ You know those houses?

They are the ones that have neither rhyme nor reason, and many rooms.

Which then is the Nigerian house design among them?

Let’s go to clothing. Someone once said that some people dress, so that they may be recognized and others do, so that they may not. In these modern times, there does not appear to be the specific Nigerian dress. Don’t get me wrong. There are specific apparels designating this particular area of the world, such as the agbada, babanriga, buba and iro, etc., but they appear to be more of costumes suitable for pantomimes, vaudeville halls or dress rehearsals for regency balls. Again, don’t get me wrong. I wear them, but only after I have warned myself that they are not designed for running fast in a fire outbreak. So I usually have a contingency plan should that happen.

Now, you see my dilemma. I cannot find in these things what you and I share together as ‘Fellow Ni-

gerians.’ However, there is respite.

For starters, you and I share a liability which goes by several names, my favourite being NEPA, perhaps because it rhymes so beautifully with leper. Anyway, you and I in the whole world are the only ones who understand the entire gamut of meaning resident in the phrase, ‘AH, AH, NEPA!’ and its opposite ‘UP NEPA!’ No one else knows, so let’s be quiet on it.

Between the two of us also lies the knowledge that it is possible for clean water to flow into the taps of every thatched hut in the land – rococo styled or not –, if only the governments would put their mind and back to it. After all, if it is possible for people to build big houses and install big pipes and then kindly compel everyone to come to their houses to fetch their own shares, then the governments can do even better and bring it to our huts.

So, now, when we stop on the road to have a chat, you and I can come to the conclusion that the government will not let our taps flow; that there will always be UP NEPA; and Nigerian leaders will continue to stash money where they will never live to use it – in places even they can no longer reach after a while. Good. I feel so much better now knowing that it is not language, food or dress that ties us together; we are unwittingly tied together by our failures. Welcome, Fellow Nigerian.

16

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Focus

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

17

A scene of Boko Haram violence . Inset is their late leader, Yusuf

The unending riddle of Boko Haram B

OKO HARAM, the Islamic militant Sect whose origin and sponsors are yet to be known is feared by police, dreaded by politicians: Muslim and Christian religious leaders do not discuss its affairs in the open and traditional rulers go hush hush about its activities.

Boko Haram, which means “Western Education is Evil “in Hausa language, is a, name adopted by the Islamic Fundamentalist sect. like its predecessor, the Maitatsine, an Islamic sect which killed, maimed, destroyed, and controlled the core North in the 1980s Boko Haram has continued to instill terror making lives of Nigerians living in the North, particularly those in Bauchi, Borno, Katsina States The sect first announced its presence in Bauchi in July 2009 when it launched its first attack on Dutsen Tanshi Police Station, in Bauchi Metropolis densely populated area, where lives were lost on both sides during the attack and defence gun duel. It was however subdued as government security agencies reinforced and dislodged the sect members from their well-coordinated hideout, scattering them in the process.

Angered by its unsuccessful expansionist desire and arrest of over hundred of its members in Bauchi, the sect went back to its headquarters in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, where it regrouped, went back to the drawing board before launching a fresh attack on the Police in the old Kanem-Bornu Empire stronghold. Like in Bauchi, it declared war against Government establishments. It accused the government of not only running its (Government) affairs corruptly, it demanded that government affairs must be settled in strict compliance with the dictates of Shariah Laws.

At the Maiduguri declaration, it took

Austine Tsenzughul, reviews the increasing menace of the Boko Haram sect the government security agencies several hours and with more superior tactics applied before the stronghold of the sect was captured. Its leader, Mallam Muhammad Yusuf was arrested, but was said to have later been killed extrajudicially. The killing of Yusuf did not only raise national and international questions as to who ordered his hasty execution without interrogation, the riddle as to who were Yusuf’s financiers and many other questions were also not answered The suspicious killing of the Boko Haram boss raised so much dust within and outside Nigeria such that that late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had to wade in, asking the National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau to investigate the circumstances under which the leader was summarily executed.

Expectedly, the execution of Mallam Muhammad Yusuf aggravated the sect more, as it vowed to avenge the death of its boss. This revenge began as a gorillalike war, picking and killing policemen and soldiers randomly. Some religious leaders and known persons who opposed their style of operations, rebuff demand, revealed their secrets or refused to support and or cooperate were murdered in cold blood.

Such killings were initially targeted at government officials, private individuals and public commentators as well as preachers against Boko Haram.

In Bauchi, on the eve of the end of 2010 Ramadan Fast on September7 with the aid of serving soldiers from the 3 Armoured Division of Nigeria Army, the Islamic fundamentalists organized and

successfully carried out a rescue operation on Bauchi Prison and freed their over 100 members awaiting trial. They also freed other convicts and detainees. And in their trail they left not less than five innocent persons including security men lifeless.

The situation in Bauchi, the state capital, is that, since the first attack on the Dutsen Tanshi Police Station by Boko Haram, followed by the Kala Kato’s (another Islamic sect) uprising, life and social activities have not been the way they were before the outbreak of ethno-religious violence of April 1992 in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Council of the state.

That crisis claimed several lives, destroyed property estimated in millions of Naira and even continued to May, 2011.

To any Bauchi resident and those that have followed developments in the state for the past 10 years, the Boko Haram onslaught is not strange as the ethnoreligious crisis in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the state and the eruption of violence from the neighboring Plateau State had already softened the ground for the sect’s operations. This perhaps aptly explained why the fundamentalists camped for a while, carried out thorough checks before it launched the first attack in the state.

Besides the April 1992 to May 2011 ethno-religious violence that laid a solid foundation for the sect in the state, another school of thought has it that, the post election violence that claimed the lives of 10 National Youth Corp Scheme members serving in the state and others, was meant to test run their face-to-face combative readiness in the state.

So far, three bomb blasts have been

experienced this year (2011) at Dutsen Tanshi Police Station, Shadawanka Army Barracks Mammi Market in the state capital, another at Bulkachuwa Police Outstation, Katagum Local Government Area.

A locally constructed bomb from a vegetable oil can dropped by an unknown person in a crowded church during service was not detonated and disaster was averted.

It would be, therefore, an understatement given the (bomb) explosion in Dan-Boa, Maiduguri, Bauchi, Bulkachuwa, Jos, Minna, Katsina and Abuja to which the feared sect was linked to say that for the residents of Bauchi State, the fear, open discussion, and visits to crowded places is the beginning of selfdiscipline laced with constant prayers.

The development has not only hindered the movements and activities of the majority of the civilian population, policemen, and women who appear to be easy targets for the dreaded group are more apprehensive and no longer sure of their safety even on official duty. As precautionary measures, police officers living outside Police barracks either leave their uniforms at their place of work, dress in mufti at the close of their day’s duties or wear Baban Riga or Kaftans on top of their uniforms to work and dress in the same way back to their homes at the close of their work.

While some are pressing to be transfered to rural areas or outstations, others are doing all they can to be reassigned to states believed to be no-goareas for the fundamentalists. Besides the onslaught of Boko Haram creating a general insecurity atmosphere, most policemen from the ranks of constable to Superintendent of Police (SP) across the • Continued on page 18

18

Life

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

4-1-WEIRD

Mother-in-law’s email about future bride’s uncouth behaviour goes viral Keeping tabs on people and events in cyber space

WHO’S TALKING...

•Heidi with former fiance

THIS report was posted on by www.saharareporters.com via Facebook: “In an irony of very dark proportions, Nigeria’s electricity consumers nationwide will today begin to pay more for phantom and erratic power supplies. The average price per kilowatt hour of electricity will rise to N10, up from N8.50.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced this in Abuja. Consumers had expected that the new tariff will take effect in January 2012, following an earlier announcement by NERC Chairman, Sam Amadi.

Mr. Amadi had said that in order to complete working out all the parameters associated with generation, transmission and distribution, the new rates had been delayed till 2012 as directed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

‘This will, among other things, enable the commission to engage further with all relevant stakeholders for their understanding and also align the review dates with the calendar of most businesses, especially in the Nigerian electricity supply industry and the gas supply sector,’ he said in the past Following the development, which is certain to boost inflation in the country, a large number of consumers besieged different sales outlets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria to buy prepaid cards in order to beat the deadline, which expired at midnight last night.”

This caused a lot of uproar on their website, these are a few of the comments posted: Concerned This is the climax of event that should incite the

ever-quite Nigerians to wake up but it is not so because, all the politicians have their generators to supply them electricity 24/7.

Why should Nigerians pay even 1/2 naira extra to “complete working out all the parameters associated with generation, transmission and distribution” when unaccountable billions of dollars have been sunk into this power sector by past Nigerian presidents and their cohort politicians? so it is the money of the poor Nigerians that would now be used to resuscitate the leprous PHCN. I hope the billings will only be given according to service and not vice -versa as usual.Nigeria is boiling, it will explode very soon!

Johnson Audu Really, it is “Paying More for Nothing” - not for less cos we don’t really have the light. Its unfortunate, and very callous of our so-called leader.

Oyedeji Jaiyeola Refunds should be issued, as opposed to hike in prices!!! Only in Nigeria does a power company charge more for epileptic power supply!!!

SO when Heidi Withers received a vitriolic email apparently from her fiancé’s step-mother, accusing her of a lack of manners, it was clear she had not got off on the right foot.

Unfortunately things got a great deal worse when she forwarded the stern email to some of friends - who astonished by its tone - decided to give it a wider audience.

In no time at all the email had gone viral, becoming an internet sensa-

PICTURE OF THE DAY

OMG!!! DID YOU KNOW..

DENTISTS have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least six (6) feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.

A snail can sleep for three years If you are an average Lagos, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights.

FREE DOWNLOADS PLAY Records All Stars mixtape is up for download at www.bellanaija.com.

The label which comprises Rilwan, Bush, Kanebi and Mimi, has features the Late Sazzy and Syndik82 s Lynxxx on this mixtape. It sounds like a chart banger about to explode so hurry before the links crash!!!

Snakes crawling out of a person’s mouth just doesn’t sound like a appealing idea.

Source:www.amazingpictures4you.com

tion, and reaching tens of thousands of readers. Problems began when Miss Withers, 28, a PA, who lives with her fiancé Freddie Bourne in Fulham, west London, visited his parents at their home in Dawlish, Devon.

Following the visit, Freddie’s step-mother, Carolyn Bourne, 60, a celebrated flower breeder, apparently fired off an email to her future daughter-inlaw accusing her of being uncouth, rude and graceless.

The email said: “It is high time someone explained to you about good manners. Yours are obvious by their absence and I feel sorry for you.

It went on: “Your behaviour on your visit to Devon during April was staggering in its uncouthness and lack of grace.”

It added: “If you want to be accepted by the wider Bourne family I suggest you take some guidance from experts with utmost haste. There are plenty of finishing schools around.

You would be an ideal candidate for the Ladette to Lady television series.

Please, for your own good, for Freddie’s sake and for your future involvement with the Bourne family, do something as soon as possible.”

The email said Miss Withers’ behaviour had been so rude that it had left the family dog, Bomber, traumatized, depressed and anxious.

Listing a litany of alleged transgressions, the email accused Miss Withers of staying in bed too late; complaining about the food; cracking inappropriate jokes about the family and failing to send a card thanking them for their hospitality.

It also said: “You regularly draw attention to yourself. Perhaps you should ask yourself why...It is vulgar.”

In addition Mrs Bourne apparently criticised her future daughter-in-law’s plans for the wedding and said her aspirations were outstripping her finances.

The email said: “No one gets married in a castle unless they own it. It is brash, celebrity style behavior. I understand your parents are unable to contribute very much towards the cost of your wedding. (There is nothing wrong with that...). If this is the case, it would be most ladylike and gracious to lower your sights and have a modest wedding as befits both your incomes.”

And in a stinging payoff she apparently remarked: “One could be accused of thinking that Heidi Withers must be patting herself on the back for having caught a most eligible young man. I pity Freddie.”

Miss Withers and Mr. Bourne have been together for several years and enjoyed an extensive trip across the United States in 2009 but all of that is most likely to head down the drain with this public embarrassment.

This is the latest example of an email that has caused embarrassment after going viral.

In 2009, Holly LeamTaylor, a graduate trainee at consultants Deloitte quit after emails she sent to friends discussing attractive male staff, spread like wildfire across the internet.

So I guess the moral of the story is be careful with what you post on the internet.

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

N.B: You can send your jokes, pictures and gist online to pearlohai@yahoo.com

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

PAGE 19

‘My labours of the past are in vain’ Page 21

•Uche at work

PHOTO: EDOZIE UDEZE

Uche Nwosu: An endearing story of recovery Uche Nwosu, a seasoned visual artist, was mowed down by stroke in 2006. His right hand and leg were paralysed. He also suffered loss of memory. Today he has learnt to paint with his left hand, getting prepared for an exhibition of some of his works soon. Edozie Udeze had a chat with him

H

E first welcomes you with broad smiles. Then as he comes closer, he thrusts his chest out playfully. “Yeah, getting better,” he’d say to relieve the tension and fear you may have for him. Then he holds your hand and slowly drags you along to his office. There he would make you look at and admire some of his art works. “Sure, I paint now,” he’d say to you with smiles.

Until he was struck by stroke in January 2006 Uche Nwosu was a bubbling artist, often travelling round the world for seminars and workshops and exhibitions. Presently he is only about recovering from that traumatic incident that took everybody around him on that day by surprise.

This incident happened in January 2006, during the African Nations Cup cohosted by

Nigeria and Ghana. A match was going on and Uche was busy as he was wont to on his lap top, drawing some sketches for an impending art exhibition. Suddenly, a loud cry and crash was heard. He lay down there on the floor as he fell from his chair foaming from mouth. As he did so, his right hand and leg started shaking vigorously; life was gradually ebbing out of him.

This happened at Abegi, a popular sitout at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, where fun-seekers and friends hang out at will.

Immediately, a few people gathered to see Uche struggling between life and death. A car was quickly provided to take him to the hospital. By then his whole body was almost lifeless as he shut and opened his eyes

•‘Key’, charcoal, 2010

•Continued on page 20

20

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Life

•Continued from page 19

intermittently. His breath was hard and a lot of his friends had even begun to doubt if he would pull through.

At General Hospital (Ayinke House) Ikeja, where he was rushed to, doctors quickly rallied round to revive him. Series and series of injections were administered to stabilize his condition. By midnight, it appeared that he might pull through; the only fear was whether he would ever regain his power of speech. But even in that uncertain situation, Uche was said to be struggling with a lot of effort and energy to remain mobile, to keep pumping life back into his being.

Today Uche is yet to fully recover from this sickness that has kept him immobile for five years. But he is not giving up. He drags himself to work everyday. As soon as he sights a familiar face, he’d intone “hei, hei.” That’s about the simplest word he can utter these days. The rest he does with smiles and laughter.

Then he begins to walk slowly towards you, almost dragging his right leg and hand. But what Uche has in abundance is laughter. He laughs a lot, and tries to make you feel no pity for him. “oh, no pity,” he manages to say as you approach him and make to frown your face in pity. Then he stretches his left hand for a hand shake. If he is very fond of you, he would give you the right hand to play with. He would then tickle you with it, saying,” yeah life is here, small, small.” Then he pricks your conscience with disarming smiles.

Getting Uche to sit down for a chat was almost herculean. When he eventually agreed, it took all afternoon to get words out of him.

He still has not recovered sufficiently well to talk coherently.

He pieces his words together to make meaning. Mostly, he is aided by one of his friends and colleagues, Emeka Odiari to get some of his memories back. Uche loves to be teased about past events which he relishes with ease and fondness.

On the day of the incident Uche had curated an art exhibition mounted at the National Theatre, Lagos. It was entitled convergence and involved Don Barber, Uchechukwu James Iroha and other big artists he couldn’t readily recollect their names. “Yeah,” he enthuses, “I… I did it” he manages to stress, asking immediately for a biro to write the names of the artists.

“Aha!” he exclaims trying to remember more. Since two years now, the artist has learnt the use of his left hand. Indeed, he has since returned to the studios to paint works and draw a lot of landscapes. How does it feel learning the use of left hand in such a short time?, he was asked. He looks straight and waits, with his eyes wild with excitement.

“Cool, cool, real cool,” he pauses again to regain his fervor. “Sure, I dey kampe,” he says, still smiling and signaling to Odiari to fill in the missing gap. “Yes,” Odiari interjects,” Uche has done over 20 works now. As the staff of the National Gallery of Art (NGA) we will be hosting an exhibition of his works by May next year. It is to show the world the dexterity of this strong mind and how he has been able to struggle through life for five years,” he explains.

Odiari who has been there from day one to help Uche regain his essence narrates the whole medical processes they underwent to ensure that the artist did not lose his life.”

There was practically no part of the country we did not go to seek medical cure for him,” he says. At Abeokuta, the duo spent two weeks

‘I see hope for survival in people’s smiles’

• Uche, displaying his painting brushes in his studio

during which a makeshift accommodation was provided for Uche. They went there to seek for local cure, but couldn’t stay long.

After a while Uche complained that the cure was slow and that he was not sure if he could recover the use of his hands. “I want this hand to be back to life,” he’d often manage to say to Odiari.

Back to Lagos, he was referred to the Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, (LUTH) Idiaraba. “Yes, we went to those places with big hope and faith,” Odiari discloses.

“Yeah, yeah, Igbobi,” Uche recollects with much ease. “No use…eh, not much help,” he utters, his face a little concocted. “Then from there, we began to go to private hospitals,” Odiari continues.

“Mostly, he was told to ride bicycles, to do exercises, to take a walk from time to time which he indeed was enthusiastic about. It was from then life began to return to him and you could see Uche smile and prattle like a baby,” Odiari recollects, pinching the artist a bit for acclaim. Uche giggles, with a cloud of mist in his eyes. It was like a primary two teacher and his pupil, the accord was real and the friendship deep and profound.

He was then asked what keeps him aglow; why has he chosen to overcome all odds to live. Pulling the reporter’s hand for pen and paper, he writes,” when I wake up and see the blue skies, the colourful rays of the sun… oh, am happy.”

Suddenly he looks up into the sky and beams an impeccable smile.

You could still see hope and faith returning to his bearing as he says…

“And when people say Uche how you dey? Then I will say, I dey kampe.” He reaches for the biro again. “Then smiles on people’s faces for me… oh, too good,” he ponders.

The speed with which Uche writes is not same as when he paints.

He writes slowly, even slower than a child of six years. Often he misspells some words, yet when he paints, the ferocity is higher. You can hardly know he is not left-handed. “Ah!’ he charges. “Colours make me feel cool.” Colours? What colours? Now, as if out of mid-day reverie, he draws a magazine on the table closer to him, indicating sky blue and ash colours

• ‘Church’, charcoal, 2010

as his favourites. And so whenever he handles his brushes in his studios, those colours come rummaging and stirring his inner glow. “Oh painting good for me, good for my soul,” he enthuses, still staring at the two colours.

“Whenever I hold the brush,” he says holding, his breath momentarily, “I see life, I see the whole horizon.”

Uche Nwosu who until his sickness was like an in-house artist of Goethe (German Cultural Centre) Lagos, is an internationallyacclaimed painter, artist and scholar. Not only that in 2003, he

mounted one of the best exhibition of art works that Goethe has ever experienced in Nigeria, he made some remarkable and prophetic statements with some of the works, that Goethe had to acquire some for keeps. “Yeah pogrom, pogrom,” he reflects with deep nostalgic feeling.

Pogrom was indeed a painting that dwelt on deep crises that would engulf parts of the world sooner or later. The indices of wars, strife, strikes, hunger, and so on, reflected in that work, such that it attracted the attention of m any visiting art collectors. But Uche could not readily proffer the reason why the Centre

decided to keep that work. All he could say is: “Oh, good, pogrom, good work,” then he seems to relapse into silence again.

Trained at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) where he studied Fine and Applied Arts, (1986-1991), Uche boasts that he was trained by some of the best teachers in the sector. “Ha , ha!” he croaks in his characteristic manner. “sure, Professors Uche Okeke (one of the Zarian rebels), Udechukwu Obiora… ah many taught me,” He then casts his mind back to remember more. “No good… next time,” he promises, grinning profusely.

He equally remembered that he was often on the ticket of Goethe to attend seminars, workshops and conferences in different parts of Germany. But this is an admission he made with a lot of humility. “Oh, not anymore,” he submits, with tears almost streaming down his face. Recovering quickly however, he says, “Yeah, sure, it was good…

Those days” Apart from a solo exhibition he did at the National Museums and Monuments in 1996, Uche, was in 2005, elected the Secretary General of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Lagos State chapter. His tenure was to end in 2007, but he admits equally that writing gives him his greatest artistic joy. This is why he has some of his short stories in many anthologies across Nigeria and Africa. An anthology entitled Confluence and edited by ANA in 2006 also contains some of his short stories.

“A lot of people brought their works to him for editing,” Odiari chips in.” And when he edits you, you are sure he has done it quite thoroughly,” he says, sizing Uche up. Uche grins and says nothing.

Uche Nwosu, 43, was employed as a senior Research Artist by the National Gallery of Art (ANA) in August 2004. He is still in the same position due to his predicament. He is married with a son who is also an aspiring artist. Uche confesses however that since the name Uche Nwosu is very common he has decided to add Gospel to his name and to write Uche in full. He muses over it thus: “Look, Uche Nwosu plenty on the net. Now, I am Gospel Uchechukwu Nwosu… Good, eh?” he asks, his eyes betraying the emotion in his soul. He writes the name, sits back to look at it, then giggles excitedly.

Even in his worse moments the artist in him continues to hold sway.

He has not forgotten those who were there for him. “Oh, my gratitude to Ndidi Dike, Olaitan, late Peter Areh… lots more… Wonderful people. National Gallery of Art, too.

All my friends who smile a lot to me,” he confesses, raising his left hand up in the air for emphasis.

For one thing, Uche is a fervent optimist. He knows that what will be will be and agrees too that what has happened to him is a turningpoint. This is why he has chosen to give so much to his life. “Sure, I take my red wine,” he confesses with vigour. “I sit out a lot with friends both here at the Theatre and at home,” he says.

He also refuses to be bugged down by negative thoughts; that he should slow down. “No”, he exclaims, “Life goes on,” he says as he reaches out to grab his glass of red wine. He sips, swallows slowly, with his eyes shut. Then he opens them and beams “Umh…” An artist has every reason to live. That is Uche Nwosu’s personal attitude to life and he has perfected it for his own continued existence and perseverance.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

D

RESSED in his jalabiya Muslim praying gown that has seen good old time and with a tajia cap to match, he looked unkempt as his appearance exhibited the pitiable condition he is in. In his sparsely furnished sitting room where The Nation met him , the 83- year- old pensioner in hushed and emotion- laden voice stammered ‘’ I have just had my breakfast few minutes to 4pm . I am poor and I don’t have money to buy food. That is why I skipped my breakfast in order to have this lunch. I do not know where my supper will come from, and if I die , of which I don’t pray for now, I know Allah will accept my soul’’. He pointed to the dinning table , and whispered ‘’ That is the remaining tea without milk and sugar I just took.”

With the little energy left in him , Pa Gbadamosi wobbled for a while in the living room and then sank into one of the sofa chairs with the praying rosary in his right hand, rolling the beads one after the other chanting Alau Akbar!, Alau Akbar! , He used his left hand to fiddle with the strands of his grey goatee while nodding his head intermittently.

The octogenarian has fewer teeth in his mouth than normal. His eyes had sunk into his sockets while his skin had become rough not only because of old age but also as result of hunger and uncertainty that had enveloped him. His health had deteriorated. He was nervous as he spoke. ’’I am the oldest man living on this street now and I am not too old to die. But should I die by hunger ?’’ he rhetorically asked as he glanced at the ceiling for some minutes as if that would provide an answer to his questions .

The old man who despite his age still has good memory of his past in the civil service said the civil service years were memorable period he would live to remember. He claimed that he “served his father’s land with vigour, conscience and sincerity.”

Narrating his working years , he said ‘’ I started working in the Federal Civil Service in Federal Ministry of Finance, in the NIPOST Department on August 8th 1955 as a clerical officer and rose to the position of Senior Accountant, Level 10, Step 3 . I retired on 7-3- 1988 on the ground of age after spending 35 years of active service.’’

He showed a photocopy of his disengagement letter dated May 5th, 1987, from the Area Postal Controller ,Oyo Postal Area , Ibadan that reads: “I am directed to inform you that from the records of birth you submitted on your appointment, your date of birth is 7/3/28 as you will attain the age of 60 on 7/3/88 you are hereby advised to ensure that you take annual leave due to you to expire at the eve of your birthday while your retirement from the Federal Public Service becomes effective on your birthday i.e 7/3/88.

Pa Olatunde said he had written several letters to the Presidency through the Office of Civil Service of the Federation

Life

‘My labours of the past are in vain’ Pa Gbadamosi Ganiyu Olatunde, an 83-year- old pensioner cries out that he is dying of hunger as his pension has not been paid for months. Taiwo Abiodun who visited him in Ijebu- Ode writes

•Pa Gbadamosi

, Abuja, intimating them of his plight that he has not received his pension for months yet there was no response .

Asked if he did not plan for his retirement while in active service, the old man looked up and said: ’’ I worked very hard, I bought shares with the little I

• Swearing-in/Oaths of office taking Ceremony of the newly appointed commissioners of Enugu State at the Government House...at the weekend PHOTO: Cletus Obi

was earning then but today most of the companies have folded up. I was really obedient and hardworking during my years. I thought I would benefit from the government pension scheme like the former beneficiaries who too had enjoyed, and that I would by now be

21

resting and enjoying my last days on earth without sweat. I thought I would wake up , eat and rest with the position of level 10 I had attained before my retirement which I believe was the best thing to do, but here I am wallowing in abject poverty.’’ .

Asked whether he had any regret working in the public service, the old man looked at this reporter and responded in a croaked voice that showed his regrets and anger and declared: ’’ In those days nobody was willing to work in companies because of the government’s pension scheme. We were counselled that the best job then was that of the Civil Service so that when we retire home we would have something to fall back upon. But see what we are all experiencing now, we are falling back on poverty .’’

According to Olatunde, pensioners are dying everyday. “You see I am sick, I have no money to go to the hospital, I cannot buy drugs for myself and I have become a beggar on the street. I lost my junior wife sometime ago while my senior wife is sick and had been taken to Abeokuta by her children in order to take care of her. At 83, when I am supposed to be eating from the fruit of my labour, I am still here on earth suffering as if I did not work at all. So all the services I rendered for the past 35 years to my fatherland are in vain.’’

On the efforts he and his colleagues had made so far, the old man said they did not fold their arms. He said they as the Federal Government pensioners used to converge at St Augustine School in Ijebu Ode every Thursday to discuss what should be done. ‘’We had prayed a lot to let God in His mercy take control but no sign of remorse from the Federal Government,’’ he said as he drooped his head dejectedly .

Comparing the jumbo salaries political office holders including House of Representatives members are earning with what the pensioners are supposed to be receiving, he declared: ’’ I jotted this down from the newspapers how the politicians are being paid mouth watering salaries while we old ones who had sweated for a decent living now live and I are weeeping . I think the younger ones especially those in the corridors of power should remember us the old ones and have mercy on us .These politicians’ parents are enjoying and we are here suffering .Are we not in this same country and going to the same market?”

He continued: “My meagre pension is N24,000. My last two children are still in the university and I am living alone here.

The most painful thing is that if I die today sympathisers would believe I was old enough to die not knowing that hunger, sickness and worries contributed to my death which was caused by the federal government who did not pay my pension.’’

IF have any story for us contact: TAIWO ABIODUN on 08034157684

•Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia State receiving the keys to two Hilux Vehicles and Torches donated to The Nigerian Police , Abia State command By C.Y.Foundation from their President of the foundation Sir C.Y.Nwankwo in Umuahia.

22

Focus

• Continued from page 17

state who spoke to our reporter in strict confidence would want to leave the force if they have a better option now.

However, Mr. Mohammed Barau, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and the spokesperson of Bauchi State Police Command told The Nation that: “There is no security threat in Bauchi. As far as Bauchi is concerned, there is no bad situation”. Barau also declined much comment on the many applications for transfer from non-Bauchi indigenes serving the state. He said: “The issue of transfer is a policy matter that I am not fit to comment on you can meet the Commissioner of Police”.

He also refused to say why many policemen come to work in mufti and leave at the close of the day in the same outfit but wear police uniforms in their offices.

More than ever before, there is palpable distrust among the rank and file of the Police Force in the state. According to One Inspector who spoke to our reporter in confidence, “from what we read about Boko Haram, they have infiltrated the rank and file of the force, especially in Bauchi and Borno States, so much so that you don’t know whom you will be discussing with in your office or anywhere. The espirit d’ corps is no longer there. We no longer trust one another each other.

It is to be noted that, while the membership of Boko Haram cuts across all segments of the society, in military and civilian, seemingly in Northern Nigeria, it is difficult for the government to pick and deal easily and decisively with what has been referred to as a faceless but dreaded group and its demands. This is unlike the case of defunct Niger Delta Militant groups, and protagonists of Biafra State known as MASSOB. In a bitter reflection, Deede Nwagwu Onuoha, an 82 year-old man who claimed to have taken part in the 1967 to 1970 Nigerian Civil War, said “My pikin, my son, I feel bitter today, because when Ikemba of Nnewi, Odumegwu Ojukwu saw all these

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Missionaries of terror

According to legal practitioners in Bauchi, Borno, and Yobe States who separately spoke in confidence, the demand is tantamount, to asking for their nation state. One of the commentators said. The Islamic militants want a republic of their own. They want the 12 states excised from the 36 states including Abuja.

They want nationhood, separate from Nigeria, like what is happening in Sudan.

This is the interpretation. And this does not require the knowledge of constitutional lawyer to tell you this; this is a common translation of their demand”.

But what happens to the minority indigenous ethnic groups that are Christians living a the twelve states where the sect wants to live under the Shariah Law who may not be willing to become Islamized? Some of these ethnic Christians are in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina Kebbi, Sokoto, Niger, •Arms used by Boko Haram militants in Damboa Divisional Police station in Maiduguri, killing three police Yobe, and Zamfara. officers and two civilians.

Mallam Adi Na’Allah, a Bauchi based public things and said Igbos should have our own also asked the North to go and the rest of commentator and a concerned Muslim said: country, Yoruba and Northerners refused”. Nigeria to remain. But he was killed by ‘’As a sixty-two year old Muslim who has The octogenarian rhetorically asked: “Is Northern soldiers Oga”. been interacting with Muslim scholars for over Ojukwu not justified by his action in the The Boko Haram demands, for absolute forty years, I find it difficult to understand what attempt for Igbos to have their country. But adoption and total practice of Shariah law Boko Haram is all about, and what exactly the my son, we, Igbos will continue to ask for in the 12 Core Northern States in Nigeria group wants. Nobody has come out to say he our nation. Ojukwu was not alone’’. and the resignation of the democratically is the leader now and expresses the desire of He said further‘’In the 1980s, one Benue elected Governor of Borno State Kashim the sect to negotiate or dialogue with any soldier whom God opened his eyes to see Shetima. authority over the demands of the group’’. all the bad things happening to Nigeria, and

23 SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

•Authors and guests at the forum

An ode to the book C

LOTHED in camouflage shorts, Tshirt, and hat and brandishing a sword, Opeyemi Dada, a Theatre Arts student of the University of Ibadan, marched out. Bearing the swagger and lithe carriage of the man bent on bearing the brawns on hapless emissaries, the actor demonstrated might coupled with belligerent posturing and utterances, which clearly announced his might. He represented people with apathy for the book. Opposite him, clad in an academic gown, and holding in her hands a book, was Nike Bennett, also a student of the same department , who represented the ‘book’.

Despite the flowing tirades of intimidation the sword portended, she never cowered. Not for a second. Rather, with a quiet confidence, she countered each affront with appropriate and somewhat cheeky responses. Concluding the ‘sword’ blurts; “At my name, all knees shall bend, all heads shall bow.” The Book didn’t bate for response and said; “At your death, I shall bear your epitaph in hard and cold letters.” The book succeeds where the sword falters. The play which was Dr. Tunde Awosanmi’s was first performed at a meeting of the Aca-

Professor Niyi Osundare at the third Author’s Forum recently organised by University Press Plc. bared his mind about the importance of the book, Joe Agbro Jr., writes demic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in 1995 during the dark days of General Sani Abacha’s rule.

And penultimate Wednesday, the play heralded keynote address of Professor Niyi Osundare which he titled, ‘homage to the book’ at the third edition of the ‘Authors Forum’ organised by University Press Plc. The event which took place at the conference centre of the Kakanfo Inn, Ibadan had in attendance Professor Akachi Ezeigbo of the Department of English who chaired the occasion, Professor J. P. Clark, Dr. Lekan Are, His Majesty, Professor Chukwuemeka Ike, as well as other eminent authors such as Professor Akinwumi Isola, and Adebayo Faleti.

It was however Osundare that stole the show with his keynote address. Exhibiting his poetic side, Osundare made interesting the serious issue of declining book culture in the country. He started; “The book is very much alive,”

starting a discourse on the perceived disappearance of the book and reading culture. He berated the presidential initiative of the ‘Bring back the Book campaign’ which he said highlighted “one of Nigeria’s staple national characteristics – the elaborate celebration of contradiction.” The distinguished professor of English at the University of New Orleans, as if in conversation with the book posited; “I can hear the book saying in justifiable anger – who drove me away in the first place and why all this highpowered fuzz about my return at this time of all times?”

To Osundare, the book has always been there, but a stifling economy has reduced its importance among the populace. He asks; “how sincere are the authors of Nigeria’s ‘Bring back the book’?”

He says so crucial is the living standard that Osundare submitted in his treatise that “beyond the photo ops and sound bites,” government must play its crucial

role. “The book is too important a tool to be left out of national planning. But before we can bring back the book, we must first of all bring back our politics, then our economy, and our educational system.” Osundare further said; “we must bring back our value system. We must bring back a steady power supply so that we can read night and day without hindrance.”

Osundare has authored over 15 books of poetry and maintains a regular poetry column in the Sunday Tribune, a poem of the month column in 234 Next newspapers, and also a guest columnist for Newswatch magazine. Some of his prizes include the ANA/Cadbury prize for poetry which he has won on two occasions, the Commonwealth Poetry Prize, and the NOMA Award. In 2004, his award-winning book, The Eye of the Heart was selected as one of Nigeria’s • Continued on page 24

24

Arts

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Talking books

• Ezeigbo, Are, and Clark •Continued from 23

best twenty five books in the past 25 years and his poems have been translated into many languages.

Before the Osundare’s address, Professor Ezeigbo, in her opening remarks, took the audience which comprised authors and people in ancillary book publishing industry down memory lane. “I love books. I’ve always loved books since I was a child,” she said.

Expressing dismay at a disappearing reading culture, Ezeigbo said, “I cannot imagine today a world without books.”

Addressing the audience, Ezeigbo said, “one thing that has brought all of us together is the book.” She then reflected on the declining reading and remembered a time when a dearth of books prevailed in the country. Recalling her visits to her grandparents’ village as a child where she never saw her grandparents reading or found books around the house, Ezeigbo, however said the situation has improved.

“Now, we take books for granted. Today,

R

ECENTLY, Children’s Art Development Initiative (CHAIN) a non-governmental organization (NGO) organized a children’s funfair in Lagos. The idea was to make children feel a sense of belonging as they mounted the stage to dramatise a play entitled Herbert Macaulay and the spirit of Lagos. It is a play written by Professor Akinwunmi Orojide-Isola, formerly of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State.

With the students of Osodi senior High School, in tow to act the play, the atmosphere was agog with children rearing to go. The play dwells on Herbert Macaulay as one of the foremost nationalists who spent all his time for the freedom of Nigeria.

In itself, the play tried to justify why Lagos is coined Centre of Excellence and why it has since remained the meltingpoint in the nation’s socio-political and economic life. And so the students assumed so many roles personified in some events and people who have in one way or the other touched on the lives of Lagosians.

According to the founder of CHAIN, Pamela Udoka “the play essentially chronicles the engaging saga that defined Lagos politics at the beginning of 20th century. It recounts their gallant deed.

CHAIN has been having programems on stage to catch the kids young. “It is one of the ways to make catch on time,” Udoka once said. To her, acting is life and it has to be demonstrated from time to time by the young ones. “We need to imbue them with that sort of interest so that they will not depart from it,” she further said.

As part of the programme, the kids

there is a hardly any Nigerian home where books are not to be found,” the professor of English Language said.

Lauding UP Plc’s efforts, Ezeigbo, who had published with the company said, “they paid royalties,” and urged the company to continue organising events such as the Author’s Forum to get better interaction amongst bibliophiles. She nevertheless hopes that President Goodluck Jonathan’s “’Bring back the Book’ is not a flash in the pan.”

His Majesty Professor Ike also talked about how much economic hardship is stifling and stifles. He lamented the gnawing absence of the culture of public reading. “Some authors in the western world have said they earn more from public readings than from the number of copies sold,” Ike said. He expatiated on the gains on this course. “If you get to see and hear the author of the book read from his work, it would have much impact on you. And also publishers should see it as an avenue to market their books because if you organise public readings, at the end of such read-

• Osundare paying ‘homage to the book’.

ings, many people who are there would purchase the books.”

Chairman of University Press Plc, Dr. Are, appreciated the writers present at the occasion and attributed the continued existence and growth of the company to them. He said, “if you don’t write, there’s nothing to publish.”

Also, the issue of e-publishing was raised and Samuel Kolawole, the managing director of University Press said the company was looking towards that direction in order to catch up with the modern trend of producing electronic content to go along with the hard copies of the book,. “The first set of books with inter-

PHOTOS: JOE AGBRO JR.

active CDs is already set to roll out,” he said.

University Press PLC was founded in 1949 under the name of Oxford University Press Nigeria, and has grown to become one of the reputable publishers in the country. It is engaged in the business of printing, publishing and selling of books in areas of educational and general titles. University Press PLC started indigenizing its titles since 1963, when it came out with the first ever local educational publication in the country,Ijala Are Ode by Oladipo Yemitan. The Company has extensive distribution coverage in Nigeria as well as in Accra, Ghana.

Celebrating Lagos on stage

• Children performing during the last Lagos Heritage festival.

By Edozie Udeze

were made to sing, dance and play drums.

It was fun to see them fully in-charge of proceedings on that day, showing in effect that the struggle of the people of Lagos against colonial oppression was in vain. What is that thing that stands Lagos as the city of excellence? It is the courageous and patriotic ingenuities of Lagosians which transcend social and economic stratification,” she explained.

The students acted their roles to the

total admiration of the audience. It was good to see that acting has indeed permeated them on stage. Without any stage fright or the like the kids displayed their complete mastery of the stage.

Like the playwright rightly pointed out, “As we keep updating our legends, we must not forget the history, because history is the basic of the legends. And as Faulkner said a past is never dead”.

In fact it was difficult to control the large crowd. At a stage, the conference/ banquet hall of the National Theatre, La-

PHOTO: JOE AGBRO JR.

gos, venue of the event seemed rather too small to contain them.

Dressed in different costumes and traditional outfits, the kids were in jolly good mood to be part of the shows by CHAIN. “This outfit is purposely to encourage the kids to be who they want to be without inhibitions,” Udoka further explained.

For years, the NGO has been organizing children-related events both within and outside Lagos. Celebrating Lagos however, was the climax of it all when the kids chorused Eko oni baje o.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

I

N a country where the practice and protection of Human Rights is looked at as the exclusive preserve of NGOs and Civil Society Organisations, and is at best taught only in law faculties of Nigerian Universities as an elective course, Lloyd Megwara’s initiative with this book is most timely and welcome.

The author, a Lagos-based legal practitioner with over 20 years active practice experience, explains in the Preface to the book that it is an attempt by him ‘to fill the yearning (sic) gap’ by offering his own modest contribution to the development of Human Rights jurisprudence in Nigeria and the building of a better society. As he states further, the style and simplicity of the book clearly shows it is not intended for lawyers alone, but everyone who has an interest in the subject matter. Megwara deserves commendation for putting forth a book in this area of the law.

The text commences with a history of the evolution of Human Rights, informing the reader that the concept is an amplification of the inalienable rights endowed on Man

by God to make his existence on earth worthwhile and meaningful.

When reading the book, one discovers that Megwara is knowledgeable in his chosen area, and passionate about it as well. The subject matter is deeply researched, and the author makes copious references to various sources while drawing examples from real life scenarios.

It is not odd to find references to the Otokoto saga in Imo State, or the killing of the

Books

The right to know Boko Haram mastermind, Mohammed Yusuf, or the withholding of Local Government Funds meant for Lagos State by the Federal Government. Although the entire book is enthralling, one would not hesitate to recommend chapters 2 (The Right to Life), 3 (Dignity of Human Person), 5 (Personal Liberty), 6 (Freedom of Expression), 8 (Freedom from Discrimination), and 9 (Right to Property) for reading as the author puts forth interesting thoughts and arguments on certain legislation and their effect on the rights of persons e.g. the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Decree No. 13 of 1995 and The Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State 2007 and their attendant restrictions on an individual’s right to personal liberty; or the ignoble Land Use Act and its implications for the right to property.

Megwara also adduces intriguing posers and submissions, as one would expect from a long-standing member of the profession to which he belongs. In Chapter Four for example, under the right to a counsel of choice, he argues that courts should insist on the production of proof of payment of annual practising fees by lawyers appearing before them.

The object of this, he claims, is to stamp out fake lawyers who bring the profession into disrepute. In another chapter, speaking on the then Proposed FOI Bill, now an Act of the National Assembly, he posits that the 1999 Constitution cannot

confer a greater right to information than the Constitution as the Constitution expressly guarantees both the individual and the Press the right to information via the right to freedom of expression.

Being a book on Human Rights, the author does not neglect to treat the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Rules of 2009, concluding that overall, it is an improvement on the 1979 version. He calls out members of the Judiciary, the National Human Rights Commission, the Police and Lawyers and tasks them to intensify their efforts in taking on Human Rights’ violations and abuses and to entrench the Rule of Law in the society.

A number of errors however place a dampener on what would have been an otherwise well-turned out work. To start off, the book’s Preface was printed in reverse manner. It began at page ix and ended at page xii, but one had to read it by turning the pages backward, from right to left, as if reading a book written in Arabic or Hebrew. One hopes this error was restricted to the one copy which fell into the hands of the reviewer.

Another obvious editorial lapse was in the arrangement of local and foreign cases. Apart from the unnecessary duplication of both, spanning pages xvii to xxvii, the cases were not listed in the proper alphabetical order. Although listed from A through to Z, the arrangement was not diligently followed through, thus a case like

“Andrew Monye v. T.F.T.M (2002) 15 NWLR (part 789) 209” is followed by “ACB v.

Okonkwo (1997) 1 NWLR (part 480) 194.” In the same vein, “Gwaram v. Superintendent of Prisons (1960) NRNLR 5,” precedes “Garba v. University of Maiduguri (1986) 1 NWLR (part 18) 550.” These are just a few samples.

Contrary to the standard for texts of this nature, there is no reference to the pages in the book where the cited cases are mentioned. Might it be a gimmick to get readers to read the entire book, not just snippets of it? To compound matters, there is no list explaining the abbreviations of the law reports. It could be argued that this is optional, but even in texts directed solely at law students and lawyers, this is always present, how much more in a book directed at the general public. Another omission is the lack of a subject matter index. An index, no matter how basic, would have been welcome and greatly eased the burden of many a researcher making use of the book.

Also, it is rather upsetting that the author puts the Statue of Liberty on the cover of a book with a Nigerian purview.

Megwara attempts to explain this by saying it is done in recognition of the United States being the first country to incorporate a bill of rights into its constitution, but it is hard to believe that no images or graphics could be found in Nigeria to convey the message of liberty and freedom.

This exposé of the shortcomings in this book is not to ridicule the writer, but to encourage him to improve upon them in revised, or subsequent editions of the book since it is to be hoped that the he will not stop at this first edition, but will strive to ensure updated revisions to cover developments in the area of H u m a n Rights.

In validation of the author’s claims, the book is written in a simple manner, easily understood by lawyers and non-lawyers alike. One hopes that this bid to keep it simple is not the reason why many avoidable proofing errors were glaring in the book.

On the whole, apart from these editing errors and the odd typographical error, mainly misspellings and wrong use of tense, Megwara’s style is lucid and his thoughts flow logically into one another, there is little or no disconnect. He does not resort to using difficult, long-winding words or unnecessary Latin terminology. His points are put forth convincingly but not in a brash, aggressive manner. Despite the fact that it is an academic work,

25

the book is difficult to put down once you have begun reading it. The author has put to good use a highly developed research skill and practical knowledge of his subject to put together a work that should be recommended as a classic addition to the library of any person with even a passing interest in Human Rights.

Title: The Law and Practice of Human Rights in Nigeria Author: Lloyd Megwara Publisher: Olive Publishing, Lagos, Year of Publication: 2010 Reviewer: Ayoka Damilare

The blackbird finds a bed

T

HE potpourri of people in every society and the distinct variants in their idiosyncrasies is startling. Also interesting is the meeting point where paths cross for all. Blackbird is the story of the meeting points and paths. It is Omoniyi’s story, an unemployed junior diploma

holder who was shirking in his society-defined role as bread winner. It is Maya’s story; Omoniyi’s Igbo wife, whose singing voice enthralls listeners and brings respite to the family’s financial burden. It is Nduesoh’s story; born into a poor family and got an “unrivalled” ugly face from God

which gave her a deflated self-esteem. It is the story of Edward, Nduesoh’s white husband and wealthy capitalist. Blackbird is the story of merging and division of classes; it is a story of change and stagnation; it is a story of wealth and poverty living side by side; it is the story of peace and the lack of it. It is our story, as a nation, in pieces and as a whole.

In 322 pages, Jude Dibia struggles, albeit successfully to run a spectrum through a society whose colour is that of a fading country. The years roll by but the dismal situation only deepens. It’s Jude’s third book. With Blackbird, Jude Dibia flies to perch on yet another tree of higher altitude. He grabs readers by the hem of the skirt or trouser and uses soft force to compel to the last page. Jude again reasserts his sharing of a rare character with God-the ability to create. The characters are alive even when they die like Nduesoh and Scorpion.

Omoniyi, Jude’s creation, reminds of Adrian in Walking with Shadows but unlike Adrian, Omoniyi is straight.

Omoniyi, Nduesoh, Maya, Scorpion et al had life breathe in them through Jude Dibia’s pen. All through the book, the sexuality of the characters ooze with the writer staggering on the line that divides

the description of a sex scene in a prose and the writing of pornography. He doesn’t mince words as he refuses to call the breasts, mammary glands or the penis, private part or male organ. With fluid description, Blackbird drags the reader in - ‘He lay spreadeagled on the bed, lording the tiny space as if no one else shared it with him, and his penis stood erect like a lone Iroko tree wedged between two firm boulders in a flawless landscape.’

Blackbird, like a bird would an insect, captures the interlacing problems in society from unemployment, the failure in the health system, the social class system, civil oppression on the streets, the rot in the police service and appalling security situation; and environmental despoliation. The wealth around Nduesoh did not act as barricade for oppression when the opportunity presented itself on the street. It is the letdown of the society to understand and provide for the citizenry that finds its way into homes and ruins some while some stay with deep scars.

History plays a significant role in Blackbird. Set in the post-Abacha era, we still feel the military presence strongly around; policemen are small gods; there are riots; there is extreme poverty.

It is not as if much has changed today. Rolex, Omoniyi’s cerebral colleague rolls the facts and analysis to Omoniyi’s feet, making allusions to the 1983 eviction of Ghanaians from Nigeria at some point. Blackbird also places colonialism and its vestiges in the proper place without a blanket on all whites. The book gives all a voice; it’s a mirror on the Nigerian society except that all have a voice therein, even the very young Deji. It is a plus to the book, as Jude also subtly gives reading recommendations by infusing the book with authors like Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, J.M Coetzee and Sun Tzu. Blackbird is a reminder of what is; what needs to be altered and laid to bed. The dying art of letter writing is gently woken with Omoniyi’s prison notes.

The political class may find the strings in the story and draw lessons even as Nigeria steps into another four drawn years of democracy.

The debates on infidelity and gender roles also play out in Blackbird. The writer questions marriage and its sanctity; the effect of time on relationships; he shows the confusion that happens when social expectation rivals individual choice. These are issues we question every day. In writing Blackbird, Jude is in his best element, lacing

the book with personifications and apposite euphemism. We see Elnugeja and remember our own Ajegunle. Scorpion, the villain all through the novel, he was never given anything but rather he took things is a character we all think we know. Despite the sadness that looms at the end, Blackbird is rich in colour and does not fail to remind us of our misplaced societal priorities of wealth. Edward’s Oasis Hotel habours the angel of death and is ruined. It’s left to the reader’s wild or dull imagination what became of Edward afterwards.

In the well edited book, though with few errors like the ones on pages 297 and 304, Jude takes his time before finally opening the dam of tragedy that floods the latter part of the book. Ogoma keeps Maya alive with a picture that appears real to Omoniyi. Teenagers may read with little parental guidance. The modest effort published by budding Jalaa Writers’ Collective is worthy of being happily nibbled at.

Title: Blackbird Author: Jude Dibia Publishers: Jalaa Writers’ Collective Year of Publication: 2011 No of Pages: 322 Reviewer: Sola Fagorusi

26

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Arts

1st Chapter

Treading the path of terror I

STEERED my little white Subaru around a blind corner on one of the narrow roads that led to the main highway outside the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Stepping lightly on the brake, I slowly approached one of the innumerable checkpoints that dot the roads running to and from Jerusalem.

“Turn off the engine!

Stop the car!” someone shouted in broken Arabic.

Without warning, six Israeli soldiers jumped out of the bushes and blocked my car, each man carrying a machine gun, and each gun pointed directly at my head.

Panic welled up in my throat. I stopped the car and threw the keys through the open window.

“Get out! Get our!”

Wasting no time, one of the men jerked open the door and threw me to the dusty ground. I barely had time to cover my head before the beating began. But even as I tried to protect my face, the heavy boots of the soldiers quickly found other targets: ribs, kidneys, back, neck, skull.

Two of the men dragged me to my feet and pulled me to the checkpoint, where I was forced onto my knees behind a cement barricade.

My hands were bound be-

Son of Hamas is the shocking true story of a Hamas insider who rejected his violent destiny - and is now risking everything to expose closely guarded secrets and show the world a way to peace. hind my back with a sharpedged plastic zip tie that was cinched much too tight.

Somebody blind-folded me and shoved me into the back of a jeep onto the floor. Fear mingled with anger as I wondered where they were taking me and how long I would be gone. I was barely eighteen years old and only a few weeks away from my final high school exams.

What was going to happen to me?

After a fairly short drive, the jeep slowed to a halt. A soldier pulled me from the back and removed my blindfold. Squinting in the bright sunlight, I realized that we were at Ofer Army Base. An Israeli defense base, Ofer was one of the largest and most secure military facilities in the West Bank.

As we moved toward the main building, we passed by several armored tanks, which were shrouded by canvas tarps. The monstrous mounds had always intrigued me whenever I had seen them from outside the gates. They looked like huge, oversized boulders.

Once inside the building, we were met by a doctor who gave me a quick onceover, apparently to make sure I was fit to withstand interrogation. I must have passed because, within minutes, the handcuffs and blindfold were replaced, and I was shoved back into the jeep.

As I tried to contort my body so that it would fit into the small area usually reserved for people’s feet, one beefy soldier put his boot squarely on my hip and pressed the muzzle of his M16 assault rifle into my chest. The hot reek of petrol fumes saturated the floor of the vehicle and forced my throat closed. Whenever I tried to adjust my cramped position, the soldier jabbed the gun barrel deeper into my chest.

Without warning, a searing pain shot through my body and made my toes clench. It was as if a rocket were exploding in my skull.

The force of the blow had come from the front seat, and I realized that one of the soldiers must have used his ri-

fle butt to hit me in the head.

Before I had time to protect myself, however, he hit me again, harder this time and in the eye. I tried to move out of reach but the soldier who had been using me for a footstool dragged me upright.

“Don’t move or I will shoot you!” he shouted.

But I couldn’t help it.

Each time his comrade hit me, I involuntarily recoild from the impact.

Under the rough blindfold, my eye was beginning to swell closed, and my face felt numb. There was no circulation in my legs. My breathing came in shallow gasps. I had never felt such pain. But worse than the physical pain was the horror of being at the mercy of something merciless, something raw and inhuman. My mind reeled as I struggled to understand the motives of my tormentors. I understood fighting and killing out of hatred, rage, revenge, or even necessity. But I had done nothing to these soldiers. I had not resisted. I had done everything I was told to do. I was no threat to them. I was

bound, blindfolded, and unarmed. What was inside these people that made them take such delight in hurting me? Even the basest animal kills for a reason, not just for sport.

I thought about how my mother was going to feel when she learned that I had been arrested. With my father already in an Israeli prison, I was the man of the family.

Would I be held in prison for months and years as he had been? If so, how would my mother manage with me gone too? I began to understand how my dad felt – worried about his family and grieved by the knowledge that we were worrying about him. Tears sprang to my eyes as I imagine my mother’s face.

I also wondered if all my years of high school were

about to be wasted. If I indeed was headed for an Israeli prison, I would miss my final exams next month. A torrent of questions and cries raced through my mind even as the blows continued to fall: Why are you doing this to me?

What have I done? I am not a terrorist? I’m just a kid. Why are you beating me like this?

I’m pretty sure I passed out several times, but every time I came to, the soldiers were still there, hitting me, I couldn’t dodge the blows.

The only thing I could do was scream. I felt bile rising in the back of my throat and I gagged, vomiting all over myself.

I felt a deep sadness before losing consciousness.

Was this the end? Was I going to die before my life had really even started?

Nobel Greats

Camilo José Cela

Winner of Nobel Prize in Literature 1989

"For a rich and intensive prose, which with restrained compassion forms a challenging vision of man's vulnerability"

P

Born: 11 May 1916, Iria Flavia, Spain Died: 17 January 2002, Madrid, Spain Residence at the time of the award: Spain Language: Spanish

RINCIPAL works: Poetry: Pisando la dudosa luz del dia (1956; 1st ed. 1945).

Novels: La familia de Pascual Duarte (1942), Pabellón de reposo (1943), Nuevas andanzas y desventuras de Lazarillo de Tormes (1944), La colmena (1951), Mrs. Caldwell habla con su hijo (1952), La catira (1955), Tobogán de hambrientos (1962), San Camilo I936 (1969), Oficio de tinieblas 5 (1973), Mazurca para dos muertos (1983), Cristo versus Arizona (1988).

Novelettes: Timoteo, el incomprendido (1952), Santa Balbina, 37, gas en cada piso (1952), Café de artistas (1953), El molino de viento (1956), La familia del héroe (1965), El ciudadano Iscariote Reclús (1965).

Collections of short stories, fables, sketches, and miscellane-

ous writings: El gallego y su cuadrilla (1949), Nuevo retablo de Don Cristobita (1957). Los viejos amigos (1960), Gavilla de fabulas sin amor (1962), El solitario y los suerios de Quesada (1963), Toreo de salon (1963), Once cuentos de futbol (1963), Izas, rabizas y colipoterrus (1964), Nuevas escenas matritenses (seven series, 1965 and 1966), Rol de cornudos (1976).

Travel books: Viaje a la Alcarria (1948), Del Mino al Bidasoa (1952), Judios, moros y cristianos (1956), Primer viaje andaluz (1959), Viaje al Pirineo de Lérida (1965), Nuevo viaje a la Alcarria (1986).

Collections of articles: Mesa revuelta (1945),Cajón de sastre (1957), Cuatro figuras del 98 (1959), Garito de hospicianos (1963), Las companies convenientes (1963), Al servicio

de algo (1969), Los sueños vanos, los ángeles curiosos (1979), Los vasos comunicantes (1981), Vuelta de hoja (1981), El juego de los tres madroños (1983), El asno de Buridán (1986).

Plays: María Sabina (1967), El carro de heno o el inventor de la guillotina (1969).

Lexicographic works: Diccionario secreto (I, 1968; II, 1971).

Collected works: Obras completas. 25 vols. (1989-1990).

Founder and director of the journal Papeles de Son Armadans (1956-1979).

Doctor honoris causa at the universities of Syracuse (New York, USA), Birmingham (Great Britain), John F. Kennedy (BuenosAires,Argentina), Palma de Mallorca, Santiago de Compostela, the Interamericana University (San Juan, Puerto Rico), and the He-

brew University of Jerusalem.

Former professor at the University of Palma de Mallorca.

Member of the Real Academia Española.

Member of the Hispanic Society of America, the Society of Spanish and Spanish-American Studies and the Académie du Monde Latin. Honorary member of the Real Academia Gallega, the Real Academia de Buenas Letras (Barcelona), the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Sebastián (Palma de Mallorca), the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, the Cultural Institute Israel - Ibero-America, Spain and Portugal (Jerusalem), the Asociación National de Profesores y Entrenadores de Judo (Madrid), and the Asociación de la Prensa de Madrid (1979; after being expelled in 1952).

LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS QUALIFIERS

FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP

I don’t respect foes’ Beach Eagles will records —Chukwumerije do well, if... —Adamu Pg. 45

Pg. 28

Pg. 22

Nation Sunday, July 3, 2011

Free Copy

PAGE 27

•Dede

•President Goodluck Jonathan with governor Rotimi Amaechi

GARDEN CITY GAMES

Port Harcourt awaits Mr. President Pg. 45

28

NationSport

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

NationSport

FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP

LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS QUALIFIERS

Beach Eagles will do well, if… –Adamu

I don’t respect foes’ records –Chukwumerije

A

D •Adamu HOW would you describe your experience in Casablanca?

The experience we had in Casablanca was the same we’ve had in South Africa.

When we got to the place, any Nigerian they see, they believe he is Jay Jay Okocha.

They will be asking where is Okocha. But really, Casablancans are good people. The moment they see us they will be saying maraba, maraba and we really feel at home in that place.

Was it deferent from South Africa?

South Africa is one of the best places we’ve been. They are more experienced in Beach Soccer, their facilities are second to none when it comes to the tournament.

Nigeria’s loss to Senegal in the final, what really went wrong?

Since we beat Senegal two times in the past editions of the competition held in South Africa, they were really ready, but we lost to a good side. What went wrong was that I believe it was not my goalkeeper’s day. Nobody goes to a competition with the aim of losing. In that final, After Abdulahi Isa got injured in the first period and I replaced him with John Gaadi. If you look at Gaadi, he is one of the best goalkeepers we have in the country. He is playing continental football with Sunshine Stars and this is a keeper that went to Cameroun and stopped a penalty for his side and they won 2-1.

He has been with Beach Soccer team for about three years now, so we don’t know what went wrong. Even before we left, the coordinator, Uti, asked me what was wrong with Gaadi? That he always keep to himself by staying alone, but I said I don’t know.

Psychologically, when we got to Morocco, I called him and asked what was wrong and he said he was fine. So I don’t know and Gaadi is one of the best goalkeepers you can think of, Isa also is one of the best, they’ve been keeping and we’ve been winning, so if we lost we should take it in good faith.

The team played Madagascar twice, but the team gave you a fight in the second meeting…

You see when you hear the name Madagascar, people think it’s just like Chad Republic or Cotonou, in every sports, everybody is awake. There are no minnows any more. Madagascar has been training since January. I asked the coach and he said they prepared for the competition in Senegal, later they went for four-nation tournament in France.

They flew from France to that place and came third in that competition, they played Portugal, Spain, France and took third in that competition. They came straight from that place and if you check the internet you will confirm that. They were so good and if not because they were in our group, if they should be in Group A or Group C, we would have met in the final.

I heard the team missed Nigerian dishes; does that play any negative impact?

T Beijing 2008 Olympics, he saved to a bronze medal feat, though not the best of performances, according to him as the target was the gold medal, he took solace in future opportunities. As he begins his campaign for a memorable outing in the London 2012 Olympics, in the Taekwondo event against Indian’s Sandeep Kundu in far away Buka, Azerbaijan, Chika Chukwumerije is set to prove to the world how ready he is to make a mark at the quadrennial games reports INNOCENT AMOMOH.

ESPITE losing to Senegal in the final of the Africa Beach Soccer Championship held in Casablanca, Morocco, Nigeria’s Super Sand Eagles will be representing the continent at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Italy in September.

Nigeria have played in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Brazil in 2006 and 2007, and in the United Arab Emirate in 2009 without making much impact. But in this interview with AKEEM LAWAL, Chief Coach of the Beach Eagles, Audu Adamu believes early preparation by the team will make them perform better at the world stage. He also spoke about the team’s experience in Casablanca, their exclusion from the list of athletes honoured by President Goodluck Jonathan,inspite their achievements on the African continent. EXCERPTS: It doesn’t have much effect though the player thought they were at home in South Africa. We had an ex-Rangers player who owns a restaurant in South Africa. Every day we go there and eat Akpu, Semovita, Ogbona, Oha and some other Nigerian dishes. So when we got to Morocco, we went to town, we went to Medina, Zarra to find African food but we can only get a Senegal food in a Senegal restaurant which was not good to our Nigerian players.

What food were you eating?

We were just eating the leaves oyinbo (white men) are eating, rice with no stew, we just ate anything we see till we came back.

What is the feeling like coming second behind Senegal having won the title in 2007 and 2009?

We thank God for the achievement because nine countries instead of ten because Congo withdrew, we came second, I think it’s an achievement and we thank God for picking a ticket for the World Cup. So what’s the preparation for the World Cup? The preparations depends on the NFF, but we will write them and I know this time around they will not play with our preparation. I hope they will gear up so that we will prepare well because we don’t want to go to Italy for participation sake, we should go there and show the world that Africa has arrived.

For us to perform well at the World Cup depends on our preparations. If we go on fire-brigade approach, forget about it. We should start early now. Senegal is going back to camp after one week. But for Nigeria if we intend to go to camp two weeks before the competition, I’m sorry.

Are you looking forward to new players?

Yes, you see I’ll sit down with my assistants and look at the team, in the attacking, defence and goalkeeping departments. As you witnessed, the Senegal attacker is taller than Ogbonaya Okemiri who is one of the best defenders in Beach Soccer, and the Senegalese took advantage of his height. So I have to look at for taller players, but I have them. I have James from Rangers, but along the line coach Austin Eguavoen invited him to the Under-23 camp and I have no choice than to leave him out of the final squad. I also have a player from Akwa United, Coach Egbiri was to release him to me but the guy got injured. I have tall players that will help Okemiri in that defence because Okemiri is suffering in that defence. If you look at the matches we played, there is no way Okemiri can be substituted; he played all the three periods, so we need somebody at least to relieve him.

So what are the techniques you look for in a player since beach soccer is different from the normal football that our players are used to?

Yes, he must be skillful and be able to

think very fast, must be a good passer of the ball, those are some of the things needed of a player.

What support did the federation offer the team in Casablanca?

I think the NFF have done their best.

When we were there, they increased our bonus. Even after losing they said our allowance should be paid and I thank them for that because as you know, we are not 23 but 12 and with what they saw in the final, they were happy with the team. So I want to employ them to continue to motivate us because that is the way to succeed.

What should Nigerians expect at the World Cup? In Nigeria we say God help us God help us, but you have to arrange your house before God will help you. God bless those that help themselves. We have to help ourselves, we shouldn’t think of what Nigeria will give to us but think of what we should give to Nigeria. That is when we can do well. They should not forget us, they should help and encourage us so that at least we should be like other countries too.

Despite several laurels the Beach Eagles have won on this continent, the team was excluded from the Presidential award held earlier in the year, how did the team take that?

Those that won gold just the way we won before we were omitted, I understand the players were given N 750000, silver, bronze and their coaches got double.

They forgot about us completely. You see, having won the gold and not recognized, we must surely feel bad. In 2009, we were the first national team to win gold for the country but we have left everything to God, that one day they will also remember us. I told the boys that

everybody has to be focused on this competition and they obeyed my order.

So we went to Morocco and got a World Cup ticket.

What steps did you take to address the situation?

When I heard that our names were not on the list I went to the Glass House to lodge our complaint and the secretary general was not happy about that. So he asked them to write to the minister but up till now we have not heard anything.

So we are still expecting them because according to them they will write to the authority so that they can look into our matter. So if they compensate us too, we will take it with good hands. However we are not losing sleep over it because we are now focused on our preparation for the World Cup. But have you been compensated for qualifying for the World Cup? No I’ve not been to the office and we’ve not talk to anybody yet but the Technical director Chris Green said they federation will try and do something for us. But if they don’t do it we will still concentrate on the World Cup because we are used to that. We are used to winning and nobody cares about us but God. So we keep on doing our best. If you check our record since 2009, it was only 2008 that we failed to qualify for the World Cup. The whole national teams have not been able to match our record.

So what is the federation’s plan for the team ahead of the World Cup? Now that they have seen us, they have promised to support us 100 percent. I know it’s because of the qualifying matches involving the Under-23, the Falcons and Under -20 that has kept them buzzy, it’s not that they abandoned us like that, it’s just that they give more attention to them than us. They have said

•Victor Tale of Nigeria leaps over Salah Mohamed of Bahrain during the Group D FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup match between Nigeria and Bahrain at the Umm Suqeim beach

they will continue to support us having seen our achievements over the year. This time around they want to make sure we at least get to the semi final of the World Cup. When we were in Casablanca, the president and the general secretary talked to us on telephone.

This is what we want, even if you don’t give us much money, recognize us that we are there representing the country.

Before the semi final, they talked to all the players and they were so happy, as if they were talking to Nigeria’s president.

He told us to get a World Cup ticket and we assured him of that. The conversation was a major boost for the team.

It’s like this present board is looking in your direction?

Yes with the way I’m seeing it they have something for us. I understand they were not happy about the fact that they were not closer to us. They have promised to give more support to this team and we are looking forward to that.

How long have you been coaching the beach team?

Since the edition of the beach soccer in 2006, I’ve been following Amodu Shuaibu. He was the head coach, Kelechi Emetole was the assistant and I was the Curator. I was doing the whole job, camp commandant at the same time I was in Nigeria Institute for Sports. Today I’m now the head coach, so I’ve been there and have the experience to take the team to anywhere.

But in beach soccer, there will be new techniques every now and then, how often do you go for refresher courses?

Thank you, the Nigeria Football Federation sent me to Italy last year and the experience I got there coupled with the ones I’ve had over the years under Amodu and Kelechi are helping me now.

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TODAY, in far away Baku, Azerbaijan, Nigeria's representatives in the Taekwando event led by bronze medalist at the Beijing Olympics, Chika Chukwumerije, will attempt to book spots for the 2012 London Olympics. Squaring up against some of the best in the world, the Nigerian fighter will have a herculean task outwitting their opponents in the various weight categories.

For Chukwumerije, a place at Olympics in the country of the queen is non-negotiable, hence the level of preparation he had to put in ahead of the qualifiers. As he

GARDEN CITY GAMES

Port Harcourt awaits Mr. President •In today’s opening ceremony

M

EMORIES of the China 2008 Beijing Olympics will come flooding back today in Port Harcourt as the 17th edition of the National Sports Festival tagged; The Garden City Games is declared open by the President Goodluck Jonathan.

The organisers have been putting finishing touches in order to ensure a successful opening ceremony scheduled to hold at the Liberation Stadium, Elekahia, Rivers State.

Rivers State won the rights to play host to Nigeria’s mini Olympics after the last edition of the festival held in Kaduna State.

After several postponements, the NSF kicked off last Tuesday, participating states like Edo, Lagos and host, Rivers have vowed to break the dominance of Delta State, that have won four of the last five editions of the games.

Delta, the ‘Heart Beat of the Nation', won the last edition with a total of 108 gold, 72 silver and 74 bronze medals while Edo came second with 77gold, 46 silver and 54 bronze medals.

The 27 events that are being

Fom Akeem Lawal, Port Hacourt competed for at the Games are spread over 11 centres in the Port Harcourt metropolis. Over 12,000 athletes from 35 states and Abuja have converged to compete for honours in different events, and added to that the officials will make up close to about 16,000 in number that are housed at the University of Port Harcourt, which serves as the Games Village.

The University also hosts sports like badminton, boxing, karate and taekwondo which takes place at the Indoor Sports Hall at Choba, the Convocation arena and the PS Hall respectively.

The main facility hosting athletics, basketball, volleyball, handball, hockey, swimming and tennis is the newly constructed Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium.

The Liberation Stadium, Elekahia, is hosting football while the Agbani Darego Hall is being used by table tennis and the para table tennis events. The Civic Centre on Moscow Road hosts wrestling,

judo, gymnastics and traditional sports. Also, darts will be hosted at Port Harcourt (PH) Club 1928 and golf holds at the PH Club Golf Course. Cycling has got underway in designated roads across the city.

The National Sports Festival, unarguably the country’s biggest hunting ground for budding talents, was introduced in 1973 by the government of the then Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), as an avenue for social and cultural interaction between the various sections of the country.

Many records have been set in the past editions of the festival and people have been looking forward to record breakers in this edition. It could be recalled that Delta State’s Tebesa Nemune emerged hero of the last edition held in Kaduna winning a record 12 gold and one silver medal in the men’s swimming competition while 11year-old girl Success Enarevwa, who won three gold medals in the Chess contest, emerged the youngest ever gold medalist in the history of the National Sports Festival.

flagsoff his campaign today against Indian’s Sandeep Kundu, the Imo State born athlete has expressed optimism that he prepared well enough to excel at the trials.

His exact word: “Overall, I feel great. On the one hand, I have worked very hard over the past couple of months preparing for the first leg of this Olympic qualification event, so I am relaxed and calm because I know I have gaven my all every day in training.

On the other hand, I feel a bit nervous as I hope it all goes well. It reminds me of my days in the university when I prepared for my exams, and tirelessly worked night after night, week after week. When exam day came, I used to feel giddy as I waited for the exam paper to be placed in front of me, and I wondered at that point if I had missed anything during my preparations. This is how I feel now as Baku draws near – I have worked hard, and I feel ready, but I keep going over the last few months in my head, looking for any details I have missed.”

He continued: “However, I draw inspiration from all the exams and fights I have had and participated in, knowing that when the actual battle starts, the nerves will go away and I will do what I have done all my life – my best. Most of my opponents have a good reputation and have obtained great results over the past years, but while I admire their credentials off the ring, I will do no such thing in the ring.

In there, I really do not care one bit about their history. All I will be concerned about is trying to get my job done, no matter how rough it might get out there. If I thought I did not have a chance, I would have just chilled and waited for the African regional qualification event in which one is ‘meant’ to have a ‘better’ chance. However, I think I have as much chance as every other athlete coming to the event.”

Aside his semi-final conqueror at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Greek Alexandros Nikolaidis, who is twotime Olympics silver medalist and the current European champion, Chukwumerije will also contend with other top athletes in the world.

As he takes to the ring today, four days after the kick-off of the event

at the Sarhadchi Olympic Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan, victory for the 25 years old Olympian will make his day. Other Nigerian athletes listed for the qualifiers are Temidayo Jegede, who will compete in the men’s -80kg, and Ijeoma Obi, who will jostle for place in the women’s -67kg.

A total of 24 spots will be decided each through the Baku tourney for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Aside the Baku qualifiers, other Nigerian athletes have opportunity to make it to London 2012 when 16 slots will be decided through the African tournament to be held from January 11 to 12, 2012, in Port Said, Egypt. However, four spots will be decided through the tripartite consultation among the IOC, the ANOC and the WTF, which are known as “wild cards,” while the host country, Great Britain, will secure four spots automatically.

But for Temidayo Jegede, who have been drawn against Gabon’s Emmanuel Ndong Mba in the +80 kg category, appearing in the Olympics is his utmost priority.

Nigeria’s sole flagbearer in the women’s -67kg, Ijeoma Obi, failed to make it to the Championship and she was not listed among the 19 athletes that will jostle for places in the weight category.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2011

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2011

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

–an eye on celebrities and society people

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2Face, Dbanj shine @

BET awards

By Patience Saduwa

I

Alicia Keys Kelly Rowland

Innocent Idibia

T seems there's no end to the recognitions and awards coming the way of Nigeria's main male crooner Innocent Idibia popularly known as 2Face. Last weekend he together with fellow artiste and the koko master, D'banj carted away the award for Best International act (Africa) at the BET (Black Entertainment Television) awards. It was a tie between the two popular artistes who have achieved fame both locally and abroad for their music, stagecraft, swagger and the general razzmattazz associated with those in the entertainment industry.

They beat other artistes on the continent in the same category such as Angelique Kidjo (Benin Republic), D-Black (Ghana), Teargas (South Africa) and Fally Ipupa (Congo DR).

At the star-studded ceremony held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, USA, the two musicians strutted the red-carpet with other stars such Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams (both formerly of Destiny's Child), rapper Eve and P. Diddy among others. A joyouslooking 2Face sparkled in an allwhite ensemble at the event-white shirt and white trousers worn with white shoes. The only touch of vibrant colour on the outfit were the red buttons on the shirt.

Kelly also sizzled on the redcarpet in a hot pink dress with ruffle detail. The form-fitting number showed off the former Destiny's Child singer's svelte and toned physique as she confidently posed for photographers.

Alicia Keys looked great in black trousers paired with a black sheer top and white jacket while rapper Eve went for a black and gold leather ensemble with her hair worn in a dramatic quiff and plaited pony tail.

Since hitting the music scene over a decade ago, 2Face has acquired a huge fan following for his catchy, lyrical compositions.

His hit single African Queen (which became a national and continental anthem of sorts) helped seal his repute as Nigeria's reigning music hitmaker and one of Africa's brightest and most prolific music stars.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Glamour

Social T

HE question filtering in and out of the political and social circles in the FCT concerning this political strategist is: “Has Ku'ubra Uya, the Executive Director, Central Solutions Nigeria Limited and Publisher of the Activist Magazine, gone underground?

The mystery trailing the Special Assistant (Research & Strategy) to a former Minister of State, FCT and Chief of Staff to the former State Chairman PDP Akwa Ibom, stemmed from the fact that the young man has been out of circulation in Abuja since the April elections.

Is the ED of Central Solutions, Ku'ubra Uya out of political whirl?

The rumour mill is however awash with stories that the young man has relocated to AkwaIbom State where he was once the State branch of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) for political reasons. What political reasons? No one seems to know. Yet others claimed to have seen fleeting glimpses of the young man in the FCT in the recent past. Whose report shall we now believe concerning the son of Sir and Lady Xavier Uya of Okobo?

Hon. Ogbonna Nwoke, a media man in the House

Olabisi Falodun's Nigeria Community Show holds this week in the UK

H

ON. Ogbonna Nwoke was a former Editor in the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation and former Director of Press to Governor Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers State. But the former copublisher of the Independent Monitor and former publisher of The Telegraph is now in the House of Representatives. Nwoke joins the short list of those who moved from the media to the Parliament (like Smart Adeyemi, Abike Dabiri, Eziuche Ubani, Depo Oyedokun etc) which seems to many a difficult thing to conjecture. However, some people may argue that Nwoke also has element of politics running through his veins. The amiable gentleman who was the former Commissioner for Commerce and tourism in Rivers State says he is in the House of Representatives for a purpose, which is to serve his people diligently in terms of legislation and representation. we wish him God's own wisdom.

Why Pastor Victoria Sogunro is in a good mood

I

F there is one person at the moment that is deeply satisfied and happy, it is Pastor Victoria Sogunro, the wife of Reverend Matthew Sogunro, General Overseer of the Abuja and South African-based Deliverance Gospel Church.

Pastor Victoria is elated that the 2011 edition of the Golden Women Programmes has been successfully concluded and many testimonies have been pouring in its wake. What is more, the South African branch of the ministry which was birthed by her husband, Matthew Sogunro is growing in leaps and bounds. The ministry is also touching millions of lives through its Jesus power Crusades, Gospel Melody Int'l Band, Praise 2000 Club and the Family Clinic International Outreaches which produces the Family Clinic programmes being aired on television in the FCT and Abeokuta in Ogun State. These factors are said to be some of the reasons the woman of God is in a good mood.

T

HE Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UK-based Big Circle Media, Veronica Olabisi-Falodun is set to take the United Kingdom by storm this Friday with the Nigeria Community Show. Information has it that the show which has been endorsed by the National Association of Nigerian Communities (NANC) in the United Kingdom is set to shake the city of London in terms of showcasing the cultural heritage of Nigeria. The show is in two versions: a live audience participation show in a hall and the television version. It includes Business and Social Network, Health Focus on Diabetes and a quiz segment in which participants will win gifts and prizes from questions drawn from general interests and based on life in the U.K and knowledge of Nigeria. Many people who are aware of the programme are giving kudos to the young lady for her desire to portray the country in a good light and erase the notion that only negative things emanate from this clime.

Already, over ten companies in the United Kingdom are supporting the show in one way or the other. Wellmeaning Nigerians are also asking why Nigerian companies and the Nigerian Government is not showing interest in such a laudable effort.

Adedoyin Adefuye Foundation puts smiles on children's faces

B

ARRISTER Bunmi AinaCraig, the Executive Director of Adedoyin Adefuye Foundation recently put smiles at the faces of intelligent young children in the Federal Capital City when the Foundation held a quiz competition in Abuja.

The organisation gave out various prizes to the winners of the quiz competition it held in its effort to encourage the young future leaders to strive for excellence in all their endeavours.

According to the organisation, the competition is one in a series of events meant to uplift and encourage young children across the country.

Executive Director, Adedoyin Adefuye Foundation, Barrister, Bunmi Aina-Craig right, presenting a gift to the winner of a quiz competition, Miss Amarachi John of Annunciation Catholic Nursery and Primary School, Kpaduma, Asokoro in Abuja.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Glamour

Bhaira Mcwizu-staking her claim at the top S

HE'S got a fairly lovely looks that could win a man's heart. She is also daring in style. What more, Bhaira Mcwizu is a damn good actress.

Until about five years ago, the dark-complexioned young woman was practically unknown to movie and television buffs. But her incredible talents shone like a million stars when she took part in the Amstel Malta Box office reality show where she emerged tops.

And ever since then, Bhaira has remained consistent in the makebelieve industry, winning rave reviews and garnering accolades that have left her peers breathless.

Still very fortunate to be tainted with lurid scandals, which has been the lot of most of her older colleagues, this beautiful actress, nonetheless, has been getting mixed reactions from her fans on her daring mode of dressing.

Most often than not, Bhaira attends public events dressed in revealing outfits that flaunts her clearage and body curves.

However, one thing you can't take away from Bhaira is that her acting skills would continue to swell her fan base in the months and years ahead.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Glamour Lifestyle Health Nutrition Fitness

39

with Patience Saduwa 08023201831 (sms only) psaduwa@yahoo.com http//edirinsaduwa.blogspot.com

Global diabetes epidemic balloons to 350 million The latest figures are scary: 350 million people worldwide are reported to have diabetes with 3 million dying from the disease globally every year. Also, 138 million people with the condition live in China and India while 36 million live in US and Russia. These statistics reflect a global health crises which should be a cause for concern for health-care professionals, governments and other stakeholders.

T

HE number of adults with diabetes worldwide has more than doubled since 1980 to 347 million, a far larger number than previously thought and one that suggests costs of treating the disease will also balloon.

In a study published in the The Lancet journal, an international team of researchers working with The World Health Organization found that rates of diabetes have either risen or at best remained the same in virtually all parts of the world in the past 30 years.

The estimated number of diabetics is markedly higher than a previous projections that put the number at 285 million worldwide. This study found that of the 347 million people with diabetes, 138 million live in China and India and another 36 million in the United States and Russia.

The most common type of diabetes, Type 2, is strongly associated with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.

"Diabetes is becoming more common almost everywhere in the world," said Majid Ezzati, from Britain's Imperial College London, who led the study along with Goodarz Danaei from the Harvard School of Public Health in the United States.

"Unless we develop better programs for detecting people with elevated blood sugar and helping them to improve their diet and physical activity and control their weight, diabetes will inevitably continue to impose a major burden on health systems around the world," Danaei added in a joint statement.

People with diabetes have inadequate blood sugar control, which can lead to serious complications like heart disease and stroke, damage to the kidneys or nerves, and to blindness.

Experts say high blood glucose and diabetes cause around 3 million deaths globally each year, a number that will continue to rise as the number of people affected increases.

As a result, diabetes is a booming market for drugmakers like Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Eli Lilly, Merck and Takeda.

Treatments available Dozens of diabetes treatments, both pills and injections, are on the market.

Global sales of the medicines totaled $35 billion last year and could rise to as much as $48 billion by 2015, according to drug research firm IMS Health.

New research being presented this

A combination of factors such as environmental, lifestyle and genetic can cause diabetes. A high-calorie, high-fat diet fast foods, being overweight and lack of exercise are also responsible

weekend at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego will focus on experimental drugs and ways to combine classes of medicines to better control blood sugar.

"This is a chronic, progressive condition," said Dennis Urbaniak, vice president of Sanofi's diabetes division.

"What we are most worried about is the number of people out there with diabetes that is not optimally controlled."

For the Lancet study, the largest of its kind for diabetes, researchers analyzed fasting plasma glucose (FPG) data from 2.7 million participants aged 25 and over across the world, and then used advanced statistical methods to estimate prevalence.

They found that between 1980 and 2008, the number of adults with the disease rose from 153 million to 347 million. Seventy percent of the rise was due to population growth and aging, with the other 30 percent due to higher

prevalence, they said.

The proportion of adults with diabetes rose to 9.8 percent of men and 9.2 percent of women in 2008, compared with 8.3 percent of men and 7.5 percent of women in 1980.

Diabetes has taken off most dramatically in Pacific Island nations, which now have the highest diabetes levels in the world, the study found. In the Marshall Islands, a third of all women and a quarter of all men have diabetes.

Among wealthy countries, the rise in diabetes was highest in North America and relatively small in Western Europe.

Diabetes and glucose levels were highest in United States, Greenland, Malta, New Zealand and Spain, and lowest in the Netherlands, Austria and France.

The region with the lowest glucose levels was sub-Saharan Africa, followed by east and southeast Asia. . Courtesy: Reuters

40

P

LEASE advice ladies to get married early to avoid being single they can continue with their education in their husband’s house. Ahmed.

This is sound advice as long as they are sure the man will not forbid them from continuing their education. Some men act like tyrants once they get mar-

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Relationship

Questions and Answers ried. There was a lady who got married when she was in her third year in the university.

The husband was making a lot of money and said he could not wait for her to finish school. He promised

that he would allow her to finish school after their marriage. she got married and got pregnant the next month.

The man decided that she should go abroad from the fourth month of her

pregnancy because he wanted her to have the best medical treatment. When she came back after having the baby and wanted to go back to resume school, the husband insisted that he did not want her to leave the baby at home and that she should continue her education when the baby was one.

The only issue was that she got pregnant again and could not resume school.

Unfortunately about five years after the marriage the husband decided that he had made a mistake and should not have married her in the first place.

He decided that he had met a university graduate in his office who also had a master’s degree and that his wife’s school certificate did not match his level any longer. He drove the lady out of the house and the other lady moved in. Today the wife is depending on friends to feed and sustain her two children.

While it is easy to advice a lady to get married and continue her education it is also important to discuss the modalities very well so that she will indeed be able to finish her education after marriage.

I am 28 years old and I do not have a man in my life.

Relationship Deola Ojo 08027454533 (text) pastordeegfc@yahoo.com I need your help. I do not have feelings for guys, how do I fall in love?

Perhaps you do not have feelings for guys right now because you have not met the right person. It is possible for someone to be so wrapped up in an area of their lives that they do not seem to be interested in a relationship.

A single person may not even realize that something is amiss, until a good friend gets into a relationship.

Then the person realizes that there are some other aspects of life that he/she has not been paying attention to. Gbola was a student who was pursuing his academics to the point where he did not have any female friends and had very few male friends. He was already in final year and was on his way to graduating with a first class. Then a lady in 200 level heard about his brilliance and decided to ask for help with some courses she was having problems with.

Within a few weeks of giving the lady tutorials he found himself thinking about her often. That was when he realized that he

was in final year and was not in any relationship. He decided that it was possible to have a relationship and still pursue his academics actively. He then determined to ask the lady out.

A student may pursue education to the point where he/she does not seem to notice or have time for anyone of the opposite sex. These people are sometimes called geeks or nerds.

They are so wrapped up in education that every other aspect of their lives takes a back seat. It is possible for them to leave school and still not seem to be interested in anyone. Perhaps if someone comes into their cycle who is interested in them or if their very good friend gets into a relationship then they may become interested in having a relationship.

If no one comes to meet a geek, s/he may go on happily without feeling incomplete. If the person also has a religious affiliation that forbids close association with the opposite sex, it is possible for this person to continue for years without apparent interest in anyone of the opposite sex.

To be continued next week

•Jahswill Steven, Head of Programmes, Vision FM 92.1 Abuja took former Miss Phoebe Edache, a teacher, to the altar at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Otukpo, Benue State, recently.

The couple pose after their wedding

•Otunba Edward Akin George, MNIM,MCIPM and his wife cutting the cake to mark the 10th year anniversary of the installation of George as the Head of ROF(Inc) in Lagos recently

•Ndibuisi Maduka and Chinelo Nnadi after their wedding at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Oshodi, Lagos recently

FROM THE CAMPUS PAGE 46

With Prof. Emmanuel Ojeme

THE NATION SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2011

GOLFLINE

NTDC brings for

WITH

Tony Akhigbe

David Mark honours Ezugwu

golflineintl@yahoo.com 08056180071

Any plan for our pros?

I

AM tired of mentioning this, that there is no sport on this earth that is as solitary as golf.

Truth is no sport on earth can harmonize you like golf. Golf is addictive and aggravating. It is also energizing.

In golf you play your foul balls. You must find a way to play on the psyche of the opposition.

Luck breaks, good and bad are part of golf. If you love golf so much then ask yourself this simple question... why are you always coming off the course in a bad mood, especially when 'jamming-jamming' don jam you?

This is for our golf professionals. Nobody needs to feel bad for losing out on prize monies.

Professional golf is beyond this. Truth is, worldwide, most golf players play for money. It is how they are measured at the end of each year. But certain special times, the money becomes completely irrelevant. Pro golf players must play for history.

In Nigeria today, Pro golfers don't even know what to play for... Money or History. Truth is they dont even have tourneys to play in.

We are closing into the first quarter of 2011 and our beloved Pros, some 150 of them have not featured in one tourney. The only tourney they featured in had to do with their qualifying school where they admitted more Pros to come and feel the heat in the kitchen. This is wrong.

In America and Europe, from the month of January to when you are reading this, their Pros had featured in some 30 events. As a Pro there, you pick where you want to play since there could be some three big events in just one week. Isn't this astonishing.

This is not a praise for Europe or America. This is just an idle talk that could wake us to that point where those people started from before they could be having three tourneys in a month, while hapless Nigerians could not get to play in one in three months.

They call us Third World and I don't believe in such idiotic nomemclature. There is no golfer in Nigeria who must not have seen the outside of this country. We all know the way things are being done abroad because we feature in their tourneys. Again, we all know how to apply those things to what is happening in Nigeria. Anyway, we don't have the will. Greed has seized all functioning arms. The happening thing is 'wetin dey involve and share the money'.

I pity golf professionals in this country. Unknown to them, the Pro game is going into extinction. They don't have Sponsors and they don't even care to have them.

They all depend on Birthday tourneys of wealthy golfers who could part with as little as two million Naira. This is insane.

There is still a way out. The Pro golf body must stand up for something today. They should do away with patronage of big shots who are out for what they can make from the paltry sum coming the Pros ways.The Pros must build a huge market that could attract the likes of Glo and MTN. The Pros must treat every tourney as a venture that must look good to both parties.

Like they say in America, there is no free lunch. If a sponsor throws in a tourney, the Pros must reply with good audience, say some 2000 spectators walking the fairway on the last day of any event. Sadly, youcan't catch golf spectators on the cheap side. You have to attract them with some out of the world game. And honestly, which Pro in Nigeria plays real golf? Most of them are being turned back by single handicappers when it comes to 'jamming-jamming'. And this happens in about every golf club. Are you not crying for the Pros already. They don't play for money...so how can they play for history? I am weeping already.

T

HE Jaji Golf Club is one sleepy place. But that is the huge place that houses all the Military Artilerry this country will need in case we want to go to war even with a little Cameroun.

As you are reading this, jaji woke up to some 300 golfers yesterday, all fromk 65 golf courses across the nation, and all came o honor one man, Colonel D Ezugwu who passed out as Captain of the Jaji Golf Club.

Ezugwu met the Jaji Club as a lowly place where you could only pass time since you didnt have anything to do at home. Ezugwu in a little while while turned the course to a little castle where golfers from the whole of the north will cherish and want to play in. And Ezugwu made this happen. He made i possible that tourneys are being played every week in Jaji.

This is what makes a golf club. There must be tourneys to play in at all times. Ezugwu ensured this and in just one year, he turned the Jaji Club into a golf Mecca in the north.

The man, Ezugwu, yesterday passed out as the Captain of the Jaji Golf Club. And to show love to the man who did well for the Club was the Senate President, David Mark, too showed love by teeing off

the event that was the Captains day, a pulling out of Ezugwu as the Jaji Golf Captain. Senate President even got to another level where he showed so much compassion. He said he had a long history with Jaji and that he was happy to come back for the Ezugwu who did well by donating so much for Jaji Club.

The Jaji event went beyond golf. There were donations to Charity homes in Kaduna. There was an empowerment support for two big schools in Jaji. This is amazing but 200 Caddies featured in the evenr. This is even aside a Golf Clinic for youths and this was coordinated by the only Professional that won the Nigerian Open, Lateef Lasissi. Selected Pros too played for close to a million naira.

Hear Ezugwu:" The honor from the Senate President is enough. I did all I did because of the love I have for this game. Even though I am no longer Captain, I will always come back to assist this club. The truth is Myself and another big citizen of this country, Alhaji Fairway [Alhaji Ibrahim Haruna] have met and we have agreed to help the youths of this country to play the game to the biggest level. I just love the game'.

Abu Odihili makes golf history

F

OR the first time in golf history, an African has being appointed European Golf Union referee based in Northern Ireland. The Nigerian is Abu Odilili who built one of the best golf courses in West Africa situated at Igosun in Offa, Kwara State.

By virtue of this new appointment, Odihili is entitled to be a world golf referee and automatically a member of the British and International Green Association based in St Andrews, the Headquarteras of the World Golf.

•Abu Odilili in Island (l)

•Team Lagos’ Ojo Onoalopo

THE 17TH NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVALS ROLLS OFF

Hopes and Expectations

T

HE 17th edition of the National Sports Festival kicked off in the Garden City of Port Harcourt with high hopes and expectations. The Rivers State Government is congratulated for keeping the aspirations of the festival alive. As a Pan Nigerian Games, it is expected that new talents will emerge to add a new peak to our performance potentials. This is more so as Nigeria enters its second year of implementation of Vision 2020:20 programme and the immediate task of prosecuting the All Africa Games in Maputo , Mozambique . Against this background, this paper explores the hopes and expectations of the 17th National Sports Festival.

Historically, the National Sports Festival commenced in Lagos in 1973 and was aimed at accomplishing three main objectives, namely (1) create a forum for celebration of Nigerian youth and serve as a melting pot to cement Nigeria’s unity (2) serves as a sociocultural venue to display our diverse cultural heritage (3) showcase the athletic prowess of the youth and fish out sports talents that abound in Nigeria. The first two objectives with all intent and purpose to a large extent are being met, though, with room for improvement. It is in the third mission of the festival that a lot of gaps still exist. It is to be expected that these gaps would be filled with the take off the 17th National Sports Festival.

How can the festival become more competitive? The Festival can become more competitive if all the competing States decide to put their best efforts in the games in a missionary way.

Aside of the frontline States of Delta, Rivers, Edo, Ogun and Lagos and perhaps Kaduna , many states are Laiserfaire. Delta, remains the champion State in this competition, winning the highest number of gold medals.

You ask why? Delta State invests more, in terms of human and material resources in preparing for the games. Edo State , the other chip of the old Mid-West and later Bendel, seems to be concentrating more on football development.

I hope the Comrade Governor will reverse and democratize its sports development policy to accommodate other sports. The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium is now a football Stadium, which means; the State cannot even look up to hosting the National Sports Festival any time soon. Other States must give Delta State a hot chase for the festival to peak and become more competitive. For now, however, Delta State seems to have mastered the art and science of wining in the games.

There are two critical issues, namely coming tops and setting new records. I must state that wining with mediocre performance is not the best at all. My charge to all participating State athletes is to win with a mission.

Taking track and field, for example, in a Pan-Nigerian Sports Festival of this magnitude, returning a time of 10.35secs is not good enough. The fastest sprinter in the 100m events should be at about 10 seconds. What am I saying? We must win overall but at the same time give us sublime performance. Sublime performances are a function of planning, effective nutrition, motivation, medication and coaching among other factors. If we wish to go far in the Olympic Games, this standard must be accomplished and the Sports Festival must be its launching pad.

Every major competitive sports programme has its intellectual content. That is the pre-game scientific congress. You see it in the All Africa Games, Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

It is important that the organizers of this festival do not relegate it to the background. Please enjoy the game.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

For the Record

Ideas rule the world

We promised to secure the environment for future generations.

We began by prioritising key sectors of the economy, namely, roads, power, health, education, and agriculture. As a matter of fact, we have built over 52 internal roads in Yenagoa.

We have helped to stabilise power, and soon power failure would be a thing of the past in Yenagoa, our state capital. Of course, you know that with supply of stable power, it would be a lot easier to attract manufacturers and other industrialists to the state. This government has constructed two major regional water projects, sited at Nembe and Oloibiri. There is now potable water in Yenagoa, and our government is constructing 14 water schemes across the state.

Our government is determined to complete all on-going projects, particularly: the 18-storey five-star Tower Hotel, and another three-star hotel, and the galleria and State Library. We have also concluded plans to link Glory Drive, the new Yenagoa gateway, to the city centre and the Central Business District (CBD). As part of the efforts to attract tourists, business people and other professionals to Yenagoa, a standard Golf Course will also be built. Before the end of next year, we will complete work on a light rail project from Edepie Junction to Ox Bow Lake as a pilot project to flag Yenagoa as an emerging city.

We are working relentlessly to move our society away from the self-destructive, but hitherto bourgeoning, tradition of dependence on government handouts. We have pursued this goal despite attacks from those who feel they have lost out with the end of unsustainable government handouts. We make bold to say that we owe this category of people no apology. The era of government handouts is gone and gone for good. Our collective resources must be used to empower our people and build an environment that will enable them enhance their productive capacity.

With the end of the old order of effortless income, enormous resources have been freed for our people and it has given them phenomenal succour.

IJAWS IN THE DIASPORA For Ijaws in the Diaspora, I would like to express my gratitude to you all for your interest in happenings at home. But I think that it will do us a lot of good if we focus such interest on things that would build our land rather than those that could destroy it. Rather than engage in constructive criticism and debate that would contribute to productivity at home, some of our people in the Diaspora have tended to be particularly good at destructive criticism.

For instance, the Ijaw nation list serve on yahoo groups has, unfortunately, served as a key platform for the advertisement of comments based on rumour and ill-informed analysis. I think it behooves every Ijaw anywhere in the world to engage such platforms with the aim of setting the record straight regarding our native land.

Let me remind us that the illustrious Ijaw son we are remembering today rose up in his day to defend his native land; he never set out to destroy it. But the hard truth is that not every Ijaw in Boro’s day shared his ideals and strategies, and he was equally not happy with everything that went on among his own people.

Yet, he showed great strength in placing the collective interest of our people above personal sentiments.

CONCLUSION There is need to bear in mind that Ijaws are not the only people on earth. We must, therefore, be willing to engage the world with our knowledge, ideas and products. In other words, we must acquire the knowledge and expertise that can stand among the best in the world. We must develop ideas that, when implemented, can be classified among the best in the world.

We must develop and produce products that can compete with the best in the world in terms of quality and price. That is the essence of competitiveness.

So, to kick off your deliberations, I challenge delegates to this summit to evolve means of massively mobilising our children and youths to develop themselves intellectually.

This is not just about going to school or acquiring certificates. It is about acquiring the right knowledge to transform from being consumers to producers, from job seekers to employers of labour, and from a developing nation to a developed nation.

May God bless you all! And God bless the Ijaw nation, Bayelsa State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

L

ET me start by congratulating the Ijaw National Alliance of the Americas (INAA) for sustaining the Boro Day Summit for 15 full years. This is a clear testimony to your commitment to our common Ijaw roots.

I will not bore you with the exploits of Jasper Adaka Isaac Boro, a hero of the Ijaw nation, who fought for the rights of the minority ethnic groups in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, where the three major ethnic groups considered themselves as the beginning and end of a country with over 250 ethnic groups. Boro stood up against that system, and today the Ijaw man and, indeed, anybody from a minority group cannot be pushed over in Nigeria.

That is the much that most people are willing to credit to Boro. But today, I want us to see Boro from the perspective of the theme of this summit: “A New Era, A New Perspective”.

STANDING UP TO BE COUNTED Boro knew there are moments in history when a few brave men and women must stand up to be counted. They draw the line and resolve to stand and fight. Their stand may be little and insignificant in comparison to the massive powers of the institutions they oppose.

But they achieve through their spirit, nerve and resolve. When strong principles stand against awesome odds, regardless of the outcome, victory is always theirs.

The battle that Boro waged lasted only 12 days. A few men held out against great odds and weapons for as long as they could. But the principles that fired their spirit have endured to this day. Those principles of equity are the spiritual source of our national existence, our chief historic pride as Ijaws, and at all times the anchor of our liberties.

Boro did not choose arms; he was forced by circumstances in his day to take up arms against powers that stood against the liberties of the Ijaw nation.

BORO’S CHALLENGE It would be recalled that in 1966 when Boro led the Niger Delta revolution, Nigeria was only six years old as an independent nation.

The various ethnic groups and regions were still grappling with issues of domination by larger ethnic groups, survival and access to political power.

We all know the story, or should do. How Boro and his friends such as Samuel Owonaru and Nottingham Dick dared the full might of the Nigerian Army, indeed the might of the nation, by declaring the Niger Delta Republic.

They were driven, I believe, not by pecuniary gain but by the passion to set their people free; and if that meant laying down their lives for a more equal society where the Ijaw would not merely be a footnote but major characters, they were willing to pay the supreme price. Permit me to quote the rallying cry of Boro to his Niger Delta Volunteer Service (NDVS) army on that fateful day when they decided that the Ijaw should and would be free. Boro told his men that: Today is a great day, not only in your lives, but also in the history of the Niger Delta. Perhaps, it will be the greatest day for a very long time. This is not because we are going to bring the heavens down, but because we are going to demonstrate to the world what and how we feel about oppression….Remember your 70-year-old grandmother who still farms to eat, remember also your poverty stricken people and then, remember too, your petroleum which is being pumped out daily from your veins, and then fight for your freedom.

The morale of that passage I just quoted is to demonstrate that we, the Ijaw, have never lacked brave men, who are fearless and committed to fight and, if necessary, to die, for the Ijaw cause. But today, we live in a new era different from that in which Boro lived. We grapple with different challenges. The tools of yesterday are not good enough to fix the problems of today. So I daresay that armed struggle will not take us to the Promised Land! The ‘war’ we have to wage now is how to ensure quality education, improved healthcare and better life for all Ijaw people.

AGE OF IDEAS

By Timipre Sylva

To achieve this, this Ijawland of our dream, this Ijawland that Boro and many of our heroes died for, the clichés of yesteryears will not do, and neither will the cheap sloganeering of the past be sufficient. We must be ready to roll up our sleeves and work, and not merely be contented by the fact that we have ‘oil money.’

Technology has shrunk the world into a global village and so the competition is much keener. As a people, we must begin to change our perspective and adopt new tools and strategies to surmount the challenges of our time. I dare say that from what we know of Boro, if he were alive today he would have seen the challenges of this era from a new perspective and adopted different tools to address them. And so we must begin to change our perspective and see the world, our environment and our challenges in a new light so as to be able to fashion out innovative tools to tackle and surmount them.

For the Ijaw people at home and in the Diaspora, the greatest challenge of our age is not access to political power or fear of domination by other ethnic groups. The principal challenge of our time is how to get our people to acquire the right knowledge and ideas to make them productive and competitive in the global economy. The key words here are knowledge, ideas, productivity and competitiveness.

The world today and tomorrow belongs to those who have brain power, and not to those who have crude oil! By brain power, I mean the knowledge, the know-how, the expertise and skills to translate ideas from the realm of intellectual conjecture or theory into tangible products and services for the use and betterment of mankind.

Let us look at the oil industry to illustrate where we are today and where we could and should be if we seek and acquire the right knowledge. All over Ijaw land we are blessed with crude oil. Our fathers lived on that land for centuries without knowing that such vast resources were buried under their land. It took others with the right kind of knowledge to come and discover it. The same people translated their knowledge into a technology that is being used to exploit the crude oil. More than 50 years after, our people are still talking about resource control. But how much of the resources can we really control when we do not have the know-how to exploit them? The man who has the knowledge and technology will always be in control.

I only cited an example with the oil and gas sector to drive home the point because that is an area most of us are familiar with. This scenario applies to virtually every area of life.

That is why the Ijaw man in this era must change his perspective of life and begin to acquire the right kind of knowledge if he is not to be left behind by the rest of the world.

If the Ijaw nation is to survive and make its mark in the 21st century, we must begin to move away from dependence on natural resources.

We must begin to pursue and acquire knowledge, skills and technology to produce things.

This is because the man with physical might will always be at the mercy of the man with intellectual might. Were our grandfathers not physically strong? Yet they were colonised by white people – people of ideas – over a hundred years ago. Today, we should not make the mistakes our forefathers made by relying only in physical strength or even our natural resources.

In this new Ijaw nation of my dream, those that would earn our respect are men of ideas, men who are responsive to the challenges facing our people. Just imagine for once that the technology for drilling crude oil was developed by an Ijaw man, you can be sure that he would include in it a fail-safe measure to ensure that crude oil does not spill into the creeks around which his daily life is woven!

This is the age of ideas, and we must strive not to be left behind in this regard. It is ideas that turned young men like Sergey Brin and Larry Page, co-founders of the online search

•Gov. Sylva

engine, Google, into multi-billionaires. It is ideas that have made the leaders of the United Arab Emirates to transform a very hot patch of desert land into the paradise called Dubai that people now flock to for holidays. Twenty years ago, Dubai as we know it today, was not on the global tourism map. But today, it is only next to Mecca in Saudi Arabia in the Middle East region in terms of influx of visitors. It is now a global trade and financial hub. Today, tourism contributes about 56 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the United Arab Emirates. It did not just spring up one day. It started off as somebody’s idea. We must begin to cultivate new ideas to transform our environment and people. It is new ideas, lofty ideas and the courage to implement them that can position us as a people for a better tomorrow.

END OF BORO’S STRUGGLE? In a sense, the struggle that Boro waged has come to a historic end with President Goodluck Jonathan, an Ijaw, on the country’s driver’s seat. Though, traces and scars of the historical injustices that Boro fought still abound all around us, with a Nigerian president of Niger Delta extraction, a clear roadmap can emerge through which we can begin to determine a feasible, realistic and just solution to our problems as a people.

Boro did not wage a battle for the mere sake of fighting. He fought for freedom from the circumstances that shackled the Ijaw. He fought against forces that prevented the people from unleashing their natural abilities and exercising the spirit of hard work for which the Ijaw is traditionally known. Boro fought against those things that hindered the spirit of productivity.

PRODUCE OR PERISH Today, President Jonathan has promised to return Nigeria to the path of productivity. For us, the Ijaw, I make bold to say that the choice before us is not between productivity and lack of it, but between productivity and total destruction. Without productivity, there will be restiveness, militancy, and all the things we hate to see among us, things that hold the awful potential of destroying us as a people.

In Bayelsa State, we clearly understand the value of productivity and the danger in consumerism. And we have set a process in motion to create the necessary environment for our people to achieve their full potentials. We discovered that if we allowed our people to continue on the path of militancy, we might be wiped out. That was why we took practical steps to initiate what came to be known as the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, which has turned out to be hugely successful.

LEGACY OF ACHIEVEMENT When this administration began life, we made a pact with the people to put the state on the path of prosperity. We promised peace and stability, poverty reduction, industrialisation and general socio-economic transformation.

We promised to create jobs and build sustainable development anchored on a long-term purpose of giving Bayelsa State the highest per capital income in Nigeria in the next 12-15 years.

47

•Address was delivered by Timpreye Slyva, Governor of Bayelsa State at the Ijaw National Alliance of the Americas (INAA) 2011 “Boro Day” at Newark, New Jersey, USA on June 25, 2011

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

48

for if the minimum wage becomes N25,000.

David Igwe, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Have Your Say B

UNKUM! That is how many respondents describe the demand by the Nigeria Governors Forum that the Federal Government would have to remove subsidy from petroleum products before the approved #18,000 minimum wage can be paid. To them, it is sheer insensitivity on the part of the NGF to make such demand.

Goose-stepping behind the former chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Alhaji Hamman Tukur, and the governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, respondents say there is no reason why the governors should find it difficult to pay. Tukur and Oshiomhole submitted last week that the governors can pay the money without any condition.

To that end, respondents call for the resignation or impeachment of any of them who still believes that Peter should be robbed in order to pay Paul. They also call on the NLC to stand firm on this issue. Already the Union has given notice of its intention to embark on a strike action after the expiration of the two weeks’ ultimatum it has issued.

Tell some of these governors to stop stealing their states’ funds so that they can be able to pay the minimum wage. Any attempt by the Federal Government to remove subsidy on petroleum products now will bring crisis and fire in the country. I know Adams Oshiomole and Raji Fashola will pay because they are men of integrity and honour.

Tayo Tola Agbaje, Garki, Abuja.

It is mindless and evil of the forum to contemplate that. Each should replicate what Ajimobi did in Oyo state. Even with the subsidy a litre is #70/75 in some parts of Kogi State.

Eigenvalue Walter, Egabada, Kogi State.

That is a clear reflection of their patriotism and selfless service to the Nigerian populace. Why don’t they reduce their own allowances and the number of their political office holders as well as their overseas trips?

Biyi Ogundele, Ore, Ondo State.

The FG should remove subsidies on PMS and AGO, but retain subsidy on DPK. The masses use kerosene for cooking and lighting their homes when PHCN strikes, while the elites with fleet of vehicles and generators can afford PMS and AGO without subsidies. FG/States must improve public transportation so that the masses won’t feel it.

Mike Dike, Benin City, Edo State.

It is a silly demand. What is the problem with Nigerian politicians? Why are they usually bent on making things difficult for the working class? Is this the only angle they can look at to pay this simple amount and solve a

What is your view of the demand by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) that the Federal Government should remove the subsidy on petroleum products in order to enable them pay the approved N18,000 minimum wage for workers? lingering problem? What about the jumbo pay of the political class? What about their cutting costs? What about re-visiting the revenue allocation? What about cutting costs in contracts? This bunch of Nigerian politicians is impossible. But they shall pay!

Akinduro, H.O, Okitipupa, Ondo State.

Most of the governors are like kept women — can’t think outside the monthly allocation box. Few States can pay this wage without boosting current internal economic activity. See what the crazy diesel price is already doing to food prices and business.

There’s no country without some form of subsidy.

Sam Ukoha, Lagos State.

Let the subsidy be removed as demanded. But let laws be made such that no government official (Executive, Legislature and Judiciary) earn more than #500,000 per month (salary and allowances inclusive) since we all buy from the same market.

Let anti-graft agencies be more active and let’s see who blink first, governors or the masses.

Ajodo Ugbaje, Lokoja, Kogi State.

From what we’ve known so far, subsidy on petroleum is never a problem nor a solution to this non-issue that is fast becoming a national distraction through the instrumentality of the NGF. In this age we need hardnosed leaders who can proffer real solution to issues and not lazy opportunist who will hide under the Governor’s Forum.

I can’t believe Gov Ameachi is leading this fraudulent campaign.

Ubong Reuben, Calabar, Cross River State.

Those governors have myopic view. They could not deduce better means of revenue generation.

Segun Adeyemi, Ede, Osun State.

Most of the governors, particularly those from the North, were not freely and fairly elected. That is why there is a disconnect between them and the populace. If they can reduce stealing by half, they should be able to pay the minimum wage of #18,000.

Umar Sanda Galadima, Biu, Borno State.

It is arrant nonsense.

Thank God, the Senate has disagreed with them. President Goodluck Jonathan should be wary of these selfish governors who don’t have the interest of the masses at heart. All they are after is how to siphon the people’s money abroad.

It is greed on their own part, with the all allocation being given to them so that civil servant that voted for them will equally taste the dividends of democracy! The federal government should ignore those complaints.

Jamiu Sobitan, Calabar, Cross River State.

• Amaechi

• Oshiomhole

Alhaji ‘Bayo Hassan, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos State.

study Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and learn.

Chief Chris C. Egbuna, Nnewi, Anambra State.

What’s the wage of a governor per month? Saying that N18,000 is an impossible wage for a fellow Nigerian shows how heartless some of our leaders are. Oil subsidy is about the only way the masses smell of the “national cake”. Please don’t remove it.

John Owoeye, Ilorin, Kwara State.

There is no reason whatsoever for our governors to pussyfoot on this issue of paying N18,000 minimum wage, let alone their callous call for the removal of subsidy on petroleum products as a pre condition. What is N18,000 in a month to a civil servant compared to the millions some of them spend on prostitutes and on cocaine daily?

Udeme Afia, Abuja.

It’s pitiable that those we entrusted with our mandate can think of such ungodly idea. What happens to majority of Nigerians who are not on government payroll? The masses will suffer if they attempt it. The earlier they know that this country belongs to everybody the better.

Shaibu Yusuf Danlami, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The demand by the NGF is myopic and parochial. It demonstrates thoughtlessness and lack of capacity to govern.

Prof. M.A.O. Aluko, OAU, Ile-Ife. Hogwash! The governors’ demands are diversionary antics. They know that the President is young in office to tamper with the subsidy beehive. Minimum wage of a little over $100/month and they are crying like spoilt brats who do not want their monthly “reserve” messed with. On the subsidy crap, how many refineries can it build in Nigeria yearly to stop fuel importation and create jobs and wealth? Nigeria,

I travelled all over Europe and America. I strongly support total deregulation and what is obtainable therein. I support the governors’ view provided it translates to total infrastructural development and true federalism.

Prince Olubodun Shamsideen, Ikeja, Lagos State.

The governors should be asked to desist from this shameful action in the interest of good governance or else the NLC will make the States ungovernable for them in the long run.

Muniru Gambia, Iwo, Osun State.

The demand of the governors is uncalled for and irrational. In the 50’s, the then premiers, especially the late sage Obafemi Awolowo, did not rely on petroleum before paying salaries to civil servants and they did many meaningful projects that touched people’s lives till date. If oil subsidy is removed, then the citizens have nothing to gain again in this country. Stop giving flimsy excuses on the payment of #18,000 minimum wage.

Prince Fola Kolaru, Okaka, Oyo State.

Our governors should be sincere to themselves and with the masses they lead – after all they did not remove oil subsidy before they greedily reviewed/increased their salaries/allowances.

V.U.J. Nwankwo, Lokoja, Kogi State.

I think our governors should cover their faces in shame for brewing untenable excuses not to pay less than $4 per day for workers that are over-worked. It is not too late for them to resign if they cannot run their offices after promising heaven and earth during campaign.

Dr Tony Dansu, Dept of PHE, LASU.

The demand by the governors for the removal of petroleum subsidy is an unpatriotic act and lack wisdom because funds allocated to States at the moment are already in excess. As for me, I’ll recommend that workers in any State whose governor is involved in this demand should immediately start mobilising the House of Assembly for a motion of impeachment against such person.

Ambi Karu, Fagge Takudu, Kano State.

The Federal Government should remove the subsidy on petroleum products in order to enable the governors pay the approved N18,000 minimum wage for workers.

Chi Boy, Jos, Plateau State.

If the Federal Government should concur to their request, that will amount to robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Abdullahi Musa Uke, Lafia, Nasarawa State.

As long as we do not solve the minimum wage problem with another problem, it’s okay. The Labour Union should stop being selfish and self-centred. Rather than being anti this and anti that, it should come up with their own constructive ideas on how to best finance the approved N18,000 minimum wage as well. All we need is a generally mutually agreeable solution to the issue at hand.

Udeme Eshiet, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

It is an unpatriotic act, a wicked thought, and lacking in ideas! Who funds the many convoys that escort the governors? What public security do they use the huge security vote for if not for themselves only? Paying n18,000 minimum wage without subsidy removal is possible!

Lanre Oseni, Lagos State.

The NGF should simply go back to their bases and look at the litany of projects that have no developmental sense and with no positive impact on the populace and expunge them.

Abdullahi Alh. Magaji Sokoto, Sokoto State.

The demand by the NGF is for selfish interest. I wonder what they will demand

No condition was given to implement the minimum wage. No subsidy was removed to pay legislators. Our leaders are simply Very Important Vagabonds, apologies to Fela.

Dickson, Abuja.

The subsidy on petroleum products removal as demanded by the NGF is purely anti-people. It shows how insensitive our elected political office holders can be to the plight of the common Nigerians.

Gboyega Oyewumi, Ilesa, Osun State.

The demand of the governors is very disturbing and inconceivable It only shows that the governors and their armchair political advisers do not understand or know the intricacies inherent in the logic of the demand. The minimum wage of N18,000 per month was designed to increase the purchasing power of workers and consequently improve their welfare. The removal of subsidy on petroleum products will no doubt have far-reaching negative effects on their standard of living and may leave them worse off than before.

Olaniran Afolabi A., Benin City, Edo State.

I’m highly disappointed in NGF; they are all selfish, irresponsible; and insensitive to the plight of the people.

The President should jettison this ill advice. He should tell them to obey the law by implementing the approved #18,0 00 minimum wage for workers.

Otunba Deji Oladimeji, HIST. & INT’L STD, AAUA. I think the Federal Government should remove the subsidy on petroleum products if that is the only thing they can do to pay the workers the #18,000 minimum wage, or they should reduce the percentage allocated to the federal level, the ratio is too much.

Atolagbe Toyosi, Ilorin, Kwara State.

I support the removal of subsidy on petroleum products as its existence has purely been to enrich the privileged few marketers and corrupt government officials.

Eugenio Antai, Akwa Ibom State.

Removal of subsidy on petroleum products in order to pay the new minimum wage is work done zero. It’s even better to stay on the old minimum wage structure with subsidy.

Dauda Mshelia, Maiduguri, Borno State.

The Governors are right because the States have more responsibilities than the FG. Removing the subsidy will really help the States to pay the minimum wage and still do some projects. The States need the money more than the FG. The Governors are the ones providing the amenities.

Winning S. King, Eleme, Rivers State.

Continue on page 52

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Arts Extra

49

Magical Ben Okri casts a spell on his readers F

OR decades, poetry, novels and essays have flowed from Ben Okri’s fingertips, making him one of Africa’s most eminent contemporary writers.

Often described as a “magical realist,” Okri has been using his literary voice to guide readers into a world of mystical journeys.

From Nima Elbagir, CNN

The acclaimed author and poet was born in Nigeria and spent his first years in the UK, before returning to Lagos, where he discovered his love of literature.

He rose to international fame in 1991 with the publication of the Booker Prize-winning The Fam-

ished Road— a novel set in a Nigerian village that tells the story of Azaro, a spirit-child.

Okri, whose latest book “A Time for New Dreams” came out earlier this year, opened up to CNN about the purpose of his writing and what Africa means to him.

An edited version of the inter-

•Prof. Edwin E. Okafor, Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Dr. Greg Mabjiorgu, solo performer, poet and Senior Lecturer, UNN and James Eze, Head External Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc at the closing ceremony of this year’s edition of Fidelity Bank’s International Creative Writing Workshop that held at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, UNN.

Whenever a man dies

W

HENEVER a man dies My eyes hoist into the huge emptiness Hanging above my hair My mind slips away And we bury again the Indestructible Question.

Oh I am a dust that could be poured away I am ashes of a generation, Brittle moulding crumbling in pieces I am a stone on the graveside To number drop by drop My blood’s slow loss.

Poems My ghostly self

H

OVERS around To eat the crumbs of burial rite And dance funeral drums.

I hide my face in a starless sky For the horror of the great darkness at broad noon.

Whenever a man dies The treasure in clay is poured awayThat undying humanity Echoing down over the hills, mountains and valleys Caught up in the tingled ears of vast humanity And through the labyrinth of my mind Burdened with the search for

lost life.

Whenever a man dies Flatulent dreams moulder away In the woods of glimmering hopes, Life limps, life decays Heavy clouds of nothingness Envelope tear-dimmed world Drooping With the pains of being.

By James Onyebuchi Nnaji James Onyebuchi Nnaji is the Editor no.39 of The Muse journal, University of Nigeria Nsukka.He has been published in Drumtide Magazine, USA and The Muse, etc

view follows.

CNN: You wrote your first poem at the age of 14 ...

Ben Okri: It’s a moment that changed my life, really. On this particular day it was raining and everybody in the house was out so I was the only one indoors.

I think Miles Davis or one of Mozart’s symphonies was on the radio and I took a piece of paper and I drew what was on the mantle piece and I spent a lot of time doing this and when I finished I wrote a poem — and I looked at the drawing and it was terrible and I read the poem and it was alright. And that day I decided I was going to be a writer rather than a painter.

CNN: You were born in Nigeria and then you came to the United Kingdom and then you went back at the age of seven, and that was during a really pivotal time in Nigeria.

BO: I had heard so many stories about Africa, most of them negative, like lions walking in the street and people living in trees and things like that.

But I went back to Nigeria and Lagos was teeming with energy and optimism and discovered relations, found a world of vitality. But not long after that the civil war broke out and that was the second turning point in my life.

CNN: Did you go back to that childhood experience when you were writing “The Famished Road?”

BO: There’s a big story between that and there’s first of all surviving the civil war, well, the philosophical and human impact the war had on me.

I witnessed as a kid just so much casual brutality — I saw people being shot, I saw people who are neighbors suddenly would disappear, there was a stream that was full of dead bodies, you know these were themes that a boy, any young person, takes a while to absorb the reality of it ... That was important and the questions that the war raised in me, the questions of how people can be neighbors one day, enemies the next, the kind of courage I saw ... the cowardice I saw ... all kinds of things I saw and heard has given me much to think about over the years.

That’s the backdrop to my feeling of what it is to be human, in a way — that baptism of cultural fire — and it led me to the great questions of my life: what reality means, what it is to be human — it drove

me into philosophy ... It’s a backdrop, but it’s a philosophical and human backdrop that I haven’t entirely recovered from and don’t entirely intend to recover from.

CNN: In “A Time for New Dreams” you say Africa is difficult to see truly. So what do you see when you look at Africa?

BO: I see a medley of richness and possibility, a confusion of past and present, a dance of too many voices, cries of suffering and injustice, dominant melody of tyranny.

I see many different periods in one.

The strange thing about Africa is how past, present and future come together in a kind of rough jazz, if you like.

In the midst of so much blood and wars and tribal divisions and confusion and famines and all of that — that is what I see. It’s a rich, complex, confusing music in which a new melody, a new note, is slowly emerging, slowly sounding through.

CNN: Do you want people to walk away with a lesson from your work?

BO: I think the first thing I really want to do is to inscribe on the mind. Scratch something on the mind. It is not important for me as a writer that you leave a piece of writing of mine with either an agreement or even a resonance with what I have said.

What is important is that you leave with the resonance of what you have felt and what you thought in reaction to that. So my writing is intended for the reader to hit it and bounce back into themselves.

CNN: Where do your books end and you begin? Are we getting your world view? Are you opening the window for us when we open your books?

BO: Yes, but it’s a window that you look into it and what you see is aspects of yourself, if I’m any good. The best writing is not about the writer, the best writing is absolutely not about the writer, it’s about us, it’s about the reader.

Reading is an act of civilization; it’s one of the greatest acts of civilization because it takes the free raw material of the mind and builds castles of possibilities. And in the building of those castles of possibilities it frees the creative matrix of men and women. When you can imagine you begin to create and when you begin to create you realize that you can create a world that you prefer to live in, rather than a world that you’re suffering in.

Larondo: A magazine with a breed I

F you are thinking of a way to relax after the day’s work, reading Larondo films magazine may not be a bad idea.

The magazine is a 36 page multi-lingual photo-drama magazine published fortnightly to teach the lessons of life in a graphic manner. It features true life stories from which the reader can learn while embracing the useful lessons. With a variety of columns, the magazine touches different areas of life that an individual can learn from. Some of the columns includes: Star Parade, Drama of Life: True life experiences, Myths and Mysteries, Our Community, and Family life. Others are the Counsel, Home Case, Mark and Monica, Memorable Features, Wisdom Quotes, Aunty Imade, and Peace of Mind.

The film featured in this edition tells the story of the birth of two female babies in a hospital

on the same day, by two women of different ethnic backgrounds.

Inadvertently, there was a swap of the babies when they were cleaned up. The mistake was however discovered after one of the babies now with different parents fell sick and was diagnosed to be with sickle cell, she was discovered to have a completely different blood group from that of her new parents. Further investigations at the hospital of birth revealed how the mix up occurred.

The desperate moves made to locate the true parents of the baby seemed to be yielding good result, only to dive into the abyss of uncertainty. Nevertheless, a ray of hope hangs precariously on the abstract nature of the word of prophecy spoken by a Prophet to the couples.

As a way of encouraging youths to read the magazine,

Aunty Imade’s column exists. It is a column where readers send in problems related to boy/girl relationship and the columnist provides possible solution and also advises the readers. There is also ‘Peace of mind’ a column anchored by Robert Foo. It is an educative column which teaches readers that peace of mind starts with being grateful for what an individual has right now and not worrying about what he/she does not have.

In order to make readers more knowledgeable about the history of the country, Memorable features: stories from the memory lane, a part of this publication focuses on the glimpses on the Nigerian Civil War from Peter Obe’s lenses an ace photographer of Daily Times of Nigeria in January 1970, following the end of the three year Nigerian Civil War. Obe was the first journalist to visit the liber-

ated area of former Biafra and he brought back reminiscences of the war in graphic details to the world through his report and pictures in the Sunday Times publication.

Mark and Monica, the story of a couple created by Rufus Adetoye is another piece of this publication. In this episode – episode 2 mind your language is a comical piece of the conversation that took place between Mark, Monica and Mallam, a night guard of a nearby house.

The publication can however be improved upon by eliminating all forms of fiction from the true life stories published.

Title: Larondo Cover price: N200 Edition: Vol.1 no.2 Publisher: Larondo media communications Reviewer: Omotayo babalola

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Arts & Life

50

SUNNY SIDE

Cartoons

By Olubanwo Fagbemi deewalebf@yahoo.com 08060343214 (SMS only)

POLITICKLE

The song within The singer has everything within him. The notes come out from his very life.

They are not materials gathered from outside.

—Rabindranath Tagore

CHEEK BY JOWL

OH, LIFE!

THE GReggs

THEY say there’s a song in everyone. They say too that everyone has a story to tell. The writer holds these views to be true for men of all colour and creed. Until recently, he believed creativity – the means by which talent is farmed – to be vibrant elsewhere but in this country.

However, recent developments have necessitated a change of opinion.

Now he is convinced that were the local environment more receptive of extraordinary effort, appreciative of merit and commemorative of patriotism and valour, progress in scientific methods and endeavour would not be limited to the more developed countries of Europe, America and, lately, Asia.

He decries the sacrifice of genius for instant material gain. The fact that nearly every organisation keen to market products dangles the wina-million promo carrot to stimulate sales reflects general affliction with the get- rich-quick-by-any-means syndrome. While similar gimmic exists in more advanced societies, success at the end of hard or exceptional work is prized more. Besides, the process of identifying and grooming talent is more sophisticated and continues to improve.

Yet, progress has gifted the public greater initiative. Specifically, the writer refers to artiste discovery through talent shows. Initially, he dismissed early local versions of the shows as pandering to foreign whims and unlikely to last in more conservative local settings. To his consternation, the shows proliferated; morphing, it seemed, in alarming degree and theme.

In the increasing high stakes of entertainment business, sponsors and producers appeared to him too willing to replicate foreign-bred shows with little consideration for societal differences. But all through attendant scandals and criticisms, the writer realised that the shows would endure as a result of man’s penchant to follow the embarrassment or failure of another man. So it was in ancient Rome where crowds bayed for blood as Gladiators were destroyed by the claws and fangs of beasts or their own swords and cudgels.

On the whole, the writer is more comfortable with talent shows for singers. He chooses not to dwell on the drawbacks of such projects because he believes the entertainment value as well as direct and lateral opportunities which become obvious with each episode screened weigh more. For instance, a contestant may not possess a fantastic voice but, with abundant display of confidence and performing ability, offer Nollywood movie and TV drama producers fresh and more intelligent alternatives to the stale pool they perpetually draw from.

Judges and viewers may influence final results but the writer knows that in the course of weeks of contest, contestants prove themselves in varying degrees. None should, however, take official ratings as ultimate indication of potentials. Much like the best student in class does not necessarily end up the most accomplished in life; the most successful artiste will be he that works hardest to broaden and refine his repertoire.

The consistent progress on the domestic scene of a handful of Nigerian musicians, including one or two who were runners up in talent shows, is illustrative. It proves that endurance is as much important as talent.

Even greater effort will be required if, as projected by stakeholders, popular Nigerian acts are to transit from local champions to international brands comparable to Seal and Sade Adu – both foreign-based superstars with Nigerian links.

Talent matters, but effort matters more. Late music icon Michael Jackson’s amazing harness of singing and dancing talent with intense work drive remains a stellar example.

QUOTES Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.

—Emory Austin A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.

—Chinese proverb

Jokes Outhouse Once there was a little boy that lived in the country. They had to use an outhouse for toilet, and the little boy hated it because it was hot in the summer, cold in the winter and stank all the time.

The outhouse sat on the bank of a river and the boy decided that he would push it into the river. One day after heavy rain, the river was swollen so much that the little boy thought the day to push the outhouse into the river had come.

So he got a large stick and started pushing. Finally, the outhouse toppled into the water and floated away. That night his dad told him they were going to the woodshed after supper. Knowing that meant a spanking, the little boy asked why.

The dad replied, “Someone pushed the outhouse into the river today. It was you, wasn’t it son?”

The boy agreed. Then he thought for a moment and said, “Dad, I read in school today that America’s first president,

Caddy comments

George Washington, chopped down a cherry tree and didn’t get into trouble because he told the truth.”

The dad replied, “Well, son, George Washington’s father wasn’t in the cherry tree.”

Be the Boss A harassed husband was advised by a psychiatrist to assert himself. “You don’t have to let your wife bully you,” she said.

“Go home and show her you’re the boss.”

The husband decided to take the doctor’s advice.

He went home, slammed the door, shook his fist in his wife’s face, and growled, “From now on you’re taking orders from me. I want my supper right now, and when you get it on the table, go upstairs and lay out my clothes. Tonight I am going out with the boys. You are going to stay at home where you belong. Another thing, you know who is going to tie my bow tie?”

“I certainly do,” said his wife calmly, “the undertaker.”

•Culled from the Internet

A game well-loved by the elite, golf can try the temper of the most gentle of folks. The following is a selection of actual conversation between golfers and caddies - the ever-present assistants who help to convey golf equipment while generally providing companionship, technical and otherwise, for the players. Here are different shades of insight into the relationship, which as the reader will note, can be quite revealing.

•Golfer: “Think I’m going to drown myself in the lake.”

Caddy: “Think you can keep your head down that long?”

•Golfer: “I’d move heaven and earth to break 100 on this course.”

Caddy: “Try heaven, you’ve already moved most of the earth.”

•Golfer: “Do you think my game is improving?”

Caddy: “Yes sir, you miss the ball much closer now.”

•Golfer: “Do you think I can get there with

a 5 iron?”

Caddy: “Eventually.”

•Golfer: “You’ve got to be the worst caddy in the world.”

Caddy: “I don’t think so sir. That would be too much of a coincidence.”

•Golfer: “Please stop checking your watch all the time. It’s too much of a distraction.”

Caddy: “It’s not a watch – it’s a compass.”

•Golfer: “How do you like my game?”

Caddy: “Very good sir, but personally, I prefer golf.”

•Golfer: “Do you think it’s a sin to play on Sunday?”

Caddy: “The way you play, sir, it’s a sin on any day.”

•Golfer: “This is the worst course I’ve ever played on.”

Caddy: “This isn’t the golf course. We left that an hour ago.”

•Golfer: “That can’t be my ball, it’s too old.”

Caddy: “It’s been a long time since we teed off, sir.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

51

Young Nation

08056745268

WORD WHEEL

Hello children, Hope you are all enjoying yourselves. Do continue to be the best you can always

This is an openended puzzle.

How many words of three or more letters each including the letter at the centre of the wheel can you make from this diagram?

We’ve found 41 including one nine-letter word.

Can you do better?

Birthdays

Riddles with Bisoye Ajayi 1. What can you break without touching?

2. What has four legs, a back, but no body?

3. What belongs to you but is used more by others?

4. I am something. I and my siblings have one eye. What am

•Baby Osamudiameu Israel, The son of Mr and Mrs Godspower Omokhomion, during his dedication at Divine Appointment Ministry last week

5. I am something. I can run but I do not have legs.

What am I? Miss Ajayi is a Basic 5 pupil of Festa International School, Omole Estate Phase 1, Ikeja, Lagos

WORD SEARCH

•Miss Princess Oghenekevwe Oghojafor (middle) of Walktall International Schools, Ibafo, Ogun State celebrated her 5th birthday on Monday, June 27. She is here joined with her Nursery II classmates in a group photograph.

Wishing you many happy returns of the day

Dedication

I?

African capitals

T

HE African continent is the second largest and has fifty-four countries. In the 19th century, European sailors discovered this continent. Today, African countries are one of the most preferred travel destinations for adventure tourism. African countries are famous for their varied landscapes, flora and fauna, culture and traditions. African cuisine is gaining popularity in other continents. Each and every African country has a different kind of experience to offer. Take a look at the African countries and their capitals.

African safaris attract tourists from all over the world. The very thought of African continent makes one envision sweeping savannas, snarling lions, herds of elephant and bison, and thousands of other wild beasts. Some of the places most visited by many include Sahara, Kilimanjaro and Serengeti.

•Iweagwu Favour Uchechukwu of Great Jed Kiddies College, Ilupeju Lagos, celebrated her 5th birthday on April 20,

•Iweagwu Grace Chimemma celebrated her 1st birthday in Lagos on June 12.

Send in your stories, poems, articles, games, puzzles, riddles and jokes to sundaynation@yahoo.com

ABUJA ACCRA BAMAKO BANJUL CAIRO CONAKRY COTONOU

DAKAR FREETOWN HARARE KAMPALA KHARTOUM KIGALI LILONGWE

LUSAKA MALABO MOGADISHU NAIROBI PRETORIA TRIPOLI WINDHOEK

52

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Life

The vile of vengeance

N

TOKO was ecstatic. His countenance portrayed the aura of someone who had just hit a jackpot. Hurriedly dressed in his ten-year old British threepiece suit, the tall lanky man stood erect, examined himself in the mirror and headed out.On his way he greeted almost everyone, even children, who had grown weary of his bullying mien.

Like a gazelle, Ntoko glided fast, holding the horse tail he had inherited from his father, a great warlord of his time. He was rushing to have a first-hand grip of all that would transpire at the commissioning ceremony of the community hospital which was slated for 10 O’clock that morning.

The crowd was very thick when he arrived, but he struggled to get a seat just some few metres away from the podium. His face relaxed as he shared pleasantries with his companions and laughed at the jokes the MC was dishing out to his guests. Indeed the atmosphere was lively: each joke received a lot of applauses from the crowd.

Suddenly, there was drama.

Pandemonium broke when the sound of the blaring sirens and the fireworks tore the air.

“Hey my people calm down!

This is the moment that all of us

were anxiously waiting for. Our August visitors are around the corner, and the commissioning programmes will soon kick start in earnest” said the announcer.

The announcement, which came like a soothing balm, restored calm once again. In a military style, the visitors filed out, quickly took their seats and the occasion commenced in earnest.

The locals were trying to figure out whether a familiar face was among the August visitors, as the MC introduced dignitaries. Then, surveying the audience, he cleared his throat and paused.

“Before us is an August visitor, who is our kith and kin. A medical practitioner of note and a philanthropist, whose initiatives has brought this hospital to the domain of his people. He is no other but Dr. Kuruku…”

At this the crowd went agog, people falling on one another, as the young man stood up. His intimidating height which was a replica of his father, the village tanner, heightened the excitement. Men and women were gyrating profusely to the traditional songs and artful drumming.

Ntoko stood numb, facing the visitors, tears flowing freely from his eyes.

He appeared to be oblivious of the crowd and the excitement that graced the occasion. Immediately when the ovation waned, Ntoko

Entry by Shimsugh Chagbe

forced his way out of the crowd, staggering as he went. As he glided back to his house, memories of his past kept reverberating in his brain.

He remembered when he had quarreled with the tanner, saying unprintable things about his family. ‘Yours is a lost case! Neither you nor any of your children will amount to anything; your portion in this village has been sealed. You are damned forever’, he once mocked.

The once damned family has produced the first medical doctor of repute, whose influence had brought a standard hospital and government presence in an area that had suffered neglect for so long. Blind with rage and reprehension he wept bitterly and was startled when his wife announced the arrival of a visitor; who turned out to be the dreaded Dr. Kuruku.

Realizing the folly of his act, he summoned courage, dressed in his majestic style and welcomed his visitor. “You are most welcomed to my abode,” he said confidently as he forced smiles to his lips. The visitor held out his hands, shook him majestically and took his seat again.

“This is my wife, Kelsey. We decided to come and see you. Our busy schedules hardly allow us the laxity to visit as we desire. Nevertheless we will be leaving this evening to our place of work. We felt obliged to present to you this little token, which might help in a

little measure. My wife will be visiting in a fortnight, and she will see you properly, “ the young doctor said as he handed a wad of currency note to Ntoko.

Dumbfounded, Ntoko looked at the naira notes, then at the young man whose magnanimity was far beyond normal humans. He thought to himself “how on earth cold such a thing happen?’

Here is the same boy, whose father he had brutally assualted, coming to surprise him with a gift he never imagined in his life-time. Fifty thousand to a villager, who had never in his life earned ten thousand apiece, was not something to gloss over.

Ntoko felt shamed and humbled. He was about to kneel down, when the powerful hand of the Doctor held him in position.

“Please, make my day, Sir. Don’t kneel before your son. It is not good for a father to kneel before his son; this is just a token.” Ntoko’s eyes were filled with tears as he saw them off to the helicopter which had earlier brought the health team.

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Continue from page 48 No way! Removal of subsidy on petroleum products will be tantamount to setting the entire nation on fire. Our present state of suffering is enough.

Yinka Afolabi, Minna, Niger State.

The governors are not sincere enough for demanding the removal of petroleum subsidy. If actually they want to serve and protect the interest of the masses, they should look for another alternative, after all we all know the effect if the oil subsidy is removed. The federal government should not succumb to their demand.

Isiaka Ibrahim, Iree, Osun State.

The demand by the Nigeria Governors Forum NGF that petroleum subsidy should be removed to enable them pay the approved N18,000 minimum wage for workers to me is frivolous , misleading and a deliberate attempt to further frustrate the Nigerian workers who live below one dollar per day. Let the Governors pay without unnecessary delay so that the workers can smile home with the living wage.

Samuel Ishaya Shammang, Mangun Town, Plateau State.

Let all the nation workers start to pray for the impeachment of any governor involved in the demand for the removal of oil subsidy. This is because they are trying to put the country in another unwanted unrest.

They should be warned that this is not a matter to be discussed.

Abdullahi Castro, Dutse, Jigawa State.

It is unfortunate to have such an absurd demand coming from the Nigeria Governors Forum. To remove the subsidy is to permanently impoverish all the common people of Nigeria. Thank God that the Gov-

Have Your Say What is your view of the demand by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) that the Federal Government should remove the subsidy on petroleum products in order to enable them pay the approved N18,000 minimum wage for workers? ernor of Edo State has indicated his intention to pay the N18,000.00 minimum wage to workers. Let other Governors follow his foot step. Any Governor who refuses to pay the N18,000.00 minimum wage without the removal of the oil subsidy should consider himself unfit for the post of Governor and resign.

Samuel Asorobi, Itele-Awori, Ogun State.

This once again has exposed the callousness of these state governors to the people of Nigeria. They must pay this new minimum wage.

Elimihele Friday, Dutse, Jigawa State.

Are we surprised at what the governors are dangerously suggesting? That tells you how far they are from the people they claim to be serving and how selfish they are. If subsidy is removed today to meet up with the minimum wage, what happens tomorrow with a further agitation? Any governor that cannot pay should resign.

Adudu Sunday, Nasarawa, State.

The position of the Governors Forum is unacceptable. Payment of minimum wage is not negotiable at this stage. There is no link between

removal of oil subsidy and minimum wage. The government should cut down on frivolous expenses.

Onah Ogbeche, Calabar, Cross River State.

If the Federal Government did approve this new minimum wage without appropriate consultations with the States that are to bear most of the burden, then it is meet that they (States) demand from the Federal Government a condition that will enable them make that payment. This is simply just.

Yomi Omoyele, Lagos State.

The demand by the Nigeria Governors Forum for the removal of the over-touted subsidy on petroleum products certainly smacks of rulership oppression. Our gentle but firm president Jonathan would do well to reject it as rightly proposed by the NLC leadership. Let the oppressive governors cut down on their heavy, redundant top-level officials, and they can easily pay the new minimum wage.

Tony Biakolo, Abraka, Delta State.

The FG should not remove subsidy on petroleum. The state governments can easily pay the N18,000

monthly wages if the jumbo pay of the political appointees is reasonably reduced. Secondly, the States should prune down or merge some ministries created. Thirdly, the States are advised to improve on their Internally Generated Revenue and put paid to sole dependence on the federal allocation. Finally, the state governments must improve on their staff auditing to flush out ghost workers.

Ayoola Odusanya, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State.

Any governor who cannot pay N18,000 minimum wage without the removal of petroleum subsidy should resign. It means he lacks mental capability to solve a simple economic problem. Period!

Kevin, Asaba, Delta State.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has to dance to the tune of the NGF on the removal of the subsidy on petroleum products in order to pay the approved #18,000 minimum wage. The rule ‘’nemo dat quad non abet’’ meaning ‘’you can not give what you do not have” has to be applied. What matter most is NGF’s convenience to satisfy their workers.

Amoo Kayode,

Ileogbo, Osun State.

Their clamour is robbing Peter to pay Paul. They don’t come to serve but to amass wealth for their unborn generation.

Mrs Uche Onyeizu, Gbagada, Lagos State.

Since our politicians can embezzle government money without conviction, why is it hard for them to pay #l8,000 minimum wage to our workers? We have resources at our disposal to pay the salary if politicians are sincere with what they are doing in governance.

Gordon Chika Nnorom, Abia State.

The demand by the Nigeria Governors Forum is madness and senseless. Let the governors cut their unnecessary security vote and they can pay the n18,000 wage with ease.

Egbim Bishop Chukwuma, Enugu State.

It is inhuman and callous. It is a reflection of the sub-human nature of many of our so-called leaders who believe everyone must steal in order to be recognised. Is Gov. Fashola actually part of that meeting? Haaa!

Ogunkola Olanrewaju, Ifako-Ijaye, Lagos State.

Any governor that feels he can’t pay due to lack of resources at his disposal or until the FG withdraws subsidy on petroleum products that governor should simply tender his resignation to allow someone who will pay the minimum wage to take over. Otherwise, any attempt to push on with that myopic and uncalculated decision will amount to anarchy and will be vehemently rejected by the Nigerian populace.

Yusuf .S. Dembo, Kaduna State.

Continue on The Nation website: www.thenationonlineng.net, Click on Sunday Magazine, then Have Your Say

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UKADIKE

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KPADOBI

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W/CPL EYA

JOSEPH

EKWULUONU

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ADETOSOYE

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HENRY

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EGUMA

53

CHANGE OF NAME

BABATUNDE

MIKER

USIGHO I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Usigho Grace Aruoriwo, now wishes to be known and addressed as Mrs Akpokonyan Grace Aruoriwo. All former document remain valid.

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BALOGUN

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NWAGBARA

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

54

Young Nigerians must continue to engage government” — US Consular-General

EBERE WABARA

O8055001948

ewabara@yahoo.com

Dimeji Bankole’s immunity “G

OVERNORS biting more than they can chew” (NIGERIAN Compass Back Page Headline, June 29) A rewrite: Governors biting off more than they can chew “I am immuned from litigation, says Dimeji Bankole” (THISDAY Front Page Lead Story Sub-headline, June 24) Just like “opportune”, the only inflection “immune” takes is “immunity”. Therefore, this columnist is not immune from criticism.

A subscriber to this column sent a message to me last weekend on the correctness of “wake” and “wake-keep”. There are no such words as “wake-keeping” and “wake-keep”.

The right expression is “wake.” Virtually all funeral announcements in this part of the world disseminate this blunder in blissful flamboyance. And for clarity or emphasis: Christian wake.

“He is frank to the point of recklessness and does not bath (bat) an eyelid about sensibilities.”

“Successful candidates in the exam are placed into (in) universities depending on their performances and choices.”

“The picture one is likely to get is that of lawmakers yet to come to grip (grips) with the seriousness of what their duties entail.”

“Both palatable and heart-rending news are (is) most often broken there.”

‘News’ is uncountable. “…his skin must have toughen (you mean toughened?) such that nothing can stir his emotion as to make him cry.”

“They were, in their primes (prime), sent on a journey from which nobody returns.”

“Its police, too, began investigations culminating into (in) arrest of some suspects.”

“Since last week Tuesday....” Either last Tuesday or Tuesday, last week.

‘Last week Tuesday’ indicates lexical ignorance. “…our politicians should realise that if they can hold the country into (to) ransom for their jumbo pay, then footballers should not be blamed if they do same (the same).”

“Wayne Rooney girds lions (loins) for Man U and Johnson stems-up for record” For sports journal-

ists (who cherish language abuse), phrasal verbs do not admit hyphenation.

“In Nigeria, it was designed by the military dictators as bait to divert the attention of the people from the enormity of their loots.” No questions: ‘loot’ is non-count. “…it was seen as a child of necessity aimed at restoring the primary education sub- sector which was in crisis then back to a sound foundation.”

Scrap ‘back’ to avoid being charged with word abuse.

‘Restoration’ has taken care of the verbiage.

“All that we have in the present Nigerian society is an hostile (a hostile) environment for the youths and children.” Either youth or the youth.

“Having succeeded in intimidating their opponents at primaries, the electorate became a workover....” A time to learn: walk-over.

“A nearby police station in Benin has (had) rebuffed the request for a police report on the ground of jurisdiction.”

Simply put: on grounds of jurisdiction.

“Anyone who monitored the mobilization of women in the last fifteen years in Nigeria could imagine positive results that could have been achieved if the First Ladies have (had) been sincere.”

“We do not have to wait for this sporadic attacks by foreign armed bandits to metamorphose into a full blown (a hyphen, please) security threat.”

Why the discord (this attacks)? And, of course, banditry without arms?

Vide a standard dictionary.

“Because of an improved revenue base, the governor said that the government is (was) in a good position….”

“What stops us from returning to the heydays (heyday) of the school.…”

“This does not mean that a lady should not be congratulated for (on) a safe delivery.” “…many of the specie (species) had run amuck simply on the suspicion that another woman is nipping at the apple.”

“Industry players blamed the high cost of borrowing from the money market to (on) a number of factors.”

“It is high time we

make (made) such people pay....” “…especially with regards to human development.” This way: as regards or with regard to. “…as the North would be placed on an even keel or competing favourably with their kiths and kin in the South.” Fixed expression: kith and kin.

“Tears of instability of power has (have) caused many Nigerians to turn their attention to alternative sources of power supply.”

“The most cheering news item in recent times is the marching order given to the NPF....” Stock phrase: marching orders.

“The police strenght is inadequate to cope with the security of a large population of 150 million Nigerians.” Spell-check: strength.

Similarly: straight.

“News from reliable sources tend (tends) to portray a government tendency itching (do you mean inching?) towards sustenance.…”

“Ex-head of states, who have cracked and liquidated the nation’s coffers are to be paid or are receiving N350,000 every month.” Building a new nation: Ex-heads of state. “ V o c a t i o n a l equipments, basic infrastructures and qualified personnels must be given priority in our scheme of things.” Uncountable words: booty, equipment and personnel.

“The news of the death of…via a ghastly motor accident recently came as a rude shock to us.” Advert condolence: fatal (not ghastly) motor accident.

Beyond the correction, since the man died, there was no need for the inclusion of the mode of mishap.

Simply a motor accident.

Got the point? Who can explain the etymology of “rude shock” to me? I am not used to such native registers.

“But suffice it to say that those rooting to unseat a recalcitrant lawmaker should be abreast with (of) the legal bottleneck rather than arm-twisting.”

“It is very easy for a moneybag (sic) who has….” ‘Moneybags’ (plural unchanged) (especially informal and derogatory) is a rich person. (Source: OXFORD Advanced Learner’s DICTIONARY) “Moneybag” is a bag for containing money.

T

HE United State of American Consular General, Nigeria, Joseph Stafford has appeal to Nigeria youth to continue to use various social media tools to engage government at all levels as that would help foster a strong democracy and drive a true government..

Stafford said this recently at a the consulate’s New Tools, New Government town hall meeting with young leaders and icons organized by The Future Project held at the US Consulate’s Public Affairs Section office in Lagos.

The programme titled New Tools, New Government brought together youth drawn from the media, civil societies, community associations, entertainment and Information Communication Technology (ICT) had discussions on the use of new technology during the 2011 elections and to monitor governance and accountability after the election.

According to him, govern-

By Adeola Ogunlade ment at all levels can only deliver on their campaign promises when young people use all available medium, most especially new digital technology to engage them effectively.

Joseph said “we believe there is no time such as now to point the young population towards the direction of sustaining good governance and public accountability using these tools for citizen engagement.”

“I was very impressed at the active participation of the Nigerian youth during the 2011 elections. Now that the elections are over, it would be productive to see continuous social media engagements”, he said.

In her address, the Public Affair Officer of the Consulate, Tina Onufer pointed out that young Nigerians played a key role in the last elections using the innovative social tools that the New and Digital Media provide, thus, “it is important

that we define a pathway from there to the future as Nigeria has no choice but to change for good.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Managing Partner of The Future Project, Chude Jideonwo, who was impressed by the event said “we are happy to be a part of this project, and it is in line with our work for 6-years now to open channels of engagement, communication and learning between young Nigerians and young Nigerian leaders and institutions and structures that can drive positive change for our country,” Guests at the event included representatives of LEAP Africa, the Kudirat initiative for Democracy, Smoke Free Foundation, Access Cool Peer Monitoring Project, Tosin Jegde Foundation, amongst others. Also attending was ace comedian Ali Baba, OC Ukeje, Mosunmola Umoru, publisher Familusi Akin Babajide, Tosyn Bucknor, Abiola Aloba and others.

Safety and Security Alert!

OUNTERINTELLIGENCE program is a well planned systematic, allsourced to mitigate terrorism activities. It requires stringent efforts, planning and direction, collection and analysis, production, investigation, and dissemination.

Effective Counterintelligence (CI) It’s imperative to put in place C o m m u n i t y Counterintelligence Board (CCB) to coordinate activities on the need-to-know while Counterintelligence Support Officer (CISO) shall interface.

He is to: •Issue reports, advisories and assessments.

•Ensure competence •Report actual/suspected terrorist activities.

•Provide liaison •Develop awareness and information.

What is Counterintelligence (CI)?

CI is the collective activities by intelligence bodies to hinder enemy’s source of information by defensive or offensive means and varied measures which include, counter• Espionage • Sabotage • Subversion • Terrorism & Antiterrorism.

It is essential to apply: • Intelligence obtained • Speed & Risk level • Enemy’s capabilities and • Security.

CI operations could be military, civilian, harbor, Border, travel security, censorship and operations security Operations Security (OPSEC) OPSEC is the coordinated actions to deny information by applying total integration by: • Counter surveillance, to protect operations.

• Counter measures, to eliminate and reduce threat.

•Deception, to create the false image.

OPSEC operations involve: • Plan of operations • Summary of enemy’s intelligence gathering, sabotage and subversion.

• List of counter surveillance measures by enemy CI. • Miscellany.

• Command, instructions,

C

The Need for Emergence Counterintelligence and National Defense Strategy links, personnel, channels, reports, frequency and priorities.

Threat Analysis Assessment Threat is the combined capabilities of the enemy’s resources. Threat analysis is a continuous process of compilation, examination and probability to identify target interests. Threat levels are determined according to the existence, capability, intentions, history and targets measured as negligible, low, medium, high or critical.

Challenges of CI collection and operations: •Size and mobility of the group •Trainings. There must be constant check on: •What has changed in terrorist’s mission, climate, installation, personnel, equipment or capabilities?

•What effect will the changes have?

Hence, extraordinary security measures, sound physical security, competent personnel, accurate threat and vulnerability assessments and a well rehearsed response plan shall reduce the possibility of successful terrorist venture.

Extracting CI Information Wheedling is always applied with desired information, subject, the wheedler and environment. It is the technique of obtaining greatest useful intelligence from unsuspecting source.

Pre-requisites: •Review CI collection requirements •Select the subject.

•Obtain and evaluate information by wheedling.

•Determine specific environment.

•Select logical story with the situation •Carry out approximation techniques.

•Prepare required report.

Detecting CI targets Recognition of CI targets is through intelligence rules and basic information. We need to: •Review CI estimates.

• Identify & classify CI targets.

• Assign priorities & responsibilities to neutralize exploitation.

• Notify missions.

How to neutralize targets: It is imperative to know the identity of the team, history and functions by traps and intercept. We have to: •Determine what target to be neutralized.

•Analyze & determine methods.

•Determine & prepare operational plans.

•Carry out operations.

Counter-Terrorism Programs Effective counter terrorism operations demand good MILINT collaboration. The components are: •Prediction • Prevention •Dissuasion • Preparation •Reaction.

MILINT is essential in each of the components by collection, analysis and dissemination.

Defense Intelligence Strategy is a critical component of national intelligence enterprise, first, respond to the unique policy, operational and acquisition requirements, and second, respond to national intelligence missions to extend, enhance, explore and enable actions to deny enemy capabilities, technologies and knowledge.

In conclusion, the present level of security in the country calls for serious ground observation and reconnaissance, air surveillance and reconnaissance, SIGNIT and MASINT all and sundry. There is urgent need for massive prerequisite education and professional intervention by the state agencies as terrorist enemy will never relent unless conquered.

Please, send comments, responses and security challenges by e-mail or sms to the undersigned.

By: Mr. Timilehin Ajayi (Safety and Security Consultant) E-mail: timilehinajayi@yahoo.com 08095683454.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2010

I

T was established in September 1990, the first academic session began on 19th October 1990 with a total number of 436 students who were offered admission to various courses in four faculties then, namely Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Engineering and Management Sciences, and Pure and Applied Sciences.

Today, the school has a population of students in excess of 25,000.

The vision of the university is to be a centre of academic excellence, and a training ground for productive, self-employable, self-sustaining and self-reliant individuals passing through it, and to combine the ideals of excellence in learning and research with a large dose of practical application to development.

The mission is to expand the frontiers of knowledge through provision of excellent conditions for learning and research that will contribute to the transformation of the society through creativity and innovation.

All these mission and vision were jealously guarded the resultant effect of which made LAUTECH to be ranked as the best state university by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in 2007/2008.

The institution now has seven faculties that run several programmes.

Factors responsible for crisis in the institution Interestingly, you will find it hard to believe that the crisis rocking LAUTECH is beyond ownership.

It is indeed unfortunate that some selfcentred politicians who feed fat in deceit, confusion and instability misinformed the two owner-state governors then, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and Otuna Adebayo Alao-Akala, on decision-makings, to the detriment of the university.

Do you know that inspite of the ownership tussle, which will soon be resolved amicable, staffers of LAUTECH, both the academic and non-academic work as a family, irrespective of state(s) of origin. A visitor to the institution

Life Extra

‘LAUTECH crisis beyond ownership’ Dr. Stephen Olatunde Olabiyisi, was one of the pioneer students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho Presently, he is a senior lecturer and Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering of the institution. Olabiyisi is also the National President, LAUTECH Alumni Association. He spoke recently with our correspondent, BODE DUROJAIYE, on LAUTECH, factors responsible for crisis bedeviling it, and the way forward.

From Bode Durojaiye, Ogbomoso. would hardly believe there is crisis because the environment remain ever conducive for learning and teaching. If it is true that the crisis rocking LAUTECH is about ownership, why did former Osun State Governor, Prince Oyinlola, agreed with his Oyo State Counterpart, Otunba Alao-Akala, to endorse the invitation of NUC on sharing of assets and liabilities? Things read on the pages of some news papers about LAUTECH are so horrifying, that the Alumni felt bad and unhappy.

The integrity of LAUTECH, which is noted as one of the topmost universities in the country, is fast eroding, and we feel deeply concerned about this.

Our interest is to allow joint ownership to stay, but the stage we are now has gone beyond that, as spade must be called a spade, and holistic approach sought.

On the way forward First, the NUC report must be carefully studied by the two –owner state governments before its implementation. Thereafter, there must be proper legal framework binding on the ownership, so as to forestall a repeat of what is happening in the nearest future. The integrity of the school, as well as comfort of staff of students is non-negotiable status and must remain, and no staff should be victimized.

The Alumni association, as a stake holder

• Dr. Olatunde

should be carried along. We stated together in 1990, and nobody can tell the story better that us.

No one, even the owner governors, both past and present can claim to know LAUTECH better than we the alumni.

Another important aspect is the domineering influence of the owner –state governments on

How FLP changed my life – Oma Attah Mrs. Oma Atta was engaged as a statistician at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital before becoming an Independent Distributor of Forever Living Products (FLP) on part time basis. A chance meeting with FLP Diamond Manager, Dr Maria Idigo, in 2001, convinced the ebony black lady that fortune could be smiling on her doing the business. Ten years on, she has emerged Africa’s 4th topmost FLP distributor. In this interview with newsmen she relives how the meeting changed her life. Excerpts: How did it all begin?

WAS a civil servant, working with the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

I started marketing Forever Living Products on part time basis from August 6, 2001. I finally left the civil service in 2003 to market the products on full time basis. Mrs. Maria Idigo introduced me to Forever. She is married to a medical doctor, Dr. Clement Idigo. They own one of the best schools and a private hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Once, I visited Mrs. Idigo and she was talking about Forever and I thought, “Oh, no, not for me.

I am too busy”. Busy, I would say, but being broke of course. I just thought I couldn’t do what she was doing - sell products. I was going to work, driving one hour in traffic to my job. I wasn’t happy with what I was doing anyway. I was eating myself out of depression.

There are people who eat when they are sad, I eat when I am sad. So, I became a size UK 20. I knew something had to be done the day my father walked into my house and asked if I was still eating food. He actually said, “You mean food still enters into your mouth?” I was growing too big. And I was eating mostly fruits, not even solid foods.

That day I said, okay, let me go and meet Maria Idigo, so that I can buy the products and use them to check my weight. I walked into her office, and she said she was not going to sell to me, that I should buy from myself. I said, please I can’t do this thing, I don’t have the time, please sell to me.

After some insistence, I told her not to worry, if it worked for me I would tell people to come and buy from her.

But then I looked at her table and saw this cheque for N500,000. It was dated May 15, 2001,

I

55

and my eyes popped. I was looking at this cheque like, “What? N500,000, in 2001? I don’t know how many people were earning N500,000 in 2001, even for a year. So, she knew she had caught my attention. She said, `oh, that one was for last month.

The one for this month has just arrived. And then, there it was, dated June 15, 2001, it was N700,000.

And I just said to her, “what do you do?” I didn’t need any prompting, I didn’t have a clue, but all I knew was that in two months, this woman had earned over a million Naira. Therefore, whatever she was selling, I had to be selling it. That’s how I remember the day I filled the FLP registration form, 6th August, 2001. I didn’t listen to any business presentation, I just wanted to change my life.

I have always had wonderful dreams, I have always wanted good things, but just didn’t know how it was going to be. And that day I saw that money, all I could think was how many people could actually, honestly, say that in their jobs, where they have been working for how many years, that by the time they retire, even after 30 years, that they will ever earn N700,000 in one month. That was what I saw. I knew what I was earning, I saw myself at retirement, I saw the people who were at my level, even if I worked to retirement as a federal civil servant, and I knew they will never ever earn N500,000 in one month.

So, I said to myself, ‘Ok, let me put in two to five years, do exactly what they say I should do. If at the end of my fifth year, I could at least earn N250,000 a month, it would be worth trying. So, I said I would do everything the company says I should do, if I don’t earn N250,000 at the end of the fifth year, then I would say, I quit’. And you know

•Oma Atta what, I got the N250,000 per month in my first year as FLP Distributor. Five years later, I earned my private car, I got a share of the company’s profit; I had travelled the world. Now there is no turning back. I have done more, I actually introduced John Ekperigin who is Africa’s No. 1 distributor, into Forever.

What were the initial challenges?

My initial challenges with Forever were people.

If you are discussing a business to earn money, look at the person discouraging you, what kind of car is he driving? Where is the person living? Which kind of schools are the person’s children attending?

Has the person gone on any vacation? If the person is not living your lifestyle or better than the lifestyle you are dreaming about achieving, don’t listen to that person. Fact about it is that, God forbid, when you eventually die, that person will not cry at your funeral, he may not give anything to your family members. And unfortunately, that is just the way life is. It’s the way we have been programmed from birth. So, your friends, families will be the first obstacles, which is bad. But that’s just the way it is. But, like I say, you have to make yourself a success, then they will listen to you.

What is your key selling point in the business?

My lifestyle! Remember, Forever, is not a hawking business, it’s not something you carry and say come and buy. People see you and ask about you. I met somebody in this (Forever)

the institution. Unlike the federal varsities, this ought not to be so. A situation whereby ownerstate governor dictate the pace to the ViceChancellor, regardless of its implications left much to be desired. Vice-chancellor will go capin hand to beg for funds to run the university, or seek permission before taking appropriate action where necessary.

Instances also abound where commissioners will direct the Vice chancellor to provide jobs for candidates, or have the institution’s allocation delayed. How do you expect smooth administration in this manner.

On the Alumni Achievements We have instituted Awards for best graduate students in each Faculty.

Within the next one month, consignment of books will be donated to the university, covering all areas of academics. We have also introduced indigent students’ scheme.

Apart from material things, we provide useful advices/suggestions to the university management, and even the owner states governors for proper running of the university.

We equally mobilized individuals that are well to do in the society, to contribute to the growth of their almamater. What is more, an Alumni Multipurpose Center that will be useful to the school will soon be established. We are also seriously dialoguing with the management on how to turn the university into a residential one, in order to save the students from the Shylock landlords, who often make life difficult through exorbitant charges. complex last week. He didn’t recognise me. We were in secondary school together. I had to call him, he still could not recognise me. I told him to tell me I was looking younger. Now, no matter how brilliant a seller you are, if you don’t use Forever products, you can’t succeed.

When you use the product, you will see the result in you. People around you will see the result in you. Then they will come and say, “what happened to you, you are shining o!” Or they will say to you “Oga, you’re looking younger”. Your children are no more sick. Myself, I have not been to the hospital for many years, not because I don’t really want to go, but I haven’t found the reason to go to the hospital. I use my product, I take care of myself and I look good.

Now, people around me say, what is happening? It then becomes easier to talk about the product. I focus on the part that I want to live a great life. I want to have the best of everything. So, when someone says you are great, I say, “Bless you, I have a product for you”. There is always a way to recommend my product.

What I love about this business is that you are just living your everyday life.

Somebody said, they don’t see me carry products, and I said: No, because it is a way of life. I go anywhere, I say hello to you, I talk to you about your children, I listen to what your challenges are and I say to you, have you tried this product? It’s not everybody I talk to about the product. I have done this for ten years. I left this country for three years, but for those three years, I was still making money; my business was still thriving. You don’t have that happen anywhere else. I came back, I continued with my business. I was doing what I have always done – use the product, share the benefit of the product and build the business telling people about the benefits of Forever business.

And remember, every single month I get paid.

I use the product, I get paid. I sell the product, I make profit. The company still pays me. I bring in somebody into the business, the company pays me. And to crown it all up, the company recognises my achievements at every stage. So many people think recognition is not important.

But I think that is one thing the founder of this company, Rex Maughan, has gotten right. He knows that people love recognition. There is something recognition does to you… it gingers you to do more. It encourages you. That is why we always have success shows. We always celebrate success. So when you see that people are doing it, you will know it is possible to do it.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Life

56

A show of strength The Ero age grade festival is held every seven years in the ancient town of Ipele-Owo. However, the festival is usually heralded by a youth programme known as Ugbama Uketa or Ogwo. Taiwo Abiodun witnessed the event

•Participants at the festival

M

EN and women between the ages of 40 and 50 years were in attendance. The males were in their immaculate white of native knickers and trousers with abeti aja caps to match .They were half naked, leaving their tummy and chest open for the people to have a glance at and to judge who is well fed, healthy and strong among them .The females also wore their immaculate white native iro and buba but unlike their male counterparts, they covered their bodies.

The celebration is to announce that they had been promoted from the lower strung of the leadership ladder to the higher one called Oketa Ugbama or Ogwo indicating that they are now matured enough to contribute their own quota to the development of the town, Ipele in Owo , Ondo State.

All in high spirits , the over 1,000youths in their thick sandals made of rubber tyres walked round the ancient town three times singing the chorus Ma wewu ma wewu ene ne bewu re .Ma wewu ma wewu ene ne bewu re[literally means don’t put on your clothes , everybody

should remove his top About 12 hefty men led the crowd.

They held palm frond- woven shields called Asa. The shields were decorated with feathers.

A strange-looking man of an average height, called Eku Erinmi came out in his own unique costume .He was also half -clad while his body was painted with native black and white chalk .He was armed with a spear and his leather bag was strapped on his shoulder like a hunter. His cap was made of leopard’s skin with a long tail dangling on his shoulders as he walked briskly along .

Like a warrior he held his spear while the metals on his legs were clanging and making unusual noises as he ran about in a frenzy and in a dreadful way, sending jitters down the spines of those who are not familiar with him Yet he was generally admired by the spectators as he displayed with dexterity his warfare skill. He ran up and down like a restless floating leaf on the river or like a bird perched on the rope .The youth followed him about in ecstasy, chanting some war songs and singing

his praises.

The Eku Erinmi also prayed for the town and for the unity and long life of the people living in the community. He went into people’s houses and also prayed for them. It is believed that if he carries any sick child on his palms and prays for him or her the baby becomes sound and well.

All these activities were in preparation for the age grade Ero .festival which is held every seven years.

According to his His Royal Majesty, the Olupele of Ipele, Oba Abel Olaleye Alade, the occasion is a festive period when the natives at home and abroad come together to celebrate and cut birthday cake. He said further: “It is another way of thanking God for protecting our lives .Many even go to church and mosque to offer prayers .It shows how we love one another.

According to the age grade system , in seven years’ time, those who belonged to Ogwo will graduate to the next level, Omindami stage and from there to Ugbama and finally to the last grade which is Olori Ugbama. Those who attain

the status of the Olori Ugbama stop serving the town and the royal father.

This is known as the resting stage. They have now become elders of the town.

Ipele is an historical town founded over 500years ago.Another mystery about the town is that it has never been conquered or experienced any war in all the Yoruba land and Benin.

The dreaded Eku Erinmi would always be in the forefront leading others to terrify enemies in case of invasion.

Records had it that the enemies would have fallen into the trenches and captured .

Rahman Abubakar, a senior lecturer at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo described the occasion as one of the greatest youth festivals in Ondo State.

He said: “We treat this occasion like an ‘exhibition’ time, showing our bodies to prove our strength and our state of health. ’’ Architect Akintunde Imolehin ,who is the Ipele Development Summit chairman and coordinator praised the youths for turning up in large number from all over the world.

57

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2011

Is vandalism, oil theft driven by poverty or greed?

Oil companies especially the exploration and production (E&P) companies and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have suffered attacks on their pipelines by persons who steal crude oil and refined petroleum.

The argument in the industry is whether this illegal tampering and sabotage of operation, which is becoming a norm in the Niger Delta is driven by poverty or greed, EMEKA UGWUANYI Assistant Editor (Energy) reports.

O

IL companies particularly the multinationals are facing a fresh onslaught by vandals in the Niger Delta. The Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited (SPDC) recently cried out that sabotage in its operation was on the increase, which is a worrisome development considering the Federal Government’s effort to ensure a sustainable end to militancy and vandalism of oil companies’ pipelines and other facilities.

Pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering, which started as a passing social malady is rated as a full-blown organised crime with seemingly no solution in sight.

In fact, the excitement that heralded the amnesty programme of the government is waning among E&P companies that operate onshore assets as these vandals focus on such assets.

Vandalism of oil companies pipelines irrespective of whether the pipelines that convey crude of products have far-reaching consequences on the economy and environment. Thousands of barrels of crude are stolen daily from the operating assets of oil companies in the Niger Delta and exported. There is also regular tampering of fuel pipelines by fuel thieves in different parts of the country, who siphon tens of thousands of litres of petrol, which stealthily finds its way to the open market for sale.

Following this development, it was discovered that oil companies especially the International Oil Companies (IOCs) in a bid to avoid the menace of vandals are almost operating only in the offshore and deep offshore terrains, which are difficult for vandals to access.

Data and reports have shown that Shell is the most affected in this act of vandalism having recorded considerable losses in terms of crude oil loss and cost of remediation of impacted environment because the company has some reasonable onshore assets, which it is currently selling.

The debate

At a recent forum in Lagos where the issue of sabotage came up, there was a debate among stakeholders who participated in the seminar on what actually is responsible for the continued activities of these faceless vandals. The argument was whether sabotage in Niger Delta is driven by poverty or greed.

The majority of the participants agreed that most of the culprits are not poor, which indicates the activity is driven by greed and lack of patriotism. They argued that the ability of the vandals to be knowledgeable enough and have access to the tools with which they tamper with these oil facilities shows they are not poor.

As a result of sabotage on crude pipelines and oil theft, the country has lost billions of naira over the years.

Speaking on the activities of vandals that

•Vandals scooping fuel from a burst petroleum pipe

attack crude and products pipelines at one of the energy conferences held in Lagos, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, NNPC, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, among other participants confirmed that vandals are not poor. They agreed that poverty and hunger are not the driving force behind pipeline vandals. The vandals were said to be wealthy and influential people in the society.

Ajuonuma had said: “Contrary to the belief of many Nigerians, the vandals are not just hungry but wealthy and influential.

No poor person can afford the sophistication that is involved in pipeline vandalism.”

He cited an instance with an incident where three speed boats, 800 50-litre jerrycans and other equipment were impounded by the marine police, which he noted did not reflect poverty.

Some photo clips shown at the conference, which revealed the operations of the vandals also showed that they are affluent people. The equipment they used including pipeline laid in the creeks to siphon fuel did not portray poverty.

Ajuonuma said “Vandals are very knowledgeable people, highly educated and rich. They are not hungry. Vandalism does not occur as result of hunger but as a result

of breakdown in societal value because materialism has taken over displacing right values.

“Vandalism is an organised crime; therefore, there is a mafia behind it. They sponsor the crime and ensure it is well carried out.”

Consequences of sabotage

The participants highlighted the consequences of tampering with oil facilities both for crude and refined products. They said besides polluting the environment and damaging the aqua flora and fauna, attacks on refined product pipelines and facilities, have resulted in loss of lives and properties.

As a result of sabotage on crude pipelines and oil theft, the country has lost billions of naira over the years. In the exploration and production (E&P) sector, substantial quantity of crude oil has been lost to vandalism. The acts of vandalism were mostly carried out by the Niger Delta militants and illegal bunkers. For instance, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) recently lost 700,000 barrels of oil to this act, while other multinationals including Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nigeria Gas Company and Agip, among others also lost undisclosed quantity of oil.

In fact, illegal bunkering of crude has

become a booming business in the delta region and seems to very difficult to be tackled as government is helpless, while thousands of crude are lifted on daily basis from the facilities of the IOCs.

Shell experience

The Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, had lamented the consequences of vandalism and militancy in the operation of the company over the years.

Sunmonu said the company loses about 100,000 barrels of oil daily to theft, apart from the associated environment damage, which costs the company substantial amount of money in terms of remediation.

Sunmonu said in Shell Group’s sustainable report released recently: “The Niger Delta experienced relative stability in 2010. A continued government amnesty for militants who had been attacking oil facilities in recent years helped improve security. This allowed important projects to move forward. We were able to renew infrastructure, such as pipelines, and build facilities to collect gas produced with oil that is normally burned, or flared.

•Continued on page 58

58

Business

•Continued from page 57

“SPDC supplies around 70 per cent of Nigeria’s domestic gas, which is mostly used to produce power. Our major new energy project at Gbaran-Ubie in Bayelsa State began to help meet this need by providing gas to generate electricity, and for export. This project has created 300 permanent jobs and helped many to develop skills such as welding and scaffolding. A related social investment scheme is under way to connect 200,000 local people to the electricity grid for the first time.

SPDC’s Afam VI power plant in Rivers State continued to contribute almost 20 per cent to the country’s total electricity generating capacity.

“Such progress is welcome. Yet serious problems remain.

Although the number of violent attacks on our employees and contractors fell in 2010, they still occur. Gangs kidnapped 26 SPDC employees and contractors in 2010, and one contractor was killed in a related assault. People remain trapped in poverty in the delta. Criminal gangs continue to steal oil from pipelines at an estimated rate of 100,000 barrels a day. Theft and illegal refining cause extensive environmental damage.

Sabotage and theft together accounted for more than 80 per cent of the spill volume from SPDC facilities in 2010.

“In the face of such difficulties people ask me many questions.

What has SPDC learned over the years? What are we doing differently to bring improvements?

Can the problems in the delta ever be solved?”

In the report on Shell’s activities, environment protection

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Is vandalism, oil theft driven by poverty or greed? and development programme in the company’s areas of operation, which was released recently, the company admitted that there is poverty in the oil producing region, which might really be frustrating but noted that the people channeled their aggression to facilities and personnel of the oil firms operating in the region.

The report chronicled Shell’s losses in the hands of the faceless saboteurs and militants.

It said:”Many years of oil and gas operations in the Niger Delta have generated billions of dollars in revenue for the government.

However, the majority of the 30 million people living there remain poor and unemployment is high.

“Unrest has grown. Frustrated by the lack of benefits from oil production, communities have targeted the operations of energy companies, including the SPDC demanding better public services and a greater share of government revenues.

“The unrest has turned into a worrying criminal movement, which feeds on massive thefts of crude oil. Heavily armed and wellorganised groups attack oil and gas facilities in the delta, shut down operations, kidnap staff and sabotage pipelines.

“Rival gangs and ethnic groups have clashed violently in several of the delta’s towns. Barges take stolen oil to tankers waiting offshore for export. All this has reduced the amount of oil SPDC is producing, created environmental and social problems from oil spills

a substantial amount of its oil production. In September 2007, SPDC began restarting its western delta operations. Work is ongoing, though security problems continue. The threat to people working in oil and gas operations in the delta remains high.

Impact on power

•GMD, NNPC, Austine Oniwon

and reduced government revenue that could be used to develop infrastructure and services.

“How much oil is stolen is difficult to estimate and varies according to the source. In 2009/ 2010, there were 155 reported incident of crude oil theft from SPDC facilities that involved vandalism, spills, fire or arrests (there were 211 in 2008/2009). In 2010, authorities arrested 187 people and seized among others 20 tankers, 15 vehicles, 28 barges and 38 other boats. These almost certainly represent a small fraction of the true scale of the problem.

“In early 2006, a series of attacks forced SPDC to shut down most of its operations in the western delta. As a result of these and other attacks, Nigeria has lost

The drop in power supply and some operational shutdowns, which led to no-supply from some power plants, were also attributed to pipeline vandalism. Different power plants have been shut down at different times because sabotage on pipelines. The most recent one include the Utorogu gas plant and the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).

The Trans Niger Pipeline incident compelled SPDC to declare force majeure on Bonny Light loadings for June and July 2011. The declaration, which means that the company cannot be blamed for not honouring its contractual agreement because of forces beyond its control, was as a result of production cutbacks caused by leaks and fires, which occurred on the TNP.

Casualties

On petroleum products vandalism, data show that a lot of carnage had been done by vandals, who perforate fuel pipelines to siphon fuel. Besides the substantial volume of fuel lost, the data showed that over 2000 lives and properties worth hundreds of millions of naira were lost to pipeline vandalism in seven years.

For instance, one of the previous data from the Department

of Petroleum Resources (DPR) showed the Petroleum Products and Marketing Company (PPMC), petroleum products distribution and marketing arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), lost 20 metric tonnes of products between 1999 and March 2006.

Also within the period, over 10 incidents of pipeline vandalism took place. While some of the incidents involved only petroleum products loss, others involved loss of both products and human lives mostly through fire outbreaks.

The figures exclude products, human lives and properties lost during the December pipeline puncture and explosion at AbuleEgba in Lagos, which claimed over 240 lives and loss of unspecified quantity of fuel and property and the Ijegun incident also in Lagos where three speed boats, 300 50litre cans filled with fuel, 500 empty cans were impounded and six vandals were arrested by the marine police.

A breakdown of the losses showed that in 2000 over 1000 lives were lost in pipeline vandalism and fire in Jesse, Delta State. Over 500 lives were also lost in Ilado-Lagos in 2005, three in IjeOdodo also in Lagos, late 2005 and over 250 in Abia State incident in 2004, among others.

In 2005, the cost of petroleum products lost to pipeline vandalism was put at N12 billion, while between January and May 2006, the loss was put at N7.07 billion.

Photo News

•Group Managing Director/CEO , Sterling Bank Plc, Yemi Adeola and his wife, Banke at the church service for the late Group Managing Director GTBank Plc, Olutayo Aderinokun, at PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID the Ikoyi Baptist Church, Lagos last Friday

•L-R: Area Controller, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Mr. Matthew Ogbogun, and Legal Adviser (NEPC), Barrister Ezra Yakusak at a One Day Interactive Forum on the importance of cohesive functional trade groups in the promotion of non-oil export held in Lagos last Thursday PHOTO: BADE DARAMOLA

•L-R: Vice Chairman, Tantalizers Plc, Mr. Mofoluso Ayeni, Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Abosede Ayeni and the Chairman, Dr. Jiye Oyedotun at the 13th Annual General Meeting of the company PHOTO: ABDULLAHI INAPEH YUSUF in Lagos recently.

L-R: Architect Hamed Kabiru receiving the Lagos Award for Excellence from Hon. Abiodun Tohun in Ikeja, recently

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

C

AN you react to the allegations of corruption and fraud in the commission, which you head regarding the opening of an offshore account?

First of all, I want to say that there is nothing like corruption in NDDC. The issue here is that some people are just being mischievous. In a country like Nigeria, you cannot rule out mischief. What is the issue? It is all about opening an account. I want to make it very clear; many people have been erroneously led to believe that money was transferred from Nigeria to somewhere else. That is totally false and inaccurate. It is not true, please. The money in question is the contribution from oil companies doing business in the Niger Delta. Theypay their money from their head offices in dollars.

The account is outside the country.

And all of us know that one of the rescued bank is having some issues regarding liquidity. The Governor of the Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has been very categorical, these past weeks or months about the challenges that those banks that were bailed out are still facing.

Sanusi has said that even though attempts have been made, they have not come out of the grave situation they have found themselves.

As the Chief Executive Officer of the commission, part of my responsibility is to ensure that I safeguard the funds of the commission. There is no way I can fold my hands and see the money being locked up somewhere. It was necessary that an action must be taken and somebody must take that decision.

Now, the misconception was that the board needed to give an approval before such a step is taken. But that is not true. Going by government rules, no board resolution was needed for such an account to be opened. As I speak with you, the account is not a private account; it is an NDDC account and not a single kobo is lost. No single withdrawal has been made from the account either by me or any other person. The money is intact.

All we did was merely move the money from Union Bank, London to First Bank in London.

It was a proactive step or action taken in the best and overall interest of NDDC and all its stakeholders to ensure that our money is safe and secure. And of course, any right thinking being should take such proactive steps once you read the signals as portending danger to your interest in the near future.

From all indications, First Bank is about the strongest bank today in the land. It doesn’t have any liquidity problem. I think I deserve applause and commendation rather than this entire attempt to crucify me. I take all the noise as the inability of some people to appreciate the deft move to safeguard our interest. It is bad. They are running here and there even to the Presidency.

Incidentally, Mr. President is wiser than what people take him for. He knows that the question of leadership requires proactive decision to be taken in the best interest of all. You see, unknown to them, when the issue came up, I went to the Accountant General of the Federation to ask for his permission and he granted it.

It was also alleged that you forged the resolution of the board to be able to open the account?

Board’s resolution was not required. Do you forge what is not required? No board’s resolution was needed, so how do you forge

Business

59

‘Bureaucracy, bane of Nigeria’s underdevelopment’ Chibuzor Ugwoha is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). But in the last three months the media has been awash with reports of wide spread allegations of fraud, corrupt practices and highhandedness against him. In this interview with our Assistant Editor, Augustine Avwode, the NDDC boss debunked the allegations describing them as the handiwork of mischief makers.

He also explains, the efforts the commission has made to realise the objectives for which it was set up 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234

THE EXECUTIVE

•Ugwoha

what was not needed? That is a question for them to answer. I did not need a board resolution to open an account.

What about the award of contract by you on the East-West Coastal road to a company described as ‘phony’ and that it was without due process?

Well, the contract for the EastWest Coastal Road design was awarded in 2008. That was before I came into office. I met that job on the ground but there is a part that was still required for the people to go ahead and design. That was all. Part of the problem in this country is lack of continuity. The importance of that project cannot be over emphasised. In fact, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua made it clear that the three major projects he would do for the Niger Delta are the East-West Coastal Road, East –West Railway line and the East-West Road. I met that job on the table and anybody who knows the importance of that project would go ahead and complete it and part of what was required was to study and to

advise us on the possibility of that project and then go ahead and design. Given the importance of that project to the Niger Delta, anybody who loves the region would not try to pull back the hand of the clock. I did not award any new contract.

In about 40 days, it will be two years since you mounted the saddle as NDDC boss. How has it been these two years?

It has been up and down; it has been challenging. I mean challenges from developing the Niger Delta. It was like everybody wants something for himself and that the NDDC, just with a snap of the fingers, short of being a magician, everybody expects NDDC to have solutions to individual’s problems and many years underdevelopment, neglect and degradation of the area called Niger Delta. They expected that we should have turned things around within the shortest period that we have been there. But we all know that it is not possible because projects take time to design, go through the due

process of awarding and then to execution. So there is no way we can have these things as fast as people want them. We also had internal wrangling whereby people felt that the old order should continue rather than look at change, transformation and getting things done in a better way. And then there is also this issue of red-tapism, the normal issue of government bureaucracy and when we are confronted by the challenges of development, it is only normal that we should look at things differently in terms of harnessing the private sector approach rather than unnecessary bureaucracy.

Of all, which would you say has tasked your imagination and intellect most?

The one that has tasked my intellect most is people not responding the way you want them to respond. As an interventionist agency, I have maintained that people should look at things from the perspective of providing solutions that will last. For me, it is something that

beats my imagination that instead of all of us focusing on what can be done and how to do it better, some are rather concerned with mundane things.

My aim is to try and get better results rather than focusing on this is the way we have been doing it. I mean, if one is a director, you expect him to know the process of doing things but most of the time those you expect to know, don’t know the government rules.

Would you say you are winning the battle?

Yes, I will say I am because when we got to that place, there are certain programmes that were being done. But then, I saw that they were good but we needed to refocus them. For instance, take the issue of training; trainings were just offered because people just want to do something. It was not focused; most of them were not targeted. There was no clear link between the training and the market place. Within this period I have tried to let people know that we are not just going to train people for the sake of it but we would train people in areas where the market exists. And so we needed to focus on strategic training rather than training for the sake of it. And that is what we are doing now.

Then take the aspect of scholarship. Last year, we awarded about 200 scholarships to students of the region and all of them are abroad today studying medicine, engineering, information and communication technology and what have you.

And we made it clear that you can’t get the scholarship unless you first get your admission, and you don’t need to see anybody, just apply through the internet and you will be treated as others.

So, how have you been able to manage the usual bureaucracy associated with government business given the fact that the NDDC is supposed to function as an interventionist agency?

We know that the commission itself was created to respond to the developmental challenges in the Niger Delta. If the intent of creating NDDC was to follow bureaucracy, they would have called it a ministry. The idea was to fast- track development. And we all know in this country that the bane of our development is bureaucracy. You can never attain high level of development with bureaucracy. You need to cut this short but that is not to say that things should not be done well.

You can follow due process and get things done without unnecessary bureaucracy that ensures that before a file comes from one point to another it takes months. No country in the world can develop with that kind of bureaucracy. That is why those who created NDDC called it an interventionist agency. It means that it is supposed to function as a task force. Every task force does not follow bureaucracy. But they will follow the process as stipulated by law.

And that is what I have been pushing always that we may not have to wait for bureaucracy.

Imagine a file coming to the desk of Mr. B, he hides it and wastes all the time in the world for no justifiable reason. All this redtapism is not required in a system that wants to ensure development.

NATION ON SUNDAY 60 THE JULY 3, 2011

Business

‘Ecobank is leveraging on its continental status’ Ecobank Nigeria Plc is developing new products and harnessing its continental standing to meet customers’ needs. The Chairman, Olor’ogun Sunny Kuku, has also assured that the bank is poised to attain better performance in 2011, reports, SIMEON EBULU, Deputy Business Editor

I

N this era of banking reforms, the Money Deposit Banks are focusing on areas of strength to grow their financials. Ecobank Nigeria Plc is no exception. The bank is focusing on its strength in the Pan African space to deliver appropriate products to meet the needs of its customers.

The Chairman, Olor’ogun Sunny F. Kuku (OFR), said the bank is poised to ensure that its customers have access to its services wherever the bank is domiciled.

Kuku, who spoke at the financial institution’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos, stated that Ecobank will continue to develop and unveil products that are tailored to meet customers’ needs.

In his words: “We will continue to develop new products and ensure that Ecobank brand remains vibrant and dynamic to address the evolving needs of our customers at all times.”

He said the bank is conscious of the need to adopt cost effective measures in its operations. The idea, he stated, is to eliminate waste and strive for improvement. He said the step led to the implementation of ‘Project Excellence’ campaign, which he disclosed, is focused on an operating system that eliminates waste and improved the bank’s processes. “It enables our branches work faster and more efficiently,” Kuku added.

He said in line with the requirements of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on categorization of banks, Ecobank has applied for a Commercial Banking Licence with national authorization, which he admitted, is well within the firms strategy.

Staffing Olor’ogun Kuku said the bank undertook some review of its staff position in the wake of the dwindling fortune and the general poor showing of the economy and the industrial sector.

The development, he said, resulted in a trimming of the staff by about 15 per cent. He said: “Following from the

DUE DILIGENCE

•GMD, Ecobank, Jubril Aku

deterioration in the outlook for the overall economy and industry, we had to review our staff strength and structure during the year, to ensure that the quality of staff in the bank ultimately translates to improved performance.

The review resulted in a 15 per cent reduction in our staff strength.” Kuku admitted.

However, he said the bank continued to leverage on the experience, knowledge and skills of the retained staff to reposition and ensure the successful

ICSAN elects new council members

N

EW members of the Council of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) have been elected.

They include: Mr. Olatunde Busari (President); Dr. Suleyman Ndanusa (Vice President) and Mrs. Ifeyinwa Essien-Akpan (Treasurer).

According to a statement by the Registrar/Chief Executive of ICSAN, Mr. Dele Togunde, the election of new Council members took place

during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Institute held recently at its Secretariat, Alausa Ikeja Lagos.

Busari, a Chartered Arbitrator and Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria for over 20 years, was until his election, the Vicepresident of the Institute.

Born on November 16, 1962, Busari attended Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan, Oyo State where he obtained his Ordinary Level certificate

between 1974 and 1979.

Thereafter, he proceeded to Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo for his ‘A Level Certificate between 1979 and 1981.

He obtained his B.Sc in Political Science from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Osun State (now Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU) in 1984. He later proceeded to the University of Ibadan, Oyo State where he obtained his LL.B (Law) in 1988. He was called into the Nigerian Bar in 1989.

He later obtained the Master of

Law (LL.M) from the University of Lagos.

Since 1993, he has been a partner in the law firm of Akinwunmi & Busari. He was the Special Assistant to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice from 2006-2007; and to the immediate past AttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, Happily married with children, Busari is a member of the Ikoyi Club 1938 and Ikeja Golf Club.

Nestle boss decries problems of nutrition

T

HE Managing Director, Nestle Nigeria PLC, Mr. Martin Woolnough, has said developing countries like Nigeria is facing a double burden with the increasing numbers of both under and over-nourished children and adults, thereby placing heavy demands on limited economic and health resources He spoke during the press conference to commence Nestle Healthy Kids Global Programme, which was held at St Gloria’s College, Lagos.

By Charity Williams

Nestle collaborated with Ministries of Education and health and Centre for Health, Environment Population and Nutrition, to implement the health kids programme in Nigeria.

Woolnough said the issue of nutritional value is a complex issue that needed to be tackled by national health authorities, with the collaboration and commitment of range of parties, such as scientists, academia, consumers, health leaders, and the food and beverage industry.

He believes that education can play

important role in finding solutions to the problems of under and over-nourished children and adults and, through these programmes, children giving the chance to develop positive attitudes towards food and exercise to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight into adulthood . ‘ Speaking at the event Executive Chairman of Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs Khdijat Gbolahan Daodu who was represented by Mr. Ade Abata commended Nestle for putting up such a fantastic programme for children in Lagos State and to be first state in Nigeria to be chosen by Nestle for the launch of the health kids initiative.

landing for the bank.

“We continue to ensure quality training and development of our staff in order to guarantee the best quality of service to our customers whilst enhancing the bank’s processes,” he stated.

Financials The Chairman, said despite the observed challenges encountered in addressing the effects of loan losses, the bank’s total assets grew to N454 billion, representing 28 per cent growth in 2010, as against the N355.66 billion recorded 2009.

He noted: “We recorded a modest increase of six per cent in our operating income, from N40.76 billion in 2009 to N43.01 billion in 2010,” adding that the bank made progress with its cost saving programs in the review period, as there was no increase in the operating costs, despite a number of initiatives to improve the bank’s systems and processes.

Kuku said the bank made a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N2.12 billion, which he noted was an improvement, given the loss of N5.9 billion recorded in the previous year. Given the prevailing outlook, Olor’ogun Kuku, said, Ecobank can only continue to do better. “Our fundamentals remain strong and we expect a better year ahead,” he added.

Corporate Governance The bank said it is committed to ensuring the enthronement internationally acceptable best practices in its operation, adding that its resolve to abide by corporate governance rules, remain total and unconditional.

“In line with our commitment to instill best corporate governance practices, all stake holders are invited to report any concern about a threatened/corporate governance requirement, to the Bank’s Chief Compliance Officer or Company secretary.”

Related Party Transactions Transactions totaling N2.659 billion, involving nine firms were reported under this item. All the transactions were not only classified as performing, but were equally reported to be adequately secured.

Business Diary

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

VOL 1 NO. 020

M

EDIA PLANNING & BUYING the third of the tripod on which the practice stands, broadly.

Whatever research and planning findings is arrived at in generating the creative materials for any campaign also influences the media planning and buying decisions. Media issues are so important to the over-all success of any campaign that the ideal team is critical of the quality of human resource entrusted with such roles.

It requires statistical analysis and cost-benefits and return-on-investment needle-eye analysis to achieve setobjective profitably.

The professional media planning and buying process is all about expenditures and resource allocation that must yield gains in quantifiable terms. Therefore, the professional planner must determine the cost of delivering the brand's message to the target audience, such that will enable the desired action from the target to translate into earning. Therefore statistical analysis must run through, to identify who and where the target audience for that message is and where and what time he/she can be reached.

Add to that, the professional media planner (and buyer) should be competent enough to determine that mass media vehicle that will, among alternatives, will connect most profitably with the target.

In appreciation of the intellectual and professional demands for effective brands management, the ideal advertising agency invests heavily on post degree and onthe-job training of their human resources. Beyond making money, the products of the professional brands management team educates, enlightens, entertain and excite the public's senses. It is one discipline with a whole lot of direct influence on the individual and the entire society, as it is the most important stimulant for trade and commerce.

Such practice of great influence should not be left to non-professionals, if investors and consumers must actualise their desires. Unfortunately, however, what we have today is a situation where professionals are idle while hustlers and business men in the posture of advertising practitioners holding sway in an environment so impactful and delicate (it's about influencing the human mind), when professionals are not engaged, because of several mundane and selfish considerations.

Rather than engage professionals/ agencies on the basis of professional competence, some businesses are placed in the hands of incompetent hands based on emotional considerations and personal interest. Some others base such decision on cost! This is much more so with the Asian-owned businesses, always seeking ways of shortcircuiting on such monetary engagement but will want the best of service. Such considerations would see the prospective client settle for non-professionals because deciding otherwise would mean paying “more” for better quality service!

Interestingly “paying less for more” is not an investment concept that yields positive results with effective and profitable brand management.

Brand management is a social science engagement that requires highly professional competences, a process that culminates in brand image development and perception; a scientific process that connects the investor's reasonfor-being with the anticipated target market (without which there can be no return on investment). Someone opined that doing business without advertising is like whistling in the dark. It causes critical changes in brand image, consumer perception and buying pattern, of global ripple. A professionally articulated brand support initiative based on sound strategic reasoning will surely crystallize in market success in quantifiable and non-quantifiable sense.

It is clear, therefore, that it is primarily in the interest of brand owners to leave their brand(s) in the hands of professionals that can actualise their expectation.

What we now see as campaign materials (mostly on conventional media) is highly deficient in purposeful strategic thinking and creative interpretation. Most advert copies are either not written by creative advertising copy writers or are hurriedly put together without recourse to basic professional basic imperatives. The concept of singlemindedness in brand appreciation, brand message generation and campaign development has become alien to some modern day advertising (mobile) agencies. Hence most advert messages are not clear on purpose and intent.

One can further infer from most advert materials today, that the process of generating most advert messages is not appreciative of marketing and advertising objectives. This is commonly evident in campaigns in support of banks and other financial instructions. Agreed that as a result of the sloppy nature of banking in this economy,

61

SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Lest we forget (2)

there is hardly any concrete element of brand differentiation, there could still have been a creative way out, even if for reason of corporate personality. Banking brands suffer so much from improperly articulated campaign that if the market was truly competitive, a lot of them would have closed shop.

Nobody cares anymore, but successful marketing requires that that which must be done must be done well.

Determining all of the above can only be by a trained mind.

So we ask WHO MANAGES YOUR BRAND. The training my contemporaries and I had is based on global best practice. The discipline was scientific, intellectually involving, engaging systematic execution at every step of the process. It is purposeful. In the days past, brand managers are more critical of who manages their brands. Decision on which advertising agency to be engaged was strictly based on professional competence open to judgment amongst informed minds, after a comprehensive pitch session involving anything from two to 5 agencies. I remember how importantly pitches were taken then.

Fireworks that take place within the agency in preparation for such engagement then were training sessions by themselves.

At such times, every single individual accounts for his/professional competence and relevance. The creative process then permeates research and strategic planning, creative visuals (words and pictures), media planning for proposals, and even accounting, depending on the prospective client/brand. The process was all-involving. Key personnel go for days in office.

The most interesting aspect of it all is that the drive for excellence then was not wholly based on financial gains for the agency. The principal focus was on developing campaign messages that: 1. Will properly position the brand in such a way that the target audience will simply connect with it, for his/her benefit

2. Properly represent or position the brand for what it truly represents (brand positioning) 3. Help the brand and brand owner achieve setmarketing objectives.

For us then (which has become a way of life for some of us now) the challenge was achieving the client's advertising and marketing objective, strong enough to help achieve the marketing objective. No two briefs are ever the same.

We were trained to set our gaze on the bottom-line. All we did was based on RATIONALE. The end of every presentation is the juxtaposition of the highpoints versus the rationale whether creative or media the considerations can only be justified if they are supported by the rationale.

We came up with great ads.

Zeroing-in on media planning and buying, the scenario with the creative front also plays out in media considerations. Most client today understands media buying (forget planning) as a mere or ordinary expression of personal opinion. Little consideration is given to market-specific target media appreciation, habit and usage pattern.

Clients now tell whoever the buyer is to use specific media vehicles, especially the print media. Such decisions are not based on empirical findings on the relevance of such media vehicle in relation to the market and target audience.

Consequently, so much money is wasted. The need for creative media planning and buying cannot be over emphasised.

On the whole, MC&A Digest advises brand owners on the need to engage professional brand managers or advertising agencies. Let us discourage the quacks and hitchhikers. They are causing the brand, the market and the consumers more harm than good. Ironically, their first victim is the brand and its owner. We intend to engage Association of Advertising Agencies in Nigeria (AAAN) on checking the presence of this group of individuals...for the good of all.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Business

‘7-Point Agenda still useful but...’

Basorun Folarin Sotubo, is chairman, Folsot Truck Limited. In this interview with Biodun-Thomas Davids, he underscores the role of the organised private sector to the socio-economic development of the nation Of what importance is the consumption of locally-made goods to the indigenous manufacturers?

We should seriously note here that our private sector may not improve until we have cultivated the habit of sticking habitually to our locally made goods. Even if they are not up to standard, we should give our complaints and at the same time encourage them into producing better products rather than boycotting their goods.

Nigeria is one of the countries recording highest percentage of importation in the developing world. Nigeria all of a sudden has become a dumping ground for developed countries in terms of importation of out-of-date commodities. Countries like China and Taiwan started that way. China was in the past accused in the world market for manufacturing sub-standard products, but it kept on improving as its citizens kept on buying the goods.

Today, China produces commodities that can compete anywhere in the world.

The Federal Government should really put in place policies that will discourage too

much dependence on foreign goods, and encourage both private and public manufacturing companies to go into exports, as this has the potential to boost our foreign reserves with which government can improve on basic infrastructure among others.

But frankly speaking do you think local manufacturers can break even given the growing cost of operation?

I quite agree that there are several factors working against local manufacturers and which may invariably make it impossible for them (local manufacturers) to break even. Among others, there is the problem of unstable power supply and bad roads.

Government should actually look into addressing whatever is responsible for the act of sabotage in the sector because we have cases of big wigs, importing power generating machines intol the country.

Apart from that, Nigerian manufacturers also have multiple taxes to contend with.

Manufacturers in Nigeria have to grapple with multiplicity of taxes including that of local government taxes, federal

Customs generates 3.7b

T

HE Customs Joint Task Force on 100% Examination, Eastern Ports, has assessed a grand total of N3,00645,913.21 billion for the federal government within six months.

Making this assertion over the weekend was the Comptroller-In Charge of Joint Task Force, Eporwei C. B Edike at a press briefing at the conclusion of the exercise held in Port Harcourt Area 11 command, Onne Ports.

According to Edike, this extra revenue generated for the Federal Government would have been lost but for the presence of the Task Force.

From Omolara Akintoye, Port Harcourt While enumerating other achievements of the Task Force in the few quarters, Edike said the zone has recorded additional seizure of about 43 containers of concealment and prohibition items, comprising mostly textiles, furniture, vehicles, etc.

The presence of the task force according to Edike has also created a positive attitudinal change on the part of officers and agents to the extent of complying with laid down clearing procedures.

“We now have a situation where importers/agents

come to seek advice from the task force on what to pay as duty unlike before when people will not want to make honest declaration,” he said.

Lending credence to this, the Comptroller, Onne Ports Command, D.C Dan Ugo, said, there is now stoppage of fraudulent practices within the Eastern Ports. “The diligence at which officers of the Task Force have been carrying out its mandate has eradicated to a minimum level bondedterminal operators and other stakeholders in maritime industry. This has translated to improved revenue within the zone,” said an elated Ugo.

•Sotubo

government taxes and state taxes and other levies or duties. Generally speaking, the real sector needs incentives and taking away from its shoulder any discouraging policies.

What are the critical measures required to develop the real sector of the economy?

All government needs to put in place are necessary incentives in terms of basic

infrastructure like good roads and electricity.

Imagine the cost of diesel at N165.00 per litre? When the cost of diesel is N165.00, how do you expect the average Nigerian manufacturer who depends on diesel to run his or her industrial power generator to compete with their counterparts in other parts of the world? That is one of the reasons why Nigerian products cannot compete favourably with foreign products in the market. In a place like China that is now dominating manufactured products market, electricity is relatively regular, Chinese government also give out good incentives to its manufacturers who churn out their products to the world market.

In retrospect, the 7-Point Agenda as instituted by the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua-led administration had something to do with the socio-economic development in Nigeria, why did it not work?

The 7 Point-Agenda would have worked by now, if President Jonathan had carried out what he was supposed to do when he took over from Yar’Adua. The 7 pointagenda can still work, all we have to do now is pay attention to the salient points of the 7 Point-Agenda. If we pay attention to the salient points of 7 Point-Agenda, things will work favourably for us as a nation. There are so many discontentments out there, a lot of people are without jobs, a lot of families cannot afford three square meals, roads have virtually collapsed, no electricity, the education sector has deteriorated and virtually everything about Nigeria is not the way it used to be. However, we can still go back and implement the 7 Point- Agenda.

Public and private enterprises operators should strive together so that Nigeria can regain her lost glory as the giant of Africa.

Thornberry Africa raises bar on hotel services

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HORNBERRY Africa Ltd, a South African-based hospitality company has set machinery in motion to raise the standard and quality of hotel management by providing excellent customer support services to their partnering hotels across the West African sub-region, including Nigeria.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr. David Church, made this known at a media briefing in Lagos, recently.

According to him, the hospitality industry in Africa, Nigeria inclusive and many hotels operating in the country’s landscape lack basic infrastructure, poor etiquette, among others, a development

he said was responsible for the dwindling fortunes in the tourism and hospitality industry in the region.

Thornberry Africa, he said, is determined to address these challenges, even as he assured that his company remains focus “on becoming the African hospitality leaders in adding value and attention to detail.

We are driven to ensure that we provide individual solutions to meet and exceed requirements.”

Church, who was in company of Noney OcheliMbah, E-Reservation Officer of the company, reiterated that most of their partnering hotels are easily identified by “its own unique character and offers travelers and bookers a real choice in which beat to follow”, adding: “Customers choose our products for the value for money but stay for the service provided.”

On the unique selling point

of the Thornberry brand, Church, who disclosed that he has been involved in the hospitality business for close to two decades, said the company places high premium on staff training and also believes in the time-tested value that ‘customer is king.’

“At Thornberry Africa, we don’t stand on titles. When a job needs to be done anybody whether high up the management ladder or bottom, because the customer always comes first”, he said.

The company which currently overseas over 21 projects across the continent, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, among others, first came to Nigeria a little over a year ago and already manages a few choice hotels in selected cities across the federation namely Lagos, Enugu, Abuja, Calabar, Port Harcourt.

Expert cautions Jonathan on fuel subsidy

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L-R: Assistant Director, British Council Nigeria, Ojoma Ochia; Senior Manager, Segment Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Cherry Eromosele; and Managing Director, Style House Files, Omoyemi Akerele at the press unveiling of the MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week in Lagos, last Thursday

ORMER Commissioner for Information in Lagos state, Sir. Ayodele Elesho has called on President Goodluck Jonathan not to succumb to the call by the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) to remove subsidy on fuel.

He also urged Governor of Edo state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole not to join his colleagues in the new onslaught of the governors against the Nigerian people.

The call was contained in two separate letters written by Elesho to the duo made available to The Nation.

According to the letter addressed to Jonathan titled, ‘Jonathan do not betray Nigerians’ Elesho told the President that submitting to the “satanic call” will amount to a betrayal of the Nigerian people.

He said, “submitting to their satanic call will tantamount to a terrible betrayal of the over

By Oziegbe Okoeki 22million Nigerians that voted for you.”

According to him if subsidy is removed, the price of petrol will jump to N120 per litre.

“I am sure that such step will not only compound the problem of most Nigerians but will send a lot of our people to their early graves and that was not the mandate given to you

by Nigerians.”Your pledge to Nigerians is to alleviate their sufferings, provide good governance and provision of uninterrupted power supply and infrastructure”, Elesho said.

This Elesho told Jonathan is the social contract he has with Nigerians.

“The protagonists of theory of fuel subsidy removal are not only satanic but the worst enemies of the Nigerian people and out to destroy you. Do not succumb to their cheap blackmail”, he said.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2010

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

News

Kidnapped Bayelsa monarch regains freedom in Rivers T

HE kidnapped Bayelsa monarch, King Oweipa Jones-Ere, who is the Ebenanaowei (Clan Head) of Ogboin Kingdom, yesterday regained his freedom from the den of kidnappers in the Niger Delta.

It could not be confirmed as at press time whether the N25 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers was paid before he was set free.

A younger brother to the monarch, Mr. Opukiri JonesEre, who is Bayelsa’s immediate past Commissioner for Sports, declared that the kidnappers would be found after the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF) taking place in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Opukiri, in an exclusive interview with The Nation at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt’ yesterday evening, confirmed the release of the king and said that he was back to his base in Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, is the media centre for the NSF and hosting many guests, journalists and athletes, for the Garden City Games to be declared open in the evening of today by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.

The Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr.

Ben Ugwuegbulam, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), also confirmed the release of the traditional ruler but said the detail was sketchy.

Ugwuegbulam said: “King Oweipa Jones-Ere, the Ebenanaowei of Ogboin Kingdom in Bayelsa State, kidnapped on June 26, 2011, in Emohua LGA of Rivers State, was released this (yesterday) morning by his abductors.

“This follows the persistent raid and arrest pressure on the suspects by the police, State Security Service (SSS) and the military teams.”

The Rivers PPRO added that investigation in the matter would continue in order to apprehend the hoodlums.

The vehicle of the monarch

was first recovered on Wednesday, according to the Commissioner of Police, Rivers Command, Mr. Suleiman Abba.

Jones-Ere, a first class monarch, was kidnapped about 7 pm on June 26, at a dredging site at Odoha-Emohua in Emohua LGA of Rivers State.

The gunmen stormed the site and tied all the workers before pushing the royal father into a waiting vehicle, disappearing into an unknown destination.

Ogboin clan has base in Amassoma in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State, the hometown of former Bayelsa Governor, Chief Timipre Alamieyeseigha and base of Bayelsa State Governmentowned Niger Delta University (NDU).

FG to review activities of anti-graft agencies, says SGF

A

S part of strategies to facilitate the inflow of multi-billion dollar investments towards ensuring the success of the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda, Nigeria is to carry out major institutional changes that would block opportunities for corruption, Mr. Anyim Pius Anyim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) ,has said.

Anyim’s statement contained broad hints that anti-corruption agencies such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the Obasanjo administration established in 2000 may soon undergo massive re-organisation.

Speaking in Abuja at a reception organised to mark the 235th independence anniversary of the United States over the weekend, Anyim asserted that the new Transformation Agenda that would soon be unfolded would be a private-sector-driven initiative as government intends to limit itself to the provision of an enabling environment.

Anyim said: “It is my ardent belief that both Nigeria and the United States will continue to prosper…There will be major institutional changes that would block loopholes and opportunities for corruption.

“The administration has embraced and practises good governance as evidenced by the free and fair elections we have just witnessed in the country and we are most willing to collaborate with all our friends in devising new and strengthening existing mechanisms for the war against corruption and dishonesty in public life” he stated.

Describing the US- Nigeria Bi-National Commission established in 2010 as part of the evidence of cordial relations existing between both countries, Anyim said that the Federal Government would continue to play any responsibility assigned to Nigeria by international bodies towards the success of international peacekeeping operations.

He also acknowledged the United States’ contributions in curbing diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS while helping to boost Nigeria’s agricultural productivity and food security.

From Jide Babalola, Assistant Editor, Abuja.

In his remarks, the US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terence McCulley, said that the private sector should be the engine to drive the nation’s economic growth, adding that genuine efforts against corruption would stimulate huge inflow of investment and job-creation programmes from American companies.

“If Nigeria can create an enabling environment for investment including a frontal

assault on corruption and lack of transparency, I am convinced you will find American businesses and investors eager to enter the largest market in subSaharan Africa,” he said.

Pointing out that Nigeria can find great strength in diversity and marshal existing centripetal forces towards national development, Ambassador McCulley stated that the U S would continue to support Nigeria in the areas of public health, education food security and national security among

others.

“Nigeria is blessed with abundant human and natural resources. We therefore, seek partnership, not dependency, we seek to build capacity not undermine local initiative,” he added.

Many eminent Nigerians, including former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ahmadu Ali top government bureaucrats and diplomats attended the event that took place at the American Ambassador’s official residence in Abuja.

CHANGE OF NAME CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that Ifesi Samuel Agwuncha and Ifesinachi Samuel Agwuncha are the same person. Any documents bearing both names should remain valid. General public should take note.

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I, formerly known and addressed as OLOWOYO YEMISI B., now wish to be known and addressed as YEMISI B. ABDULRAHMAN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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EREFA

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General public please take note.

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I, formerly known and addressed BONIFACE AMADI now wish to be known and addressed as BONIFACE BOLINGO OGWUTUM. All former document bearing my name remain valid and general public please take note.

OKONKWO

CHANGE OF NAME IHEKORONYE

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I, formerly know and addressed as MISS ISMAILLA MARIAM ABISOLA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADEKUNLE MARIAM ABISOLA. All former documents remain valid. Federal Polytechnic Offa, NYSC and general public should take note.

IBITOYE I formerly know and addressed as MISS IBITOYE OMOWUMI MARY now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. FAKANMI OMOWUMI MARY. All former documents remain valid. Federal Polytechnic Offa, NYSC and general public should take note.

KAREEM

I,formerly known and addressed MISS MARIA NDIDI OKONKWO now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MARIA NDIDI NNAMANI. All former document bearing my name remain valid NYSC and general public please take note.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

News

65

A communities’ war of attrition In two communities in Anambra State, scores of persons have been killed, young girls raped and several houses burnt over a piece of land. Nwanosike Onu, in Awka reports

•Charred building

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UNS have continued to boom with many lives lost while buildings are being burnt on daily basis in the two communities of Ogbunka and Owerre Ezukalla in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Many residents have relocated while girls are allegedly being raped.

In fact, over 20 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posted to the two communities have been withdrawn and redeployed to other states.

There are also accusations and counter accusations as both communities have accused police officers deployed to the warring communities to quell the arson and wanton destruction of raping women and girls in the communities, and also looting of people’s shops.

Over 2, 000 indigenes of Ogbunka community, believed to have instigated the mayhem have vacated the vicinity thus turning the place to a ghost land. They have reportedly fled the areas over fear of being arrested by the security operatives.

The Community Secondary School in Owerre Ezukalla and its laboratory were also set ablaze by the warring parties. Also affected were two different halls in the school, the NYSC lodge, the principal’s office and classroom blocks.

A fight for control At the heat of the fracas which erupted on June 23, two persons were burnt alive and over 15 buildings belonging to the Owerre Ezukalla indigenes were razed down.

Before now, the school had been attacked twice on June 7th and 11th without any assistance from the police in the area, while the state government had done little over the looming war drums before its escalation.

The Nation on Sunday gathered that the bone of contention is a piece of land located in between the two neighbouring communities. The land is said to be rich in abundant mineral resources such as precious

•Ben Nwankwo and elders of the communities inspecting the affected in the areas.

stone among others.

And from investigations, it was gathered that the piece of land which has been tagged “oil bloc” by the two neighbouring communities, is owned by Owerre Ezukalla.

According to the Head of Local Government administration, George Arinze who received Ben Nwankwo, a member of the House of Representatives representing Orumba North and South Federal Constituency, the clashes have led to destruction of lives and property in the two communities. He added that the stone quarry has caused disaffection in the two communities which had been co-existing together for so many years.

However, he told the lawmaker that the local government in collaboration with the state government recently inaugurated a peace committee to look into the crisis.

The panel is headed by the Obi of Enugwu Umuonyia, Igwe Peter Nebechukwu Ezeamama and comprising the clergy, youth leaders, and professionals.

Arinze said that they are advocating that the state government should take over the land, while a police station should be erected to bring peace to the areas.

He also implored the National Assembly to help the state government in making sure that normalcy returns to the sister communities.

The people of Owerre Ezukalla are in heavy agony licking their wounds and 35 year old Mrs. Margret Ibe who had relocated to her sister’s place in Ihie village could not hold back tears while narrating her experience to the Nation.

She said that her mother-in-law was nearly killed by the rampaging hoodlums, while the entire house was set ablaze.

For Madam Theresa Ogugua, who told the Nation that she had no place to go to now, and who was leaving in her brother’s house who lives in Jos and equally an Inspector of Police Patrick Ikwuegwu said her world has almost crumbled.

The member representing Orumba North and South Federal Constituency Ben Nwankwo, who came down from Abuja to see the extent of damage, told reporters that he is a sad and worried person having not witnessed such acting in the entire local governments since he was born.

Nwankwo, who sobbed like a baby on the demonic destruction in his constituency said that even the Orumba indigenes in Diaspora are equally sad following the outbreak of the communal fend.

He noted that based on what he had seen that the quantum of destruction in Owerre Ezukalla is immeasurable adding that even Ogbunka which used to be beehive of activity both society and otherwise had suddenly turned a dead zone because the indigenes have fled.

According to Nwankwo, “I came to see things myself and that is why I left my legislative functions at the

National Assembly and from what I have seen today, the quantum of destruction is higher than what we heard before now.”

“And if not checked and controlled we will have a lot of refugees in the next three weeks in Anambra State and we would not want our people to be refugees in their own lands, this is sad and worrisome,” he said.

Nwankwo further said that the mayhem had come to the notice of the National Assembly adding that by next week, having seen the extent of damage, table it at the floor of the house.

He said that the head of every Orumba person is worth several billions of naira to him as their messenger adding that what has happened is unheard of and unlike Orumba people.

The lawmaker in addition said he would meet with the state police commissioner, Muhtari Ibrahim and

the State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi to see what should be done to quell the situation and bring everlasting peace to the two neighbours.

However, the Vice principal of Community Secondary School Owerre Ezukalla, Mr. Ukomadu Chilaka, who was almost in tears told the Nation that the picture of what he saw on that fate day was last seen by him during the Nigerian/Biafran war.

He said all the NYSC members serving in Owerre Ezukalla were stripped naked both boys and girls by the Ogbunka militants dispossessed them of all their belongings, including cash, burnt their certificates despite the begging from the corps members.

Chilaka further said that all the equipment donated to the school by Governor Obi were all burnt, while all the corps members had left Anambra State for other states for fear of being killed.

From left Chief Muyiwa Lanlehin, Chief Kole Lanlehin Sen. Femi Lanlehin, Mr. Jide Lanlehin and Mrs. Yemisi Sanda at the final burial and church service of the two Lanlehin wives Chief Mrs. Abigail Moniola Lanlehin and Chief Mrs. Olanrewaju Aduke Lanlehin held at St. Stephen Church, Nalende Ibadan. PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

Foreign

Chavez’s cancer revelation rattles Venezuela P RESIDENT Hugo Chavez’s disclosure that he is being treated for cancer is raising questions about whether he will be able to run for re-election next year and how his illness may impact the future of his socialist movement in Latin America.

While Chavez remained in Cuba recovering from surgery that removed a cancerous tumor, he sought to assure his supporters that he remains in charge and expects to fully recover.

“We’re optimistic and we know we’ll get out of this,” Chavez said in a telephone interview on Cuban television Friday night.

He said he planned to meet with some of his Cabinet ministers yesterday to discuss agriculture projects and other issues.

“No one expected this illness. But it is useful for us to rise above it as we are doing,” Chavez was quoted as saying by the state-run Venezuelan News Agency. “It is going to strengthen us.”

Questions remain about how sick Chavez is. He announced Thursday night that a surgery had successfully removed the tumor in his pelvic region, though he didn’t give details about what kind of cancer he had or say how soon he might return home.

In the streets, hundreds of the ailing leader’s supporters poured into a downtown plaza, shouting “Onward, commander!” They wrote get-well messages on large paper signs, including

•Chavez

some that read “Chavez forever.”

Carmen Gonzalez, a 57year-old laboratory technician who joined the crowd, said she was praying for Chavez.

“It has pained me a lot, and not just me. I feel that it’s the whole country,” she said.

“Those who are in charge, like the vice president, have to lead the country forward.”

Vice President Elias Jaua assured Venezuelans on Friday that there was no need for Chavez to cede his duties as president.

“The president is going to be (in Cuba) for the time period his doctors prescribe,” Jaua said, noting that the National Assembly has authorized Chavez to remain in Cuba for as long as needed.

Venezuelan state television aired prerecorded video of a meeting in Cuba on Wednesday in which Chavez

was shown discussing road projects and other issues with his brother Adan, his foreign minister and a military chief.

The effort to portray business as usual comes after three weeks of uncertainty in which Chavez was largely out of sight and speculation was rife that he might be seriously ill. Before his speech on Thursday, Venezuelans had heard only that Chavez had undergone surgery to remove a pelvic abscess.

The 56-year-old Chavez was noticeably thinner and pale as he disclosed he had two operations in Cuba, including one that removed a tumor in which there were “cancerous cells.”

The socialist leader had previously vowed to win reelection next year and govern for another decade or more. Now he has yet to say

whether that plan still stands.

His illness has created uncertainty in a political system that has been dominated

by Chavez during his more than 12 years in power. A weakened Chavez also poses potential challenges for his long-running efforts to counter U.S. influence and rally the radical left in Latin America and beyond.

Some analysts predict that if Chavez’s illness worsens, his socialist-inspired Bolivarian Revolution movement might face troubles due to the lack of a clear successor.

“Chavismo without Chavez doesn’t exist,” said Joel D. Hirst, an international affairs fellow at the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations. “The revolution is really about one man.”

“If for some reason Chavez was not able to continue as president or to run in the 2012 election, it would produce a tectonic shift in Latin American politics.”

If Chavez were to die or resign, the vice president would serve the remainder of Chavez’s term.

Venezuelan historian

Agustin Blanco Munoz, who wrote a book about Chavez, predicted that “he is not going to resign.”

He said strongman leaders such as Chavez are unlikely to step down because “they feel they are the chosen ones, that they’re the supreme ones.”

Diego Moya-Ocampos, a political analyst with IHS Global Insight in London, called Chavez’s announcement a “game-changer” because there is no obvious political heir.

Chavez revealed limited details about his illness, saying that the tumor was in the pelvic region and that “there were no complications” in the surgery. He said he was continuing to receive treatment in Cuba, though it was unclear what sort.

“Statistically, it would most likely be a colorectal cancer,” said Dr. Michael Pishvaian, a cancer specialist at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center who was not involved in the Venezuelan leader’s treatment.

“It’s not unheard of for a gastrointestinal cancer, particularly colorectal cancer, to have broken through the co-

lon and be surrounded by an abscess, a collection of infected cells,” he said.

In such cases, the cancer is discovered when cells from the abscess are examined later. A second surgery might be done to remove any additional cancer and nearby lymph nodes to see whether it had spread.

“The potential for recovery all really depends on the type of cancer and the stage of the cancer,” Pishvaian said.

Gen. Henry Rangel Silva, a military chief and a member of Chavez’s inner circle, assured the country that Venezuela’s stability “is guaranteed” while the president recovers.

“He will be in our country soon,” Rangel said, without giving a return date.

Venezuela is preparing to celebrate the 200th anniversary of its declaration of independence from Spain on Tuesday, but it’s unclear whether Chavez will be able to attend the festivities.

The government postponed a summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders earlier in the week, citing Chavez’s health.

Greece arrests Gaza-bound boat captain

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REEK authorities have arrested the captain of a boat that is part of a Gaza-bound flotilla trying to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory, officials said yesterday.

The 60-year-old captain, whose name was not released by authorities, was being held at Piraeus police headquarters and will remain there until a court hearing Tuesday.

Greece’s coast guard said the captain of “The Audacity of Hope” faces charges of trying to leave port without permission and of endangering the lives of the boat’s passengers. The latter charge is a felony.

The boat was carrying 36 passengers, four crew and about 10 members of the media. Its attempt to sail Friday night from the port of Perama, near Athens, was thwarted by coast guard speedboats. On the same day, Greece had announced it was banning vessels heading to Gaza from leaving Greek ports.

In Jerusalem, Israel has denied claims it sabotaged ships trying to breach its sea blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Activists have accused Israel of damaging two ships docked in Turkey and Greece that were part of a flotilla attempting to reach the Palestinian territory.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor dismissed the sabotage charges as “ridiculous,” calling them “sad conspiracy theories.”

Selcuk Unal, a spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, said authorities had determined that there was no act of sabotage on an Irish vessel in the flotilla that docked in the Turkish port of Gocek on the Aegean Sea. Israel says it imposed the blockade in 2007 to stop weapons reaching the Islamic militant group Hamas that rules Gaza. Activists describe the blockade as a form of incarceration for the Palestinians.

French woman dies of E. Coli

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SEVENTY EIGHT-ear-old French woman died early yesterday morning from complications of E. coli infection but a doctor said she was not suffering from the strain that has infected many other people in France and Germany.

The woman had been hospitalized in Bordeaux in southwest France since June 24 with hemolytic uremic syndrome — the rare kidney condition affecting a small number of people infected with E. coli.

Dr. Benoit Vendrely at Bordeaux Hospital said the strain of E.coli the woman

was infected with was not the one implicated in the deaths of 48 people in Germany and one each in the United States and Sweden.

He didn’t identify the source of the French woman’s E. coli contamination.

Seven other patients remain in stable condition at the same French hospital, six of whom have been confirmed to have the same strain of E.coli as in the outbreak that originated in Germany. European health experts said Thursday that contaminated Egyptian fenugreek seeds were likely the source of that deadly outbreak.

German authorities on Friday reported another death in the European E. coli outbreak — bringing the total to 50.

The national disease control center said 48 deaths have been reported in Germany, up from 47 a day earlier. One death in Sweden and another in the U.S. are linked to the outbreak, according to the World Health Organization.

A total of 3,999 people have now been reported to be ill in Germany from the outbreak, including 845 with a complication that can lead to kidney failure. Another 122 cases have been reported in 16 other countries.

•Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco leave the Prince’s Palace after their religious wedding yesterday in Monaco. AFP PHOTO / PATRICK KOVARIK

Zimbabwe teachers suspend strike

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IMBABWEAN teachers said yesterday they will suspend their 11-day strike to consider the government’s offer of a pay rise that fell nearly 90 percent short of their demands.

The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe went on strike on June 22 to demand that the government raise their salaries from the current $200 a month to $500 a month.

Government late Friday offered teachers an average increase of $34, said union leader Takavafira Zhou.

“The award by government of an average of 34 dollars falls far short of our expectations,” he said.

“We will go back and restrategise and get ready to fight another day. There are a number of issues that

should be addressed, including the issues of transport and housing allowances,” he said, adding that teachers would return to the classroom on Monday.

The strike was only partially observed as the rival Zimbabwe Teachers Association, which is aligned with veteran President Robert Mugabe, had discouraged teachers from joining the stay-away.

The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe says that an average family of five needs $500 a month to survive, but the cash-strapped government insists that figure is unaffordable as the nation claws its way back from a decade-long economic collapse.

The country’s publicsector workers, particularly teachers, nurses and doc-

tors, have been striking on and off for better salaries and working conditions since 2008.

Many have left the country to work overseas, while those who have remained behind often resort to moonlighting as small-time traders to supplement their pay.

Teachers also want a review of their housing and transport allowance and the removal of “ghost workers” from the government payroll.

Zimbabwe has 105,000 teachers on the payroll, but Zhou’s union estimates only about 77,000 are working.

Inflated payroll numbers are a problem throughout the civil service, with Finance Minister Tendai Biti estimating that about onethird of the government’s 230,000 employees do not exist.

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Nyako to NLC: ‘Don’t be in a hurry to go on strike’ G

OVERNOR Murtala Nya ko yesterday told the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) not to be in a hurry to go on strike, as it is counter-productive.

While reminding labour about the first article in the international labour law which is ‘no work, no pay’, the governor urged them to team up with the government to work out programmes that would in near future raise the minimum wage far higher than N18,000 per month.

Nyako who observed that even the N18000 is small to meet the needs of the families, assured that government was in support of decent standard of living for all.

“My feeling is that N18,000 a month is too small.

A man with his wife and two children depending on N18,000 per month that is just

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

about less than $1 per person.

“This is not the type of standard of living we want Nigerians to have, Nigerians should have much higher standard of living.

“But, my contention here is that the labour and the state

government should sit down to work out action that will make us earn much more money so that we can pay them comfortably.

“We are all brothers and sisters whether you are in labour or not we are in the same country. We want to please one another, we want to make sure everybody has

a decent standards of living and threatening to go on strike is counter-productive.

“So, let’s not threaten one another. Let’s agree to work out our programmes that will allow us in the very near future to raise the minimum wage far higher than N18,000 per month,” he said.

On subsidy removal, the

governor said, “It is because some of us from rural states have not benefited from subsidy for donkey year’s.

For many years, it is hijacked and right now we are paying N165 per litre and you say you have subsidy, what subsidy? Let it be off and let’s have the money for development.”

Union makes case for Kaduna ministerial nominees From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

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HE Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) yesterday lamented the delay in submitting the name of the state’s representative in the Federal Executive Council to the Senate for confirmation, saying that a ministerial nomination from the state should not be done as a way of compensation, but for quality representation.

The union which is the umbrella body of the people of Southern part of Kaduna also canvassed support for the appointment of Mrs. Charity Shekari, wife of the late deputy governor of the state as a minister, saying she has the credentials and experience to be appointed a minister.

The newly elected President of the Union, Dr. Ephraim Goje told newsmen in Kaduna that Kaduna State deserve to be represented by at least two ministers in the federal cabinet and wondered why no ministerial nomination has been made from Kaduna.

Dr. Goje said that with the promise of the President to give women 35 percent of the ministerial appointment, there was no need to search further for a female nominee from Kaduna State since there is already a woman on the list of nomination from the state. The immediate past Commissioner for Health in the state and wife of the late Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs. Charity Shekari was among the nominees submitted to the president for consideration.

The SOKAPU President, expressed worries over the non submission of a name from the state to National Assembly, adding that the delay is being interpreted in several ways which include a possible division within the ruling party in the state.

•Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) (right), welcoming the Leader of LASUTH & RUBY Hall Cardiac Team, Prof. D.A.Oke (3rd left), Mr. Bode Falase (2nd left), and Manoj Durairaj from Ruby Hall Clinic PUNE in India (left) into his Office during a courtesy call on him by the delegation of the team at the Lagos House Ikeja, over the weekend

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RADITIONAL chiefs in Benin kingdom have condemned the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial leader, Owere Dickson Imasogie, over comments that the Oba of Benin influenced the outcome of the last general elections by ordering the people in the state to vote for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The Obazelu of Benin Kingdom and State Secretary of ACN, Chief Osaro Idah said the comments could not have emerged from a Benin man.

“Imasogie is a social imbecile for talking about the traditional institution the way he did. His comments showed that PDP is ruled by

Knocks for PDP chieftain over comments on Oba of Benin …Palace chiefs demand apology people who are illiterate. He is a failure and has not won election before. Maybe he took some rum that morning before he made that assertion.

“Did the Oba campaign for us? We campaigned throughout the state. The people voted based on the achievements of ACN. Our candidates are higher than what other parties presented.

He cannot manage his house and now he is casting

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

aspersion on the palace. I doubt if he is a Benin man. He is not a man to be reckoned with.”

Also, the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) in a statement gave seven days ultimatum to Imasogie to tender unreserved apology to the Benin monarch.

The statement signed by the Secretary to BTC, Frank

Aliyu’s aide berates CPC senator over inflammatory comments

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IGER State government has cautioned one of its Senators, Ibrahim Musa Kontagora against casting unfounded blames on the Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu led administration, rather he should work for the development of the state.

Apparently reacting to Kontagora’s statement on Thursday during the screening of the ministerial nominees on the floor of the Senate, where the law maker alleged that the state government had employed impropriety in the handling of the state-local governments’ joint account

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

which led to the inability of the state government to pay its workers’ salary.

The Head of Service, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Matane who countered the allegations over the weekend, said that Kontagora’s comments were not based on sound understanding of issues in the state adding that the state government always ensures prompt payment of its personnel salaries. The senator is representing Niger North Senatorial District in the

upper chamber of the National Assembly According to Ibrahim, “the truth of this matter is that top officials of the state met with the leadership of the state’s chapter of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and it was agreed that the government should withhold the salaries of teachers and other local government employees for the month of June pending the outcome of a comprehensive staff audit that is being conducted.”

Irabor said it was unfortunate that Imasogie would cast aspersion on constituted authority to defend the loss of the PDP in the last general elections.

It said the electorate would vote for any political party that is performing, adding that Imasogie’ pretence not to know what is good for the Edo people would not make him a good politician.

According to the statement, “It is a known fact that the Oba of Benin is not a politician and different political parties that have come to him for advice and blessings can attest to his fatherly advice. What happened during the last general election was the peoples’ judgment and not undue influence as Imasogie tried to tell the world.’

Meanwhile, the PDP faction loyal to Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia in the state has disassociated themselves from Mr. Imasogie comments.

Publicity Secretary of the factional PDP, Dr. Francis Iyasere said the PDP lost the election in the state because of the factional crisis and not influence from the traditional institution.

Delta guber rerun: Tribunal kicks out Uduaghan’s application From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

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HE Delta State Election Petition Tribunal yesterday threw out an application by Delta Governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan in the January 6th 2011 governorship rerun election instituted by Chief Great Ogboru of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP).

Chief Ogboru is seeking the nullification of the election victory of Governor Uduaghan at the January 6th governorship rerun election.

Lead counsel to Gov Uduaghan, Mr. Ken Mozia had at the inaugural sitting in an application challenged the “competence and validity of the mode of initiation of the pre-hearing session” and urged the tribunal to dismiss the petitioner’s case.

During the sitting, counsel to Uduaghan (1st respondent) Mozia said his application was supported by a five-paragraph affidavit and a written address in support of the motion and urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition.

Counsel to PDP (2nd Respondent), Mr. Jolone Ikomi said he filed a similar application supported by a five-paragraph affidavit and a written address in support of the motion and urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition.

Similarly INEC’s counsel, Mr. Olufemi Adeyemi aligned with the counsels of the 1st and 2nd respondents and urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition.

But the Justice Uzoamaka Ogwurike-led tribunal held that Governor Uduaghan’s application “lacks merit and is hereby dismissed.”

Her words, “The secretary to the tribunal accepted and assessed the letter by the petitioner for issues of prehearing notice and in the circumstances it is unconscionable to punish the petitioner for the lapses or actions of the tribunal.

Therefore, the petition is sound and proper and the petitioner cannot be said to have abandoned the petition.

The application for the prehearing is in order.”

According to Justice Ogwurike, the crux of the matter was whether the letter of pre-hearing notice by the petitioner complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act. Chief Ogboru’s counsel, Prof Mogbeyi Sagay (SAN) argued on the strength of a 12paragraph counter-affidavit in opposing the application and also attached two exhibits.

He urged the tribunal to dismiss the application.

According to him the application in question indicated that the application was incompetent; stressing that it had no affidavit attached to the motion. He said it was not signed or endorsed and dated.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

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Living Faith

Triplejplus storms The Bahamas

By David Oyedepo

The virtue of divine corrections

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OD does not only speak to us, He also speaks to correct us. God corrects us when we misinterpret His direction or misunderstand His plan and are open for His correc-

tion.

God furnishes and decorates us not only through His principles, but through His reproofs, corrections and instructions.

Unfortunately, many people are only committed to the principles, ignoring corrections. As a result, they end up victims of frustrations.

The scriptures have a four-fold ministry: it gives doctrine, reproofs, corrections and instructions (2Timothy 3:16-17). When we talk about divine guidance, we are talking about the plan, the reproofs that come along the way, the corrections that are released to you and the instructions that you must follow. God’s doctrine unfolds His plan, His reproof charges us for taking a dangerous step, His correction sets us on the right path to go and His instructions guide us in every step we are taking.

Why we need correction: There are things that you like to do on your own, but the end of that road is death (Proverbs 14:18). That is why you and I need to be open to God’s corrections. Many destinies have been crashed as a result of people going on a wrong route. They have lost the vitality of life because they went off course! Some have remained adamant! God does not waste His time speaking to someone who will not be corrected. That is why He only corrects those who are willing.

God does not waste His Words; He speaks to those who will value them. Since there is no error-proof man in the world, all we need to do is to open up for His corrections, and He will always be there to make it happen.

Man will always need correction because he is liable to misinterpretations and errors. Somebody once asked me, “Have you ever been wrong?” I replied, “I think I have been more wrong than I have been right, but God helps me not to stay with my wrong. He corrects me most of the time at the eleventh hour, so everybody will know this boy is stupid.” I am a beneficiary of divine corrections. I don’t know where I would have been without God’s corrections. I always accept His corrections.

When I was being taken to inspect the piece of land upon which our ministry base is now built, I fought the people all the way there, because it was located right in the jungle. I said to them, “No it can’t be here, let’s turn back!” But the person who rode with me said, “Let’s go on sir, we will soon be there.”

However, we drove on.

When we got there, for formality sake I said, “Okay, let’s give thanks to God for all the efforts thus far.” We joined our hands together to give Him thanks and God said to me, “This is the place!” I was the one making all the noise on the way there, but I said to the people, “God just spoke to me now that this is the place.” Everybody smiled!

Do you know why He corrected me? He knew that I won’t pretend not to have heard Him. He also knew I would obey Him. God delights in speaking to those who will obey Him. Until you are ready to be corrected, you are not a candidate for His glory. If you are too big to be corrected by God, then you are finished!

Qualification for divine correction: The principal factor that qualifies you and me for divine correction is meekness. You must be tender in heart in your walk with God. He must recognize that He has an unimpeded access to putting you right, no matter how far you have gone on the wrong track.

God’s Word says: The meek will he guide in judgement: and the meek will he teach his way (Psalm 25:9). To access divine correction, you need to be meek. You also commit every step you are about to take to God. Many don’t know what they stand to benefit from His corrections. That is why they want to pose like men of their words. Such men are not meek; they are proud.

Their attitudes show that they are incorrigible. When God sees that you are not meek, He won’t correct you! I want you to be open to divine correction.

Friend, the grace to remain meek for divine correction is available, if you are born again. You get born again by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as the Lord of your life. You can be born again now, as you say this prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. From today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You for saving me! Now I know I am born again!

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners.

Our midweek services hold on Wednesdays between 6 and 8 p.m. We have four services on Sundays. The first one holds between 6.30 and 8.15 a.m., the second between 8.25 a.m. and 10.10 a.m., the third between 10.20 a.m. and 12.05 p.m. and the fourth between 12.15 and 2.00 p.m. God bless you as you come!

Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, please get my books — In Pursuit Of Vision and Understanding Divine Direction.

I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: BISHOP DAVID OYEDEPO, Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: bishop@davidoyedepoministries.org

•International Preacher, Dr Uma Ukpai praying for the TripleJPlus during the formal unveiling of their album in Uyo.

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ARELY a week after their formal commissioning by foremost International Evangelist, Dr Uma Ukpai in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the singing sisters, Triplejplus have taken The Bahamas by storm with a wild performance that caused a stir in that country.

They arrived The Bahamas in company of their mother on the invitation of Dr Myles Munroe, the world renowned teacher and leadership training expert.

The kids, Jemima, 17, Jesimiel, 16 and Jeiel 8, are children of the National Chairman of the youth wing of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, (PFN), Dr Abel Damina.

At the formal presentation of their album, Ukpai who was obviously amazed but pleased by the quality of the children’s album and performance recalled that in the early 50s when he brought the first set of musical equipment into the country for the propagation of the gospel, he was pilloried by those who did not know the impact of economic gains of music.

In fact, he said he had come to discover that there was so much money in the music industry that what crude oil was offering the country at the moment, if properly harnessed and managed.

But then, Ukpai said he had to destroy his music studio because he got to discover that music was distracting him from his main calling as an evangelist. He challenged the kids and their parents to watch it and avoid anything that would distract them, especially in their education.

He hailed Damina and his wife for the courage and understanding in investing in the development of the dreams of their children and noted that parents should strive to groom

their successors while they were still alive.

State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Cletus Bassey who led other pastors to the event also endorsed the kids noted that the baby singers were a pride of the state and ambassadors to Akwa Ibom State.

He particularly commended the quality of the songs and the production of the album and said he would be proud to exhibit the album and the children in any part of the world.

Renowned artiste also endorsed the album, included: the MTN Project Fame singing group, Keffy

of the Branama fame, Anne Inyang, Frank Edwards and many others.

The children’s initiative had earlier been endorsed by the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Pastor Mathew Oshimolowo who hosted them at a music fiesta in London.

Cleric charged churches on community HE Coordinator of the development Earlier, the Vice Princi-

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Teens Church, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG), Morning Star Parish, Anthony, Lagos, Pastor Niyi Akingboye has appeal to churches to complement the gospel message by providing support and assistant to the dejected, needy and hopeless people around them.

Adebgoye gave this appeal at the maiden quarterly Youth Empowerment Programme of the church last week at the church auditorium in Anthony, Lagos.

According to him, the church is not just the last hope of the nations but the only hope of the world faced with increasing spate of oppression, social class consciousness and disrespect for human life.

He said “we are in a perilous time as the world is faced with corruption, inse-

By Adeola Ogunlade

curity, religious bigotry, civil unrest, economic hardship, criminality, and war which are largely caused by the elites who are making merchandized of the system”.

He opined that the people are suffering from poverty, effect of climate change, dearth of health care facilities and inadequate support system for entrepreneurs which beholds on the church to come and salvage the system.

The cleric noted that the Parish has erected five public boreholes for the residence of Anthony village, he said “we are embarking on skill acquisition programmes, entrepreneurs training and support and mentoring for young people within and outside of the church.

pal, Redeemers College, Anthony, Feyisara Osinupebi advised the youths not to be discourage because of the economy deprivation as there are windows of opportunities for youths who will dare to dream and work hard toward actualizing them.

She pointed out that Nigeria has produced great men and women who have made immerse contribution to development of humanity, “it is not because of their colour, race or background, but their resilience to fulfill God purpose in their lives”.

In her presentation tittled: Buiilding a Relationship with God, the Teenage/Youth Coordinator, Bethel Ministry, Ajah, Pastor, (Mrs.). Victoria Iroro charged the youth to always fear God and reverence Him in their entire endeavour.

Olivet Area marks seven covenant days

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HE Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Olivet Area Headquarters, Jubilee Model Parish, Ijaiye-Ojokoro, Lagos, will from Monday, July 4, 2011 hold its annual special programme “Seven Covenant Days”. The programme which holds at 6.00pm daily would be rounded off on Sunday, July 10, 2011.

The theme for this year is “As You Have Spoken in My Ear, So Shall I Do.” During the event, Christians

from all walks of life would gather together to enter into covenant with God in a reenactment of the Shiloh experience in the Scriptures. In the past few years the ‘Covenant Days’ have been followed by outstanding testimonies from participants.

According to the Visioner and Pastor- InCharge of RCCG Olivet Area, Pastor Tayo Adebola, God has promised that every covenant made with Him during the programme this year will receive “accel-

• :?????

erated attention” and fulfilment earlier than expected.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

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Making Sense of Life with adeWale Adefuye

'Counterfeit miracles'

“B •Cross session of lecturers during the just concluded 10th tear edition matriculation and convocation of Dunamis Christian University Theological College, Seminary and ordination of new ministers at Christ Abundant Power Apostolic Church, Ibudo Agbara, Alapere, Ketu, Lagos

Christian women condemn nationwide violence

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HE National Chairperson of the Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), Barr. Regina Okafor, has called on the federal Government to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of crimes in the country.

She condemned the recent violence in the country which has resulted to suicide bombings, kidnappings and even embezzlement of public fund by public officers.

She said this last Saturday during the nationwide familiarization visit of the National Executive of WOWICAN to Lagos State. The meeting between the national and State executives from all local governments in Lagos took place

By Risikat Ramoni

at The Apostolic Church, Ketu.

“We are out on the evangelization for change of our Society from criminality to a virtuous society. We go round the country to call on our women to pray, fast, evangelize and encourage people to do good,” said Okafor.

“The Christian women call on the Government to have a re-think of the National Youth Service Programme. Women cry with broken hearts against the mass killing of their sons and daughters on NYSC in some states. We support the programme but request that

corpers be sent to their zones of origin.”

In addition, the Vice Zonal Chairperson of WOWICAN in South West, Mrs Oyin Sowoolu stated that the government should endeavour to end the violence in the country by all means possible to avoid further damage to the image of the country which could scare away investors.

She urged Christian mothers to monitor the movement of their children and wards as a way of disallowing them to interact with criminals. “If the home is solid, then the nation will be strong.”

Sowoolu advised CAN to join in the effort to ensure WOWICAN members are in-

cluded in the allocation to women in the country since they are qualified for all appointive positions.

The Lagos State Chairperson of WOWICAN, Deaconess Comfort Olaniran, noted that although the familiarization between the national and state excecutives is important, it should not be an annual event.

In her request, Olaniran asked both the Lagos State Government and well-meaning Nigerians to assist the group with a bus to convey members during official assignment.

The nationwide familiarization continues in other parts of the country.

RCCG holds special prayers for first born

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HE Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), headquarters, Lagos will on Sunday, 3rd, July hold special prayers for all the first born in Nigeria.

The General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye made this known at a press briefing held last week at the Church headquarters in Ebutte Metta, Lagos.

Adeboye said that every first born is meant to be the might, strength, bread winner, excellence in dignity and power of the family but

By Adeola Ogunlade

have often times be reversed by the devil.

“We have realize that most first born actors are going through lots of battles which threatened God Plan for them in life, thus, they can be rescue through ceaseless prayers to God.” He cited in the scripture, Reuben, who was suppose to be the strength power of Israel but became as unstable as waters due to disobedience.

Adeboye went ahead to appeal to Christan to continue to pray for Presi-

dent Goodluck Jonathan to appoint ministers that Will serve this nation faithfully and genuinely with selfless interest.

He also advised politicians to keep to the promises they made to the electorate during electioneering campaign.

“They should as a matter of urgency see to the rehabilitating of our roads. Such roads includes the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, LagosBenin Expressway, Lokoja-Abuja road, Okenne-Otukpo road, among others.”

Bible Society to honour Akinola, Olusheye

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HE Bible Society of Nigeria honours the immediate past Primate of the Church of Nigeria [Anglican Communion], The Most Reverend Peter Akinola and the President, Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide, Pastor Elijah Olusheye with the Prestigious Bible Award.

The award ceremony which comes up on Thursday at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, is part of event marking the 7th Annual Luncheon of the Special Members Forum of The Bible Society of Nigeria.

The occasion will afford The Bible Society of Nigeria the opportunity to brief the public on how far Bible work has pro-

gressed in Nigeria, raise fund to support same and as well honour those who have been supporting the Bible cause.

Tagged: ‘Accountability: The Hallmark of Good Leadership’, the programme will be chaired by former President, Chief Ernest Shonekan while the Guest Speaker is Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, Senior Pastor of Fountain of Life Church.

A former Head of State and Patron of The Bible Society of Nigeria, General Dr. Yakubu Gowon is Father of the Day while the wife of former Lagos State Governor, Senator Oluremi Tinubu is Mother of the Day.

• His Eminence Dr Sunday Ola Makinde, Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria (middle), anointing Sir John Olufunso Aiku during the latter’s investiture as a Knight of John Wesley, at the Ebenezer Methodist Cathedral, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, recently

UT your initial display of signs did not impress the Pharaoh; his court magicians did same!"

"But counterfeit miracle workers they were! At that first showdown in the palace, Aaron threw down his rod before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent.

Pharaoh's magicians turned rods into snakes. Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods!"

"So they were rendered rod-less! But why was God so devastating?"

"The miracles and plagues were His way of exposing the futility of the Egyptian religion and the vanity of the many deities they worshiped, including Pharaoh himself.

The change of water to blood was a judgment on the Nile River itself, which was treated like a god, and on Hapi, the god of the Nile, and Isis, the goddess of the Nile. The Nile River was the nation's major source of life-giving water for the people and their crops, so taking away their water supply was a devastating judgment. The people dug wells near the river in order to get pure water, but the fish in the river died and their decay produced a terrible stench. The plague and its consequences lasted a week."

"And frogs?"

"The frog was a fertility symbol; Heqet, the goddess of resurrection, fertility, and childbirth, was cast with the head of a frog. We told Pharaoh that frogs would go into their houses, beds, ovens and cooking utensils, and would even cling to the bodies of the people. Of course the dumb magicians again counterfeited the miracle; the smartest thing would have been to nullify it!"

"Gnat nko?"

"That the desert dust became gnats was a judgment against Set, the Egyptian god of the desert. Jehovah was so great that He could give life to insignificant dust and use that life to punish the people who revered Set. But something else was involved. The Egyptians in general, and the priests in particular, were fanatical about cleanliness; and the priests frequently washed and shaved their bodies in order to be acceptable to their gods. Imagine the chagrin and discomfort of the priests when their bodies were invaded by unclean gnats that made life really miserable!"

"And their gods could do nothing to deliver them! The defeated magicians saw "the finger of God" in this miracle when it was actually God's 'strong hand'" "Pharaoh's attitude was, "Anything Jehovah can do... we can do better!" Of course, he couldn't. But that was enough to bolster his pride and keep him from submitting to the Lord."

"Just the way Satan opposes God's work by imitating it, and in this way he minimises the power and glory of God. The Apostle Paul used these Egyptian magicians to teach an important truth: in the last days, Satan will attack God's truth and God's people by imitating the works of God. Paul even named two of the court magicians: "Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth" 1 He was emphatic in another letter, 'The Wicked One will come with the power of Satan and perform all kinds of false miracles and wonders and use every kind of wicked deceit on those who will perish. They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved.2 Jesus warns us to beware of fake Messiahs and lying preachers whose 'impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better.' 3 The Apostle John narrates how he saw, in a revelation, a beast perform 'great miracles' and how 'it made fire come down out of heaven to earth in the sight of everyone. And it deceived all the people living on earth by means of the miracles which it was allowed to perform' 4 As Jesus taught in the Parable of the Tares 5 Satan is a counterfeiter who "plants" imitation Christians in this world.

Paul called them "false brethren" Satan has an imitation gospel, a counterfeit righteousness (Rom. 10:1-3), and even counterfeit ministers who spread his lies. Satan will one day produce a false Christ who will deceive the whole world.

I read of a Nigerian General Overseer, who went to an herbalist to procure powers to perform miracles in his church.

He left his associate pastor at the reception while he went in with the herbalist until the following morning when he came out with a calabash in his hand. Responding to his associate's enquiry, this head of ministry admitted, 'Yes, this is 'juju' and we are going to use it to perform miracles in the church. When people come to the church through it, we will preach the gospel to them'. The associate was smart enough to resign immediately."

"God doesn't need occult powers to draw people to Himself; neither does He need our fleshy, demonic help!"

1(2 Tim. 3:8, NIV) 2 2Thessalonians 2:9-10, (TEV); 3Matthew 24:24 (MSG); 4 Revelation 13:13-14 (TEV); 5Matt. 13:2430, 36-43; adeWale Adefuye, dean of LifeClass, can be reached at dean@lifeclassonline.org; 070 3002 3002 (sms only)

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

News

Architect bags excellence award

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HE Chairman of the Lagos State Physical and Environmental Monitoring Agency (LASPEMA), Architect Hamed Kabiru, was honoured as a recipient of the 2011 edition of the Lagos Award for Excellence last week.

The award which is organized by the Dayo Osinowo Initiative (DOSI) seeks to reward individuals and corporate organizations who have

By Vincent Nzemeke contributed to the development of the state in various capacities.

At the presentation ceremony held at White House Ikeja, friends, family, well-wishers and dignitaries from various walks of life gathered to felicitate with the recipients.

Presenting the award to Architect Kabiru, Honourable Abiodun Tobun, a member of the

Lagos State House of Assembly described him as a worthy recipient. He added that the award was recognition of his contributions to the development of Lagos State.

In a chat with the Nation, Architect Kabiru said the award would inspire him to do more in his service to humanity.

“I am very proud to be hounoured with this award.

It is an indication that my service to humanity is

appreciated by people around. This award will definitely go a long way in inspiring me to do more for humanity. Other recipients of the award are the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service Mr. William Babatunde Fowler and Comrade Adebayo Femi, Chairman of the Non Academic Staff Union of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin.

Residents seek government intervention

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ESIDENTS of Ilesanmi Adeola Street in Igando, have called on the Lagos State Government to look into the problem of

flooding in the area. The residents who made the call yesterday, said acesssing the area during rainy season is a big

Group protests blasphemy of anointing

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HE Word Christian Council Association of all churches has made a call to religious leaders in the country not to take the anointing of the Holy Spirit for granted. in a release signed by its Chairman Primate Ayoola Omonigbehin, the group condemned the anointing of Pastor Chris Okotie as the ‘Prince of Nigeria’ by the Secretary General of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), George Amu, on the grounds that it was improper for the clergyman to have done so.

The group said rather than anoint Okotie as the ‘Prince of Nigeria’, he should have been anointed as a messenger of the spirit of peace to Nigeria. The body also called on the

CAN faults introduction of Islamic bank From Frank Akatakpo, Warri

Nigerians to turn from thier evil ways in order to enjoy the peace of God.

challenge because of the flood . They called on the Lagos State Government to come to their aide by constructing drainages in the area.

Sunday Adegboyega, a resident of the street said the heavy downpour last Wednesday destroyed some household properties and disrupted commercial activities in the area. “ The rain destroyed many things including my 12KVA

generator. many people had to stay indoors because all the roads were flooded. The government needs to do something about the drainage. The drainages in this street is too small for the volume of water passing through it”.

Another resident, Alhaji Yinka Gbadebo called on the Lagos State Government to come to their rescue before the flood renders them homeless.

•The Olupele of Ipele, Ondo State HRM Abel Olaleye Alade unveils the logo for the town whilst community leaders watch with admiration.

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HE Christians Association of Nigeria, Delta State chapter, has faulted the introduction of Islamic Bank in Nigeria, saying as a secular country Nigeria was not ripe for the mode of banking.

The group led by a frontline Christian leader Archbishop Goddowell Avwomakpa, who is the state Chairman of CAN and National Vice President Christians Association of Nigeria South-South carried out a protest march in the oil city of Warri over the weekend.

The group, who later converged at the headquarters of Word of Life Bible Church, in their desire to voice their protests to the National President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, was received by Professor (Pastor) Gabriel Yomere who promised to express their grievances to the appropriate quarters.

•10th Anniversary and ordination servi ce of the church of the King of Kings C and S Oke Isegun Zonal Headquarter, Odo-Ona Elewe Oleyo road, Ibadan held on last week (L-R) Primate Olusegun Luku Babasanya, founder King of Kings world wide , Prophet Segun Adeoye Torch of God Fitila (middle) and Prophet Idowu Ogunse Adeniyi of King of Kings Church (left).

PHOTO: BADE DARAMOLA

Don’t give up: Begin again TEXT: GENESIS 1:1-3 1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

IFFERENT religions, philosophies, and even science, have different theories of how the world began. If we narrow our discussion to the creation narrative in the Bible, we still have many theories, almost as many as there are theologians in the world. Out of these numerous theories of creation in the Bible, four stand out. One theory is the school that interprets the days of creation as literal 24-hour days. The second theory is the concordist theory, which sees the days as ages or geologic eras in which each day represents billions of years. Another is the theory which views the framework of the days as logical, literary and dramatic device by which God teaches some lessons. The fourth one is the reconstruction or gap theory which takes the creation days as days in which God restored the earth after it had been ruined through the fall of the devil (Isa. 14:3-23; Eze. 28:11-19).

This last position maintains that after the beginning as recorded in Genesis 1:1 when God created heaven and earth, the devil disobeyed God and was cast down. As a result of his fall, God rendered the universe formless, void and dark. Then after many billions or trillions of years, God came to reconstruct the earth from the ruins of the old earth, a restoration which began in the period recorded in Genesis 1 when the Spirit of God moved upon the earth and called the creation into existence.

I don’t know which position you accept; maybe, you don’t care about such theories. Then you are one of those special care-free people that take the world as it is without asking questions. Whichever one you accept doesn’t really matter.

Pardon me! I wouldn’t have loved to bother your innocent and simple mind with these theories if not that they are relevant to our discussion here. As Bible-believing people, there are truths we have to accept, prima facie. They are a priori truths, because they are found in the Bible. One of such truths here is that there was a time in the dateless past when the world that God created was deluged or perished with water, according to 2 Peter 3:5-6, after which this present universe came to be.

While I am not bothered by whether you do or do not accept any of the theories above and others outside this list, I very much care that you should accept what the Bible has said in 2 Pet. 3:5-7: that God had created a world that was later destroyed with water before the emergence of the present one.

If you accept this with me, and I know you do, because you believe the Bible and it is found in the Bible, I will then boldly restate it thus: That the Almighty God who is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and perfect created a world and later that world was destroyed. After that destruction, this God did not give up but began again, and the result is this world you and I are living in today.

This God did not feel that His omnipotence, omniscience and His other eternal attributes were mocked; rather, He started to make another world. This teaches me that I should never give up, and that you too should never give up. We have to begin again with the fragments and ruins that resulted from our destruction. We are told that “quitters never win and winners never quit.” Be a winner, and don’t ever quit. Job said, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:”(Job 19:25-26). Job refused to give up. He decided to begin again.

You can also decide to begin again and never to give up. No matter the hard condition that has befallen you, God has given you enough stamina to begin again.

The Bible states in Genesis 1:2 that the earth was without form and void and darkness covered its face; in other words, the earth was formless, empty and dark; yet, the Spirit of God began to move upon it, to give it form or shape, to fill the void, and to call out light that dispelled the darkness. Don’t tell me that God was not touched when what He created got destroyed! He was touched, but He was not discouraged. He did not feel that His infinite wisdom, almightiness, all-powerfulness and perfection had been mocked. He didn’t give up; He began again.

Your business empire may crumble and you are almost folding up; your debtors may have failed to pay while you can’t even pay your creditors. What do you do? Don’t give up, begin again. Your shop may have been burgled or gutted by fire. Your finances are in shambles. You are thinking of running away, quitting, committing suicide or doing something funny. Listen to me: don’t give up, begin again.

You failed, not because you are not wise, not because you were not trained or experienced, but because your rising will bring you greater fulfilment. Stop mocking yourself. Remember that God was perfect and all-powerful, yet His creation was marred. He didn’t give up but began again. The wise man said: “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all (Ecc. 9:11). The next chance will be yours; your time of favour will be the next. Don’t give up, begin again.

Rev. Prof Paul Emeka emekapaul@gmail.com (08033096416) For Further Enquiries; Contact Ag-national Pro (08037973028)

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

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ETERAN Nigerian female striker, Perpetua Nkwocha has announced her retirement from international football engagements.

The 35-year-old’s announcement follows the Super Falcons poor performance at this year’s FIFA Womens World Cup in Germany where the team failed to make it past the group stages.

“This is certainly my last World Cup and the best time to leave the stage for the younger ones to express themselves.

Siasia's discovery hit Dream Team camp

By Innocent Amomoh

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O T T E N H A M Hotspur striker Olumide Durojaye and Atletico Belares midfielder,Adewole Lawal have joined the Dream team camp ahead of this weekend second leg second round of the All African Games qualifier against the Black Meteors of Ghana, in Kumasi, Ghana.

NationSport learnt that the football players were recommended by Super Eagles chief Coach, Samson Siasia after a screening camp in London last month.

They showed flashes of high expectation as the Dream team, chief coach,Austin Eguavoen drilled the new entrants on fitness and ball techniques as their arrival took the number of players in camp to 17.

Meanwhile, Dream team, chief coach, Austin Eguavooen, has released the duo of Ayo Saka and Femi Thomas, of Ocean Boys to their club for this weekend’s Nigeria premier league game.

The players in camp are, Harmony Ikande, Dele Ajiboye, Theophilus Afelokhai, Terna Suswam, Emmanuel Anyanwu, Otekpa Eneji, Kabiru Sanusi, Dimaku Tochukwu, Olaitan Otubanjo, Ikande Harmony, Usman Amoda, Kingsley Udoh, Adewole Lawal, Jonathan Okafor, Olumide Durojaiye, Solomon Okpako.

The Ghana Nigeria games holds on Sunday, July 10, 2011 at the BabaYara sports Stadium, Kumasi.

•Siasia

Sport Extra

Perpetua quits international football •Perpetua Nkwocha

AHEAD OF FESTIVAL OPENING CEREMONY

Torch of Unity arrives Port Harcourt

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HE Torch of Unity which started its journey on the May 10 when Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan lighted it at Abuja, thereby flagging off the 17th National Sports Festival has finally arrived Port Harcourt for the opening ceremony event taking place today at the Liberation stadium by 6pm.

The Torch was received from Abia State at the Oyigbo

MEDALS TABLE (As At July 2, 2011) SN 1.

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

G 19 8 6 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

S 6 13 0 3 2 1 3 1 6 4 2 1 0 0 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

B 9 10 6 6 4 0 2 4 6 8 3 4 3 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total 34 31 12 12 9 4 7 7 13 13 6 6 4 1 6 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Torino move: Fresh start for me—Oduamadi Joins U-23 camp for Kumasi showdown

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“Nobody can say that l have not contributed to the growth of the game, but right now it is time to move up in life,’ she said.

Nkwocha has represented Nigeria at four African Women Championships between 2002 and 2004, winning all four, three Olympic Games tournaments and three World Cups.

She overtook Mercy Akide as the leading goal scorer at the African Women Championships, although she has failed to score at the World Cup. It is an imbalance she is keen to redress.

“We have the game against Canada being our last but all hope for me is not lost even though l thought that by now l would have scored,” she said.

“Against France l played very deep and against Germany l played in the midfield so maybe this time around l could be placed in the good position that would enable me score.”

From Florence Israel and Akeem Lawal in Port Harcourt boundary yesterday afternoon by the vice chairman of the LOC and the former commisiioner for sports, Rivers state, Hon. Boma Iyaye and was taken to Liberation stadium where prepartions are at top gears for the expected grand opening ceremony.

While addressing the press at the venue of the Torch reception, Iyaye said that the ceremony will be so spectacular. He noted that it is going to be the kind that has

not been witnesed by Nigerians in history of the national sports festival.

He also assured of the security of lives and properties of those that will be at the ceremony saying that the lives of all will be secured including the participants, the spectators, officials and also the press.

While commenting on the facilities at the Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka sports complex, Iyaye noted that the facilities are at seventy percent completion and that all the facilities need for the events at the venue are perfectly in order.

Journalists set to boycott opening ceremony

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ITH less than few hours to the opening ceremony of the 17th National Sports Festival, journalists covering the event are set to boycott today’s event following their inability to secure their accreditation.

Hundreds of journalists that have been unable to get the accreditation cards which they will use to cover the ceremony scheduled to hold at the Liberation Stadium, Elekahia, Rivers State.

In a meeting held by the aggrieved journalists at about 8pm yesterday, it was agreed that the Sports Writers will give the organisers till 10 am this morning and if their accreditations are not sorted out, they will be staying away from the opening

From Akeem Lawal in Port Harcourt ceremony.

All efforts by the journalist to reach the people in charge of the accreditation proved abortive but a member of the Local Organising Committee (LDC) appealed to the men of the pen to exercise patience, assuring them that the cards will be ready early Sunday (this morning).

“I want to assure you that the accreditation cards will be ready early tomorrow morning (today). We have been working all round the clock to ensure that the cards are printed. We did not intend to delay you people like this but you know some things get out of hand and we are on top of the situation”, he assured.

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EW Torino of Italy on loan player and Dream Team V midfield maestro, Nnamdi Oduamadi has described his season long switch away from parent club AC Milan as a right step in his fledging football career, since it will afford him the opportunity of playing regularly after his cameo appearances for the newly crowned Serie A champions last season.

Oduamadi who just returned to Nigeria for the second leg tie of the All African Games(AAG) Qualifiers against the Black Meteors of Ghana billed for Kumasi next Sunday, after wrapping up transfer formalities with the Serie B club, told NationSport exclusively that the move to Torino would afford him of more playing time than it was while with Milan last season.

He expressed his disappointment at the likelihood of missing his friends and colleagues at Milan but stressed that at this stage of his career he shouldn’t just be contented with lining out for a club but also ensuring he plays regularly so as to ensure steady improvement in his game and

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri market value. “ I am happy to have secured the loan deal to Torino and for me it is another adventure for me and my career. I loved it there with Milan but the lack of first team football action was not that encouraging to me as a footballer with many prospects lined up for me in the future. I am ready for the fresh challenge and I hope it will be a pleasant experience for me as I look forward to further rise in the profession.

“When my agent contacted me about the offers before me and we carefully considered the one that will be best for me and my career as a young footballer, we eventually picked Torino as the ideal place to further my growth in the round leather game. I am happy and raring to team up with Torino for the pre season immediately after the Ghana’s second leg tie in Kumasi” an elated Oduamadi informed NationSport on Saturday afternoon from Benin City the current camp site of the Under 23 team who are shaping up for the make or break AAG 2nd leg Qualifier against Ghana.

Delta harvests gold medals in wrestling •...As Igali hails team’s performance

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ELTA State yesterday improved their standing on the table at the on-going National Sports Festival tagged, Garden City Games after dominating the Weightlifting event winning 4 gold and 1 silver medal.

Host state, Rivers came a distant second with 1 gold and 2 silver while Ondo won 1 gold 1 silver and 1 bronze medal in 3rd position. Edo State won 1 gold and 1 bronze while Plateau got 2 silver and 1 bronze medal.

Ebonyi could only manage 1 bronze and 2 silver to show for their efforts while Ogun got 1 silver and 1 bronze medal. Both Kano and Lagos won 1 silver medal each, while Bayelsa got 2 bronze medals. Cross Rivers, Imo and Kogi won 1 bronze medals each.

In a chat with NationSport at the

From Florence Israel and Akeem Lawal in Port Harcourt Main Hall, Civic Center, the Technical Director of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali said Delta State have been able to justify their preparedness for the festival with the achievement recorded in Wrestling.

“The competition went very well, it was fantastic. We had about 105 athletes which is the biggest so far in any competition.

We had a lot of young athletes that came into the competition, we did not have any injury which is a good one. Delta State did exceedingly well, they were very prepared and won 4 gold medals and they will be very happy if they ahead of the next Sports Festival”, he told NationSports.

Team Lagos is eight on NSF log

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AGOS State is resting on the eight position on the medals table as the host state,Rivers State is still dominating the Garden City Games medals table with 18 Gold, 6 Silver and 9 Bronze medals to amass a total of 33 medals.The games has entered day four.

NationSport can report that Delta State, the defending champion, had 8 Gold, 12 Silver and 10 Bronze medals to clinch the second position as Akwa Ibom is third with 5 Gold, and 6 Bronze

By Innocent Amomoh medals just as Edo State settled for the fourth position with 3 Gold, 3 Silver and 5 Bronze medals.

Sources in Port Harcourt hinted that Cross River is fifth with 3 Gold, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze medals while Benue State is sixth with 3 Gold and 1 Silver.

Federal Capital Territory is seventh with 2 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.

Ogun,Imo,Ondo,Kano and Plateau States had 1 Gold medal each on the medals table.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

QUOTABLE “This is not the time for sentiments but the time to see the reality before us. In view of this, the Federal Government will use all available resources to put a stop to this spate of insecurity in the land.”

SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 5, NO. 1809

—President Goodluck Jonathan warning the Boko Haram Islamic sect

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IVEN the threats and ultimatum by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to the federal and state governments, one would think the most pressing problem facing us, and in particular the Goodluck Jonathan presidency, is the national minimum wage issue. It is doubtless a serious problem, and it has been brewing for a long time. Many state governments, most of them newly inaugurated, are locked in mortal and disruptive combat with labour; and judging from their plaintive cries over the parlous condition of their treasuries, they are at a loss how to fend off the feral threat to their state economies. In spite of the provocative stance of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission that states are in a position to pay the new wage, most economists and public commentators have known for a long time that most states are in no position to pay the new wage, given the present structures of their economies and the structure of the national economy.

The minimum wage controversy is merely a symptom of a more fundamental problem. Even if states struggle to pay the wage in the short run; and even if the Federal Government recognises the threat to national security embedded in the agitation by labour, and therefore accedes to a modification of the revenue allocation formula, the problem will only have been postponed.

When it re-emerges in the medium to long run, it will come at an intolerable and cataclysmic cost. If we have leaders with analytical rather than emotive minds we would recognise that the wage issue and other pressing and worrisome problems are warning us to look holistically at our national malaise and appreciate that what ails us are not the symptoms now manifesting piecemeal but the superstructure upon which the ungainly country is resting clumsily.

It is not only our constitution that is hopelessly inadequate, a fact that is now largely indisputable, even the manner of our association as a country is either flawed or coerced, or even uneconomical and inefficient. We ought to have attended to the structure of the country at least three decades ago, but Nigerian leaders could not summon the courage to admit to the structural and constitutional malformation that has served us badly since independence, and particularly since 1966. There is absolutely no doubt we have religious, ethnic and civilisation differences. Yet rather than admit these differences as an integral part of the formation of regional worldviews, and then incorporate them one way or the other into a suitable arrangement for our coexistence, we gloss over them and either decree an end to the debate on national question or live in denial of the differences.

We are faced with the choice of learning from the Mustafa Kemal Ataturk model of creating a national structure that limits or obviates our ethnic and religious differences, or of creating, through regionalisation or federalism, a novel and profound arrangement that takes cognisance of our differences. We, however, seem to be searching for a third option that does not exist. More crucially we ought to have realised decades ago that Nigeria’s 36 states are unrealistically unwieldy and could not be run efficiently based on the present structure. The problem is not the Jonathan presidency, whether he is competent or not, or whether he has the political will or not to tackle the multifarious problems confronting the country. The huge monster any president will confront in 21st century Nigeria is the inherited, costly and unworkable structure of our so-called federation. Its collapse is inevitable, hard as we may try.

The wage controversy is also closely leashed to the fuel subsidy conundrum.

Since fuel subsidy was introduced into our economic lexicon, it has loomed over us like a monstrous apparition unlikely to ever go away given the economic structure we operate. No one has conclusively proved that indeed there is a subsidy, not to talk of what

On the verge of a national error

•Goodluck Jonathan

•Gen Owoye Andrew Azazi

its scale is; or whether if we run our affairs with a passable measure of competence there should be subsidy in the first instance. The situation today is that government’s mathematicians, who are of course both mischievous and not disinterested, have determined that there is some subsidy that must be removed for the country to have a healthy balance sheet and an efficient free market economy. Without looking at the agricultural subsidies of the developed West, and without considering the abysmal level of infrastructural development and poverty in Nigeria, we appear to have agreed that subsidy, if indeed it exists, is an evil.

I think those agitating for the removal of subsidy unrealistically ignore the infectiousness of world events ranging from the Arab (political) Spring to the unfolding Greek (financial) Tragedy, and the seething ferment even in Europe. It is true our imperfect democracy, with its superficially cathartic and even therapeutic effects, seemed to have insulated us from the worst contagion and consequences of revolt in other places, but whatever the merits of our poor political insulator are, it is unlikely to last for long. The wage controversy and its close cousin, fuel subsidy, may in fact stretch our luck to breaking point. On the surface, the removal of fuel subsidy may considerably improve states’ cash flow positions and make more money available for everyone and, to some limited extent, for development, but its deplorable effects are bound to have lasting impact on stability and national security. Indeed, it will spur inflation, fuel deeper grievances and worsen alienation, and even provide justification for another round of contentious wage negotiations.

But the truth is that in spite of their potency, neither the wage controversy nor fuel subsidy removal is the most pressing issue facing Jonathan or the rest of us. The main problem confronting Nigeria today is the Boko Haram terror. It should not have been such a terrible problem to resolve had the dynamics of the terror group’s operations not been obfuscated by deceptive and mis-

leading intellectual analyses ranging from the subterraneanly religious to the disingenuously ethnic. There is of course no argument as to the effects of the Boko Haram attacks, or the tragedies that follow every life taken by the militants. The controversy over the outlawed militant group centres on whether to dialogue with them or not, and whether to finally grant them amnesty or withhold it. This is where I think Nigeria is poised on the verge of making a major national and potentially fatal error.

Those who argue for dialogue and amnesty dishonestly compare the mainly Northeast-based militants with Niger Delta militants, without appreciating the fundamentals that drive each group. The latter fought essentially against economic installations in its quest for economic justice, but the former has maimed and murdered in its quest for the enthronement of a religious idea on the northern part of the country. This in effect is a thoughtless attempt to polarise the country along religious lines. And hard as many analysts have tried to make the Boko Haram a socio-economic revolt, the sect has continued to emphasise that it is propelled by religious conviction. In other words, while those who sympathise with them argue wistfully that socio-economic justice would placate the militants, they themselves argue vociferously that only the enthronement of their preferred Islamic way of life, particularly the sharia, could bring about socio-economic justice and equity.

Indeed, to underscore their conversion to the path of dialogue and amnesty, some analysts have sought to draw a parallel with the recent dialogue between the United States and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Whatever the merits of US invasion of Afghanistan, it is still an occupation of another country, an occupation that must end one day, sooner or later. What is there to discuss with Boko Haram, which seems to be now emboldened by the division in the country over whether to negotiate with it or not, or to fear it or love it? Nothing. What the militants are asking for is a constitutional amendment;

“Now, more than two decades after, a militant religious sect from the North is fighting for some form of Iron Curtain between the far North and the rest of the country. It is doubtful whether the sect recognises the implication of its action. Frighteningly, however, unlike 1990, this fresh and invidious campaign is receiving sympathetic hearing largely from the same North; from, I dare say, closet fundamentalists who see Western liberalism not in terms of democracy and its other attendant virtues, but in terms of social permissiveness, and from people who capriciously judge that perfect tyranny with all its suffocating rituals is to be preferred to imperfect democracy with all its exhilarating weaknesses”

and obviously they hope that that can be achieved by murdering as many innocent people as possible. Many state governments in the North are now so overwhelmed that they have begun to see “wisdom” in dialogue. They naively think the leaders and sponsors of Boko Haram, who scent victory as perplexed state officials wring their hands, would end their agitation with the enthronement of sharia, or moderate the cravings they have acquired from the Afghan Taliban of their childish fancy.

First to call for dialogue with the militants was, Kashim Shettima, the new governor of Borno State, where the militants are most active. His call was short-sighted, but it did not stop the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Goni Ali Modu from arguing that if enthroning sharia would stop Boko Haram, then it was the sensible thing to do.

These embarrassingly helpless arguments have resonated with many intellectuals and analysts all over the country, particularly in the North. One or two political parties have also cottoned on to the idea of dialogue and amnesty, suggesting that in addition, something urgent in terms of educational and economic development must be done to deprive the militants of fresh recruits. Even the Federal Government, at a time, seemed amenable to the idea of dialogue before, apparently, some sensible analysts made them realise the futility of negotiating with terrorists. It was pointed out to them that one concession would breed another, until there was nothing else to give but the entire country.

They should ask the British government of Neville Chamberlain that dialogued with Adolf Hitler before World War II. I suspect that at bottom many northern elites indulge Boko Haram because they are not fundamentally averse to the enthronement of sharia. It will be remembered that sharia caused quite a lot of disquiet during the drafting of the Second Republic constitution. It is not a passing fancy. Boko Haram itself knows that latching on to socio-economic arguments for its revolt will not receive the sort of passionate response it hopes to elicit in its struggle for the northern ethos of its choosing.

To dignify Boko Haram with dialogue or amnesty is to signal both that terror pays and that we have reconciled ourselves to a permanent division of the country along religious lines. We cannot eat our cake and have it. It is indeed a curious irony that the Gideon Orkar coup of 1990 attempted to redraw Nigerian map by excising some northern states from Nigeria. That intemperate effort met with vehement opposition from the North and with bemusement and shock from the rest of the country. Now, more than two decades after, a militant religious sect from the North is fighting for some form of Iron Curtain between the far North and the rest of the country. It is doubtful whether the sect recognises the implication of its action. Frighteningly, however, unlike 1990, this fresh and invidious campaign is receiving sympathetic hearing largely from the same North; from, I dare say, closet fundamentalists who see Western liberalism not in terms of democracy and its other attendant virtues, but in terms of social permissiveness, and from people who capriciously judge that perfect tyranny with all its suffocating rituals is to be preferred to imperfect democracy with all its exhilarating weaknesses.

The Federal Government must not give itself over to superficial thinking, as many analysts are doing on the Boko Haram issue. It must fight and defeat terror by every lawful means, not by murdering militant leaders or bringing the murderers to belated trial. If anyone wants a social or religious system to be enthroned anywhere, they must learn to pursue it by lawful means, not by taking other people’s lives or instigating one religion against another. However, what Boko Haram, minimum wage, fuel subsidy, Jos conflagration and other national revolts show is that we are running out of time to restructure the country peacefully.

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Editor - 08050498530, Marketing: 4520939, Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Telephone: 07028105302 E-mail: sunday@thenationonlineng.net Editor: LEKAN OTUFODUNRIN

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