July 08, 2013

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Gunmen abduct governor’s aide NEWS Page 12

•Three NYSC members freed

Police bullets kill two in Ibadan NEWS

Page 2

•Protesters seize police rifle

www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 8, NO. 2540 MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

ABIBATU ASABI MOGAJI (1917 - 2013)

•From left: Senator Chris Ngige, National Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande, Lagos State governor’s wife Abimbola Fashola, Governor Babatunde Fashola, ACN National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, his wife Senator Oluremi, Oyo State governor’s wife, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, Ekiti State governor’s wife Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Ogun State PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN governor’s wife Mrs. Olufunso Amosun. SEE ALSO PAGES 2 & 55

Schools shut as Jonathan curses killers of 22 pupils EU demands justice Mark, Tambuwal condemn killings

S

Amaechi, Oshiomhole, Okorocha shun meeting

T

HE schism in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) was on display yesterday, with some governors shunning the meeting of the Southsouth/Southeast governors held in Enugu.

Governors Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) did not attend the meeting held at the Enugu Governor’s Lodge. They did not send representatives.

The other governors in the zone, who are known to be

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja and Duku Joel, Damaturu

PECIAL Forces in Yobe State have launched a manhunt for the alleged mastermind of the killing on Saturday of 22 Government Secondary School, Mamudo pupils.

The suspect, who is believed to be a Boko Haram leader, is said to have relocated to Potiskum from Borno State, following the retaking of northern Borno by troops.

Apparently to prevent another attack, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has accepted security agencies’ advice to send schools on vacation. This is to give room for the overhauling of security arrangement in all schools, The Nation learnt.

President Goodluck Jonathan said the killers would go to hell.

Gaidam visited the school yesterday. Visibly distraught, he condemned the killing of the pupils and ordered the closure of all secondary schools from today.

According to the governor, the measure is to safeguard the lives of pupils and allow the government and the Joint Security Task Force and community leaders to come out with better strategies that will gaurantee the safety of students and teachers in the state.

Gaidam was also at the Potiskum General Hospital to see the injured pupils, who are to have free treatment.

The governor urged the Federal Government to restore GSM services to Yobe, Borno Continued on page 2

Shell reopens oil pipeline

From Chris Oji, Enugu, Okodili Ndidi, Owerri and Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

pro President GoodluckJonathan’s 2015 ambition, attended.

They are host Governor Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Peter Obi (Anambra), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Theodore Orji (Abia), Liyel Imoke (Cross River Continued on page 2

A

•THE CHAMP: Andy Murray cradles the trophy the British public have craved since Fred Perry's win in 1936...yesterday. STORY ON PAGE 42 PHOTO: AFP

NGLO-DUTCH oil group Shell said at the weekend it had resumed production after repairing a sabotaged supply pipeline in the Niger Delta.

The company shut down the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP) on June 19 following an explosion and fire in an area where oil theft has occurred, the latest such incident in Africa’s largest proContinued on page 2

•Sunmonu

2

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

NEWS Schools shut as Jonathan curses killers of 22 pupils

Bring killers to justice, says EU

E

UROPEAN Union (EU) High Representative Catherine Ashton yesterday condemned “in the strongest possible terms the horrific murder by terrorists of some 30 innocent children and a teacher” early on Saturday morning in a school in Mamudo town in northeastern Nigeria.

“I express my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims, and assure the people of Nigeria of my solidarity and determination to help them bring security, peace and reconciliation to the north,” she said in a statement last night.

Those responsible must be brought to justice in accordance with the law, and the rule of law re-established throughout the region, she added.

Continued from page 1

and Adamawa. He said lack of GSM services had always prevented good people from reporting suspicious elements in their neighbourhoods.

Gaidam praised the JTF’s efforts in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency. He urged them to comb Potiskum, Gaidam and Gujba which, according to him, are the notorious spots. He cited the military operations in Sambisa forest in Borno which, he noted, was a success.

The Commissioner for Lower Education, Mohammed Lamin, confirmed that 22 pupils were killed.

The commissioner, who conducted the governor round the school, said a teacher and one villager were killed, bringing the number of casualty to 24.

Our correspondent, who was at the Postikum General Hospital, saw four pupils on admission.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ibrahim Ola Sa’ad, has directed troops to fish out the killers.

According to a source, troops are on the trail of a deadly Boko Haram leader, who is suspected to be the mastermind of the killings.

“Troops are already after the killers and we are hopeful that they will get them because some of those who perpetrated similar killings at the Government Secondary School, Damaturu about three weeks ago were apprehended,” a source said, adding: “The dastardly killings pointed to reprisals from the aggrieved sect members who had been displaced from Northern Borno by troops.

“And you know, Potiskum axis has been a well-oiled base of the insurgents which the troops have been combing and screening.”

•Gaidam with one of the shot pupils at the General Hospital Potiskum.

PHOTO: DUKU JOEL

Killers’ll go to hell, says Jonathan as Mark, Tambuwal mourn

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday described the killing of pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School Mamudo, Yobe State, as wicked, horrific and barbaric. He predicted that the killers will go to hell.

The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said his administration would not allow itself to be undermined by any group or persons.

Describing terrorists as cowards, he said:

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

“The killing is barbaric, completely wicked. Anybody who will target innocent children for any kind of grief of emotional dyfunction will certainly go to hell.

“Mr. President wants to assure Nigerians that this kind of desperate Nigerians will be flushed out of the system.

“Mr. President is committed to the issue of the protection of lives and properties of all Nigerians and he wants to

assure that the war against terrorists has been launched and will continue and the Nigerian government is determined to put an end to this menace.

“The President sympathises with the families affected and he stands by them at this moment of grief. The killing is most unfortunate most regrettable and Mr. President wants to assure Nigerians that any attempt by any group to undermine this government will be resisted.”

Asked if the troops have lost the battle to the sect, the source added: “Not at all but what has happened is that the insurgents have changed their methods. It means they can attack anywhere now.”

A Defence source said Admiral Sa’ad ordered a cordonoff of all villages in Potiskum.

“The search for the killers

has started and the Special Force in Yobe is being reinforced especially at flashpoints,” the source said.

In security circles, the thinking is that the attacks on schools are meant to cause disaffection between the military/ security agencies and the civilian populace.

Having suffered two at-

tacks in three weeks, the police and other agencies believe there is need to review security arrangement in all school.

“Their advice actually is in favour of a shut down of most schools to protect lives and property. It is left to Yobe State Government to take a final decision,” a source said.

By Musa Odoshimokhe and Tajudeen Adebanjo

trait formed part of the giant size pictures hung at the back of the stage and also in strategic parts of the venue.

Guests were ushered in by a bevy of beautiful women clad in purple “old school” native dress.

Women traders added a unique touch to the gathering.

They made a statement with their purple head gears on white iro and buba.

The choir, comprising men and women shone in their purple gown, entertaining the large gathering at intervals.

Asiwaju Tinubu and other dignitaries sat in the middle of the hall, facing the stage; the clerics beside them.

The two hours 30 minutes event began with a prayer. It featured choruses, an opening hymn, a Bible passage, testimonies and special prayers

Continued on page 57

•Dr. Jonathan

Honour my mother by ensuring peace, says Tinubu

T

HE setting was awesome. Golden lights gleamed through the length and breadth of the hall, turning the expensive facility into a mass of gold. On the right side stood a live band.

Beside it was a big stage, covered with purple satin clothing.

Welcome to the refurbished Expo Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos,

T

venue of the special interdenominational service in honour of the late Alhaja Abibatu Asabi Mogaji, mother of former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Alhaja Mogaji’s huge por-

for the children, family, Lagos State, traders and Nigeria.

It was anchored by the trio of Revd Tunji Adebiyi, Revd Funmi Akitoye-Braimoh, both Governor Babatunde Fashola’s aides, and Mrs Yetunde Akinluyi.

Pastor Kunle Ajayi sent the crowd on to the dance floor after prayers. He thrilled the gathering with his saxophone.

Continued on page 57

Mayhem in Ibadan as police stray bullets kill two

WO middle-aged men died yesterday in Ibadan after being hit by stray bullets from a policeman’s gun.

According to an eyewitness account, violence broke out at the popular Oje Market in the Oyo State capital, after the stray bullet hit a civilian who died on the spot.

As the news of the death of the man spread, many people took to the street in protest against the killing.

In the melee that ensued between policemen and the protesters, about 20 people were reportedly injured.

Some residents abandoned their homes in fear.

The cause of the trouble that preceded the killing was the refusal of some commercial

From Oseheye Okwuofu and Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

transporters to allow some hoodlums to extort money from motorists.

It was gathered that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Agugu Division, Mr. Timothy Adedeji, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who was on patrol, attempted to broker peace between the fighting parties.

An eyewitness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said another policeman tried to disperse the mob through persuasion. But when they attempted to attack him, he fired some shots into the air to scare them.

“A shot was fired and the bullet hit a man. The man died. The mob swooped on

the two policemen. They took a police rifle and bolted away,” the source said.

He said policemen from Agugu Division came to rescue the duo (the policemen who were attacked) and took them to a nearby hospital.

Police spokeswoman Bisi Ilobanefor said: “The two policemen were rescued from the mob’s attack. The mob later regrouped and went to Agugu Division, apparently to attack the station. The situation was brought under control through reinforcement.

“The policemen in an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) that was positioned some metres away from the station to control the mob later saw a police rifle with the

mob. They pursued the mob, which reacted by firing shots at the policemen “The stray bullet from the hoodlums that stole the police gun hit a passerby and, unfortunately, the person also died. The situation has since been brought under control.

“At present, peace has been restored in the area. The policemen are in the hospital receiving treatment.

“The police have gone into the matter; we are investigating the incident. If the policemen in question are found to have misused their firearms, we have disciplinary measures through which erring policemen are brought to book.

“The police are investigat-

ing the case and our investigation would determine what actually happened. Investigation will shed more light but we are assuring the public that no stone would be left unturned towards ensuring that justice prevails.”

But Mrs. Ilobanefor could not confirm if the victim was a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) or the Motorcycle Operators Association.

She said the rifle had been recovered with only six rounds of ammunition left, adding that there were 33 rounds when it was seized.

Commissioner of Police Muhammed Indabawa has set up a panel to investigating the incident.

Amaechi, Oshiomhole, Okorocha shun meeting

Continued from page 1

State) and Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta).

Obi, chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum, said the meeting discussed ways of collaboration between the two zones.

He said: “We met today in Enugu and discussed how the two zones will work together economically in the area of infrastructure.

“Akwa Ibom and Abia states have reached an understanding to work with the private sector to reconstruct and dualise the bad Ikot-Ekpene-Aba Road in order to improve economic activities within the corridor of both states.

“We also discussed the issue of oil theft and how to curb it. We discussed the issue of ethnic harmony between the zones and how to promote it.

“Finally, we commend the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The various programmes shown in the mid-term report clearly shows that the transformation agenda is on course and we pledge to continue supporting him.”

Obi did not entertain reporters’ questions after the meeting. He drove off. The Continued on page 57

Shell reopens oil pipeline Continued from page 1

ducer.

The incident resulted in a cut of 150,000 barrels of oil per day.

“SPDC has repaired the valve point and removed six other crude oil theft connections in its continuing efforts to maintain the integrity of the line,” it said of the incident in Bodo west in Ogoniland.

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

, 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

3

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

4

NEWS •Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson (left) presenting a bank draft of N508million to the Managing Director of Messrs Sivan Design, D.S Ltd, Mr. Shay Chevuty after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the company for the state’s Geographic Information System at the Government House in Yenagoa.

Nigeria...

Investors believe Nigeria is a difficult place to do business, but demographically they also believe the country is where to be; the huge population and its status as the second-biggest economy in Africa make sure they flock to the country, despite the challenges, reports Financial Times

T • Winner of N500,000 in the Etisalat FC Barcelona Promo, Mr. Obinwaanne Ikedinnu (middle) receiving his cheque from the Manager, Etisalat Experience Centre, Ikeja Mall, Ms. Firdausi Okezie in Lagos... at the weekend. With them is ManPHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN ager, Mass Market Segment Mr. Nnamdi Ezeani.

• Group Executive Director, Gas and Power ,Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Dr. David Ige (left); President , International Institute for Petroleum ,Energy Law and Policy Mr. Niyi Ayoola-Daniels and Deputy Director, Highways, Ministry of Works Mr. Wasiu Taiwo at the second Quarterly Dinner and conferment of the Fellowship of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE)on Ige and Taiwo in Abuja... at the weekend.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•From right: Head, Group Compliance Internal Control, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Pattison Boleigha, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud, (SFU) DCP Zubairu Muazu and Detective Inspector Steve Strickland of City of London Police at a workshop on fraud detection and investigation in Lagos...at the weekend.

,

WENTY years ago few Nigerians had heard of instant noodles. “People thought we were trying to get them to eat worms,” says Deepak Singhal, managing director of Dufil Prima Foods, the first company to manufacture the cheap snack locally, in 1996. Today, noodles are a $600ma-year business in Nigeria and are among the country’s most popular foods. Children eat them for breakfast, roadside vendors serve them with fried eggs or sardines and after a long day at work an adult can tuck into Dufil’s 210g Hungry Man pack, the largest block of instant noodles produced commercially anywhere in the world.

The company, which has a 70 per cent share of the local market, estimates that one in two Nigerians have tasted its Indomie brand of noodles and that up to 15m people eat them regularly. In 2012 alone, Dufil sold 1.6bn packets of noodles for between 35 naira ($0.22) and 95 naira ($0.59). That is more than was consumed in any country outside Asia bar, the US, Brazil and Russia.

Dufil’s success is a prime example of why investors are becoming increasingly excited about Nigeria, especially with regards to consumer goods. Not only has it demonstrated that it is possible to overcome the many challenges of manufacturing in the West African country but also how to take advantage of fast-changing demographics.

Already by far the most populous country on the continent, with close to 170m people, Nigeria continues to grow at an astonishing rate. According to the UN’s latest forecast, by mid-century there will be more Nigerians – 440m – than Americans, and by 2100 the west African state could be the second most populous country on earth. The economy is also expanding quickly, and should grow at 7 per cent this year, as it has done for most of the past decade.

“This is a difficult place to do business, no doubt about it, and you need someone to hold your hand,” says Mr Singhal in his office in Lagos, the commercial capital. “But demographically you cannot go wrong: a huge population

• Dr. Jonathan

•Rewane

and the second-biggest economy in Africa.”

It is not only noodle manufacturers that have thrived. Makers of everything from beer to chocolate milk and cement have seen sales soar in recent years, and forced investors who have long shunned Nigeria to take note. With the global recession cutting returns in the developed world and in big emerging economies such as China and Brazil, fund managers have poured money into the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The All Share Index as a whole is up more than 70 per cent over the past year but consumer stocks have surged even more. The share prices of the local arms of Nestlé and Unilever have doubled, while Cadbury Nigeria is up nearly 300 per cent. Local listed companies have not missed out; Dangote Sugar, owned by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, has tripled in price.

“There’s a lot more interest in Nigeria now from frontier specialists and emerging market funds,” says

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

5

NEWS

Why investors can’t say no ‘

• Obasanjo Graham Stock, chief strategist at Insparo Asset Management, which focuses on Africa and the Middle East. “[There are] not many places in the world that are growing at 7 per cent and can be reasonably expected to maintain that for some years.”

HAT, of course, is assum ing all goes well. Nigeria still has many challenges and risks. An Islamist insurgency in the North has claimed thousands of lives and hit the economy there.

Corruption remains endemic, and the politics divisive and poisonous.

Industrial-scale oil theft is preventing the government making rainy day savings, leaving it exposed to a drop in the price of crude. While the infrastructure is slowly improving, it is still poor and a big impediment to business.

Yet as Dufil has shown, most of these problems are not insurmountable, given the size of the market.

Dufil, a joint venture between Salim Group, the Indonesian conglomerate that owns the Indomie brand, and Tolaram Group of Singapore, struggled in its early years. Sani Abacha, the military dictator, was in power and the economy was stagnant. The flip side was that there was no competition for noodles or much else. When there was return to civilian rule in 1999, Dufil’s fortunes shifted. Since 2003, its revenues have increased at an average rate of almost 30 per cent a year. One reason is the heavy marketing focus. The company’s advertisements appear on buses and buildings around the country.

Mothers with young children are a particular target market. One of Dufil’s popular catchlines reads: “No mama be like you, no noodles be like Indomie”.

The baby boom has been a significant factor in the company’s success. During its 17 years of noodle production in Nigeria, the population has grown by more than 50m, equivalent to the entire population of South Africa, the continent’s biggest economy. The typical Nigerian woman gives birth to five or six children, which is higher than the average fertility rate in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole

T

•Dangote and more than three times that in the developed world.

Although the market is going to get much bigger, Mr Singhal reckons that the company’s revenues will slow to between eight and 10 per cent growth in the next few years as the sector becomes more crowded. From being the only instant noodle maker in the country, Dufil now has 16 competitors, including Mr Dangote, who launched his own brand of the snack a few years ago. The competition is good news for a country that has historically been unfriendly to manufacturers.

Nigeria’s emergence as an oil producer around the time of independence in 1960 mirrored a decline in the country’s agriculture sector and its infrastructure. Once the world’s biggest exporter of palm oil, which along with wheat flour is a crucial ingredient in noodles, Nigeria is now a minnow in global terms. Even though local output is now increasing, Dufil could buy the two biggest palm oil producers in the country and it would still have to import more.

The ports are congested and the road network dilapidated, increasing transport costs. The power shortage is chronic. Bangladesh, which has a similar-size population and less than half the gross domestic product of Nigeria, produces almost twice the amount of electricity per capita.

To get around the problem, Dufil generates its own power at each of its three noodles factories, as well as its palm oil refinery and packaging plant. About 2.5 per cent of the sales price of every pack of noodles is spent on electricity – three times more than at a noodle factory in Indonesia. Yet the size of Nigeria’s market means that local manufacturing is still worthwhile.

“We have done it, Unilever and Nestlé have done it,” says Mr Singhal. “If you want to encash, you have to produce locally. Otherwise you’re just a container business.”

The population explosion may be good for business but it brings challenges for the government, which has to keep a lot more people

•Singhal happy. If rising income is the measure of contentment, then its policies need improving. Despite the growing economy, Nigeria’s poverty rate declined marginally from 64 per cent to 63 per cent between 2004 and 2010, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Dufil’s own research backs this up.

Mr Singhal says that while the banking and telecoms sectors have created “a bit of middle-class growth”, poverty levels remain high.

The youthful population – about 44 per cent are under 15 – is cited by economists as one reason why Nigeria, and other countries in subSaharan Africa, could enjoy competitive advantages over the rest of the world in the coming decades.

But this will be an asset only if there are jobs to fill. In Nigeria, the official unemployment rate is 24 per cent and rising. Among those aged 15 to 24, it is 37 per cent, a statistic that worries people such as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the finance minister. “We need to grow our GDP at 8 to 10 per cent in order to solve the unemployment problem facing us in the country,” she said last month.

HE paucity of prospects for young people has been cited as a contributing reason for the insurgency by Boko Haram in northern Nigeria in a campaign that has claimed close to 4,000 lives over the past four years.

The overall economic impact has so far been limited because the oilfields and most businesses are based in the south. But consumer goods companies have suffered.

Dufil’s sales have declined in the north over the past year because markets in some areas are open for only a few days a week owing to the violence.

The kidnapping and subsequent murder of 10 foreign workers by Ansaru, another Islamist group, has also forced companies to rewrite their security policies. Dufil’s 60odd expatriate workers, mainly from India, Indonesia and Singapore, are barred from going to northeast Nigeria, where the government has declared a state of emergency.

T

Nigeria’s macroeconomic performance last year was “broadly positive”, the International Monetary Fund said. But the economy remains vulnerable to oil price shocks. Crude production has slipped to about 2m barrels per day, compared with 2.5m b/d predicted in the budget. The shortfall is partly due to the theft of more than 150,000 b/d, and has forced the government to dip into its oil savings account, which in May stood at $6bn, down from $9bn at the start of the year.

The other main threat to the economy is political. The presidential election is scheduled for 2015 but name-calling and scheming are well under way. Despite the relative fiscal stability and efforts to reform the power sector, critics of Goodluck Jonathan, the president, complain that he is a weak and ineffective leader who has allowed the country to drift. Many people in northern Nigeria also believe he should be disqualified from running under the informal arrangement that the presidency should rotate between the mostly Muslim north and Christian south.

Efforts to oppose Mr Jonathan are growing. The Congress for Progressive Change and the Action Congress of Nigeria, the main opposition parties, have formed an alliance with two other parties this year. Perhaps even more worrying for Mr Jonathan, who is from the minority Ijaw ethnic group in the Niger delta, is the discord within the ruling People’s Democratic party, which may splinter ahead of the presidential election, analysts say.

Bismarck Rewane, managing director of Financial Derivatives, a Lagos consultancy, feels that the country is entering a period of heightened political risk. “It has got to the point where the big ethnic groups in Nigeria would rather decide together who runs the country than let it be in the hands of some that they believe are mediocre.”

Mr Singhal, though, appears to be unconcerned. As he points out, no matter what happens, Nigerians still have to eat.

This is a difficult place to do business, no doubt about it, and you need someone to hold your hand.

But demographically you cannot go wrong: a huge population and the second-biggest economy in Africa.

‘

Electricity: Jonathan pledges to fix power disconnect In Nigeria, a generator is not just purchased as a back-up for when mains electricity cuts out. It is often the primary source of power. Supply from the grid is so weak and erratic that many large companies don’t even bother connecting.

In May, the total amount of electricity generated in the country fell to 3,520MW. South Africa, Nigeria’s rival for the continent’s largest economy, produces more than 40,000MW, and has only a third of Nigeria’s population. The disparity is even more puzzling in view of Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest oil producer with vast reserves of gas that can power plants.

The chronic power shortage is a fact of life for ordinary Nigerians. It also adds greatly to the cost of business and is a significant disincentive for companies looking to invest.

Successive governments have promised to tackle the problem, spending billions of dollars to little effect.

Goodluck Jonathan, the president, has gone further, staking his legacy on improving the electricity supply through a large privatisation effort.

Though the results may only be seen in a year or two, the process is well under way.

IS government has pushed ahead with the $2.5bn sell-off of 15 stateowned generation and distribution companies, which are all underperforming. In April, the winning consortiums, which include local and foreign companies, paid 25 per cent of the sale or concession price, and should take ownership of the assets later this year.

A further 10 new gas-fired power plants, with a potential capacity of 5,000MW, are being sold. Last month, the government launched a roadshow for investors interested in acquiring majority stakes in the plants, which are part of the National Integrated Power Project initiated by Olusegun Obasanjo, former president, in 2004.

More than $15bn has been spent on the plants but only six are complete – a record that points both to corruption in the public sector and the strength of the vested interests opposed to reform.

H

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

6

NEWS Six-year single term can’t solve our problem, by El-Rufai •’APC ‘ll flash out PDP’ From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

F

ORMER Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister and Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressive Congres (APC), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has said that the six-year single term proposed by the Senate will not solve the nation’s leadership problem.

El-Rufai spoke in Zaria, Kaduna State at the weekend.

According to him, the nonpreparation of president and governors for the offices into which they are elected is responsible for the crisis of leadership.

The former minister said the APC was prepared to unseat the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and correct the ills in the society, pointing out, however, that 2015 was still far away.

He said: “I don’t think 2015 is around the corner. It is two years from now, so, it is not around the corner but APC is capable of kicking the PDP out of power.

The PDP has ruled the country and it has failed to live up to its promises. It has not provided us with basic outlets of security and prosperity.

“So, we believe that in a fair and free election, APC is going to prevail over them and all we are doing now is to come together. When we come together, we will organise ourselves to be sure that we are all over the country and put in place a system to protect our votes because PDP doesn’t win elections.

“They know how to write a result that they want and we have to think of a way to protect our votes. That is what we are working on. I think the impact of APC can be gauged from the performance of the states that are already being controlled by the parties that constitute APC. “You can’t compare the performances of Governors Rauf Aregbesola and Babatunde Fashola (Osun and Lagos) for instance to some of those PDP governors that only know how to get allocations and share. So, we are confident that Nigerians can see the difference between a government and a gang of thieves, and they will vote for us.

“I don’t think six-year single term is feasible in this country. I don’t think there is difference between six-year single term and four-year two terms. I don’t think that is the issue.

“The constitution that we are operating was borrowed from the United States (U.S.) and they did not see any reason to change their constitution to single term. I don’t know why we are changing our own.

“The problem of Nigeria is not the single term or the constitution. It is the quality of people that found themselves in public office. When you are not prepared for a job, you start preparing what to do when you get to the office.

“But if you really prepared, four-year is not enough for you to show that you can perform, and we have a situation where the president and governors get to offices without any plan until they got there.

So, even 20-year single tenure is not enough for them.”

IG: Embargo on firearms licensing T still in force

HE embargo placed on issuance of fresh licenses to the public for the procurement of firearms is still in force, Police Inspector-General Mohammed Abubakar said yesterday.

A statement by the Deputy Force Public Relations officer, Mr. Frank Mba said the embargo was meant to check the proliferation of firearms.

The statement reads: “Consequently, the Nigeria Police Force wishes to state that in furtherance of the subsisting embargo, it has not and does not intend to issue permits to any person, group of persons, organisation or agency of any state government, for the procurement or purpose of bearing firearms.

“In view of the need for

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

public education on the subject matter especially with respect to concerns expressed by many Nigerians over the eligibility and rumoured desire of some groups to bear firearms, the Nigeria Police Force wishes to categorically state that the extant laws guiding the use of firearms explicitly prohibit the bearing of various categories of firearms, without requisite licenses”.

The statement reminded the public of the legal implication of having unlicensed firearms in their possession.

The embargo also affects importation or exportation of firearms and ammunition without the appropriate license.

“While vigilance groups and other sincere community efforts towards safety and security are encouraged to work in partnership with local police authorities, the conduct and practice of such vigilante groups must be in total conformity with the laws of the land.

“Members of the public are advised to be properly guided in respect of the above as the police force is poised to uphold the existing restric-

tion over the use of firearms.

“It is also in that vein that the Force had closed down the armouries of all licensed firearms dealers and kept due surveillance over their activities.

“Government and nongovernment institutions with genuine concerns for the security of their environment are hereby advised to partner the police and other legitimate security agencies for the safety of their environment.

“The Nigeria Police Force will continue to diligently work towards eliminating all threats to internal security and assures Nigerians of its commitment to their wellbeing”, the statement added.

•BIRTHDAY GIRL: Olori Ramat Adeyemi (third left) assisted by her husband, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi to cut her 70th birthday cake in Oyo...at the weekend. With them are Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (second left); his wife, Florence (left) and Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker Monsurat Sunmonu.

T

‘Only Appeal Court can absolve Ogboru of contempt’

J

By Joseph Jibueze

USTICE Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has rejected a plea by former Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) governorship candidate in Delta State, Great Ogboru, to reverse his being held in contempt of the court.

The judge said only the Court of Appeal could do, insisting that Ogboru would remain a contemnor for violating the order he made on January 31.

Abang had on June 24 cited Ogboru and his company, Fiogret Ltd, as contemnors for violating the order obtained by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria over some of Ogboru’s property.

AMCON was empowered to take possession of the properties following their alleged failure to pay back a N200million loan granted them by Ecobank Plc (now Sterling Bank Plc).

Ogboru and others were accused of violating the order by violently breaking into the properties located at 13A Ijora Causeway and Norman Williams Street Ikoyi, both in Lagos.

Abang had said he was unable to imprison Ogboru for violating its orders because AMCON failed to comply with rules of initiating contempt proceedings.

Both AMCON and the defendants had filed terms of settlement, which the court adopted as its judgment on Friday.

While he adopted the agreement for settlement of the debt dispute between the parties, Abang held that the court lacked jurisdiction to discharge its own order.

How tomatoes can create 6.9 million jobs yearly, by CEO

HE tomato industry has the capacity to create 6.9 million jobs per annum if its potentials are harnessed through government’s support and favourable policies, the Chief Executive Officer of Vegefresh Company Ltd, Mr. Samuel Samuel, said yesterday.

The massive unemployment can be tackled if government offers necessary support for the tomato industry in Nigeria, he added.

Samuel explained that the per capital consumption of tomatoes in the country is 0.012 metric tonnes.

With the nation’s estimated 160 million population, this translates to 1.92 million metric tonnes per annum, Samuel

By Sunday Oguntola

said.

This, he said, is based on the assumption that an average family consumes 5kg tomatoes per month.

With the 1.92 million metric tonnes of fresh tomatoes produced in the country and the 72, 000 metric tonnes of processed tomatoes imported, he said the current consumption rate of tomatoes in the country stands at 2.3million metric tonnes per annum.

With a metric tonne of tomatoes capable of creating at least three jobs through the value chain, Samuel said the consumption rate will conveniently generate 6.9 million jobs for the nation’s army of unemployed youths per an-

num.

He said: “These are direct and indirect jobs that can be created every year without fail. As long as people consume tomatoes, these jobs will always be there.”

He, however, said this would only be possible if government supports the industry with incentives and policies that will encourage local production.

Criticizing the current importation of 72,000 metric tonnes to augument local production as damaging, Samuel said the nation loses N11.5 billion to the practice every year.

“This is something we have no business doing at all because we ``have local sufficiency and can even become

local net exporter if we address the issue of waste in the commodity production and processing,” he explained.

The export, Samuel added, will generate another N30billion for the nation.

He appealed to government to fast track businesses processes and engage local investors in the sector.

He claimed that this is cheaper than sourcing for new foreign investors who will require not less than two to three years to build plants before commencement of production.

“What government should do is to identify and support local investors already in the sector. They know the terrains and environment.

“If they have invested in the industry for five years with track records, they should be supported,” Samuel added.

He said such support should focus on increasing local capacity and easing excess charges placed on tomato growers and processors.

In specific terms, Samuel said government should place zero import duty on raw materials such as tin paste, powders and chemicals to boost local production and packaging of processed tomatoes.

He also called for immediate ban on importation of tin tomatoes “because we have the capacity to produce it ourselves.”

ACN condemns ‘unconstitutional’ change of govt in Egypt

T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday described as a blow to democracy last week’s “unconstitutional” change of government in Egypt.

In a statement in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it does not matter how popular the public protests that led the military to make the change was, what happened in Egypt was a coup d’etat which must be condemned.

“Democracy remains the best form of government known to man, and in order to grow it, it must be nurtured.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

But if every time there are protests in a democracy, the military moves in to effect a change of government, then democracy will never grow.

“Democracy has some universal tenets, which include the fact that free and fair election is the only means of getting to power and the only way of losing it. This means that even if people make a wrong choice, they are stuck with it until the next elections, unless in countries where you have a recall mechanism. Some may describe this as a drawback, but there can be no other way if democracy is to be properly

practised,” it said.

ACN said while many Britons and Americans disagreed with their governments over the Iraq war and held several public protests to vent their disappointment, that did not cause the military in both countries to push their democratically-elected governments out of power, as was the case in Egypt.

It also recalled that during former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s illness, the party (ACN) and a number of civil society groups insisted that the constitution must be followed, as many in Yar’Adua’s inner caucus plotted endlessly for

him to hold on to power, even when it became clear that he could no longer function effectively.

The party said while many in Egypt may not like the Muslim Brotherhood or be happy with the government of President Mohammed Morsi, the fact remains that they both won an election that was globally adjudged to be free and fair.

ACN hailed the African Union (AU) for suspending Egypt’s membership of the continental body in the wake of the coup, saying it shows that it (AU) is serious about the adherence to its Constitutive Act, which prohibits an uncon-

• Muhammed

stitutional change of government.

The party also said the Nigerian government did the right thing by promptly condemning the action of the Egyptian military and calling for the immediate restoration of democracy in the North African country.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

7

NEWS

Abiola’s friends supported June 12 annulment, says Opadokun

By Leke Salaudeen and Uyoatta Eshiet

T

HE democratic struggle of the late Bashorun Moshood Abiola, the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, was relived yesterday at his first memorial lecture in Lagos.

The lecture, which was jointly organised by the Centre for Rights and Grassroots Initiative and Niyi Babade Network, was attended by rights activists and students.

At the event were: former National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chieftain, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd); former Aviation Minister, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode; veteran broadcaster, Mr Lekan Ogunbanwo and Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area Chairman, Comrade Ayodele Adewale.

Others include: Keziah Awosika, guest lecturer, Chief Ayo Opadokun; Abiola’s eldest child, Mrs Lola Edewor; Mr Dokun Omisore, Mr Daisi Osho and TV presenter, Ms Aghata Amata.

Opadokun attributed the failure to revalidate Abiola’s victory to those the late business mogul perceived as friends and supporters.

Opadokun said: “In his politics, MKO Abila had a generous mix of the best and the worst in human beings. For example, the likes of the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua believed that Abiola played a prominent role in the series of red cards that former military President Ibrahim Babangida handed down to presidential aspirants, who had attempted to win the tickets of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“He, therefore, gave the cold shoulder to any campaign for the disannulment of Abiola’s victory.

“Again, in Bashorun Abiola’s superficial understanding of the Nigerian political chemistry, he failed to ensure that the new National Executive of the SDP, the platform that won for him the nomination as SDP flag bearer was filled with his own loyalists. As a consequence, the Chief Tony Anenih–led SDP Executive had no shame in easily selling out Abiola’s victory for another charade that Babangida used to formulate his contraption called the Interim National Government (ING).

“If the positively positioned elements of the SDP had controlled the executive of the SDP, chances are that a united SDP would have successfully campaigned against the annulment and would have likely received support and encouragement from both local and international power blocs.”

Fani-Kayode said the questions that Nigerians should be asking those in power are: “Who killed Abiola? Why was he killed?” The former minister urged President Goodluck Jonathan to ask former Head of State, Gen. AbdulSalami Abubakar, to provide answers to the questions, since it was in his custody that Abiola died in a mysterious circumstance.

Fani-Kayode noted that those who were responsible for the annulment of June 12 presidential election are still in the corridor of power or have planted their surrogates there.

‘Tinubu is dogged fighter, leader A of good causes’

RCHBISHOP Magnus Atilade of the Anglican Diocese and President of the Christian Welfare Initiative (CWI), has said former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a dogged fighter and a champion of good causes.

“Tinubu is fighting for all Nigerians and we need more people like him in this country,” he said.

The cleric spoke in Lagos during a condolence visit to the frontline politician, on the death of his mother, Alhaja Abibat Asabi Mogaji.

Leading a team of clerics and members of the CWI, the

archbishop asked if Nigeria was cursed, going by the level of poverty and government wastes across the land.

“Is Nigeria under a curse?

No. But we need good leadership to deliver us,” Atilade said.

The cleric noted that Tinubu is a good example of those with the right pedigree for good leadership.

To Tinubu he said: “You have people who can stand behind you at all times.”

Atilade described the late Alhaja Mogaji as a righteous woman who never discriminated against any religion or tribe.

Quoting from the Bible, he said of the late Alhaja Mogaji: “The memory of the righteous is everlasting.”

Atilade said the late Iyaloja-General was a mobiliser par excellence, a great woman who touched the lives of several people and played a pivotal role in what became

the successful campaign of the Primary Health Programme in Nigeria.

He said: “Mama had a heart of passion and compassion.

She shared the burdens of others and showed kindness in attitude, words and deeds.

Alhaja Mogaji was her brother’s and sister’s keeper and a staunch supporter of what was just.”

The cleric added that the late businesswoman treated all as family, though a disciplinarian.

He congratulated Tinubu for having such an illustrious mother.

Lawyer urges Fed Govt to assist bereaved families of NANS executive

T

HE National Legal Adviser to the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ohazuruike Toochukwu, has urged the Federal Government to assist the families of the late National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) executives, who died in a car accident last month.

Five NANS executives died at Ariam, Ikuano Local Government Area of Abia State, when the bus they and five others were travelling in was crushed by a trailer.

They were said to be going to the University of Uyo (UN-

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

IUYO) to intervene in a crisis that erupted in the institution.

The lawyer condemned what he called the indifferent attitude of various levels of the government, the authorities of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), the University of Uyo and the Trans-Tabansi Motors, the owners of the trailer, to the plight of the families of the dead students.

Ohazuruike, who is also the legal adviser to the Senate secretariat of NANS, described as inhuman the lackadaisical at-

titude of the Imo State Government and the federal agency that allegedly authorised the students’ journey, which led to their death.

He also regretted that visiting the victims at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, the Abia State capital, the Minister of Education, Prof Ruquyyatu Rufa’i, has not fulfilled her promise.

Ohazuruike said: “It is shocking that four of them have been buried without even a condolence message or a representative from the relevant quarters to the bereaved families.”

According to him, of the five survivors, one is at the Intensive Care Unit of the FMC in Umuahia, after being in coma for days; one lost six of his teeth and the other had a battered scrotum.

The lawyer said all the victims had been settling their medical bills without any financial support from anybody, thereby leading to the deterioration of their condition.

“The fact that five of them are dead does not mean that they should be forgotten. This is because they died while on an active service,” he added.

•From left: Mr. Charles Emetulu, Delta State Commissioner for Power and Energy; his Commerce and Industry counterpart, Dr Kingsley Emu and Mr. Andre Dehmel, General Manager, Philips Lighting, Africa, during Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s meeting with the company in Abuja.

T

Nigeria targets 4,000MW from coal

HE Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, at the weekend inaugurated a committee to develop a framework for coal as a means for generating power.

The minister said the utilisation of coal for power would fetch Nigeria an excess of 4,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

He said the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development was conducting explorations in the Nigerian coal belt to identify and quantify the feasibility and viability of the coal sills in the country.

Nebo said: “Nigeria is blessed with an abundant array of deposits of coal spread in 13

•Minister inaugurates committee on power framework From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

states of the federation. Significant and commercial quantities are evident in the belt spanning Enugu, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Gombe states. Nigeria’s proven coal reserve is about 639 million tonnes and inferred reserves are in the region of 2.75 billion tonnes.

“This shows you how important it is that a good work of exploration to quantify these coal sills is done. “The Federal Ministry of Power and the Federal Ministry of Steel are working together to

ensure that not only is coal mined from our coal deposits but that our coal is also converted to power. When that is done, it is most likely that this coal belt, when utilised, can give us in excess of additional 4,000 MW of electricity.”

The minister also said Nigeria’s generation mix consists of 70 per cent thermal plants and 30 per cent hydropower.

Thermal plants, he explained, are based on natural gas as fuel.

Rolling out the world average generation mix, Nebo said

coal contributes 41 per cent; gas, 21 per cent; hydro, 16 per cent; nuclear, 13 per cent and oil, five per cent In his analysis of the contribution of coal to power, the minister said coal contributes 93 per cent to South Africa’s power generation.

He noted that China generates 79 per cent of its power from coal while it is 87 per cent in Poland.

According to him, Australia and the United States generate 78 per cent and 45 per cent of their electricity from power.

Nobody can intimidate me, says Ekweremadu From Chris Oji, Enugu

DEPUTY Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has said nobody can intimidate him from performing his constitutional duties.

The senator spoke at the weekend during this year’s grand finale of the Ikeoha Foundation Annual Secondary Schools Quiz Competition at Holy Rosary College, Awgu, Enugu.

He said: “A representative, either in the House of Assembly, a councillor, a senator or anywhere, speaks for his people. In doing so, sometimes you run into trouble; sometimes, you get misunderstood. “...Nobody will stop me from representing my people qualitatively and putting across their views. Everything I say in defence of their right, I stand by it.”

Obasanjo, CJN, others for Afe Babalola’s 50th anniversary From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

IBADAN, the Oyo state capital, will today host eminent members of the Bar and Bench as a legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) celebrates 50 years of legal practice.

Among those expected at the event are the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN) Justice Aloma Mukhtar, captains of industry, lawyers, judges, royal fathers and politicians.

The Chairman of the planning committee, Mr Oluwasina Ogungbade, yesterday told reporters in Ibadan why a group of lawyers in the Afe Babalola’s law firm, called Emmanuelites, are honouring the legal icon.

The two-day event, which will be attended by governors from across the federation, begins today at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

A football match between the Ado-Ekiti branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and their Ibadan counterpart will hold today. A lecture and book presentations will hold at the Afe Babalola Bar Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, tomorrow.

22-year-old Law graduate wins MBGN pageant EZINNE Akuda, a 22-year-old Law graduate, at the weekend beat 32 other contestants to win the coveted Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) beauty pageant.

The event was held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday night.

The Abia State indigene went home with the star prize of a new car, a trip to California, United States, and N3 million.

Miss Akudo will represent Nigeria at the Miss World pageant on September 28 at Sentul International Convention Centre, Sentul, Indonesia.

After a series of competitions, 10 beautiful ladies scaled through the Abuja zonal screening and headed to Lagos for the final selection, where Miss Akubo emerged.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

8

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

Robbers kill hotelier, five others, T set two ablaze

• Lagos Police Chief Umar Manko

H

HE owner of popular 04 Hotels in Ajah, a suburb of Lagos, was yesterday killed by suspected armed robbers.

It was gathered that five other servants at the hotel were also killed while two others were set ablaze.

Unconfirmed reports said the hotelier’s wife was also shot. The Nation also learnt that vehicles and other valuables in the hotel were also set ablaze by the robbers, while two persons sustained gunshot injuries.

They were taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

It was learnt that the bandits stormed the hotel around 3am and operated for over two hours, killing its owner identified as Olanrewaju.

A source told The Nation: "The gunmen came for Olanrewaju but ended up shooting others in the

process. They killed his girlfriend who was with him and two others. They then shot at two others, but those ones did not die.

"The shootings sparked fire and two customers, who were in another room, were burnt to death.

The fire continued to rage, so we had no choice but to call on the fire service."

A police source said: "A notorious armed robber was arrested at the same hotel sometime ago. We are working on the assumption that members of his gang came on a revenge mission. The robbers probably wanted to make an impression. We will get them."

I'm ruined, says ex-convict

IS head dropped pitiably in agony as he fought back tears. He shook his head in self-pity. His purple shirt, worn-out trousers and a pair of patched sandals spoke volumes for one fact: life had been too unfair to him.

Ex-convict Sunday Oladapo, 52, told The Nation at his Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos home, yesterday.

"Life has been so bitter for me since I came out of prison. I have been unable to make ends meet. I learnt carpentry before I was arrested and that is the only trade I can return to, but I am hampered by lack of equipment and finances," he said.

His life came crashing in 1982 when he was arrested for alleged armed robbery. Though he denied never committing the crime, he was sentenced to death in 1984.

"I didn't commit the crime; I was never a robber, but I used to sell

By Seun Akioye

Marijuana. Members of a vigilance group killed a suspect and I was roped in as a robber. I maintained my innocence throughout the court trial, but I was sentenced to death eventually," Oladapo said.

He added: "I was selling drugs.

That night, a customer came to my house. I didn't know he was a robber and that members of the vigilance group was after him. He stayed in my house and the vigilance people caught him there.

They took him out and executed him. Then, some people were saying they had better dealt with me or I would implicate them. That was how they accused me of armed robbery and arrested me."

He spent 19 years on death row after which his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment

Wooden bridge sparks controversy

T

HE rumour that a wooden bridge built to link the Igando community with Ayobo community in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State has collapsed is baseless, a Lagos-based firm handling the project, Road Link Ventures Ltd, has said.

There has been outrage by a section of the community over the state of the bridge which was built over eight years ago. Some residents had complained that the bridge was no longer passable because of its failed section.

But the firm's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Oladipo Omojolowo, explained: "The bridge was built to alleviate the sufferings of people living in both communities and it was originally planned as a single two-lane bridge to accommodate pedestrians, vehicles, motorcycles and tricycles".

"A few months ago, we decided to expand the bridge into two lanes, but the work has been slow because of shortage of materials. The wood used for the construction are sourced from the riverine communities of Ondo State and suppliers have not been

By Kunle Akinrinade

able to meet up with our request.

However, motorists are still plying the single lane without any problem.

The public should disregard the report because it is nothing but a tissue of lies concocted by unscrupulous elements to run our company down."

He said his firm had been proactive in the maintenance of the bridge since it was built eight years ago.

"Any moment we noticed failure of a section of the bridge, it is usually fixed within 24 hours, while there is constant security patrol by policemen on the bridge to safeguard lives and property."

A motorist, Akin Oladoye, said: "The report that the bridge had collapsed was exaggerated. As you can see for yourself, the single lane is okay while work is ongoing on the second lane. I take this route everyday and I have not witnessed any accident at all. I can only appeal to the promoters of the bridge to expedite work on the second lane so as to stave off traffic snarls, especially in the morning."

Traders back new Iyaloja-General

A

By Jude Isiguzo, Police Affairs Correspondent

group of traders in Lagos State have expressed support for Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo as the new President-General of Lagos Market Men and Women.

The traders, led by Mrs Kuburat Asabi Badmus, a board member of the committee set up by the late Abibat Mogaji to oversee markets in the state, said the decision to appoint Mrs Tinubu-Ojo was jointly made by all stakeholders in Lagos markets.

They said the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had no hand in the matter.

Mrs Badmus, also the market leader in the Surulere area, said contrary to the rumour that Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo was forced on them by her father, her choice was an agreement reached with the late Abibatu Mogaji, by stakeholders.

"Those raising eyebrows over the choice of Folasade don’t know how we operate as a group. They do not know what is happening in the markets all over the state. My people and I, in our thousands, are fully behind Folashade's choice and we shall muster all resources at our disposal to make her succeed in her duties," Mrs Badmus said.

with the intervention of former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In 2009, Governor Babatunde Fashola granted him pardon and he was released from prison. In total, he spent 27 productive years of his life behind bars for a crime he claimed innocence of.

But the ordeal has shattered his life. His wife absconded with his three-year-old son and three-month pregnancy, while his father's properties were looted and stolen.

"Till now, I have not been able to locate my family. I don't know if my wife was delivered of the pregnancy or not," he said, adding: "I thank Governor Fashola for releasing me, but since I came out, I have experienced untold hardship.

People don't want to help you immediately they hear that you are an ex-convict. I am living in the house of Bishop Kayode Williams who has been kind to me; but for how long will I go on like this?"

Since his release, Oladapo has been on menial jobs. "In a very good month, I make about N10,000, but on the average, I make N5,000. You see; that is not enough to sustain me," he lamented.

He expressed his willingness to

‘A notorious armed robber was arrested at the same hotel sometime ago.

We are working on the assumption that it was his gang that came for a revenge mission’ Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, who confirmed the incident, said she was still gathering facts about the matter.

She, however, confirmed that the owner of the hotel was killed, but

• Oladapo

work if he has equipment. He currently needs N45, 000 to rent a room and some money to re-establish his carpentry work. "I am ready if kind-hearted people can help me establish my business. I have lost the productive years of my life, but I can still do something useful. I am appealing to Nigerians to help me restore the years I have lost," Oladapo said.

Gains of tree planting, beautification, by consultant

T

HE Coordinating Consultant to the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), Mrs Titi Anibaba, has said that the state's beautification and tree planting projects had helped in reducing the security challenges.

Speaking in preparation for this year’s tree planting campaign billed for Sunday, Mrs Anibaba said open spaces, loops and under-bridges hitherto occupied by hoodlums had been turned into modern parks and gardens.

Saying that the exercise had attracted visitors to the state, she noted that trees purify the air, reduce effects of noise and flooding, and enhance the value of property.

Mrs Anibaba added: "We have planted 4.3million trees in six years, while we hope to reach the 10 million mark in the next five years.

Nigerians have bought into the campaign as they seen the benefits of trees; hence, the campain has spread to other states such as Osun and Ogun."

She also said the private sector had embraced the programme.

She said LASPARK is an institutional framework created for the sustenance of the project. She urged Lagosians to join this year's campaign with the theme: Green is Peace, which she said, is billed for

the different locations in the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas across the state.

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, she said, would lead the campaign at the Total Filling Station, Onipetesi, Agege, while he will be represented at four other ceremonial venues - Ojodu Motor Park, Iponri-Costain, Igbobi Orthopeadic Hospital and Oworonshoki Playground.

• Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello

was not yet aware of any other casualty. Braide added: "The Area Commander got a distress call and quickly swung into action. He raced down to the scene with his men. The robbers saw them and opened fire, while attempting to escape. The police chased the robbers and there was an exchange of gun fire. One of the robbers was killed and an AK47 rifle was recovered from him.

"It was after the policemen reached the hotel that they discovered that the owner of the hotel had been killed. People in the hotel told policemen that the robbers shot and killed the hotel owner because they believed he was the person who gave information to SARS men which led to the arrest of their leader. They were on a revenge mission,” the source said.

UNICEF, Unilever support the needy THE Unilever Foundation is in partnership with UNICEF and other global organisations in 50 countries to improve people’s well-being for sustainable future.

Speaking on the foundation’s programmes, the Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr Thabo Mabe, said in the the past two years, the it had committed its resources towards improving quality of people's lives through the provision of hygiene, sanitation, water, basic nutrition and enhancement of their self-esteem.

He said: "Unilever Foundation is the arrow-head of our initiatives at meeting our ambitious target of helping more than one billion people globally, to improve their health and well-being, thereby creating a sustainable future which is an important commitment of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP).

"Unilever is involved in these because we want to ensure a sustainable future for this generation and others to come. Also it is in our DNA to contribute our quota to finding solutions to social issues. This dates back to the days of the founding fathers of the business. It is a culture in Unilever."

Thabo said the partnerships was already yielding results globally, adding that by the end of this year, the Foundation's collaboration with UNICEF would have taken 600,000 people away from the practice of open defecation in nine countries in Africa, Asia and Central America.

Hepatitis: Experts warn residents

By Paul Oluwakoya

SIX out of 10 Nigerians suffer from hepatitis disease, a leading cause of death in Africa, experts have said.

According to the Regional Director, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA), Care for Hepatitis, Dr. Vivian Mendonca, Hepatitis C is the 10th leading cause of death among infectious diseases across the world.

He spoke at a media parley on Hepatitis in Africa, organised by Care for Hepatitis, an advocacy group.

He said: "Nearly two-thirds of the world population have contact with the virus, while about 20 per cent is infected, with many unaware of it."

Mendonca said people must go for medical checks to know their hepatitis status to arrest its spread.

He said people with the disease don't feel the symptoms until a larger part of their liver has been damaged.

"In fact, gastroenterologists say, by the time the symptoms of Hepatitis C infection begin to manifest in an individual, it is almost always too late for doctors to help," he added Professor Jesse Otegbayo, a consultant physician at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, said that Hepatitis C was common in Nigeria. He said screening centres were few, while cost of test is outrageous.

He urged government to encourage conduct of tests for the virus to prevent mother-to-child infection, which can happen at birth.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

'I want to be world's richest man'

Woman, brother kill mother

T

HE seat of the Chairman, Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, seemed perfectly made for 15year-old Afolarin Juwon Boadley, winner of this year’s Spelling Bee competition who acted as one-day chairman of the council. It was on July 4.

It was an inspiring spectacle when the council's executive members took their seats around him to start the day's business of governance.

The Spelling Bee competition was the initiative of the former First Lady of the state, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Since its inauguration, winners of the competition which yearly holds among schools in the state, had been acting as ceremonial governor for a day.

The council's chairman, Julius Oloro, who vacated his office for the day, said: "I feel on top of the world; this is unprecedented in the history of our council. We produced the one-day governor and also one of our students won the second prize."

The council chief believes the achievement is a testimony to the investments the council has made in education. "We are happy that our efforts are yielding fruits. We have invested in our schools; we built a new

9

• Boadley (centre) commissioning a road project, assisted by the council’s Vice Chairman, Abiodun Ayileka... at the event

By Seun Akioye

school and we are renovating many others. We know this is the result of our efforts on both the pupils and teachers," Oloro said.

Boadley, a Senior Secondary (SS2) student of Omole Grammar School had a busy day attending to council affairs. In the morning, he met with the staff and principal officers at the council before he went in for the Council Executive meeting.

There were talks about how many cheques he signed and if they are valid. After the session, Boadley told reporters with a smile: "I am sorry; I cannot divulge council decisions to you."

The "chairman" then proceeded to the council's legislative arm, accompanied by his retinue of aides, including a police orderly, some members of the neighborhood watch, a council body guard and a host

of other workers. At the legislative chambers, a session was convened in his honour led by the Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Bello. After the introductions, Bello welcomed the "chairman" and explained developments to him.

Then, a note was slipped into his hands by one of his aides, which he read out, thanking them for the honour. He urged the House to implement people-oriented policies, ending with the catch-phrase, "Ojodu koni baje o."

Next was a town hall meeting that had been organised, where Oloro's political associates heaped accolades on Boadley. He waved at some praise-singing women, took a few dance steps before taking his seat.

The ceremonial vice-chairman was the second prize winner of the competition. She is Olayinka Ogunenika, 10, a Primary Six student of Estate Pri-

mary School, Oke-Ira. Like Boadley, she appeared prepared. She danced and waved at well-wishers.

The "chairman" commissioned some projects, including a new 150 KVA generator; a new 18-seater revenue bus and the newly rehabilitated Alhaja Adebimpe and Anipupo streets at Oke-Ira. At his school, a grand reception was held in his honour. Pupils trooped out. Boadley and his entourage then proceeded to Oloro's home, for a party.

The excited "vice-chairman" said it was the best moment of her life.

Boadley, who commended Oloro for his performance, added: "I want to become a physicist and the world's richest man."

He will have the opportunity of acting the one-day governor of the state, and travel to Finland with his teacher for an exchange programme.

A middle-aged woman in Lampese Edo/Kogi State boundary, has allegedly lured her mother, Mrs Itowo Ojeifo, to a farm and macheted her to death. Her younger brother was said to have joined her in the heinous act.

The woman, simply identified as Agaga, it was learnt, had been at loggerheads with her mother for being behind her "inability to progress in life."

She was said to have on several occasions, accused her mother of bewitching her, thus retarding her socio-economic progress.

But she was said to have apologised to her mother a few days to the incident, pleading for forgiveness because she was misled into believing that her mother was responsible for her misfortune.

However, on the fateful day, the suspect was said to have appealed to her mother to accompany her somewhere, unknown to the woman that she

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

and her younger brother was plotting to kill her.

She was said to have been led through a bush path to the farm and midway, her brother brought out the machete and "started cutting their mother."

An eye witness was said to have rushed down to report to residents, but before they got to the scene, the woman had been killed.

The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Eguavoen, said the incident happened on July 3 and that it was the former husband of the victim, Mr Sunday Itowo, who reported the incident to the police.

He said the victims ran to Uzebba in Owan West Council area, but the police arrested them. "The case will soon be transferred to the state command for further investigation," he said.

Yoruba in Diaspora mourn Mogaji THE Yoruba Community in the Diaspora, Republic of Benin chapter, has extolled the virtues of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the departed mother of former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu It said Alhaja Mogaji's heroic role in her lifetime, ranks her among world's amazons such as Mary Slessor, Margaret Tatcher, Queen Elizabeth, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti and Madam Tuxord, among others.

The message was contained in a condolence letter signed by the association's Grand Patron, Prof Ayeni Reuben Oyebode, and made available to The Na-

By Adegunle Olugbamila

tion.

Prof Oyebode, also the ViceChancellor of Littoral University (Institute Des Etudes Professionnelles Superieures (ILEPS), Porto-Novo Benin Republic, described the late Mogaji as a woman whom, aside being loved by all, also 'lived a life devoid of self-aggrandizement.'

"Though Iyaloja-General Abibatu Mogaji is gone, she will be greatly missed not only by his son, the erudite former governor, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, but by all. Her works stand for her even after her death. “

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

10

NEWS

Agency urges Ekiti lecturers to pay new tax

Activist to Ondo REC: resign now

A

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

KURE lawyer and human rights activist Titiloye Charles, at the weekend, urged the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, to resign following the indictment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure.

The electoral body was accused of injecting 100,725 names into the 2012 voter register.

The Appeal Court ruled that the 2011 voter register contained 1,553,580 voters and the 2012 voter register contained 1,654,205 voters. The difference of 100,725 injected names was referred to by the Court of Appeal as “the undisputed figure, which is the benchmark.”

Charles noted that the Court of appeal indicted and admonished INEC twice in the judgment, first for lack of transparency and compliance with the Electoral Act, which mandated the display of the voter register for public scrutiny for objection to be raised or filed.

“Second, the Court of Appeal held when reviewing INEC’s compliance with the Electoral Act in its compilation of the 2012 voter register that “the National Assembly, through the Electoral Act, has not given INEC free hand or power to conduct elections anyhow or in any arbitrary and capricious manner.

“All powers vested in INEC to conduct elections, including compilation of voter register, are circumscribed and must be exercised in compliance with the Electoral Act.” Charles noted that the indictment of INEC by the Court of Appeal was most appropriate in view of the Ondo REC assurances at the stakeholders’ meeting held by INEC before the election to “clean- up” the voter register of multiple registrations only to make the voter register “dirtier” by injecting illegal voters in the 2012 voter register.

The lawyer said if it were in a mature democracy, Orebiyi ought to have resigned and be prosecuted by the government based on the findings of the Court of Appeal.

He said Prof. Attahiru Jega and INEC authority must act to clean up the commission.

Charles also enjoined Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who allegedly benefited from the controversial election, to act as a democrat and submit himself for a fresh election to be conducted with an uncompromised voter register.

ACN chieftain urges part-time legislature

A

By Emmanuel Oladesu

N Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, has advocated part-time legislature at the federal and state levels, saying it is cost-effective. The former member of the House of Representatives said it would encourage professionals to participate in politics.

Olusi spoke in Lagos at the media parley organised by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who represents Lagos Central in the Senate.

He said: “We need to return to part-time legislature. We have monetised everything. The desire of the people is to acquire wealth. During the colonial era, there was a Legislative Council.

It was on a part-time basis. In the First Republic, the House of Representatives was also on a part-time basis.

“In the 50s, we had councillors-Adeniran Ogunsanya, Macween, they were part-time politicians. I was a part-time councillor. I was working with an oil company. I served as a councillor on a parttime basis.”

The politician alleged that absenteeism is rampant among the legislators, saying full-time legislators are not more effective than part-time lawmakers.

He said if the part-time parliamentary method is restored, it would allow professionals, including lawyers, architects, town planners and others to serve the country.

•Governor Fayemi HE Joint Tax Board (JTB) has written to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti branch, urging them to comply with the new tax regime.

The leadership of ASUU, EKSU chapter, had threatened to embark on a strike to protest against what it termed “unduly high taxes.”

It accused the state government of imposing high taxes on them.

However, the JTB, in a letter dated July 2, 2013 copied to the EKSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

T

Oladipo Aina, said the new tax regime followed the Personal Income Tax (Amendment) 2011 signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The letter marked JTB/GC/ 27/VOL.6/31, signed by the JTB Secretary, M.L. Abubakar, said the provisions of the act did not make any provision for tax waivers or concessions for any sector of the economy.

It absolved the state of any blame over the increase in taxes payable by workers, stressing that workers in the states pay a uniform tax under the new tax law put in place by the Federal Government.

The letter reads: “The Personal Income Tax (Amendment) Act 2011 was assented to

by President Jonathan in 2011 and its implementation has begun across the country.

“We wish to notify you that all sectors of the economy are complying, using the new provisions of the law to pay taxes

accurately. It is pertinent to clarify that the sixth schedule to the Personal Income Tax (Amendment) Act 2011 duly states the relief granted tax payers.

“Following the above, there is no provision in the act for tax waivers or concession for any sector of the economy, as tax payers are expected to pay their taxes promptly and accurately.

“However, government employees seeking assistance can approach their state governments for approval of allowance or any form of palliative, but not a reduction in their tax liabilities.”

The Ekiti State Government has said it is not responsible for tax regulation, emphasising that tax is a Federal Government responsibility.

The Chairman, State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr. Ishola Akingbade, said: “States have no control over tax, which is

on the federal list, as they are affected by the new tax law.

This is fixed by an act of the National Assembly and it is uniform nationwide. No state of the federation or establishment can alter it.”

He added that what the state is doing is to ensure that the right taxes are paid in line with the tax law.

According to him, taxes payable by EKSU lecturers are not different from what their colleagues in other universities are paying.

Section 182 (2) of the Personal Income Tax ( Amendment) Act 2011 empowers the Accountant- General of the Federation to deduct directly from the budgetary allocation of any Ministry, Department or Agency (MDA) any withheld and un-remitted taxes, and transfer such deduction to the beneficiary state government upon written request by such a state government.

Court hears suit by sacked Ondo workers today

A

NATIONAL Industrial Court sitting in Akure will today begin hearing in a suit filed by the sacked workers of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO), Owo, Ondo State challenging the institution’s management and the state government for their dismissal.

The workers, comprising 10 lecturers and 22 non-teaching staff were sacked early this year.

Leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) were among the 32 affected workers.

The reason given by the management for the sack was that the institution needed to be re-organised.

A screening exercise was conducted for the workers before they were sacked.

They claimed that they were laid off without genuine reasons, adding that they commit-

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

ted no offence.

In a suit filed by their counsel, Femi Falana Chambers, it said its clients’ purported removal was illegal, null and void.

It urged the court to set aside

a circular with reference No: AD/116/Vol./VI/305, dated January 2, 2013, which was served on the affected workers as sacked letters.

It also sought the reinstatement of its clients and payment of their outstanding salaries and allowances withheld since

January.

Femi Falana Chambers prayed the court to order a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from interfering with its clients’ duties or employment in the polytechnic on the basis of the sacked circular.

Tinubu a model of leadership, democracy, says Aregbesola •Asiwaju Grassroots Foundation launched in Lagos

By Emmanuel Oladesu

•Aregbesola

O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday described the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,

as a model democrat and a leader bubbling with progressive vision and ideas.

Describing the former Lagos State governor as a special gift “to this generation”, he hailed the move by the younger generation to sustain his legacies by forming the Asiwaju Grassroots Foundation.

Aregbesola urged members of the organisation to emulate the great leader.

He spoke at the launch of the

organisation at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos where the House of Representatives Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, enjoined Nigerians to defend democracy and the rule of law.

Members of the association from the 36 states came to Lagos in their green uniform, singing progressive songs. The event was witnessed by the Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi, who represented Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), House of Representatives member, Alhaji Yakubu Balogun, who represented Gbajabiamila, Remi Adeyemi, who represented Lagos State Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Alhaji Lateef Raji and Mr. Abiodun Ilori, who stood in for the Provost of Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Prof. Olu Akewusola.

At the ceremony, a leadership award was presented to Fashola by the organisation.

Ojelabi thanked the members for the honour, assuring that the governor would not relent in his developmental programmes.

Aregbesola, who enjoined political leaders to defend democracy, noted that Tinubu has been leading the way in the pursuit of good governance and development.

He advised youths to emulate his courage, push for progressive change and defence of the common good.

Raji echoed Aregbesola, saying Tinubu is a political warrior and a courageous leader.

He said his activities in the Southwest led to the enthronement of the progressive governors, who are implementing people-oriented programmes in the geo-political zone.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

11

NEWS Ekiti Deputy Governor urges pupils to reverse brain drain

E

KITI State Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu has urged secondary school pupils to reverse the brain drain.

Prof. Adelabu, who spoke as a special guest of honour at the 21 st Valedictory Service/ Speech & Prize-Giving Day of Chrisland College, Idimu, Lagos, said youths hold the key to Nigeria’s future.

She said: “The country needs intervention and students are the future of the nation. We need leaders, who can shape and reshape Nigeria.”

The Deputy Governor said the country would become a better place to live and a pride of all once everybody does his best.

She enjoined the graduating pupils to use what they have learnt at Chrisland College as agents of change.

Prof. Adelabu said the school’s proprietress, Dr. W.A.

Awosika, had played her part with the establishment of a foremost private secondary school.

She went on: “The all-round education you have acquired at Chrisland is the tool you need to pursue your ambition in life. Education is the most powerful weapon needed to transform the world in general and Nigeria in particular.

But charity must begin at home. No more brain drain but brain gain.”

The Ekiti Deputy Governor hailed the courage of Dr. Awosika in persevering her dream of positioning Chrisland as one of the foremost private schools in the country.

Dr. Awosika thanked Prof. Adelabu for honouring the invitation. She prayed for the success of the graduating pupils in their future endeavours.

•From left: Chairman, Chrisland Education Organisation, Dr. Awosika; Special Guest of Honour, Prof. Adelabu; Guest Speaker, Prof Oyelowo Oyewo; and Managing Director, Chrisland Education Organisation, Mrs. Ronke Adeyemi, during Chrisland College’s 21st Valedictory Service/Speech and Prize Giving Day at Idimu, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

Supreme Court okays ex-Ondo council chair’s trial T

HE Supreme Court has upheld the trial of a former local government chairman in Ondo State, Mr. Dele Fagoriola, on allegation of abuse of office.

The apex court, in a judgment read at the weekend by Justice Muhammed Saifulla Muntaka-Coomassie, dismissed his appeal for lacking in merit.

The court also ordered that the case be returned to the High Court, Akure for continuation of trial.

Fagoriola, the Chairman, Akure North Local Government, was accused of corrupt enrichment and abuse of office by allegedly allocating funds to himself and his wife (who was not a worker of the local government) on spurious grounds.

He was alleged to have, on

A

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

various occasions, allocated money to himself and his wife for foreign conferences and workshops, which they did not attend. The prosecution also alleged that in some instances, some of the seminars never existed.

He was arraigned before the High Court in 2006 by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

At the completion of the prosecution’s case, Fagoriola made a no-case submission, which was dismissed by the court. It ordered him to enter

defence.

In dismissing Fagoriola’s no-case submission, the judge found from the evidence led by the prosecution that the Fagoriola got money for conferences not attended and that funds were paid for conferences that did not hold.

Rather than open his defence as ordered by the court, Fagoriola appealed to the Court of Appeal, Benin. The Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the trial court and dismissed his appeal, prompting his appeal to the Supreme Court.

Dismissing Fagoriola’s appeal, Justice MuntakaCoomassie held that “the lower

court (Court of Appeal) was right in upholding the decision of the trial court.

“In the final analysis, this appeal lacks merit and it is hereby dismissed.”

He said a case that began in 2006 has been delayed for about eight years, a period sufficient for it to be concluded on merit.

Justice Muntaka-Coomassie ordered that the case be returned to the trial court where Fagoriola should be made to enter defence.

Justices Mahmud Mohammed, Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, Mary Ukaego PeterOdili and Olukayode Ariwoola, who were on the panel that heard the appeal, also agreed with the lead decision.

Court frees man accused of rape

27-YEAR-OLD tailor in Akure, who abducted, defiled and impregnated a 15-year-old girl, was at the weekend freed by a magistrate’s court sitting in the Ondo State capital after agreeing to marry the girl.

Mr. Adeduro Ayodeji, popularly called Ade the Tailor, was said to have abducted, defiled and impregnated the 15-yearold after her mother sent her to him to collect money.

The girl said: “When my mummy sent me to him to collect money, he slept with me. I later missed my period.”

The accused was first arraigned on June 18 and police

T

•Dismisses appeal

•After agreeing to marry 15-year-old victim

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

prosecutor Inspector Zakari Ibrahim told the court that the offence was committed on April 14 at about 4pm at 15, Ifesowopo Street, Ondo Road, Akure.

According to the charge sheet, the offence contravenes Section 361 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37 Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

The victim’s father, Mr. Michael Adikwu, a farmer, petitioned the Area Commander, Akure that his daughter absconded from home and efforts

to find her proved abortive.

“It was last week I discovered that it was Ade the Tailor, who abducted her, stopped her from going to school and kept her in his home.

“Attempts to secure my daughter’s release have not been successful. He has threatened me and my family with cutlass and thugs,” he said in the petition.

Although the suspect was granted bail on the first day of arraignment, the case, however, took a new dimension when the prosecutor told the court at the week-

end that the victim’s father had written a letter to withdraw the case.

In the letter dated July 5, the girl’s father, who came to the court with his daughter, said he was no longer interested in the case because the accused had agreed to ‘marry’ his daughter.

“The reason for withdrawing is that the families of the accused have begged me and promised to take care of my daughter,” he wrote.

Magistrate Johnson Adelegan struck out the case.

Police arrest vigilance men for ‘killing two’

HE police yesterday in Abeokuta arrested members of the Vigilance Service of Ogun State (VSO) for allegedly killing two persons, Akeem Usman (32) and Raji Moruf (29) on the assumption that they were robbery suspects.

The Nation learnt that the VSO team received a distress call by residents that suspicious persons were sighted around Sorinola Avenue in Abeokuta and upon arriving, they shot the victims, who were returning from Lagos.

The Commander of the Vigilance Service in the state, Maj. Femi Bisiriyu (rtd), who described the killing as resulting from mistaken identity, said his men responded to a distress call.

Said he: “The area is known to be volatile and has become the target of attacks. So when a distress call was received, our men raced to the place.”

According to him, a VSO officer opened fired in self-defence upon sighting one of the deceased holding a gun-like object when attempting to open a gate.

A survivor, Mr. Abayomi Awoyejo (30), an advertisement agent, told reporters that the VSO struck about midnight yesterday.

He said: “We had no inkling of this calamity befalling us when we were leaving Lagos for Abeokuta. We wanted to come last week but embarked on the trip yesterday.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

“I was playing my palm-top CD in the sitting room when I dozed off. About 12 midnight, Lateef woke me up and alerted me to the presence of robbers.

“We panicked and rushed to get the key to lock the door, but we could not locate the bunch of keys. We eventually found the key and attempted to open the gate.

“Wasiu, Moruf and Lateef were about to open the gate when we noticed the shadow of somebody. Before those wanting to open the gate could do so, a bullet fired by someone in a nearby building hit Moruf.

“He, (Moruf) ran back shouting for help, lamenting that he had been hit by a bullet. We provided first aid treatment by tying the affected arm. We later called our relations on the phone.

“When we were making the calls, the VSO men entered our sitting room. We shouted that we were not armed robbers. But they did not listen, they molested us.

“One of us, who challenged them, was hit with the butt of a gun. There was confusion when one of them shot Akeem at a close range on the thigh and he became speechless.”

PDP has no respect for truth, says Oyo ACN

•Ajimobi

T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Oyo State chapter, has slammed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for what it called its disrespect for the truth.

ACN said this in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Dauda Kolawole, when reacting to a PDP statement, which deplored Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s absence at the launch of the LagosIbadan Expressway reconstruction.

“We ordinarily would not react to a piece of conjectural politicking as this. But we are forced to, for the sake of clarification, so that ordinary Nigerians would not be misled,” the party said.

According to the ACN, it was unthinkable that the PDP would claim not to know that Governor Ajimobi was outside the country on an official duty.

“Virtually all Nigerians

know that Governor Ajimobi was not in the country as he left for the UK to attend a Direct Investment Summit holding in London, United Kingdom. It was announced before his departure. The summit, organised by the Nigerian High Commissioner in the United Kingdom (UK), showcased the investment opportunities in the state to UK investors.

“Governor Ajimobi could thus not attend the launch but because of the respect he has for President Goodluck Jonathan, his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, attended on his behalf.

“For the PDP to embark on this gratuitous journey of inexactitude speaks volume of the quality of the party and the depth of the secretariat it runs that has no regard for the truth,” the party said.

ACN said for the PDP to call the state helmsman “parochial” was a mirror of the decadence in the party.

“To call a representative of the electoral mandate of the good people of Oyo State such an unprintable name shows the level of ‘respect’ the PDP owes a state whose people slaved under its iron hand in the state for eight years,” ACN said.

‘3,000 jobs on the way in Osun’

O

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

SUN State Government is set to create 3,000 jobs.

The Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said plans are underway to establish West Africa’s largest garment factory.

Okanlawon, in a statement, said the garment factory would begin operation next month in Osogbo, the state capital.

He said Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s effort was targeted at creating jobs and revamping the economy.

He said: “The multi-billion naira factory, which is a private initiative and the largest in West Africa, is situated close to the state secretariat on Gbongan Road. “Through the initiative, Osun State Government will employ at least 3,000 people, who will be trained on how to stitch with modern machines.

“To encourage the investors, Messrs Sam & Sarah Garment Factory, to boost the sewing of school uniforms for public primary and secondary schools in the 30 local governments, Governor Aregbesola has provided land for the factory.

“The state government has provided land and other incentives to Sam & Sarah Garment Factory for the establishment of the factory. The project will be financed by the Bank of Industry (BOI) to the tune of N1.5 billion. When the factory starts production, about 100,000 dresses will be produced daily.”

Okanlawon said more than 800 machines of different designs, capacities and functions have been installed.

“Six giant boilers, three each powered by electricity and diesel, have been installed with over a dozen pressers stand using steam irons. The assembly line operation is designed to move from the pattern room to the cutter, collar making and fusing, stitching, over-locking, hemming machines in a uniform and systemic pattern handled by experts.”

THE NATION MONDAY JULY 8, 2013

12

NEWS Gunmen abduct Dickson’s aide

U

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

NIDENTIFIED gunmen yesterday kidnapped the Special Adviser to Bayelsa State Governor on Power, Olice Kemenanabo.

Kemenanabo was reportedly abducted at D-Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at 3.30pm by three gunmen.

Sources said the special adviser was driving into his home at 12, Iriebe Street, D-Line, when the hoodlums struck.

A top security source said the bandits ambushed their unsuspecting victim.

The source said: “He was returning home from church but unknown to him, some gunmen had laid ambush for him.

“He was taken away in his own car. The gunmen threatened to shoot him, if he raised the alarm.”

Kemenanabo is also the Managing Director of Bayelsa Electricity Company.

An executive member confirmed the development. He said the matter had been reported to the police and the special adviser on Security.

Dualisation of Eket-Ibeno road

A

KWA IBOM State Governor Godswill Akpabio has approved the dualisation of the long abandoned Eket-Ibeno road at N24.9billion.

The Eket-Ibeno road is strategic to the revenue base of the Federal Government as it leads to the Qua Ibom Terminal (QIT) operated by oil giant, Mobil Nigeria Plc. According to Akpabio, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

(CCECC) is to build the road in 18 months and work is to begin immediately.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Aniekan Umanah, said the approval was part of the decisions taken during last week’s meeting of the State Executive Council.

Umanah explained that on completion, the road would have four bridges.

Reps: non-payment of allowances didn’t stall holiday, oversight

M

EMBERS of the House of Representatives have debunked insinuations that their proposed break is being stalled by the nonpayment of their third quarter allowances.

According to the House, lack of cash was not responsible for its refusal to embark on Ramadan break.

Ramadan begins this week and usually members go on recess during the period.

The lawmakers also said the proposed oversight on the 2013 budget was not affected by the non- availability of funds.

The Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, had on June 25, during the opening of

‘It is instructive to note that the House usually goes on break a week or more into the Ramadan season and hence it could not have been lack of payment of allowances that is holding us back’ the third session of the seventh Assembly, said the House would suspend plenary and embark on an oversight of the 2013 budget.

According to him, this

would not only promote accountability, probity and good governance, but also “to hold tenaciously the representation duty of promoting and protecting the interest of our constituents and Nigerians.”

It was learnt that the oversight, which should have begun last week, had been put on hold, except for that of the Committee on Judiciary.

Sources said members have said there won’t go on break, if their allowances were not paid.

But the lawmakers denied that funds were the reason for the delay in oversight or recess.

One of the lawmakers said members in the Science and Technology Committee, headed by Biodun

Akinlade, were on oversight in Lagos.

Another member said if funds were the issue, the Committee on Judiciary would not have been on oversight as it is now.

He added: “It is instructive to note that the House usually goes on break a week or more into the Ramadan season and hence it could not have been lack of payment of allowances that is holding us back.

“You know that the oversight is in phases and requires planning. The Speaker has announced it and definitely we are going to check out the level of the implementation of the budget, but don’t forget that there is also the aspect of logistics.”

Ijaw group debunks claims

A

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

GROUP, Federated Youth Movement Bomadi (FYMB), Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State has debunked kidnapping and terrorism allegations against the member representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency, Nicholas Mutu.

The group described the report credited to Moses Amatu and Kenneth Mezeh as false, baseless and misleading and an attempt to bring Mutu to disrepute.

A statement by the President and Secretary, Francis Akabi and Lucky Ofurolade, said the report by Amatu alleging that some ex-militants loyal to Mutu wanted to kidnap him was false.

“Mutu is not a terrorist and did not send any ex-militant to kidnap or kill anybody; he would always be a father to every youth in his constituency.”

Actor Tony Umole dead

N

OLLYWOOD is bereaved again, following the death of actor Tony Umole at the weekend.

Tajudeen Adepetu, the producer of the soap, One Love, and outgoing Vice President of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Lillian Amah-Aluko confirmed his death.

Adepetu said: “It is quite unfortunate that we have lost another gem to the cold hands of death. I was devastated when I heard the news of his demise. I pray God grants his family the fortitude to bear this sad loss.”

Though the cause of his death remains unknown,

•Rivers State Commissioner for Information & Communications Mrs. Ibim Seminitari (left); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information Mrs. Jokotade Adamu and Business Development Manager, Neo Mantra Ltd Victor Mobuogwu, at a briefing on the 2013 Port Harcourt International Fashion Festival – Native & Vogue in Port Harcourt.

sources have revealed that Umole has been bedridden for a while.

The late Umole was popular for his role as Daddy and the head of the house in the popular weekly TV programme, One Love.

He also featured in the 2003 movie, Abuja Connection, with Eucharia Anumobi and the late Enebeli Elebuwa.

Corps members rescued in Rivers

T

Edo IPMAN leadership crisis deepens

•The late Umole

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

HREE members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)- Ogochi Martins, Chijioke Richard and Esther Nwachukwu- who were kidnapped on June 29 from the Corpers’ Lodge at Ogonokom in Abua/OdualLocal Government Area of Rivers State, yesterday regained their freedom.

One of the kidnappers, who allegedly seized the youth corps members, was arrested during the rescue operation.

Police spokesperson Mrs. Angela Agabe (DSP) confirmed the release of the three corps members, but she was not forthcoming on if any ransom was paid to the kidnappers, before the two men and a woman were set free.

Mrs. Agabe said one of the suspected kidnappers was arrested during the rescue operation and already handed over to the police’s Anti-Kidnap Unit (AKU) for further investigation.

It was gathered that the three youths were rescued by policemen, not too far from Ogonokom community, where they were kidnapped.

The three corps members have been handed over to the NYSC authorities.

T

HE leadership crisis rocking the Midwestern Zone of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) deepened at the weekend as warring factions almost engaged in a free-for-all at a meeting held in Benin City.

A faction is led by Solomon Ogbewe while another group claimed it has elected a new executive, led by Silvanus Idanwekhai.

The factions are operating from two secretariats.

The meeting was called at the instance of the National Executive Council of IPMAN but both factions refused to sheath their swords.

Management of the hotel where the meeting took place had a hectic time calming the IPMAN members and even threatened to send them away.

National Vice-President Chinedu Okorokwo, at a briefing after the meeting, said Ogbewe was the recog-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

nised chairman of IPMAN’s Midwestern Zone.

Chinedu said the constitution relied on by the other faction to conduct election was not tenable since it has been reviewed in 2011.

He described Idanwekhai’s election as a nullity.

“It is the prerogative of the NEC to conduct zonal elections. The zones cannot in themselves

T

conduct election and until then noting can hold in nothing.

“When there is a vacancy it is constitutionally binding on NEC not to leave the vacuum. So they appointed an acting chairman or acting person in that capacity to act pending the conduct of election.”

The Idanwekhai faction’s spokesman, Fred Ufua, said the national body has no constitutional right to

choose leaders for them.

He said the 1983 IPMAN constitution, which they relied on to conduct the election, was the tenable constitution of IPMAN. “We cannot continue to be under the roof of one man sitting in Abuja arrogating to himself power to appoint and re-appoint. The present national executive has never successfully conducted election in any of the zones. What they do is impose candidates.”

SON destroys N2b fake products

HE Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) at the weekend destroyed contraband goods worth over N2 billion.

Some of the unwholesome products include several packs of cigarettes, consumable products, household equipment and assorted tyres.

Briefing reporters at the dumpsite in Sagamu, Ogun State, where the goods loaded in 15 trucks were destroyed, SON’s Head of Enforcement and Compliance Bede Obayi said the substandard products were intercepted and impounded by the agency at border posts, markets as well as warehouses in and outside Lagos State.

He said the agency has obtained court or-

By Toba Agboola

ders to destroy the goods, noting that the destruction was the first this year.

Obayi noted that the fake products are injurious to human health. “We are not taking the issue of contraband very lightly.

We must fight against this scourge and will never tolerate importation of substandard products. “Our zero tolerance to substandard products is still in force and we are not joking about this.”

Obayi urged Nigerians to patronise local products, especially locally-made tyres, describing Nigerian tyres as the best in the world.

, 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

13

14

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

THE

, 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

15

16

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

THE

, 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

17

18

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

THE

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

19

COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIALS

Impunity writ large

S

• As a creation of law, NIMASA ought not have taken the law into its hands

TRIPPED of any legal hair-splitting, it is hard to find a more befitting word than – self help – to describe the June 21 blockade of the premises of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, over their long running tax dispute.

NIMASA had reportedly stormed NLNG operational base in two boats, with 15 naval officers on board; in the course of the blockade, it prevented the company’s tankers from accessing their loading terminal in Bonny Island, Rivers State. That was three days after a Federal High Court granted NLNG an injunction.

The development obviously marks a new phase in the lingering feud between the two organisations; it has also, in our view, introduced a dangerous dimension into the revenue collecting activities of the maritime agency.

We must hasten to separate the two parts of the NIMASA/NLNG affair. The first part is the revenue which the maritime agency is mandated to collect under the NIMASA Act, which is legitimate. What is however not legitimate is the strong arm tactics under which the agency would seek to shut down the operations of an organisation when there are disputes over assessment, and only because it thinks it has the means to do so. This is wrong.

We recall that it was in fact NIMASA that first took NLNG to court – although it later withdrew the case. It was after this that NLNG instituted its own. Part

of the outcome of the latter is the ruling of Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos on June 18, in which he issued an injunction against the Attorney General of the Federation, Global West, and any other parties, including NIMASA “from charging, imposing, demanding or collecting the three percent gross freight earnings or any other sums further to Section 15(a) of NIMASA Act 2007 on all of NLNG’s international inbound or out-bound cargo ships owned, contracted or subcontracted by it.”

NIMASA claims to have a problem with the ruling which specifically named the Attorney General of the Federation and Global West as parties.

Whether properly joined in the suit or not, it seems to us utterly untenable for NIMASA to scoff at the ruling the way it did on June 21. Why was the agency in a hurry to do things its own way? And whose interest is it serving? And couldn’t it have gone to court to ask to be joined or even ask for the discharge of the ex parte order?

We must make the point that NIMASA as a creation of law cannot be seen to act in such ways as to suggest that it is above the law. In this particular matter, it seems to have acted both rashly and most indecorously.

We find the role of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) in the matter no less deplorable. NLNG, we know, is a private entity but only to the extent that the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) owns the minority 49 percent eq-

uity. NIMASA on the other hand is owned 100 percent by the Federal Government.

We would have expected the office of the AGF to have properly advised the two parties, not just on the relevant provisions of the applicable laws but the position of the government on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the heart of the dispute. We expected that this would have happened before things got to this stage.

The Federal Government bears the ultimate responsibility to get NIMASA to act responsibly in future. No matter what it considers the rightness of its cause, NIMASA needs to appreciate that this can only be done within the ambits of the law. It seems the agency has a long way to go to appreciate this elementary fact.

‘The Federal Government bears the ultimate responsibility to get NIMASA to act responsibly in future. No matter what it considers the rightness of its cause, NIMASA needs to appreciate that this can only be done within the ambits of the law. It seems the agency has a long way to go to appreciate this elementary fact’

Incessant strikes

T

•Govt, labour must think of alternative ways to resolve differences

HE rash of industrial actions that have disfigured the Nigerian landscape in recent times is yet another indication of the way in which the exception has become the norm. At present, both the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are on strike. A three-day warning strike of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) was only recently called off.

The reasons for these strikes are wellknown. The most prominent one is the failure of the Federal Government to abide by agreements reached in previous negotiations with the unions. Other reasons include the lack of a conducive working environment due to dilapidated infrastructure, police harassment and

‘It is time for both the Federal Government and the unions to evolve a new paradigm to counteract the vicious cycle of strikes besetting the nation.

One way is to draw up a code of conduct outlining the steps and procedures which must be followed by all parties. Once an industrial dispute is declared, there could be a specified number of days or weeks within which negotiations must be held’

victimisation by management.

While there can be no doubt that the right to withhold labour is an accepted strategy of legally-recognised unions, the profusion and frequency of wide-ranging industrial actions is a worrying development. The disruption they cause is profound, and can lead to extensive inconvenience, suffering and even loss of life.

The brief NUPENG strike, for example, led to lengthy queues in petrol stations all across the country, a sharp rise in transport costs, and a virtual shuttingdown of cities like Abuja and Kaduna.

In a similar fashion, the ten-week old ASUP strike has rendered thousands of students idle and thus more vulnerable to participation in anti-social activity. The recently-declared ASUU strike will only worsen this lamentable trend.

While these strikes go on, Nigeria continues to miss opportunities, waste time and effort, and stagnate as vital sectors of national life are put on hold. The suspension of tertiary education as a result of the ASUP and ASUU strikes will result in the suspension of all teaching and a great deal of research and community service. Conferences, workshops and seminars that were previously planned will no longer take place. Staff and students will become more disillusioned and cynical, and therefore become more likely to cut corners.

Given the enormous cost of industrial actions to the socio-economic wellbeing of the country, it is surprising that the Jonathan administration does not do more to ensure that they are reduced to the barest minimum. Almost all strikes

follow the same depressing pattern: a union issues a strike warning, demanding that government meet with it to negotiate on crucial issues; government ignores both the invitation and the deadline, only to call for negotiations when the strike is in full swing.

The pattern is so predictable that a few confidence-building measures would be sufficient to reverse the trend.

Since negotiations with the unions are inevitable, it makes no sense for government to wait until its hand is forced.

Indeed, such tactics smack of arrogance and insensitivity which only make the unions even more determined to press their case with all the weapons at their disposal.

It is time for both the Federal Government and the unions to evolve a new paradigm to counteract the vicious cycle of strikes besetting the nation. One way is to draw up a code of conduct outlining the steps and procedures which must be followed by all parties. Once an industrial dispute is declared, there could be a specified number of days or weeks within which negotiations must be held. Another strategy might be the institution of a “cooling-off” period, in which all parties to the dispute must agree to maintain the status quo while the issues are being looked into. There could also be a mechanism for sanctioning government officials whose actions or statements exacerbate labour disputes. If ministers and civil servants realise that they have a stake in ensuring industrial peace, strikes might become a less prominent feature of Nigerian life.

U.S. must suspend aid after Egypt’s coup

T

HERE IS no ambiguity about what happened in Egypt on Wednesday: a military coup against a democratically elected government and the wrong response to the country’s problems. The armed forces forcibly removed and arrested President Mohamad Morsi, who won 51 percent of the vote in a free and fair election little more than a year ago. A constitution ratified by a two-thirds majority in another popular vote last December was suspended; dozens of leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood have been arrested and a number of media outlets shut down. A little-known judge appointed as president and granted the power to rule by decree will be entirely dependent on the armed forces for his authority.

Having not spoken up against the excesses of Mr. Morsi’s government, the Obama administration has, with equal fecklessness, failed to forthrightly oppose the military intervention. But there should be no question that under a law passed by Congress, U.S. aid to Egypt — including the $1.3 billion annual grant to the military — must be suspended.

Some in the administration and Congress will try to avoid this step, because of the armed forces’ history as a U.S. ally and guarantor of peace with Israel. But the suspension of aid is the necessary first step in a U.S. policy that advances the aim Mr. Obama laid out in a Wednesday night statement: “to ensure the lasting restoration of Egypt’s democracy.”

Following the removal from office of Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, military leaders promised — as they did again Wednesday — to ensure democratic rights and quickly move toward elections. They did neither. Liberal democratic leaders who had opposed Mr. Mubarak’s autocracy were singled out for repression; critical journalists and activists were prosecuted and jailed in military-run trials; and while elections were repeatedly postponed, a campaign was launched against civil society groups dedicated to promoting free elections and human rights, culminating in the arrest and prosecution of the staff of several U.S. nongovernmental organizations. The generals, meanwhile, insisted on constitutional provisions exempting the armed forces and its budget from civilian authority.

The Obama administration should now make clear to the new military-backed regime that aid will be restored only if a genuinely democratic transition is pursued in the coming months. That means tolerance for all peaceful political forces, including the Muslim Brotherhood — whose leaders, including Mr. Morsi, should be immediately released. It means acceptance of free assembly and free media, including the Islamist broadcasters that have been shut down. Any changes to the constitution should be the result of a consensus among all political forces, without diktats by the military. And there must be a firm — and short — timetable for new parliamentary and presidential elections.

Had the armed forces not intervened, democracy probably would have led to the defeat within months of the Muslim Brotherhood in legislative elections. If it does not provoke the eruption of violent conflict, this coup may well ensure that Islamist forces, including more radical groups, grow stronger. The United States must focus on preventing the worst outcomes in a vital Arab ally, including civil war or a new dictatorship.

That means dropping its passivity and using the leverage of aid to insist on a democratic transition.

– Washington Post

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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

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

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

•Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) Yomi Odunuga •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Manager, Corporate •Group Business Editor Marketing Ayodele Aminu Hameed Odejayi •Sport Editor • Manager (Admin) Ade Ojeikere Folake Adeoye •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: Whether one likes it or not, Dame Patience Jonathan, wife of Nigeria’s President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is one figure in the nation’s political terrain that cannot be ignored.

The Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State is almost always in the news. If she is not making headlines for the good reasons, she will be sure making the delight of news editors for the really controversial and quite unusual reasons.

Mrs. Jonathan continues to attract more attention than some key political office holders under her husband’s administration. Sometimes she gets praised for her act of kindness and show of love. Remember her pet project- Women and Child Initiative, which is being replicated in most states of the federation.

To her credit also is her push for more women to get political posi-

S

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG

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

Her ‘Executive’ First Lady tions and making the women’s voice count more in the affairs of the country. But on the other side, Mrs. Jonathan’s conduct has become controversial and contentious. Indeed, her demeanor lately is becoming a source of concern.

Anytime she is visiting a city or state, there will be apprehension and panic. The city is almost locked down because First Lady is in town.

Do you recall when she visited Lagos sometime and the city was

shut down causing traffic jams and agonies for the members of the public? At times the airspace is shut while awaiting the arrival of Her Excellency.

Just last month, Dame Patience was in Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital for a week for some private functions. According to reports, the First Lady attended a wedding of the daughter of a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The First Lady’s security

blocked many places. It was even said that the state governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi abandoned a function because his convoy couldn’t gain access to the road because the First Lady was in town.

Why would a city be shut down because the wife of the President is in town? Why would the First Lady’s convoy cause pains and make the people panic? For an office that is not bestowed with any executive or any other functions to constitute

would find themselves in the nearest future. The forum has offered the participants an opportunity to create and nurture relationships with scholars abroad and also enriched and expanded the training of postgraduate students in Nigeria. It has provided external mentoring to the participants and provided the best traditions of scholarship and networking and has brought back the universe to the university in Nigeria.

The IGSS has helped to reinvent the image of Ekiti from a state that was in recent past associated with brigandage, violence, electoral malfeasance and impunity to a state renowned for peace, development, aca-

demic excellence and enthronement of accountability and good governance.

What is happening in the state should not surprise other Nigerians as it is only leaders who value education that can formulate policies which can make the sector a catalyst of development.

It is worthy of note that the governor himself is a doctorate degree holder, his deputy a professor, the House of Assembly speaker a medical doctor, the governor’s wife holder of two Master’s degrees and a cabinet that is made up of achieves in various fields.

I hereby urge other governors in

the country to copy the IGSS initiative in their respective states to prepare the young ones for the future and this will help address the critical problem of leadership that is currently plaguing our country.

One of the major problems of the contemporary youths is dearth of role models among the present generation of leaders and one if the best ways to mentor the young ones is through quality investment in education as being done by Governor Fayemi in Ekiti.

country as fuel is one of the indices that determines the price of goods and services. So if the price of these items becomes cheap, stable and affordable as a result of constant fuel supply, people’s confidence would be restored and life would become easy going.

The need to have steady power supply in the country cannot be over emphasized as this is in fact the pillar of any country’s development.

Without steady light industries cannot work at full capacity, artisans and numerous other users of power would be stranded and consequent upon that they cannot break even

Finally, when the rail transport becomes functional, apart from making it possible for prices of foodstuff and other goods to reduce, people will be able to travel to distant places without incurring much cost and our roads would be sustained as heavy commodities like steel, cement and other goods whose weight impact negatively our roads can be easily transported to their various destinations by rail.

From the look of things, Jonathan’s administration is leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of these virtues. Last December the Lagos/ Kano rail line was commissioned,

Ekiti’s model of brain drain reversal

IR: The recently concluded Ikogosi Graduate Summer School (IGSS) held at the famous Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort in Ekiti State was another attempt by the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi to the restore the state to its rightful position as the nation’s intellectual powerhouse. Fifty postgraduate students of Ekiti origin made up of 15 doctoral students and 35 Master’s students drank from the intellectual fountain provided by Nigerian academics drawn from various parts of the world.

The IGSS scholars enjoyed free tuition and accommodation at the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort which provided the best environment conducive for learning away from the hustling and bustling of the city centre. The programme exposed the participants to modern methods in research, theory, methodology, issues relating to civil society, culture, literature, culture and society, politics, economy, among others.

The governor, in mooting the idea of IGSS believed that relocating the Nigerian-born foreign-based university teachers to the country in one fell swoop won’t be possible, conceived a programme to bring them home in the summer to share knowledge and experience with young Ekiti intellectuals in the summer.

Although the IGSS has come and gone, its impact would continue to be felt in Ekiti and other parts of the country where the beneficiaries

• Odunayo Ogunmola Ado-Ekiti

a discomfort to the people is disdainful and rather snooty.

Asides the shutting down of roads, the First Lady has engaged in tactless utterances and has remained impervious to the obvious resentment her comments attract. We are witnesses to the verbal assault the First Lady gave Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi. At an occasion she blasted the governor for ‘sacking’ her Okrika people. At another time, she lampooned the governor for not ‘transforming’ Port Harcourt; according to her the city has lost its former glory. She compared the state of city now with the tenures of past governors.

When the First Lady was abroad for what some describe as medical tourism, she made some rash comments. Besides these distractions, the nation must be spending a lot on frequent travels and tours on the First Lady and her entourage.

President Goodluck Jonathan must step in and save us all from distractions coming from the office of the First Lady. A First Lady must show high level of discipline and be a model for the people. The conduct of such a person must be in line with exemplary principles.

Every form of thoughtless and offensive comments must be abhorred as the office should not cause us unsolicited ripples. The office must not cause tension. If the office must remain, it must focus on helping the people and providing opportunities.

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

Kudos to the President on Abuja/Kaduna fast rail

S

IR: There are three phenomenal factors that are indispensable for quick recovery of the country’s ailing economy. And if the president sticks to his decision to take them on board, as he is just doing now, Nigeria would, in no distant future regain its lost glory.

These factors are: steady fuel supply, constant power supply and rail transportation. As soon as this goal is achieved, other trailing sectors of the economy would stabilize.

Constant fuel supply and at a moderate price would contribute in no small measure in harmonizing the cost and standard of living in the

six months later another track, Abuja/Kaduna fast train track has been flagged off by Vice President Architect Namadi Sambo. This scenario underscores the importance this administration attaches to the welfare of her citizenry.

Possibly, the Port Harcourt/ Maiduguri rail line would take the next turn and that could be made functional by the end of this year. I therefore urge Mr. President not to rest on his oars but continue with that tempo so as to attain the 20:2020 target.

• Nkemakolam Gabriel Port Harcourt

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

COMMENTS

W

HEN the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) dashed to Maiduguri recently, it had two major assignments at hand. The forum under the leadership of the Elder statesman Alhaji Maitama Sule, the Dan Mansani Kano and the former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations came to commiserate with the people on the unfortunate Baga bloody incident that claimed lives and property; it also came to charge them to arise in unison and restore Borno back to its glorious era.

At two separate meetings with the Borno State Elders forum (BSEF) under the leadership of elder statesman Shettima Ali Monguno and with Governor Kashim Shettima, the NEF reminded the governor and the elders of the leadership role Borno has played especially in the north and the landmarks, glories and honour it has brought to the sub region in the past that still subsists today. The NEF charged both the governor and the elders of Borno to belt up notwithstanding the prevailing security challenges to restore Borno back to its enviable status.

Even, before the coming of NEF to Borno, Governor Kashim Shettima has been consistent in making the case for the unity of Borno people to fight the monster of insurgency threatening the foundation of the state in particular and indeed, the north and Nigeria in general.

Now the great question: What is that Borno past glory and leadership role that continue to agitate, reverberate, and prick the mind?

The Saifawa, (descendants of the Arabian hero Saif Bin Dhi Yazan) established a dynasty in Borno’s Kanem region around the eighth century and their rule lasted for nearly a thousand years. The Saifawa introduced Islam and consolidated it by the 11th century during the reign of Mai Uma Jilmi. Borno’s glorious history began in its Kanem region and this glory reached its peak in Borno region of the Great Caliphate of Borno that was a united entity comprising the two major provinces. The summit of Borno’s civilization was celebrated in Birnin Gazargamo, the famous Borno capital that became a centre of learning, an international melting pot.

Gazargamo’s establishment in the late 14th century by Mai Ali Gaji marked a historical place in Borno’s international status as a Muslim Caliphate that resisted all efforts to displace it. In the ninth century, an international change of dynasty took place when El-Kanemi dynasty in Kukawa was established by Sheikh Mohammed Al-Amin-El-Kanemi (better known as Laminu), a scholar of vast learning and military skills who successfully defended Borno Caliphate from foreign invasion.

His descendants who remained the rulers of El-Kanemi dynasty are called Shehus and their traditional status of ceremonial kings is still maintained.

Borno in course of history has witnessed the reign of several world famous rulers like Mai Uma Jilmi, Ali Gaji, Mai Idris Alooma and many others who have made historical landmarks in the course of Borno’s over a millennium of existence. They were kings who were the pride of their followers, leaders who ere honest, learned and loved by their followers.

Throughout its history, Borno has fostered international contacts and attracted scholars and diplomats to its cities like Gazargamo, Kukawa and others. Borno has established contacts with several important states in Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere. It established the first West African Foundation in Egypt, the Ibn Tashid School, where Borno students went to study.

Historical records indicate that there had existed relationship between Spain and Kanem-Borno in the 14th century and that

S

21

Call to the great people of Borno

By Victor Izekor there was an ambassador of the Emir in Spain at the time.

Some of the common Hispano-Borno heritages include the establishment of Islam in both Borno and Spain in the middle Ages and subsequent cultural development like Aljamiado tradition in Spain whose equivalent in Borno is still an important basis of scholarship.

A significant Borno-Spanish intellectual bond is fostered by poetry of the Spanish scholar Abdurrahman Alfazazi whose Al-Wasial-al-mutagbala is literally revered in Borno State. This masterpiece panegyric forms the basis of the annual celebration that is performed in hundreds of places in Borno in the month of Rubiul-Awal marking the birth of Prophet Mohammed (S.A.S). Indeed it is very common to see many Borno scholars who have committed the text to memory in the recitation sessions of the Wasa’il popularly known as Ishirinva or Madhu.

This is a monumental credit to Borno-Spanish relationship and above all to the bond of the course of history.

The visit to Borno by the Spanish Monarch Juan Carlos Victor Maria de Robon and Queen Sophia in mid December 1986 was a golden opportunity to recall and commemorate the hundreds of years of Hispano-Borno relationship through the intellectual exchange and the common heritages since the Middle Ages lasting to the present.

The first official visit outside Nigeria of the current Shehu of Borno Abubakar Garbai to Turkey is a reminder of Borno historical and diplomatic exploits.

Geidam had an ancient history having inherited the glories of the great Saifawa city of Birnin Gazargamo. It was a centre of scholarship where scholars from the Maghrib al-Aqsa, the Nile valley and central Bilad al-Sudan converged in search of knowledge. They brought with them the ancient literature of classic Arabic, the history of Islam and the Muslim civilization.

To this city, many scholars have brought with them the knowledge of Al-Azhar and the Kushite civilization. Education, scholarship and learning have therefore been a very long history in this city.

Right from the emergence of Birni to the present day Yerwa, Borno’s position had been very outstanding in the field of Qur’anic or Islamic learning. There were names like Shehu Tar Geroma of Birni, or Shettima Ngalloma of Kukawa or M. Modu Njokkomami of Yerwa, all of whom were reputed to be so well learned that they were believed to be genies in their times.

There were also the houses of the famous Imams of Borno whose descendants are among the most respected today.

Moving close to our time, we have had people like Goni Zarami of Mafoni, Alhaji Baba of Hausari, Alhaji Mustapha Shehu Ajabe of Limanti, Alhaji Mohammed Abba Aji and Alhaji Idrisa Khadi all of blessed memory. This is not to mention Shehu Laminu himself. Among the living Malams who still hold the forts are Sheikh Ibrahim Saleh of Gwange, Sayinna Bukar El-Meskeen of Shehuri North, Alhaji Bashir of Fezzan, Sayinna Goni Umar Kaltummi of Budum, who makes very significant contributions to public enlightenment in the field of Islamic education.

It was the commendable efforts of traders in Borno that

enabled the province to occupy an enviable place in Northern Nigeria, indeed in Nigeria, in the 1950s and the 1960s. By the late 1950s and early 1960s many (about 50%) of the Permanent Secretaries, Residents/Provisional secretaries and other senior civil servants and professionals throughout Northern Nigeria were of Borno origin. It was the good leadership quality demonstrated by the Shehus, Emirs, Councillors, Districts heads and Heads of Department that produced the famous Mohammed Lawans, the Ahmed Talibs, the Bukar Shuaibs, the Umaru Shehus, the Damchides, the Dagashes, the Liman Ciromas, the Gujubawus, the Al-Ghazalis, the Ghaji Ghaltimaris, the Ma’aji Shettimas, the Kukawas, the Kyari Sandabes, Mahmud Ahmads and a host of them, all men of outstanding qualities, for the Federal, Regional, Provincial and Native Authority Civil Service.

Some of the pioneers and best-trained Nigerian military officers came from Borno. These were the Zakariya Marimalaris, the Kur Mohammeds, the Largemas, the Mohammed Shuwas, etc. Also, the first best-trained police officers came from Borno. These include the Kam Salems the Mamman Maiduguris etc. There were also top Veterinary and Agricultural officers such as the Zarma Gogorams. There were top class, indeed world-class broadcasters like the Dunguses and the Abba Zorus. There were good lawyers such as the Shettima Liberties, as well as judges such as Mohammed Kaumi Kolos and of cause the Kyari Gadzamas.

In the political arena, Borno produced top class, dedicated and single-minded politicians at federal, regional and provincial/divisional levels. These include Sir Kashim Ibrahim, the first and only indigenous Governor of Northern Nigeria, the Shettima Ali Mongunos, the Zanna Bukar Dipcharimas, the Waziri Ibrahims, the Ibrahim Imams, the Abba Habibs, the Ibrahim Bius, the Abdullahi Ndagaras and later, the Gonis, the Babagana Kingibes, the Shettima Mustaphas, and the Hassan Yusufs, etc.

There were also famous educationalists such as the Hayatu Jeres, the Shettima Pindars, the Idrisa Khadis, the Mailafiya Shanis, the Slaihu Warkes, the Abba Rahas, the Captain Mahmuds, the Waziri Dikwas, the Ibrahim Geidams, the Sanda Dikwas, the Buba Chekenes, etc. Side-by-side are also top-level intellectuals like the Nur Alkalis, the Kyari Tijjanis, Njidas Gadzamas, Mahdi Bukars, etc. These people devoted their entire lives to serving people.

Apart from the top administrators, politicians, intellectuals, educationalists, agriculturalists and health officers produced

by Borno, there were also numerous middle level officials in many fields of human endeavour who worked in various parts of Nigeria. Most of them served with distinction.

‘In the political arena, Borno produced top class, dedicated and single-minded politicians at federal, regional and provincial/divisional levels. These include Sir Kashim Ibrahim, the first and only indigenous Governor of Northern Nigeria, the Shettima Ali Mongunos, the Zanna Bukar Dipcharimas, the Waziri Ibrahims, the Ibrahim Imams’

The Lagos residents registration initiative

OCIETY has become more mobile and the information held electronically about persons and services by government agencies and other bodies have substantially increased. There is a growing need to integrate the residents of Lagos State into e-government initiatives to enable the services provided by government to be fully utilized and also provide an accurate picture for government policy and planning.

The Lagos State Residents Registration initiative has the potential to address key challenges facing e-government and other initiatives. Various e-government initiatives have been enabled to collect electronic data and each operates autonomous of each other. To provide a more accurate picture for government policies and planning, a link must be established between these various stores of data.

It is with a view to institutionalizing this process that the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency, LASRRA, was established in 2011 by an enactment of state law, by which it was fully empowered to implement a residents database and identification card program for Lagos State.

The goals of the agency include, establishing a reliable and updateable database of all residents of Lagos State, providing useful information for social, political, business and financial activities, creating and documenting a unique means of identification of Lagos State residents, providing a highly secured identification card for all residents of the State and removing the veil of anonymity from every citizen of the state The Residents Register is an electronic database, currently being developed by LASRRA which contains demographic information of all residents of the state. It is a governmental, centralized, trustworthy and comprehensive source of information that would assist the state government with decision-making process and allocation of resources as it

‘That the main purpose of the resident registration initiative is to ensure proper planning as well as efficient allocation of the state’s scarce resources. It should not be misconstrued as census’

By Lateef Aderemi Ibirogba contains important and vital information about residents of the state.

On the other hand, the residency card is an electronic means of identification and authentication that LASRRA undertakes to issue to all residents of the state. Using sophisticated technological features, the residency card is a safe means of identification of persons and verification of their identities. It contains a unique reference number (residency number) that links every individual to his/her own personal and biological data. The residency number serves as a reference for the respective individual in his/her identity-proved transactions with government bodies.

It is instructive to stress that the card is produced and issued at no cost to all residents while registration is equally done free of charge to all residents.

The residency card is a safe and precise means of personal authentication and identification. Its primary aim is to make it easier for the card holder to obtain all governmental and nongovernmental services in the future. Among the most important benefits and features of the card are enhanced sense of belonging, protection of identity, ease and convenience and providing an integral database. The residency card is primarily designed for the administration of the services that the Lagos State government provides for the people that reside in the state. Its objective is to enable efficiency in the allocation of resources to meet the needs of the people. Using the contact details provided at the time of registration, all those that have registered and their cards are ready for collection, will be notified by SMS to collect their cards at the LASRRA LG/LCDA office nearest to their place of residents.

It should be emphasized that biometrics simplifies identity verification as the 10 fingerprints, signature and face image of residents are captured as part of the registration process. A challenge for residents, mostly the needy, is the lack of documentation to establish their identity. Once these residents enroll for an identity number linked to their biometrics, they can afterward confirm their identity multiple times, anywhere in the state and to any agency, by providing their demographic details or biometric scan.

It is important to accentuate that every one that is currently residing in the state is required to register. Once you have been residing in the state for six months or more, you are eligible to

register. This registration would, henceforth, be a prerequisite to accessing the services provided by Lagos State government for its residents. In cases of people relocating from one place in Lagos to another, it must be stressed that people must be responsible for their own data and it is their responsibility to ensure that their data is up to date. If not, when accessing government services and there are discrepancies they will be sent back to update their data.After registration, quality checks are done followed by correction processes (where required).

The data is then sent to the database, where the data undergoes various stages of screening and validations. This ensures that the source of data is authenticated ensuring that no duplicate exists. After which, the resident unique identification number is generated.In case of any errors, the record goes on hold for further enquiry. Corrective actions are taken on such as contacting the applicant via the contact information given. This may take over five weeks to resolve.If a card needs to be replaced due to loss, theft or change of information, the resident should contact any of the registration stations across the state and make a request.

However, as earlier stated, the first residency card is provided free of charge, subsequent cards may be at a charge. For clarification purpose, the registration exercise does not confer any status other than that the card holder at the time of registration resides in the state and it is not an attempt to discriminate against non-Lagos indigenes as it is open to everyone that lives in Lagos State, irrespective of ethnic origin, nationality, religious affiliation, age etc.

Till date, the initiative has been able to create over 1,000 jobs for the pilot scheme. In preparation for the commencement of its statutory responsibility of registering the residents of Lagos State, LASRRA organized a one day open forum for public and civil servants in the state. The purpose of the forum was to further enlighten the citizens about the project as well as share views with them.

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, who was represented at the event by the State Head of Service, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, said that his administration will continue to make itself accessible to the general public through regular such public engagements.

On a final note, let me stress, once again, that the main purpose of the resident registration initiative is to ensure proper planning as well as efficient allocation of the state’s scarce resources. It should not be misconstrued as census.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

22

COMMENTS

O

GUTA in Imo State has become a metaphor for all that is wrong with our electoral process. More than two years after elections were conducted into state assemblies, it has remained a daunting task for any election to be successfully concluded in that constituency. Last week’s re-run, illustrates most poignantly, the bad example Oguta has become in the nation’s desire to enthrone free and fair polls.

This sordid record is not entirely new, as the area is home to politicians very notorious for their awesome technology in election rigging and falsification of results. There was a time when election results were written in private homes and hotel rooms even before voting commenced. But all that suffered serious reverses with the insistence by President Jonathan on the principles of one man one vote and general awareness by the electorate for their votes to count. But the behemoths will not let go.

We have seen how that principle succeeded in demystified prominent politicians in parts of the country as they failed to deliver their wards despite purported claims to huge electoral value.

The turn of events in Oguta is the predictable outcome of a bad habit that has refused to give way. It is not surprising that the latest election ran into troubled waters; such that it was declared inconclusive by the INEC. According to INEC resident commissioner in Imo State, Prof Celina Okoh, the election was declared inconclusive because the difference in the number of votes between the first and second candidate which stood at 2,011 was lower than the 4,861 registered voters in the remaining eight polling units where election did not hold due to violence. This she said was in keeping with extant regulations in the Electoral Act. But this arithmetic is not as simple as it has been presented. A further examination of the ratio of those who voted in the 121 polling units will expose the glaring incongruity in

‘It is either those responsible for this mess are brought to book or we should be prepared for the soaking of the baboons and the dogs in blood as has been forewarned’

S

Emeka OMEIHE 08121971199 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Oguta by-election: matters arising canceling the entire election because of the unavailability of votes from just eight units.

Going by the 4,861 registered voters in the eight units under contention, it is estimated that those who registered in the 121 units where elections held will be in the neighborhood of 73,522 voters. Of this figure, only 17,179 actually voted. This represents about 25 per cent of the total number of registered voters. So even if we calculate 25 per cent of the votes in the remaining eight units and add all of it to the figure scored by the PDP candidate in the 121 units, he will still not make it. Even then and going by the pattern of extant results, there is nothing to show that the PDP will win more votes than APGA in the remaining units. The message from this simple calculation is very clear to all. And it is that the people of Oguta have unambiguously demonstrated their preference for the APGA candidate. This must be respected.

Governor Rochas Okorocha has cried foul blaming the turn of events as part of the grand plan by the PDP controlled government and INEC to rob APGA of its victory. He said APGA won with 9,595 votes as against 7,584 by the PDP in the 121 polling units where election results were collated. The governor also argued that if at all the need arose for any repeat; it should be confined to the eight units where polling did not take place. The last point is unassailable as it draws huge support from the calculations above.

However, the PDP has equally accused the INEC of collaborating with APGA to rig the election, claiming that its candidate won. It

INCE, The Nation berthed on July 31, 2006, it has grown into a household name in news venture in the country.

While some dailies have made one or two of the economy, commerce and crime their foci, the paper’s forte has always been politics. Can this be faulted? Hardly. Is not politics the determiner of who gets what, where, when and how across ages and climes? Is not politics the driver of the economy, commerce and crime in an inextricably twined web of statistical interconnectivities? What aspect of our national life in Nigeria deserves better attention than that which has enabled self-anointed/appointed stakeholders across space and time more than a fair share of the proverbial national cake?

Given such a situation as we lament daily and for the change we all crave, what have The Nation’s inimitable wordsmiths and others in some other news-based establishments not said that need to be re-said. Despite efforts of the Wole Soyinkas and now late Chinua Achebes, what has the word really offered Nigeria, a nation where milk and honey literally flow but where facts and truth have merged to affirm a minimum of 9 in every 10 of its citizens as living the unliveable and enduring the unendurable. Such horrifying litany of awardwinning oddities the whole luckless lot daily endure!

In spite of its 160 million population and a gargantuan wealth, petrol and non-petrol, electricity supply has remained far less than 10 per cent required capacity, and this after the billions of dollars sunk into revamping the energy sector; importation the only significant source of supply of petroleum products in a country in which the crude was discovered over 50 years ago; infrastructural facilities, including road and rail network, entirely fallen with no appreciable efforts at reversals.

The hospitals, including so-called first rate tertiary ones, barely fortified to muster beyond primary roles of minimal diagnosis and drug dispensing; inflation at double digit and cost of staple foods infernally intolerable for a masses pummelled by a concourse of unfriendly measures by a federal admiralty that seems located in the moon.

How can we have improved electricity, roads, rail system, education and health system, reformed police/revamped and redirected security system, reduced poverty, maternal/child/ infant mortality/morbidity and desirable social security payments for the elderly and the teeming unemployed Nigerians when the proverbial national cake must go in slices to placate the ever ravenous gluttony of only the political leadership!

What better explanation for the vanishing trillions and the under-performing economy between our so-called young democracy and our malformed hearts? Should we as Nigerians not begin to question the ages of socio-economic disloca-

accused APGA of masterminding the irregularities that stalled voting in the eight units.

So the game of recrimination continues.

From the point of view of both parties, the INEC has issues to resolve concerning its conduct of that election.

This is about the third time elections into that constituency will turn out unsuccessful since April 2011. Events in Oguta raise serious questions not only on the commitment of the Jonathan administration to free and fair elections but more importantly INEC’s capacity to conduct credible polls. Moreover, reports of late arrival of voting materials in an election involving only a local government, amount to a scandal of unmitigated proportion. And when this is paired with the reported militarization of the local government through massive deployment of soldiers and armoured personnel carriers, it becomes more puzzling why the touted violence could not be contained for the election to proceed unhindered.

Matters were also not helped by the socalled Abuja politicians comprising elected and appointed officers. They were reported to have stormed Oguta in convoys with their retinue of heavily armed security personnel who added to the tension that characterized the election. Ironically, most of these people had no business in Oguta as they are not even from that local government. Why INEC shut its eyes to the impudence of these politicians and the regulation that no security officer should come to the polling units with arms as was done in previous elections,

What has the word availed Nigeria?

By Sulaiman Salawudeen tions which fertilised foundations for the emergence of the Boko Haram?

A recent comment by Joel Brinkley, former correspondent of the New York Times, was meant to be a stinker which failed to stink being too familiar. Opening his write-up on a piece he titled “Nigeria’s squandered opportunity”, Joel explained how 17 well-fortified ambulances meant to service only President Goodluck Jonathan during health and other emergences which had lain unused months in front of his office vanished into thin air just after being exposed through a newspaper photo publication.

This is, according to him, while most healthcare centres in the country’s localities cannot afford ambulances and lacking in other basic enablement; despite a daily earning of 224 million dollars from oil.

One seems needlessly worried to realise why it has always been Nigeria’s so-called leaders who see bloom/hope where doom/gloom reside; why it has always been the Minister of Finance who sees the economy performing and Gross Domestic Products (GDP) on the rise when an extreme majority can hardly manage one square (meaningful and health giving) meal on an average day!

Remember, the now jaded conclusions of researchers and economists that majority of Africans live below the poverty line as they (on average) subsist on less than one dollar (about N180) a day. Really? But, I know single mothers whose entire family of four (mother and three children) live on less than N400 a day!

Our leaders contend the health sector is comparable to any other while they, the purveyors of power, would junket to America, Germany and India each time they have headaches and other vamped emergencies. How can we believe our lives are not cheap when police bullets and trucks are sending us in scores to undeserved graves daily? Our courts have become punishment centres for ‘small mortals’ while the ‘big fishes’ who daily purloin the trillions off the common till in turns remain not just untouched but even better protected with state might!

That lone woman, Ruth Adehwe Aweto, former head of the Federal Cooperative College, Eleyele, Ibadan in Oyo State and her lieutenant, are currently in jail for inflating the col-

is one issue that must be thoroughly investigated. Good thing, President Jonathan feels sufficiently concerned by this show of shame that he has tasked the security agencies and INEC to fish out those responsible for the violence. In this task, the first people to arrest are the so-called Abuja politicians, most of them members of the PDP who had no business in Oguta on that day. INEC must summon the courage to bring this category of politicians to book now it is at the receiving end from both parties. Any inquisition that ignores the brazen impunity displayed by these elected federal legislators will be patently meaningless. They are known and their presence and activities in Oguta on that fateful day cannot be denied.

It has become paramount to check the impunity of these category people who have found it hard to part ways with their decadent and ruinous pasts. The way this singular incident is handled, will send signals as what to expect come 2015. It is either those responsible for this mess are brought to book or we should be prepared for the soaking of the baboons and the dogs in blood as has been forewarned.

Oguta has become something else. In the April 2011 governorship and state assembly elections, it was the epicentre of popular resistance against high- tech subterfuge by the then government in power to manipulate the outcome of the election. It was a classic test of the will power of the people to take their destiny into their hands. Such was the situation that when the electorate sensed subtle efforts by the electoral umpire in connivance with law enforcement agents to manipulate the election, they rose stoutly and resisted it. Of the 27 local governments in the state, only in that constituency did election not hold due to stiff resistance by the people against attempts to manipulate the distribution of voting materials.

What we see in Oguta, is the surge of popular resistance against elections that do not reflect the wishes of the people. That is perhaps, what Okorocha meant when he said Oguta has never had elections before now.

INEC must rise to that challenge. If it cannot declare the APGA candidate winner because of the issue earlier canvassed, it has no business canceling results from the 121 units where voting successfully held. The right thing is to reschedule voting in the remaining eight units.

We have a precedent in the same state to rely on. Canceling the entire results will amount to a plot to procure victory for the PDP through unwholesome means.

lege’s staff figures. Yet, those who have stolen nearly Nigeria’s entire mint still strut the streets as free men.

As the mortars maul the supposed insurgents, as the streets of Kano, Maiduguri, Sokoto and Kaduna are plastered in the blood of the enemies of the state, properly so-called, Nigeria’s political leadership should admit significant responsibility for the errors which engendered the mutation of humans to vampires. Indeed, from the famished jungles of Ibadan/ Lagos, the despoiled creeks of Bayelsa/Rivers to the arid wastes of Sokoto/Kaduna, poverty, in its virulent consumptive power, has neither distinguished in colour nor spared in content. We must just admit there is a Boko Haram in waiting in one form or another across other settings in Nigeria’s much raped landscape!

Yes, only a deeper-going and genuine overhaul of the traditional conduct of governance by governments in our country can meaningfully reverse the hate-filled atmosphere that we have today. But, is government attuned to such alerts and ready to do the needful? Messages seem to have been cast overboard alongside the messengers. Baby and birth water useless? The word might not have failed Nigeria but Nigeria has failed the word. In spite of ages of robust messaging through pre-eminent messengers in news dailies, weeklies and in printed forms of higher hues, Nigeria remains in flux and fixated: governance in shambles, corruption, which defines wilful defilement of essences, the commonest quality of public officials. Nigeria’s seems to be the story of the aberrant son whose conducts consistently inverse wise counsels of his father. Our figures (both petro-trillions and sheer population) have not affected our fortune: our politics is for poverty. We lament devaluation when we cannot produce common bolt; we complain of inflation when we have not learned how not to be fed by others. We talk of hoisting a satellite when we cannot fly common balloon!

Most entities (where transparency in governance is a fixed certitude, where life counts and excesses bridled by impartial laws) have moved to the computer age and beyond when we have not entered even the machine age, a necessary start for masters of the art and science of survival in a world of competition.

Our democracy has been a demon which only consolidates our location in the worlds of the undeveloped. Lo, what has the word availed Nigeria, a country where everything is available but where nothing is on offer? How really can the word be made to work for the country? How can politics be tuned to the cause of hope for the teeming disoriented 90 per cent? How can this country be steered away from a steady and predictable slide into an Egyptian/Tunisian Hobbesian status. Now nasty and brutish with all auguries of long and consistently sought cataclysm, life has stopped just of being entirely short here. The messengers may have to recast strategies if Nigeria must work.

23

BUSINESS

25

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

At the moment there is an average of about 18 hours per day of constant power supply to different parts of the country. This feat was brought about by the implementation of the integrated power sector reform programme anchored on the power roadmap.

- Minister of Information, Labaran Maku

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

INSURANCE Lack of substantive NHIS head cripples health benefits News Briefing Fed Govt pays traders N224b fuel debts THE Federal Government has repaid $1.4 billion (N224billion) in mostly overdue debts to fuel traders after raising the money via an oil prepayment loan from international lenders, thereby concluding some of the most painful and lengthy debt talks in its history.

- Page 26

‘Oil not improving Nigeria’s GDP’ DESPITE Nigeria’s over 50 years of oil and gas exploration, production and export, the sector has not impacted positively on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the President of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr Emeka Ene, has said.

- Page 26

EU okays 12m euro for in Nigeria THE European Union (EU) has approved 12 million euro to the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to create a National Standards Accreditation and Meteorology Body in Nigeria.

- Page 27

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

-N7.560 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion

RATES Inflation 11.9% Treasury Bills 7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending - 15.87% Savings rate 2% 91-day NTB 15% Time Deposit 5.49% MPR 12% Foreign Reserve $35.8b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 242.1 $ 156 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 238 RIYAL 40.472

THE CEO

‘Many concessions are daylight robberies’ - P. 28

- P. 37

Rate cutting: Insurers accept N3000 on third party motor insurance

I

NSURERS charge as low as N3000 premium for third party motor insurance as against a flat premium of N5000, investigations by The Nation have revealed.

This is despite measures by the National Insurance Commission, to stem rate cutting in the industry.

Third Party Motor Insurance is mandatory for vehicle owners and is fixed at a flat premium of N5000.

Sources said rate cutting has eaten deep among insurers and brokers and has continued to affect the industry negatively.

One of the sources, an insurer, alleged that insurers are engrossed in bad competition and are accepting rates that are not commensurate with claims that may occur in future.

“It is saddening that some insurers are accepting as low as N3000 premium on third party motor insurance that is fixed at N5000,” he lamented.

He added that the same rate cut applies to other types of insurance cover,

By Omobola Tolu-Kusimoa

stressing insurers are killing the industry’s growth by their unprofessional act.

“This is part of the reasons the industry has not been able to achieve the set premium target of N1 trillion,” he added.

A broker, who admitted the problem has become a menace that may not leave the industry soon, blamed insurers.

She said insurers are the ones promoting rate cutting because they accept these terrible rates from the brokers.

“If insurance companies ensure they do not go below a particular premium rate, the brokers too will be forced to accept the right rates from the market.

“They are accepting rates contrary to what their reinsurer ask them to collect. I believe things can be better if insurance companies can be ethical, professional and stick to a fixed rate or not cut it below what they can use to pay claim,” she said.

Two weeks ago, the Nige-

Development Finance Institutions coming, says Okonjo-Iweala

T

HE Federal Govern ment is set to float De velopment Finance Institution (DFI) within the next 18 months.

The initiative stemmed from the dearth of institutions that could support the private sector to access long term loans to grow businesses.

Speaking in Lagos at the weekend during the tour of the ultra-modern factory of Omatek Computers at Alausa, Ikeja, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the government was working with the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Development Bank of South Africa and other developed countries to give birth to DFI. The minister lamented that the greatest development problem of the country was the lack of institutions. She also lamented that for 50 years, Nigeria was run without key institutions, a development she argued, had hampered the development of the country.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said the DFIs will help bridge the gap in long-term finance to businesses in the country, adding that mortgage institutions have been built. “We lack long institutions for long

By Lucas Ajanaku

term finance. That is why we are developing a wholesale finance institution. We need a wholesale finance institution. This country must build key institutions. We must stop relying on intervention from the government,” she said, adding that DFI will make facilities available for private entrepreneurs to expand their business for a 15year period.

She noted that no nation grows without strong institutions, lamenting that the country was run for half a century without institutions.

She said institutions, such as the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and Debt Management Office (DMO) were recently created, wondering that for 50 years, Nigeria didn’t have a DMO. Mrs Okonjo-Iweala commended the persistence, integrity, honour and the spirit of perseverance displayed by the Group Managing Director of Omatek Computers, Mrs Florence Seriki, urging her to keep the firm flying in spite of the harsh operating environment.

She pledged the Federal Government’s support, saying that Omatek Computers was not only helping technology transfer, it is also creating employment opportunities for the youths.

rian Insurers Association (NIA) set up a rating committee to determine minimum rates for some risks in the industry. The move was to stem rate cutting and establish uniform standard in the pricing of risks in the industry.

Managing Director, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc and member of NIA council, Mr Wale Onaolapo, who heads the committee, is to determine the minimum rates on motor insurance, group life, industrial all risk, money and fidelity guarantee for banks.

Before now, the association had advocated the enforcement of minimum rates in the market because of the inability of insurance companies to charge economic rates in business underwriting, which weakened their financial capability to meet obligations to stakeholders in the market.

New prudential guidelines for banks imminent

G

LOBAL financial au thorities are consider ing a review of prudential guidelines for banks in relation to their equity investments in funds.

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, a body of global financial authorities, at the weekend published a set of proposals that would revise the prudential treatment of banks’ equity investments in funds.

The revised guideline is expected to address the issue of underlying risk and leverage as well as align banks’ investments in the context of the globally accepted risk-based capital framework.

“In reviewing the existing standard for banks’ equity investments in funds, the Committee’s objective was to develop an appropriately risk sensitive and consistently applied risk-based capital regime. The existing standard would benefit from further

By Taofik Salako

clarity in some areas. In addition, it does not require banks to reflect a fund’s leverage when determining capital requirements associated with their investments in a fund, even though leverage is an important risk driver,” the Committee stated.

It pointed out that the revised standard will also help to address risks associated with banks’ interactions with shadow banking entities, thus contributing to the broader effort by the Financial Stability Board to strengthen the oversight and regulation of shadow banking.

It added that the revised standard will more appropriately reflect the risk of a fund’s underlying investments and its leverage.

The proposed revision is expected to undergo a global review up till October 4, 2013, following which the committee will coordinate a final draft.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

26

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule MONDAY - FRIDAY

LAGOS – ABUJA Departure Arrival 1. Aero 06.50 08.10 2. Associated 07.00 09.30 3. Air Nigeria 07.00 08.20 4. IRS 07.00 08.20 7. Arik 07.15 08.15 7. Chanchangi 07.15 9. Air Nigeria 08.15 09.35 10. Aero 08.45 10.05 11. Arik 09.15 10.15 12. Chanchangi 10.00 11.00 13. IRS 11.15 12.35 14. Aero 12.20 13.30 15. Air Nigeria 13.25 14.45 16. Chanchangi 13.30 14.30 17. Arik 13.45 14.45 18. IRS 14.00 15.20 19. Aero 14.10 15.30 20. Air Nigeria 14.50 16.10 21. Chanchangi 15.30 16.30 22. Arik 15.50 16.50 23. Aero 16.00 17.20 24. IRS 16.30 17.50 25. Arik 16.50 17.50 26. Chanchangi 17.30 18.30 27. Air Nigeria 17.35 18.55 29. Air Nigeria (T/TH) 18.30 19.50 20. Arik 18.45 19.45 31. Aero 19.20 20.40

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

LAGOS – BENIN Arik 07.30 Associated 08.30 Aero 10.50 Arik 11.45 Associated 13.00 Aero 14.25 Arik 15.30 Associated 16.00

1.

2.

3.

4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1.

2.

3.

4.

LAGOS – CALABAR 07.30 11.20 12.50 16.00 LAGOS – JOS 10.55 11.15

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

By Akinola Ajibade with Agency Report It will ease the threat of large write-downs for big trading houses, oil firms and banks, as well as lower the risk of insurance claims and legal action from traders, bankers and insurers against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Had Nigeria defaulted on these loans it could have restricted the future borrowing capacity of Africa’s second largest economy just as it was

preparing to issue a $1 billion Eurobond “The fact that this debt was not solved was creating a lot of tensions - both for Nigeria’s desire to put its finances in order and for traders, because a lot of these debts were massively overdue,” said a highlevel source at a major trading house.

The prepayment facility, guaranteed by future oil sales, was led by Standard Chartered and also included BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, Natixis and several Nigerian banks.

08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20 12.15 12.45 09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

LAGOS – OWERRI Aero 07.30 Arik 07.30 Air Nigeria 13.40 Arik 14.00 Arik 16.30

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

1.

2.

3.

4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

09.1 12.50 12.55 15.55

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

LAGOS – KANO Air Nigeria 07.10 IRS 08.00 Arik 12.20 IRS 14.00 IRS 18.15

08.50 09.45 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 1. IRS 11.15 13.15 2. Arik 15.50 18.00 LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

HE Federal Government has repaid $1.4 billion (N224billion) in mostly overdue debts to fuel traders after raising the money via an oil prepayment loan from international lenders, thereby concluding some of the most painful and lengthy debt talks in its history.

The repayment, which follows a smaller payment to creditors of $400 million earlier this year, will allow Nigeria to halve its fuel debts to $1.7 billion, sources at three trading companies told Reuters.

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40

LAGOS – PORT HARCOURT (CIVIL) 1. Aero 07.15 08.35 2. Arik 07.15 08.35 3. Arik 09.00 10.20 4. Aero 10.50 12.30 5. Arik 11.40 13.00 6. Air Nigeria 12.00 13.10 7. IRS 13.30 15.00 8. Arik 14.00 15.20 9. Air Nigeria 16.00 17.10 10 Arik 16.10 17.30 11. Aero 16.15 17.30 12. Arik 17.10 18.30

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik

T

Fed Govt pays traders N224b fuel debts

08.00 18.00

LAGOS – ABUJA SAT/SUN Arik 7.15; 10.20; 2.20; 5.20pm – 7.30; 9.15; 10.20; 2.20; 4.50; 6.45 Aero 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 – 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 Air Nigeria 08.15; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30 – 08.15; 13.30; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30

•From left: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Group, Mr Joseph Makoju; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga; and Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council, Dr. Lateef Busari, during the signing of the Backward Integration Plans of three refineries in Abuja.

Oil not improving Nigeria’s GDP, says PETAN

D

ESPITE Nigeria’s over 50 years of oil and gas explora tion, production and export, the sector has not impacted positively on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the President of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr Emeka Ene, has said.

He compared Nigeria with other countries, noting that the impact of oil and gas activities on the GDP has remained flat since 1960, indicating that there is no much difference between condition of living now and what obtained in the 1960s when measured on per capita basis.

“The impact of oil and gas activities on the GDP, which is a good indicator of economic progress in a country, shows that Nigeria’s GDP growth from 1960 has remained flat when benchmarked against the GDP growths of developing countries

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

such as Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia, among others.

“What this means is that the conditions of life and living today are not necessarily better than what they were in 1960 when measured on per capita basis,” he said.

Ene, who spoke on the need for the National Assembly to pass a balanced Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), said manufacturing and in-country capacity haven’t progressed much, stressing that this is major challenge to development of the economy.

He said: “PIB affects us in a direct way and we will like to see a PIB that encourages and continues to encourage investment in every capacity not just today but over the long term.”

He said the oil industry has a long production cycle, which makes it dif-

ficult to get investors easily. “For instance, if you discover an oil field today, you cannot get money from the field until 10 years down the line, if it is a major field. So it takes a lot of guts or a stable economic investment environment to invest in something you cannot get anything from till the next 10 years.

“This is the challenge the service companies have. Therefore, there is need for Nigeria and, indeed, all oil producing countries to have Petroleum Industry Acts that are stable. For instance, in the last five years, we have had only two projects that have crossed the Final Investment Decision (FID) stage. We expect more of these projects to come on stream because each project is tied to capacity development.”

He explained that the PIB is beyond what governments and host communities’ take.

Service provider slows down scanning, say Customs, agents

N

IGERIA Customs Service (NCS), consignees and the clearing agents have accused the new service provider at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, Global Scansystems Limited of slowing down the scanning of containers.

They accused the service provider of moving slowly, thereby leading to increase in the number of containers being scanned at the port.

Customs Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Apapa Area 1 Command, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Ekpa, told The Nation that the backlog of containers at the scanning site may impact negatively on the import supply chain. He noted that this may lead to an increase in the prices of goods to consumers.

Ekpa said truck drivers had been on queue for two weeks to load containers, adding that the situation is hindering the Federal Govern-

By Oluwakemi Dauda ment’s 48 hours cargo clearance policy at the port.

He said: “The situation has slowed down importation and business, because it is when the agents take delivery of their goods, sell them and then go back to import that the trade facilitation programme of the government will work, but, if the ones they have have not been released, certainly they might not be able to import more.”

Ekpa explained that the re-routing of containers, initially planned for scanning to physical examination might also not allow 100 per cent examination to be conducted.

“This is the risk officers are taking. You will conduct examination, and at the end of the day when there is problem with the container, they will ask who did the examination

and you run into problem. That is the situation we are facing,” he said.

Ekpa explained that this puts the examination officer at risk of losing his job when discrepancies are noted.

The Customs spokesman said duties are paid before customs documents are processed, adding that the situation had changed as it delayed the issuing of debit notes to importers whose containers contain underdeclared items.

However, the spokesman of GlobalScansystems, Mr Adile Iroajugh denied the allegation. He said the scanner was handed over to them by Cotecna and that they have scanned over 2,200 containers since the site was given to them a few weeks ago.

He said his firm was working on the scanner to make it more effective and boost cargo clearance from the port.

The funds were used to settle old debts of state oil firm NNPC’s marketing unit PPMC for gasoline and jet fuel imports made three years ago.

The loan was okayed in December, but it took six months for the money to be disbursed as the deal structure needed to be validated with multiple stakeholders and the government, sources said.

Almost all major trading house including Mercuria, Glencore , Vitol, Arcadia and Trafigura, are among Nigerian creditors.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member is among the world’s top 10 crude oil exporters, but has insufficient refining capacity to meet its domestic fuel needs and is heavily reliant on imports, on which it pays costly subsidies to keep a lid on retail petrol prices.

President Goodluck Jonathan attempted to end fuel subsidies but backed down after the move sparked wide-spread protests early last year.

Decades of mismanagement and corruption have left NNPC heavily indebted, several audits have shown.

The $1.4 billion loan will be repaid over five years with NNPC putting 15,000 barrels per day of oil production as collateral, the source said. Crude will be sold by Nigerian trader Sahara Energy.

The balance is owed to trading houses as well as oil majors BP, Royal Dutch Shell and Total for supplies of fuel in the last three years.

Repaying this debt will be more challenging as NNPC has committed most of its available oil flows for the next five years and which can generate additional cash only if oil prices stay much above $75 per barrel.

“Some more recent PPMC creditors did not get any proceeds from the recent drawdown, and cannot afford to be waiting and financially bleeding for another five years with no clear repayment roadmap,” one source said, adding that a solution could be found via an increase of the allocation of oil for creditors.

Kwara to launch pension scheme

K

WARA State is set to launch the contributory pension scheme, its Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, has said.

The governor, who made this known during the opening of the Northcentral zonal office of the National Pension Commission in Ilorin, said the scheme would be introduced as soon as the state legislature passed the draft bill on the scheme.

The governor, a statement, commended the scheme for generating investible funds worth N3.2trillion.

Ahmed was optimistic that the establishment of the Northcentral Zonal office would enable states in the area to key into the scheme as soon as possible.

He called on pension administrators to institutionalise transparency to sustain public confidence in pension funds as investment instruments.

The governor noted that like most investment products, pension schemes need to retain the trust of the public in the integrity of the service in order to sustain patronage. ”In doing this, we will not only ensure a positive public perception of the scheme but also attract more profitable investment in pension instruments”, he added.

The Acting Director-General, National Pension Commission, Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, said the establishment of offices in all the six geo-political zones of the country was designed to bring the commission’s activities closer to the contributors and retirees.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

27

BUSINESS NEWS

A

CBN to inaugurate consumer complaint mgt system

Consumer Complaints Management System would soon be inaugurated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to enable it to monitor banks’ breaches in customers’ accounts.

Speaking in Umuahia, Abia State, at the weekend, CBN Acting Director, Consumer and Financial Protection, Mrs Dutse Umma Aminu, said the platform, when completed, would enable the apex bank to see which customer complaints were being treated, and those that were not.

Mrs Aminu, who was represented by CBN’s Head, Consumer Education, Khadijah Kasim, explained that with the platform, the banking watchdog would see the complaints and track the turna-

By Collins Nweze

round time of their resolution.

She said the role of consumer protection is not limited to the CBN alone, but remains a collective responsibility of everyone, adding that the Consumer Protection Unit of the CBN is mandated to educate consumers and defend their interest, detect money laundering and combat financial terrorism as well as enhance awareness on these issues.

The CBN Acting Director said the apex bank is reviewing the framework on consumer protection to ensure that complaints by customers are promptly addressed.

She said where any of the cases is proved, the affected bank will

be required to make necessary amends and where financial obligations are involved, will be required to refund the money.

The measures, she said, were aimed at encouraging good banking and promoting efficiency in the delivery of financial services as well as boosting public confidence in the system.

Mrs Aminu said a lot of efforts had been made by the regulatory authorities to ensure that bank customers enjoy not only quality services, but also protection from excessive charges and outright loss of funds.

To achieve this objective, she said the apex bank had also established a Help Desk at its headquarters where the consumer complaints on any services are directed to.

Apex Bank refutes claims of cash-less policy suspension

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the weekend re futed claims by some individuals that the cash-less policy, which began in six states in July 1 had been suspended.

Addressing reporters at the end of a three-day media workshop in Umuahia, Abia State, CBN Director of Communications, Ugochukwu Okoroafor, said the CBN has not suspended the policy in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), Abia, Anambra, Kano, Ogun and Rivers states.

He said the apex bank considered the need to give people time to migrate to electronic channels and experience the infrastructure put in place by banks.

The CBN spokeman said just like what was done at the initial stage of cash-less Lagos, the threemonth moratorium given to customers to adapt to the policy was meant to ensure that challenges were identified and addressed.

He said the policy is aimed at promoting electronic-based transactions as against the use of cash for carrying out banking transac-

By Collins Nweze

tions.

Okoroafor said the CBN surpassed its target on the cash-less Lagos and is, therefore, is determined to do even better in the new states of implementation.

He said with the policy, it would be easier for the country to achieve its e-payment vision of being the top 20 economy in the world by 2020.

He said CBN will also not back down on the implementation of its policy that places N150,000 limit on all over-thecounter cheque withdrawals in commercial banks, microfinance banks and primary mortgage institutions (PMIs) nationwide.

He said the policy has recognised the success recorded in Lagos and the need to extend this to other states, adding that the Lagos success story has also contributed to the reduction of fraud on cheques as well as aided the National Financial Inclusion (NFI) Strategy.

EU okays 12m euro for standards accreditation in Nigeria

T •From left: Group Managing Director, Omatek Ventures Plc, Florence Seriki; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Okonjo Iweala; Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Aruma Oteh, and former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mr Odein Ajumogobia, during the finance minister’s tour of Omatek’s ultra-modern factory in Lagos ... at the weekend.

‘Cash-less policy to add 3.9% to GDP’

T

HE Central Bank of Niger ia’s (CBN’s) e-payment policy is expected to raise Nigeria’s’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 3.9 per cent by 2017, it was learnt.

In a report made available to The Nation, the RTC (Resources and Trust Company) an advisory services company, said electronic payments could contribute as high as 3.1 per cent to the country’s GDP in 2013, rising to 3.9 per cent by 2017.

The expected contributions, according to the firm, are largely from increased employment, savings from corruption, higher imports/domestic trade, savings from the government’s agricultural e-wallet scheme, financial sector savings from cash management, and non-financial sector

By Toba Agboola

substitution for cash.

According to the reports, the CBN projects numerous benefits including enhanced tax revenue, increased economic growth, increased financial inclusion, reduced robberies and cash-based fraud, reduced operating costs for banks, increased payments system efficiency and increased banking penetration. The policy is also expected to increase sales, productivity and boost economic growth.

Besides, it noted that the volume and value of electronic card transactions increased significantly from 195,525,568 and 1,072.9billion in 2010 to 355,252,201 and N 1, 6714.4 billion in 2011, an increase of 81.5 per cent and 55.8 per cent.

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) account for 97.8 per cent, followed by web-payments (one per cent), and mobile payments (0.6 per cent) in terms of volume.

In value terms, ATM accounted for 93.4 per cent, web (3.5 per cent), and mobile (1.2 per cent).

According to the report, the CBN’s policy of promoting electronic cards and channels is driven by the objectives of reducing banking industry costs by 30 per cent.

It listed the major challenges faced by users to include network problems and service failures, slow transactions, perceived risk, power, long queues, frequent machine breakdown and awareness/literacy. Also included are power, telecommunications, internet and transport infrastructure exert significant impact on service quality.

Expert seeks more manpower training for petroleum

A

FORMER Special Adviser to the minister of Petroleum Resources, Mr Ben Osuno, has urged managements of petroleum companies to invest more in human capital to grow and avert risks in the sector.

Osuno, who was guest speaker at the graduation of Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, said it is wrong for directors of oil firms to emphasise investment in infrastructure to the detriment of the staff, wondering if those equipment could work without the touch of a human hand.

He spoke on Technical education and human capacity development for Nigeria’s petroleum industry.

Noting that the PTI was established in 1972 to train workers for the

By Joseph Eshanokpe

petroleum industry, he said companies should see the institution as their baby and make use of its facilities.

He said though the industry is very profitable, it is also capital intensive and as such, it is not a place where one could start his business with small capital as it is in some industries.

He said to prospect for crude oil, one needs equipment. “These equipment cost money, first to acquire, then to operate and to maintain. When the crude oil is ‘won and captured’, it is really crude and needs to be treated and refined to a state or states conducive for handling and utilisation by consumers. Again, special facilities are required for all this, and the people to handle them need extensive training.

All this costs money. Hence one begins to agree with the investors that the petroleum industry is, indeed, very capital intensive, he said.

He continued: “In all of the activities and operations mentioned above, a lot of equipment and man-made facilities are deployed. A lot of manpower is needed to man those gadgets.

“You will, therefore, need to deploy humans to variously man the facilities and monitor what is going on at any place at any point in time.”

“By nature, petroleum and its derivatives are very flammable, toxic and noxious. The chemicals, compounds and elements used in its treatment and handling are equally not very friendly to human health. “

HE European Union (EU) has approved 12 million euro to the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to create a National Standards Accreditation and Meteorology Body in Nigeria.

UNIDO Country Representative, Dr. Patrick Kormawa, said the grant would be used to create an accreditation body that will aid business development, job creation and effective trade in the West African sub-region.

This is expected to create economic growth.

He spoke with The Nation in Lagos at a National Consultative Forum on Establishing a National Accreditation System in Nigeria was organised by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and UNIDO. Kormawa, who was represented by the Deputy Country Representative, Mr Raymond Tabares, said UNIDO is open to support a workable and viable West African cooperation that will create wealth and quality standards for product manufacturing.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, noted that standards accreditation has become a pre-requisite for social growth and economic development in every nation.

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

Accreditation, he said, marks the bedrock of credible conformity regime and assurance for trading partners.

Aganga, who was represented

by Minister of State, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, maintained that a nation’s competitiveness and acceptance in product manufacturing depended on assurance and conformity acceptance by its trading partners.

He pledged the Federal Government‘s commitment to the formation of the standards accreditation body to satisfy global market needs in satisfying the rigorous international standardisation scheme.

He said the government is investing so much in the provision of necessary infrastructure to provide an enabling environment for manufacturers.

Earlier, SON Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said creating the body was long overdue and commended the commitment of UNIDO to the project.

He said SON had done a lot of work to see to the fruition of the body based on the belief that no nation can function effectively without a standards accreditation body.

MFB targets N884m savings

W

ITH over 90,000 clients, Accion Microfinance Bank aims to grow its savings volume from N450 million to N884 million this year, its Managing Director, Bunmi Lawson, has said.

Lawson, who spoke in Lagos at a ceremony for winners in the firm’s ‘Accion Brighta Save Promo,’ said the savings mobilisation is targeted at the mass market, the micro and small entrepreneurs.

The Brighta Future account will be a major driver in the savings mobilisation programme, she added.

The microfinance bank gave out various prizes at the event. The star prize winner went home with a brand new Kia Picanto car while the second prize winner had a

By Uyoatta Eshiet

tricycle.

Lawson said building savings culture for micro entrepreneurs and low income earners is important as it provides security in time of emergencies and safety nets for the future.

Through savings, they are able to accumulate capital and invest in capital asset as opposed to consumption and depletion of wealth, she said.

She said as opposed to the belief that the poor don’t save, research have shown that the poor have their way of saving, adding that there are enormous potentials to be tapped in this market segment.

“Effective marketing strategy, development and deployment will therefore be required to penetrate this market,”she added.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

28

THE CEO

‘Many concessions are daylight robberies’ He comes to the job with a rich experience. George Uriesi, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) understands the aviation terrain well. For years, he managed the Cape Town International Airport in South Africa. He was also on the executive team of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). Since his return home in 2010, he has been working at FAAN, first as Director of Airport Operations and now, the Managing Director. His 20-month tenure as managing director has been dogged by controversy. Why? Because of his refusal to play ball with those fleecing the country, he says. Uriesi spoke with Assistant Editor JOKE KUJENYA.

H

OW do you react to allegations of financial recklessness in the ongoing remodelling activities of FAAN? All I can say is that all of these allegations are recycled information. And the one you are asking me now is even one of the mild ones. There are some that alleged I was a drug pusher in South Africa and even claimed that I ran away to the United States of America (USA) when I was declared wanted. In fact, this particular one you came with is one of the very old ones. There are some that claimed that while in USA, I was an international gangster, leading a group. I just think that I am very much disliked by very powerful people. But I am not bothered about this. The fact is some of those behind this stuff seem to be very powerful people. There have been a lot of so-called concessions done in FAAN over the years before we came in. First of all, they know that they cannot tackle me when we talk professionally because they too know that I am quite solid as an airport manager internationally. They also know that I’m a multiple award-winning airport manager.

When I looked at the papers and saw all that were going on in the name of concessions and agreements, in fact, there was a particular one that I carefully read through all that were written on papers; I nearly fell off my seat. All I could gasp was ‘what is this for God’s sake?’ So, I told them all, this is not a concession. And in every instance, I went to the people concerned and said to them, ‘please, let us look at this together. Is this concession agreement against which you are doing this business?’ And I told them again ‘but you know that this can’t stand or work now.’ In fact, I said openly to some that ‘you know this is fraudulent.’ One of them actually told me ‘You know George, you just came back. You’ve been out of the country for many years. You don’t really know what is going on...’ Then he told me ‘Just focus on your own job because some of these things pass you...’

• Uriesi

PHOTO: JOKE KUJENYA

Profile Institutions attended

Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma, Edo State; University of Southern California, ACI.

Qualification

Languages and Literary, BA Hons Degree; Aviation Safety Management Certificate; Airport Executive Leadership Certificate of Concordia University, Montreal, Canada; Executive Leadership Certificate of the University of Cape Town and a US-Certified Business Coach.

Previous positions

Products Supply Manager with Procter & Gamble South Africa Pty Ltd; Group Manager for Safety and Compliance, South African Civil Aviation Authority; General Manager of Cape Town International Airport; Executive/General Manager, Aviation Safety Promotion and Director of Airport Operations, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Present position

Managing Director, FAAN.

Professional associations

Airports Council International (ACI); World Standing Committee on Airport Safety and Technical Matters; Cape Town Destination Marketing Organisation (Cape Town Routes Unlimited).

Experience

Over 20 years.

Then I told him, you know I am the managing director and I have a judicious responsibility to correct things that are not going on right. I also told some of them; let’s renegotiate some of these things in such a way that it would add value to FAAN. I’m not saying all of them should go away. And what they often end up saying is ‘My brother, I beg leave that side.’

The least they expected was that I would be able to say ‘no’, we are going to cancel these things because it’s daylight robbery. So, in a very short time, I built a crop of very solid enemies.

In specific terms, what do the controversies about the concessionaires entail?

I am glad you brought this up. My take on it after being FAAN MD for about 20 months, is that it seems Nigeria wants progress but does not like progress in the real sense of the word. We fail to appreciate the fact that in

order to make progress, we must take lots of decisions that must be very unpopular with the powers-that-be. And I have found out that these so-called powerful people do not take these things lying low. They react in ways that are so vicious. So, it surprises me that these are people who travel all over the world and commend airports of the many countries they had been to, as looking quite great, abusing our own airports. They are the same people who now see that, at last, things are being done to remodel and upgrade our own airports, yet, all they could do is to attempt to thwart the efforts. They are the same people who were shouting where do they get the money that is being spent to upgrade airports from and all that? They keep saying we’re siphoning money and all that.

But I have had a very different approach to this. Let me start with the domestic terminal, the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) that we

rebuilt from the scratch. It costs N648 million. This is an amount of money that is less than what many Nigerians spend in building their personal houses. And the GAT is processing the same number of passengers that the Bi-Courtney Terminal that is supposed to have been built for N38 billion, is processing. This is because it was designed very efficiently, because we made very good use of the space we had.

You just said the GAT was remodelled for N648 million, and only Arik seems to be operating there. Why is this so and how would it generate the expected returns for the sector?

Yes, only Arik is operating there for now.

And that is because the other airlines are at the Bi-Courtney terminals. Our intention was never to take the carriers of the airlines there.

But Arik has never been able to operate there because it does not have the capacity to manage Arik. That is why Arik finds the GAT a suitable terminal to ferry its passengers from Lagos to anywhere they are going. However, other airlines have ticketing counters so you can buy your tickets at the GAT and go board your flight at the Bi-Courtney terminal. Nonetheless, it is rather difficult to say for now if other airlines might be able to move over to GAT. But if any comes to us and say they want to move over, I doubt if we have the right to deny them. Yet, it would all depend on if we have the capacity. At that stage, we may have to weigh the pros and cons and be sure that we do what is comfortable for everybody concerned.

FAAN says it is pursuing a radical automation programme intended to improve its revenue collection and block leakages, in practical terms, how is this objective being pursued?

It is very simple. And the way I would answer this question is, this is 2013, airports cannot be run without automation. And this •Continued on page 29

THE

, 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

29

THE CEO

‘Many concessions are daylight robberies’ •Continued from page 28

is another area of anger that has provoked the petition writers and the powers-that-be.

The introduction of automation is vastly changing the face of airport operations all over the world. Let me give you a couple of examples. If you have a shop in the airport and you have a concession agreement with us that says you will pay us a rent for the space you occupy. And it also states you will pay us a certain percentage of your gross earnings. Now, let us assume your gross earning is five per cent concession fee, which means, if you earn a hundred bucks, FAAN would take five per cent. But because we have no way of knowing how much you have actually been earning on your business apart from what you always tell us this is how much sales you made; so you just give us five per cent of your overall earnings. But with automation, each shop owner’s sales will be monitored through our system. So anything you sell, we know. And at the end of the day we would realise that those who have been underpaying us have actually been declaring lower than their actual turnovers. So, our five per cent of your one hundred naira would be weighing more than what you have been declaring. And so, you can’t just declare anything to us any longer.

Secondly, when you look at all the tickets at the gates of our airports, in which we print booklets and when you make your payments, they tear a ticket for you and you pass on to your destination. With all due respect to my staff, people always tell me, “Ha MD, the people have their own tickets and stuff like that”.

I was even told that it is after they have used three of their own booklets that they would manage to tear one of FAAN’s. Well, automation will put an end to all that.

Automation means when you come there, you will pay, take the tickets and then, the gates will open before you can pass. It will register exactly how much you pay, how many cars passed, and we would know precisely what our revenue is for each month.

The first month of automation in Abuja airport, has been very revealing. I am not accusing my staff of having short-changed the organisation. But I am saying that whatever leakages there were, have been blocked. We are now protecting the gates here. And that is why when you try to go through, you seem to see a lot of traffic because we are rebuilding it in such a way that it would change our revenue profile.

On electricity, FAAN pays for the power we consume at the airports. And everybody who sells at the airports uses same source of electricity supply paid for by FAAN for free. But in other airports across the world, the authorities recover the electricity charge. Sadly for us, there was no way to do this prior to recent times. So now, we are putting in pre-paid meters for every shop owner situated within our airports. So, power will only be supplied to your shop through the pre-paid meters.

Now, FAAN has a bill of about N250 million monthly due to airport operations across the country. And we don’t recover anything. But now, I can bet you, we will start recovering between N150 million and N170 million of the overall N260 million. Each shop operator will now have to pay FAAN for the power that we pay to PHCN. And when you don’t pay for your electricity in your own shop, it means, power will not be supplied to you or your power runs out. So, all these measures will make a huge positive difference to the revenue generation of FAAN, which we would be able to re-invest into the airports in the country.

While these are just a few of the benefits of automation, it also became a big controversy.

It got me so bothered that I had to retort why these people don’t want FAAN to automate. I have given you some basic examples of the huge difference it would make to the operations of FAAN, yet they don’t want it to happen. They just want to be left to be doing what they had been doing to our airports for the past 30years or so. These are just the basics of the automation which if allowed to work, there would be a huge change to the revenue

• Uriesi

income of FAAN and the aviation sector in the country.

Does it mean that if FAAN takes over the toll gates, it will run it better or what? And what happensto the operators?

Let me start by saying that, I have nothing but the highest respect for the young Nigerian entrepreneurs who had a five-year concession for these toll gates at our airports.

They have the best concession in FAAN, I must admit. And why did I say that? They paid us every month unfailingly. This is because in their concession, FAAN was able to include a clause that say they have a rolling monthly bank guarantee. This means, if they did not pay, the bank would take the money and pay us. So for that reason, they woke up to the responsibility of managing that concession. We may have issues with the amount of money that FAAN signed up to get out of the toll gates proceeds every month. I don’t mind that provided they were paying the money, one; and two, I could see that they were working very hard to maximise the incomes from the toll gates. But now that we are automating, their concession ends in November this year. So, it is not that we are stopping them, but we will not renew it for the simple reason that automation has taking off. We cannot be cheated, so why should we be paying somebody else a concession when the revenue can accrue to us directly because it is automated. So, it is just that the model has changed. We don’t need them anymore. However, they did a great job for the period. They were one of the very rare concessions that were well-documented. For that reason, I wish there was another area I could partner with those serious-minded group of young Nigerian entrepreneurs.

They were not like many who were just out to fleece others and on a larger scale, the country. But they worked so hard at the toll gates to keep the concession going. But if we have other projects in FAAN and we need people that we know will do a good job and pay their dues at the time allotted, I will not hesitate to contact them.

How is FAAN pursuing the airport certifi-

PHOTO: JOKE KUJENYA

cation programme?

On airport certification, ours was the first in Africa to be certificated in Cape Town International Airport long ago. That was as far back as 2005. So, I am quite at home with the process of certification. And my attitude to it is that, I looked at our airports and I felt the certification that the country already had, our airports meet regulatory requirements. It’s got the right runways, taxiways, navigational and visual aids, and all the things that are needed to run. Certification just means that, you have an organisation that is able to keep the airports running at optimal. So, it will then be certified that this particular airport is a compliant airstrip. Now, we have all these things and we have the propensity to invest back into a recalcitrant attitude. And so, the organisation must change to become a proactive agency that is determined to keep the airport running properly before I would want it certified. That’s my attitude. So, I said we should first get the infrastructure right and that is why we are working on the organisation in an all-round manner. We trust that by the second half of the year, this July, we are going into the certification of the Lagos Airport. Our target is that by the end of the year, that is in December, we would achieve the first proper certification of the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Ikeja, Lagos, and then, we would move on to Abuja.

By 2014, we would get the Port Harcourt Airport and the rest of them fully ready for certification.

Well, it is on record that FAAN generates so much revenue, however, what is the level of support the agency gets from the Federal Government and in what ways would all these translate to the economic benefit of all Nigerians?

Seriously, the airports are a huge revenue trigger. When airports are well managed, they contribute hugely to the economic base of the country and the surrounding communities in terms of employment, businesses, entrepreneurship and the indirect impact because a booming airport has a lot that gives an indirect effect. Now, we are going into the

‘When I looked at the papers and saw all that were going on in the name of concessions and agreements, in fact, there was a particular one that I carefully read through all that were written on papers; I nearly fell off my seat. All I could gasp was ‘what is this for God’s sake?’

aerotropolis, which is a deliberate development of the cities around the airports. And this would then generate huge employments from the massive economic activities that would impact on the residents of the surrounding areas. If we don’t do this, then, everything is a waste. So, we are trying to make sure that we allow our airports to interpose in that aspect.

Can you expatiate on the aeronautical revenues?

Nigerian airports have been dependent on the aeronautical revenues from time.

Whereas, the world over, dependency on aeronautical proceeds is almost suicidal for an airport. This is revenue that comes from landing and parking of aeroplanes as well as passengers service charge. Non-aeronautical incomes are the shops, businesses around the airports, and the commerce they generate. An airport must be able to rely on both independent sources. When Dana crashed last year, fortunately, there was this significant reduction in aeronautical activity because the airline was out. Shortly after, Air Nigeria went down, also for a while, Aero Contractors was suspended, and it was almost only Arik that was flying at a time. Our revenue grossly nosedived. And at the same time, we had closed all our commercials because we were doing renovations and all the airports seemed grounded. So, we suffered severely for the late part of last year. If we had the booming non-aeronautical revenue already going on, the impact of that plunge would have been significantly reduced. So, we need both. So, there is much more non-aeronautical activities such as restaurants, shops and all sorts of things and therefore more revenue to the airports. So in Akure, Ibadan, Ilorin, you will see a quadrupling. There will be a vast increase in the revenue generation unlike the previous offering. Already, in MMA, it is not quadrupling, it is about quintuple of the prior commercial offering.

A few weeks back, an aircraft was sighted in an unusual place around Igando, it was later discovered to be a disused plane. What is FAAN’s plan towards removing such craft from our airports and what would be the cost implication in terms of removal and sales?

FAAN didn’t generate anything, and we didn’t spend. It’s neutral for us. What we did is, in order to get rid of the aeroplanes, we get people that can come and dismantle and take them away. Then, they can make what they want out of it. This issue of disused planes have been unnecessarily over-exaggerated. There is really little of aeroplane parts that can be recycled. Lot of aeroplane parts are the seats and the inside generally. The major part that can be used is a part of the skin, and that is even very minimal. In every aeroplane, there is so much work to do in order to just extract a little skin. And that is why we said to people that can do it to come and take them away. For two years that we advertised, barely did anyone show up voluntarily until we finally got somebody who expressed his preparedness to take it up. So, he came around and carried away the scrap.

Now, the one towed and seen at Igando, it was somebody that came and said he would like to use the aeroplane as educational specimen for children in a particular location. He’s one of these captains. So, they cut the wings in order to be able to tow it on the road, which is very normal. It happens in every country in the world. But in Nigeria, a crowd gathered, claiming that an aeroplane crashed.

Now, for the billions of naira being owed FAAN by foreign and domestic airlines, what is the agency’s recovery strategy?

We are being owed a lot of money, I must be factual. For now, we are going through a legal process where we have assigned legal debt recovery agents for the first time, to go about recovering the debts owed FAAN. That for us is the only avenue through which our debts can be retrieved. It’s difficult to tell you the exact amount because for the first time, we are going to ask the Federal Government to allow us to cancel and write off some debts that are considered unreasonable in our balance sheet. Such debts are, like those of Okada Air, Haco Air and most of the airlines that are no longer functional. But we are still carrying them on the balance sheet. We want to delineate between what is visible and recoverable because by now, we should know the ones that can never be repaid. So then, let them go. I assure that we are working on that in line with due process. But the good thing about that of the foreign airlines is that they are the ones that keep us going because they pay their bills. They all owe but our international airline owners pay us regularly. The problem for us is when they owe and do not pay and the thing keeps accumulating over the years. But we need the domestic airlines to service their debts more.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

30

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 5-07-13

Investors stake N15b as equities gain N268b

T

HE stock market regained its vibrancy last week as sustained uptrend in the last two trading days of the week evened out earlier fluctuations to leave investors with capital gain of N268 billion.

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) Plc was the toast of investors during the week with transactions on the conglomerate accounting for 56.4 per cent of aggregate turnover for the week.

Aggregate market value of all equities rose by 2.35 per cent to close at N11.694 trillion, representing an increase of N268 billion on the week’s opening value of N11.426 trillion. The All

By Taofik Salako

Share Index (ASI) indicated a weekly return of 2.11 per cent at 36,926.29 points compared with its index-onboard of 36,164.31 points for the week. The market overtly on the upswing with 44 gainers against 36 losers.

Investors staked N14.90 billion on 3.48 billion shares in 24,576 deals with Transcorp accounting for 1.96 billion shares, representing 56.41 per cent of total turnover for the week.

Turnover on Transcorp represented 7.6 per cent of the company’s total outstanding shares.

The demand-supply situation on Transcorp indicated an uptrend as the

stock appreciated by 17.97 per cent last week to close at N1.51 per share.

With the voluminous turnover by Transcorp, the conglomerates sector was atop activity chart with a turnover of 1.97 billion shares valued at N2.83 billion in 1,400 deals. The financial services sector followed with 762.03 million shares valued at N6.19 billion in 12,479 deals. The telecommunications subsector recoded a turnover of 497.34 million shares valued at N994.53 million in 26 deals.

On the over the counter (OTC) market, investors staked N151.21 billion on 134.83 million units of sovereign bonds in 929 deals.

Two brokers delisted, one suspended

T

HE Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), the statutory regulatory body for the stockbroking profession in Nigeria, has delisted two of its members from its register as institute continued efforts to maintain professional integrity.

The two stockbrokers Peter Temidayo Ola and Mr. Kingsley Okwudiri Nnaji, were deregistered and barred for life from practising as stockbrokers for alleged involvement in unprofessional conducts. Another stockbroker, Mr. Akinwale Olagundoye, was suspended from trading in the Nigerian capital market for six months.

He has however, appealed against the decision.

The deregistration of the brokers followed the judg-

ment of CIS Disciplinary Tribunal, which found them guilty of various offences.

The CIS Tribunal is saddled with adjudicating and enforcing market practices and rules with a view to protecting investors in the market. Justice George Oguntade (rtd)is the legal assessor to the tribunal.

In the judgments of the tribunal made available by Secretary of the tribunal, Ola was found guilty of infamous conduct contrary to and punishable under Regulations 5(vi), 5(vii) and 5 (xii) and section 11(1)(a) of the CIS Act of 1992.

Four count charges were brought against Ola, including the collection of money from persons with the pretence that he had shares to sell; conniving with securities houses not registered with

the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to defraud unsuspecting investors.

According to some of the charges, Ola was alleged to have between May and June 2009 collected N320, 000 from two persons under the false pretence that he had shares of Friesland Campina Wamco Nigeria when he knew he had none to sell.

Nnaji, was deregistered because of infamous conduct for which the Disciplinary Committee of the Exchange had already found him guilty and his dealership clerkship withdrawn since last year.

After reviewing the decision of the NSE committee, the tribunal affirmed that the conduct of Nnaji was of such magnitude that warranted the penalty given by the Exchange.

However, Nnaji could appeal for relisting of his name if the decision of the NSE against him is reversed by an appellate tribunal.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 5--07-13

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

31

MONEY LINK

L

ENDING to the private sector increased to N15.5trillion ( $96.8billion) in May, this year, FBN Capital Limited has said.

The investment and research firm in its report titled: “Lending growth to the private sector subdued’, said state governments that are part of the private sector, borrowed N691billion ($4.3 billion) as at April, this year.

Noting that the Federal Government is not part of the private sector, FBN Capital said that the private sector stands for the domestic sector of the economy.

“Net loans from the banking system to the private sector in-

Credit to private sector hits N15.5tr Nigeria (AMCON) bonds, which are to be refinanced.

It noted that banks’ credit to the private sector has increased in April by 1.0 per cent month to month and 11 per cent year-toyear, adding that the data is one month older when stripping the CBN from the figure for the banking system.

According to the firm, soaring loan growth in 2007 and 2008 resulted in the country’s domestic event - that is the two bailouts by the CBN in 2009. It

• State govts borrow N691b

By Akinola Ajibade

creased in May by just 0.5 per cent monthly and seven per cent yearly. The private sector in this case is defined as the domestic economy other than the Federal Government of Nigeria, and thus includes the state governments, whose borrowings amounted to N691billion ($4.3billion) as at end-April,”

the investment firm said.

The total for the private sector in May was N15.5trillion ($96.8billion).

The firm said the deposit money banks accounted for about 70 per cent of N15.5trilliion loan, while the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) accounted for the remaining 30 per cent in the form of Asset Management Corporation of

noted that the granting of the bailouts coincided with the global financial meltdown, adding that the banks have learnt some lessons as a result of the developments. Besides, it noted that the regulatory authorities have put in place financial tightening measures. “ Nonetheless, the banks have indicated a more rapid loan book expansion this year than in 2012, and some have guided to as high as 20 per cent,” FBN Capital added.

Why Sterling Bank is raising more capital, by MD

T

HE Managing Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr Yemi Adeola, at the weekend explained why the lender is raising additional capital.

Speaking with reporters in Lagos, he said the net proceeds of the bank’s ongoing rights issue would be used to upscale growth and strengthen the lender’s operations for continuous improved benefits to all stakeholders.

He said the new capital would also be used to fund the bank’s growth plan, including expansion and modernisation of branch network and information technology. The funds will also be used to support the bank’s growing retail and corporate banking businesses.

Sterling Bank is raising N12.5 billion through a rights issue of about 5.889 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N2.12

By Taofik Salako

per share. The lender had traded at a high of N3.05 at the stock market. The shares have been pre-allotted on the basis of three new ordinary shares of 50 kobo each for every eight ordinary shares of 50 kobo each held as at May 20, 2013. Application list, which opened on June 24, 2013, will run till July 31, 2013.

The rights circular indicated that the net proceeds of the rights issue, estimated at N12.13 billion, would be used mainly to finance branch expansion and increase working capital A detailed breakdown of utilisation of net proceeds indicated that 35 per cent estimated at N4.24 billion, will be used for branch expansion; 15 per cent estimated at N1.82 billion for infrastructure upgrade, 10 per cent equivalent to N1.21 billion for information technology and the

largest chunk of 40 per cent, estimated at N4.85 billion, will be used as additional working capital.

Adeola explained further that the ongoing rights issue and other capital raising exercises were meant to support the bank’s next growth agenda, which is aimed at consolidating its stable performance over the years and enhance its competitiveness in terms of size and resilience to macroeconomic changes.

He said additional capitalisation had become necessary because size has become increasingly important and relevant in the banking industry and the extent of capital base could be a limit to expansion in terms of physical presence and operations.

The Sterling Bank boss pointed out that the additional working capital will enable the bank to

expand the scope of its corporate banking business, noting that the lender is currently limited by the single obligor limit, which is a function of available capital base.

He outlined that the bank would use the net proceeds from the rights issue to open more branches in places such as Abuja, Aba, Bayelsa, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Owerri and Port Harcourt as it seeks to consolidate its pan-Nigerian franchise.

He expressed confidence that given the well-thought out growth plan and the itemised uses of the net proceeds, the bank would leap on the back of this recapitalisation to achieve its top-five bank goal while delivering better returns to shareholders.

Savouring early reports from

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

NIDF NESF

OBB Rate Call Rate

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 5-07-13

SYMBOL CAP FO WAPIC PORTPAINT EVANSMED CORNERST JOHNHOLT PRESCO SIMCAPVAL TRABSCORP

O/PRICE 45.00 18.50 0.81 5.98 3.39 0.54 1.43 36.99 95.91 1.40

C/PRICE 49.49 20.34 0.89 6.57 3.72 0.59 1.55 39.97 103.50 1.51

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

CHANGE 4.49 1.84 0.08 0.59 0.33 0.05 0.12 2.98 7.59 0.11

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

O/PRICE

AGLEVENT 1.60 MANSARD 2.14 ETERNA 3.38 ROYALEX 0.06 CUSTODYINS 1.60 ASHAKACEN 26.50 NEM 0.78 DIAMONDBNK 6.92 CONTINSURE 1.30 CADBURY 56.89

C/PRICE 1.45 2.00 3.22 0.58 1.55 25.80 0.76 6.81 1.28 56.10

CHANGE 0.15 0.14 0.16 0.02 0.05 0.70 0.02 0.11 0.02 0.79

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 5-07-13

SYMBOL

receiving agents and stockbrokers, Adeola reassured shareholders that picking up their rights amounts to raising the proverbial golden hen that will continuously build up their nest eggs.

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS Tenor

• Adeola

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 9.17 9.08 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE INVE 139.26 138.78 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 156.04 154.70 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.80 0.78 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.17 1.17 BGL NUBIAN FUND 1.12 1.11 FBN MONEY MARKET FUND 100.00 100.00 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,000.00 1,000.00 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,827.80 1,817.40 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 13.66 12.99 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 1.33 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 1.80 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 11,176.01 10,842.83 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUNDARM AGGRESSIVE • OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

32

International Business

Brazil seeks $7b from largest oil find auction B RAZIL expects an upfront payment of at least 15billion reais ($7 billion) from the winner of the October auction for rights to develop Libra, the country’s largest-ever oil discovery, the government said at the weekend, Reuters reports.

The sale, Brazil’s first under the production-sharing contract model, requires the winner to give at least 40 per cent of Libra’s output after expenses to the government to sell on its own account, the Energy Planning Council said.

Under the model, initial oil output is credited against investors’ exploration and development costs.

Once those costs are paid, the “profit oil” is shared between investors and the government.

The profit oil calculation will take into account the upfront signing bonus of the multiple platforms, production systems expected for the area, and Libra’s cash flow over the duration of the production-sharing

contract model, the planning council CNPE said in the government’s Official Gazette.

President Dilma Rousseff hopes to use profits from the auction to fund education and health initiatives in Brazil, where a new middle class took to the streets last month in the largest national protest in 20 years to demand better public services.

The auction requires at least 37 per cent of local goods and services during the exploration stage and 55 to 59 per cent in the development phase, the CNPE said.

Brazil has required foreign firms to buy a certain amount of their equipment locally on a number of occasions to protect local industry, causing the cost of developing oil assets in Brazil to rise above world market levels.

Under a 2010 law, in the sale of Libra and other unleased areas in Brazil’s Subsalt Polygon, state-run Petroleo Brasileiro SA, or Petrobras,

has to be the operator and put up 30 per cent of all investment, even if it is not part of the winning bid group.

Libra, with an estimated 12 billion barrels of recoverable oil, or enough to meet 1.5 years of U.S. demand, is the world’s biggest prospect to be put up for auction.

Production is expected to begin in five years. The $7-billion compares with the $4.6-billion Brazil had considered earlier.

Brazil expects more than 1 million barrels a day of oil out of Libra, said Magda Chambriard, director-general of Brazil’s National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels, on the sidelines of an industry conference in Singapore on Thursday.

That would be enough to supply all of Australia’s oil needs at 2012 consumption levels. If the Libra area were a country, it would be the 20th largest oil producer, according to data from Reuters and BP Plc. Chambriard was in Singapore to

promote the auctions of Brazil’s presalt oil and onshore natural gas reserve areas.

The Subsalt Polygon is an offshore area half the size of Italy. It covers oil provinces that produce more than 80 per cent of Brazil’s output and may contain as much as 100 billion barrels of oil, according to Rio de Janeiro State University.

The area gets its name from giant discoveries made starting in 2007 below a layer of salt, deep beneath the seabed. Most current output and much of the remaining potential now lies above the salt layer.

Chambriard also said Brazilian billionaire Eike Batista’s flagship oil company OGX Petroleo e Gas SA has qualified to participate in the October auction.

“They fulfill the requirements we have and that is enough,” Chambriard said, without providing further details.

OGX on Monday slashed capital

spending and pulled the plug on three offshore oil prospects as it continues to struggle to turn promising offshore discoveries into producing fields.

Once Brazil’s second-largest oil company by market value and a symbol of the country’s stalling, decade-long commodities boom, OGX shares are trading at less than 3 per cent of their all-time high.

Brazil held its first oil auction in nearly five years in May and received serious interest from private investors in high-risk frontier regions with little or no oil output.

André Araujo, president of Royal Dutch Shell in Brazil, said his firm was still waiting for more details on the October auction, expected later this month, before deciding whether or not to participate.

“We are awaiting the draft definition of the contract that will be even placed in public hearing,” he told reporters at an event in Rio de Janeiro.

Bombardier gains in race for UK rail deal •Siemens withdraws

B

•From left: Executive Vice President and Chief Market Leader, Royal Philips, Ronald de Jong; General Manager, Philips West Africa, Abdallah H. Khamis, and Chief Executive Officer, Philips Africa, JJ Van Dongen, at the Philips Cape Town to Cairo Roadshow media session in Lagos.

‘Banks may hold more capital to cover risk’ B

ANKS may have to hold yet more capital after a study showed wide variations in how lenders calculate risks on their books, global regulators said in their latest bid to restore trust in the tarnished sector, Reuters report.

Though new rules demand that seven per cent of capital is set aside as a protective cushion, a bank can inflate this health benchmark by as much as two percentage points, depending on the risk model used, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision said last week.

The committee made up of regulators from top financial centres is to examine a number of options as a result of its study of 100 unnamed banks, with extra data from the world’s top 32 lenders on their

sovereign, bank and corporate exposures.

“While some variation in risk weightings should be expected with internal model-based approaches, the considerable variation observed warrants further attention,” Basel Committee Chairman Stefan Ingves said.

The committee put forward several policy options, with quick wins such as enhanced disclosure, extra guidance from supervisors and possible clarification of existing rules.

Over the medium term, it will examine whether to put restraints on the internal models used by banks.

Even tougher curbs could include fixed-value capital floors, which

banks would have to apply even if in-house models indicate that the risk does not warrant holding as much capital.

Jamie Dimon, chief executive of US bank JPMorgan Chase & Co., was widely seen as attacking European rivals in 2011 when he said some lenders were lax in how they calculated risk.

The Basel study shows no clear evidence that European banks are generally more lax than U.S. rivals, though they appear to be so in relation to their exposure to other banks.

“In the near term, information from this study on the relative positions of banks is being used by national supervisors and banks to take action to improve consistency,” said Ingves, who is also governor of Sweden’s central bank.

Yazaki is the world’s No. 1 maker of so-called wire harnessing systems, which power up the electronic components linking the vehicle’s computers to various functions.

World No. 2 supplier Sumitomo Electric (5802.T) will not face sanctions, as it alerted the Commission to the cartel, the people said.

The fines from the European Commission are expected to be the first of several against car parts suppliers, many of which

are under investigation for fixing prices for products ranging from thermal systems to seat belts and ball bearings.

The penalties are expected to be substantially lower than those exacted by U.S. and Japanese antitrust regulators as the companies received a 10 percent cut on top of other discounts for admitting wrongdoing, the people said.

Japan and the United States have already imposed hefty fines on several parts suppliers, with more than 10 people serving jail

EU to fine Yazaki, Leoni, two other car parts makers

E

UROPEAN Union (EU) antitrust regulators will next week penalise four car parts makers including Yazaki and Leoni (LEOGn.DE) for taking part in a cartel, three people familiar with the matter said at the weekend, as part of a crackdown on price-fixing in the sector, Reuters reports.

The sources said Yazaki subsidiary S-Y Systems Technologies Europe GmbH will also be fined, along with Furukawa Electric Co (5801.T).

O M B A R D I E R Transportation’s chances of winning an almost $1.6billion British rail contract and maintaining its operations in Derby, England, appeared brighter at the weekend following the withdrawal of German rival Siemens from bidding on the Cross rail project, Globe and Mail, reports.

Siemens said it will no longer proceed with the procurement process because it is too busy with other contracts, including the $2.5-billion Thameslink project it won over Bombardier in 2011.

The winning Crossrail bidder will deliver 600 railway cars for a new line connecting east and west London. The contract is expected to be announced next year, with service starting in late 2018.

Siemens said pursuing another project of this scale could com-

promise its ability to deliver trains to current customers.

The firm described the Crossrail bidding process as fair and said it will continue to deliver signalling and communications and control systems for the project.

Other bidders are CAF of Spain and Hitachi of Japan. But industry observers believe Siemens’ move opens the door for Bombardier, which would build the railway cars at Britain’s last remaining train factory.

The Berlin-based division of Bombardier Inc. has threatened to close Derby unless it wins a large contract.

Walter Spracklin of RBC Dominion Securities said Siemens withdrawal is “all but assuring a win for Bombardier.”

He said Bombardier was already widely expected to win this contract after losing the Thameslink deal, but Siemens was a top competitor because the railway cars are similar on both projects.

RIM holds AGM tomorrow

R

ESEARCH in Motion (RIM) Ltd. will likely face tough questions about its future at its yearly meeting tomorrow after dismal quarterly results last week triggered a 28-per-cent plunge in the Canadian smartphone maker’s share price, Reuters reports.

Sales of the BlackBerry maker’s make-or-break new line of smartphones in the quarter ended June 1 came in well below analysts’ expectations and offered little evidence that the company can quickly win back market share from Apple Inc.’s iPhone, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.’s Galaxy devices, and other phones powered by Google Inc.’s Android operating system.

“The results were a quasi-death knell for BlackBerry,” said John Goldsmith, the deputy head of equities at Montrusco Bolton, which owns more than 1.5 million RIM shares. “The share move last week was very violent. I think you are going to get people standing up and making their voices heard at the AGM.” BlackBerry has forecast another operating loss for the current quarter, but chief executive Thorsten Heins said the company is on the right track and just needs more time.

“This is a year of investment. We have managed our cash carefully and prudently, and we now have the funds

to invest, so this is the ‘create the future’ year,” Mr. Heins told Reuters.

Some investors say BlackBerry must now look at all its options, from a sale of the whole company to a sale of parts. Its valuable patent portfolio and high-margin services business could draw interest from technology companies, according to bankers and investors.

Interest from private equity is seen to be weak, however, and some investors said they fear that BlackBerry will only lose more value if it keeps posting losses, burning through cash and bleeding subscribers.

“I think the pieces were worth more than the whole a year or two ago, but that’s becoming less of a convincing argument and I am not sure it is true,” said one fund manager, whose firm is one of RIM’s top 20 shareholders.

The manager declined to be identified, citing to his firm’s policy.

Ottawa reviews any big takeover of a Canadian company for competitive and national security reasons. Government officials have often said they want BlackBerry to succeed as a Canadian company, but concede they do not know how things will play out.

Given the uncertainty about its turnaround prospects, a foreign bid for BlackBerry could be palatable to Canadian regulators, some shareholders say.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

33

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8 , 2013

34

EQUITIES WATCH

Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk

Insurance stocks are still generally in recession. With 69 per cent of insurance stocks stagnant at nominal value and just only 10 per cent trading above 100 kobo, insurers appear to be in the grips of the bears. What will tickle the insurance bulls?

TAOFIK SALAKO reports that the bottomed prices reflect the risks and opportunities in stock market’s largest subgroup

I

N the past 18 months, equity investors have been with broadening smiles. Nigerian equities recorded average return of 35.4 per cent in 2012.

The full-year return in 2012 implied accretion of some N2.44 trillion in capital gains to investors during the 12-month period. The market opens today with a year-to-date average return of 31.51 per cent. Average market return is denoted by the All Share Index (ASI) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), a value-based index that tracks all equities on the Exchange. Besides its primary importance as benchmark for the NSE, ASI doubles as country index and relates average value at the stock market.

Sectoral indices at the NSE generally show positive returns. The NSE Insurance Index opens today with a year-to-date return of 18.10 per cent. The NSE Banking Index indicates average return of 22.4 per cent. The NSE Industrial Goods Index reflects gains by highly capitalised stocks with a return of 57.07 per cent. The NSE Consumer Goods Index opens today with a return of 23.82 per cent while the NSE Oil and Gas Index shows a modest return of 15.67 per cent.

Besides its relative low level compared with the market’s overall return, the insurance index belies the general state of insurance stocks. Unlike the ASI that tracks all equities, many sectoral indices, like the insurance index, are constituted by selected stocks on the basis of market capitalisation and activity. Out of the 29 insurance stocks, 20 insurers have stagnated at their nominal value of 50 kobo while three others were almost down to their nominal value. Only three insurance stocks are trading between 100 kobo and 200 kobo.

Given their historic pricing trends in January 2008, the extent of the recession in the Nigerian insurance sector looms larger than the global economic and financial crises. Insurance stocks have literally fallen off the cliffs. In the early 2008, nearly all insurance stocks were trading in three digits, in multiples of their nominal values and considerably in competitive prices with other related stocks. Prestige Assurance and Wapic Insurance-two sectoral leaders by share prices, opened February 2008 with four-digit values at N11.40 and N10.60 respectively. Today, Prestige Assurance is stuck at 56 kobo per share while Wapic Insurance opens today at 89 kobo. Other insurance companies relate the same story. Aiico Insurance opened February 2008 at N3.43, Continental Reinsurance set out at N5.15, Cornerstone Insurance was N6.19, Crusader Insurance traded at N7.85, Custodian and Allied Insurance was N6.50, Great Nigeria Insurance opened at N3.80, Guinea Insurance’s price on board was N4.30, Lasaco Assurance was valued at N4.88, International Energy Insurance opened at N5.94 while Law Union and Rock Insurance was traded at N6.10. Other market considerations then included Linkage Assurance, N4.80; Mutual Benefits Assurance, N4.96; NEM Insurance, 4.35; Niger Insurance, N8.70; Oasis Insurance, N4.63; Royal Exchange Assurance of Nigeria, N5.43, Sovereign Trust Insurance, N4.56 while Unic Insurance opened February 2008 at N5.51 per share.

But contrary to the largely diversify and generally upward pricing trend in early 2008, insurance stocks open today with almost a generic depressive outlook.

Poor investment, bad recovery Without major natural or artificial disasters that could have shaken risks-bearing companies to their net assets, the current outlook of the insurance sector was not unconnected with the 2008 stock market recession. Heavily exposed to the equities market, unyielding depression in shares prices directly built up losses and provisions in the profit and loss accounts and balance sheets of insurance companies. On the other end, share prices of insurance companies were generally worst

Insurance Stocks’ Comperative Pricing Trends

Series 1: Opening Prices Feb 2013, Series 2: Opening Prices July 08, 2013

When ‘ll the bulls take the risks? hit by the recession as a hangover of negative industry perception, streak of impaired portfolio-induced losses and reticent management combined to single out insurance sector as the highpoint of the bear market.

With huge funds raised during the capital market boom, and following the trails of squandering banks, insurance companies had turned mainly to the capital market to invest their bubble-induced assets. Small and medium insurance companies, which had metamorphosed into big companies with outstanding shares and equity funds larger than size of business, left the conservative nature of risk assessment and provision-the core expertise of insurers, and turned into speculators. Unmindful of the unscrupulous linkage then between banks’ deposits and the bubble share prices in the market, insurance companies were caught napping when the financial services regulators pulled the plugs.

With most insurance companies struggling with losses, they were also left out of the big gains in the market recovery. Many analysts in the know have located the portfolio risks of insurance companies in their asset allocations and choice of stocks.

While overexposure to equities had built in significant losses during the market recession, several insurance firms invested largely in banking stocks and private placements, two categories of securities that had left investors with open wounds. Three banks were nationalized and their previous equity investments wiped out while some four banks were acquired in transactions that saw significant dilutions of their equities. Several private placements have backed down on promises to list their shares on the stock market, technically locking down investors’ funds.

Beyond the depression However, the general depression in the insurance sector appears to have been orchestrated by psychological investing or class phobia- a segregation that tends to view an entire group within the same window irrespective of individual potential.

While the historic fundamentals of most insurance companies were discouraging, emerging fundamentals of several insurers show good potential, especially when viewed against the bottom-rock share prices. For instance, on the back of a dividend per share of 11 kobo for the 2012 business year, Mansard Insurance recorded 36 per cent increase in net profit in the first quarter ended March 31, 2013.

Profit after tax rose from N426.89 million to N579.37 million.

While investors need to tread cautiously, the relatively low turnover-to-net assets ratios of most insurance companies and low share prices present attractive combinations for discerning investors. On one hand, there is significant headroom for underwriting capacity and growth.

On the other hand, there is still much growth potential in the Nigerian insurance industry. From government to the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and to operators, insurance stakeholders have recently taken major steps to enliven the performance of the industry. The passage of the Nigeria Content Development Act and other laws on compulsory insurance by government has opened up tremendous business opportunities for insurance companies. The Local Content Act requires that all insurance risks associated with oil and gas sector including prospecting, exploration, drilling, constructions, shipping, distri-

‘Although insurance industry is still highly fragmented with some 51 insurance companies, wellmanaged quoted insurance companies stand to benefit both in the event of industry consolidation or market-driven competitiveness that places premium on security of insurance rather than lower rates’

bution, marketing and transportation must be insured in Nigeria with registered Nigerian insurance company. This law alone represents immense opportunity for well-capitalised and stable insurance companies.

Besides, NAICOM has also in recent period taken many far-reaching and proactive steps to standardize insurance operations and enforce conformity with best practices. NAICOM has introduced new accounting standards with more stringent provisions to ensure that insurance profit and loss accounts and balance sheet showed the true state of affairs. Insurers are also expected to make timely rendition of accounts, making their returns more predictable. With the broad provisions of the Insurance Act and related NAICOM guidelines, the tough stand of the insurance regulator has greatly improved the operating environment. The industry regulator is also leading the charge for compliance with existing compulsory insurance laws.

Insurers are also realigning to pool scales and built competitive edges. Custodian & Allied Insurance Plc recently took over the assets and liabilities of Crusader Nigeria Plc. The enlarged entity is now known as Custodian & Allied Plc. Also, Mansard Insurance recently acquired the entire issued share capital of Procare Health Plan Nigeria Limited, a health management organization (HMO) company as it continued to consolidate its health insurance business. Mansard indicated it intended to recapitalize and run Procare as its subsidiary in the health maintenance industry.

Although insurance industry is still highly fragmented with some 51 insurance companies, well-managed quoted insurance companies stand to benefit both in the event of industry consolidation or market-driven competitiveness that places premium on security of insurance rather than lower rates. With estimated penetration of some seven per cent, Nigeria’s large population and expansive economy also put insurers on good footings. It is these medium to long term outlooks that should concern discerning investors. While immediate liquidity may be a challenge, relatively good and stable returns and appreciable long-term capital appreciation will compensate for the waiting period.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

35

MONEY MARKET REPORT

Inter-bank rate steady on improved liquidity

T

HE inter-bank rate was steady last week, reflecting improved market liquidity from treasury bills (T-Bills) repayment. The stability was linked partly to slowdown in Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) liquidity management exercise from June till date. In a special Open Market Operation (OMO) auction conducted last Thursday, the apex bank sold N92.46 billion of 210-day T-Bills. It offered N300 billion and sold N92.46 billion at 13.125 per cent.

Last week’s rate showed that the call/overnight and seven-day money market rates were 10.3 per cent and 10.7 per cent respectively while the three-month Nigeria Inter-bank Offered Rate (NIBOR) also fell to 11.4 per cent although less activities are done on the tenor.

The inter-bank secured lending (Open Buy Back) was steady on 10.25 per cent for commercial banks and discount houses respectively.

Currencies Analyst at Ecobank Nigeria, Olakunle Ezun, projected that due to improved market liquidity, inter-bank rate would likely remain steady on 10.5 per cent during the week. The naira weakened 0.6 per cent against the dollar in the Inter-bank and has lost 3.4 per cent of its value year to date reflecting strong dollar demand to support import. Ezun said the naira remains under pressure notwithstanding CBN’s interventions mainly because of sliding foreign reserves and rising petroleum imports.

Financial inclusion The CBN policy on financial inclusion reduced the adult exclusion rate in the financial system from 46.3 per cent in 2010 to 39.7 per cent. CBN Acting Director, Consumer & Financial Protection, Mrs Dutse Umma Aminu, disclosed this at the media Finance Correspondents and Business Editors seminar in Umuahia, Abia State.

Mrs Aminu, who was represented

by CBN Head, Consumer Education, Khadijah Kasim, said the overall strategy of the policy is to reduce adult exclusion rate from 46.3 per cent in 2010 to 20 per cent in 2020 as such feat would support the empowerment of many Nigerians and promotion of economic growth.

He said the CBN strategy defined clear objectives and sets specific targets across five primary products and services bothering on payments, credits, savings, pensions and insurance. He said the priority is on transforming the Know Your Customer (KYC) regulation into simplified risk-based tiered framework that allows individuals who do not meet formal identification requirements to enter the banking system.

He said the CBN and banks have achieved rapid progress regarding the new KYC regulation already released to commercial banks. He explained that the CBN is also pursuing the development and implementation of regulatory framework for agent banking to enable financial institutions deliver services through agents such as post offices in locations that will otherwise be unprofitable to open physical branches.

Eluhaiwe said the CBN has also developed and is implementing a National Financial Literacy Framework to guide delivery programmes that will increase the awareness and understanding of financial products and services with the ultimate goal of increasing sustainable users.

The banking watchdog, he added is also implementing a comprehen-

AS AT JULY 5, 2013

By Collins Nweze

sive consumer protection framework to safeguard the interest of consumers of financial products and services and sustain confidence in the financial system.

Govt earnings The Federal Government earned N805.91 billion in April, CBN Economic Report for the month showed. The report said the earning was below the provisional monthly budget estimate by 14.7 per cent, but exceeded the receipt in the preceding month by two per cent.

At N620.97 billion, oil receipts (gross), which constituted 77.1 per cent of the total revenue was below the provisional monthly budget estimate by 3.7 per cent, but surpassed the level in the preceding month by 4.3 per cent. It said the decline relative to budget estimate was attributed largely, to the fall in receipts from crude oil and gas exports in the review period.

The CBN said gross non-oil receipts stood at N184.94 billion, but was lower than both the monthly budget estimate and the level in the preceding month by 38.5 and five per cent.

The decline relative to the monthly budget estimate, it said reflected, largely, the low receipts from corporate tax, customs and excise duties and independent revenue of the Federal Government.

Federal Government estimated that retained revenue was N323.96 billion, while total estimated expenditure was N374.43 billion. It said the fiscal operations of the Federal Government resulted in an estimated deficit of N50.47 billion, compared with the estimated monthly budget deficit of N73.92 billion.

Mobile payment The total value of mobile payment transactions from November 2011 when it was inaugurated to May, 2013 was put at N74.2 billion by the CBN. CBN Director, Banking and Payment System, Oladipupo Fatokun, said the figure rose from N9.99 billion in November 2011 to N74.26 billion in May 2013, while the number of agent banks grew from 4,031 to 51,095 during the same period.

Fatokun, who was represented by the Manager, Payment Policy and Oversight Department, Mr Chai Gang, said the number of operators in the payment scheme was 18 in May 2013. According to him, some mobile payment users also stood at 5.73 million in May. He explained that agent banking and mobile payment deployments had demonstrated that effective agent network was key to the growth of any economy.

Fatokun said that the CBN was working with stakeholders in solving some challenges affecting mobile payment transactions. He listed some of the challenges to include public enlightenment, epileptic power supply and poor telecommunication connectivity.

He explained that mobile payments are payment services operated under financial regulation and performed from or via a mobile device. “It is a payments transaction where the mobile phone plays

•Source: FMDA

a key role in the initiation, authorisation and/or consummation of the transaction. Mobile payments are a substitute or a replacement for cash payments. Instead of paying with cash, check or credit cards, a consumer can use his mobile device to pay for a wide range of services and receive payments,” he said.

Bonds Nigeria returned to the international bond market for the first time in two years with a $1 billion sale of Eurobonds, raising funds for power projects amid a sell-off in emerging-market debt.

Blomberg report said Nigeria issued $500 million of five-year notes to yield 5.375 per cent and $500 million of 10-year securities at 6.625 per cent.

In January 2011, the nation paid 6.75 per cent on dollar debt due 2021 in its first overseas offering and the yield on the securities surged a record 133 basis points in June to 6.02 percent. Yields on emergingmarket bonds jumped 73 basis points to 5.80 per cent, JPMorgan Chase & Co. data show.

Demand is waning after the Federal Reserve signaled in May and June plans to rein in $85 billion a month of assets purchases that drove borrowing costs to record lows and fueled demand for emerging-market assets. Dollar debt sales this year by developing nations including Honduras and Rwanda have lost as much as 14 per cent for investors.

Cash-less Bank customers that fail to meet the deposit or withdrawal limits under phase two of the CBN cashless policy will not pay default charges for the next three months.

The CBN placed a three-month moratorium on all bank charges for customers in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), Abia, Anambra, Kano, Ogun and Rivers states which fall within the phase two implementation schedule of of the policy.

Confirming this development, CBN Director of Communications, Ugochukwu Okoroafor, told The Nation that the apex bank took the

decision to defer the charges until October 1, 2013 because it wants the policy to succeed. He said the apex bank considered the need to give people time to migrate to electronic channels and experience the infrastructure put in place by banks.

The implementation of the policy began in the six states last Monday. The policy, which before now was only operational in Lagos State, is aimed at promoting the use of electronic-based transactions instead of cash for payments for goods, services, transfers among other services. The implementation of the ‘Cash-less Lagos’, as it is known, began on January 1, 2012 and falls under the phase one of the project.

Agric scheme The CBN disbursed a total of N199.25 billion to 270 projects under its Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme. The total fund available to the scheme is N200 billion.

CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who disclosed this at a workshop on tomato value chain development in Nigeria in Abuja, said the amount covers 30 state government projects.

Sanusi, who was represented by CBN Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Mrs Sarah Alade, said: “The SME restructuring fund (SMERRF) has disbursed N235.00 billion to 535 projects.

“The CBN intervened with programmes, such as the N200 billion Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme and Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) to support the Federal Government.”

NIRSAL, he added, was introduced to stimulate agricultural development in Nigeria through value chain financing and adopts a value chain approach to guaranteeing lending while banks will be free to choose which part of the chain they are interested in lending to.

The intervention programmes the governor said, builds the capacity of banks to engage and deliver loans, reduce counter-part risk through an innovative crop

‘The naira weakened 0.6 per cent against the dollar in the Inter-bank and has lost 3.4 per cent of its value year to date reflecting strong dollar demand to support import’

insurance scheme, and rewards performance in agricultural lending.

Bank-to-bank report The Board, Access Bank Plc has appointed Mr. Herbert Wigwe, 46, as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) designate. He will succeed the Group Managing Director/ CEO of the bank, Aigboje AigImoukhuede, at the end of this year when he retires. Wigwe is the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of the bank.

In a statement, the bank said AigImoukhuede will be leaving the Group after 11 years and five months of service. Chairman, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode said he appreciated Aigboje’s commitment to excellence and sustainable business practices, which have propelled bank to position of leadership in Nigeria and the sub-region. “His vision, integrity and enterprise have earned him local and international recognition,” he said.

He said: “Having received the necessary regulatory approvals, I am pleased to announce that Mr. Herbert Wigwe, currently Group Deputy Managing Director has been appointed CEO designate and will succeed Aigboje AigImoukhuede at the end of 2013.”

Meanwhile, indicated interest in investing over $100 million on 110 new branches in Kenya, Ghana and, Nigeria Reuters report said.

This will be done alongside five other core markets over the next three years, as well as making substantial hires across both the wholesale and consumer banking business, including over 900 sales staff in the consumer banking business.

Standard Chartered’s CEO for Africa, Diana Layfield, set out her vision for the African franchise over the next five years against a backdrop of how far the business has travelled to date.

The bank said investment spend will also be accelerated in mobile payments technology, physical infrastructure, staff hires, establishing new onshore presences and deepening existing ones.

The bank currently covers 37 markets in the region – 15 on a full presence basis and 22 further markets on a transaction basis following its clients; providing extensive reach across the continent, thereby covering 92 per cent of sub-Saharan African Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

36

DUE DILIGENCE

Julius Berger Nigeria: Firm and better?

By Taofik Salako

of the company weakened during the period, though it remained positive and within acceptable limit.

With less financial coverage and significant reduction in working capital, the liquidity position was the low point of the performance outlook.

Financing structure

• Wolfgang Goetsch

J

ULIUS Berger Nigeria Plc strengthened its overall performance outlook with improved cost and resource efficiency as it sought to restructure its balance sheet into a more supportive base for sustainable long-term returns. While immediate performance was evident in appreciable increases in the topline and bottom-line, significant reduction in gearing ratio from about 165 per cent to 54 per cent and stronger retention further stabilized the outlook for the construction company.

Audited report and accounts of Julius Berger Nigeria for the year ended December 31, 2012 showed that turnover increased by 19 per cent while profits before and after tax grew by 24 per cent and 82 per cent .

The improvement in the underlying profit-making capacity and returns of the company was underlined by increases in all profit-making indices.

Julius Berger started the arduous task of strengthening its balance sheet, especially reduction of huge overbearing debt. With the retention of about 63 per cent of net profit for the year and 48 per cent reduction in borrowings, it brought its financial leverage to its lowest position in recent years while increasing equity funding for operations.

While the decision to retain much earnings and strengthen the balance sheet resulted in modest increase in actual cash payouts to shareholders, it substantially increased the underlying value of the company as net assets per share rose by 55 per cent.

Besides, returns on equity and assets were higher at 53 per cent and 6.9 per cent in 2012 as against 45 per cent and 5.8 per cent in 2011. Almost a double in dividend cover suggests the company is in better position to sustain dividends in the years ahead.

However, the immediate liquidity

Group total assets inched up by 3.9 per cent from N172.25 billion to N179.03 billion. Balance sheet size was driven mainly by long-term assets which rose by 35 per cent from N71.40 billion to N96.65 billion as against 18 per cent reduction in current assets from N100.84 billion to N82.39 billion. Total liabilities was almost flat at N163.89 billion in 2012 as against N162.50 billion in 2011.

Bank loans had dropped by 49 per cent from N16.04 billion to N8.21 billion. Paid up share capital remained unchanged at N600 million, consisting of 1.2 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each. Equity funds however rode on the back of retained earnings to N15.14 billion in 2012 compared with N9.75 billion in 2011, indicating an increase of 55.4 per cent.

The underlying financing position was stronger with equity funds accounting for 8.5 per cent of total assets in 2012 as against 5.7 per cent in 2011. Both reduction in loans and increase in equity funds substantially deleveraged the balance sheet with debt-to-equity ratio of 54.2 per cent in 2012 as against 164.6 per cent in 2011.

Efficiency

Average number of employees increased from 18,670 persons to 19,234 persons. The staff structure however remained almost the same with wide gap between senior staff and junior staff as well as senior and management cadre. Some 95.3 per cent of employees were categorised as junior staff while 4.04 per cent and 0.63 per cent fell under senior and management staff respectively. Although average cost per employee improved from N2.32 million to N2.57 million, the staff structure counterbalanced such robustness, especially in the absence of a breakdown of staff costs across the cadres.

Total staff costs had increased from N43.23 billion to N49.44 billion.

Fundamentally, the company was more efficient and relatively productive during the year. While average

contribution of each employee to the bottom-line improved from N0.532 million to N0.642 million, total cost of business, excluding financing charges, dropped marginally from 93.7 per cent to 93.6 per cent of total turnover.

Profitability

Civil works provided the main linchpin for top-line performance in 2012. While the group recorded improvements across business lines, the size of civil works and growth rate reflected on the total turnover. Civil works also remained relatively more profitable than other segments. Turnover in the civil works segment rose by about 21 per cent from N103.40 billion in 2011 to N124.99 billion in 2012. Building works, the second largest segment, was almost flat at N76.31 billion in 2012 as against N75.89 billion in 2011. Services contributed a modest N271.96 million to group turnover, 16.3 per cent more than N125.76 million contributed in 2011. Broadly, construction contracts accounted for about 97.7 per cent of group turnover with an increase of 17.7 per cent to close 2012 at N196.95 billion as against N167.40 billion recorded in 2011. Contribution from provision of services meanwhile more than doubled at N4.61 billion compared with N2.01 billion recorded in previous year, an increase of 129.4 per cent.

With these, group turnover grew by 19 per cent from N169.41 billion to N201.57 billion. Cost of sales increased by 15 per cent to N156.73 billion compared with N135.79 billion.

Gross profit leapt on higher margin to N44.84 billion, 33.4 per cent above N33.62 billion recorded in previous year. Total operating expenses increased by 39 per cent from N22.92 billion to N31.86 billion. About 80 per cent increase in non-core business incomes mitigated 39 per cent increase in interest expenses, leaving pre-tax profit with an increase of 24 per cent. Interest and other incomes increased from N1.17 billion to N2.07 billion while interest expenses rose from N1.95 billion to N2.71 billion.

Both the civil and building works maintained considerable profitability during the period. Profit before tax stood at N12.34 billion in 2012 as against N9.93 billion in 2011. After taxes, profit for the year jumped by 82 per cent from N4.41 billion to N8.01 billion. Basic earnings per share stood at N6.83 in 2012 as

Fiscal Year December 31 Nmillion

2012 12 months

% change

2011 12 months

Profit and Loss Statement Main Business Segment Total turnover Cost of sales Gross profit Operating expenses Interest and other incomes Finance expenses Pre-tax profit(loss) Post-tax profit (loss) Basic earnings per share(kobo) Gross dividend (Nm) Cash dividend per share (kobo) Net Assets per share (kobo)

196,955 201,565 156,726 44,839 31,859 2,071 2,710 12,341 8,013 683 3,000 250 1,262

17.7 19.0 15.4 33.4 39.0 76.9 39.1 24.2 81.6 85.6 4.2 4.2 55.4

167,399 169,413 135,789 33,624 22,915 1,171 1,948 9,933 4,412 368 2,880 240 812

Balance Sheet Assets: Fixed assets Total long term assets Trade debtors Current assets Total assets Liabilities: Trade creditors Bank loans Current liabilities Long-term liabilities Total liabilities Equity Funds Share capital Total Equity Funds

57,079 96,648 28,838 82,386 179,034

3.0 35.4 -28.1 -18.3 3.9

55,422 71,404 40,134 100,844 172,248

18,198 8,208 68,811 95,079 163,890

104.9 -48.8 9.3 -4.5 0.9

8,883 16,038 62,964 99,538 162,502

600 15,144

0.0 55.4

600 9,746

against N3.68 in 2011. The company distributed N3 billion on the basis of N2.50 per share as dividends for the 2012 business year, a modest increase of 4.2 per cent on N2.88 billion paid out on the basis of N2.40 per share for the 2011 business year.

With large retained earnings, net assets per share increased from N8.12 to N12.62.

Beyond the surface, the group’s underlying profitability improved during the period, indicating that the outward profit and loss growths were driven by fundamental strengths. Gross profit margin improved from 19.8 per cent to 22.2 per cent. Pre-tax profit margin also increased from 5.9 per cent to 6.1 per cent.

Liquidity

The liquidity position of the company declined during the period.

Current ratio, which measures the relationship between current assets and relevant liabilities, declined from 1.60 times in 2011 to1.20 times in 2012. The proportion of working capital to turnover dropped from 22.4 per cent to 6.7 per cent. Debtors/creditor ratio stood at 158.5 per cent in 2012 as against 451.8 per cent in 2011.

Governance and structures

Julius Berger Nigeria is the leading construction company in Nigeria. Incorporated in 1970, it became a publicly quoted company in 1991 and now has 1.2 billion shares in the hands of more than 10,000 shareholders. There were no major changes in the ownership, group structures, board and management of the company during the period under review.

Bilfinger Berger SE, remained the majority core investor in Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, with 39.87 per cent equity stake. Watertown Energy Limited holds 10 per cent equity stake, the second largest by a single shareholder. Other substantial shareholders include the Lagos State and Benue State, which hold 5.50 per cent and 5.21 per cent through their investment companies.

A major shareholder, Oasis Petroleum Company, which held 9.7 per cent equity stake by the year-end,

2008

2009

reduced its stake to 0.2 per cent, boosting current percentage holdings by less-significant Nigerian shareholders to 39.2 per cent. Altogether, 77 per cent of the equities of the company were in strategic, nonretail holdings, leaving 23 per cent equity stake as free float. Its free float was three per cent above 20 per cent minimum requirement of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Julius Berger Nigeria Group includes four wholly owned subsidiaries and two largely-owned subsidiaries.

There were no major changes on the board and management of the company. AVM. Mohammed Nurudeen Imam (rtd) still chairs the board of directors while Engr.

Wolfgang Goetsch remains the managing director.

Julius Berger Nigeria generally complies with code of corporate governance and the scope and presentation of its report were adequate.

Analyst’s opinion

The performance of the company was showed a commendable consolidation of its growth strategy, driving top-line while reducing the inefficiencies and drags-such as huge borrowings, which stifle returns to shareholders. While the company has ruled out new capital issue, management has outlined aggressive steps to recover debts. A stronger balance sheet and sustained internal efficiency will ensure increased profitability. Julius Berger Nigeria’s topline performance remains relatively assured given Nigeria’s infrastructural requirements and the leading position of Julius Berger Nigeria in the building and construction industry. It recently won the multi-billion Naira contract for the Lagos-Sagamu Expressway while it has secured letter of intent for the landmark second Niger Bridge, which will be jointly owned by Julius Berger and other stakeholders under a private public partnership (PPP). Besides its stronghold in public sector, increasing diversification into the private sector and emerging opportunities in the power and energy sectors suggest a robust business portfolio.

2010

Fiscal Year Ended December 31

2011

2012

2012 %

2011 %

Financing structure Equity funds/Total assets Long-term liabilities/Total assets Current liabilities/Total assets Debt/Equity ratio

8.5 53.1 38.4 54.2

5.7 57.8 36.6 164.6

Profitability Gross profit margin Pre-tax profit margin Return on total assets Return on equity Dividend cover (times)

22.2 6.1 6.9 52.9 2.73

19.8 5.9 5.8 45.3 1.53

Efficiency Pre-tax profit per employee (Nm) Staff cost per employee (Nm) Cost of sales, operating exp/Turnover

0.642 2.57 93.6

0.532 2.32 93.7

Liquidity Current ratio Working capital/Turnover Debtors/Creditors

1.20 6.7 158.5

1.60 22.4 451.8

37

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

INSURANCE

T

Lack of substantive NHIS head cripples health benefits

HE delay by the Federal Government to appoint a substantive head for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is stalling some major activities in the scheme and hindering Nigerians from reaping the benefits of the health policy.

The NHIS has had an Acting Executive Secretary in Mr Abdulrahman Sambo for about a year following the exit of Mr Muhammad Sambo.

Chairman, Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN), Lagos branch, Dr. Adeyeye Arigbabuwo, disclosed this in an interview with The Nation.

He said the NHIS has an acting executive secretary who cannot perform much because he is in acting capacity.

NCRIB to operators: Curb premium flight

Stories by Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

He said for sometime, things had been at a standstill, adding that the workers were waiting for the Federal Government to appoint a replacement.

According to him, the acting executive secretary may wish to do more to bring effective health coverage to Nigerians and tackle problems associated with the scheme, he is restricted because he does not have all the powers to do so.

“At present, the NHIS is yet to have an executive secretary. The person there is working in acting capacity. There are very few things he can do if he is in acting capacity. The law will not permit him to do a lot of things and when that is on ground and you take your complaints and issues to him, there is limitations to what he can do. Even to start implementing things like budgetary allocations may not be easy for

him to do,” he said.

He noted that the National Health Bill which at the moment is going through its second reading at the National Assembly is also a major factor in solving the many problems of the scheme.

Arigbabuwo, who is also the Deputy National President, Healthcare Providers association of Nigeria (HCPAN), said there are germane issues in health insurance, which bother on universal coverage, how people get subscribed to health insurance and health care financing.

He said though the passing of the Health Bill, is being delayed, it is better for the bill to come rather late and errors are taken care of.

“What is important is the quality, content, acceptability of the bill and the effect of the bill on the citizenry. The bill is with the National Assembly and they are looking at few things that have to do with the NHIS,” he said.

• Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu

P

RESIDENT, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), ‘Laide Osijo, has tasked operators in the industry to work towards curbing the menace of premium flight.

She lamented that the performance of the industry has impacted marginally on the economy over the years, adding that there was need for operators to make concerted efforts toward reversing of the trend through a radical approach.

Osijo, who made this call in Lagos, also emphasised the need for stakeholders improve the sector by being active.

She said: “The future, they say belongs to those who prepare for it. For us to take our rightful position in the comity of nations and play the expected roles as Africa’s leader that we ought to be, we need to wake up from our slumber and start doing things differently and rightly.

“It should be affirmed that the roles of ithe nsurance industry are very crucial to the attainment of strategic objectives of FSS 20:2020. Let us have a paradigm shift in the way we do business and start being more creative, professional and adhere strictly to ethics of the profession.”

The NCRIB chief also stressed the need for cordial relationship, collaboration and cooperation between the regulators and other stakeholders for growth to be achieved.

“NCRIB believes in the nation’s vision, and is committed towards the attainment of the strategic objectives of FSS 20:2020. Therefore, to contribute to the repositioning of the industry, we continued cooperation and collaboration with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA), Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria (ILAN) and other stakeholders in corporate governance enforcement.

“We are also sensitising the public on the benefits of using registered insurance brokers for insurance placement,” she said.

She added that NCRIB was working towards protection of the insuring public, ensuring that brokers are more professional in the discharge of their services to the insuring public and encouraging collaboration with bodies of interest in the enforcement of the compulsory insurances to deepen the insurance penetration as it is being promoted by NAICOM. Osijo added that the council encourages the practitioners on the need for adequate capitalisation for global competitiveness. She urged them to explore options of mergers while promoting innovations by the operators to provide covers and policies for the new exposures emanating from the transformational processes.

She said other actions by the council include, “Improve on training and human capital development for practitioners, Increase on insurance awareness drive to the insuring public, especially towards the promotion of micro insurance, since insurance thrives on large number.”

Osijo urged the present generation to stand up to be counted by being creative, thinking outside the box, and be ready to square up to the emerging risks emanating from the various sectors of the economy as a result of the transformation strategy in process.

“We can no longer afford to be docile or be spectators and at the same time be expecting development and/or curb premium flight if we don’t take charge of our destiny. All we need to do is to change our mindset, and our attitude would change, hence our industry would be vibrant again with the resultant return of the glory of our beloved nation,” she said.

• From left: Director-General (DG), Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA), O. S. Thomas; DG, Ghana Insurers Association (GIA), Atsu Menyawovor; Deputy Chairman, NIA, Gus Wiggle; President, GIA, Gustav Siale; Treasurer, NIA, Segun Balogun; Deputy President, GIA, Kwame-Gazo Agbenyadzie and Asst. Treasuer, NIA, Mr Sakiru Oyefeso, during a visit by officials of GIA to NIA.

T

HE West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA) has named a new Chairman for its Brokers Forum.

He is Mr Rotimi Edu. The spokesman of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, Mr Tope Adaramola, said Edu was elected at the yearly confab of the West African regional body in Sierra Leone.

He said with the election, Edu, who is a Governing Board member of the NCRIB, insurance brokers would synergise their efforts

WAICA brokers forum elects chairman across the West Africa sub-region.

Mr Edu said one part of his mandate was to ensure that insurance brokers operating in the West Africa sub-region collaborate more effectively for business and professional advancement.

He stressed that the forum would work with other professionals in the sub-region to accelerate their contributions to global eco-

nomic development.

NCRIB President, Laide Osijo, said the election has opened a new vista for insurance brokers in the regional body and served as a mark of confidence reposed in insurance brokers.

She promised the council’s support for the new chair and his team to ensure a successfull tenure.

Crime doesn’t pay, but crime insurance does

C

RIME insurance is just for the big companies, right? Wrong. The Fortune 500 behemoths of the world aren’t the only ones that need to worry about serious fraud and theft, insider deals and good employees turning into shady white-collar criminals. After all, a small family business can be devastated by the illegal activities of one employee.

The basics of crime insurance

Crime insurance, a type of business insurance also known as fidelity insurance, protects companies from fraud perpetrated by employees of the business. Crime insurance covers a host of possible frauds, most of which fall under three broad categories: corruption, asset misappropriations and fraudulent statements.

The list of potential frauds gets bigger by the day as workers find new ways to bilk their employers of money, goods and services.

Few of the dangers that crime insurance can cover include burglary, robbery and theft; disappearance or destruction; embezzlement, Forgery; computer fraud; credit card fraud; check tampering; corruption; skimming and cash larceny; billing statement and expense reimbursement fraud.

How many of those issues are covered by crime insurance depends upon your individual policy.

Some insurance policies cover even the things you might not consider at first blush, such as kid-

nap and ransom.

How serious are fidelity crimes?

Fraud can cause serious damage to a business.

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) found that American businesses lose over $400bn every year to fraud and that the average organisation loses up to 6 percent of revenue to the fraudulent activities of its employees.

Without proper crime insurance, significant embezzlement or other acts of fraud can even lead a company to the difficult decision to close its doors. According to the American Management Association, up to 50 per cent of business failures in the United States are the result of dishonest employees.

Even as security controls grow tighter, the computers that have become commonplace in all types of business have opened a new door to fraud. While increased technology makes many aspects of business easier, it also creates opportunity for even more serious crimes by employees.

“Technology today creates huge issues,” says Frank Scheckton, divisional president of Great American Insurance Group’s fidelity and crime division. “With scanners, for example, it’s very easy to forge a check. If you can get the routing number, account numbers and a signature — what’s stopping me from looking at the annual

report for the treasurer’s signature? — you can do a lot of damage.”

But it’s not all done with modern technology.

Sometimes, the old paper ledger and checkbook can be more than enough. “Everyone is so concerned about high-tech that they forget lowtech,” says Scheckton. “We still see the most common methods of stealing — things you’d think would have stopped long ago, such as manipulation of checking accounts and of receivables.

In this day and age, people are still manipulating the checking accounts and inventory records of their businesses.”

Why crime insurance pays

“People get caught, and they do minimal jail time, but the companies never really recover the full amount,” Scheckton says. He estimates that 60 per cent of the companies making claims on Great American’s crime policies are underinsured—so even after their policy payout, their losses are still substantial.

“The problem of inadequate limits occurs when the insured bases their insurance needs on what they think an embezzler can get away with inbetween annual audits,” Scheckton said. But he says that most embezzlements span years. “The longest ongoing embezzlement I ever heard of was one that went on for more than 20 years. It wasn’t discovered until the employee retired.”

• Tips by insure.com

38

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

LABOUR

Oil workers strike: Apapa ports lose N6b

S

TAKEHOLDERS in the maritime sector are counting their losses as a result of the crippling effect of the three-day warning strike embarked upon by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG), which ended last week.

Aside the 100 per cent hike in fares, banks, tank farm operators and other stakeholders around the Apapa area of Lagos felt the effect of the strike. Commuters groaned as bus drivers charged N400 for Oshodi-Wharf as against N150 or N200 that is normally charged.

Petroleum marketers and tanker drivers were the worst hit as some of them had collected money from the bank but had no product to purchase or supply within the three days.

Activities at various tank farms in Apapa were halted due to the strike. Each of the

tank farm, it was gathered, dispatches not less than 40 trucks of petroleum products daily and each of the loaded trucks costs about N4.5 million.

This means that each tank farm lost about N180 million and there are several tank farms for different petroleum products in Apapa.

An importer, Alhaji Saleh Saleh, said the daily loss in Apapa cannot be less than N2 billion because it is the commercial nerve centre for shipping business and petroleum supplies in the country.

The development further increased the long queues of tankers waiting to load products and this in turn worsened the traffic situation in Apapa.

A petroleum marketer, Mr. Olanife Adeoye, said the strike has had a disastrous effect on marketers whose money was tied

down because their transactions were at the different stages of completion. He added that the banks also groaned because they could not get their commissions on transactions.

“The strike affected everybody, including the food sellers. They brought their food to Apapa ports but there was nobody to buy it. Apart from this, the marketers that are supposed to get their products were disappointed while those who ought to get commission on transactions could not. The banks were equally affected because nobody was going there to take money, as usual,” he explained.

NUPENG last Monday started a three-day warning strike to protest alleged inhuman treatment of its members by the management of Chevron, Agip and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

• NUPENG President, Igwe Achese

•From left: Production Director, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Dr Nino Ozar; Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Babatunde Odunayo; Managing Director, Mt. Olive Nig. Ltd., Mrs. Ajibola Elizabeth and Director, Marketing, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr Benson Evbuomwan, during Honeywell Flour Mills Customers’Forum, in Lagos.

Workers get three months to register with PFAs

I

F the proposal before the National Assembly sees the light of the day, new employees will be given a period of three months to open Retirement Savings Account (RSA) with the Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) of their choice.

If they don’t, their contributions will be transferred to a temporary RSA opened for such employees.

This is in appreciation of the fact that some employers who have been complying with the provisions of the Pension Act still have unremitted pension contributions due to the failure of some of their employees to open RSAs. It is believed that it would be unjust to hold such employers liable for the violation of the Pension Act because they have custody of the pension funds of some employees who were yet to open RSAs. Based on the guidelines on

Transitional Contributions Fund issued by the National Pension Commission (PenCom), on assumption of duty, new workers are required to register with the PFA of their choice within a period of six months.

This means that where any employee that should come under the Contributory Pension Scheme has received salary for a minimum of three months fails to open a RSA and submit particulars of such account to his employer for remitting his pension contributions, the contributions on such employees shall be managed by a PFA under the temporary RSA. Following an employee’s failure to open RSA, the employer will choose a PFA for remitting the pension contributions of such employees albeit tempo-

rarily.

To ensure ease of administration while minimising reconciliation, the employer shall choose only one PFA for the purpose of administering the temporary RSA of its employees.

The employer shall maintain a nominal record of the members of the temporary RSA, their contributions and update same as employee members of the fund open their RSAs. On the remittance of contributions, the draft guidelines provide that the employer shall remit the accumulated contributions in respect of all its employees that fall under the category outlined under this category to the PFA. Contributions belonging to employees that have left the services of the organisation without submitting their RSA details shall also be remitted along with those still in service.

‘8.5m youths to enter active labour force by 2015’

N

O fewer than 8.5 million Nigerians are expected to emerge as new entrants into the active labour force by 2015, figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have revealed.

NBS said the active labour force, which ranges from persons of 15 to 64 years, is the age group of able bodied persons available for paid employment in the country.

Constitutionally, only persons who have attained 18 years are allowed to seek employment in the country.

By Toba Agboola

In a statement, the NBS explained that the inclusion of persons, aged 15 was deliberate, especially in view of the need to capture the reality of population growth and to adequately advise the government on the trend.

According to the projections made in the General Household Survey Report (1999-2011), 92,384,738 out of an estimated Nigerian population of 164,385,56 in 2011 were economically active.

This was in contrast to 89,520,095

million who were economically viable in 2010.

The statistics further showed that while 1,505,997 million Nigerians were newly employed in 2010, the figure doubled in 2011, reaching 2,127,691 in 2011.But the figure of the unemployed indicated that 13,946,515million people were unemployed in 2010, whereas, in 2011, it rose to 16,074,205.

Those who were employed, the data showed, were 51,224,115 in 2010, but it reduced slightly in the following year (2011) with 51,181,884.

IRS Airlines owes 9 months’ salaries

• Dada

I

RS Airlines, one of the domestic airlines operating in the country, is alleged to owe its workers nine months salaries.

According to a source, the airline has been having problems with its finances, a development that has affected its ability to pay workers.

Already, workers, through the aviation unions, are gearing up for a showdown with the airline management as they are demanding that the company pay the accumulated salaries and improve their working conditions.

The unions have accused the airline management of violating safety laws of the aviation industry.

Led by the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), the workers vowed to

protect their interest by disrupting the airline’s activities if the management failed to act fast.

A worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, lamented that the situation had become critical, warning that if nothing was done, flight safety, which the Federal Government had been preaching since Dana crash of last year, could be impaired.

NAAPE President, Comrade Isaac Balami, who said he was aware of the situation at IRS, said the union would reach out to the management of the airline to resolve the matter.

In his response to the crisis, the Managing Director of IRS Airlines, Mr Yemi Dada, agreed that there were outstanding salaries that needed to be cleared. He said the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was aware of the issues, adding that his firm had been holding meetings with NCAA officials on how offset the debt.

“I am not saying we are not owing. I am saying that we have various levels of outstanding staff salaries and that NCAA is aware of this. We are meeting these responsibilities at various levels.

There are some debts that are below N50,000 and there are some that are less than N100,000 which we are taking care of. There are others with huge salaries, the cockpit crew and engineers and we have agreed to resolve them,” he said.

MOTORING

39

THE NATION

MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

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

Stallion Motors, multiple automobile franchisees and one of Nigeria's foremost automobile marketing firm has won 'Most Improved Auto Company of the Year 2012.' Also, one of its automobile variants, Hyundai Accent was voted 'Entry Level Car of the Year.' TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO reports

•Accent

Hyundai Accent shines at auto awards

T

HE Board of Adjudicators at the just ended eight edition of the Nigerian Auto Awards has announced all new Hyundai Accent as 'Entry level car of the year.'

Stallion Motors equally won 'Most Improved Auto Company of the Year 2012.'

Hyundai Accent's fluidic sculpture, styling and driving dynamics played out among indices that distinguished the subcompact car among arch rivals Kia Rio and Tata Indigo at the Eko Hotel and Suites Lagos, venue of the show.

Hyundai Elantra was at the last year edition of the Nigerian Auto Awards voted 'Car of the year,' beating Kia Optima, Toyota Avensis, Audi A6 and Land Rover HSE to cart away the coveted plaque.

Similarly, Hyundai i10 and iX35 at different fora ranked 'Budget city car of the year' and 'highest selling SUV' of the year.

A familiar sedan, Hyundai Accent made its foray into the global marketplace between 1995 and 1999 when the first generation Accent made its debut.

"Now sharpened to perfection, the latest Accent is everything and more you would expect from Hyundai," The Nigerian Auto Awards' jury remarked.

Presenting the commemorative

plaque to Hyundai Motors Limited, custodian of the brand in Nigeria, the judges said: "Accent is renowned for its wind-craft design language, which is in sync with the car's daring fluidic sculpture and harmonious styling that consent with Hyundai's recent product lineup."

They also applauded the relatively low roofline and stylish, sleek curves that not only project a sporty and dynamic style, but improves aerodynamics and lowers air resistance to contribute to Accent's outstanding fuel economy and quiet cabin space.

Accent's relaxed interior also scored high points, particularly the silver garnish that starts from the crash pad to the console, featuring a windblown shape that exudes the

overall refined and dynamic image.

The adjudicators also recognised the quality of design and materials as well as refined fit and finish ergonomically correct appointments in Accent's interior, which, according to them exceed expectations in the subcompact segment.

What's more, Hyundai Accent has enormous Powertrain engineering, incorporating two new naturally aspirated petrol engines that are mated to either a 1.6litre with 138hp (103kw) or a 1.4litre engine with 106hp (79kw) - both featuring the latest technology in Variable Valve Timing (VVT).

Also mated to slick six-speed manual transmission or automatic gearbox that delivers crisp smooth shifts with optimal ratios for impressive fuel economy, Hyundai Accent

‘The award is a testimony to the giant strides the Hyundai brand has made locally and globally. And the award is in recognition of the quality and emotional appeal Hyundai products have developed as part of its modern premium strategy’

would for sometime set the cat among the pigeons in its market segment.

Stallion was praised for its outstanding improvement and turnaround over the previous 12 months.

The panel said the 'Most Improved Auto Award' was viewed against Stallion's recovery strategies that have borne remarkable results as well as its continued success and dealership expansion across the country.

Also as part of the jurors' appraisal, Stallion Motors outperformed arch rivals Weststar Associates Limited, Mercedes Benz custodian and Dana Motors Limited, Kia Dealership in profitability, shareholder value, scale, net worth, turnover, and customer satisfaction to win the coveted plaque.

A subsidiary of the Stallion Group of Companies, Stallion Motors was incorporated about four decades ago and has grown steadily from its modest start in West Africa into a fledging multi-business conglomerate, representing 10 automobile brands with a manufacturing facility in Lagos where AshokLeyland buses are assembled.

Stallion Motors wields considerable percentage of the local automobile market with franchise for Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Porsche,

VW, Audi, Skoda, SsangYong, Mahindra, Foton, JMC and Ashok Leyland.

Only recently, Stallion Nissan Motors Nigeria (Stallion NMN), a new division of Stallion Motors, was named Nissan national sales company and brand custodian of Nissan vehicles in Nigeria. The firm has also continued to elevate the status of its showrooms and after sales facilities to international standard with recourse to the respective principals' 'DNA.' The auto marketing firm also prides itself as a dependable after sales service concern with experienced technicians in multiple auto repair disciplines and always adhering to automakers' constantly changing technology.

Receiving the award on behalf of Hyundai Motors Nigeria Head, Sales and Marketing Mr. Jatin Nadkarni, said: "We are extremely proud of this recognition and moreso, that a world-class product, such as Hyundai Accent has received distinguish honour from the Nigerian Auto Awards."

He added: "The award is a testimony to the giant strides the Hyundai brand has made locally and globally. And the award is in recognition of the quality and emotional appeal Hyundai products have developed as part of its modern premium strategy."

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

40

DISCOURSE

Text of a lecture delivered by a professor of African History, Prof Rufus Taiwo Akinyele, of the Department of History and Strategic Studies, University of Lagos, at the institution’s Inaugural Lecture on June 22.

Lines and space U S A L V I human affairs: in T R A Minorities and marginals

Preamble HE Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & Research), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Registrar, Librarian, Provost of the College of Medicine, Dean of Faculty of Arts, Deans of other Faculties, Members of Senate, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

I wish to start this lecture by saying that History, defined simply as the study of the past based on the analysis and interpretation of available evidence, is like a good product that needs only a little advertisement. The interesting thing is that some of the best salesmen of History have come from the Sciences rather than the Humanities. For instance, Francis Bacon extolled the virtue of history in these glowing words: Histories make men wise, poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.

Our own Prof Akin O. Adesola, in the Commonwealth Day Lecture delivered on March 14, 1983 argued in favour of the continued existence of the Commonwealth which many people at the time had described as obsolete or outdated. In making his point, the eminent Professor of Medicine did not mesmerise his audience with the catalogue of scientific benefits that the member states would derive from the Commonwealth but simply reminded them of the danger of a sudden break with the past, in spite of the political independence. To press home the point, Professor Adesola quoted the words of Will and Arial Durant in The Lessons of History which reads: ‘’No one, however brilliant or well-informed, can come to such fullness of understanding as safely to judge and dismiss the customs or institutions of his society, for these are the wisdom of generations after centuries of experiment in the laboratory of history. The sanity of a group lies in the continuity of its traditions.

To break sharply with the past is to court the madness that may follow the shock or sudden blows or mutilations.”

Unfortunately, one of the tragedies of our time was the replacement of History with Social Studies in the secondary school curriculum. This was done in the mistaken belief that a developing country like Nigeria ought to focus on Science and Technology and not on disciplines like History that has no direct utility value.

The case for the restoration of History was recently amplified by Prof Peter Nwangwu, of the Department of Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, he remarked: “The study of history nurtures a spirit of critical inquiry and assists the young learner in the formation of historical consciousness”. He added that by studying history, students would gain ‘vital understanding of chronology and the dynamics of change over time’.

This observation agrees perfectly well with the view expressed

by Jeremy Black and Donald D Mac Raild, two professional historians, on the purpose of studying history. According to them, history “provides societies and individuals with a dimension of longitudinal meaning over time” and “allows us to peer into the future by providing precedents for contemporary action, forewarning against the repetition of past mistakes”.

Although we have highlighted the importance of history, many people fail to see the broader utility because of their narrow conception of the subject. They see the subject only from the point of view of political history. Hence, the popular reference to the Department of History as the Department of “Oba ku, Oba je” – the department of kingship succession. While I am quick to admit that political history has not been displaced from the mainstream of historical scholarship, the discipline has become, to use the words of Black and Mac Raild “an industry that reflects the wider needs and desires of the nation, of the people and of society, as well as those of the practioners.” There has been a paradigm shift from the traditional history to the New or Total History which is concerned with virtually every human activity. As J.B.S. Haldane, a scientist, once noted, ‘everything has a past which can in principle be reconstructed and related to the rest of the past’.

Accordingly, topics that had previously been considered ‘peripheral to the interests of real historians’, such as climate, gender, burial etc are now considered as part and parcel of history.

Mr. Vice-Chancellor sir, if the inaugural lecture of today appears more like a topic in geography or sociology, it is all because history is dynamic. Having created this wider platform for appreciating this lecture, we can now move to the major business of the day- Lines and Space in Human Affairs.

Lines and Space in Human Affairs Mr. Vice-Chancellor sir, it is no longer news that we live in the age of globalisation that has impacted significantly on territorial boundaries. Some aspects of this will be highlighted. First, Information and Communication Technology, which is a key component of globalisation, treats geographical and national boundaries as if they do not exist. Under globalisation, regional integration, whether it is perceived as a condition or a process, is seen as a necessary condition for development. The form it takes or the degree of success achieved is of secondary consideration.

However it is defined, regional integration refers to the merger or union of adjacent territories or states to form an integrated community. The ultimate goal of the African Union, (AU) for example, is to create an Africa without borders. While the international community is still doing everything possible to strengthen the United Nations to find practical solutions to problems common to mankind, a former President of the United

T

• Prof Akinyele

States, George W. Bush, popularised the twin concepts of global governance and global leadership. The rationale is that many of our contemporary problems, especially those relating to war and peace, and sustainable development, cannot be tackled by individual governments, no matter how richly endowed. In an academic community such as ours, the force of globalisation is driven forcefully home through the varieties of international linkages and partnerships. The University of Lagos, like several others in Nigeria, has an office of linkages and partnerships directly under the Vice-Chancellor. Whether the products end up with “globalised” or “canned” certificates, what is important is that the whole process comes under what educators call crossborder education. Jane Knight defines it as “the movement of education – whether it be people, programmes, providers or projects – across a jurisdictional or national boundaries”.

Paradoxically, while globalisation aims at the effacement of boundaries, or at least to whittle down their barrier effects, the upsurge of identity politics and strident separatist movements in virtually every part of the world underscores the fact that man is constantly engaged in boundary creation and the ordering of space.

Although many have argued, and not without justification, that the historian is not a scientist or a prophet who could correctly predict the future, the benefit of hindsight nevertheless places him in a vantage position to “inform the present and guide the future”. Within this acceptable margin, Mr. Vice-Chancellor, I make bold to affirm that the issues of war and peace in the foreseeable future would be determined by the extent to which the world itself is able to appreciate the importance of lines and space in human affairs.

Indeed, the concept of territoriality, that is lines and space, has exerted a strong influence on man’s activities since the beginning of time. For instance, man invoked this concept in making a claim to land, as illustrated in the case of the Kikuyu and Maasai of Kenya. While the Kukuyu whose main occupation is farming claimed that all the arable land in Kenya had been given to them

by Gikuyu their ancestor, the Maasai similarly claimed divine ownership over all the grassland in the country. Whichever way one looks at it, the central issue is the control of some identifiable geographical space suitable for their traditional occupations.

At any rate, in the course of centuries of migration and settlement, man has carved the world into distinct political and administrative units – local, national and regional units. And as Richard Griggs rightly observed, the boundaries of these units are not mere lines in the dirt but fulcrum around which the activities of man revolved. These boundaries indirectly determine our currencies, the laws we obey and even our national identities.

Those who are not satisfied with the mode of their incorporation into the existing units are constantly fighting for the revision of the boundaries as we shall see later. It is not only the reasonable and rational that fight over space. The flotsam and jetsam of the society also have territorial space which they guide with all the powers at their disposal. Mr. Vice-Chancellor sir, the demons that terrorize mortals are not only arranged in hierarchical order but also operate on territorial basis; hence the popular reference to the “Prince of Persia” and the “Queen of the Coast”.

The concept of lines and space is basic to our engagement as academics in the university. We can illustrate this with examples from the different disciplines beginning with Philosophy the queen of all disciplines. Indeed, philosophers, since the time of Zeno and Aristotle, have ruminated over the nature of space.

Others, including Descartes, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz and Samuel Clarke, have similarly postulated on the ontological status of space. As at the present, the philosophical debates have produced two schools of thought – the Absolute and the Relational Theories of Space.

Another discipline that is close to man and society is Sociology.

‘No one, however, brilliant or well-informed, can come to such fullness of understanding as safely to judge and dismiss the customs or institutions of his society, for these are the wisdom of generations after centuries of experiment in the laboratory of history. The sanity of a group lies in the continuity of its traditions. To break sharply with the past is to court the madness that may follow the shock or sudden blows or mutilations’

The Advanced Learners’ Dictionary defines it as ‘the scientific study of societies and the behaviour of people in groups”. The study of how humans and spaces interact is now widely recognise as a sub-discipline in sociology. It is an interdisciplinary field that draws from various theoretical traditions including Marxism and Postmodernism and overlaps with academic disciplines such as Geography and Architecture.

Scholars who have done substantial work in this area include Georg Simel, Michel Foucalt David Harvey, Manuel Castells, Edward Soja, Martina Löw and Henri Lefebvre who argued that the social space is where the relations of production takes place and that the dialectical contradictions which Karl Marx talked about are spatial rather than temporal.

The importance of lines and space in Architecture is glaring enough. This is largely because it is the size of an area that ultimately determines the structure that can be erected on it.

This was the basic assumption of August Schmarsow who first made the subject a major issue in his Inaugural Lecture titled, The Essence of Architectural Creation. In this lecture and his other works, he emphasized the role of space and the significance of its expression in a particular period of history. While commenting on August Schmarsow’s works, Roy Malcolm Porter says that such emphasis reminds us “to focus on the essential aspect – the creation of space – which affirmed our humanity”.

In recent times, the literature on the public and private space has increased significantly. A good example is the work of Alex Wall titled “Movement and Public Space: Equipping the City for a Mobile Centre” in which the author proposed ‘a situation in which cars and people would mix in comfortable proximity”.

To stress that the roadscape is not just the outcome of the work of civil engineers, he wrote: What distinguishes these places from the civil engineer artifact of the roadway is that these spaces are social – the streetscapes or roadside strips where people and cars mingle in an informal way.

In Political Science, the subject of lines and space is no less important. Recently, I stumbled on a call for papers on “The Spatial Epistemology of Politics”. According to the Announcer, the edited volume will seek to explore “how spaces are political and how politics is spatial”.

In addition, Margaret Crawford argued that to keep the homeless, the vendors and some undesirables off some streets and public parks is to deny them “the rights to have rights.”

Such move, she added, raises “complex political questions about the meaning of economic participation and citizenship of our cities”. The implication of this for research in Nigeria is that scholars would have to go beyond the current focus on ethnic marginalisation to the study of “spaces of insurgent citizenship”, to use the term coined by anthropologist James Holston.

The notion of lines and space is central to research in Surveying and Geography. Many of us have grown accustomed to seeing students of the Department of Surveying and Geo-informatics with the theodolite and measuring tapes all over the campus.

Tim Umwin cited several empirical and theoretical works on social space produced by scholars with background in Historical and Cultural Geography. Among them are David Harvey and Ed. Soja.

Mr. Vice-Chancellor sir, I have so far concentrated on the Humanities because it is a familiar terrain. This does not mean that the concept of space is irrelevant to Science and Engineering.

I am aware that space is important in Algebra in Mathematics and that Motion, Time and Space constitute an important topic in elementary physics. I can still recall that Boyles Law states that the pressure of a gas tends to decrease if the volume increases, that is, the absolute pressure and volume or space are inversely proportional. And since Engineering is essentially applied science, and space is important in Science, it can therefore be inferred that the concept of space is critical to the disciplines in Engineering.

Mr. Vice-Chancellor sir, I have deliberately left out the discipline of History until now so as to link the discussion with my own research interest.

History is essentially the study of past events in time and space – whether the topic is in Economic History, Social History, International Relations, Administrative/Political History, Historiography or Biographical Studies. Natural inclination seems to have pushed me to aspects of History where the concept of territoriality is particularly well emphasised. My Ph.D thesis was on “States Creation and Boundary Adjustments as a solution to the Problems of Ethnic Minority Groups in Nigeria, 19001987”. Mr. Vice-Chancellor sir, that thesis earned me an automatic employment with the National Boundary Commission at the Convocation Ceremony of January 1991, in this same auditorium. Even though I was transported by the current Registrar to Dodan Barracks on two occasions at the instance of the Vice President, I never took up the appointment due to civil service bureaucracy. Since then, I have written on all the six states creation exercises in Nigeria and commented on the on-going state agitations. Apart from merely putting states creation at the centre of the political process in Nigeria, I have also tried to assess the limits of the application of the territorial approach to minority problems in other parts of Africa.

From boundary studies, I have moved to the wider area of ethnic/inter-group relations. One of my articles, titled Ethnic Militancy and National Stability in Nigeria: A Case Study of the Oodua People’s Congress, published in African Affairs, at Oxford in 2001 has earned me recognition as a leading authority on ethnic militia all over the world. This singular article earned me an invitation to the International Workshop on “Networks of Uncertainties” held at the African Studies Centre, Leiden, Netherlands, May 15 -17, 2002. It also paved the way for my selection as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of African Affairs, the top ranked Africanist journal published at Oxford since 1901.

Curiously too, sometimes last year, I received an e-mail message from a U.K solicitor inviting me to testify in a court in England in a case involving his client, a Nigerian seeking asylum in the U.K because of the fear of the OPC! To be continued

POLITICS

MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

43

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

• Dr Jonathan

• Mark

• Tambuwal

The protracted feud between the Presidency and the National Assembly over the inclusion of the constituency projects in the budget may stall its final passage and implementation. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN writes.

Furore over budget implementation, constituency projects

T

HE frosty relationship between the Presidency and the National Assembly on the amendment of the 2013 Appropriation Act has deepened. Experts warn that it is not in the interest of this financial year.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said that government would not be able to pay salaries by September, if the legislature failed to resolve the lingering impasse.

Four months ago, President Goodluck Jonathan had forwarded a bill seeking to amend the 2013 budget of N4.987 trillion to the National Assembly, an act which the lawmakers rejected.The delay over the amendment had prompted the minister to issue the warning.

The Presidency had accused the National Assembly of removing some capital votes from the initial proposed amendments, thereby making the execution of such projects impossible.

In the new proposal, President Jonathan indicated new changes across the expenditure categories. He also sought to restore the original budgetary allocations of some capital projects “to promote national development”. Some of the affected the projects include the projects under the Ministries of Works, Health, Power, Transport and Education in budgetary allocation for projects under the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P).

The President advised the National Assembly, to reverse itself on the zero 2013 budget allocation for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

He also drew the attention of the law makers to the fact that the personnel cost, cut across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), which will make it difficult for the government to meet its obligation to its workers.

Why the delay?

There is no end in sight to the lingering face off between the executive and the legislature over the budget implementation.

The leadership of the National Assembly is furious that the amendment sought by the President is just a disguise for the lawmakers to rework the 2013 budget. The lawmakers have vowed to resist the move, more so, when the heads of some MDAs have confided in some committee chairmen that they are implementing the directives from the Budget Office and not the budget passed by the National Assembly.

The executive is not happy with the legislators for dragging their feet over the amendment it sought on the 2013 budget. It noted with dismay that, four months after the budget was returned, the National Assembly is yet to commence deliberation.

However, the National Assembly has exonerated itself. Senator Babafemi Ojudu (ACN, Ekiti Central) told The Nation in an interview that the copies of the bill have not been distributed to members. He said: “It is true that Mr President had written the National Assembly to that effect and the letter was read on the floor of the National Assembly, but the bill has not been made available to the members.

“We have to get copies so that we can study the president’s new proposal in the bill. We can’t consider a bill that we have not seen.

How do we scrutinise and contribute to the debate on the bill. It’s not possible. There is a protocol that must be followed”.

The Senate spokesman, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia State), explained that the delay over the amendment bill was due to its volume. According to him, the third budget amendment

‘Adeola wondered why the Presidency is sitting over the funds. According to him, “we lawmakers don’t award contracts for constituency projects. We don’t recommend contractors. That is the business of the executive. Our responsibility is to monitor the execution of the projects, to ensure service delivery’ proposal sent by Dr. Jonathan to the Senate was more voluminous than the original 2013 budget document, adding that, as a result of the size of the new proposal, the Senate could not deliberate on it, until the senators return from their annual vacation in September. The vacation begins in August.

Abaribe said: “If there are differences, we shall discuss with the President in order to thrash them out. The President cannot expect us to pass the proposal without looking into the voluminous documents”.

On the accusation by the Presidency that the National Assembly removed some capital votes from the initial proposed amendments, Abaribe said it was impossible to pass a budget as submitted to the National Assembly.

In a move to kick-start work on the amendment, it was learnt that the Senate President, David Mark, mandated Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba to meet with the Committees on Appropriation, Finance and Special Duties. The meeting was reportedly held on April 22.

Sources close to the committees disclosed that there was no headway on the budget. “After briefing the Senate Leader, it was concluded that what the President wanted was not just an amendment of the budget, but a re-working of the budget,” the source said.

According to the source, the meeting concluded that the Senateannot do that because it is on record that the President signed the 2013 budget on February 24 although the National Assembly forwarded it to him on January 30.

To re-work a budget already passed and signed by the President is strange to us, Ojudu remarked. “It has never happened. Any way when we start deliberation on the amendment bill, Nigerians would know our position”, he added.

Senator Aloy Etuk (PDP, Akwa Ibom) said it is wrong for the executive to ask for a fresh approval of the whole budget. Etuk opines that the President could make a request for amendment or alteration of certain things or present a supplementary budget.

“But not to ask for a fresh approval of the whole budget already signed into law by Mr President himself. That is wrong. It’s never done,” he added.

Constituency projects funds withheld The law makers are angry over the non-release of N100 billion meant for the constituency projects . They are unhappy that the first and second quarter allocations for the projects have not been released. It has been alleged that the Finance Minister is withhold-

ing the release of the funds for the constituency projects as a precondition for fast tracking the amendment to 2013 budget.

A member of the National Assembly who doesn’t want his name in print said warned the executive to stop blackmailing the legislators on constituency projects funds, saying that it is a statutory allocation, and not a favour.

According to him, the issues concerning the constituency projects had been settled as far back as 2008. The issue of our constituency projects being in the budget was settled during the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, he said. He recalled that, in 2008, the late President returned the budget where he demanded an amendment and part of the resolution then was that there would be a threshold for constituency projects for the National Assembly members of which N100 billion was agreed upon.

The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts Hon Solomon Adeola, (ACN Alimoso , Lagos), said it was wrong for the executive to withhold the allocations meant for Constituency projects believing that such action would make the legislators do their biddings. The provision for the constituency projects was approved just like other headings in the budget signed by the president. We are in the third quarter of the financial year, the executive in its wisdom thought that constituency projects are irrelevant, hence, it has refused to release funds for the first and second quarters for the projects.”

Adeola wondered why the Presidency is sitting over the funds.

According to him: “We lawmakers don’t award contracts for constituency projects. We don’t recommend contractors. That is the business of the executive. Our responsibility is to monitor the execution of the projects, to ensure service delivery. The motive behind constituency projects is to guarantee even development so that people all over the country would feel government presence in their localities”.

On his part, Etuk said withholding the constituency project funds by the executive is very wrong. His words: It is a very wrong idea.

Whatever is in the budget must be implemented, it is a law, it must be obeyed. Selective implementation is a violation of Appropriation Act. The constituency project is part of what we promised our people, Ojudu said, adding, that is the benefit of those who elected us. He said: “We legislators don’t take money meant for this project, neither do we award contracts. It is the executive that awards contracts and select contractors. Ours is to ensure that projects approved for constituencies are executed because that is what the people we represent would benefit from government.

Apparently defending the withholding of constituency projects fund, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPE), Mr Emeka Nze, said most projects awarded in the past were without proper designs adding that the present government says this can’t continue.

Eze said part of global requirement was that public funds should be properly scrutinised while the law requires open competitive bidding. So with the directives of Mr President, by the end of October, virtually all projects would have been completed, he said.

Asked if the National Assembly delaying action on the Amendment bill to hoodwink the executive into releasing the allocations for constituency projects, Ojudu said it was not true. “The National Assembly would not because of that abdicate its responsibilities.

But for the reason I gave earlier that copies of the Amended bill have not been distributed to members of the National Assembly, we would have commenced deliberation on it,” he added.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

44

POLITICS PERSPECTIVE In this piece, Lagos lawyer Dr Akintola Benson contends that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s hypocritical and mischievious antics in Ekiti State will further weaken the troubled chapter in the build-up to the next governorship poll.

PDP’s hypocritical, mischievious antics in Ekiti A

PPARENTLY anxious to divert attention from the many internal crises ripping the party apart and daily rendering it more and more vulnerable in the forthcoming 2015 elections, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a mischievous and utterly misleading attack on the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The PDP has seized on the recent fence-mending mission of the party leadership to Ekiti state to describe Tinubu as a despot bent on imposing a choice on the people of Ekiti. Of course, there is neither rhyme nor logic to this baseless accusation. In the first place, what moral right has the PDP to accuse anybody of despotic tendencies?

This is a party that wanted to impose a chairman on the Nigerian Governors Forum in the person of Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State and when this failed, it suspended the winner of the NGF election, Governor RotimiAmaechi from the party for enjoying the support of majority of his colleagues!

A party that ordered a sitting governor not to seek re-election of a voluntary association like the NGF is now preaching the tenets of democracy to others. How ridiculous! This is a party that has made it so obvious that it is bent on harassing, intimidating and preventing anybody from challenging President Goodluck Jonathan for the PDP presidential ticket in 2015.Towards this end, members of its National Executive Committee (NEC) are removed and replaced at will. Its National Chairman, AlhajiBamangaTukur, remains in office against the will of majority of its NEC members all because of his willingness to manipulate intra-party processes in favour of Jonathan towards 2015. All National Chairmen of the party since inception have all been imposed and removed at will by the presidencySolomon Lar, Barnabas Gemade, Audu Ogbe, Vincent Ogbulafor and now BamangaTukur. The so called National Conventions that produced President UmaruYar’Adua and later Goodluck Jonathan were clearly manipulated to arrive at pre-determined outcomes despite the deceptive charade on national television. We can all recall how former Governor Timpre Sylva of Bayelsa state was brazenly prevented from asserting his right to seek re-election as the party’s governorship candidate while the favoured candidate of the presidency, Seriake Dickson was foisted on the party and is today the Governor of the state. In Kogi State, aggrieved PDP candidates who were manipulated out of contrived governorship primaries are still in court seeking justice. We can go on and on citing instances why the PDP has no moral right to preach intra-party democracy to any-

‘Asiwaju Tinubu spoke for close to one and a half hours at the event but the media reported only a minute fraction of what he said and mostly out of context. The ACN national leader’s concern and passion for the cohesion and success of the party in the entire Southwest is understandable. It must not be forgotten that in 2003, Asiwaju Tinubu remained the only governor standing in the Southwest following the electoral blitzkrieg of the PDP’

body.

But then, let us come to the substance of the PDP’s baseless allegation. How true is the claim that Asiwaju Tinubu is despotic and disdainful of democracy? In the first place, AsiwajuTinubu was not in Ekiti State in his personal capacity. He was on a delegation of the national leadership of the ACN, which included the National Chairman of the party, Chief BisiAkande, the leader of the party in Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adebayo and a prominent member of the party from Ekiti, Mr Dele Alake among others. The position forcefully articulated by AsiwajuTinubu at the Ekiti parley was, therefore, that of the party. Again, the fact that the party leadership expended time, energy and resources to go to Ekiti to settle internal disputes and put its house in order towards next year’s election is indicative of a party that respects the electorate and refuses to take them for granted.

It shows that the party, despite Governor Kayode Fayemi’s outstanding performance in office, is approaching the next elections with all seriousness. And the logic of the ACN leadership is impeccable.

Why do parties exist and why do candidates seek office? In a healthy democracy, the purpose is to fulfil the party’s manifesto and pursue the greatest welfare of the greatest number of the people. Now, if an incumbent is widely acknowledged as delivering on this mandate, why should a party dissipate energy on intra-party contests? Shouldn’t such energy be better saved to confront the opposition in the general election especially given the desperation of the PDP to regain a foothold in the Southwest? Is there no virtue in continuity when a government is delivering democracy dividends to the people the way Fayemi is doing in Ekiti?

The people of Ekiti are known to be fearless, independent minded and knowledgable. Nobody can push them around.

Asiwaju Tinubu and the ACN national leadership spoke to the entire gamut of the state leadership of the party including members of the executive council, national and state legislators as well as local government councils and wards. Yet,

there was not a single dissenting voice to the position of the national leadership from the large gathering of party members.

Of course, we can understand the antics of the PDP. The party wants the ACN to hold contentious primaries and go into the general elections as a divided entity.

It will not realise this dream. The ACN is the party to beat across the Southwest and many aspirants will naturally seek to fly its flag for any elective office. Furthermore, the outstanding performance of ACN governments has further endeared the party to the electorate thus making its platform for electoral purposes even more valuable.

The party leadership thus has a responsibility to carefully manage internal party nomination processes so that its tremendous success does not become a liability.

This was evidently the reason for the party leadership’s mission to Ekiti.

Asiwaju Tinubu spoke for close to one and a half hours at the event but the media reported only a minute fraction of what he said and mostly out of context.

The ACN national leader’s concern and passion for the cohesion and success of the party in the entire Southwest is understandable. It must not be forgotten that in 2003, Asiwaju Tinubu remained the only governor standing in the Southwest following the electoral blitzkrieg of the PDP. He could easily have chickened out, abandoned the progressive platform and succumbed to the ruling PDP. The Jagaban did not take that easy and tempting option. He not only held on tenaciously to Lagos State but played a pivotal role in the current resurgence of the progressives across the Southwest. He can thus lay claim to a greater stake in the survival and strengthening of the party in the region than any other person. In any case, the people have greater trust in the judgement of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu than that of the thoroughly inept PDP leadership. When he was to vacate office in 2007, Tinubu expressed his preference for his Chief of Staff, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), to succeed him. The PDP then accused him of imposition and dictatorship. Lagosians however trusted

his judgment and today Fashola is rated as easily the best governor in the country.

What happened at the federal level?

Obansajo handed over to an intelligent but physically incapacitated successor who has been succeeded by a glaringly incompetent President Goodluck Jonathan. The difference is clear.

The PDP cannot pretend to love Hon. Bamidele more than Tinubu or other ACN leaders. It is unfortunate that Tinubu’s reference to Bamidele’s ambition was completely reported out of context, perhaps not deliberately but because the media could not reproduce his extensive remarks in full. Asiwaju Tinubu had discovered Opeyemi Bamidele’s potentials and had drawn him close ever since the latter was a student union leader. When Tinubu was elected to the Senate in the aborted Third Republic, he engaged Bamidele as one of his legislative aides on legal matters. Both Tinubu and Bamidele were in exile during the pro-democracy struggle against military dictatorship. When he was elected Governor of Lagos State in 1999, Tinubu engaged Bamidele first as a Special Adviser in the office of the Deputy Governor and later Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development. He played a role in the appointment of Bamidele as Commissioner for Information and Strategy by Governor Fashola in 2007. At every point in time Tinubu has played a positive role in the evolving political career of Opeyemi Bamidele.

If the Jagaban had not recognised Bamidele’s intelligence and competence, he would not have given him those responsibilities over the years.AsiwajuTinubu has never said that Opeyemi Bamidele is not eminently qualified to be governor. But there are scores of eminently candidates in the party equally qualified to govern Ekiti effectively and there can only be one governor at a time.

If, therefore, Asiwaju this time around asks Bamidele to voluntarily shelve his ambition for now in the interest of the party, he is eminently qualified to do so and no one can accuse him of bad faith.

Indeed, Tinubu told the gathering in Ekiti that Opeyemi Bamidele was one of those who brought Dr. Kayode Fayemi to the party leadership and strongly canvassed for his candidacy in 2007. He urged the governor to draw Bamidele close and cautioned some of those close to Governor Fayemi to desist from creating any bad blood between the two men. The PDP should, therefore, concentrate on resolving its internal contradictions and stop meddling in matters that do not concern it.

• Dr Benson Akintola is a seasoned political scientist and lawyer based in Lagos.

ACN chieftain calls for part-time legislature

A

• Olusi

CTION Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain prince Tajudeen Olusi has called for a part-time legislature at the federal and state levels, saying that it is cost-effective. The former member of the House of Representatives said that the move will encourage professionals to participate in elective politics.

Olusi spoke in Lagos at the media parley organised by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who represents the Lagos Central in the Senate. He said: “We need to return to part-time legislature. We have monetised everything. The main desire of the people now is to acquire wealth. During the colonial era, there was a Lagislative Council. It was part-time. In the First Republic, the House of Representatives was parttime.

“In the 50s, we had councillors-

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

Adeniran Ogunsanya, MacWeen, Itwas part-time. I was a part-time councillor. I was working with an oil company. I served as a councillor on part-time basis”.

The politician alleged that cases of absenteeism are rampant among the legislators, maintaining that full-time legislators are not more effective than part-time legislators. He said that, if the part-time parliamentary method is restored, it will give room to more professionals, including lawyers, architects, town planners and others, to serve the country.

Olusi also advocated for pensions for legislators as it is done in Canada, Brazil and Australia. he alleged that public officials steal money because of the fear of

the future. He doubted, if a former legislator can be employed anywhere after leaving the parliament.

The former legislator also spoke on the state of emergency in some northern states, stressing that it would not produce the desired result because, as he put it, “the problem is in the mind”.

Olusi, who is a former commissioner in Lagos State, said that the state deserved a special status. he stressed: “Nigerians collectively have continued to oppress Lagos. A substantial part of the revenue from the port, which is our oil in Lagos, should accrue to us. Lagos was the Federal Capital Territory from the colonial days. During the colonial era, Lagos Town Council got two million pounds from the colonial government. All Nigerians dwell and trade here. Lagos deserves special status”.

, 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

45

46

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

THE

47

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

NEWS

How to fight insecurity,

by Shema K ATSINA State Governor Ibrahim Shema and a Professor of Criminology at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Femi Odekunle, have suggested ways of combating the growing problem of security.

Shema advocated a concerted effort by all Nigerians towards evolving a united front to combat insecurity and other social problems. Prof Odekunle suggested a redistribution of the nation’s wealth for the benefit of the people as against the current practice where the country’s wealth is held by a few that constitute the elite class.

They spoke in Abuja at this year’s edition of the Ahmadu Bello Universitys (ABU), Alumni Association, Abuja branch’s annual lecture and dinner/award.

Shema, an alumnus of the institution, said more than ever before, the country now requires unity among its citizens as shown over the years

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

by the university, which has established itself as a symbol of unity in line with the legacies of its founding father, Sir Ahmadu Bello.

“This type of unity is particularly relevant and worthy of note against the background of current challenges.

“For me, what is urgently required is a re-orientation and inculcation of sound moral values in our youths.

We must begin to orient them towards embracing peace and working for the unity of our great country,” Shema said.

He appealed to all alumni of ABU to assist the university to develop its infrastructure and others at learning facilities with a view to returning the school to its position as a foremost centre of learning in the country and the West African sub-region.

Speaking on the topic: “Peace and security: A panacea for national development,” the guest lecturer, Prof Odekunle linked the country’s security problem to what he described as the unjust and lopsided distribution of the nation’s wealth.

He argued that security and development were interlinked, and that one could not exist without the other.

Prof. Odekunle, who frowned at the unhealthy exhibition of wealth by the few in a society populated by a mass poor, argued that the current insecurity could not be divorced from the disenchantment among the deprived majority.

He said a reversal in the current socioeconomic arrangement to allow an even distribution of the nation’s wealth; enthronement of accountability among public office holders and application of law were among ways of combating the nation’s many challenges, particularly secu-

Minister urges diplomats on wealth creation

M

INISTER of Foreign Affairs Olugbenga Ashiru has urged the 69 graduating career diplomats of the 20th Regular Course of Master’ s Degree Programme in International Relations and Strategic Studies (MISS) on wealth creation for the country.

The minister spoke at the weekend during the closing ceremony of the 20th Regular Course held at the Foreign Service Academy on the Lagos -Badagry Expressay.

He said: “You should take cognissance of on-going measures to deploy our foreign policy to assist in the promotion of national development.

“The agenda of wealth and job creation for Nigerians, building and upgrading infrastructure in consonance with the government ‘s Transformation Agenda are a precursor to the attainment of Vision 20-20.”

Ashiru said the ministry has re-directed the nation’s diplomatic posts towards trade and investment drive by giving them targets and benchmark on performance.

He urged the graduating officers to shun social vices and corrupt practices, that could tarnish the image of the nation, he said the ministry had re-invigorated the Joint and Bi-National Commissions with key countries, such as Germany, USA and Canada to create more business opportunities for the private sector.

The minister, who said the training was aimed at equipping the officers with adequate against the backdrop of recurrent and emerging challenges, called on the officers to be good ambassadors of the country.

Director of Foreign Services AcademyMr. Tiwalade Adelanwa said the Master’s degree programme was carefully crafted and introduced through the exemplary vision of the principals in the ministry with the sole purpose of imparting critically needed capacity unto newly recruited officers.

“It was also borne out of the realisation that “a chain is as strong as its weakest link”.

He said that the hallmark of the initiative was the creation of excellence hinged upon competence and enhancement of performance.

Mr. Oko Charles Abechi, winner of the Best Overall Student Award, who spoke on behalf of the officers, promised that they would be

worthy ambassadors of the nation whenever they are posted out.

“We have benefited from the course immensely and this will equip us to do the nation proud, and compete with the best in the world”, he said.

Various awards were given to the best students in languages, such as French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuegese and Germany

•Shema

rity.

The association’s Chairman, Mrs Salamatu Suleiman said the choice of the lecture’s theme was informed by the association’s realisation that the “worst challenge confronting us today and which threatens the fabric of our nation-hood is that of insecurity.”

She said the association chose to provide a forum for a close examination of the nation’s security problem as its contribution the Federal Government’s on-going peace initiative.

Among those at the event are former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, former General Manager, Peugeot Automobile Limited, Isa Ozi Salami, Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Admiral Thomas Lokoson, ABU Alumni National Chairman, Mrs Henrieta Ogah and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs Fatima Bamidele.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

48

News ‘No indication on when rand will rebound’

T

HE rand has been trading at over 10 to the US dollar, SABC reports.

Deputy Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene RandSouth African Savings Institute’s Savings Month Government says it does not have a clear indication on when the rand will rebound. The rand has continued to weaken against a basket of currencies since the second quarter of 2013 - falling by more than 15 per cent.

The rand has been trading at over ten to the US Dollar. Deputy Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene says government needs to step up capacity to produce goods that are ready for export so that when the Rand weakens, it does not affect eco-

nomic growth.

He was speaking at the launch of the South African Savings Institute’s Savings Month.

“Investors themselves know that it will take as long as we are able to reach a point when it will stabalise. When it stabilise they will be able to get the benefits.

What this also tells us is that we need to step up our capacity to produce goods that are ready for exports so that when times like these catch us we are able to do this and I think the manufacturing sector is looking a lot into that. We need to also boost our primary sector which is agriculture so that we can export value added goods.”

SA urged to speed up land redistribution

N

•From right: Representative of Chairman, Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, Dr. A. Yusuf; Rep. Governor, Delta State, Prof Hope Eghagha; Rep., Petroleum Minister, Mr. G. Onwughalu; Ag. Principal/Chief Executive, PTI., Mrs. Nnenna C. Dennar; Mr. S. N. Tahir and Mr. A. U. Nwazeapu, at the institute’s graduation lecture. INSET: Mr Ben Osuno, guest speaker.

Ghana to issue first 7-year local currency bond in August

G

HANA plans to issue its first seven-year domestic bond next month in renewed efforts by the cocoa, gold and oil exporter to borrow over longer terms, the country’s treasury head said at the weekend, Reuters reports.

Adams Nyinaku told Reuters the 100 million-cedi ($49 million) bond, open to offshore investors, will be used to benchmark subsequent bonds and manage debt more effectively.

The West African nation is paying yields of over 20 per cent on its 91-day bills.

The central bank will also issue 600 million cedis worth of five-year bonds in September, mainly to roll over maturing debts, and another seven-year paper worth 100 million cedis in November to support current projects, Nyinaku said.

“This is the first time we are going to issue a seven-year bond and it is as a result of the government’s commitment to use medium- and long-term papers to manage its debts efficiently,” he said.

Ghana’s central bank issued three three-year bonds in the first half of this year, mainly to retire maturing debts and also to support of the

local cedi currency which has so far weakened six per cent against the dollar this year.

It is currently preparing to embark on a roadshow on July 15 for a second Eurobond of up to $1 billion.

The government has yet to formally announce the issue date but officials told Reuters it would be before July 25.

Ghana’s parliament last week approved Barclays and Citi Group as transactions advisers for the Eurobond, proceeds of which would be used for debt restructuring and infrastructure projects.

Kenya seizes ivory ‘going from Uganda to Malaysia’

P

OACHED ivory “disguised” as sun-dried fish has been seized in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa, officials say, Reuters reports.

The consignment of some 770 pieces, hacked out of elephants, had come from neighbouring Uganda and was destined for Malaysia, they added.

The smugglers added fish to give off “a pungent smell intended to throw off sniffer dogs’’, said Kenya Wildlife Service spokesman Paul Udoto.

There is a huge demand for African

ivory in Asia for use in ornaments.

The Kenyan government banned trade in ivory in 1989, and levels of elephant poaching subsequently declined, but there has been a rise in the illegal practice in recent years.

Mr Udoto said export documents showed that the ivory had come by vehicle from landlocked Uganda on June 12.

The vehicle was then “parked” at a petrol station in Mombasa, a regional trade hub, until the consignment was brought into the port, he added.

“The ivory was stashed in 69

bundles of several pieces and had been disguised as sun-dried fish,” said Mr Udoto.

“Some bags had worked polished pieces of ivory, while others had raw ivory,” he added.

The value of the ivory had not yet been determined, he added.

In January, two tonnes of ivory worth $1million (£650,000) had been seized in Mombasa, while in transit from Tanzania to Indonesia.

Kenya has taken a more aggressive stance against poaching as it tries to combat a surge in demand for ivory from Asia.

Russia to increase wheat shipments to Egypt

R

USSIA is likely to increase its exports of wheat to Egypt in the marketing year that started on July 1, this year despite political upheaval in the world’s largest wheat importer that may slash its overall purchases, Russia’s Grain Union said at the weekend, Hellenicshippingnews reports.

Egypt will swear in an interim leader on Thursday after the army ousted President Mohamed Mursi and crowds celebrated in Cairo and Alexandria, following clashes that killed 14 people.

Bread has been a sensitive issue for Egypt. State grain buyer the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), together with private importers, usually obtains around 10 million metric tons of wheat a year.

“Due to political instability, Egypt is likely to slash imports to between seven and eight million metric tons this year,” Arkady Zlochevsky, head of the Union,

told a briefing in Moscow.

“Russia will account for half of Egypt’s imports subject to its (Russia’s) falling domestic wheat prices,” he added. Russia supplied around 2.7 million metric tons of wheat to Egypt in 2012/13.

Egypt’s GASC on Tuesday bought 180,000 metric tons of Romanian and Ukrainian wheat in its first purchase since February, its longest absence from the world market in years.

The price for GASC’s deal was between $249.83 and $253.88 per metric ton (1.1023 tons) with freight costs in a band of $10.50 and $14.69.

Russian domestic wheat prices are set to fall and become more competitive by the autumn because of the prospect of a good harvest and significant carryover grain stocks, seen at 12 million metric tons as of July 1, according to Zlochevsky.

Russia is expected to boost its wheat harvest this year by 42 percent to 54 million metric tons af-

ter last year’s drought, according to the latest Reuters poll. It had threshed 7.7 million metric tons of wheat as of July 3.

Russia’s domestic prices for third class wheat may decline to 6,000 roubles ($180) per metric ton by September, Zlochevsky added.

SovEcon agriculture analysts pegged prices for third class wheat in the European part of the country at 7,825 roubles ($240) per metric ton last week.

Export prices for wheat supplies with 12.5 percent protein content were down $8 at $256 per metric ton in the Black Sea on a free-on-board (FOB) basis and down $3 at $232 per metric ton in the Azov Sea last week, according to the Institute for Agricultural Market Studies (IKAR).

Zlochevsky also said he expected all grain exports from Russia to total 2.5 million metric tons in August, up from 1.5 million metric tons in July.

UMSA and Fawu members embarked on a picket at the Regional Land Claims Commission Offices in Pietermaritzburg , SABC reports.

PietermaritzburgKwaZuluNatalNational Union of Metalworkers of South AfricaCedric GinaFood and Allied Workers Union National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) President Cedric Gina says they will engage the ruling African National Congress to see how they can improve the process of land redistribution.

He was addressing scores of Numsa and Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) members during a picket at the Regional Land Claims Commission Offices in

T

Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.

The unions are demanding the speedy redistribution of land. They say government should speed up the process before people start losing hope.

Gina said they are not happy with the pace of the process. “We are excited, obviously, that the President announce that they will be reopening and opportunity for those claimants that were outside, that were closed out of the process, but even that must happen when all others outstanding glimmers are be sorted out.”

Traffic along Langalibalele Street formerly known as Long Market Street was severely disrupted during the picket. While a strong police contingent was deployed to monitor the situation.

Brent crude oil rises near $107

HE political uncertainty in Egypt has added to existing oil supply worries, SABC reports.

Suez CanalBrent crude oilEgyptian armySinai PeninsulaMuslim Brotherhood President Mohamed MursiNorth Sea gradeForties crude oilFederal Reserveseaborne oil OPEC. Brent crude oil rose towards $107 a barrel on Friday after Egypt’s army said it was on high alert after an attack in Sinai, pushing the price to its biggest weekly gain since last June.

The Egyptian army said it was on alert in the Sinai peninsula after an attack on an airport in the town of El Arish, but had not declared a state of emergency. So far, ports and shipping through the Suez Canal have been operating normally, two shipping sources and a canal official said.

Brent crude for August delivery was up by $1.21 to $106.75 by 1218 GMT after hitting a high of $107.34 a barrel following the Egyptian army’s announcement. Front-month prices have risen by 4.7 per cent so far this week, the largest weekly gain since June last year. US crude futures were up 53 cents to $101.77 a barrel after hitting a high of $102.19 a barrel.

The army took control of Egypt on Wednesday after protesters filled the streets of major cities, asking for the resignation of Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsi.

The Egyptian uncertainty added to existing supply worries. Almost all physical crude grades consumed by Europe are now short, including Russian, Iraqi, Libyan and African grades.

North Sea supplies, which underpin Brent, are expected to be extremely low in the coming months when main grade Forties output is reduced due to maintenance in August. The Forties crude oil stream, the main North Sea grade, will load about 252 000 barrels per day (bpd) in August, down from 387,000 bpd originally planned in July, a trade source said on Friday.

Libyan ports and various fields have been plagued by worker protests and its largest export terminal was shut late on Thursday. Port guards locked the gate over salary complaints, preventing workers from continuing operations.Brent’s premium to the US benchmark fell to its lowest since December 2010 on Wednesday.

US jobs data could further bolster confidence in demand prospects for the world’s largest oil consumer. Jobs growth in the United States probably slowed slightly in June, buoying the outlook for fuel demand, according to a Reuters survey.

But such numbers could also support the Federal Reserve’s case to start slowing its bond purchases later this year, which would sap liquidity and drag on commodity prices.

South Africa next supplier of thermal coal

D

EUTSCHE Bank in a report, expects that as the loss of Colombian export volume mounts, European buyers will be required to seek alternative supplies as coal demand in Europe remains at an elevated level owing to the high price of natural gas relative to coal,Hellenicshippingnews reports.

Since distressed exports of US Appalachian coal are likely to be lower, South Africa appears the next most plausible supplier for Europe.

“We estimate European import demand at 195mt this year, relatively unchanged from last year, but up 21% from the 2010 level of demand.” the Bank noted. Inventories of coal at UK power stations at the end of December were relatively low compared to historical levels at 2.5 months of consumption.

Coal would not lose its appeal for power generation relative to gas unless API-2 rises beyond $154/t over the balance of 2013 for the UK market, after taking into account the carbon price support.

With the blockage of Prodeco’s rail line to Puerto Prodeco in northern Colombia, this brings the disruption to 96 per cent of Colombian thermal coal production, which totalled 79.4mt in 2012. On a cumulative basis, the five disruptions of (i) stoppage of payments to the mine operator at La Francia, (ii) workers’ strike at El Cerrejón, (iii) suspension of Drummond coalloading license, (iv) ban on overnight running of Fenoco trains between 10:30pm and 4:30am, and (v) the blockage of the rail line to Puerto Prodeco.

, 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

49

50

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

THE

, 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

51

52

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

THE

THE NATION MONDAY JULY 8, 2013

53

NEWS

Six convicted for arson, attempted N Ebonyi State High murder

A

•From left: The late MKO Abiola’s son, Abdul; Convener, Save Nigeria Group (SNG) Pastor Tunde Bakare); literary icon Prof Niyi Osundare; President, Campaign for Democracy (CD)Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin; and former Lagos State Military Adminstartor Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu at the 15th anniversary of Abiola’s death in Lagos...yesterday

Court, Abakaliki, has sentenced six persons to 14 years’ imprisonment for arson and attempted murder.

John Ota Ogbaga, Moses Nkwegu, Simon Mbam, Ugo Ovuoba, Mgbeleke Ovuoba and Mbam Chukwuma attacked John Nwegede on May 23, 2011, at Ngbo Agbaja, Izzi Local Government Area.

They were also accused of setting ablaze the house of Michael Onyibo valued at N600,000 they have been in custody since 2011.

Justice Paul Elechi said the prosecutors have proved their case beyond reasonable doubt with substantial evidence, adding that the sus-

Alaafin, pride of the black race, says Ajimobi

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has described the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, as a pride of the black race whose resilience, sincerity of purpose and commitment to the well being of the downtrodden is incomparable.

The Governor spoke at the 70th birthday ceremony of the monarch’s wife, Olori Ramat Adedayo Adeyemi, in Oyo town.

He said: “Alaafin is highly intelligent, thorough, blunt and has never allowed falsehood and hypocrisy to be his guiding principle.

Great minds like the paramount ruler are very rare to

•Oyo monarch’s wife marks 70th birthday

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

come by and do not live long because they are bound to have many enemies. But due to the resilience of the Alaafin, he is able to weather the storm and triumph over his enemies.”

Appreciating the traditional ruler for his selfless efforts, support and cooperation for his administration as well as working relentlessly towards the wellbeing of the people and Southwest in general, Ajimobi also hailed the Alaafin for promoting black culture and communal her-

itage.

“Alaafin is a pride to Oyo State, Yoruba land, Africa and the entire black race.

He is indeed our source of inspiration.”

Congratulating the monarch’s wife on her birthday and praising her for here diligence, submissiveness, support and dedication, he urged women to emulate the exemplary qualities of Olori Adedayo.

Oba Adeyemi, attributed sincerity of purpose, endurance, sense of devotion and large heartedness as secrets behind his wife still stay-

ing with him 45 years after marriage.

He said: “If I marry a wife and she can spend three years with me, such a woman should count herself lucky. No woman can satisfy me in whatever she does, no matter how good or decent, including cooking.

I will always find fault and often times create trouble when there is none for my wives, yet they must not report me to outsiders. But Olori Ramat Adedayo stands out as a diligent wife whose perseverance and total sub-

Activist blames govt for incessant strike

T

HE General Secretary of the Public Services International (PSI), Ms Rosamaria Pavanelli, has blamed the spate of strikes in the country on the non-implementation of agreements reached.

Speaking at a conference in Abuja at the weekend, Ms Pavanelli said: “Public sector workers in Nigeria are beset by a number of problems.

Poor funding, privatisation and outsourcing are some of the policies that have created or deepened problems not only for the workers, but also

•’Privatisation not answer to development’ From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

for the delivery of quality public services.

“These rather questionable neo-liberal approach to “development’ is a universal paradigm, which was foisted on society through attacks on the poor and working people over the last three decades.

“A major reason for the spate of strikes and other forms of industrial conflicts in the country appears to be

the non-implementation of agreements reached between employers/governments and the trade unions.

“While the multi-lateral economic institutions and governments that advanced this global “consensus” have claimed that it is for the betterment of humankind, reality has shown that neo-liberalism does not work.

“The current global economic crisis is a vivid testament to this. Unfortunately, rather than learn from the

catastrophe that we have all been thrown into by deregulated capitalism, we are being told that the way forward is to give more of the medicine that caused the ailment.”

She appealed to the Federal Government to look at the ideology of neo-liberalism and put the interests of the masses over and above those big businesses through enhanced public services delivery and a halt to privatisation.

He advised journalists to use information substitution strategy and focus more on the greatness of the country, rather than on the bad news.

Bishop Callistus Onaga called on journalists and all those engaged in managing communication to be circumspect in what they do.

He condemned the use of the media to propagate immorality and falsehood rather than the promotion of sound and godly values.

The Director of Communication at the Enugu State Catholic Diocese, Fr. Joseph Offor, reminded practitioners that the nobility of the profession lies in the propagation of truth.

Avoid sensational news, Obi advises journalists

A

NAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi yesterday praised journalists for working to ensure that Nigerians keep abreast of the news, often at great risk to their lives.

The governor spoke yesterday at the mass to commemorate the World Communication Day at the Holy

T

Ghost Cathedral, Enugu, yesterday.

He, however, frowned at sensationalisation of news.

He called on reporters to engage more in investigative journalism and writings that would edify the society.

“Every profession is for the greater glory of God and should be used to advance civilisation,” Obi said.

Imo community rejects ‘Eze’ elect

HERE is crisis in Elelem autonomous community, Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, following the rejection of the ‘Eze’ elect of the community, Nelson Nwaordu.

The community in a letter by Anthony Nnodim, Secretary of the Community Government Council (CGC), Nze Chigbu Nwaogu, Chairman Elelem Council of Elders, Eugene Madufor, Mrs. B. Ugwulor and Rev Obilor M.O passed a vote of no confidence on Nwaordu.

“The people of Elelem community after a meeting of elders, chiefs, king makers and the community government council executives unanimously resolved that a vote of no confidence has been passed on the Eze elect. “Nwaordu should

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

not be considered fit for the position of a traditional ruler of Elelem as he has betrayed the people and we are disappointed in him,” the letter reads.

The aggrieved villagers, who also petitioned Governor Rochas Okorocha, said Nwaordu is not fit for the office of the traditional ruler.

The petitioners said: “The Eze elect announced a compulsory levy of N720, 000 in each of the five villages which amounted to N3.6 million for the completion of the electricity project. But the contractors handling the project were not paid.”

missiveness, coupled with care and unalloyed support will forever be appreciated.

She is a woman of substance and an embodiment of trust and honesty.”

Oba Adeyemi said when he resumed in the palace after coronation, the palace was devoid of needed structures, adding that he started developing the palace with Olori Adedayo, who stood by him, advising him with words of encouragement like his mother.

The paramount ruler lauded the governor for his achievements in transforming the state as well as bettering the lots of the downtrodden.

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

pects willfully committed the acts.

A 33-year-old man, Uchenna Mbam, has also been sentenced to a year and half imprisonment by an Abakaliki Magistrate’s Court for assaulting a police officer.

The magistrate, Job Orude, found him guilty of physically assaulting Corporal Chukwuma Evo.

Diocese clears kidnap suspects

T

HE Catholic Diocese of Orlu, Imo State, has exonerated two indigenes of Amaruru Autonomous Community – Nelson Okpara Janel and A.C. Ojimba of alleged poisoning and kidnapping.

They were accused of trying to poison and attempting to kidnap a former parish priest of St. John’s Catholic Church, Amaruru, Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State, Rev Chukwudiebere Ohachu.

A statement of resolution by the Dean Regina Pacis, Rev Joseph B.C. Okorie and Rev Christopher Ihenetu, said: “The diocese of Orlu considers this case resolved and closed, therefore no future reference should be made to this case.

“The role of the diocese in the matter should neither be seen nor regarded as a basis for any future litigation.”

‘Save us from Fulani herdsmen’

R

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

ESIDENTS of Amokwe Item in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State have appealed to the leader of the Hausa community, Yaro Danladi, to caution his subjects against the destruction of their farmlands.

In a letter to Danladi, which was signed by the President-General and Secretary of Amokwe Item Welfare Union (AIWU), Kingsley Ogba Nwokoro and Sunny Ogele, the people warned against further destruction of their farmlands by the herdsmen and their cattle.

The letter reads: “It is with disheartening disposition that we write to complain to you on behalf of our community against the incessant menace of Fulani cattle herdsmen in our community, Amokwe Item in Bende Local Government Area.

“Our community has been so much ravaged by the activities of the Fulani herdsmen to the extent that the only source of drinking water, farmlands and crops therein has been turned into their grazing field.

“The herdsmen have regularly used the Akaeze-ItemIgbere route for their activities, but their lack of discipline in avoiding farmlands is a major source of concern to our people, which if left to continue will lead to serious problems between our community and the herdsmen.”

‘Leave Ubah alone’

T

From Gbenga Omokhunu and Grace Obike, Abuja

HE Youth Association of Anambra State (YAAC) has cried out against what it considered an ongoing campaign of defamation against oil magnate Ifeanyi Ubah.

YAAC claims that Ubah, a governorship aspirant, has achieved an overwhelming accomplishment in the state and that people intimidated by his success are coming up with ploys to frustrate his efforts.

The group raised the alarm in a statement by Ezugo Chinwuba (Convener), Stanley Morphey (Publicity Secretary) and Anijah Obi (Secretary).

“We, the coalition of all youth associations in Anambra State, have utterly vowed to put an end to this onslaught of calumny and defamation to frustrate the antics of these traducers and detractors, who have no good intention for the people.

“This assemblage of non descript persons should be disregarded and considered expired.

“Ifeanyi Ubah is an individual, who intends to bring light and liberation to Anambra State, which has persistently been plagued by leadership crisis.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

54

NEWS

•The couple: Mrs and Mrs Moyosore Ogunnusi (middle) with their parents - Otunba Yomi Ogunnusi (second right); his wife Emmanuella (second left); Senator Oluremi Tinubu (right) and Mrs Giwa at the wedding of Mr & Mrs Ogunnusi at the Catholic Church of The Presentation, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos... at the weekend. PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYOEDEL

•Deeper Life women choir singing at the women conference in Suleja... yesterday

•Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP); Emeka Ezeh (left) presenting publication materials to the DirectorGeneral, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri when he visited to BPP Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

•From left: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Ronald de Jong, Executive Vice President, Royal Philips and JJ Van Dongen, CEO Philips Africa during the Governor’s meeting with Philips in Abuja... at the weekend.

•Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Lagos, Comrade Ayodele Adewale (middle); his Vice, Alhaja Qudirat Dada (on his bright); Registrar, Mr. Ajose Afolabi (left) with pupils and some teachers of St Jude Private School, when they visited the local governmnt.

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

A tribute to my dear brother and close friend, Chief Abimbola Olusoji Aremu Ogunsola

W

HEN our close friend dies, we too die a little. When our brother or sister dies, we die a little more. The death of our closest sibling and comrade inflicts on us especial pain and sorrow and compels a long and deep introspection on how much time may yet remain before our own transition.

Sorry, Abimbola. Pele o.

Although Baba was only 67 when he died, Mama had lived on to 82.

Because, in physical frame, you were without question her carbon copy, save for gender, height and size of nose - no, there was no way you could have escaped Ladejo Ogunsola’s signature nose - I had casually taken it as given that you, too, would live beyond the age of 80.

Until that Tuesday afternoon the 4th of June , when the egg was broken on our head, and the hammer was thrown at our face. When your diagnosis was pronounced.

Last Sunday evening, the day after your departure, as I stood by my bed in Lagos, ruminating on the essence

Sunset in the afternoon

By Chief Ajibola Olusanya Akanji Ogunshola

or non-essence of human existence, it suddenly dawned on me that, in all our 50 years of active interaction, not once did we have a quarrel, nor could I recall that we ever exchanged unfriendly words, our occassional arguments or disagreements never rose to the “height of fight”. In retrospect it was fortunate, but only in retrospect, that opportunities for the usual familial fights among children had been foreclosed in our case by the fact that you were raised at Elekuro, while I was raised by my mother at Oranyan.

But it was not only the absence of childhood fights that sustained the vigour of our subsequent relationship.

Until-he-returns-my-call-I-shall not-phone was never your attitude , nor mine, and I will forever appreciate the fact that whenever I was too lazy to call, you did. Bo tile je ose meta, egbon l’egbon je, so you lived up to my expectation as my senior.

Like most of our siblings, you had a strong sense of personal pride that could be mistaken for arrogance, a trait which, along with principled stubbornness, you clearly inherited from Baba.

Towards me, to my wife and chil-

dren and to the larger Ogunsola family, your material generosity in relation to your financial resources, was exemplary and outstanding. But we are not talking of money or gifts alone : you found the time to to ask after the welfare of other family members, remembered the names of our children and of the children of our children.

And is there anyone who is not enamoured by your wit and humour, another obvious genetic inheritance of yours from Mama?

It was the great love and deep concern for Gloria and for the future of Funso and Femi that made you eventually take what was for you a difficult decision to leave Nigeria for the United States when the country’s economy tanked and marketing consultancy business collapsed. Left to you, had you been alone, you would have remained in Nigeria to make the best of what was possible within the system as your ego and personal pride was inconsistent with your potential status elsewhere as, more or less, a second class citizen.

Fortunately, events thereafter have proven that the decision to leave was right.

Gone forever, Bimbola, is our symbolic ritual of togethernes, where we shared one but not more than one bottle of beer, which we

fondly referred to as “ pin ‘kan “.

And when more than one bottle was to be consumed, we must exhaust the first together before we did embark on the second.

Of those two hands that used to “pin ‘kan” and distrbute the froth of beer, one has now become forever silent.

Pele o, Abimbola, Nle o.

When in 2009 , you were informed that our “ baby “ sister, Bonike, was gravely ill in London, you made great effort to obtain a travel visa at very short notice and when that failed, you came down to Lagos for her funeral.

And, last July, in spite of your considerable expenses during Femi’s wedding only about a month earlier, you flew down to Lagos to visit our senior sister who was recovering from an illness. Now, in retrospect, it was fortunate that you came as it turned out to be your last opportunity to see other family members, to breath Elekuro, to visit the tomb of Mama and to catch final glimpses of your ancestral home.

We had been looking forward to your retirement next year, to celebrating your 70th on June 22 and mine on July 14. We had even discussed what you might do to keep you active but not busy during retirement . Aware of your fine per-

sonal “ people “ attributes which includes your dexterity in speechmaking; the solidity of your early literary background in Yoruba and English literature , your exposure to the Latin prose of Caesar and the poetry of Ovid and Vergil at Elekuro, Igbobi, GCI, Bowdoin College; your MBA degree from Cornel University; I had suggested that you might then consider some involvement in the politics and development of your local community.

Then, gradually - no, rapidly - a sun began to set and in the afternoon of June 29, seven days after you turned 69, you walked into the sunset.

I tried not to cry but I did; I was already becoming used to “these deaths” , including the deaths of siblings, I had thought. But yours turned out to be different.

Well, Bimbola, it is time for me to leave. I will remember you with love and fondness to the end of my remaining time.

Iyabo and I shall remember you to the end of our days. We will remember you, not only “at the setting of the sun and in the morning” but also at the rising of the sun and in the evening.

Nle o , Abimbola Aremu, nle o.

•Ogunshola is former chairman, Punch Nigeria Limited

55

THE NATION MONDAY JULY 8, 2013

NEWS

ALHAJA ABIBATU ASABI MOGAJI (1917-2013)

•Former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mr Femi Pedro (left), former Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Edun and his wife at the Interdenominational service for the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji in Lagos...yesterday

•Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (second right); his wife, Bisi (second left); member, House of Representatives Oyetunde Ojo (left) and his wife Folashade

•Former Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Kemi Nelson (left), his Information and Strategy counterpart Mr Dele Alake and Lagos House of Assembly member Lola Akande

•Mr Obong Etim flanked by Dr Godwin Edet (left) and Mrs Dorcas Ikabor—all from Akwa Ibom State

•Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Musiliu Smith (left) and Mr Omotilewa Aro-Lambo

•Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed

•Lagos Deputy Princess Adejoke Adefulire

•Osun State Deputy Governor Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (right) and House of Representatives member Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa

Governor Orelope-

•Ekiti State Deputy Governor Prof Modupe Adelabu

•Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji and his wife Mayowa

•Senator Ajayi Boroffice and his wife Olasimbo

•From left: Bishop Magnus Atilade; Archbishop Ecclestiastical Province of Lagos (Anglican Communion)Revd Adebayo Akinde; Bishop, Diocese of Lagos (Anglican Communion) Dr Adebola Ademowo; Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria His Eminence, Dr S. Ola Makinde; General Leader of the C&S Church, Ayo Ni O, Surulere; Lagos, Prophet G.O Fakeye and others.

•Former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (left) and Lagos Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Pastor Ben Akabueze PHOTOS: OMOSEHIN MOSES

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

56

NEWS

T

Niger to use ATMs for bursary payment

HE Niger State Government has said it plans to issue customised Automated Teller Machines (ATM) cards to its students in tertiary institutions for bursary disbursement.

The government explained that the move would check fraud.

Also, the Kwara State Scholarship Board said it requires N300 million to pay bursary to the 60,000 students of the state origin.

Niger State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Mohammed Bashir Nuhu, and the Chairman of Kwara State Scholarship Board, Isiaka Mogaji, spoke at different

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

fora in Minna, the state capital.

Nuhu told reporters that the decision was to check fraud among some students, who would collect bursary several times, as well as those who are out of school but still collect the allowances.

He said this development made the government to collaborate with commercial banks for the issuance of customised ATM cards to be used for the disbursement of bursary.

Mogaji said the Kwara State Government has released N100 million of the required N300 million for about 20,000

Kano can eradicate polio, says Kwankwaso

K

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

ANO State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso yesterday said his administration has the political will and determination to eradicate polio and similar diseases.

The governor spoke at the Government House during a video conferencing on how to strengthen the tripartite partnership and routine immunisation in Kano State between the state government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

He noted that the security challenge, which was a threat to vaccination in the state, has been overcome.

Kwankwaso said: “The issue of security is a big challenge in meeting our target, but a lot has been achieved in the last few months. This is because we never had anything to worry about in Kano.”

Ahmed seeks transparency in pension administration

K

WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has urged pension administrators to institutionalise transparency to sustain public confidence in pension funds as investment instruments.

The governor assured that the state would introduce its pension scheme as soon as the Assembly passed the draft bill on the scheme.

Ahmed spoke at the weekend in Ilorin, the state capital, during the opening of the North-Central zonal office of the National Pension Commission in Ilorin.

The governor also noted that, like most investment products, pension schemes need to retain the trust of the investing public to ensure the

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

integrity of the service and sustenance of patronage.

“In doing this, we will not only ensure a positive public perception of the scheme but also attract more profitable investment in pension instruments,” he added.

Ahmed said the ability of the contributory pension scheme to generate, in just nine years, N3.2trillion of investible funds, was commendable.

The governor hoped that the establishment of the NorthcCentral Zonal office of the pensions commission would enable states in the zone to key into the scheme as soon as possible.

Wada signs MoU to build Kogi House in Abuja

T

From Muhammad Bashir, Lokoja

HE Kogi State Government at the weekend signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Chinese company, Kaibo International Nigeria Limited, to build its House in Abuja.

The building, to be built at Abuja Central Business Area, is the first since the creation of the state 21 years ago.

At the ceremony, Governor Idris Wada said the building would boost the image of the state, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The governor explained that the project would be a joint venture and a source of revenue generation for the state.

The Sole Administrator of Kogi Investment and Property Limited, Moses Ado Okino, said the land was acquired in 1992 by the former government, adding that the Federal Government revoked it when it was not developed.

Kabo Air to resume domestic operation in Kano

K

•Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu (middle); Deputy Governor Ahmed Musa Ibeto (left) and Chairman, Edati Local Government Area, Isa Kantigi, during the inauguration of Workers’ Village Housing Estate for local government workers in Enagi...at the weekend.

ABO Air has acquired a Boeing 747-400 series aircraft to complement its three aircraft to boost its international flights and Hajj operations.

Its Manager, Corporate Affairs Malam Aminu Hamza said the airline would resume domestic operations soon to cater for growing local passengers.

Hamza explained that the airline suspended its domestic operations because its air-

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

craft were too big for the purpose.

According to him, it would be a waste to use such large aircraft for domestic flights, because the volume of aviation fuel required for such planes on local routes cost big money.

Hamza said the 400 series is an improvement on what obtains in other Boeing 747 aircraft.

S

Suspected Fulani herdsmen kill 10 farmers

USPECTED Fulani herdsmen have killed 10 Tiv farmers in a renewed violence in Benue State.

It was learnt that the suspected herdsmen also destroyed 200 houses in Nzorov Ward of Guma Local Government Area.

Last weekend, some suspected herdsmen killed 20 Tiv farmers and destroyed the large compound of a former Head of Service (HOS), Mr Mike Iordye.

Villages destroyed in yesterday's attacks are Ahentse, Tse Akaahena and Akuloko.

A resident, who escaped from the killers, Tyobee

T

Kwaghsar, told The Nation on phone that the attackers have been burning houses from one village to another, unchallenged.

He said: "Last Friday, the heavily armed suspected Fulani herdsmen came to Tse Akaahena and shot into the air. When people took to their heels, they returned in large number and set the entire village ablaze."

Kwaghsar, who is taking refuge with a relation in

North Bank, Makurdi, said the invaders wore military camouflage and razed Ahentse and Akuloko.

He added that the attackers killed 10 people in the area.

According to him, the suspected herdsmen also destroyed yam farms, including millet and soybeans, which were just sprouting.

Kwaghsar said about 20,000 victims of the crisis are taking refuse in neighbouring towns, like Ayilamo, Tse Dzungwe, Gbajimba, Agasha and Makurdi.

He urged the State Emer-

Kwara ACN moves to unite members

HE Chairman of the Kwara State Caretaker Committee of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Comrade Sola Iji, at the weekend said efforts were on to reposition the party to ensure its success in future elecions.

He said the seven-man committee, which was constituted by the ACN National Executive Committee (NEC) to reconcile the factions within the party, would ensure a formidable transition from ACN to All Progressives Congress (APC).

Iji, a lawyer and former ACN Chairman in Ondo State, told reporters in Akure, the state capital, that he was banking on the modest experience he garnered in politics and as former caretaker chairman of ACN in Enugu State to face the challenges of his mandate.

He said: “We are mobilising members. We are taking up rigorous reconciliation

A

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

parleys. We are engaging party leaders in open discussions, even with our merging partners in the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

“We are having useful discussions in anticipation of the template to be sent to us from the APC National Interim officers.”

Iji said the regular interaction between members and the caretaker committee would break barriers and harmonise the party in preparation for the coming local government election in the state.

On the Ondo governorship election dispute, the party leader said the Appeal Court verdict was a fundamental shift from that of the lower tribunal, particularly in admitting that the foundation

for that election was manipulated and full of irregularities.

The party chieftain assured that the apex court would make a pronouncement on the credibility or otherwise of an election conducted with a compromised voters’ register.

Iji said: “The law does not allow somebody to vote twice. But names of voters were replicated, even on the same page. The whole process was compromised. The foundation for the election was full of absurdities.”

The lawyer hailed the Appeal Court judges for admitting that the voters’ list was compromised.

But he noted that the good job the judges did would have been well executed by discrediting the disputed election and granting the ACN’s prayer for an annulment of the election.

Iji said: “Voters’ register is so fundamental. You cannot

gency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide relief for the victims.

Police spokesman, Daniel Ezeala, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the situation has been brought under control.

He, however, disputed the casualty figure though he did not give the police figure.

But the Chairman of Guma Local Government Usar Adi said the invaders were still attacking in the area.

Iordye, who lost the entire village to the crisis, advised the Federal and state governments to deploy more soldiers in the area to avert exterminating Tiv farmers in the area.

•Comrade Sola Iji

build a house without a proper foundation; that house will crumble. The verdict of the Appeal Court did not excite the public. That was why there was no jubilation; it was because it fell below the people’s expectation.”

The ACN chieftain described the Olusegu Mimiko administration as a disaster.

He added: “It has plundered the resources of the state to such an extent that the masses are suffering.”

Cleric seeks truth about Suntai’s health

TOP Catholic cleric in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, Rev. Charles Nyameh, has urged the House of Assembly and the State Executive Council (Exco) to tell the world the truth about the state of health of Governor Danbaba Suntai.

In a statement at the weekend, the cleric accused politicians in the state of spreading lies about the health of the governor.

He said: Ït is time the truth is known so that the state can move forward.

“I strongly call and urge, in the name of God, the Taraba State Executive Council and Taraba State House of Assembly to do what is necessary and within their constitutional powers to make Taraba State have a substantive governor. We cannot continue in this situation indefinitely. We should tell ourselves the truth and do what is necessary for the state to move

forward.

“If it is in our position or power to make the governor well and bring him back to continue his work, we would have done it since. We have prayed and are still praying, but it is not our decision to make.

“We have to come to terms eventually with certain realities, which are not in our power to determine. It is a common factor in Nigeria that we often don’t want to say the truth, if it affects our interests, which are often selfish. But we have to face the reality as it is. If we don’t speak because we think we might be at a disadvantaged position, when a similar incident occurs when we might be in an advantaged position, we must be prepared to also remain silent.”

The cleric noted that the governor would be remembered for several positive things he did, adding: “Taraba State

existed before the administration of Danbaba Suntai and will continue to exist after his administration, adding that there are limits to what an acting governor can do.

“We have played so much politics with the issues of the governor’s health and have created so much divide in the camps of those who are either for or against him. We pray God to heal him to come back and continue his life, but the governance of the state must continue according to the tenets of our sovereign national constitution,” he said.

The cleric, who hailed the Assembly for its conduct so far, also affirmed that “the truth must be said, even if a price has to be paid for it”.

“It is an honour to be identified with the truth in life or in death,” he added.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

57

NEWS

C

2015: North to negotiate presidency, says Aliyu

HAIRMAN of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) Babangida Aliyu yesterday gave a fresh condition for the would-be president in 2015, saying the North would be prepared to negotiate the exalted office.

Aliyu has consistently said President Goodluck Jonathan signed a pact with North’s leaders to serve a four-year single term.

He, however, said the region was prepared to go along with whoever emerged as the President in 2015, adding that the North will negotiate properly with those seeking the exalted office.

The Niger State Governor ruled out the possibility of the North blindly voting for any candidate in the general polls without first safeguarding its interests.

Aliyu spoke at the weekend during the inauguration of an office complex built by Edati Local Government Area for employees of federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), de-

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

ployed to Enagi, the council headquarters.

Aliyu said: “The North is prepared to follow whoever is duly elected in 2015. Whoever emerges as the president after a due and constitutional process, the North will support. But we are going to ensure that we properly negotiate for our interest and ensure that it is protected.”

He denied the allegation that he has been advocating only northern candidates to seek the country’s highest office in 2015, maintaining that his position was that the promises made to the region are kept in the collective interest of all.

The governor also frowned at the activities of some Abuja politicians, especially from his state, whom he accused of working against the interest of the region for selfish gains.

Aliyu, who did not name such politicians, noted that their stock-in-trade was to flaunt their influence in Abuja and with the President, “all

in an attempt to earn favour of the presidency in the 2015 bid” at the expense of the entire region.

The governor cautioned against moves by self-seeking politicians to bring religion into the politics of his state, stressing that such move would not be accepted.

“Here in Niger, we do not play the politics of religion.

Such attitude would negate the development drive of the state and that of the country at large,” Aliyu warned.

Commending the efforts of Edati council chief, Isah Kantigi, to improve the lot the electorate, the governor noted that the projects implemented by the council showed that the state government was not meddling in the management of funds allocated to it.

“What we are witnessing today shows that we don’t interfere with our councils’ funds. That is why some of the councils have embarked on meaningful projects that touch people’s lives.

“Edati Local Government

Honour my mother by ensuring peace, says Tinubu Continued from page 2

•Aliyu

Chairman has proved right by the projects executed today.”

Aliyu promised a tour of the 25 local councils to appraise the projects being implemented at the grassroots ahead the council elections next year.

The Edati council chair said his council slashed the overhead by 50 per cent to fund projects worth N260 million.

Kantigi listed such projects to include the construction of offices for federal employees, a magistrate’s court and a 15kilometre road.

He pledged that the council under him would continue to implement projects that have direct impact on the residents, notwithstanding the paucity of funds.

Visit to Jonathan undermines true reconciliation, says Abe

S

ENATOR Magnus Abe has described the visit by the Rivers Chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to President Goodluck Jonathan as capable of truncating reconciliatory moves among aggrieved members.

Abe, who stated this in an interview in Bori Headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State observed that the group that visited the President was a faction of the party leadership in the state.

“I am a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party but was not invited; Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru, to the best of my knowledge was not invited; members of the House of Representatives were not invited just as several other stakeholders” he empha-

sised.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) branded the delegation as people against Governor Amaechi, christening the visit “a vengeance mission rather than peace”.

Senator Abe observed that such visit clothed with blackmail and mudslinging, cannot bring reconciliation or neither create peace “except they are saying the peace process has been abandoned for

vengeance mission”.

“In the address presented during the visit, Governor Amaechi was accused of instigating crime in the state.

Such comment is anti-peace” he said, stressing that “if you are aware that the governor is instigating crime, report him to the police, arrest the perpetrators and let them tell you how the governor instigated them to commit crime”.

The one-time secretary to the Rivers State Government

advocated togetherness among party faithful especially at this challenging moment.

“If you felt you were excluded, which makes you unhappy, trying to exclude others will not bring peace in the party, we will have peace when there is a sense of inclusion; that visit to the president will not bring peace and reconciliation because it was a shadow of inclusion” Senator Abe declared.

Amaechi, Oshiomhole, Okorocha shun meeting Continued from page 2

other governors also did not speak with reporters.

Oshiomhole’s Special Adviser (Media), Mr. Kazeem Afegbua, described the meeting as “a non-issue that does not bother the comrade governor.”

He said: “What is happen-

ing in Enugu State is a nonissue. Is that the Nigeria Governors Forum? We don’t need to bother ourselves with that.

When the Governors’ Forum meeting is called by the proper person, the man will attend.”

Imo State Commissioner for Information Chinedu Offor

said Okorocha did not shun the meeting, but had other engagements that clashed with it. But he did not speak on why the governor did not send his deputy. Amaechi’s reaction as promised by his aides, did not come before press time.

Killers’ll go to hell, says Jonathan as Mark, Tambuwal mourn Continued from page 2

Senate President David Mark and House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal last night lamented the Yobe pupils killings.

In separate statements, the lawmakers called for the apprehension of the killers.

Mark, according to a statement by his Chief Press Sec-

retary, Paul Mumeh, said: “Even in war situations, children and women are protected.

“Killing children is akin to cutting down the future of a people. This is inhuman, barbaric and unacceptable to any right-thinking member of the society.

“For no reason, the lives of these promising children

were needlessly cut down by the heartless people. This cannot be a way of life.

Enough of these bloodshed.”

He added: “this is barbaric, wicked and condemnable.”

Tambuwal, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, urged security agencies to fish out

perpetrators of the dastardly act and bring them to justice.

He declared that no reason can be given to justify such dreadful act pointing out that the gains recorded by security agencies in their battle against terror in the country in recent weeks should be built upon in order to protect the citizens at all times.

•From left: Governors Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Theodore Orji (Abia); Peter Obi (Anambra); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu) during Southeast Southsouth PHOTO: NAN governors’ meeting in Enugu…yesterday

Some of the officiating ministers showered encomiums on the deceased and Asiwaju Tinubu.

General Evangelist, Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide, Pastor Kayode Abiara, expressed satisfaction with the life of the late Alhaja Mogaji and urged God to grant the family the power to continue with the good example she had shown.

“God who gave us Mama will stand by us. We pray that He’ll save the family she left behind from any form of affliction and be with them always. We hope through Jesus Christ to get the blessings which you have given to the woman we are celebrating today to impact on us.”

The Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos Anglican Church, Revd Adebayo Akinde, said Mama set a standard for the children to follow and they should not be found wanting because the lessons are there for them to learn from.

The clergy, who called for the restoration of peace in the country through divine intervention, said if most leaders imbibe the example of Tinubu, the country would be better for it.

“Asiwaju has followers because he shares with people, communicates with them and does not close his door behind the people. He is always ready to share whatever he has with the people, no matter the discomfort it is going to cause him. This, we believe, are qualities of good leaders which the late Mogaji bequeathed to mankind.”

Revd Mercy Ezekiel urged all women to follow her example of being a good samaritan.

“When people die, we need to be comforted; God will comfort her family. This is a woman who passed on at 96; yet, people are still saying she is too young to die. They have said so because of the enormous impact she made in their lives. She had been catering for many people and had transformed their lives; reason they would not want her to go even at that age,” she said.

Other men of God who prayed for the repose of the late Mogaji called on those present to think of how they could make impact in the lives of mankind. According to them, they would gain if they live a selfless life and follow the teaching of Christ as Mama never discriminated.

Asiwaju Tinubu began his vote of thanks by urging the gathering to shout Halleluyah three times.

While acknowledging guests one after the other, he jokingly described Senator Chris Ngige as the shortest man in the hall.

“Chris, get up and shout Halleluyah,” Asiwaju said.

The hall erupted in laughter.

Ngige stood up and shouted “Halleluyah!”

The ACN leader said the best way to honour his mother was to embrace peace and imbibe the good example she bequeathed.

He said the late Alhaja Mogaji believed much in the power of prayers and always prayed for the country.

He explained that his mother, who believed in fairness, was instrumental to some of

the policy thrusts of the administration of Lagos when he was the governor.

He said: “I remember when my mother had to urge me to pay school fees for some pupils who could not afford their examination money. I had to assist in this dimension and initiated the idea of paying WAEC fees for students.”

Tinubu recalled the role the late Alhaja Mogaji in his life, especially when he was in exile. She prayed for him and never discouraged him from the struggle.

“My mother never for once asked me to come back home, but few days to her death, when I was out of the country, when we spoke, she said ‘what was I still doing overseas and whether I won’t come home again’. I was worried by this statement and had to cut short my trip to be with her.”

“Her death has robbed me of a precious mother … no matter how I had fed, I must eat Mama’s amala. I thank God for the life of Mama; she was never at any point in time a burden to us. She was a blessing to us and passed on peacefully,” he said.

Present at the event were: Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola; his Ekiti and Osun counterparts Dr Kayode Fayemi and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; ACN National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande; deputy governors of Osun, Lagos and Ekiti Otunba titi Laoye-Tomori; Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Prof Modupe Adelabu; governors’ wives – Mrs Abimbola Fashola (Lagos); Mrs Florence Ajimobi (Oyo) and Mrs Funsho Amosun (Ogun).

Also in attendance were Senators Tinubu; Ngige; Gbenga Obadara; Olorunnimbe Mamora; Ajayi Boroffice and John Akpaudoedehe; House of Representatives members Abiodun Faleke; Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Jumoke Okoya-Thomas; Oyetunde Ojo and Folasade; Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly Adeyemi Ikuforiji and Mayowa; former Inspector General of Police Alhaji Musiliu Smith; Prof Oserhiemen Osunbor; Chief Pius Akinyelure; Demola Seriki; Chairman, Toyota (Nigeria) Limited Chief Michael Ade.Ojo; Lagos former Deputy Governor Mr Femi Pedro; Lagos Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs Ademorin Kuye; his Transportation, Home Affairs and Culture counterpart Kayode Opeifa and Oyinlomo Danmole.

Also there were Alhaji Ibrahim Balogun; ACN National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Erelu Abiola Dosumu; Prof Pat Utomi; Mr Joe Igbokwe; Revd Samuel Ogedengbe; Dr Leke Pitan; Bishop Lanre Obembe; Revd Adewale Martins; Prophet Kayode Abiara; Prophet Gabriel Fakeye, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Pastor Ben Akabueze; one time Lagos Finance Commissioner Wale Edun, Hon Wale Oshun, former Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr Dele Alake; Hon Lola Akande; Mrs Derin Disu; Mrs Kemi Nelson; Comrade Olabode Ola; Alhaji Moshood Tijani (A.k.a Tijaco); Kehinde Bamigbetan; Yetunde Arobieke and Dr Samuel Adedayo.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

58

FOREIGN NEWS Panda from China delivers cub

A

GIANT panda, one of a pair presented

by China four years ago to mark warming ties with Taiwan, has given birth to a female cub at a Taipei zoo, officials said Sunday.

The 9-year-old Yuan Yuan delivered the cub Saturday night, following artificial insemination given in March, the zoo announced.

It was the seventh such attempt on Yuan Yuan in three years, they said.

Natural pregnancy among pandas is relatively rare.

The zoo showed a picture of Yuan Yuan holding the pink, palm-sized cub.

China sent the pandas to Taiwan in December 2008.

The two sides split amid civil war in 1949.

Radical cleric Abu Qatada deported from UK to Jordan R ADICAL cleric Abu Qatada has appeared in court in Jordan after being deported from the UK. His plane left RAF Northolt at 02:46 BST for his home country, where he was formally charged with terror offences, which he denies.

Prime Minister David Cameron said he was “delighted” at his removal.

Abu Qatada was first arrested in the UK over alleged terror connections in 2001.

He was rearrested in 2005, when attempts to deport him began.

The Palestinian-Jordanian cleric’s deportation was finally able to proceed after the UK and Jordan signed a treaty agreeing that evidence obtained through torture would not be used against him.

“This dangerous man has now been removed from our shores to face the courts in his own country,” she said.

She added that she wanted to streamline such deportation processes in future.

Changes to the bill would affect cases like Abu Qatada’s, she said, and also cases in which people facing deportation claim they have a right to respect for their private and family life in the UK, as set out in article eight of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Mrs May said she hoped to reform the convention, and would not rule out the possibility of the UK withdrawing from it altogether.

“Nothing is off the table,”

she said.

“We’re working on that at the moment,” the home secretary told the BBC, adding that the Conservative manifesto for the 2015 general election would “set out clearly what we would do in relation to these issues”.

Abu Qatada was accompanied on the flight of around five hours by six people from Jordan, comprising three security officials, a psychologist, a medical examiner and his Jordanian lawyer, the BBC understands.

There was tight security as Abu Qatada arrived back in Jordan - where he grew up for the first time in more than 20 years. He was immediately driven from Marka

•The damage caused by a runaway train carrying tons of oil in the town center of LacMegantic in Quebec, where scores of people are still missing and feared dead.

Piles of brick are all that remain of several buildings close to where the rail cars exploded as it continues to burn.

PHOTO: AFP

Egypt PM dispute stalls government

E

GYPT’s political transition after President Mohamed Mursi was ousted by the military stumbled at the first hurdle, after the choice of liberal politician Mohamed ElBaradei as interim prime minister was thrown into doubt by Islamist objections.

ElBaradei’s nomination had been confirmed by several sources and state media on Saturday, but just before midnight a presidential spokesman told reporters that the prime minister had not in fact been chosen.

The abrupt U-turn came amid opposition to the appointment by the Nour Party, Egypt’s second Islamist force after Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement, highlighting the challenge the military faces in finding consensus among liberals and conservatives on who should run the country.

Clashes between tens of thousands of pro- and antiMursi protesters swept the Arab world’s most populous nation on Friday and at least 35 people were killed and more than 1,000 wounded.

The violence, which saw rival factions fighting street battles in central Cairo and many others cities and towns, underlined the pressing need for a swift political solution seen as inclusive to all.

A

Russia official: Venezuela last chance for Snowden

N influential Russian parliament member who often speaks for the Kremlin encouraged NSA leaker Edward Snowden on Sunday to accept Venezuela’s offer of asylum.

Alexei Pushkov, who heads the international affairs committee in Russia’s parliament, posted a message on Twitter saying: “Venezuela is waiting for an answer from Snowden. This, perhaps, is his last chance to receive political asylum.”

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias Jaua said Saturday his country hasn’t yet been in contact with Snowden, who Russian officials say has been stuck in the transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Air-

A

port since arriving on a flight from Hong Kong two weeks ago. He has been unable to travel further because the U.S. annulled his passport.

Jaua said he expects to consult with Russian officials on Monday about Snowden’s situation.

Pushkov’s comments appeared to indicate that the Kremlin is now anxious to be rid of the former National Security Agency systems analyst, whom the U.S. wants returned to face espionage charges.

There has been no response from the Kremlin or Russian Foreign Ministry to the asylum offer made by Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro in the early hours of Saturday, Moscow

time.

For Snowden to leave for South America, he would need for Venezuela to issue him travel documents and he would need to find a way to get there. The only direct commercial flight from Moscow goes to Havana, Cuba, and Snowden had booked a seat on this flight the day after arriving from Hong Kong, but failed to show up.

The Moscow-Havana flight goes over Europe and the U.S., which could cause complications. Some European countries refused to allow Bolivian President Evo Morales to fly through their airspace on his way home from Moscow last week because of suspicions that Snowden was onboard his plane.

Jonathan visits China

S President Goodluck Jonathan visits China next week, Nigerians resident in Guangzhou province have urged him to visit them so that he can appreciate their plight and do something urgent to assist them.

They appealed to President Jonathan to open a consular office in Guangzhou province to reduce their present challenge.

It was gathered that in spite of the effort of the Nigerian Ambassador to China, Aminu Bashir Wali to ease the plight of Nigerians resi-

dent in Guangzhou, they still travel to Beijing to obtain their documents.

The Nation learnt that about 80 percent of traders, businessmen, fortune seekers and artisans in Guangzhou and that it takes 24 hours by flight and three days by train to get to Beijing from there.

Amb. Wali, in his reaction, stressed that he was committed to the utmost welfare of every Nigerian resident, visiting or transiting through China in line with the Transformation Agenda and the foreign policy thrust of Presi-

•Dr Jonathan dent Jonathan administration in Nigeria which is “Country first.”

airbase to the state security court - a journey that would have taken just a few minutes.

While the cleric has become a household name in the UK, when I did an informal survey in Amman remarkably few people had heard of him.

Some people who had thought he should not have been sent back here.

One woman believed Abu Qatada was misunderstood.

She told me the preacher was “very good for Islam” and that “his followers will be very glad for him to be back.”

The 53-year-old had been held at Belmarsh prison in south-east London, from where a convoy of three police vehicles left at midnight.

After arriving at Jordan’s Marka military airport he was driven in a green SUV, escorted by a 12-car convoy, to the sealed off state security court in Amman.

Military prosecutors charged him with conspiracy to carry out terrorist acts - relating to a plot to bomb American and Israeli tourists during Jordan’s millennium

•Abu Qatada

celebrations.

The cleric was remanded in custody for 15 days and taken to eastern Jordan’s Muwaqqar prison, a judicial official said.

After the hearing his lawyer Tayseer Diab said: “The attorney general interrogated him today, and he directed a series of accusations towards him he accused him of conspiracy to take part in terrorist acts.

She said: “The treaty we’ve signed ensures that there are proper processes of exchange of evidence and will insure the treatment of Abu Qatada and others deported to Jordan.”.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

59

FOREIGN NEWS

Mali army back in Kidal under peace pact

M

•Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai... yesterday

Z

Zimbabwe’s Tsvangirai says no chance of fair vote

IMBABWEAN Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, launching his third campaign to unseat veteran President Robert Mugabe, said nothing had been achieved to ensure a fairer vote but even God now wanted Mugabe to go.

Tsvangirai, who made a failed attempt to have the July 31 election delayed, said Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party was using bureaucratic obstacles and tricks such as keeping dead people on the electoral roll to try to hold onto power.

He said that would fail because Zimbabweans were itching to remove ZANU-PF after 33 years in office and a record of disastrous economic man-

agement.

“We don’t think even God wants Zimbabwe to remain in a permanent state of suffering,” the 61-year-old former union leader told thousands of cheering supporters. “We know that we did not get the reforms that we wanted but because we are people who believe in God, we will succeed.”

At his own campaign launch on Friday, Mugabe said ZanuPF would finish off Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) with a resounding victory.

Both ZANU-PF and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission have denied any attempt to rig

Egypt: The resurgence of Liberalism

R

EVOLUTIONARY fervours come in strides.

At least the Arab Spring outpourings with its differing dimensional outcomes are now showing instructive, refreshingly striking and intuitively directive levels of how nation-states react to events.

We are referring to the whys and the hows of what happened in Egypt within a week and what refused to happen in Syria in the past two years.

Here now we have our apple and our orange as in the outcome imperatives.

Two Arab nations, till date two different outcomes and what we can see as whimsical whims and capricious caprices interfacing differently in the same sub-region.

Now hanging 61-year old deposed Egyptian ex –president Mohammed Morsi was elected the first democratically-elected president as a fall out of the Arab Spring revolution which plucked out Mosni Mubarak from power.

His one-year long tenure had been marred with tumultuous, perspicacious and unfortunately uninspiring economic performance to the chagrin of the post-Mubarack sympathizers.

President Assad of Syria, much more than tenaciously is still clinging onto power in beleaguered and bloodied Syria, 100,000 dead in its wake, while many more languish in refugee camps in neighboring Turkey, Jordan and Iran.

The catapult of the latest Egyptian imbroglio was a simplistic yet effectual 22 million

protestations culminating in the military doing its due diligence in a country that had witnessed violent monstrosity in the wake of a two year period. It turns as it were now to be a miasmatic dance-off for the international community, variedly afraid of putting its hand on a collective wheel of a country that prides itself as a democracy while at athe the sa me time has a military industrial complex that nurtures, supports and sustains its democracy.

What a world of tumult. Yet, as paradoxical as it may look, it is nothing different if compared to former Vice-President Albert Gore Jr and Presidential Candidate in America’s election when the U.S Supreme Court stopped what was then called ‘chard votes recounting’ in the State of Florida., which instantly ended a contentious political –that would have altered a course of history in God’s own country.

The verdict: stop the recount, declare George “Dubya” Bush the 43rd President of the United States of America. Why? Because the NATION is BIGGER than any individual. Stop the recount and swear in ‘Dubya’.

In perspective Egypt has a strong uncompromising military who talks about the ‘POPULAR WILL’ and the necessity to keep the nation forward in spite of ideological posturing.

The Muslim Brotherhood founded by Sheik Hassan alBanna in March 1928 has been

the election.

Tsvangirai’s party wanted the delay in the vote to allow media and security reforms, including equal access to Zimbabwe’s only broadcaster ZBC, which is owned by the state but is in the grip of ZANU-PF. Although ZBC carried Mugabe’s election campaign launch live on Friday, MDC officials said it had demanded $165,000 to broadcast Tsvangirai’s rally on Sunday.

The MDC also wants the military, which openly campaigns for Mugabe, to stay out of politics and sign an agreement to accept the result if

Mugabe loses. Army commanders often say they would not salute Tsvangirai if he won an election.

The 89-year-old Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980.

He and Tsvangirai were forced into a power sharing deal after the last, disputed polls in 2008.

Tsvangirai said an MDC administration would repair an economy, wracked by food and fuel shortages, that had shrunk by 40 percent under ZANU-PF before it was rescued by the coalition formed after the 2008 polls. He said he would create a million jobs in five years. Around four fifths of Zimbabwe’s working-age population is jobless.

Global Focus

DAYO FAKUADE, Foreign Editor sms 08134230367

daborgu@gmail.com a party in waiting in Egypt for a long time till the overthrow of Mubarak administration, a good ally of the West Reactions to what has now been universally acknowledged as a coup detat have been meeting with mixed feelings. Characteristically, America has not condemned the move because it supports the Egypt military by $1.3 billion every year. President Barak Obama has denounced violence in the wake, Israel and other allies are understandably jittery about the fallouts and liberal socio-political regimen are on trial as its always do you are damned don’t you are damned.

Egypt is a strategic ally of the U.S and even as a global democratic sponsor; the stability of an ally nation is always germane to the world’s global leadership regardless of where the chips fall.

Syria has been and still in the throes of President Al-Basher’s high military bombardments vis-à-vis the Rebels rainbow concatenations. In the intriguing mix are the superpowers’ power plays, high finances and supremacy for arms supply.

Mohamed Elbaradei, a respectable former United Nation’s appointed World Atomic Energy Chief must have lost out in the process haven been rejected even by the very elements that formerly trusted him in the fore as interim prime minister.He should

have known better. He was former touted to contest legitimately last year, and knowing the political vitality of his terrain.

Now what holds for this nation of 84 million searching for its soul amid a chaotic political kaleidoscope.

Liberalism has its vacuous chasm within a fiendishly ferocious environment. It is no rocket science that President Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood could not have lasted. Thomas Paine in, The Age of Reason, sojourning from London, Paris to America’s birth thought us so much about the endurance of constitutionalism and when LEADERS, especially African leaders, become harebrained and unamenable to commonsensical approach to governance, the end result no matter how long or short is the inevitability of their own demise. From Idi Amin. Mubarak. Gaddafi. Saddam. And other dictators. The list is endless.

Mohamed Morsi might have meant well for Cairo, but stubborn dogma has its very limit and the nation has to move forward. Street protests in any society are a veritable expression of a collective will of a people to their common destiny. Any nation that chides away from this only encourages despots to take away their universally acclaimed and guaranteed human rights to self expression.

ALI’S army re-entered the Tuareg separatist rebel stronghold of Kidal on Friday, touching off protests by some residents, after a peace agreement was reached between the government and insurgents last month.

Inhabitants of the remote northern desert town said some 200 Malian soldiers aboard 20 pick-up trucks arrived at Kidal’s military camp. Supporters of the MNLA rebels gathered to protest outside the base, where scuffles broke out with locals who supported the return of Malian troops, residents said.

The West African country’s interim government wants its administration reinstated in the rebel bastion before a July 28 presidential election that is meant to complete a democratic transition after a March 2012 military coup.

The Tuaregs seized control of Kidal after a French military offensive in January routed a loose Islamist militant coalition that was controlling northern Mali.

Under the peace pact, the rebels remain in Kidal but were required as of Friday to return to their barracks under the supervision of U.N. peacekeepers, carrying no more arms in public and dismantling all roadblocks.

“Our men have finally returned to Kidal,” said LieutenantColonel Soulaymane Maiga, an army spokesman. “There are just over 200 soldiers.”

Another army spokesman, Modibo Naman Traore, said the initial contingent, which he said numbered around 150 men, would soon be followed by a larger detachment of soldiers.

Residents said that soldiers from Benin, stationed in Kidal as part of a U.N. peacekeeping mission which began this month, arrived at the Kidal camp to calm the protests. France also has soldiers stationed in the town.

Mali’s interim government signed a peace deal with representatives of the Tuaregs in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, in mid-June, paving the way for national elections to take place at the end of this month.

60

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

THE

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

NATION SPORT

B

PREMIERSHIP ...PREMIERSHIP ...

Paulinho complete move to Tottenham

RAZIL midfielder Paulinho has joined Tottenham from Corinthians for a fee of just under £17m.

Paulinho, who starred in Brazil's Confederations Cup triumph, passed a medical before finalising his contract.

The 24-year-old arrived in London on Thursday and met Spurs manager Andre VillasBoas and chairman Daniel Levy.

"I am very happy and excited to have joined Spurs. It's a huge pleasure for my career to be at a club as big as Tottenham," Paulinho said.

Real Madrid also showed an interest in Paulinho, who has also played for Lithuanian

side FC Vilnius and Polish club LKS Lodz.

Sao Paulo-born Paulinho scored 34 goals in 167 games for Corinthians and played in his country's 3-0 win over Spain in the Confederations Cup final.

He also played for

Corinthians in their Club World Cup final win over Chelsea in December.

He has made a total of 17 appearances for Brazil and scored five times, including goals in their 3-0 Confederations Cup win against Japan and the 2-1 semi-final victory

over Uruguay.

Earlier this month, when announcing he would leave Corinthians, Paulinho said: "What I have to say to Corinthians is 'see you soon'.

"Pretty soon I'll be back, owing to everything you have done for me."

Scholes snubs Man Utd coaching role

P

AUL Scholes has rejected the chance to form part of Manchester United’s new-look coaching team due to family reasons.

New manager David Moyes revealed that he asked the 38year-old to follow in the footsteps of Ryan Giggs and former team-mate Phil Neville by becoming a coach following his decision to retire from playing for a second time in May. Scholes is keen to spend more time with his family after discussing a potential coaching role with Moyes, though the Scot hinting that the former England international still forms part of his long-term plans behind the scenes at Old Trafford.

Moyes told the club’s official website: "I wanted to make sure I had connections to what happened here.

"I spoke to Paul Scholes as well.

He wants to have some time off with his family.

"Paul was fantastic with me and wanted to help a lot. I probably spent an hour or two on the phone with him. He wants to spend time with his family at the moment.

"We'll bring him in when he's ready."

On the decision to involve Giggs and Neville in his coaching set-up, Moyes added: "I wanted to make sure I had some young members of staff behind me as well."

•Gerrard

•Paulinho

61

Podolski to welcome Higuain’s arrival at Arsenal

A

RSENAL forward Lukas Podolski would welcome the arrival of Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain at the Emirates Stadium, should the Argentine swap the Spanish capital for north London.

The Gunners are in pole position to sign the striker after launching an improved •27 million bid on Thursday, although the offer is still short of Madrid's •30m asking price.

The arrival of the Blancos striker would appear to put Podolski's first-team place under threat, but the Germany international is not worried about being overshadowed

by Higuain and is delighted to see the club sign quality players.

"It is always good when good players come in, I don't worry about a specific player and it is certainly not a problem," Podolski told The Sun. "I am strong enough and I have qualities and when good players come in, I will play with good players.

"Every season players come in and players go but I think it is good news if top players come in.

"The hope is that this season Arsenal will be at the top of the league.

"English football, thankfully, is not like Spain where you only have two teams, Barcelona and Real Madrid, who

•Lukas Podolski

fight at the top.

"In the Premier League you have five, six, even seven top, top teams.

"It is very difficult but I know that Arsenal are one of those top teams who will be involved.

"You don't know how the season will work out, a few of the other teams all have new managers so it is difficult to say but they will be strong and equally, Arsenal will be strong."

Higuain scored 16 goals in 28 La Liga games for Real Madrid last season, while Podolski netted 11 times in 33 Premier League appearances for Arsenal.

'Anzhi offer too good to refuse' - Samba

C

Gerrard wants defensive reinforcements

S

TEVEN Gerrard says he wants Liverpool to sign defenders this summer to help fill the void left by retired centre-half Jamie Carragher.

Brendan Rodgers has already snapped up Kolo Touré on a free transfer and the Northern

Irishman has been linked with a move for Swansea City defender Ashley Williams.

And Gerrard admitted it will be strange without Carragher next season and the midfielder expressed his regret that the former England international didn’t postpone his retirement.

“It will feel strange and it will be different. I’m used to hearing his voice from day one of pre-season,” Gerrard told Liverpool’s website.

“But he’s got other things that he needs to focus on; he’s going down the TV avenue and he’s going to be working for Sky, so we all wish him good luck with that.

“Of course, from a selfish point of view I wish he was coming back and doing one more season. Hopefully the replacements we get in perform well for us because they are certainly big shoes to fill.”

Carragher has already joined the Sky Sports punditry team after captaining Liverpool to a 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers on his final appearance in May. And Gerrard is ready to be on the receiving end of criticism from his former teammate next season.

“That’s standard, that’s a gimme,” added the 33-yearold.

“He needs to show everyone out there that he’s not biased, so I’m sure I’m going to be one of the first names he’s going to attack.

HRISTOPHER Samba has conceded that Anzhi Makhachkala's offer was too good for him or QPR to turn down.

The centre-back, 29, joined Loftus Road in January in an estimated •14 million move from Guus Hiddink's side but completed a return to the cash-rich Russian club on Friday for around the same cost.

With QPR looking to offload their highest earners on the back of Premier League relegation, the Congolese defender insists that he had planned to help fight for Championship promotion prior to the bid from Anzhi.

"I was getting mentally prepared for the battle in the

•Samba

Championship to come back up," Samba told The Daily Mirror. "[QPR owner] Tony Fernandes is a great man.

"Tony wanted to keep me and help him back up but I believe the offer from Russia was too good to let it pass by.

"I was not planning to go anywhere. I wanted to reward the club for their support by helping them come back up."

Samba explained his primary reason for choosing to return to Anzhi was that the Dagestan club is planning to help bring along his family to the country.

"My family are with me this time in Russia," Samba said.

"That was a big part of my conditions.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

62

SPORT EXTRA

Lobi set for Al-Ittihad partnership

CHAN 2014

Green blasts Eagles despite win G T HE Technical Committee Chairman of the NFF, Barrister Christopher Green, has expressed his disappointment with the over-all performance of the Eagles despite their 4-1 win over Ivory Coast in

Kaduna.

Green noted that the Eagles were wasteful in front of goal and must gird their loins properly for the return leg to avoid a shocker. “ We won well but we could have done better. How can we

explain a team that was two men down still threatening us and even being picked for off sides, he asked. “it means we have a lot of work to do and I trust the technical crew will handle the situation.

Keshi has already said he hopes to invite at least three new players to fortify the squad for the return.

Those players who did not measure up to standard in the first leg in Kaduna will be dropped.

Eagles, Elephants praise Kaduna Governor

S

UPER Eagles’ players and officials as well as their Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire counterparts were all thanks to Kaduna State as they were treated to a surprise, sumptuous Gala Night, Saturday by Governor Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State.

The event which featured traditional dances from the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, Yoruba, Ibo and Hausa, the amazing Takahankali Kagarko dance troupe and the Kaduna state dance group known as Bazobe, kept all present,

especially the Ivorians on the edge of their seats.

Governor Yero, who was represented by his Sports Commissioner, said the event was meant to further cement the brotherly love existing between Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire and

•Mohammed Gambo in action

also inform all that the CHAN qualifier was beyond a mere football event.

Among dignitaries at the event were the Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria, NFF Scribe, Barrister Musa Amadu, Diretor of Competitions, Dr Sanusi Mohammed, Director Technical Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme among others.

Speaking at the end of the event, Elephants coach, Saraka Kango Nobert, said he was shocked at the massive reception and promised to take the message home for a possible pay back in the return leg. He described Nigerian Coach, Stephen Keshi as an Ivorian having played in that country before and vowed that sooner than later his country will come for their adopted son to help them win the Nations Cup, to which all laughed off.

Keshi thanked that NFF leadership and Governor Yero for the huge hospitality accorded his team and their opponents and noted that he would be delighted anytime he is asked by the NFF to come and play games in the city.

All the players and officials of both teams were later presented with a gift by the governor for their excellent spirit of sportsmanship.

NWF board praises NSC for support

T

HE board of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) has expressed satisfaction with the level of support it has so far received from the National Sports Commission (NSC) since after its inauguration two months ago.

The Hon. Chibudom Nwuche led board in a statement made available to the media acknowledged that the NSC has lent its weight behind the steps being taken by the board to take the game to the next level in the country.

It would be noted that the

weightlifting body has drawn up a program that include staging its national championship in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state later this month, hosting the African championship in September and featuring in Commonwealth weightlifting tourney in Malaysia in November.

The NWF board was particularly grateful to the NSC for providing it with a new secretariat at the Abuja national stadium and identifying with its program for the year.

The NWF statement read in part: “We want to thank the sports minister and Chairman

National Sports Commission Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and the Director General Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye for their support which includes providing the board with a new secretariat at the Abuja national stadium and giving the nod for the country to host a continental championship this September. We are confident that the support the board is getting from the Commission will rub off positively on the game of weightlifting in the country.”

The weightlifting board also commended Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State for accepting to host the 2013

National youth, junior and senior weightlifting championship commencing on Monday, 22nd July in Uyo, the State capital. It further thanked Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola for his decision to host the African Championships coming up in September this year.

The NWF board urged corporate bodies in the country to support the game as that is the only way to realize the dream of the nation doing well in major international championships such as the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth games.

N62M LARGESSE

Rangers’ players grateful to Obi

A

NAMBRA state G o v e r n m e n t yesterday received commendation from the chairman of former Rangers players, Mr. Luke Okpala for granting his members monthly upkeep allowance and medical aide.

Okpala prayed God to grant the administration of Governor Peter Obi the enablement to continue remembering and recognizing those that made the state proud even as he described Obi’s leadership as unique.

Sunday Nation reports that the administration of Governor Obi has splashed over Sixty-two Million naira (N62m) on ex Biafran soldiers and ex Rangers International Enugu player’s weekend.

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi Anambra State commissioner for information, culture and tourism, Chief Joe Martins Uzodike who stood in for Obi hand over the cheques to chairman of former Rangers players, Mr. Luke Okpala for onward distribution to his colleagues on behalf of the governor.

Uzodike said Obi’s gesture was to further recognize the heroic roles played by the footballers immediately after the Nigerian civil war.

He further said no fewer than 2500 ex Biafran soldiers and 64 former players of Rangers International Football Club of Enugu have

so far received about N62.5 million upkeep allowance from the Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi. Uzodike said the ex Biafran soldiers received N5000 each, the former Rangers players, many of them are down with ill health, received amounts ranging from N200,000 to N1 million to enable them obtain medical treatment either locally of abroad, in addition to monthly stipends they receive from the state government.

Uzodike said: “Governor Obi has observed that these people cannot be left to suffer after their enormous contributions in helping to reintegrate Igbos into Nigeria through sports after the war. The ex Rangers players who receive the

monthly stipend are not limited to Anambra or Igbos alone, but all the former players, whether they are from the old Bendel State , South West or the North.

“In addition, the governor has secured an office space for the former players at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu for their meetings and social activities.”

For the ex Biafran soldiers, the commissioner said the N5000 to each of them was to give them a sense of belonging as many of them could no longer fend for themselves.

He recalled that only last month, the governor donated about N2 million to the inmates of the Oji River Leprosy Center in Enugu State and socialised with them.

LO PREMIER League side, Lobi Stars, are ready formalise a partnership with perennial Libyan champions, Al-Ittihad, club supremo, Dominic Iorfa, has informed supersport.com.

Although details of the agreement are yet to be unveiled, supersport.com gathered that the transfer of Lobi’s homegrown youngster, Tony Okpotu, triggered interest from Al-Ittihad, which became the first Libyan club to qualify for the semifinals of the CAF Champions League in 2007.

Okpotu recently entered Lobi’s folklore as the first talent developed from the youth structure established by Iorfa, who played club football at Queens Park Rangers and Galatasaray, to join a foreign club.

“Al-Ittihad has invited Lobi to compete in a six-club invitational tournament from July 20 through 28.

“Since we’ve attracted foreign interest, we hope the League Management Committee (LMC) will grant us permission to market our brand abroad," Iorfa said to supersport.com.

Supersport.com learnt that AlIttihad are likely to be granted the first chance of accessing young talents developed at the club, which have the best development structure in Nigeria’s Glo Premier League, when the partnership becomes operational.

In 2012, the club paraded five players from their development side, Lobi Stars Feeders, in the final of the Federation Cup against Heartland, while three were on the bench.

Interestingly, others have since made debuts in the top flight this term.

This is the first time the 1999 Nigerian champions will travel abroad for an invitational competition.

Lagos to discover budding weightlifting talents •Storm Ladipo market

T

HE Lagos State weightlifting Association hopes to discover the next generation of Olympic weightlifting talents at a new series of talent hunt campaign it recently embarked upon.

The grassroots youth target program tagged; “Discovering New Talent For Weightlifting” has been taken round two major markets across the state with the hope of reaching a good number of energetic young men who are willing to take up weightlifting as a sporting career.

Relieving the success of the program at the two markets with NationSport, the coordination of the initiative Kunle Komolafe dropped the hint that anytime this week the talent hunt program will move down to Ladipo Market. “having seen the fantastic turnouts From owode Onirin market and Iddo Main market , I’m really excited to see what results we can get from Ladipo Market, where a lot of talent abound. We have met with the market leaders and final arrangement is almost reached, “Young people aged between 13-23-years-old are invited to take part without gender. There is no gender barrier both males and females are expected.

Those who show good potential will then be invited to a Phase Two Assessment program, where they will be tested on their physical, technical and psychological attributes and be tested more

By Paul Oluwakoya specifically on their ability and skill acquisition in Olympic weightlifting. what we doing now is just mass selection and discovery of potentials,” he said Meanwhile, former national and international weightlifter now coach of the Lagos state weightlifting association, Nna Onogbayi has charge female youths to up weightlifting has their sporting career.

It was learnt that the last campaign at the two markets were dominated by male youths as expected but Onogbayi has said that weightlifting is not a sport with gender barrier. “ Yes at Owode Onirin just has we withness here at Iddo market too, only few female turn out, but I want them to correct their insinuation and dispel their fear.

Weightlifting will not deform you as a female. It will only bring out the inner you and you will like it. I am a living witness of what I am saying,’ she said Another former female player and secretary general Lagos state weightlifting Association, Shekinat Olubade said it is wrong that female athlete cannot be a mother. “ Most of them are afraid because they believe that they won’t give birth if they take to weightlifting. I want to tell you that this is wrong” she said

Turkey 2013: France, Uruguay through to semis

T

HE first set of semi finalist have emerged at the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey, the lucky duo are France and Uruguay who booked their places in a quite different fashion.

France defeated Uzbekistan, 4-0, in Istanbul to set up a semi-final against Ghana or Chile in the Under-20 World Cup and cement its status as one of the tournament favorites.

Arsenal of England new signing, Yaya Sanogo scored

in the 31st, and Paul Pogba and Florian Thauvin both added goals from the penalty spot to give France a 3-0 halftime lead.

A diving header from defender Kurt Zouma in the 64th ended the scoring.

Later, Felipe Avenatti scored in extra time to give Uruguay a 1-0 win over Spain in Bursa, Turkey. Uruguay will play Iraq or South Korea for a place in the final.

The remaining quarterfinals are scheduled for Sunday.

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

63

SPORT EXTRA 15TH MILO BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

ISL, St. Jude emerge winners

I

•Ebinezer Assifuah of Ghana celebrates scoring the winning goal during the FIFA U-20 World Cup Quarter-final match between Ghana and Chile at Ali Sami Yen Arena, Turkey, yesterday.

PHOTO VIA GETTYIMAGES

FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP

Ghana qualifies for semi final in a seven-goal thriller

G

HANA U-20 team beat Chile 4-3 to book their place in the semi-finals of the Under-20 World Cup. Sellas Tetteh's men trailed 23 in extra time but goals from Seidu Salifu and a last-gasp strike from Ebenezer Assifuah sealed a thrilling victory.

Both teams had early efforts on goal, but it was Ghana who took the lead with a superb strike in the 11th minute.

A neat one-two pace between Frank Acheampong and Yiadom Boakye allowed the former to stand the ball up for Moses Odjer at the back post, and he brought the ball down

on his chest before firing a volley past Dario Melo.

Chile were back on level terms in the 23rd minute as Nicolas Castillo thundered home from a tight angle, before Angelo Henriquez put the South Americans in front with just under half an hour on the clock.

Ghana started the second half in positive fashion, but Eric Antwi was still called upon to deny Castillo and Henriquez added to the lead with two fine stops.

The African team piled the pressure on their opponents and it finally told in the 72nd

minute, with Clifford Aboagye setting up Assifuah to poke the ball beyond Melo.

The teams could not be separated after 90 enthralling minutes, prompting extra time.

There was no let-up in the action, however, as the match continued in similar end-toend fashion.

It was Chile who drew first blood, with Claudio Baeza lifting the ball over Antwi for Henriquez to grab his second of the evening.

Once again, Ghana threw caution to the wind and launched everything at the South American side. They

CHAN: Eagles to regroup July 15 •Green, Keshi say job half done

T

HE Super Eagles will regroup July 15 in Abuja, the Federal Capital for the return leg of the African Nations Championship qualifier (CHAN), against the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire in Abidjan schedule for July 27.

Head Coach Stephen Keshi told the players after the 4-1 mauling of the Ivorians in the final leg qualifier that the players must return to their clubsides and ensure that they make valuable contributions to their teams while awaiting the list of those who will make it to Abidjan.

He warned that any invited

player who fails to make it to Abuja on the said date should forget about the return leg game as there is plenty of work to be done despite the wide margin first leg victory over the Elephants. “We cannot afford to take our feet off the pedal because we have won here, the Ivorians are a very good side and we must be very ready for the return leg so that we don’t get shocked”, Keshi enthused.

Technical Committee Chairman of the NFF, Barrister Christopher Green, had a similar position on the opposition, noting that once again the Eagles were

wasteful in front of goal and must gird their loins properly for the return leg to avoid a shocker. “We won well but we could have done better. How can we explain a team that was two men down still threatening us and even being picked for off sides, it means we have a lot of work to do and I trust the technical crew will handle the situation”.

Keshi has already said he hopes to invite at least three new players to fortify the squad for the return leg while those players who did not measure up to standard in the first leg in Kaduna will be dropped.

CAF CONFEDERATIONS CUP DISQUALIFICATION

Rangers know fate Tuesday

E

NUGU Rangers will latest tomorrow know their fate regarding the appeal they filed against their disqualification from the CAF Confederation Cup a top official of the club has told NationSport.

The Confederation of African Football(CAF) acting on the protest lodged by Tunisian giants, CS Sfaxien over the eligibility of the Flying Antelopes' goalkeeper, Emmanuel Daniel threw out the Nigeria's representatives and reinstated Sfaxien whom Rangers had defeated 1-0 on aggregate to get to the group stage.

Rangers promptly lodged

From Tunde Liadi,Owerri an appeal to CAF through the Enugu Football Association and the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) that the player in question met all transfer conditions as their bonafide registered player for the competition.

The source revealed to NationSport. that the Enugu FA chairman, Chidi Offor Okenwa only returned from the CAF headquarters in Egypt on Saturday making consultations with all those that matter within the continental governing body.

"We were told the result of

our appeal would be known latest by Tuesday(tomorrow) and we are keeping our fingers crossed. We have done the right thing and have backed our appeal with very strong evidence. The Chairman of the Enugu FA spent about three days in Egypt meeting with CAF on it. We know we shall have the last laugh over this issue," the source explained to NationSport.

CS Sfaxien thus advanced to the group stage after Enugu Rangers, which had originally won 1–0 on aggregate, was ruled by the CAF to have fielded an ineligible player in the second leg and thus disqualified.

drew level when Salifu calmly slotted past Melo in the 113th minute and penalties looked destined to decide the game.

However, as the match entered the 120th minute, Acheampong got himself to the byline to cross for Assifuah at the back post, and he headed Ghana into the semi-finals.

View our homepages for Frank Acheampong, Yiadom Boakye, Moses Odjer, Dario Melo, Nicolas Castillo, Angelo Henriquez, Clifford Aboagye, Ebenezer Assifuah, Eric Antwi, Claudio Baeza, Seidu Salifu, Ghana, Chile, Football.

NTERNATIONAL School Lagos (UNILAG) broke their 14years wait jinx after they emerged champions of the 15th edition of the MILO Secondary School Basketball Championship dunking-off St. Joseph Secondary School Markurdi, Benue State 5647 in a thrilling final match.

St. Joseph got to a flying start when they won the 1st quarter of the game 14-13 at the expense of ISL who made a mess of their free throws.

In the 2nd quarter, ISL then came strong as they edged the Benue team to winning it claiming 12pts while St. Joseph got a point less.

St Joseph them made amends in the 3rd quarter after they scored 21pts as it ended 42-37pts.

As the last quarter of the game began, ISL then took the game to St. Joseph who after the game must blame their poor shooting for their loss as in three sessions would have punished International School Lagos for the technical fouls they committed but their players couldn’t compose themselves as they failed to hit the basket, as a rejuvenated ISL won the game

By Rasaq Oboirien 56-47 to lift the title for the first time in the history of the championship.

Similarly, defending female champions, St. Jude Girls retained their title after they defeated Government Secondary School 26-18 in the final.

It was a second loss handed the Gboko team by the Amarata girls, as the game between them in the group stage ended 24-16.

Both International School and St. Joseph's Secondary School received medals, the Nestle trophy worth N150, 000, Addidas sports canvas, Milo products and a trip to the U.S. for a competition.

Interestingly, Boluwasope Faniran and Bridget Dibiya were picked as the most valuable player for boys and girl.

However, The Milo Secondary School Basketball Championships is to draw its curtains closed with a special training camp, called the Top 50 Camp that will hold from July 79 with some top NBA Stars storming Lagos for the camp.

•Brand Manager, Milo, Funmi Osineye (l); Chairman, National Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM), Yemi Idowu; Captain of the winning team, International School, Lagos, Edima Obioh; MD, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Dharnesh Gordhon and Category Business Manager, Doja Ekeruche during the final of the 15th Nestle Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship.

WHO SAID WHAT

‘I don’t think 2015 is around the corner. It is two years from now, so, it is not around the corner but APC is capable of kicking the PDP out of power’ MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 8 NO 2,540

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

N

OT many Nigerians eyed with enthusiasm the rumbles in Tahrir Square in Egypt last week. Not many are glued to it even now, in spite of the earthquake significance for the Nigerian political earth. It is not a revolution for the young alone. Its rage dissolves hierarchies. About the French revolution, the poet William Wordsworth crooned that “bliss it was that dawn to be alive/ to be young was very heaven.” Wordsworth wrote bliss that did not belong to the French Revolution. Not after the guillotine of paranoia that saw head after head fly out of bodies as hysteric crowds cheered with the glee of hyenas.

As I write, the revolution has nothing of the neatness of theory, about one order going for the anointing of the new. Revolutions are not sacraments. Often they carry the mournful halo of butcheries. Don’t forget the other ones, including the Russian and Chinese revolutions. They woke up their societies, teased them with dreams of a promised land and, through waves of blood, anger and destruction, returned them to their default pennies and penuries, to their inequities and inequalities.

That is why this writer is wary of revolutions. The best revolutions are reforms that over long periods become revolutions. So we can talk of the American Revolution not in terms of the result of the war that ousted England, but the country that resulted over 50 years later and became the model for other nations. The non-political ones like the industrial or scientific revolutions did not appear so until late in the day.

So while many call for revolution Egypt style, I applaud their passion for Nigeria.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, called for it last week. I love a revolution for Nigeria. But unlike many, I think we wax romantic about this subject. We are not close to a revolution.

Nigerians are too happy for a revolution.

We love our tribes too much for a revolution. We love God too much for a revolution. We love our suffering, as master masochists, so we prefer the pain now to paradise tomorrow. We sniff crude oil every day, and the greatest tragedy is that we love oil too much to contemplate a revolution.

We have never in our history manifested, in any collective way, a revolutionary ferment. We have only pretended it. We have only romanticised it, like in the June 12 struggles and the charade of a labour standoff we had about a year ago. We lack the spirit of endurance and the sense of sacrifice that embroiled Egypt last week and compelled an elected officer who was president to make an apology of a broadcast after dealing a high

RIPPLES CHARGES ON CASHLESS POLICY IN ABUJA BEGINS IN OCTOBER–News

...GHANA MUST GO BAGS in trouble

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchsam@yahoo.com 08054501081(sms only) •NMMA Columnist of the Year

From revolution with love

•Ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi hand in the fashion of a pharaoh.

The point though is not that Nigeria is not ripe for a revolution. We are. The problem is that we are too ripe for a revolution. The translation is that we have passed a situation that could have driven other societies to the streets. But we escaped every chance for a revolution. I think three reasons account for this.

One, tribe. I try not to use the stylised word ethnicism, because what assails us in Nigeria is tribal. The hate in the air that divides us is savage. It is like the loss of innocence dramatised in the Nobel Prize-winning novel, Lord of the Flies. Hatred is no longer hatred if the other group does not fall and die. I recall the old national anthem, “though tribes and tongues may differ/ in brotherhood we stand.” We sang that anthem before we killed each other in a fratricidal war. We see this now in the Niger Delta, in Plateau State, and

‘Nigerians are too happy for a revolution. We love our tribes too much for a revolution. We love God too much for a revolution. We love our suffering, as master masochists, so we prefer the pain now to paradise tomorrow. We sniff crude oil every day, and the greatest tragedy is that we love oil too much to contemplate a revolution’ in the blood fest of Boko Haram around the North. We see it all the time in election cycles.

The second is religion. I am a Christian, but I see Pentecostalism and the Islamic fundamentalism as twin villains of the day. We are compelled to see Nigeria as the kingdom of God, and we place emphasis on individual redemption as against collective liberation.

This contradicts Bible injunctions, but individual salvation should not counter collective bliss. We should be our brother’s keepers. But the religious leaders key into the capitalist ethos to profit from the misery of the day. The consequence is a lack of insistence on change but in finding individual escape routes. It is always “my God, or my Allah.”

As Max Weber wrote, capitalism preys on individual piety. The religions as they are practised endorse the status quo.

The third is oil. Oil reminds me of a story

HARDBALL

W

ITNESSING yet another fantabulous episode in the long-running sitcom (let’s title it ‘Morbid Obsession’) was at once exhilarating, raucously hilarious and foreboding. Hardball achieved the odd feat of shedding tears of joy and sorrow all at once. Don’t ask how he pulled off such dexterous feat because it is beyond description; the only remedy is to attune oneself to the narrative of the series.

Last Thursday, July 4, 2013, a certain Prince Felix Obuah, a mobile, tactile installation (life follows art sometimes you know) in the PDP universe, Rivers State branch, raised his game and upped his profile in infamy. A stringed underling in the ruling party, call him State Chairman, he broke ranks and transported his self unto the presence of the President of the Federal Republic right in his Court, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. Prince Obuah led a delegation of the party chieftains of his state to ‘solidarise’ with the president.

It seems a grand reversal of roles and starkly anomalous that in a state endowed materially, historically and politically, a certain Prince Obuah would lead and speak for the likes of Peter Odili, Sergeant Awuse, Chibudom Nwuche, Austin Opara, Abiye Sekibo, Lee Maeba, to name a few, to the Villa.

Is this a new low or a new high? Is this the

Tunnelling down new, emerging PDP; the shape of the party to come? Is this the rise of the unknown quantities and underlings? Is it the rule of the tail or the thumb? Now that this Obuah fellow has broken the floodgate, the other state chairmen must take their cues quickly and their turns immediately to lead their state chapters (with their governors and other leaders in tow) to the Villa. The challenge of any other state chairman however, will be whether he will be able to match Obuah’s performance before the president. Obuah, it seems, was fully prepared and well rehearsed with a speech tucked in his pocket. Like a minnow in the presence of a barracuda, he threw in everything in the mix and could have driven home his point with Ahahowaian back-flips if necessary.

He played the worm first by wriggling through the soft side of the president. You are our son in-law and Rivers State should be your home of comfort, he declared. They had just received their sister, the president’s wife and by the joy and contentment she exuded, it was evident that he was a dependable and loving husband

NASIR EL-RUFAI

in Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. In the centre of a town near Paris before the city quakes under a revolution, a big vat of wine cracks on a rock. It leaks in furious temptation. Everyone scurries to have a share. Those with cups come. Those with buckets come.

Ditto those with handkerchiefs. Everyone has their share of the drink. They thrill to this inebriate heaven. Mothers dance with their children. They make circles; and men, women and children rejoice in the liquid spell. But drink comes to an end, the alcohol clears and the whole society regains sobriety. Farmer goes back to farm, mother remembers where she leaves the child, seamstress defaults to her tools, etc. The party is over, and sadly they embrace the repressed reality again. That is what oil means to us. In one way or another, oil defers our engagement with our misery.

Today we have to face it. Nigerians have not suffered enough. You would think the depredations of Boko Haram would trigger something. Nope. You would think that the stealing of treasuries everywhere would awaken us to integrity. No way. Somebody said recently that the kidnappings indicate our closeness as the poor are sending signals to the rich. But I believe the kidnappers are not thinking about ruffling the rich but want to be rich too. They don’t detest the rich and their corruption. They just want to be like them. That is not revolutionary.

I think the thieves should steal more. The roads should decay more. The hospitals should be worse than consulting clinics but chambers of death, although they already are.

The schools should churn out more illiterates and the bridges should collapse everywhere. Tribal strife should descend to deeper atavistic savagery. The Americans and Europeans should ban us from living in their countries but they won’t. They want our money.

We should have a government that gambles all our oil to another country or firm in the West or China. We shall wake up one morning to see that our country is in a shipwreck and all of us are sinking together and there is no one with a God to pray to and a fat bank account to latch on to. We become dependent on our collective salvation.

Then by our actions, we will begin a meaningful conversation about revolution. Meanwhile, we have a party in which some have wines costing a million naira and others are staggering on paraga, a local brew, or apetesi.

Make your choice.

I despair at this scenario. We are too adept at creating illusory heavens out of hell. So, let us just dream. A dream can be an end in itself. So let us just dream about it, and see Egypt on television.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above she a dutiful and loving wife. Wow! Obuah dug in: they the political leaders of PDP in the state support the Transformation Agenda, they support the president and would do anything to make sure he sleeps with two eyes closed.

Then like Ali Baba, he reached for the dagger and aimed at the jugular of the enemy: “We are pained and our heart bleeds today that the main champion of opposition in the country against Mr. President is Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

“We do not know what has come over the young man. Is it that he wants to destabilise the PDP before his eventual movement to his new party, having been handed over the ACN/CPC structure in Rivers State.”

Great performance and “Mr. President” bit into the ‘bait’ hook, line and sinker, he immediately railed against “somebody who is in a political party and his faith is in another party…” What an orchestra of dirges, drawing and redrawing of battle lines as fresh scenes are played out in the running drama, we have titled, Morbid Obsession. Hardball can’t figure out why he uncannily tends to liken Obuah as some kind of burrow rabbit tunneling into the ground.

On a last note, Obuah sounds like and reminds of a burrowing rabbit tunneling down into the ground.

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos.

Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Editor Daily:01-8962807, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790 WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO