July 11, 2015 by The Nation

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015 OW much longer would the political romance between Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and his immediate predecessor, Senator Godswill Akpabio, endure? That is the question that has been provoked by a couple of incidents that have transpired between the two in recent times. A few weeks ago, the million-dollar question would amount to a sacrilege. No one had a reason compass or contemplate a breakdown in the relationship between Akpabio the godfather and Emmanuel the godson. Those were the days when Akpabio stuck his neck out for Emmanuel as the contest for his coveted seat became so fierce that the average Akwa Ibom indigene feared that Armageddon was in the corner. For the love of Emmanuel, Akpabio was said to have sacrificed the governorship ambitions of other aspirants he had earlier given his word before Emmanuel shot forth like a bolt from the blue. As Akpabio himself would later confess during the PDP governorship campaign inauguration in Uyo in the build up to the last general election, Emmanuel was nowhere in the picture until

Three major issues in recent times have, however, been interpreted by watchers of events in the state to mean that Governor Emmanuel might have finally made up his mind to stop living in Akpabio’s shadow. The first was the appointment of the Secretary to the State Government. While Akpabio was said to have rooted for his elder brother, Emem Akpabio, to occupy the sensitive position, the governor was said to have rejected the nomination, opting instead for Etekamba Umoren.

Udom: Godfather versus godson n Kazeem IBRAHYM, Uyo n

he was recommended by Akpabio’s wife, Unoma. Akpabio, who on the occasion described Unoma as ‘Mother Theresa’ spared no adjective as he showered praises on her for spotting Emmanuel. Proceeding on the principle that one good turn deserves another, Emmanuel wasted no time in demonstrating his unflinching loyalty to Akpabio as soon as he became the governor. Emmanuel followed Akpabio everywhere like the baby chick does the mother hen as he awaited his inauguration as governor. And at the inauguration ceremony, the new governor made an announcement that did not only startle the gathering but left many with the impression that Emmanuel’s tenure would be as good as Akpabio remaining in office for a third term. In other words, the new governor would be nothing more than a protégé whose every move would be guided by Akpabio. With the said speech, Emmanuel appeared to kill the enthusiasm of the crowd who had gathered to witness his inauguration ceremony by naming the ultra modern Akwa Ibom State International Stadium after his immediate predecessor. The stadium, previously called Nest of Champions, was renamed by the new governor as Godswill Obot Akpabio International Stadium. But even the governor himself was stupefied by the dead silence the announcement generated from the ecstatic crowd that had been cheering and clapping all day. Perhaps to reassure himself that the announcement was responsible for the pin-drop silence that suddenly fell on the crowd, he repeated the announcement and the people remained quiet. As a matter of fact, some people in the gathering reportedly wondered aloud that the announcement did nothing to portray the governor as one with a mind independent enough to lead the state. As things have since turned out, however, the experience might have been a defining moment for the new governor to decide on whether he wants to be his own man in leading the state or sit perpetually in the shadow of his benefactor. Three major issues in recent times have, however, been interpreted by watchers of events in the state to mean that Governor Emmanuel might have fi-

nally made up his mind to stop living in Akpabio’s shadow. The first was the appointment of the Secretary to the State Government. While Akpabio was said to have rooted for his elder brother, Emem Akpabio, to occupy the sensitive position, the governor was said to have rejected the nomination, opting instead for Etekamba Umoren. Although some see Umoren as an Akpabio boy because he served as the former governor’s Chief of Staff, the fact that he did not pander to the ex-governor’s preferred candidate is taken as an indication of the battle that lies ahead. While the controversy over the choice of SSG raged, the governor ordered the demolition of a filling station allegedly belonging to ex-governor Akpabio’s personal assistant and brother, Prince Ukpong Akpabio. The filling station, located on Nwaniba Road, opposite Uruan Street, was levelled by officials of the Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA). After the demolition, the state government, in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerete Udoh, directed developers and owners of filling stations located in residential parts of Uyo, the state capital, to produce approval by Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA) within 14 days, beginning from Friday, June 5, 2015, saying that failure to do so

will result in the demolition of such filling stations. The choice of Speaker for the Sixth Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly was another sore point in the hitherto cordial relationship between Akpabio and Emmanuel. Ex-governor Akpabio was said to have rooted for Ime Okon from Ibiono Ibom Constituency against Onofiok Luke, the representative of Nsit Ubium Constituency who many believe had the sympathy of Governor Emmanuel. In fact, on account of the disagreement, the inauguration of the House, earlier scheduled for 10 am could not be done until about 7 pm, allegedly as a result of pressure from the camps of the governor and his predecessor. At the end of the day, the House had to settle for a fresher in the person of Aniekan Uko, representing Ibesiko Asutan Constituency. The emerging power tussle between Akpabio and Emmanuel is already raising concern among some indigenes of the state, one of which is the National President of Concerned Patriots of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Peter Ekwere. Ekwere said Senator Akpabio must face the reality that whatever contract he had with the people of Akwa Ibom State as governor had expired on May 29, 2015. But the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said there was no feud between Ex-Governor Akpabio and the incumbent governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel. Umanah recalled that Governor Emmanuel had publicly declared at a thanksgiving mass organised for Senator Akpabio in Ikot Ekpene recently that the enemies of the state should leave him and Akpabio alone; and that there was no feud between them. “Their relationship is cordial. They are working together with other stakeholders for the benefit of the state,” he said.

Fuel crisis looms in Lagos, Delta, Rivers …as NUPENG issues fresh strike notice A NXIETY over the availability of petroleum products has heightened in some states in the southern part of the country as members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) commence indefinite solidarity strike. NUPENG members from Warri, Lagos and Port Harcourt zones agreed at a rally in Warri, Delta State yesterday to commence a solidarity strike in protest against alleged infringements on the rights of their members working for Chevron, an oil company in Warri, Delta State. Addressing members of the union drawn from Chevron and other oil servicing companies, the Chairman of the Warri Zone of NUPENG, Comrade Cogent Ojo-

n Shola O'NEIL, Warri n

bor, said the solidarity strike would last until the oil giant addresses all alleged injustices. Among the demands of the workers are the reinstatement of one of their members, Comrade Ada, payment of 2013 leave allowances, payment of end of contract allowance, job classification and full payment of shift allowance. The union also frowned against alleged creation of parallel unions for workers by the oil company, vowing to resist any attempt at dividing NUPENG. The union's leader in the Warri Zone said that NUPENG had written several letters and had

held series of meetings with the management of Chevron over time, noting that the company was aware of the newly called strike action. He, however, charged members of the union to defend their dignity as they continue to demand fair treatment from the oil company. Other leaders of the union who spoke at the rally, which was held at the entrance of Chevron on NPA Road, expressed displeasure at the company's retirement policy and appealed to NUPENG leadership to address the issue head on. Philanthropist names centre after Aisha Buhari Ahmed Rufa'I, Dutse

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State yesterday commissioned and handed over an Islamic centre he constructed and named after President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, Aisha. The Islamic centre, built by Alhaji Nasiru Haladu Dano, is located in Ruru village, Dutse Local Government Area of the state. The centre, which comprises a Juma'at mosque and school, was commissioned by the Jigawa State Deputy Governor, Barrister Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia. It is designed to accommodate 300 worshippers and also has four classrooms. Speaking at the event, Dano, an ex-officio of the APC in the North-

west, said he had to rebuild the mosque which was built by his father 45 years ago because it had become dilapidated. Dano said apart from the centre, he also planned to build a maternity clinic for the village. He said he named the centre after Aisha Buhari because of her commitment to women and child development issues. The Emir of Dutse, Dr. Nuhu Muhammadu Sunusi, who was named the father of the occasion, called on the people of Ruru village to seize the opportunity of the school to send their children there, adding that it was mandatory for the villagers to send their children to both Islamic and western schools in order to become useful members of the society.

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6 NEWS

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday narrated how former Adamawa State governor Murtala Nyako, his son, Abdulaziz (a serving senator), and two of the ex-governor’s aides allegedly looted billions of public funds. Facing trial with them at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja are Zulkifikk Abba (Nyako’s ex-political adviser), Abubakar Aliyu and five companies in which they allegedly have interests. The companies are Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms & Extension Ltd, Pagoda Fortunes Ltd,

SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

How Nyako, son, aide looted Adamawa, by EFCC •Ex-gov, others get N350m bail each

Eric IKHILAE, Abuja Tower Assets Management Ltd and Crust Energy Ltd. They were slammed with a 37-count charge of conspiracy, money laundering and abuse of office. The commission in its counter-affidavit to the accused persons’ bail application at the court, said that it would be out of place to grant them bail in view of the gravity of their of-

Agip pipeline explodes in Bayelsa, kills 12

•Four others injured, one missing

HE TebidabaAzuzuama pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Azuzuama, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, exploded yesterday, killing 12 people. The fire resulting from the blast was said to have injured four others while one person was declared missing. The explosion, described by eyewitnesses as deafening, was said to have quaked the nearby Azuzuama community and created panic among the residents. It was gathered that most of the dead and injured victims were workers of Agip who were in the oil field to effect repairs on the pipeline. A source said the pipeline was earlier ruptured and caused oil to spill in the environment, but Agip decided to clamp the damaged point and carry out general repairs on the pipeline. A source who pleaded anonymity said: “The victims are Agip workers. The pipeline was breached and Agip deployed workers to weld the tampered point. “There was no safety precaution and a spark during the welding must have caused the explosion. The explosion was deafening and the fire spread to far distance.” The source said the incident occurred at about 5:30pm on Thursday, adding that there was no report that a security operative was a victim of the explosion. But another source said the blast happened during a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the cause of the spill from the damaged pipeline. The source, who spoke in confidence, said the victims were burnt beyond recognition. He, however, added that the

Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa JIV team comprised delegates from the Ministry of Environment, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), NAOC and representatives of Azuzuama community. A former Vice-Chairman of the Azuzuama Community Development Committee (CDC), Mr. Dennis Dumde, said 12 bodies were recovered from the site of the explosion. “The identities of the victims could not be ascertained. They were burnt beyond recognition,” he said. A resident, who identified himself simply as Steve, claimed that the explosion occurred when a bulldozer hired to clear the spill site hit the pipeline. He said: “We heard a loud bang and we saw a thick smoke coming from the location of the ruptured pipeline. Many of the villagers rushed to the site but the fire had taken over the bush and they could not rescue anybody. “At about 8pm, a rescue team was raised by the villagers to search the scene. Four bodies were recovered on Thursday night. Another search was conducted on Friday morning and six more bodies were recovered. We cannot identify them. It is sad.” The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Iniruo Wills, could not be reached for comments, but a source from the ministry said the governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, had been intimated of the development. The Police Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, confirmed the incident but said it occurred at about 4 pm. It was gathered that the charred remains of the victims had been deposited in an undisclosed morgue.

fences. It also claimed that the ‘mysterious deaths’ of two of its witnesses - Ma’aji Mohammed Iro and Abdulmalik Dalhatu – “has instilled fear in other prospective witnesses in this case.” Iro was, until his death, a Regional Manager with Zenith Bank. He was said to be in charge of Adamawa State Government’s accounts with the bank, and allegedly assisted the accused persons in laundering billions of naira from the state’s coffers. The EFCC said: “The 1st and 2nd accused persons (Nyako and Abaduaziz) are the owners of the 6th accused (Sebore Farms & Extension Limited), which they operated by themselves. Several fictitious contracts, running into billions of naira, were awarded to the said 6th accused while the 1st accused was governor of Adamawa State. One Ma’aji Mohammed Iro was in

charge of the accounts of Adamawa State with Zenith Bank. “On the instruction of the 1st accused, Ma’aji Mohammed Iro made several cash lodgments running into billions of naira into the accounts of several companies and individuals including the accounts of the 6th to 9th accused (Blue Opal Ltd, Sebore Farms & Extension Ltd, Pagoda Fortunes Ltd, Tower Assets Management Ltd and Crust Energy Ltd) all from the accounts of Adamawa State Government for no specific reason. “On the instruction of the 1st accused, N698,408,011.62 was paid from the account of Adamawa State Government with Zenith Bank into the account of the 6th accused (Sebore Farms and Extension ltd) with the same bank to service and liquidate the loan of N500 million obtained by the 6th accused. “Another sum of N160m was

prison custody for about three months. “This means that both Sule and his sons have started serving a prison sentence even before the commencement of their trial. “It behooves all men of good conscience to appeal to the trial Judge to reconsider this highhanded decision. The principle of the accused being adjudged innocent until proven guilty must apply in this case. “We are also aware that persons with similar cases had been granted and are being granted bail. We appeal to the trial judge to temper justice with mercy by granting Governor Sule Lamido and his sons bail.”

Meanwhile, there were indications yesterday that the former governor and his two sons were remanded in prison custody because the matter was heard by “fiat.” Justice Anyadike was drafted from another jurisdiction for the arraignment of the suspects, pending the appointment of a vacation judge to consider their application for bail. She was said to have presided over the commencement of the trial of the suspects by “fiat” because some judges were on vacation. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said the judge was explicit in declaring that a vacation judge will hear the suspects’

Energy Ltd), a company controlled by the 2nd accused and through which several billion of naira belonging to Adamawa State was stolen. “The 4th accused (Abubakar Aliyu) is a signatory to several accounts of the 5th accused (Blue Opal Ltd), through which several monies running into billions of naira from the funds of Adamawa State Government were laundered to develop Hill View Estate, Abuja.” However, Justice Evoh Chukwu rejected EFCC’s objection and granted bail to the accused persons at N350 million with either two sureties or one, who is a director in any Federal Government’s establishment. The sureties, the judge said, must own landed property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), show evidence of tax payment for the last three years and must swear to affidavit of means. The accused persons are to deposit their travel documents with the court.

•Governor Kashim Shettima arriving Maiduguri International Airport on a Med-View plane... yesterday

Buhari, Osinbajo slash own salaries by half

R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are to receive only 50 per cent of the salaries paid to their immediate predecessors, and this is official. The President is entitled to an annual basic salary of N3,514,705 or N292,892.05 per month under the Remuneration package for Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders of 2007 issued by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) ,while the Vice President’s salary is N3,031,572.50k per annum or N252,631.04k per month.

Augustine EHIKIOYA, Abuja The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said yesterday that the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr. Nebolisa Emodi had already communicated the development to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. “I write to forward the completed IPPIS registration form of Mr. President and to draw your kind attention to Mr.

Politicians besiege Kano prisons for Lamido, sons

•Continued from Page 4

deposited into the account of Agrited Nigeria Ltd on the instruction of the 1st accused from the account of the Adamawa State Government with no contract rendered to the state. “Several moneys running into over N5 billion of Adamawa State funds were transferred to the 9th accused (Crust Energy Ltd) mostly on the instruction of the 1st accused. “About N240 million of Adamawa State was invested by the 7th accused - Pagoda Fortunes Ltd (a company owned by a son of the 1st accused) in Hill View Estate, Abuja, an estate owned by the 2nd accused (Abdulaziz Nyako). “The 3rd accused (Zulkifikk Abba), who is a political adviser to the 1st accused, is the owner of Alpharetta Farms Ltd, one of the companies through which funds of Adamawa State was stolen. The 3rd accused is a director in the 9th accused (Crust

bail application. The anti-graft agency said there was no order from the judge asking Lamido and sons to be remanded for two months without a bail option. Investigation by our correspondent revealed that following difficulty in getting judges to hear the matter at the Federal High Court, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, was approached to assign a judge from any jurisdiction. It was gathered that the lot fell on Justice Anyadike since most judges were on vacation. A reliable source said: “The matter was heard by Justice Anyadike from another jurisdiction by fiat. So, she was de-

ployed in Kano by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. “That means she acted on authority, but it is left to the suspects to make requisite bail application to a vacation judge to secure their freedom. “The fact that they are high profile suspects does not mean that they cannot be remanded in prison. “The EFCC was explicit that it had no facility to detain the suspects.” A source in EFCC however said: “The judge did not give any order that Lamido and sons should be remanded in prison till September. She knows that they are entitled to bail and left the discretion to a vacation judge.”

President’s directive that only 50% of his salary be paid to him,” Mr. Emodi said in a memo with reference number PRES/81/SGF/17. The slash may not be unconnected with the current economic situation in the country. Apart from basic salary, the president and the vice president are also entitled to hardship and constituency allowance which bring their total remunerations to N14,058,820 per annum or N1,171,568.20k per month for the President and N12,126,290 per annum or N1,010,524.16k per month for the vice president. Governors Rufai el-Nasir (Kaduna),Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi),Abdulahi Ganduje (Kano) and Okezie Ikpeazu had earlier cut their own salaries and those of all political office holders in their respective states as part of the efforts to cut costs. First to do so was el-Rufai on his first day in office. He said his action was a mark of his sacrifice to develop the state. He described the financial situation in the state as difficult, adding: “as soon as we have all the facts in coming weeks, we shall lay bare to you just how deep a hole we have dug ourselves in the past several years. “Our finances are in a shambles. Kaduna is the second most indebted state in our country. Our state is staggering under

the weight of billions of naira in debt and other liabilities. As we all know, merely by walking the streets or seeing our neighbors everyday, the state of our state is abysmal. Our schools and hospitals, our roads and bridges, our villages, towns and cities, all are markers of backwardness. “Too many of our children are hungry and in rags and in the street.” In slashing his salary,Gov.Ikpeazu lamented the inability of the state to pay workers’ salaries,saying he decided to personally identify with the suffering workers and would not lift the self-imposed austerity until the salaries and allowances owed workers were cleared. On his part, Gov. Abubakar said: “As a mark of leadership by example, I hereby offer to reduce the salary to be earned by the Deputy Governor and myself by 50 per cent. This is our promise to the people of Bauchi State. This is the bond for which we shall be held to account. This is the commencement of the many years of greatness that await our dear state. This is the path on which we require your fervent prayers, support and contributions.” Gov Ganduje said the present economic reality in the country required efforts to cut waste.

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

el-Rufai: Radical in the saddle

Task before new DSS boss Daura • Continued from Page 3 the operative to have said: "You are an Ibo woman and you are working for the APC instead of supporting your own brother". The "brother" here, as allegedly stated by the said DSS official, apparently referred to the former President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP. The now embattled spokesperson of the DSS, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, in cahoots with the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, took partisanship to frightening heights. In their desperation, subtle attempts were made to implicate the APC in the mildness terrorist acts ravaging the land. For instance, in one of their joint media briefings under what they termed the Information Managers' platform, they claimed that security agencies had discovered an identification card belonging to a member of the APC at the site of one of the numerous Boko Haram bombings in a Northeastern part of the • Daura country. Apparently, the "Information DSS worked in collaboration with the Managers" were trying to paint a scenario military and other security agencies to primed towards depicting the then oppoundermine the integrity of the election. In sition party as having links with the Boko the said interview, Captain Koli had corHaram insurgents. This was in tune with roborated the reported cases of harassthe PDP's initial escapist approach to the ment, intimidation and arrest of some key ravaging insurgency, with its often repeated allegation that the APC was sponsoring APC chieftains before and during the election. the Boko Haram sect. But the falsehood, The department played a similar role in with its short legs, could not travel far. Just the Osun State governorship poll that held as they could not prove the allegation of in August 2014. Hundreds of hooded and cloning of voter cards, they equally failed heavily armed operatives of the service to substantiate that allegation. Also at reference were revelations by the were deployed in the state in what many saw as an attempt to replicate the Ekiti now self-exiled Army Captain, Sagir Koli, scenario in Osun. Some key APC chiefdetailing the collaborative role played by tains, including a former Osun State govoperatives of the DSS in ensuring the victory of the PDP in the June 2014 governor- ernor, Chief Isiaka Adeleke, were similarly manhandled and harassed by the operaship election in Ekiti State. Contents of an tives. Some were physically assaulted, audio recording leaked by the fleeing while some others had their homes invadArmy Captain and which went viral in ed by armed operatives shooting sporadithe social media, revealed details of the cally at their premises. rigging plot in what later became the The harassment and intimidation, howEkitigate. The audio recording revealed conversations among some key PDP chief- ever, failed to achieve the envisaged outcome as the APC eventually won the electains who claimed to be carrying out a tion, scratching its way through the securidirective from the then President Jonathan ty barricades. So in the immediate past and some military chiefs who claimed to dispensation, the DSS conducted itself as be working on the instruction of the Chief an armed wing of the erstwhile ruling of Army Staff. In an interview granted an online portal, party. When the Presidency last week eventuSaharareporters, Captain Koli had given ally announced the appointment of Alhaji graphic details of how operatives of the Lawal Musa Daura as the new helmsman

• Continued from Page 4

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The urgent task before the new DSS boss is no doubt enormous. He is evidently confronted with the challenge of rebuilding a service already sullied by the dirt of politicisation and parochial tendencies into a vibrant, efficient and highly professional force that it had always been known for

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of the armed secret service, many heaved a sigh of relief. Daura was born in Daura town, Katsina State on August 5, 1953. He attended the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, from 1977 to 1980. He started his career in the State Security Service (SSS) now DSS in 1982. He was once the Deputy Director, Presidential Communication, Command and Control Centre at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, between 2003 and 2007. He also served as the State Director of State Security at various times in Kano, Sokoto, Edo, Lagos, Osun and Imo states. He attended various professional courses within and outside the country. Daura also attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), Kuru. He rose to the rank of director before he retired from the service of the department. The urgent task before the new DSS boss is no doubt enormous. He is evidently confronted with the challenge of rebuilding a service already sullied by the dirt of politicisation and parochial tendencies into a vibrant, efficient and highly professional force that it had always been known for. Those who know Daura believe he fits the bill. Will he deliver? Time will tell.

Banire, Olanipekun’s son, Adedeji, 18 others become SANs HE Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has conferred the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on 21 lawyers. The list consists of 18 practising advocates (including a female) and three from the academics. The only female is the former Attorney General of Ogun State, Abimbola Ibironke Akeredolu. Those from the academics are Prof. Maxwell Mickael Gidado, Dr. Tahir Mamman and Prof. Paul Oboarenegbe Idornigie. The others include the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Muiz Adeyemi Banire; Director, Legal Services, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ibrahim Kanje Bawa; Emeka Benson Etiaba, son of former Anambra State Deputy Governor, Virginia Etiaba; and son of former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Dr. Oladapo Olumide Olanipekun.

Also on the list are Aderibigbe Ade Adedeji; Edward Kunav Ashiekaa; Benson Sopulu Nwankwo; Joseph Sunday Bamigboye; Patrick Ocheja Okola; Dr. Akinpelu Theophilus Onigbinde and Samuel Otseilu

Zibiri. Others are Adeniyi Ayodele Adegbonmire, Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, Olumuyiwa Akinboro, Gordy Uche, Uchechukwu Valentine Obi and Kehinde Kolawole Eleja.

The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Ahmed Gambo Saleh, who made the list public yesterday, said a total of 124 legal practitioners applied in all, out of which were three females.

ICPC arraigns alleged fake medical doctor HE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has arraigned one George Dawari Edward before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, for alleged impersonation. Dawari was arrested on June 5, 2015 on the strength of a petition that he claimed to be a medical doctor, and demanded the sum of N450,000 from a couple with a promise to procure 5-year visas to the United States for them and members of their family. During interrogation, the suspect was found to be neither a medical doctor nor did he work in the National Hospital Abuja as claimed. In a 9-count charge bordering on forgery, possession of forged documents and impersonation, the prosecuting counsel, Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha of ICPC alleged in the charge sheet, that the accused person forged United

States of America entry visas for himself and three other persons contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Caps.532 Laws of the FCT, Abuja 2006. Investigations also revealed that the accused impersonated a medical doctor, having in his possession a Medical Laboratory Coat with the name Dr. E.D. George, and attempted to administer intravenous drip on one Mrs. Patti Bassi under the guise of being a medical doctor, contrary and punishable under Section 132 of the Penal Code Caps.532 Laws of the FCT, Abuja, 2006. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges. His counsel, Henry Iheme, asked the court to grant his client bail, which was refused by the trial judge because the application for bail wasn’t properly made. The matter was then adjourned to September 30, 2015 for commencement of hearing.

of the Federal Capital Territory became a major focus of campaign against him. Then, the nickname, 'Mai Rusau' (The Demolisher) from political opponents became an anxiety-provoking label in his camp. Suddenly, 'Sai Mai Risau' (We want the Demolisher) became a rallying battle-cry among the populace whose votes eventually got Nasir el-Rufai into Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House. On June 6, 2015 when the new governor visited the state's fertiliser depot, he announced the banning of fertiliser allocation to politicians, traditional rulers and government officials. This was an arrangement that had existed since the military era and it earned Governor el-Rufai instant enemies, including critics who allege that he wants to make life difficult for supporters of the past PDP administration in the state. Indeed, a PDP stalwart, Alhaji Balarabe Rigachikun, alleged that el-Rufai was out to punish traditional rulers and those close to former governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero. “It is an action and a step that must be taken to encourage farmers and boost food production in the state…Fertilizers should be sold directly to interested local farmers from designated sales points that are publicly announced and are accessible,” the governor asserted in response to critics. To curb the cost of governance which he had been campaigning for over the years, el-Rufai, at his first Town Hall meeting with constituents, announced that the era of appointing 24 commissioners, 41 special advisers and about 400 special assistants was gone in the state. Instead, he reduced the number of state ministries from 19 to 13 and the number of commissioners from 24 to 13 in addition to limiting the number of commissioners' aides on the grounds that he needed to cost of governance, spur efficiency and improve service delivery. When he granted audience to a group of religious leaders from both the Jamatul Nasril Islam (JNI) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the Government House, el-Rufai justified a decision to end a long-existing free-feeding arrangement which had become part of the annual Ramadan programme in Kaduna state. Emphasizing that the so-called feeding of the poor during Ramadan is a window created to loot the public treasury with impunity while using religion as a cover, he alleged that the beneficiaries were the elite in the society. “A situation where foodstuffs bought with public resources are distributed to prominent government officials and other personalities, while the poor in whose name those foods are procured queue in droves for crumbs and are constantly subjected to several forms of hardships and degrading circumstances after such sham gestures is unfair,” he stated. The governor also told the clerics that he stopped issuing contracts to so-called 'super politicians' to supply foods, beverages and other essentials as Ramadan gifts across the state because the process only ensured the enrichment of few individuals. The governor also radically put a stop to Hajj sponsorship and distribution of rice to traditional rulers, religious leaders and politicians in the state. el-Rufai has also commenced the identification and staff auditing of civil servants, using the latest technology to seek out ghost workers and their sponsors. With his rather unusual steps which have drawn the ire of vested interests, Governor el-Rufai has drawn applause in some quarters, even while others within and outside his political party have begun an equally resolute agenda to ensure that he loses election in 2019. A group, Initiative for Entrepreneurship and Talent Advancement (IEATA), described Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai as a “consummate administrator whose words and actions in the last few weeks” have rekindled hope in the people. In a statement, the group's Vice President and Northern Coordinator, Aminu Garuba Mohammed, stated that the governor has raised the bar in public administration. “Most of us in Kaduna State are aware of the divine connection to El-Rufai's victory in the April 11 governorship election. We are indeed grateful to the Almighty for choosing the right leader for us at this critical moment in our nation's history. Today, our people are beginning to re-invent themselves because of this change in leadership. This is in addition to the fact that conditions are also changing for the better. We are therefore proud of our governor because we are already seeing signs of a greater Kaduna State that will in a short time, take its rightful place. “I therefore wish to use this medium to commend our amiable governor for his populist programmes and also for returning Kaduna on course. Today, he is offering free education, blocking leakages and seriously addressing the burdensome issue of the cost of governance. We are also happy that he is running his government with 13 commissioners as against 24 by the previous administration. el-Rufai has also commenced the identification and staff auditing of civil servants, using latest technology to seek out ghost workers and their sponsors. As a group, we are very pleased with his empowerment programmes which will go a long way in engaging youths and anybody willing to work.” • Continued on Page 66

THE NATION, SATURDAY JULY 11, 2015

News

HE two engineers linked to the Synagogue Church of All Nations building collapse will soon face the disciplinary tribunal of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), according to the council president, Mr.Kashim Ali. Mr. Ali said yesterday that the council had requested a copy of the coroner's inquest report which indicted them for negligence. Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe on Wednesday recommended that the two engineers, Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun, should be prosecuted for criminal negli-

Synagogue collapse: Indicted engineers to face COREN tribunal — President

gence which, he said, led to the building collapse. Mr. Ali told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that the council would study the ruling before the two indicted engineers could face its disciplinary tribunal. He acknowledged that while the two engineers were listed in the COREN register, they were, however, not registered as structural engineers. According to him, one was registered as a petroleum engineer and the other as a civil en-

gineer. "We have arranged to get the certified true copy of the ruling of the coroner's inquest. Then, we will proceed to hear the matter at the investigative tribunal. "We need to confirm the status of the two engineers involved and whether they are registered by the COREN. "We have found that they are registered by the COREN, but

not as structural engineers. One is registered as a petroleum engineer, while the other is a civil engineer,'' he said. The COREN president said that while the Coroner's report unravelled the identity of the engineers who handled the construction,the COREN's preliminary investigation had established that it was a case of structural failure. "Before now, our prelimi-

nary investigation had established that it was a structural failure. "However, the coroner has been able to establish the identity of those directly involved in the construction of the failed building.'' Mr. Ali said the two indicted engineers risked sanctions from both the government and the regulatory body, adding: "it amounts to double jeopardy''.

He reaffirmed the COREN's determination to check quackery, while also ensuring that engineers adhered strictly to the ethics and standards of professional practice. The collapsed building claimed 116 lives. The Synagogue Church has rejected the coroner's report,dismissing it as unreasonable,one-sided and biased."

Saraki tasks N/Assembly management on merit, hard work

•Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (second right) with the Chairman, The George, Mr. Tien George (second left); Managing Partner, Mrs. Chizor Malize (left); Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr. Denzil Amagbe Kentebe (right), during the commissioning of The George Hotel, Ikoyi ...yesterday

EFCC may arraign Oronsaye Monday over 1.9bn pension scam T

HE Economic and Finan cial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday filed charges against a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, and three others before the Federal High Court, Abuja. The four persons are likely to be arraigned on Monday in respect of the alleged N1.9billion biometric pension's enrolment scam. But in preparation for the trial, Oronsaye was at the EFCC headquarters yesterday for what source described as "the final leg of grilling." Oronsaye was detained on Wednesday by the anti-graft agency in connection with the alleged scam. After the first round of interaction with the EFCC team, he was granted bail on Thursday before he was slammed with a fresh invitation . A top official of the commission said charges had been filed against Oronsaye and three other suspects at a Federal High

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Court, Abuja. The source said : "We filed charges against Oronsaye and three others yesterday at a Federal High Court in order to pave the way for their arraignment. "The allegations against these people will be known to the public at the court. They will also have the opportunity to file counter-claims. "I think they might be on trial on Monday, depending on the disposition of the court." The EFCC said Oronsaye was also interrogated on fresh allegations of monumental fraud and embezzlement of funds in the running of a Presidential Standing Committee on Financial Action Task Force which he chairs. "The committee is a policy advisory body to the president on the implementation of the

AML/CFT . "Oronsaye allegedly used it as a conduit to siphon and launder money. "This fresh lead is triggered by allegations by some members of the committee who claim that Oronsaye operates an illegal account in a first generation bank in the committee's name, without the knowledge of the committee members through which he has laundered hundreds of millions of Naira,"the source said. When contacted, the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Oronsaye was "at the commission's office yesterday." But Oronsaye had always pleaded his innocence. In a previous interview with The Nation, the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation denied any relationship with a former Deputy Director of Pension in the Pension Unit

CBN to support oil palm sector

ARELY a week after pledging support for rice farmers and processing companies in Nigeria, the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has underscored the bank’s determination to lead the revitalisation of the oil palm sector in Nigeria in order to provide jobs for Nigerians. Mr. Emefiele made the pledge in Abuja yesterday during a meeting between the bank’s management and oil palm value chain stakeholders to agree on a road map to resolve the challenges in the oil palm value chain in Nigeria. He expressed concern at the contrasting fortunes of Nigeria from being the largest producer

of palm oil worldwide in the late 1950s and 1960s, to becoming a net importer of the commodity from the 1980s to date. According to him, Nigeria currently lags behind in a distant fifth position in world production, behind countries that many years ago sent emissaries to Nigeria to learn production techniques and to get their first seedlings. Mr. Emefiele also decried the practice where huge amounts are spent to import items that could ordinarily be produced locally, the governor stressed the need for all stakeholders to collaborate to restore the glory days to the oil palm sector in the country. While recalling the recent

policy of the CBN that excluded 41 items from being procured with foreign exchange from the Nigerian foreign exchange markets (Interbank and BDCs), Mr. Emefiele reiterated that the policy measure was introduced to help conserve Nigeria’s foreign reserves as well as facilitate the resuscitation of domestic industries and improve employment generation in the country. He said the CBN decided to take the lead and play a major role in the resuscitation of the oil palm sector and decided to take a bold step and include palm kernel, palm oil Products and Vegetable Oils in the exclusion list of items not valid for foreign exchange at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange window.

of the OHCSF, Mrs. Phina Chidi, who is on trial. He said: "Mrs. Chidi alleged that she had been keeping N500million and $2 million traced to the accounts of Pam Investment Properties Limited in trust for me in the last three years. "This is someone I do not have her number, not to talk of having anything to do with her. Why will someone keep $2million for me for three years and I did not call her once about the money. "I asked the EFCC to screen my call logs and that of Chidi in the last three years whether I had spoken with her or not. "I have no companies that I am using as cronies to siphon pension funds. As the Head of Service of the Federation, I was not the Accounting Officer. A Permanent Secretary, who was the Accounting Officer, was in charge of all contracts. "In fact, during my valediction, the Permanent Secretary stood up to declare that as the Head of Service, I did not interfere with the award of contracts. Everybody was shocked. "The only contract that came through my office was the initial biometrics project of N35million which was handled by Innovative Solutions. Even though the contract was within my spending limit as the Head of Service, I notified the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). "And the contract was not inflated. When they had cause to extend the scope of work by some weeks, we only paid them extra working allowances." Asked if he nominated one Osarenkhoe Afe, an IT consultant and nominee of Oronsaye, as member of a "pension reform committee," Oronsaye denied.

ENATE President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has asked the management of the National Assembly to uphold the principles of merit, fairness and hard work in all their undertakings. Saraki said it was necessary to reward hard work and be fair to all in order to increase productivity among the staff. A statement by the Media Office of the Senate President said that Saraki gave the admonition when he met with the National Assembly management led by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa. He noted that it was important for the bureaucracy to bring their experience to bear on their activities in support of the Senate's determination to deliver on its mandate to Nigerians. Saraki said: "Our success depends on your cooperation, support and commitment. We appreciate your contributions to this institution. Many of you have been here for many years and have been contributing your own quota to national development. "We are at the beginning of our tenure of four years and it is our hope that we can work together as partners in the interest of the progress of this great country of ours. "I think we have all seen from the last elections that the

Onyedi OJAIBOR, Assistant Editor desire of Nigerians all over the country is the need for change, the need to move away from the business as usual habit and the need for us to try and reposition this country. "I think we are coming on that platform and we are committed to try and make sure we deliver to our people the dividends of democracy, but our ability to deliver also depends on you and how we work together. "We don't see any alternative now at this point in the history of our country than for us to try and meet the needs of our people and that is why we seek your cooperation. You have the experience, knowledge and ability," he said. He assured the management that the new leadership of the Assembly would be fair, equitable and just at all times. He said: "On our part, we will be fair, just and equitable. We will ensure that merit is key; we will ensure that people are not pushed aside for one reason or the other, and we will ensure that there is justice at all times. "We want to see that merit and hard work are rewarded tremendously. You have no cause for concerns. We will look at all your suggestions and what will make productivity better and we will do our best to ensure that”.

Varsity workers urge Buhari to sack NUC boss

HE Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) yesterday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, and the Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Chief R.O Egbule, for allegedly working against the change agenda of the current administration. National President of the union, Comrade Samson Igbokwe, who made the call at a news conference in Abuja, said the two government officials were deliberately working against the 2009 agreement between the union and government, regarding the funding of university staff primary schools. He said the circular issued to universities to stop funding the primary schools "contravenes the provisions of the agreement which allow the institutions to fund the schools." Igbokwe said: "It may interest the public to note that in the

agreements entered into and signed by the Federal Government and the Universities Staff Union (ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAAT), it was provided that the government, through the university councils, should fully fund university primary schools, while the universities (without recourse to the government for funding) provide infrastructure for the secondary schools. "We are worried that the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission which participated in that negotiation could turn around to repudiate the terms of those agreements. Since the agreements have not been renegotiated, it means that the contents remain sacrosanct. "We are worried that the NUC Executive Secretary, in concert with the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, intends to sack all the teachers and non-teaching staff of university staff schools who are our members without recourse to our unions or renegotiation".

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

Security, democracy and the rule of law T is a well known dictum in journalism that when a dog bites a man it is not news but when a man bites a dog then it is news indeed. That was what came to my mind on hearing and reading the news that the new Deputy Senate President has criticized the Buhari government for not doing enough on national security and expressed great concern that if care is not taken Boko Haram may attack Abuja and indeed move down South to kill. Just as they have been doing in the North East - a part of the nation that the concerned senator confessed as very dear and close to his heart because of the scourge of Boko Haram in the area. On the surface the Deputy Senate President – DSP - has expressed a legitimate concern and a patriotic one at that but if you agree with that then you need to be briefed about certain issues hovering around the DSP in the last few days. Especially the fact that the Police have announced that he may be questioned by the Police over allegations contained in a petition by aggrieved senators that senate rules were tampered with in the controversial senate leadership elections that threw him up as the senate ‘s DSP. Really it is not that difficult to decipher or see through the subterfuge and ruse inherent in the alarm raised by the DSP on Boko Haram. This is because a pattern has been set by the opposition PDP which on hearing about the impending Police investigation warned that nothing should happen to its highest placed party man in the senate. The party went on to accuse the APC government of political witch hunting of the DSP because of the way he was elected. Which was a situation to be expected by the PDP given the fact that the DSP was not a member of the APC which has the majority in the senate and is definitely aggrieved that it has been swindled out of the position of the DSP and no one in his right senses should expect the party to be quiet about it. That really was the genesis of the heat the new DSP from PDP is facing and I believe that it is just the tip of the iceberg. Again no one is deceived about the timing of the alarm raised by the DSPand the expected or anticipated outcome of that. Once the Police move against the DSP the PDP will predictably cry foul and accuse the government of political victimization of an opposition legislator forgetting very conveniently that this is a legislator on a borrowed seat which has become very hot and uncomfortable for him. It reminds me of Shakespeare’s Macbeth where it was said that Macbeth had murdered sleep and would not sleep again. Certainly that is the plight of the new DSP on this matter. Again the legislator is learning fast that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Any way we need to look at the issues raised by the DSP closely even though his locus and official position are both suspect and of dubious origin right from the way and manner of his election. There is need to step up our security apparatus and arrangement such that Boko Haram is eliminated as quickly as possible before it gets bold enough to

attack either Abuja and or Lagos. That really is a grim prospect that must avoided at all costs by our security forces by all the force and means at their disposal. The security forces should not send wrong or chilling signals that can cause panic or threaten security such as the plan to move Boko Haram prisoners to the South East. This should be scuttled so as not to amplify the theatre of war or insurgency as we now call our terrorism. In addition state governments should spend more on security even as they pay workers salaries from the Buhari Salary Bail out. A situation where state governor’s collect huge security votes while security lapses create avenues for terrorists, arsonists and hoodlums to exploit, can no longer be tolerated in the pervading insecure environment that the Boko Haram menace has created nation wide. In Lagos in particular the Ambode government must be commended for the way it is handling the issue of tankers going to so called oil farms in Apapa and creating the avoidable traffic gridlock that has paralysed many businesses in Lagos state. The fire accidents involving overturned and overloaded trailers became frequent in Lagos and people were suspicious that they could be deliberate .So it is good that the state governor has moved in and allayed fears on this as people started hearing strange rumours on

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The ongoing trial of high profile former governors by the EFCC resulting in the accused being remanded in prison cells gives credence that the Buhari government will live up to its billing to root out corruption in our midst or make life uncomfortable for those who loot our treasuries while holding public office

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Boko Haram in Lagos as most of the tanker drivers were from the North. Nevertheless the menace, violence and nuisance of Boko Haram should not prevent the Police from doing its duty on the allegations of forged rules in the election to office of the senate leadership at the last elections which brought in the man now shouting wolf on the prospect of Boko Haram attacking Abuja or invading the South. That is a premeditated diversion to prevent the Police from doing its duty as expected in a system where the rule of law is the norm such as our own. Indeed I have no doubt in my mind that the Police are up to the task. This is because the Nigeria Police has so many lawyers in its officer cadre and they are aware that in a system of separation of powers that we practice legislators especially senators are not above the law. The ongoing trial of high profile former governors by the EFCC resulting in the accused being remanded in prison cells gives credence that the Buhari government will live up to its billing to root out corruption in our midst or make life uncomfortable for those who loot our treasuries while holding public office. Of course we know that our legislators are not above the law and they know that too. But the last leadership elections in legislature showed clearly that something fishy is going on that is a strange bedfellow to democracy as we know it and on which basis we elected our representatives and senators. That is why the Police must be allowed to do it statutory duty to ascertain the truth about the allegation of false senate rules being applied in the leadership elections in the senate. The allegations are quite serious and weighty and if found to be true then the culprits must face the full weight of the law. For if those expected to make laws break or manipulate the rules of their election in our temple of democracy then there is no hope for justice in our polity and that is a situation that must scuttled and stopped by all means. We expect our Police to take up this challenge as it falls fully under its purview and we have no doubt that it will ensure that the truth will be extracted from the senate no matter whose ox is gored. That for now is the only way to save our democracy and ensure that security and the rule of law are not mutually exclusive and indeed go hand in hand.

Adieu, dear uncle Atanda Olatinwo UDDENLY, the telephone rang and I looked at the number, it was not a familiar number, not any of the ones listed on my contact list. I immediately dismissed the call and carried on with my reading. A few minutes later another call came in, but not the number that I had earlier ignored. I refused to pick the call as well since I did not want any interruption during my reading hours. The next call that came seemed to have familiar numbers and I hesitated a bit, but later summoned courage to pick the phone. ‘Hello daddy’, the caller said, and I replied quietly and asked the caller to identify himself. ‘Sorry sir, I am very sorry to disturb you, but I think you should know that Alh. T. A is seriously sick and he is at the intensive care at the Teaching Hospital at Ilorin’. Sick? How? When?, I asked all these questions at the same time. The caller, out of panic just dropped the telephone. I sat down a while and tried as much as possible to put my thoughts together. The Sheik had not been known to be sick at anytime. He was the one always looking after the sick, the unhealthy and the less-privilege members in the family. What could have happened? Was it an accident? Perhaps it could be, as he was always on the road for one thing or the other. If not for the children, it would be for the promotion of Islamic religion, in the name of Allah, the merciful and the benevolent; I said to myself, let me really settle down and find out what was happening to the special son of Allah, Alhaji T. A Olatinwo. The Sheik was never sick. He was never in the hospital, during the adolescent years when small pox was rampant in the community, he escaped, untouched and his black ebony skin remained shinning until his death. As big daddy Aliyu Onaolapo (our biological father) was getting old, Sheik T. A never allowed papa to visit the hospital, and because of papa’s importance, his influence and the role of the Sheik in the locality,

TRIBUTE doctors, nurses and medical attendants were openly visiting big daddy at home to attend to him. But the mantle of leadership fell on Sheik T. A. after Big Daddy, Aliyu Onaolapo gave up the ghost in April 1963. But now comes this disturbing news about the Sheik. The news of his illness spread to the neighboring towns and villages a good number of eminent personalities visited the hospital. Meanwhile, I had been billed for major operation at one of the hospitals in UK, as a result, I left for the UK in late May 2014, in order to meet the operation appointment. This time it was not the usual visit for special medical investigation appointment. The last examination had revealed unusual patter of development (Spondylosis of the cervical spine) and doctors had advised that the situation should be urgently addressed in order to prevent greater damage. This is not a strange message coming from a medical specialist to a man that is seventy-two years old. I

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For humans are merely one form among many which the world produces over and over again not only in everything that lives but also in everything that does not live drawn in sand, stone and water and death which I have always regarded as the greatest dimension of life, dark, compelling was now no more than a pipe, that springs a leak, a branch that cracks in the wind, a jacket that slips off a clothes hanger and falls to the floor

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left the country at the end of May 2014 so as to meet the appointment for the Pre-operational checks and tests as the operation was officially listed for 15th June 2015. On Saturday 14th June, precisely about 1430hours, I had the first call from Nigeria officially notifying me that Alhaji TA was dead. Several calls followed thereafter to confirm his death. His death was indeed a big blow, not only to both immediate and extended family, but also to the nation at large. He was responsible for the establishment of the Islamic University in the ancient city, Offa (Kwara State). The family components and the community shook to their very foundations as the Sheik finally bowed out. The death of the Sheik, a community leader, the Emperor and the head of the family was to be accepted as real and nothing else but “REAL”. This undoubtedly reminded me of what Death stands for. Death will surely come to all human beings, what we do not know is when, where and how. For humans are merely one form among many which the world produces over and over again not only in everything that lives but also in everything that does not live drawn in sand, stone and water and death which I have always regarded as the greatest dimension of life, dark, compelling was now no more than a pipe, that springs a leak, a branch that cracks in the wind, a jacket that slips off a clothes hanger and falls to the floor. We all must accept death for merely and ordinarily what it is, “To part and never to meet no more until the Day of Judgment”. Adieu. Sheik (Emperor) Tiamiyu Adebisi until we meet on the Day of Judgment. May he be accepted to the greater Aljannah (Paradise). •Salaudeen A. Latinwo Chief, Sir A brother and a friend to late Alh. Tiamiyu Adebisi Olatinwo

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

COMMENTARY

Time for APC to call Saraki’s bluff S a passionate lover of reggae music, the late Jamaican reggae sensation, Peter Tosh, will forever remain one of my favourite artistes. My admiration of his music is more for the lyrics than the rhythm. His songs are replete with deep and timeless messages any rational mind would find difficult to ignore. One of them is the one contained in the album he titled Equal Rights wherein he wonders why everyone is crying out for peace and none is crying out for justice. The underlying message in the song is that peace will remain perpetually elusive in any society or organisation that has no respect for justice. This all important message appears lost on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) where the wrong done by a few desperate members in pursuit of their selfish and inordinate ambition on June 9 has set the party on the edge of precipice. It will be recalled that at the inauguration of the Senate and the House of Representatives on June 9, Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara defied APC’s choice of Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as the party’s candidates for the seats of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively and snatched the two positions after striking an unholy alliance with members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the two chambers. Saraki would later compound treachery with contumacy, shunning another list of some members of the Lawan group the party sent to him for appointment into certain positions in the upper chamber. Rather, the Senate President, whose election was done while virtually the entire members of his party were waiting to attend a scheduled meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari elsewhere, decided to appoint his own men into those positions after previously masterminding the election of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, a member of the PDP, as his deputy! The Lawan group, as would be expected, insists that the appointments be reversed to accommodate its members while Saraki’s supporters say the party should take the slap on its face with equanimity, pretend that Saraki and his supporters had done no wrong and carry on as if nothing had happened. Since the coup against the APC was hatched on June 9, I have been trying hard to understand what the fears of the party’s leaders are about reining in the recalcitrant lawmakers. Some commentators have said that the matter is as delicate as a mosquito that perches on the scrotum. If not carefully handled, they say, the scrotum could get damaged while the mosquito escapes unhurt. This school believes that a careless handling of the matter could see Saraki and his allies within the party doing what they know best: defect from the APC to the PDP the same way they did from the PDP to the APC in the build up to the last presidential elec-

Saturday Flakes With

Vincent Akanmode vincentakanmode@yahoo.com SMS only: 08054700136 tion. Yet some others say Saraki and his followers must not only be indulged but pampered in spite of their open defiance of party directives because they are capable of frustrating the policies of the Buhari administration. I dare say that while the fears are not completely unfounded, they are incapable, within the current political setting, of dealing on the APC the fate that befell the PDP in the last general election. To start with, there is no way to rationalise the bad precedent their action constitutes and the bad influence they will be on disciplined members of the party if their actions are allowed to go without consequences. The fear that they could leave the party if sanctions are imposed on them is without merit because their

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The Yoruba say the eye that would last all day does not begin to emit tears in the early morning. I personally believe that it is good for the party that elements that are capable of destroying it are showing up in the early days of the Buhari administration. The earlier the party separates the wheat from the chaff, the better. The APC will be better off expelling its treacherous members than allow them to remain within to destroy it when the elections are near

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action is in itself a veritable threat to the party’s survival. The Yoruba say the eye that would last all day does not begin to emit tears in the early morning. I personally believe that it is good for the party that elements that are capable of destroying it are showing up in the early days of the Buhari administration. The earlier the party separates the wheat from the chaff, the better. The APC will be better off expelling its treacherous members than allow them to remain within to destroy it when the elections are near. If indeed the party’s fear is about defections, there is no guarantee that these elements would remain in the party after destroying it. The APC has to choose between enforcing discipline ridding the party of bad influence or indulging treachery and risk getting the party destroyed by the enemies within. A man already identified as an enemy, says Peter Tosh, is less dangerous than an enemy acting like a friend. I dare say that the electoral value of all the members of the Saraki group put together is not one that can threaten the chances of the APC in the event of another presidential election. The truth is that most of them need Buhari more than Buhari needs them for electoral victory. Even in Kwara State where Saraki is regarded as the all in all, the APC only managed to beat the PDP during the last presidential election. In Kogi, Saraki’s hatchet man, Senator Dino Melaye, had to ride on Buhari's popularity in the Lokoja/Kotonkarfe axis of Kogi West to win his senatorial seat. If the trend that prevailed at his base in Okunland had continued in Lokoja and Kotonkarfe, he would have lost the election to the PDP candidate, Senator Smart Adeyemi. Not many would have forgotten the reports from parts of the North in the build-up to the last general elections, where aspirants on the platform of the PDP had to display Buhari’s picture on their campaign posters just to win voters’ sympathy. If anyone has something to lose in the event that sanctions are imposed on recalcitrant members of the APC in the Senate, it is the senators who decided to bite the finger that fed them by working against Buhari’s preferred candidate for the Senate after riding to office on the President’s back. And with the strides Buhari has recorded after about one month in office, there is the likelihood that the stock of his popularity and that of the party would soar greatly before the 2019 elections. If he continues at this space, I have no doubt that he will win the hearts of the electorate even in PDP-dominated zones. And if the fear is that a Saraki-led Senate would frustrate the Buhari administration, that also would become an issue between the clique and the highly expectant Nigerians who trooped out to vote for change on March 28.

Before Buhari’s bailout bolts out ONG before now, Nigerians have come to accept the fact that ours is a feeding-bottle democracy where states that should ordinarily be self-sustaining in the true spirit of federalism, routinely run bowl-in-hand to the Federal government for sustenance. Aside a few exceptions, most of the states live at the mercy of the crumbs that fall off the table at the monthly sharing of funds drawn from the Federation Account. A significant many solely depend on such for both recurrent and capital expenditures, including what they use in servicing the state Government Houses’ oftentimes queer and weird peccadilloes. The steady crash in the prices of oil and a shrinking common purse must have piled additional pressure on the Big Brother at the centre with a responsibility to cater for 36 eternal suckling babies and a Federal Capital Territory that throng to the sharing table with little or nothing to offer. With this kind of scenario, it is not surprising that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, which is still struggling to have a strong footing in governance, has decided to rescue states on the verge of a bankruptcy in the form of a N713.7bn intervention fund. Although this stop-gap measure is commendable, question still hovers on the sustainability of this sort of feeding bottle economics with modern realities staring us in the face. Without a concerted effort to block all the leakages in a system in which all manner of financial malfeasance takes place, we may soon get to a point where the government at the centre might need a bailout itself. Advocates of a truly fiscal federalism have always faulted the arrangement of an all-powerful centre in which oil proceeds from a particular region of the country have become a national cake that must be shared by those who have practically gone to bed and have refused to generate appreciable income within their states. Ordinarily, the clamour for the creation of more states would have abated if states were left to fend for themselves while contributing an agreed percentage of generated incomes to the centre. As this argument continues, it is imperative to understand why most of the states, about 10 at the last count, could neither pay workers’ salaries, service debts nor provide needed infrastructures. This is not forgetting the fact that some Ministries, Departments and Agencies have also piled up debts in salaries even at the centre. At the heart of the seeming insolvency is the twin-edged sword of profligacy and corruption at the federal, states and local government levels. It is sheer wishful thinking for anyone to believe that Buhari’s admonition to state governors to be prudent in the management of resources and think outside the box in boosting internally generated revenue would reap the required result. It is more than that. Buhari’s words of caution, timely as it was, may yet be another story for the gods if certain steps are not taken to pull these state chief executives by the ears to tread the path of sanity and fiscal responsibility. First, governors would need to stop seeing the treasury as part of their private holdings from which funds are disbursed to anyone that pleases their fancies. Sometimes you marvel at the number of hangers-on at the corridors of power who practically do nothing other than sing the praises of their principals and draw huge allocations as salaries and emoluments from the public till at their excellences’ pleasure.

Knucklehead With

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913 There was that story of a particular governor from the North who, at his whimsical best, had more than 2000 aides at his disposal! This is aside other key appointments. With an IGR that can barely fund a ministry, one can only imagine how the state would have survived without the monthly crumbs from the Federation Account. Today, as I write this, a court has ordered a former powerful governor to forfeit property worth billions of naira to the government being illegal proceeds from his 'stewardship' in his state. It was obvious that funds that would have been judiciously spent to improve the fortunes of the state were siphoned and pumped into the governor’s private ventures. Another ex-governor with his two sons would be cooling their expensive heels in detention for two months pending the hearing of their plea for bail. Stories are rife about several other past and serving governors who are in the habit of freighting a large chunk of their monthly allocations abroad. Countless many others are presently struggling to enact law for the good governance of this country and tending to the truckloads of corruption cases against them at the courts. The irony is that these same persons, by virtue of their present status, would determine how far Buhari would go in his open declaration of war against graft. It is not impossible that they could frustrate any attempt to enact a law that may compel them to account

’

Without a concerted effort to block all the leakages in a system in which all manner of financial malfeasance takes place, we may soon get to a point where the government at the centre might need a bailout itself

for their misdeeds. Now, let me ask: Should it not be to our collective shame that these characters are gradually populating the hallowed chamber? Like well-meaning Nigerians have pointed out, it is not enough for the government to bend over backwards in approving a bailout for states. Of major concern is how well these funds are utilised. In any case, the only alternative is for the various governments to make hard choices. For example, how sustainable is it for states to continue paying workers that add little or no value to governance. While it is the responsibility of the government to cater for its workforce, it is also imperative to take another look at the number of such workforce and align it with the present realities. It is no longer a secret that quite an appreciable number of these workers merely warm the office furniture to earn a monthly pay. Many of the states are still battling with the menace of ghost workers while millions of naira get paid as salaries and allowances to an entrenched cabal that ought to be flushed out. But because this cycle of corruption permeates all strata of governance, it is difficult for anyone to gauge the level of commitment of both the federal and state governments in eradicating this menace beyond the peripheral gestures of verification exercises. However, it is noteworthy that the right noises are being made at the appropriate quarters on the need to monitor how governors manage the bailout. If care is not taken, some reasonable part of the N713 billion intervention funds might find its way to foreign accounts as it was in the past. Some may even divert part of it to fund white elephant projects that would bound be abandoned in no distant future. And so, it is not for nothing that some labour leaders have called on the governors to prioritise their programmes, pay workers’ salaries as and when due and stop the habit of going cap-in-hand to seek financial bailout from the centre. If this persists, then such states can only progress in a backward slide of development into bankruptcy. Interestingly, one of the governors was quoted to have expressed optimism that his colleagues would strictly abide by the President’s counsel of prudent management of resources. He said they would take cost-cutting measures including “appreciable reduction of security votes, stoppage of chartered flights and pegging the high cost of maintaining Government House to a low benchmark.” Encouraging as his statement sounds, no one should be under any delusion that this is tantamount to the 36 states governors’ vow to walk their talk. If experience were to serve as any guide to the future, this could just be a quotable quote at the most auspicious time. It is not a guarantee that, as I write this, some state chief executives are not in talks with their bureaux-de-change friends on how to freight the converted cash to their foreign accounts. In other words, they may well be oiling the machinery for bolting out with the hard currencies with the usual exquisite tours on the trail of investors! It is an official excuse for capital flight. The only way to prevent this is for all eyes to be on the trail of the release and disbursement of the funds. But then, who can be trusted to dispassionately discharge such responsibilities in a system that has been corroded with entrenched corruption?

THE NATION, SATURDAY JULY 11, 2015

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

Schooling in the jaws of death

Travails of children going to school on rivers used by smugglers, oil thieves • It is an easy way of conscripting innocent students - Security expert

• Students watching smugglers off-loading bags of rice at Isashi

HILDREN are highly vulnerable and, by all estimaInnocent DURU tions, need protection against situations that portend ers. Six students were recklessly killed and eight others sedanger to their lives. This is particularly sacrosanct riously injured by one of such hoodlums last week at Irewe, for children living in riverine communities that are daily exOjo, a suburb of Ojo Local Government Area posed to dangers by the growing activities of hoodlums on of Lagos State. the waterways. Lamenting the risk involved in plying the The Nation’s investigations revealed that the children, who waterways that serve as entry and exit by the design of nature have to go to school on the various points for oil thieves, Joe, a student rivers, have been going through psychological and emoIt in the community, said: “It is a tional trauma, helplessly watching the menacing activicommon phenomenon to see is always horties of smugglers, oil thieves and other criminals on illegal oil bunkerers on the the rivers. rible running into water. They are always Visits to one of such rivers at Ishashi\Itekun , a very reckless when rethem. You dare not use community between Lagos and Ogun States, returning from where vealed the magnitude of the dangers that the your phone when they are they have gone to do children encounter going and coming to school their illegal business. coming because they would on the river used by smugglers to perpetrate This is quite dangertheir heinous acts. think you wanted to take their ous for the innocent The movement of the smugglers infuses especially we picture. I am not sure they have people, fears and cripples the innocent students and the younger ones. other travellers on the river. physically assaulted any stu- This is what we witBiola, a student in the community, said: “I ness from time to dent before but I it doesn’t was perplexed the first time I saw them. In time but the general fact, I could not concentrate on my studies all have to get to that level before public would not have through that day because of the anxiety that something is done about it. been aware of our gripped me. I couldn’t go to school thereafter for predicament if the incisome time because it took a very long time before Their presence and activi- dent that claimed the I overcame the tension.” lives of those children ties are not good for “It is always horrible running into them. You dare had not happened.” not use your phone when they are coming because our development Another student who gave they would think you wanted to take their picture. I his name as Adu said he had as children am not sure they have physically assaulted any student always had fears about the activibefore but I it doesn’t have to get to that level before someties of the hoodlums on the river, thing is done about it. Their presence and activities are not adding that his phobia has been heightened good for our development as children,” another student by the ugly incident that claimed the lives of said. six students in the area last week. The waterways that separate the mainland and the island “The frightening movement of the hoodlums on the river in Lagos are other notorious areas where students’ lives are frequently endangered by the activities of illegal oil bunker- instills fears. They always look wild and daring. We are al-

ways praying that God should not bring them our way. Their speed on the water is always a problem to other people because they always cause the wave to affect the smooth sail of other boats and canoes. Psychologically, this has a telling effect on us as we are always crippled by fears anytime we are on the river. Nobody who has witnessed their movement on the water would wish to experience it again. “Apart from the dangers they constitute on the river, they are bad influences on us. Some of us could be tempted to buy into their activities and begin to see illegal oil bunkering as a right way of making money.” Sunny, a member of the community, told The Nation that illegal oil bunkering thrives in the area because they have no filling stations from where they could buy petrol for their daily use, adding: “ We don’t have a single petrol station in the whole of this island and people, with the present state of power supply in the country, would always have need for petrol to charge their phones and at least watch television. This simply accounts for why some people latch into the yearning opportunity to engage in illegal oil bunkering. Unfortunately for us, they sell it at exorbitant prices to us. “If there were petrol stations here that could sell the product at the fixed price, oil thieves would have nobody to sell their products to and that would make them to look for something else to do. Their activities are not beneficial to us. Instead, they constitute grave dangers to our lives and those of our children. It is only some very few people that aid and abet their activities that benefit from them.”

Insufficient schools

Findings revealed that most of the children in these communities wouldn’t have been exposed to such dangers if they had enough schools in the area. Because of the dearth of schools, they are left with no alternative than to travel long distances to go to school to meet their educational needs. Itekun, for example, has just a dilapidated primary

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

• Pupils going to board a boat without life jackets

•Students from Itekun alighting from canoe at Ishashi

school said to have been built since 1940. Consequently, the teeming population of students troop out every morning to distant communities and different parts of Lagos State on water to go to school. Irewe, a, community which has 37 villages stretching from Badagry area of the state to Apapa and Lagos Island under it, has just a secondary school available for all the students to attend. This, it was gathered, exposes the children to the risk of travelling on the water everyday to go to school. A visit to the community showed that the students often spend a good part of their time travelling on the river to get to their schools. For instance, travelling in a canoe from Waterside, a loading point for the boats and canoes along Iyana Iba, in Ojo Local Government, takes about an hour to get to Irewe, while it takes between 20 to 30 minutes using flying boats. Some of the students residing along the lagoon trek a distance of about 30 minutes from their various villages to get to the bank of the river from where they usually board canoes or boats to their schools. One of the student who identified himself as Kayode, said: “I come all the way from Whispering Palm to come to school here because there is no secondary school in my area. It is not in any way easy for most of us because a lot of challenges come with travelling on water, especially during the rainy season. It is worse on our waterways because hoodlums equally use it. If there were enough secondary schools across the communities, most of us would not be taking the risk of travelling far distances to go to school everyday.” Another student, who simply gave his name as Abayomi,

a downpour. It is so bad that most of the children don’t even go to school and many parents also do not It go to work during is a common the rainy season to avoid the phenomenon to see ildanger of legal oil bunkerers on the boat capwater. They are always very size. No matter reckless when returning from how where they have gone to do their much illegal business. This is quite danyou know gerous for the innocent people, eshow to pecially we the younger ones. This swim, one is what we witness from time to would time but the general public still be would not have been aware of scared. A Yoruba our predicament if the inciadage says dent that claimed the lives that a good of those children had swimmer ends up dying in not happened water. We do have canoes capsizing and it has claimed my lives in the past. It has stopped a little bit since we have engine boats plying the river now.” He continued: “The secondary school they gave us in 1980 is about 10 kilometers away from here. The school naturally closed down because many of our people could not go there. The community is trying to do something about it but the fact is that it is too far for our children. The nearest secondary school that our children can attend is at Igbesa, which is about six kilometers away from here. Commercial motorcycle operators charge between N300 and N400 to take a passenger there because of the bad state of the road. If we have good primary and secondary schools, our children would not be risking their lives travelling on the water every day. “Recently, some officials of the Ogun State government came to remove the leaking roofs and replaced them with new ones but that was the last time we saw them. The school lacks furniture and other basic amenities. The students were sitting on the floor until I gave out the benches in my house to them. Not many parents, especially those who have the wherewithal, would want their wards in such a school. We want the government of Lagos and Ogun States to close ranks and build a bridge over the river so that the lives of our people can be saved from the dangers they pass through every day.”

also expressed concern about the plight of the students, saying: “We only have a secondary school when people on land have a variety of schools to choose from. This does not enhance our learning because the teachers can afford to be complacent knowing full well that we have no alternative. If we had more schools, one can move to another school if one is not getting what he wants here.” Odunayo, a pupil in Itekun, explained that she prefers taking the risk of crossing the river to schooling in the community. She described the community’s school as a goat house, adding: “The school I attend in Lagos is very beautiful. It can never be compared with this one. I don’t think that one can acquire the right knowledge attending the school.” Also speaking, Chief Simon Olabisi Aina, the Agbaakin of Itekunland, regretted that the community has not had more than a primary school 300 years after its existence. Lamenting the absence of standard schools in the community, Chief Aina said: “We really feel very bad that the community does not have more than a primary school built in 1940 by the Anglican Communion. Most of the people here don’t want their children to attend the school because it is a rural school. Many people from Lagos that came here to build houses would never allow their children to go to school here. A good number of the people in the community prefer to send their children to Lagos than allow them to school here. “Travelling on the river is a big risk, especially when it is raining. When rain falls, people would not be able to go out or come in. Imagine what the situation would look like if these innocent children are caught midway on the river by

Absence of life jackets for students

Aside from the dangers of moving on the same water with hoodlums, checks revealed that the lives of the students are further endangered by the inability of the transporters to provide life jackets for them. The elderly residents and visitors are always provided with life jackets.

• Continued on page 60

THE NATION SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

22 â&#x20AC;˘Back in full business... file picture of a monkey meat seller

Ebola: Experts raise concern as Nigeria lowers guard Continued from Page 19

â&#x20AC;˘People playing with bat

It is unfortunate that responses from the citizens and corporate organisations have dropped because we all are emergency-led beings... Our people have dropped hand washing because they associated it with Ebola... Many corporate organisations had sanitisers at their entrances when we had Ebola in

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

We take our

BUSINESS into the

BEDROOM;

it works better –Falana’s wife Funmi Stories on pages 30,31,34&35

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

30 na (SAN), la a F i m e F r M al practitioner, g le p to t fits into that d s n a ju t e is h v S ti c . a a n le la b Nota e in Funmi Fa re is a woman.’ Simple in if w e u tr a s a indeed h gamous ssful man, the e ly c o c p u s a y h n g a u d ro in th maxim, ‘beh fought her way lecturer after studye h s , in h it w h she became a looks but toug re e h w KPABIO, r, U e L w U to A P ry h o it iv w e w e home to th In this intervie . w a L uld inspire th n e o c th e c d n n a a s m ic ro s y d n ing Ph mily, in the ow true love a fa h a f ls o a e d v o re ri e a p n Mrs Fala ugh the trying ro th e g ractice of law. ia p rr e a th m h a g f u o s ro s e th succ emancipation ’s le p o e p r fo struggle Looking back, can you recall a reflection of your early days in your present life? was brought up in a polygamous setting where it was believed that everyone had to aspire to the top. We grew up knowing that we had to compete between ourselves to be the best in the family. That indeed helped me later in life to aspire and be the best in whatever I do. It has been part of my life since then.

married to a lawyer. Fortunately for me too, I am from a home where there also existed legal practitioners. Though I did not really think before then that I would one day go into the legal profession since I was in the sciences. But at a point in life, I suddenly realised that I needed the instrument of the law for the defence of the masses and also to press for my rights when I discovered the way the society was treating the masses and also the way that my husband was being picked up here and there. So I decided that I must also join in the struggle for the emancipation of the Nigerian people. I felt I needed such an instrument of law to fight for the right of the Nigerian people as well as for my own right as well as that of my family. You mean you were already a fullgrown adult when you went back to school to study law? Oh yes, I was. I was married with children (laughs). How did you cope? Usually, when you are a science student, you can always cope in every field because you are already used to long reading time. I love reading. What would have been a problem and which was actually a problem was that while I was in school, I also had to contend with looking for, and searching for where my husband was, as the military government was always picking him up. It was a problem that was added to my being in school, taking care of the children, taking care of the home and then taking care of the office. But I thank God who saw me through. How do you describe that period? (Sighs) It was a difficult period. I managed to handle the situation at that time because, I also knew that it was a struggle for the emancipation of the Nigerian people. It was a struggle that was worth fighting for. Despite the fact that it was not easy, I sailed through. How about class work, attendance and your academics? Luckily and interestingly, I was one of those who came out of the school with good result. At the Law School, I had Second Class Upper Division in a particular year that there was no First Class. Only about five of us had that second class upper in that set. You would actually expect that I couldn’t have had enough time for studies. Even at that time, my friends abandoned me because I didn't have time for them and they were always complaining that I was not the only one with excuses that my husband had been picked up. So I had little time to concentrate on my academics. But

•Mrs Falana

‘Rape has nothing to do with ladies’ indecent dressing’ God was on my side. So you joined your husband in private practice, how has it been so far? It has been wonderful. Like I keep telling people that when a business is 'our business', it is fun because, there is a higher level of commitment. When I was not working in the chambers, there was no one to see to the active management of the chambers. But since I came in, there has been a big difference. Like I also tell people, your husband is the best business partner that you can ever have. That is because, both of you can carry the management of the office into your private lives, into the home, into the bedroom, into the dining place, into everywhere. You keep discussing, always having time to rub minds on issues about the office. So it is better when it is ‘our business’ than when it is

’

Your father had two wives? (Laughs) It was a polygamous family with many children. And my early life was in several places not just in one place. But I am from Ondo State, Akure precisely. I attended St Louis Girls Grammar School, I studied Physics at the university; thereafter I read Law and went on to the Masters level and taught briefly at the University of Lagos before I came finally to active private law practice. Why did you decide to go into private practice? At that time, my husband had been in private practice. He was becoming more involved in the defence of human rights and was always in and out of prisons and the chambers was neglected and suffering. So I also discovered that it would be a better idea to leave the civil service and the university, to take up the management of the chambers because he was always in and out of the prison and the military regime was around then and he was being picked up incessantly. I needed to usually be at the chambers to take care of the place and ensure that the place was still running as a business office. I had to also combine that with taking care of the children. What motivated you into studying law, since you were already in the science line? I actually studied sciences and also worked in UNESCO for some time before I got

It has been wonderful. Like I keep telling people that when a business is 'our business', it is fun... Like I also tell people, your husband is the best business partner that you can ever have. That is because, both of you can carry the management of the office into your private lives, into the home, into the bedroom, into the dining place, into everywhere. You keep discussing, always having time to rub minds on issues about the office. So it is better when it is ‘our business’ than when it is ‘their business’

’

‘their business’. Do you just handle the administration of the chambers alone or you go to court as well? Oh, I am a lawyer, so I do go to the court as well. It is Falana and Falana Chambers, the chamber is ours. However, before I became a lawyer, it was Femi Falana Chambers, but about 20 years ago when I became a lawyer, we changed it to Falana and Falana Chambers. To God be the Glory, today, we have vibrant offices in Abuja, Ekiti and the one here in Lagos. Still, how do you cope? We have lawyers working with us and I move around the offices to ensure things are working well. I do cope especially with this era of internet and good communicaContinued on page 34

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

My aunt sent me out of her house for becoming a ‘born again’ Christian

’

–Prophet Samson Ayorinde’s wife Mercy

Prophetess Mercy Ayorinde is the wife of Prophet Samson Ayorinde , the General Overseer of the World Evangelism Bible Church (WEBIC). In this interview with YETUNDE OLADEINDE, she talks about her husband, how they met, passion for script writing, evangelism and working with women. What does the recognition you got from the Wise Women Awards mean to you? HEY said I was a wise woman, but I was wondering if I was really wise. God is the only wise one. Initially when the woman sent me an email that somebody nominated me in London, I didn’t want to go for it. I didn’t want a situation where I would be given an award on earth and it would look as if I have missed my award in heaven. When I told my husband, he said that he saw them as people trying to appreciate women of God. I thank God for Pastor Majorie, a visionary woman. Normally, women don’t appreciate one another; we usually feel that what is she doing that I cannot do. As women, we need to compliment one another. So, I really hold that woman in high esteem. What are some of the other recognitions and awards that you appreciate? I just got one in Abuja and it has to do with being a supportive woman to her husband in the ministry. They said that they have seen that in every area of the ministry I •Prophetess Ayorinde support Daddy. I said that I have no choice. I am a destiny helper; the Lord has ordained me to be a helpevangelism, mass crusades locally and meet and I have no choice. I also have a international crusades. leadership award from Haggai Institute How did you meet your husband? in Hawaii, United States America. It is a He went to the Ahmadu Bello UniverLeadership and Evangelism Award. As sity, Zaria I also went to the Ahmadu you know, me and my husband are into Bello University. But we did not meet on

campus. Somehow, I got born again before my aunt who took me to the North. My father, an Imam, made her swear an oath that I would not become a Christian. She agreed, but in the process I got born again on campus and thought that my aunt would support me. She sent me away from the house. That was a very sad moment for me. I didn’t know anybody. I didn’t know where to go. When I discussed with one of my hostel mates, a Deeper Life member, she took me to her parents and they took me in. My aunt later came to take me back and she was the one attending my husband’s church. I later met him through her one day. How has the ministry been? We thank God. The ministry is moving on fine and majorly we go on evangelism. We didn’t use to pay much attention to the church. You know, we are not growing younger. We want to put our structure right. We are trying to take it easy and think of the strategy to use. If we build the church very well and whatever investment you have, whatever comes out of it, can be used for crusade. However, if you also build some people and give them attention, they would also come in whatever way they want to support the vision of crusade. Some members feel that anytime you are not doing crusade, the anointing is not there. I am more excited about crusades; we would do crusades but we are not doing it as much because of funds. For some people, when we don’t have crusades ,they would say that the man of God has backslidden, but the giver of the gift has not taken it away. The only thing is that we need to restrategise. We need to plan very well, especially the issue of security in Nigeria. We just came back from a crusade in Makurdi, a three-day programme organized by a church. In the past, we used to run our church with the CAN, but now if some individuals want to organize crusades, we go for them. Recently, we did a crusade in Mushin, Lagos, and the man who is currently beating the drum in our church was a mad man. He was healed at the Mushin crusade ground and immediately he came back from the crusade, we sent him to a rehabilitation centre in Ikoyi. After six months, he is okay and now a staff in the church. What are some of the achievements?

I got born again before my aunt who took me to the North. My father, an Imam, made her swear an oath that I would not become a Christian. She agreed, but in the process I got born again on campus and thought that my aunt would support me. She sent me away from the house. That was a very sad moment for me. I didn’t know anybody. I didn’t know where to go

’

Looking back now, I have been able to see that God put so much in me, especially through the type of husband God gave me as a gift. This is because nothing comes like magic; nobody can have anything except God has given you. So, I want to appreciate God for that. Anywhere I go, I always want to appreciate God for redeeming my soul and changing me. I am the type that usually would say let me stay at the back. I don’t want noise. But it is God that puts one in a particular position. My work with God has exposed me to know people, it has made me to be able to preach to people and be more responsible as a mother, as a wife and as a citizen. You just see that where God has put you, you just have to make an impact. I run a ministry for ladies in the church which I call Achieving Ladies. I do it as a congress where we have other women coming from places like Italy, Spain, United Kingdom and South Africa. We do it once in two years. The programme we do every year Continued on page 34

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

‘While others go to parties to I party with Christ in church’ tion network. When the need arises, we can send messages online, pass instructions, correct whatever is needed to be corrected online, ensure files and court process information that need to be attended to, are well attended to. Since you are always on the move, how do you cope with the children? My children are adults now; they are grown up and married. I don’t have that particular problem again. Our last born has even finished studying for her Master’s degree. Is any of your children in the legal profession too? Yes, two of our children are lawyers. But right now, they are not working in the chambers. It is usually better to go and learn and build up elsewhere before coming into the chambers. That is because if they come straight here into their parent's chambers, they will be seeing themselves as owners, but when they go out and get the rudiments of training, pick up their skill and discipline, then they can come and join. But you joined the law firm from the top Yes, but at that time, I was already an adult. I knew what I wanted, I was a mother, the owner and I knew what I wanted to do. But they were just starting out in life after school. They need to go grasp the rudiments of practice and then come and join us. Thank God, your husband is not going to prisons these days Oh, he has paid his dues, though he is still very involved in the struggle of emancipation of the Nigerian citizen. I know you understand that, though there are democratic structures in the country now, we still need to do a lot about

human rights. And in terms of managing the democracy that we now have in our hands, he is still running around, putting the politicians and the government on their toes. Most times, he is usually in Abuja, where we also have an office. We share the management activities. Sometimes if I have to go for cases in Abuja, he stays in Lagos. And same goes to the chamber we run in Ekiti State. Do you do more of litigation? Yes, we do more of litigation. I go to court. We actually do more of litigation, though we also do corporate practice. But we are more known for litigation. Are you personally into activism? I have an NGO that defends the rights of women and children. I have a television programme too on the same issues to sensitise the public on the rights of children and women. The NGO is called ‘Women Empowerment and Legal Aid.’ We also have a rehabilitation centre where we take people to. On a daily basis, we attend to about eight or nine women coming to give reports of one domestic violence or another. We are also in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs; we have been able to do some work for them to simplify the laws of domestic violence. We put the laws in a simple way for the ordinary citizen to understand. They also send people here for legal advice. Lagos State has a home for rehabilitating victims of domestic violence and because we partner with them, when we have victims, we send them to the home. They keep them for about three months, enough time to rehabilitate them before they return home. Do you think domestic violence is on the decrease? It is unfortunate because it is on the in-

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Continued from page 31

Lawyers do socials. It depends on the individuals. For me, I may not do a lot of socials but I do take time to rest when I am on vacation. My socials are usually in the church. But there are lawyers who go to parties too, but I am not much of a party person. I party with Christ in the church. I do a lot of dancing, singing and praying in church. You need to see me dance in church

crease. When you talk of domestic violence, it is not a respecter of class. Recently, we had the story of a former governor that ended up beating his wife while abroad and he was arrested. Also, the story of an ambassador that beat up his wife some time ago, and he had to be recalled back home: Then again, a traditional ruler who did the same thing in Western Nigeria. So it is not limited to a particular class or race. It happens in civilised countries and they wage war against it. It is something that will continue for many years. So we are in here to fight against violence in the society, not just violence but rape too which has continued to increase in the society. There are children who are being molested, raped. These are issues that are connected with the developing society. It is a phase. We need to wage war against these ills in the society.

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It is increasing. Before now, people were not reporting rape because of stigmatisation but with a lot of publicity, it is now different. That I believe will continue to curb this terrible ill in the society. It will also deter those who may want to do such. We have also been teaching women to teach their girls how to comport themselves in the presence of the opposite sex and to note a dangerous man. It is usually read in the behaviour and disposition of the man. How about the immodesty of the ladies on the issue of rape? I disagree when people say ladies dress immodestly. Men too dress immodestly, are they raped? I see men sag their trousers, men who open their chest, leave their buttons open, why don't they get raped? I think it has to do with chauvinism and discrimination against women and they think that women are instruments and articles to be molested. It has

‘The most memorable Continued from page 31 is the one that we have in Nigeria. We are preparing for the next congress and it is scheduled for the third week in July. What inspired the Ministry for Ladies? One day, somebody came to my husband and she said she was pregnant and apart from prayers, she wanted to know if it is normal if a woman has discharge during pregnancy. He was like, how can I know, this is women’s affairs. So whenever he has some private questions like this, he would refer them to me. He now created an office for me and I started attending to these ladies. At a point, I decided to call them together and have prayers with them. Then we started the women’s empowerment programme, teach them how to make their homes better and how they can impact their world. What I kept on ringing in their ears was that they could be achievers in life and that was where the name came from. Asides from that, I have a ministry for a unique woman which is the youngest baby and it is for married women. I found out that a lot of women are hurting. Some people feel that the moment their husbands hurt them, they cannot continue or if their wives hurt them, they cannot continue. So, the lord lay it in my heart that even though both of them have offended each other, you can still

make the home work. When two elephants fight, the grass, which are the children here, suffers. A lot of the young people that I counsel, you find out that they are from broken homes. So, we want to encourage homes to be settled and avoid having children that are emotionally unstable and disorganized. I also have a programme for the barren for which my husband nicknamed me ‘barrenness bulldozer’. We came together, started the church and I went back to work for some obvious reasons that included the economy. I worked at the Ahmadu Bello University in a research institute called NAPRI, and when my husband insisted that I should join him in Lagos, being a nursing mother, I wasn’t doing anything. A particular woman in the church, she didn’t have a baby and she was always sad. I invited her and was praying with her. Later we were four and that ministry graduated to filling the Gymnasium Stadium in Surulere with women looking for the fruit of the womb. I have not stopped doing that programme. I do it every February and July. It is called Thou Shall Not Be Barren. It was the commitment in the ministry that made me do 40 days fasting without food and water. I was just looking for how I could be more anointed to minister to this group of people and God has been faithful. There have been miracle babies;

there have been miracle pregnancies and children born to homes that are smiling today. A woman came here on Sunday with triplets, saying mummy these are your babies. I can’t remember seeing her, but her happiness made me feel good.These are the things that make me happy.We also have a programme for widows.I also have something for our youths called Royal Vessels. A lot of people, especially pastors, are so busy and do not have time for their children.We feel our children •Prophetess Ayorinde are growing up under our roofs and they should

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

unwind, nothing to do with the way of dressing. However, albeit, we also encourage women to dress decently and comport themselves as responsible ladies in the society. How about socials, do lawyers do socials? Lawyers do socials. It depends on the individuals. For me, I may not do a lot of socials but I do take time to rest when I am on vacation. My socials are usually in the church. But there are lawyers who go to parties too, but I am not much of a party person. I party with Christ in the church. I do a lot of dancing, singing and praying in church. You need to see me dance in church. When are you happiest? I am happy when I am in church, when I am communicating with my God. Let's talk about your style and your fashion I am not a fashion person like that because I am a lawyer, I am most often in black and white. But when I am not in court, I prefer to wear bright colours. Since our uniform is black and white, I usually want to get away from the normal black and white thing, so I wear yellow and such bright colours. It’s obvious you like fashion accessories since you are presently adorned with them. So what fashion accessories do you not do without? (Thought for a brief moment) There is nothing that I cannot do without. I put on accessories when I think that I should. But sometimes, I do not even remember to put them on and at such times, I still move on with my life. How do you describe yourself? The eye sees not itself but by reflection. I am not the person to see myself, it’s people to tell me what they think of me. So I see myself from what people tell me that I am. If I say this is what I am, it could be a subjective judgment of me. What does success mean to you? Success to me means having a relationship with God and affecting positively the lives of people around you. So I think that one should think he or she has succeeded

•Mrs Falana if the person has been able to touch lives. It is also when many people can raise up their hands and say that they have benefited from the legacy and life that you impacted to them. And that is what I aspire to do every day. I am actually at my happiest when I have been able to touch somebody’s life, when I put a smile, joy and laughter in the life of such person. It gladdens my heart when I do that because at that point I feel fulfilled. I feel God has given me the opportunity to do such and I feel really happy about doing it. It couldn’t have been easy to cross

from one profession to another and still excel in the new profession or what do you think? It is the Lord’s doing; again, the study of Law after Physics is not so difficult because Lord Denning, a great legal luminary, was also a science student before he moved into law. Your most memorable holiday? I do take holidays regularly. One is always different from the other. I spend them as God wants me to spend them. We have had quite a number of holidays, usually memorable. Coming from a multiple marriage background, do you think polygamy should still be tenable in a modern society? (Suddenly alarmed) It is a terrible thing! Would you as a man want to go for it? It is a situation that one should not wish one’s enemy. No matter how successful a polygamous home is, it can never be a happy home. It cannot, because God did not ordain polygamy. Otherwise, when God created Adam, He would have created two women for him. When God was ordaining marriage, He ordained a man and a woman. That is why only Eve was created. Else God would have said, ‘Let us make women for him.’ But He didn’t say so. It’s not every day that one meets a woman who works under the same roof and within the same organisation with her husband, how has your marriage been over the years? (Relaxes and laughs heartily) I thank God for my marriage. My husband has been my friend, my lover, my partner, my brother, my best friend and a colleague. That is why it has also been easy to work with him. I cannot stop telling people that

your husband is the best person to work with to ensure proper marriage because God said the wife should be a ‘helper and a partner’. A help-mate is your better half. It is when you are married to your friend, your brother, your partner, your confidante that you can say you have a marriage. It is also then that you can work together as partners and enjoy it. There is no stranger then because everything both of you do, is ‘our thing’ it is the best thing that can happen. Working with one’s husband as a partner in the same business is the best thing that can happen to the marriage because it helps in managing the finances of the couple because the money is ‘our money.’ You know women are more meticulous and are better managers when it comes to money management. When you as a man keep your business away from your wife or you put a line between your business and your wife’s business, separating things, marriage becomes difficult. But when you put a sense of belonging between both, it becomes ‘our thing,’ ‘our business’, a signal of total commitment between the two of you. Was it love at first sight? The marriage has been over 30 years. I can only say that it was something designed by God. And that is why we are still together till today. What do you like about your husband? (She laughed, re-adjusted herself; obviously this was her best mood throughout the interview) I love a lot of things about my husband, most especially because he is a compassionate person. He usually wants to touch people’s lives and see them being happy people. He is most often at his best when people around him are happy. Between teaching law and private practice, what’s the difference? Teaching law is telling the students about what the law is on paper, while the other one is the practical aspect. There are so many things you teach the students that go beyond what you see in practice. When we teach them, we let them know that you go beyond practice. But of course it is what we teach that we speak in the court room. But you need to perform in the practical aspects. Which do you enjoy most? Naturally I love teaching but I enjoy the practice more than teaching.

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moments in my life’ church. When I went back home I was already a deaconess in my church and I told her that I did not want to go to her church because the other church was there for me when I had problems. I went to that church with my friend and she had another church where she went for fellowship and it meant that I would have a third church. She agreed that I would be going to my church, but one day, my husband came to our house for visitation. My aunty asked me to serve our visitor. While I was carrying water to him my aunt asked if he cared for food. He said yes and my aunt asked me to go and cook for him. Jokingly, he asked, I hope she can cook because our ladies do not know how to cook these days. She told him I was a good cook and when I brought the food, he said he had never seen me in their church. I told him that I had my own church and he invited me to the church. My other friend told me about the programme and I told her that my aunt’s pastor had also invited me. I told her that if I went for the programme, I would like to give a special

The day I got saved, I cannot explain the peace I had. I also know that my marriage is another excitement. If I hadn’t been married in Christ, that was not the way my wedding would have gone.

know the right thing to do. We just have to teach them and give them attention. Tell us about some of the memorable moments in life? The day I got saved, I cannot explain the peace I had. I also know that my marriage is another excitement. If I hadn’t been married in Christ, that was not the way my wedding would have gone. When I went for my children’s graduations and the first 40 days after, you need to see the way my husband and

the church celebrated it. How we met My friend’s parents gave me a home and she had a room to herself. I started to live with her and during the holidays, being a poultry scientist, I used the room they gave to me for poultry and lived with my friend. We did that and in the process, my aunty got born again and I was told she was looking for me, that I should come back home. My aunty got born again in my husband’s

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number and she said okay. The first day they did not allow me to sing, but the second day, they allowed me to sing my song. He later told me that it was when I was singing that God told him ‘that is your wife’. What advice do you have for Nigerian women? The advice that I have for Nigerian women is that you should stop pretending. Be yourself. God created you for a purpose and as you work to achieve that purpose, don’t do it alone, do it with God. How do you relax? My husband likes to watch football and automatically I fell in love with football and while he is watching, I would sit down with him and we would both be shaking our legs. We relax like that. Sometimes, we can out on the music, Christian music and he would excuse me dance. Which football club does your husband belong to? He likes anyone that is winning. I asked him the same question one day, that day Manchester won and he was so excited. I told him that the other day you were excited with Chelsea, now it was Man U and he told me that the winning team is his team. When he wants to watch football, he comes home early. It is not as if he does not have television in the office, but it is more relaxing for him at home.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

Why Ekiti governor Fayose is after me reporter's day is usually a busy one, especially when spokesman, Idowu Adelusi, while efforts to speak with the he is in a state where a lot of things worthy of news are Police spokesman, Alberto Adeyemi, on the arrest and detenhappening almost every minute, every hour and tion of the market chief did not succeed. everyday. Ekiti State in recent times has been receiving the Fayose, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, attention of the whole country because it has been dishing Adelusi, denied instigating Mrs. Oso's arrest, saying that it out plenty of drama in the political and social radars. was only the Commissioner of Police, Etop James, that could Having worked hard on Monday and already sent about explain why she was arrested and detained. Fayose said he four stories for the day, the least this reporter expected was had nothing to do with the Iyaloja's arrest, which he deanother news at an 'unholy hour'. At about 8.35 pm on Monscribed as a police matter since they (Police) are constitutionday, July 5, the reporter's phone rang and on the other end ally empowered to do their job. was Chief Omowaye Oso, the Iyaloja of Ado Ekiti and a memThis is not the first time that the Iyaloja and ber of the Ewi-in-Council. Fayose are having a face-off; their feud dated The following conversation ensued: back to the latter's first term in office between Am I speaking with The Nation newsman? 2003 and 2006. Their relationship then was Yes, I am The Nation correspondent in Ekiti State. Please, can soured by Fayose's then strained relaMy I know the person I am speaking with? tionship with the people of Ado-Ekiti arrest and deAns: I am Chief (Mrs.) Waye Oso, the Iyaloja of Ado over some matters which led to the tention was politiEkiti, 'Olori Oloja tiletoko'. speculations that he wanted to deWhat can I do for you madam? pose the Ewi of Ado- Ekiti, Oba cally motivated I am speaking with you from detention at the Police Adeyemo Adejugbe. because I have heard Headquarters, Ado-Ekiti. I was arrested from my It was in the thick of the tenbefore that some people home at Ekute by about 40 policemen who sion between Fayose and the threatened to rope me in a Ewi and his subjects that the said they received an order from Governor Fayose to argovernor's problems with the trumped-up charge. The rest and detain me. Economic and Financial Crimes governor (Fayose) said I do What was the offence Commission (EFCC) started, not belong to his side; that which later led to his ouster for which you were arI am an opposition person. from power. During Fayose's rested? When I got to the What I want you to know feud with Ewi, Mrs. Oso played Police Headquarters, a prominent role in galvanising is that market women they told me that I the support of the Ado-Ekiti always work with the women folk in rising against the collected N93 million government in that I must refund. I perceived humiliation of their don't know anything monarch. power about N93 million, I did Her confrontation with Fayose led to not collect money from her arrest and detention two times duranybody. ing the governor's first stint in power. Apart Having gotten wind of from this, Fayose engineered Mrs. Oso's rethe breaking news, the removal from office as the President of the Market porter called his superiors Women Association of Nigeria, Ekiti State at the head office for goChapter, and replaced her with his die-hard loyalist, the ahead to send same as Iyaloja of Ise Ekiti, Mrs. Bisi Okunmolale. the time was over threeApart from this, the bus donated to the association by and-half hours after the Fayose's predecessor, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, was redeadline time. trieved from Mrs. Oso by agents of government and given to The permission was Mrs. Okunmolale. Despite her removal as president of the graciously granted and state chapter of the market women association, Mrs. Oso still more conversation ensued had the grip of market women in the state and was very relewith Mrs. Oso, vant during the successive administrations of Brig.-Gen. AdeFayose's tunji Olurin (rtd), Chief Segun Oni and Dr. Kayode Fayemi. In fact, Mrs. Oso later became the Vice President of the Market Women Association of Nigeria and wielded enormous influence at the regional and national levels. She explained that the policemen told her that the governor had ordered her arrest to produce the said N93 million purportedly raked in from the allocation of shops at the Awedele Market along Textile area of Ado-Ekiti. Mrs. Oso said she knows nothing about the N93 million claim by the government and she never embezzled any money. She recalled that Fayose ar• Iyaloja of Ado Ekiti, Chief Omowaye Oso rested and detained her twice

• Iyaloja of Ado-Ekiti relives detention experience

• A row of uncompleted shops at Awedele Market, Ado Ekiti

rubbish my name. We allocated the land three years ago, including the one given to ready-made clothes sellers. The question of defrauding anyone of N93 million did not even arise at all. I didn't collect money on wood, cement and block as being alleged by my detractors and the god of the market is hearing. Those people being sponsored against me are doing so to destroy my name. "I challenge anyone that said I collected money from him or her to come out and prove it. It was the Odua Group that did the survey, the plan and the Certificate of Occupancy.” The Iyaloja added that she entered into a lease holding agreement with Odua Group during Fayemi’s administration for land • Another set of shops under construction at Awedele Market, Ado Ekiti allocation at Awedele with the promise that a sum of N3,000 would be paid yearly by during his first term in power and the bus donated to the each trader into the company’s purse. market women was forcibly taken away from her on the But on Tuesday, the Iyaloja was released from police detenstreets. tion after she was held for over 12 hours. Mrs. Oso, who Mrs. Oso said she had never heard of anywhere in Yorubaspoke with reporters at her business centre inside the Erekeland or any part of Nigeria where the leader of market san Market, looked fresh and and exuded confidence despite women had been so humiliated. passing the night in the custody of the Special Anti-Robbery Throughout the time she spent in detention, Mrs. Oso reSquad (SARS) at the Police Headquarters, Ado-Ekiti. ceived solidarity visits from market women leaders, commuThe Iyaloja stormed the market in grand style, followed by nity leaders, family members, associates, customers and retinue of heads of major markets in the city and other aides. politicians who learnt of the arrest. On learning of her arrival, market women were falling over Exuding confidence while in detention, Mrs. Oso claimed themselves to welcome her and and show her solidarity. that since Fayose came back to power in October last year, he She breathed the air of freedom at about 10.00 am, mainhad been looking for ways to ‘deal’ with her, wondering taining his claim that Fayose was the brain behind her arrest where the figure of N93 million was 'manufactured' from. Explaining her own side of the story, Mrs. Oso revealed that and detention. She said the policemen who stormed her home to effect her arrest told her that they were acting on his the land on which the Awedele Market was built belonged to (Fayose's) orders. the famous conglomerate, Oodua Investment, and was seThe Iyaloja used the opportunity to clear the air on what accured for her association by the Fayemi administration who brokered the deal. Mrs. Oso said: "My arrest and detention was politically motivated. I have heard before that some people had threatened to rope me in and what I went through was the execution of the plot. This land belongs to Odua Group. It was Fayemi’s government that brokered the deal between us and the company. The money paid to us, which I did not receive directly but by leaders of each group, was money spent on the clearing of lands. No money was paid to me. “I want to say that whoever paid to me should come out and confront • A completed block of shops at Awedele Market, Ado Ekiti me. My arrest was just a ploy to

wanted to stay in one place like Gbagi in Ibadan. "We were surprised when agents of government came to meet us at Awedele and ordered us to stop work which we had been doing for over three years. In a place where we are paying N3,000 per annum, they are now ordering us to pay N10,000 per square metre, meaning that those with eight asbestos will be laying N80,000. " Fayose did not consult me; he just came here saying 'there is no road here, this is where the road should be. He accused us of acting illegally. Fayose said he had set up a panel, asking me to refund ‘the money.’ I did not collect money from anybody, the money was collected by their unit leaders. I didn't collect cash from anybody and I am challenging anybody who says that I collected money from him or her to come out and say it to my face. "I did not distribute any land as being • Economic activities going on in a section of the market alleged by government, the land belongs to Oodua and five states came together to tually led to her arrest and detention, wondering why the form Oodua. It does not belong to Ekiti State government, the Fayose administration was bent on destroying her when she documents we signed are still there. We signed it at Ekiti Enhad never done anything to undermine the governor's interterprise Development Agency located at Mutual House in est. Okesa". Mrs. Oso said: "You will recall that the administration of Dr. Mrs. Oso said her travails could be traced to a deep-seated Kayode Fayemi wanted to build a new Oja Oba and this conspiracy against her person, as some interest groups had would necessitate relocating market women to other places. vowed to frame her up and deal with her for 'offences' not yet Fayemi saw this as an opportunity to develop other marclear to her. kets in Ado-Ekiti and he ensured that we move to Describing her arrest and detention as politically motivated, Awedele Market at Textile area and he opened stalls for the Iyaloja said her association always supports the governus there, which were 128 in number; there, we have ment of the day and at the same time protects the interest been selling our wares. of its members. I "Fayemi made a request to Oodua InvestShe explained further: "My arrest and detention don't know ment Limited and he brokered an agreement was politically motivated because I have heard bemy offence with with the company but he did not sign. The fore that some people threatened to rope me in a representative of Oodua signed and I trumped-up charge. The governor (Fayose) said I Fayose. I don't signed on behalf of our association. Acdo not belong to his side; that I am an opposiknow what I have cording to the agreement, each shop tion person. What I want you to know is that done to deserve this. owner is expected to pay N3,000 per market women always work with the governYou cannot hold a stick annum and that was three years ago ment in power. and we have been developing the place. "I don't know my offence with Fayose. I in your hand and ask a "I want you to remember that Oodua don't know what I have done to deserve this. goat to come and eat; the Group is owned by five states, meaning You cannot hold a stick in your hand and ask goat will never come as that the land was owned by five states a goat to come and eat; the goat will never and not Ekiti only. But it was the long as it sees you holding come as long as it sees you holding a stick. He (Fayemi) government that did the sura stick. He (Fayose) must (Fayose) must be ready to accommodate vey, the plan and the Certificate of Oceverybody and should not be tagging people be ready to accommodate who cupancy but I signed the agreement that don't share his philosophy as enemies. everybody and should when completed, we are going to be "If he embraces us, we will come and all I paying N3,000 per annum. want to say is that I don't know my offence and not be tagging people "The place was a virgin land, a thick forI want the whole world to help me ask from him who don't share his est which made us to bring a grader, a bullwhat I have done to have been treated in that philosophy as en- way. dozer. We reasoned together that we emies couldn't do it alone, that we needed to bring a "I have never heard it anywhere in Yoruba land structural engineer and we carried the governwhere an Iyaloja was humiliated that way. I want you ment along. We levelled the place because it was to remember that when he was governor the last time, I full of big trees and to carry out this task, we conwas arrested and detained two times. A bus donated to our tributed money among ourselves because we felt governassociation by former Governor Adeniyi Adebayo was ment had done enough. forcibly taken away from me right on the streets; I don't "As they were contributing money, I never collected know my offence. money from anybody because it was their unit market lead"This land in question was given to us free by Oodua ers that were collecting the money for the development of the through Fayemi and we are the ones spending our money to place. Textile dealers were the first to contribute their own make it a better place and I never collected any money from money but along the line, I travelled out of the country and anybody; so the question of N93 million does not arise at all". when I returned, I was happy with the pace of work and the Mrs. Oso's lawyer, Ibrahim Olanrewaju, expressed shock at fact that the engineer had helped develop the place. the detention of his client and described the development as "The only mistake I made was that when the leader of the strange because the accusers could not even show up to subready-made clothes market women came, she brought her stantiate their claim against the woman. money. The Oodua people asked her not to continue with the Olanrewaju said: "It was an embarrassment to our democwork, that she was building on the road. I was looking for al- racy and an insult of the highest order. Putting that woman ternatives for her having collected money from her. We gave behind bar because of personal vendetta is unhealthy. In her three alternative lands, which were not satisfactory to her. criminal proceeding, whenever there is an accused, there I went to the local government council to get a grader withmust be an accuser but in this case, we have the accused but out success because the ones we got earlier developed fault. we cannot find the accuser and it is strange. "Following the fire that gutted the Erekesan Market re"If we continue like this in the state, we are doomed. It is an cently, Fayose declared his intention to build a new market, invitation to anarchy. This project is not a government project, meaning that we have to look for alternative places. He sumit is their own sweat. They built it individually and not collecmoned us to a meeting asking us of the alternative places we tively. Government should be celebrating it, I don't know can move to and we mentioned places like Agric Olope, Adere and Textile (Awedele) because all textile traders

There was drama in Ekiti State earlier in the week when the Iyaloja of Ado Ekiti, Chief Omowaye Oso, was arrested and detained allegedly on the orders of Governor Ayo Fayose. The cat-andmouse relationship between them had reopened an old wound which had refused to heal. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

• Continued on page 51

THE NATION SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

HELMA had accused me of seducing her father and using charms on him to make him fall in love with me and even propose. She said if I did not leave her Dad alone, she will reveal so many secrets about me, especially about my escapades at the university. To me, she is simply over-reacting. In the first place, I have not even accepted her father's proposal. I still remember how surprised I was when he had unexpectedly popped the question. It was one evening after I had finished my lessons with Joy. As I was heading out towards the gate of the large compound, someone had called my name. It was Uncle Luke, Joy's father. "I see you are through with my daughter for today. Where are you off to now?" he asked when he came up to me. I told him I was heading home. I had another lesson at a house not too far away but it had been cancelled as the boy was indisposed. Uncle Luke offered to drive me home as he said he was free. On getting to my house, I thanked him for the ride and made to get down. But he stopped me and said he had something important he wanted to discuss with me. It was then he opened up, that he loved me and wanted me in his life as Dad who his wife. was pleading with me to marry him "As you know, my wife died about fell on deaf ears. ten years ago and I have been all alone "Go and look for your own man! My with the children. I have not remarried, Dad is not for you! Prostitute! Thief!" for one main reason- I have not seen she had ranted. For good measure, she any woman that I feel can replace my had said I should never show my face late wife in my life. That was until you again in the house or she would do came. You might not have noticed it, something terrible to me. but I have been watching you all this while you've been coming to the house *** to teach Joy. The truth is I love you Of course I ignored her threat. Who Sonia and I want us to be close. I know was she to tell me to stop teaching Joy the age difference might be a turn off when she was not the one that employed but don't let it be a hindrance as I want me in the first place, I reasoned. So, I you to be my wife," he said. continued going to the house to give Joy His words came as a real surprise. I her lessons. I did not see Thelma for had known that he liked me as he sometime until about two weeks after always loved to stay and chat with me our encounter. Joy and I were almost any time I was at the house. But I never finishing for the day when she arrived suspected it was deeper than that! home from work. Anyway, that day, he told me not to She immediately began attacking me. give him an answer straight away, but "What are you doing here? I thought I to take my time and think carefully told you to stay away from my house!" about his proposal. she stated furiously. I don't know how Thelma heard "As you can see, I'm here for Joy's about the proposal as I definitely did lessons," I stated calmly. not tell her about it. Perhaps it was the "Lessons my Dad or from another foot! Sneaky bitch! source. Anyway, I know what you some days later, I had are up to and it Truth was when her gone to the house as Dad initially proposed, I won't work! My usual to give Joy her Dad will never lessons for the day. had had no interest in marry you! As We were working marrying him. I liked from today, you when Thelma came are fired so stop the man for his in. I was happy to see coming to teach her as she had been kindness and sense of my little sister. It's out of town on work humor but those were just an excuse for related matters but as you to attach not enough attributes I greeted her, I yourself to my for marriage, or so I noticed her father," Thelma countenance. She did believed. Besides, he said, her voice not respond to my was rather too old for dripping with greetings. Instead, scorn. me. But from the way she started shouting "Fired?" I at me, calling me all Thelma was taking the rejoined, adding, sorts of names such whole thing, I might "Who are you to as prostitute, gold change my mind, go fire me? The last digger who wants to time I checked, ahead and marry him use charms and love your Dad who portion to marry her and let's see if the employed me has father. heavens will fall not told me to stop My explanation that coming. Until he it was nothing like does so, I'll keep that, that it was her coming!" I

Escapades of fun-loving city ladies Co-ordinated by Patience Saduwa 08023201831 (sms only) psaduwa@yahoo.com

Game of hope (2) informed her. "Do that and see what I will do to you," she threatened angrily. "After all the atrocities you committed back in school, you now want to come here and pollute this family with your evil ways? Witch!" she shouted at me. I simply laughed at her, picked up my bag and walked out. Look at who is talking about atrocities, I thought, fuming. 'A girl who was so notorious in school, her story is still being talked about many years after we graduated,' I grumbled as I stood outside the gate of their house, waiting for a cab. Truth was when her Dad initially proposed, I had had no interest in marrying him. I liked the man for his kindness and sense of humor but those were not enough attributes for marriage, or so I believed. Besides, he was rather too old for me. But from the way Thelma was taking the whole thing, I might change my mind, go ahead and marry him and let's see if the heavens will fall. So what if I had a past. Who does not have one, including that Thelma threatening fire and brimstone if I married her Dad. Pot calling kettle black, I thought grimly... Blast from the past

Thelma and I became friends in my second year at the Uni. She was one of the most popular girls in school and always had a group of friends hanging around her wherever she went. They called themselves 'The Pink Panthers' and it showed in their dressing, which always had some element of pink in it. They were all very attractive girls and they always drew attention wherever they went on campus. While I admired them, I stayed clear of them as I wanted to focus on my studies instead of cat walking all over the campus. I became close to the Pink Panthers through one of my roommates Margaret. Her cousin was Thelma's second in command and she often came to our room to see her. Soon, I started moving with them and became a Pink Panther myself a short while later. It was after I joined that my eyes were opened to what the members of the group were really up to... To be continued Send comments/suggestions to 08023201831(sms only), psaduwa@yahoo.com or psaduwa007@gmail.com Names have been changed to protect the identity of the narrator and other individuals in the story.

SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS...PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS...PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS...PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS...PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS...

ENGLISH BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE

Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Team Chelsea Man City Arsenal Man Utd Tottenham Liverpool S’ampton Swansea Stoke City C.Palace Everton West Ham West Brom Leicester Newcastle Sunderland Aston Villa Hull City Burnley QPR

P 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38

W 26 24 22 20 19 18 18 16 15 13 12 12 11 11 10 7 10 8 7 8

D 9 7 9 10 7 8 6 8 9 9 11 11 11 8 9 17 8 11 12 6

L 3 7 7 8 12 12 14 14 14 16 15 15 16 19 19 14 20 19 19 24

GF 73 83 71 62 58 52 54 46 48 47 48 44 38 46 40 31 31 33 28 42

GA 32 38 36 37 53 48 33 49 45 51 50 47 51 55 63 53 57 51 53 73

GD 41 45 35 25 5 4 21 -3 3 -4 -2 -3 -13 -9 -23 -22 -26 -18 -25 -31

Pts 87 79 75 70 64 62 60 56 54 48 47 47 44 41 39 38 38 35 33 30

SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

• Continued from page 37

Ekiti State and Ekiti State Market Women Association over EYIYATO what is happening. You know how that Fabric Market situated at Ekiti-Oodua place looked like before they turned it Enterprise Development Centre, I need around and we need to be celebrating to quickly make the following submissuch a feat. The only thing they could sions as the facilitator of the project beget from this government is arrest, emtween Dr Fayemi-led administration in barrassment and that is very, very unEkiti State, Oodua Investments Limfortunate." ited and Ekiti Market Women AssociaAs the Iyaloja breathed the air of freetion: dom and in spite of her vehement de1. “In March 2012, there was a direcnial that she did not collect any money tive from my boss, Governor Kayode from anybody directly, some traders Fayemi, instructing me as the then Diclaimed that they had paid money to rector- General, Ekiti State Enterprise get shops at Awedele Market without and Economic Development being allocated any. In what looked Agency to help the market women to like a twist to the whole thing, the agsecure some piece of land within the grieved market women took their matOodua premises for the establishment ter to the Ministry of Lands, Housing of their fabric market. and Urban Development, alleging that 2. “In April 2012, after series of meetthey paid N19,000 to the Iyaloja without ings with the management of Oodua being allocated spaces at Awedele MarInvestments on Mr Governor’s direc• Some aggrieved traders ket. tive, I wrote a letter of request to the who stormed Ministry of Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved management of Oodua to grant us a Lands claiming to have market women, Mrs Joke Aduloju, a paid but were not allocated space for this project. cloth seller at the market alleged that shops 3. “Between April and May 2012, we her group paid a sum of N19,000 to had series of discussions at both Iyaloja but many of them are yet Oodua head office in Ibadan and to be allocated spaces. EEDA office in Ado Ekiti, fineMrs. Aduloju called on the govtuning and agreeing on the ernment to seriously address the modalities on our letter of request issue for them to be able to meet to them. Minutes can be provided the September 8 deadline. on request. “All the units in the market, in4. “On 14th May, 2012, a letter of cluding pepper seller, Sellers of approval/acceptance was given Ready Made Dresses, Shoe sellby Oodua Investment Limited ers and many others paid the stating the following: 25 years money. But it was regrettable that lease approved, renewable every some were yet to be allocated five years; the market women will spaces”. be responsible for the developAlso speaking, the representament of the market; Oodua to aptives of the Ibo traders, Mr praise and approve the designs Richard Uzokwe, and the youth and standards; no premium will wing, Mr Richard Folamade, be paid but an annual rental to be however, said there was no underhand dealing in the urged the government to take over land allocation at mutually agreed will be paid on completion of shops; they Awedele to restore normalcy and douse the raging tension. process that led to the construction of the market. Olorunrequested for the size of land required by us; they releke, who served during the Fayemi administraThey appealed to the government to include some of the quested we send architectural designs. tion, warned against attempts to interfere in the traders in the Committee on Land Allocation constituted 5. “On 24th May, 2012, we ( EEDA) wrote them on the acinternal arrangement of the market women. by the government, to be able to identify authentic memceptance of approval , stating the following: we would reHe said: "I was in charge of physical planbers from those that had gate-crashed and messed up the quire 3 hectares of land to build 500 lock-up shops; ning at the time and this is one of the whole process. requesting for 10 years renewal which they accepte; reprojects I was personally involved in. “Even those that had been allocated spaces were either Govquesting an annual rental fee of N3000 per shop on We were planning to develop the Oja non-members or civil servants. The government must look completion which they accepted. Of course, we ernment is Oba; the cloth sellers group met into all these to be able to know those who are using the started negotiating from N7,500 per annum, because with government and Iyaloja was land allocation for personal aggrandizement”, they said. ready to allocate the place then was a jungle, full of trees; we sent in The Commissioner for Lands , Mr. Tayelolu Otitoju, who part of the committee. The cloth our architectural designs of the lock-up shops. one space to a sellers group came out with a appealed for calm, explained that the alleged payment to 6. “In October 2012, during the 2nd year anproposal to develop their marIyaloja on land allocation in the new market was illegal. trader. We won’t niversary of Dr. Kayode Fayemi as the governor ket and the Ekiti Enterprise Otitoju disclosed that forms will be issued out soon for a allow anybody to of Ekiti State, he laid the foundation of the EyiyDevelopment Agency midproper exercise that would benefit all traders operating in ato Fabric market assisted by his late deputy, wifed the project. We secured Erekesan market. cheat the system. You Funmi Olayinka and DG, EEDA, OSKA, Seyi the land further on Build, OpHe said: “We don’t want crisis or chaos in Ekiti. But I can all attest to the fact Aiyeleso, amidst heavy funfare by the market erate and Transfer basis and I want to say that you have to go by the law in land allocawomen praying for Dr Kayode Fayemi. Pictures approved the design for them. that the governor loves tion in this state. Going by the country’s land law of 1978, and videos are there as proofs. "The construction was to be the state is empowered to allocate lands and not individuyou and he will do 7. “On 6th March, 2013, EEDA conveyed done by the market women, als. So, you should be ready to pay for you to get spaces Oodua' s approval to erect temporary shed to PS government was not to be ineverything within his Land the normal way. when they approached the agency for volved. At Oja Bisi, we built “Government is ready to allocate one space to a trader. powers to ensure that same, which they erected. the open stalls free of charge for We won’t allow anybody to cheat the system. You can all 8. “On the 1st of August 2013, an agreement none of you suffers document attest to the fact that the governor loves you and he will do them. They are not undue interwas sent by Oodua Investment Ltd and lopers, government midwifed everything within his powers to ensure that none of you even after was dully signed by representatives of the market the arrangement between Oodua suffers even after relocating”, he assured. women association and Oodua, witnessed by the Diand market women, the idea of relocating Governor Fayose, who was represented at the occasion rector General, EEDA, OSKA representing Ekiti State paying money did not arise. With by the Special Adviser on Political Matters, Demola Government as the facilitator. lean resources, you can't afford to build Bello, assured that necessary designs have been 9. “In the design, and among other things that he Dr a market. mapped out for the construction of the new market. Fayemi, promised to help support the women on the com"We gave them the land free, they could Former Commissioner for Housing, Physical Planning pletion of the projects are as follows: Erection of a Police have their own arrangement. The issue of N93 and Urban Development, Remi Olorunleke, whose minPost; erection of a fire service station; road construction million is left in the hands of the Police to invesistry supervised the development of Awedele Market, within the market; provision of street lights within the tigate. Our government brought them there and we supmarket; erection of toilet facilities in the market; making ported them cooperative loans available and accessible for the women with about 100 to trade. I expect the current EKSG to help the women in open stalls so the above mentioned areas. that they can 10. “Kudos to Dr John Kayode Fayemi on this project deconcentrate on velopment for Ekiti Market Women. building their 11. “Let me reiterate here that before Dr. Kayode Fayemi own market became the Governor of Ekiti State, Oodua Enterprise Centhere". Joining the fray tre, formerly called Oodua Textile Mills, was a jungle, full of trees and dangerous animals for 22-years. It took the inwas the former novative and creative intervention and interjection of he Director General Dr. John Kayode Fayemi led administration and Oodua of EEDA, Seyi management to turn it to a modern complex we are witAyeleso, who nessing, emulating and celebrating today. spoke through a “The same government invited a renowned Lagos-based statement posted motor service company, Metropolitan Toyota Limited, to online to our reinvest and build a state of the art motor service company in porter and this Ekiti State. This company today is in this location. Same will help put the issues on ground goes for the Lagos-based private investor, Lifecare Electronics Limited who constructed a modern electronic vilin proper perlage within the premises. spective. “Indeed, a one-time forest and jungle has been turned to It reads: “In a modern enterprise centre/hub to the envy of the world, view of the on all within few years under the leadership of Dr. Kayode going developFayemi.” ment between • Iyaloja of Ado Ekiti, Chief Omowaye Oso the officials of

My story, by Iyaloja of Ado-Ekiti

• Twist to market allocation saga

THE NATION SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

‘We don’t want to rely on oil revenues’ HAT vision is driving Bayelsa State’s ongoing pasBayelsa State is opening up for business, attracting local and international sion for economic development? Our vision in Bayelsa State is to become model of investors to its shores. The state’s Commissioner for Trade, Industry & Tourism, African economic success story. Flowing from that, we said our Kemela Okara, speaks to COLLINS NWEZE on expectations from the this aim is to grow enterprise to create jobs to have prosperity for all. Our strategy has been that, for us to create private jobs in year’s Bayelsa Investment and Economic Forum holding from July 29 Bayelsa State, we need to move away from dependent on to 31. The forum is focused on fixing Nigeria’s power needs and receipt of the Federation Account allocation Committee (FAAC) funds allocation to having an economy where proper valueboosting the state’s revenues. chain for opportunities abound. What objective. That is going to be achieved when you focus on industrialis the level of your IGR, now that you want to diversify? The next step is that the ization. When you industrialise, you create secondary and IGR is lower than it should be. Like I said before, the dream CBN disburses those funds tertiary levels where people could be hooked up in the for any state is that its IGR should be higher. Our IGR stands at to the beneficiaries. The value chain. So, having determined that, we said, where N1 billion to N1.2 billion monthly. That is not be where we money does not come to will our focus area be? The first focus area will be oil and should be. The way to grow the IGR is to grow receipts. the state government at gas industry because we already have oil exploration Again, gas and transmission are key in dealing with power all. The state government segment of the market. generation. On the gas side, you know the structure of oil and provides some form of Are there other areas you are looking at attracting gas, is that there are oil mining licences. The International Oil guarantee. We are the investors during the forum? Companies (IOCs) are involved in those sectors. That is part final stop. We are sharWe are also looking at industries in refining, fertilizer. of why we are hosting the forum which will focus on Fixing ing the risks. We are We are also looking at agriculture. We have very big Nigeria’s Power Needs. carrying 70 per cent of centre for oil palm. We want to also deepen the rice Again, those who want to generate power, they need to the risks while the farming because our terrain is ideal for rice farming. The make gas available to those who want to transmit. Shell Microfinance other area we are focusing on is power generation. The Petroleum will be one of the participants. On the side of gas, Institutions disbursing reason, for us, is quite simple. Bayelsa State, as you may what we hear from the market is that because electricity prices the funds carry the 30 know, is oil and gas producing state. We are actually more are capped, my understanding is that gas producers will per cent risk. of gas than oil. rather sell gas to LNG Nigeria, because they can sell at a price The microfinance instituIn many ways gas is fixed up for power generation. Our that is not capped. But if they sell to the domestic market, the tions carry out due diliaim is to attract power generation companies to be cited in price is capped, because if it not capped, consumers will pay gence on the borrowers to Bayelsa State. In that case, we have set aside an area, which is higher rates and that will become a social issue. ensure they are conductcalled, the power hub. The companies that want to do power But there is law that ensures that IOCs meet domestic gas ing genuine businesses generation can be sited in Bayelsa State. because they have the obligations. Now, I also understand that our role is to faciliRegular power supply will help attract businesses because monitoring mech- tate, and create enabling environment to block the bottlenecks. power is the singular highest cost for many businesses. Tied to So, on the side of gas producers, they need to plan effectively, anisms that this, is the establishment of the Eco Industrial Park. Some people because you cannot just produce gas. ensure will wonder why the word Eco, it is because the environment is What hope do we have for increased power generation? greener, and makes room for improved waste management. So, The good thing is that gas is available, power generation is there is a lot of recycling going on. needed, and it is not going to be a rocket science for anyone to These are the areas we want to use as foundation say that Nigeria needs much more power generation than in building the Bayelsa State economy. we currently have. We are looking at market opportuInfrastructure remains an enabler is achieving nities for power generation. What we need to solve the this. In achieving the Industrial Park, remember gas suppliers challenge is providing incentives to that the airport is due to be completed this year. make gas available. We are going to solve the gas chalThese are basic infrastructure that is already in lenge because all the key components are within our place. grasp. In Bayelsa, we are not competing with other Skills acquisition is another big area we have states, we want to create jobs and businesses for our to work on. There are huge skills gap. We want people. to ensure that our people have the right enterWhy this forum? prise skills, vocational skills, to take advantage The rationale behind the form, is that we are coming of the opportunities that abound. from a position where large chunk of the Niger Delta What makes the forum very significant? were involved in militancy, pipeline vandalism and The forum is important because before now, we took the view that part of moving forward is to Bayelsa State was notorious for kidnapping and communicate the fact that Bayelsa State is serious other social ills. But post amnesty, there is need about doing business. And so, the forum has become to communicate that Bayelsa is open for busiour platform for engaging the private sector. ness. Bayelsa is seriously growing the local •Okara We set out in the first place, the fact that we want to economy. We want to organise a forum that communicate to the wider world to take us seriously. will lead investors, government officials having But that was surpassed. We are not talking for the sake discussions on how to establish businesses in of talking. We want talking to lead to action. that those borrowing will pay back. the areas mentioned. So, in terms of draw down, that is ongoing. We want The first one held last year, we had over 800 delegates and to ensure that by the end of this month, 80 per cent investors in attendance. It is simply to communicate that of the borrowers draw down, so that we can The Bayelsa is open for business. The second major achieveaccess the remaining part of the money. If you ment was that not only did we communicate that, but good thing is want to go into business, you have to take people responded as seen in the attendance. On a that gas is availIGERIA’S first indigenous fully integrated green-field that financial responsibility. The beauty is practical note, there were Memorandum of electricity project, the Aba Integrated Power Project (Aba that the interest rate is just nine per cent able, power generaUnderstanding s (MoUs) signed in different areas IPP), scheduled for commissioning in November, recently rate. good a is which like pharmaceuticals, power generation, ICT. tion is needed, and it is in Lagos, entered into a new Transaction Implementation What incentives are you communiThese are some of the major highlights and of not going to be a rocket Agreement with its sponsors and creditors pursuant to which cating to the participants in this year’s course, we need to keep the momentum going. Afrigem Integrated Utilities Limited becomes a core investor in forum? science for anyone to say That was what led to the hosting of the Bayelsa the integrated electricity power project. For business. about taking are We State Investment and Economic Forum from that Nigeria needs much The agreement signing ceremony which was hosted by the average businessman, the incenJuly 29 to 31 this year. more power generation than tive is whether he makes a return on Diamond Bank Plc, details the investment of Afrigem in the Aba What were the benefits that accrued to the IPP operating companies, the milestones for the restructuring of his investment. Yes there is downturn we currently have. We are state that you can attribute to the last forum? the existing debt stock of Geometric Power’s project companies, for pricing of terms in gas and oil in Let me say that our expectations were not looking at market opportu- oil, but that is a known fact because recapitalization and also, the restructuring of the company. These that in our first year, we will be able to attract are expected to help fast-track the commissioning of the plant to businesses. Our expectation was that we will be nities for power generation. other commodities like cocoa, coffee takeoff in November and start the generation and distribution of What we need to solve the among others suffer price decline too. able to have a sense that the private sector is takquality electricity power to the residents of Aba metropolis. If you are in a business of petrochemiing us seriously. But our expectations were even gas suppliers challenge Geometric Power led the sponsors of Aba IPP while the credical, that’s better because the primary surpassed because not only did we get the sense is providing incentors include Diamond Bank Plc, Asset Management Corporation commodity is even cheaper. For the secthat the business community is taking us seriously, of Nigeria (AMCON) and Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc. Afrigem, a ondary market, we are looking at oil refintives to make gas we signed, about a month ago, an MoU on behalf of West African focused development and investment company ing. It is good, because it will lead to cheaper the state government, almost N20 billion Private available with a 720MW pipeline of energy solutions project in the region, input cost. Public Partnership (PPP) agreement with a company is expected to inject N15 billion into the project, making So, we have taken from the policy point, that it that attended last year’s forum to build Building Material Geometric Power one of the most capitalised private sector drivis not safe to put all your eggs in one basket. Most Market that would serve the Niger Delta Region. en power companies in the sub-region. In its 3-year growth plan, Nigerian states are rethinking their economic strategy. The What is the name of the company? the Sponsors and Afrigem expect to increase the plant capacity best practice globally, is that you should derive most of The company is called Kesio Associates. It will construct 5,000 from 141MW to 341MW by 2018. your income from taxation. How do you get your income units within the building materials market. The market is targetAccording to the parties, the capital restructuring agreement from taxation? It is by widening the economic base so that you ed at selling building materials for those carrying out construcwill also ensure that the project companies: Geometric Power tion in the region. The benefit is that it will create a cluster for the have revenues coming in. That’s our focus. We don’t want to be Aba Limited and APL Electric Limited have the required capital dependent on oil. We want to depend on things that are longpeople in this business. to deliver reliable power. It will also bring on board the expertise term and sustainable. Has the N2 billion MSMEs fund been disbursed to the benof Afrigem’s team in the operations and management of the Aba When it comes to economics, you have to look at things that eficiaries? IPP while the new capital will be applied towards the commisare sustainable. We think that agriculture is sustainable. We There is a CBN structure which requires the state government sioning of the project and part payment to creditors with enough think that power generation is sustainable. I think on most to set up an agency that will ensure that there is spread. The left to run the company. grounds, we are looking at areas where we have competitive CBN guidelines stipulate that 60 per cent of the borrowers will Professor Bart Nnaji, Chairman of Geometric Power advantage and grow those areas so that the economy will conbe women, 10 per cent will be start up businesses. So, we set up tinue to thrive. a committee called MSMEs’ Fund Committee to achieve this

Power Project: Diamond

THE NATION SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

Nigeria offers more opportunities than most foreign countries -Lawyer and arts enthusiasts John Delano arly in life, John Delano learnt one basic lesson of life. money legitimately. He learnt to live a life of sacrifice and to be able to “The UK is already developed, but Nigeria is still developing. stand for those in need. The son of a lawyer, young What that means is that there are still many areas waiting to be John learnt first-hand the importance of standing up for developed. It means there are more opporothers when he had what can be described as a culture tunities in these virgin areas that are waitshock experience while studying for his A-levels certificate ing to be developed. in the UK. “Believe me, there are more opporYoung John had hoped to contest for a position in his tunities here than you can get elseschool. But to his shock, a young white boy threw up a where. Look at the people sellBelieve point that could be described as racist, by questioning his ing recharge cards. Though me, there are ability to represent. But just as he was battling with the the profit may not be much, right response to give, his teacher, also a white man, stood more opportunities but the truth is that it is proup to his defence, saying everybody needed to be given viding job opportunity for here than you can get some people. That is the the opportunity to excel. That seemingly insignificant experience has continued to of opportunity that elsewhere. Look at the kind resonate in his memory till date, making him more deterwe hope to make availpeople selling recharge mined to always offer a helping hand to others. “The able to our youths. young man was trying to play up the racism card, but out forget this is a cards. Though the profit Don’t teacher stood up immediately in my defence. It was a country of more than spontaneous action, it was not that he thought over it may not be much, but the 100 million people, by before responding. I tell you, that particular experience the time you open up truth is that it is providing opportunities for the helped me to win the election and it changed my way of thinking. Since then, my attitude to life had always been people you would be job opportunity for some amazed what I can do to lift others up.” at what we can people. That is the kind do.” In continuation of his efforts to lift others up, John and his partners are concluding arrangements to hold a arts principle of makof opportunity that we ingHis and fashion show, which he said is aimed at showcasing money, he said is the Nigerian arts and fashion industry to the world, as well hope to make avail- based on opening business as creating a platform for young Nigerians seeking the opportunities to the comable to our opportunity to showcase their talents. munities. “The richest people Tagged ‘Arts and Fashion Lounge, John told The Nation anywhere in the world are youths the show is his own contribution towards expanding the those people who open up busi•Delano nation’s economy. “We all need to do something to expand ness opportunity to the communithe economy. There is a lot that you and I can do if we are ties.” determined.” Aside from his father, three other people Segun AJIBOYE (Assistant Editor) Though a lawyer, John is determined to diversify into other have influenced John’s life of sacrifice. areas of the economy. Towards this end, he is hoping to create a While urging Nigerians to learn to sacriness opportunities that the arts and fashion industry can offer platform for arts and fashion enthusiasts in the country to excel. the people. “I lived in the UK for a long time and my experifice in order to bring about the necessary change to the society, “What drives me is the fact that I want a change in our mentali- ence was that a lot of opportunities are open to the people. We John listed the late South African President, Nelson Mandela, ty. Presently, I am looking at arts and fashion. The reason is that Muhammed Ali and late Indian leader, Mahatma Ghandi, three can replicate same here. If you do your bit and I do mine, you when I just came back from the UK, I noticed that there was an world leaders sacrificed to create a better society for their peowould be surprised at how well we can make things work in explosion of expression. This expression came in the form of ple. this country. arts and fashion. So, I asked myself why it is so, the answer I John has a very huge dream for Nigeria. He dreams to see a “For instance, I believe that all the arts and fashion industry got was that people want to express themselves.” country where opportunities would be available to all irrespecneed to grow in Nigeria is for it to be organized. And if it is He is taking some time off his law duties to promote arts and tive of background. organized well enough, investors will come from as far as fashion and build a structure which he hopes other people will “What has brought me to this point is the realization that the China and other foreign countries.” build on. people in the UK have a better sense of service. They are ready While many young Nigerians would give the world to travel “The root of my desire to go into the fashion thing is creativito serve. But we have not imbibed the attitude of service. That abroad, John said he decided to come back home after more ty. I want to celebrate and promote it. Presently, I am talking to is something we need to do to develop. than one decade of post graduation experience in the UK some people and galleries to come on board and partner us. “When you have a nation that says they don’t want our peobecause of the better opportunities available here. The idea is to see an industry that offers a career to Nigerians, ple to live below a particular poverty level. What they are sayAccording to him, Nigeria remains one of the few countries so that our children can at a young age decide to take up as a ing is that while they may not be interested in enriching everywhere a hardworking man can make enough money to live a career. I want a situation whereby parents would be proud to body, but that nobody must live below a particular level. That is comfortable lifestyle. “I came back home in 2011 for purely ecoallow their children to go into the industry. nomic reason. You know one thing, for all the problems that we my wish for Nigeria. Our people should not live below poverty John believes that Nigeria has failed to fully exploit the busiline.” have in this country, this is a place where you can make a lot of

Bank, Geometric Power, Afrigem, AMCON and StanbicIBTC sign new agreement Limited led the signing on behalf of the project sponsors while Mallam Samaila Zubairu, Vice Chairman of Afrigem, led the signing on behalf of Afrigem Integrated Utilities Limited at the ceremony attended by energy consultants, top bank executives and representatives of the various professional parties. Speaking at the event, Caroline Anyanwu, Deputy Managing Director and Chief Risk Officer of Diamond Bank Plc, stated that the new agreement signals a huge economic leap in the generation and distribution of electricity energy in Nigeria. According to her, Diamond Bank is very passionate about the project because of the economic ripple effect that uninterrupted electricity power supply would bring to the numerous Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) operators in Abia State and the country generally. “I believe that the immense benefits that this new implementation agreement will bring will make Nigeria a better place especially as it will help boost economic production when the power plant starts generating power soon. We commend Geometric Power, StanbicIBTC and others that have made this to work today. We also commend AMCON for helping to bear the burden when it was very heavy for us; but the coming of Afrigem into this integrated project is a good one for all of us and for Nigeria”. Nnaji, Chairman of Geometric Power, expressed delight at the new development. He noted that Aba IPP remains the first green-field integrated power project developed by a private indigenous consortium which, upon commissioning, will deliver quality reliable 24-hour electricity supply to industries, commercial enterprises, residents of Aba metropolis and bring huge economic revival in the country. He said: “I would like to applaud everyone who helped to see this come to pass today. We are very happy that this project is on and with this we will bring power to the people of Aba and we hope to see the economic revival that this provision

will bring to Nigeria.” Mallam Samaila, vice chairman of Afrigem, emphasized the bankability of the project model as the template for growing capacity of reliable power supply which will accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth, create jobs and unleash the creative energy of Nigerian youths. According to him, “the integrated power model is the most productive model that will help Nigeria work, we believe that it is the foundation for lighting up Nigeria”.

Head, Strategic Accounts of AMCON, Kamila Omokide stated that the entry of the new investor marks a “beginning of greatness for the project and for Nigeria,” pointing that the only panacea to Nigeria’s low production capacity is to allow the private sector to be the major drivers of the economy. “We greatly believe that the private sector should be the engine of production and investment in this country. Until this is done, we may not be able to realize the productive strength and potential of Nigeria,” Omokide added.

• L-R: Company Secretary and Legal Adviser, Stanbic IBTC Bank , Angela Omo-Dare; Chief Executive Officer, Geometric Power Limited, Prof. Barth Nnaji; Vice Chairman, Afrigem Integrated Utilities Limited, Samaila Zubairu; Deputy Managing Director and Chief Risk Officer, Diamond Bank, Caroline Anyanwu; Head Strategic Accounts, AMCON, Kamila Omokide, and Company Secretary, Diamond Bank Plc, Nkechi Nwosu, at the signing ceremony of Transaction Implementation Agreement for the recapitalization and restructuring of Aba Geometric Power Limited.

H EALTH MATTERS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

AUTISM: Not a

T does not happen often but at some point, one could see a child exhibiting uncontrollable disruptive or frightening behaviours. At such times, one could be tempted to respond with shouts of 'stop it', 'I will beat you.' Rather than shouting or beating up such a child or stigmatizing them as witches or mad people, a proper diagnosis could save a lot of trouble since children with such behaviours may be carriers of the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorder is said to be a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person’s life. People with autism spectrum disorders have problems with social and communication skills. Many people with ASD also have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to sensations. Research shows that not only does autism affects how a child communicates and relates to other people, it also affects how they make sense of the world around them. People with autism have also been known to experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours. They are said to perceive the world differently while also having their own dynamic ways of expressing emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger and other sensitivities differently. For two days last week, medical experts, care givers, service providers and parents and guardians gathered at the Muson centre in Lagos for the 5th annual autism conference organised by Guaranty Trust in coloration with the Blazing Trails International, Texas, USA, and the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. The Orange Ribbon initiative with the theme 'Bridging gaps and transforming lives' created a platform to discuss improving systems and policies that effect care, quality and access to services for autism. Although there are no standard statistics to determine the number of people living with autism in Nigeria, there is ample evidence to show that people living with autism exist in the society as we often encounter them in the society. Apart from the discrimination and devaluation that carriers of the spectrum carry, there is also the problem of delayed acceptance since most parents live in denial by failing to identify the symptoms in their children. Research shows that the cause of autism is unknown but there it is suggested that both genes and environment play important roles as predisposing factors. Dr. Dayo Ajibade, the director of Brain and Body Solutions Limited, a medical centre focused on using advances in medical science to improve the functioning and healing of the brain

n Hannah OJO n and body also confirms this while responding to a question on predisposing factors that could make a woman give birth a child with the spectrum. “Nothing has been clearly identified but we know that if a woman was sick during pregnancy or if the woman had a lot of antibiotics at an early age that could affect the guts. Also, if you are exposed to a lot of toxins at once. For instance, people who live in mining regions where they mine a lot of metals and release some toxins into the atmosphere could be at risk. A person can inhale a lot of these things and that can predispose to later having things suggestive of autism. So nothing is specifically fixed as a cause. But we are just seeing some things associated with other things,” Dr Ajibade submitted. For parents with autistic children, it is not the end of life as there are ways the spectrum can be managed over time. According to Dr Ajibade, one of such is using the right nutritional supplements. As he noted: “Improving overall nutrition, occupational therapy, speech therapy, treating infections when they arrive. Some of those new technology that the Americans are bringing are helpful too. All those things when com-

Mrs Akande

bined could help in helping the carrier to be restored into the mainstream of the society.” He however maintained that one system does not fit all since there are no

real clear cut answers to every situation. Advising parents with autistic children, Dr Ajibade said; “They should find a good centre where the needs of their child can be catered for. There are reputable centres in Nigeria where people can go and get a comprehensive treatment over time or they could find a doctor who at least understands what autism is all about and how to treat it." Since early diagnosis is critical to achieving results in the management of autism, parents and guardians are advised to watch out for early symbols which can be noticed from the time a child is 18. These early signs and symptoms manifests in features of social impairments, difficulties with social communication as well repetitive and stereotyped behaviours. Another early signs of autism to watch out for among babies is when they tend to focus on certain objects, rarely make eye contact, and fail to engage in typical back-and-forth play and

H EALTH MATTERS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

life sentence ,

Most of the children with autism are not talking but they are singing. Music is like magic to them. So they must get music. Sometimes we have to self-regulate, that is why when you go to church and the music is so loud, the child starts jumping up and down. Most of our children don’t care about the noise when we are doing praise and worship, they start to care when we start to pray and shout so we need to kind of withdraw them at that point to help them regulate themselves

babbling with their parents. Managing the condition For parents who are battling with the challenge of autism, it is not a death sentence. According to Mrs. Dotun Akande, the Founder and Proprietress of the Patrick Speech and Language Centre in Lagos, autism can be managed with best practices. Mrs. Akande who was prompted to start the centre when her son was diagnosed with autism is a firm believer that parents should not live in denial. “In the Nigeria of today, we can say that autism is still a new discovery for us. We are still discovering it. We are not experts in it yet. Best practices in managing an autistic child means when the person comes into your centre, you are able to give the best service with the tools that are needed. For us at Patricks, best practice is our staff. Every year, we bring in a team of specialists to come and train us. I don’t take people that have worked before, the reason being that people that have been introduced into the school system are not able to easily adapt to the techniques of children with autism. I take them young and fresh and I train them to the best of the tools that are available worldwide,” she said.

Mrs Akande also hinted on how important music is to autistic children. “Most of the children with autism are not talking but they are singing. Music is like magic to them. So they must get music. Sometimes we have to self-regulate, that is why when you go to church and the music is so loud, the child starts jumping up and down. Most of our children don’t care about the noise when we are doing praise and worship, they start to care when we start to pray and shout so we need to kind of withdraw them at that point to help them regulate themselves." “When my son comes back from school, he takes his earphone to listen to music. That is his own form of selfregulation. After going through all the stress of the school environment, he becomes a bit overwhelmed so he needs his music to calm down and he does that regularly without anybody telling him," she stated. Perhaps another hard reality which makes autism hard to accept is the fact that it is a life time disability. Owing to the lack of awareness about the spectrum, some persons don’t get diagnosed until they are adults. In managing autistic patient with late diagnosis, Mrs. Akande said all hope is

not lost. “It just means that it’ll take a longer time to get used to them than when they were much younger. There are people that have been with us for six months and they are gone and there are people that have been with us for four years and we are praying that God should be with them. Like I said, it is a spectrum and also it depends on the kind of therapy that a child gets upon the time of diagnosis,” she added. It is a known fact that children with the spectrum often exhibits some frightening behaviours. On this, Mrs Akande advised parents to put the right strategies in place. “A lot of children are exhibiting certain behaviours and the parents are saying stop these, don’t do that! That way, you are feeding that behaviour. If the child doesn’t have words, let him use gesture. Like the beautiful child that is being taught sex education and pointed to the picture and himself, that is communication, trust me. You don’t have to read all the books on the internet, just put strategies in place," Mrs Akande said. Managing autism is not a piece of cake after all. It takes time, love, grace and patience.

“There is beauty in the belly of each and every one of the children with autism. That beauty will only come out if you are opening yourself up to that child. They know when you are endeared towards them and they know when there is disdain. Even if you don’t say it with words, they know," Mrs Akande said. Autistic children often turn out to be geniuses when their gift is properly identified. Mrs Akande testified to this saying her 17 year old son who is a carrier of the spectrum made 7 A’s in his final secondary exams while also clinching the prize of the best student in Academics in a regular school. She also maintained that autistic patients tend to do better when they are managed at home rather than abroad because they can get along with the community sense of belonging available in Nigeria. Dr Olayinka Akindayomi, Service Director of Children’s Development Centre, Lagos who has over 20 years experience as a service provider for autistic patient is of the opinion that the society should stop devaluing carriers of the spectrum. “We still have a lot of negative language used in describing autistic patients but Nigerians can be a lot more kinder. There are some terms in our local languages that are more positive that we can use, we don’t have to use ode or didi rin. These things devalue people and they do not participate in the society when the community thinks they are imbecile. We are still saying these things even after 20 years that I have been in business. It is time for us to change; it is time for us to think. Devaluation lowers people’s values,” she opined.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

Travails of children going to school on rivers used by smugglers, oil thieves

•A suspected vandal with drums of stolen fuel •Hon. Okeyomi, a security expert

• Continued from page 21

such criminal acts because they have seen that they are cheap ways of becoming wealthy. When you have children watching criminals having a field day in their activities almost on a daily basis, you will certainly have some of them that would gladly want to toe that line or be part of them.” Explaining the psychological effect of criminals’ activities on students on the waterways, Lateefat Odunuga, a psychologist, said: “When children are exposed to these experiences, some of them could be adventurous to explore the end of the experience, while some are afraid to attempt it. Some children are fast learners who learn through some modelling. This could result in them engaging in behaviours that might not be morally acceptable. “The survivors of boat wrecks are always in a far worse condition, psychologically as well as physically. They’ve usually swallowed lots of chemical toxins, salt water, other waste substances and are suffering from respiratory diseases as well as mental trauma, having been in the water and having seen their companions die.” She added: “Users and operators of vessels on waterways should take extra precautions during the current rainy season when ocean levels and tidal waves increase. They should also be able to call the attention of credible government forces when they are confronted by hoodlums. This would help to reduce the rate of hazards children are exposed to. More life jackets should also be provided.” Speaking on the efforts of the Nigerian Customs Service towards combating the activities of hoodlums on waterways, the Public Relations Officer, Western Marine Command, Ngozi Okwara, said: “We are working assiduously to rid the waterways of smugglers. Our men have just been recently trained and well equipped with AK 47 to deal with the smugglers. “The training proved very useful last month when some smugglers attacked our men with dangerous weapons. Our men overpowered them using the knowledge and equipment they acquired during the training.” She dismissed fears that innocent citizens could be injured when the officers go after hoodlums, adding: “Smugglers don’t operate anyhow. They have hours of the day that they operate and I can assure that we are on top of our job and would never operate in a way that would be detrimental to the public that we are serving.”

“The transporters don’t have life jackets for us but they have for elderly people. They are always sure of their expertise and also confident that no calamity would happen. We equally were not bothering about it because most of us know how to swim,” one of the students said. If the parents had been banking on the ability of the wards to swim all along, the incident of last week has made them to realise the importance of life jackets. Angered by the loss of her 18-year-old daughter, Mrs. Akindele, one of the bereaved parents, said that no child in the community would take the risk of going to school on the water without life jackets. She pleaded that life jackets should be provided for the children to avert dangers in the future. “It is important that our children are provided with life jackets to save them from imminent dangers on the river. Left to me, no child would take the risk of travelling on the river to go to school without wearing life jackets. They should sit back at home if life jackets are not provided for them, after all what is the outcome for those of us that even went to the so called school?” she asked rhetorically. She added: “The government should also deem it fit to build new secondary schools for us to save our children the risk and stress of travelling long distances to get to school. •Lateefat, a psychologist The population of children in this community has soared beyond what a secondary school can accommodate. Our change gun shots. If the hoodlums in question are oil village is far bigger than Irewe where the thieves, there could be oil spill in the course of trying to esschool is located. It is imperative that we have cape from security agents. If for any reason the oil catches one secondary school constructed for our fire, the students may be consumed. The females are also children to reduce the challenges they prone to all manners of abuses by the hoodlums who most face every day.” Travoften operate without conscience. The monarch of the commuAlso speaking, Honourable Prince Dipo Okeyomi, elling on the nity, His Royal Majesty, Oba the Executive Director of Marial Security in Texas, river is a big risk, esAdekanbi Durosinmi United States of America, blamed the escalation of Agunbioyinbo II, Osolu of pecially when it is raining. the menace on the failure of security agents to nib Irewe, also called on the When rain falls, people the problem in the bud, saying: “The security government to “provide agents know these hoodlums but they have alwould not be able to go out or life jackets for the chilrefused to do the needful. They cannot come in. Imagine what the situa- ways dren of different age say that they don’t know the hoodlums. They grades coming from tion would look like if these inno- know them very well. This is why you see far places on water to some of the hoodlums wearing uniforms of cent children are caught midway school here. There are on the river by a downpour. It is so different security jackets for the adults agents in the bad that most of the children don’t course but there are none for of their the children.” even go to school and many paroperations. Some He, however, difents also do not go to work during of the hoodlums fered with the call for in trying to appear the rainy season to avoid the the construction of new to be doing legal secondary schools in the danger of boat capsize. No businesses have area. Instead, he said the matter how much you built hotels and government should turn petrol stations. They know how to swim, the existing one into a boardgive free lodging and one would still be ing school. “Aside from life feeding to their securityjackets, we want the government scared agent friends. “Those that to make our secondary a boarding have invested in petrol staschool so that these children would not tions are quick to give free have to risk their lives travelling on the water petrol and diesel to them in a to get to the school. bid to continue to enjoy their “Presently, we have a four-bedroom flat hostel for the unholy support. The implicateachers but that is still not enough because a lot of them tions are many and dangerous still come on water everyday to the school. The government for the society. The first implishould help look into this and also give us more teachers cation is that some of the stubecause there are not enough teachers to teach the students could be killed as it dents.” happened last week in Irewe. Wilson Esangbedo, a security expert, expressed serious “The second implication is concern about the despicable experience of the students, • A bereaved man pointing to where two of that some of the students stating: “They are capable of being caught in a cross fire in a could be influenced to take to the students kiled by a vandal were buried situation where the hoodlums and security operatives ex-

By Professor Dayo Oyekole Ph.D. (Ibadan), NMD, FNCP Tel: 0803-330-3897 Website: www.holisticlifecare.com E-mail: kolemetric@yahoo.com

THE NATION, SATURDAY JULY 11, 2015

62 News

APC to Ekweremadu: you’re wrong on Boko Haram attacks T

HE All Progressives Con gress (APC) said yester day that the current spate of attacks by the terror sect,Boko Haram, “are actually the desperate pangs of a dying monster.” Reacting to a comment by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu that the attacks had increased since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in May,APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that Boko Haram “having been uprooted from its hideouts and put on the run, has become very desperate, hence it is now using its last arsenal to inflict as much damage as it can before it is annihilated, which is just a matter of time.” He said if Senator Ekweremadu had “ leveraged his high office to get the necessary information from those in-

volved in the Boko Haram fight, especially the Nigerian military, he would not have made the kind of partisan and incautious comments attributed to him and which he has not denied. ''Lone wolf suicide bombings and the choice of soft targets by retreating gunmen are now the order of the day, as against the terrorists' previous coordinated actions of seizing and holding territories,'' the APC said. It argued that contrary to Ekweremadu’s position, “the terrorists have been weakened by the more methodical and focused approach of the present administration to the anti-terror fight, which includes the tightening of security at border locations that has made it difficult for the terrorists to manoeuvre. This approach is a far cry from the previous haphazard activities.

“The necessary structures for the effective coordination of the battle against the terrorists have been put in place both within and outside the country, thanks to the regional rallying efforts of the Buhari administration. ''Due to the government's

broad consultations, vital international input and support have become more real and are adding value to the counter-terrorism campaign. With the Nigeria-led Multi-National Joint Task Force due to be deployed by month's end, it is a matter of time for Boko Haram to be de-

feated. This monster cannot and will not survive. ''Against this background of a more purposeful and coordinated approach to the Boko Haram battle, Nigerians are assured that the senseless killings and maiming that have characterized one of the most bru-

tal terrorist campaigns ever will soon be over. “Nigerians, not least those who should know better, should, therefore, refrain from making comments that can only serve to create panic rather than alleviate the situation.''

N12b currency scam: Judge refuses to disqualify self for alleged bias

NE of the judges trying 22 bankers for alleged N12 billion mutilated currency scam, Justice Olayinka Faji, yesterday refused to disqualify himself from continuing with the trial as sought by two of the accused, Olaniran Muniru Adeola and Toogun Philip. The Federal High Court judge sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, however, granted the accused’s prayer for stay of execution of the ruling denying their bail, but which ordered accelerated hearing of the case pending the determination of the accused’s motion challenging the high court ruling at the appellate court. The accused had filed an appeal against the ruling through their counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, on June 26, seeking a stay of execution of the ruling and disqualification of Justice Faji from further trial based on some words used in his ruling which the accused said suggested that he was biased. They said it would be difficult for them to get fair hearing before the judge based on some of his pronouncements in the ruling. Eight people are standing

Bisi OLADELE, Ibadan trial in one of the three cases. They are Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola, Toogun Kayode Philip, Isaac Akano, Ayodele Festus Adeyemi, Oyebamiji Akeem, Ayodeji Aleshe and Ajiwe Sunday Adegoke, The same application is before his brother judge, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel, who is handling three cases. After appearances were made for all accused at the hearing yesterday, counsel made oral arguments on the application. Delivering his ruling, Justice Faji dismissed Ojo's first prayer, requesting him to disqualify himself, while he granted an order to stay proceedings pending the determination of the motion before the Court of Appeal on the claim of being biased. All the counsel promised to abide by the decision of the Court of Appeal, except Olalekan Ojo and Otunba Bolanle, counsel for the first defendant, Kolawole Babalola. Barrister Bolanle associated himself with Ojo's motion before the Court of Appeal.

•Former Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako coming out of court after he was granted bail...yesterday

Buhari's cabinet: Nominees under EFCC probe face tough hurdles

Barring a last-minute change of mind on facts available to him, President Muhammadu Buhari may not appoint into his cabinet anybody under probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). It was also gathered yesterday that the President is under pressure from some eminent Nigerians, including a former President, to appoint ministers without further delay. The President had promised to constitute his cabinet by September, but the eminent Nigerians, it was learnt, have advised that any further delay would be counter-productive. Investigation by our correspondent revealed that anybody arrested, detained, quizzed, or arraigned by the EFCC may not make Buhari's cabinet in line with his commitment to probity.

Institute urged to develop national learning policy

EMBERS of the Nige rian Institute of Train ing and Development (NITAD) have been called upon to develop and introduce a national learning and development policy in order to bring about human capital development in the country. Mr. Johnson Olorunda Oluwasuji made the call while delivering a lecture entitled “Learning and Development as a Change Catalyst for National Development” at the 16th induction ceremony of the institute at the NECA House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday. “The Nigerian Institute of Training and Development has highly intelligent professionals with wide relevant experience as members. They should utilize their knowledge and experience to come out with a policy aimed at the production of the human capital that will act as change catalysts for the development of the country,” Oluwasuji said. He said the NITAD members must work for the acceptance

of the policy, adding that the appropriate body to deal with is the Federal Ministry of Education which would present it to the federal government for consideration and necessary action. The lecturer emphasized the importance of people as change catalysts and illustrated this with relevant quotes from great philosophers. He called for massive investment in the training and development of the country’s workforce in order to engender advancement in all spheres of human endeavour. He gave the history of national development plans in the country, starting from the colonial time and concluded that they were all failures because they did not achieve their objectives. He mentioned macro economy, polity, education, health, agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure as parameters used in evaluating national development and said the country had not achieved much in these areas.

He mentioned Taiwan, Singapore, USA, Japan, China and some others as examples of countries that achieved national development in the strict sense of the term. He said “these countries have the following in place: massive investment in training and capacity development, investment in well-being, innovations in different fields and legal regime that protects human rights. He ultimately called on the inductees to approach training and development in a systematic or strategic manner in order to realize their objectives as successful members of the learning and development community. The First Vice-President of the institute, Rev. Tunde Salawu, who represented the President, Dr. Kayode Ogungbuyi, and the Second Vice-President, Mrs. J.I.K. Jolaoso, commended the lecturer for his insightful presentation and advised the inductees to utilize the knowledge gained and improve on it in their day-to-day activities.

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

It was learnt that the heightening of arrest and arraignment of some politically exposed persons by the EFCC and the delay in raising the Federal Executive Council may be a setback for such politicians and technocrats, eyeing ministerial slots. One of those who might be affected is the former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, who was said to be in contention for either the Chief of Staff to the President or the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Oronsaye, who was arrested on Wednesday by the EFCC and might be prosecuted next week, is competing for the SGF slot with exgovernors Rotimi Amaechi and Ogbonnaya Onu. It was learnt that Oronsaye is a favoured candidate of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It was also gathered that the petition against ex-Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso before the EFCC was part of a plot by some politicians to abort the plan to make him a minister. Some forces and groups were said to have made a case for Kwankwaso as the next Minister of the Federal Capital Tertitory. Others who may have difficulty in serving in Buhari's government in any capacity are ex-governors Timpreye Sylva, Murtala Nyako, Prince Abubakar Audu and Danjuma Goje. Although these former governors played vital roles in delivering their states to APC, they are all under trial in one form or the other with the cases dragging for about four to five years. A reliable source said: "I think that those who have cases or undergoing investiga-

tion with the EFCC or the ICPC might not make the ministerial list until the allegations against them are sorted out. "Although the law presumes these former governors innocent until proven guilty by the court, there may be a challenge in making them nominees because of public opin-

ion. "The list is being carefully screened in such a way that there will be no issues with their clearance in the Senate." Meanwhile, contrary to the alleged recommendation of the Ahmed Joda Transition Committee, the President may not be able to appoint 19 ministers.

Kogi to elect new governor Nov 21, Bayelsa Dec 5

HE Independent Na tional Electoral Com mission (INEC) yesterday fixed November 21,2015 for the governorship election in Kogi State ,and December 5,2015 for that of Bayelsa State. Details of the elections announced by the Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC , Chris Eyimoga,indicated that formal notice of the Kogi election would be issued by August 23 and that of Bayelsa by September 5, in accordance with the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

Conduct of primary elections to nominate candidates by political parties for Kogi will follow between August 25 and September 15; and for Bayelsa between September 7 and 30. “Campains by political parties shall commence on 24th July, 2015 and end on 19th November, 2015 in Kogi and 6th September, 2015 terminating on 3rd December, 2015 in Bayelsa,” INEC said. The tenure of Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State will end on January 27,2016 while Dickson’s will terminate on February 14, 2016, respectively.

Cameroon repulses Boko Haram attack, kills three militants

AMEROON'S army has repulsed an attack by Boko Haram and killed three of the terrorists in heavy fighting in the Far North region of the country. A Cameroon government spokesman said the attack represented a change of tactics by the militants, following a series of battlefield defeats this year in which they have lost territory to a regional force that comprises Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, spokesman Issa Tchiroma said. "Early Tuesday morning around 3.:40 a.m. (0140 GMT) an enemy column in four-wheel

drive vehicles opened fire on positions held by our defence forces," he said of the attack in Bodo town. "There followed violent combat until dawn. Faced with the repost of our soldiers, the aggressors beat a retreat leaving behind three dead, a quantity of weapons and a lot of blood," he said, adding that no government soldiers were hurt. The militants are trying to "make their voice heard and prove that they continue to exist," he said. Boko Haram rarely comments directly on military action and there was no independent confirmation of the battle.

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

Iyaloja's murder: We'll hunt down killers, sponsors, says Ogun CP HE Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Alli, yesterday visited the Ijebu - Ode home of the slain Iyaloja of Ijebuland, Alhaja Sadiat Eleweju, vowing that her killers would soon be arrested. The deceased was allegedly hacked to death by assassins in her Itonrin-Molode-Sabo residence in Ijebu – Ode, after her male househelps went to market. Her remains were buried on Thursday according to the Muslim rites. The Police Commissioner, who resumed duty in the state on Thursday afternoon, said the Command would carry out thorough investigation to unearth the identities of the perpetrators and their sponsors, assuring that the Command would mobilise men and materials to ensure successful investigation. Alli who made his first official visit to Ijebuland, appealed to the

Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta deceased's family to accept the incident with equanimity, stressing that manner of her death was unacceptable. He said: "It is an unfortunate incident.I am here on behalf of the Inspector General of Police and the entire police force to commiserate with the family and to assure them of our support. This is to reassure the family and the entire people of the state that our investigation and intelligence network has been spread across the state and very soon, we will make headway. I am assuring you that as soon as those behind the crime are caught, we will let you know." He said he had received update on crime rate in Ijebuland and had set up teams to ensure adequate security of lives and property not only in the area but also in the entire state.

Police nab member of eight-man robbery gang PERATIVES of the Lagos State Police Command have nabbed a member of an eightman robbery gang that unleashed terror on the residents of a Federal Housing Estate at Ojokoro area of Lagos State during the week. The hoodlums stormed the estate at about 3am and carted away money, jewelries, phones, laptops and other valuables. They also inflicted various degree of injuries on their victims. Narrating his ordeal, one of the victims said: “ I heard a deafening noise outside and I tried to find out what was going on. They continued hit-

Ambode promises jobs for youths in hospitality sector Miriam EKENE-Okoro agos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday pledged that his administration would seize the opportunity of the huge potentials that abound in the hospitality sector to create jobs for youths in the state. Ambode, who spoke at the official commissioning of The George, a hospitality centre in Ikoyi, Lagos, said, the government would expand the frontiers of the hospitality industry in the state so as to attract investment. "Lagos State is known as the Centre of Excellence for a number of reasons. One of these is the accommodating nature of our people and the various tourism and recreation sites that abound in the state. We are committed to putting in place relevant policies and incentives that would create an enabling environment for the development of the hospitality sector as a key driver of our administration's development agenda," he said.

Ebele BONIFACE

ting the security door with a sledge hammer. When I inquired to know who they were, they told me to keep quiet, saying with all boldness that they were armed robbers. They said they only needed my money. Without hesitating, I gave them all that I had on me.They wounded one of my daughters who was lying face down. They hit her with a saw.” Another victim who simply identified herself as Mrs. Uko alleged that the robbers came from a neighbouring estate into theirs, adding: “They scaled the fence and entered our house. They carried guns, saws, iron and wooden rods. They hit my window and asked me to open the door. Initially I did not want to open the door for them but when they started cutting the protector to come in through the window I told them to stop and allow me open the door for them. “I opened the door and saw eight of them. I wanted to scream and run but they held me and asked me not to shout and to go back to the room. They collected my money, phones and jewelries . Thereafter, they broke into my neighbours apartment. The breadwinner immediately gathered his family and ran into one of the rooms and locked themselves. “The robbers ran after them and and broke the man’s head using the butt of their gun and robbed the family of their valuables. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Ken Nwosu, confirmed the incident, adding: “ The information got to the Meiran Police Division a bit late and, when they arrived the robbers had fled. Investigations are ongoing while patrol and surveillance have been intensified.”

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola being hailed by a crowd of residents after joining other Muslims to pray at the Ansar-ud-deen Central Mosque Osogbo...yesterday

Oyo Election Tribunal stalled over non-arrival of chairman NE month after its inauguration, proceedings at the Oyo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ibadan, the state capital has been stalled following the delay in appointing a new chairman. The former Chairman, Justice F.C Obieze retired after attaining the minimum retirement age of 65 years. The tribunal has been adjourning since he retired. The other members of the tribunal, Justice Mohammed Karaye and J.E Ikede, have appeared at

Tayo JOHNSON, Ibadan different sittings to inform the court that they were still expecting the arrival of the new chairman. During its sitting on Friday, the �lead counsel of the petitioners, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Accord Party, Chief Richard Ogunwole (SAN), informed the tribunal that he had travelled to Abuja on Wednesday to speak with the President of the Court of Appeal to ask for the appointment of a new chairman, stress-

‘Don’t drag Tinubu’s name in the mud’ group, Yoruba Youth Congress (YYC), yesterday warned against attempt to drag the name of the All Progressives Congress(APC)National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the mud over political sentiments. The group described the former Lagos State governor as a living hero of democracy, stating that he was majorly responsible for making the change desired by the people possible. In a statement signed by the National President Prince Dapo Adepoju, the group said, Nigerians should appreciate Tinubu for the role he played in the 2015 presidential election and the struggle for sustenance of democracy in the country. “ Tinubu deserved to be commended for making it possible for the opposition to have a voice in the affairs of

Damisi OJO, Akure the country for the first time since independence. We totally condemn a situation where those who put Nigeria into abyss of debt and economic depression are now ganging up again to destabilise the country. “We therefore urge the citizenry to rally round the present APC government for ample benefits. While we are confident that President Buhari’s administration would not disappoint the masses, we want to use this opportunity to enjoin him to be fair in sharing of political offices. He should also be wary of the people who may be trying to pitch him against Asiwaju Tinubu for the purpose of achieving their selfish interest,” the group said.

ing that the tribunal had lost a month due to the absence of a chairman to direct the proceedings. "The president promised a new chairman would be appointed and given his letter of resumption that same Wednesday but was not sure if he would be able to meet up with today’ sitting. But she promised that the new chairman will resume latest by this weekend. I will implore the members of this panel to communicate with the president to be sure about when the new chairman will be resuming," he said. Ogunwole expressed hope that the new chairman would know the importance of timing and willing to resume as early as possible. Justice Karaye suggested that the tribunal should be adjourned till 21st of July, due to the Salah public holiday coming up next week Thursday and Friday. His suggestion was however rejected by Ogunwole (SAN), who insisted the tribunal resumes on Tuesday, 14th of July in order to cover up the time wasted. In his remark, Chief Olanipekun (SAN), said, incessant adjournment of the tribunal to dates that are not realistic for the resumption of the new chairman is giving the law profession a bad name in the media. He urged the court to adjourn to a date that will be certain for the resumption of the new chairman of the tribunal.

Oodua group warns Omisore, PDP against instigating violence in Osun HE Coalition of Oodua SelfDetermination Group (COSEG) has accused the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the August 9 election in Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore of being behind the series of plots to destabilise the state. The group, in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos said it is ironic that Omisore whose party, the PDP brought Nigeria to her economic woes after 16 years of misrule is now championing protests against the governor of Osun,whom the group credited with outstanding successes in the state. In the statement signed by the President, Ifedayo Ogunlana and the Secretary, Rasak Olokooba, COSEG warned Omisore, the PDP and others who might be involved in all the plans to set the state on fire to watch out for the long arms of the law. “We as a Yoruba organisation cannot watch as some people who have been part of the systematic decima-

...as pensioners dissociate selves from protest tion of our race and economic woes of Nigeria again openly thwart the efforts to rebuild this country. “What is happening in Osun is clear case of treason and the earlier the whole world sees this, the better. The governor of Osun was elected by the same people who rejected Omisore. What he failed to get through the ballot on August 9 2014 and through the tribunal, the Appeal Tribunal and the Supreme Court, he cannot think of having it through these illegitimate and criminal avenues. Enough is enough,”the group stated. A group of pensioners in the state, under the eagis of Nigerian Union of Pensioners Triangular Group, have however distanced themselves from what they called the anti-Aregbesola protest rally in Osogbo, the state capital, over the unpaid salaries and pensions. The group headed by Prince

Rotimi Adelugba, disclosed that all those who were protesting on behalf of the pensioners were a group allegedly being sponsored by the opposition party in the state.He stated that the non payment of salary, though, affects thousands of workers in the state, is not peculiar to Osun alone and for that reason must be understood. With the bailout announced by the Federal Government, the pensioners’ boss said the state would soon get out of the financial logjam. He said: "We dissociate ourselves from the politically motivated pensioners' protest in Osun. The protesting group was alleged to have been sponsored by some people in the opposition political party who do not want the state to be peaceful. "We appreciate the good governance and the developmental stride of Governor Aregbesola in the past five years.”

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

Tension in Rivers over court's ruling on council chiefs •Police take over 22 council to avert mayhem •Wike appoints caretaker chairmen OLLOWING the crises that bers were said to have been sent Bisi OLANIYI, Rosemary NWISI & have trailed Thursday’s dis- Clarice AZUATALAM, Port Harcourt for screening by the members of solution and the subsequent the state House of Assembly inauguration of new caretaker Harcourt, on Thursday nullified shortly after the court sacked their committee chairmen and coun- the election of council chairmen predecessors. cilors for the 22 local government and councilors of the 22 Local Members of the ousted APC areas by Rivers State governor, Government Areas (LGAs) on the council chairmen, while speaking Onyesom Wike, operatives of the grounds of disobedience. They are with newsmen, accused the PDP Nigeria Police have sealed-off the all members of All Progressives members and supporters of alCongress (APC). council secretariats. ready invading the council secreGovernor Wike of the ruling tariats and called on security Te order to seal-off the secretaraits followed a directive by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) agencies to protect lives of resiInspector-General of Police (IGP), immediately inaugurated a new dents and properties, including Solomon Ariase, to forestall any caretaker committee man the af- those of government. possible breakdown of law and fairs of the councils for the next The order to prevent workers three months. order in the state. and members of the public from They names of the new mem- going into the affected council A Federal High court in Port

Clark offers scholarships to 100 undergraduates JAW leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has offered scholarships to at least 100 qualifying students who gained admission into his newly-established university. The scholarship cuts across fifteen disciplines that are to be offered in the Edwin Clark University (ECU). Announcing the offers yesterday in Abuja, the onetime national commissioner said the gesture was the only way to give back to the society. The elder statesman, who was once a teacher, stressed that "this scholarship scheme will encourage students from different parts of Nigeria to live and learn together in a patriotic spirit and thus contribute to the socio-economic development of our nation." Besides, he said the gesture was another way to cushion the effect of the financial burden on parents, guardian and sponsors of potential students of the

n Vincent IKUOMOLA, Abuja n university. Explaining further on why he chose education, Clark said that on his 85th birthday when the idea came to him to do something as a legacy, the only thing that came to mind was education, this he explained was as a result of his long time involvement with education. "Three years ago, I thought there was a need for me to leave a legacy and I thought of an area and because I have been involved with education for many years. "I don't want to make money. At 88, what profit do I want to make? And so, I do not want money to be an hindrance to any student who would want to come to the university. "Anyone who comes to the university, especially the first 100, should be given scholarship."

premises was reportedly sent by IGP at about 11.30 Thursday night. Governor Wike criticized the IG and the Federal Government for ordering the sealing-off of the secretariats, saying that it was not right. He described it as a period of temptation and appealed to party members and supporters to maintain the peace. He said: "We were informed this morning that armed policemen have taken over the local government councils. Yesterday, were sworn-in 22 caretaker committee chairman after the federal high court nullified the so-called May 23, local government election. "We did not dissolve the local government councils, as been highly speculated. We followed due process. We refused all pressures to dissolve the councils as some states had done. So, we are surprised to be informed this morning that the gates of the councils have been locked. And armed policemen who have taken over are insisting no one can go inside the councils.” Meanwhile, members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, yesterday engaged themselves in an confrontation. Eyewitnesses said supporters of

both parties clashed in front of Emohua secretariat. According to sources, while members of the APC refused to vacate the premises of the council for the newly sworn-in PDP caretaker committee chairman, those of the PDP insisted that the new members must have access to the secretariat. The two camps were said to have engaged each other in gun battle, with sporadic gunshots being fired. Residents of the area scampered for safety, while the sporadic gunshots continued for about 45 minutes before armed policemen drafted to the scene restored order. Eyewitnesses said that scores were injured, while many vehicles were damaged during the fracas. It was also gathered that all the other 21 local council offices in the state, where new caretaker committee chairmen and councilors were sworn in on Thursday night, were sealed off by the police. It was gathered that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Ariase, gave the order for the Commissioner of the Rivers State Police command, Mr Chris Ezike, to deploy armed policemen to seal off the local government secretariats. At about 11 20am on Friday, 10 police operational vehicles with armed policemen were strategi-

Continued on page 65

Controversy trails death of Edo vigilante leader n Osagie OTABOR, Benin n He alleged killing of the chairman of Oghara Vigilante Group, Mr. Benson Ogedegbe, by men of the 19 Battalion of the Nigeria Army, has continued to generate more controversy across the state. Chairman of Oghara Community Youth Association, Mr. Efe Tobor, yesterday said eyewitnesses’ accounts claimed that Ogedegbe was killed while attempting to wrestle a rifle from one of the soldiers. Mr. Tobor, who spoke through his counsel, Barr. Jane Ovierere, in Benin City, said late Ogedegbe was earlier arrested in 2013 by a joint task force of the 19 Battalion Army in Koko in line with illegal bunkery/pipeline vandalization in Oghara. Barr. Ovierere said a notorious criminal nabbed by soldiers in May 2015 named late Ogedegbe as the source of their arms and ammunition. Ovierere stated that the confession of the suspect placed late Ogedegbe on the wanted list of the Army after he failed to honour the invitation of the JTF. She countered claims by Ogedegbe's wife that her husband was assassinated by the soldiers because she was at the scene of the crime, and could have been killed by the soldiers 'knowing full well that she can identify and testify against them.' According to her, "He never returned until the suspect Mr. Austine Adede was released to the Nigeria Police for

•One of the assests of the former Enugu State Governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, to be forfeited to the Federal GovSource: EFCC ernment.

Lawyers fault youths over threats to sue Dickson group of lawyers in Bayelsa State, under the aegis of Young Lawyers Coalition for Good Governance (YLCGG), yesterday slammed some youth groups in the state for threatening to drag Governor Seriake Dickson to court over alleged non-rehabilitation of repented cultists. The lawyers, who are disposed to the reelection bid of the governor, in a statement by the President, Igbete

n Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa n Itari, and Secretary, Beinmote Amambogha, said the groups were misled to issue empty threats to Dickson. The youth groups, comprising the National Youth Council of Nigeria and the Ijaw Youth Council, on Wednesday threatened Dickson with legal action over his alleged refusal to fulfill a contract signed be-

CORRECTION:

Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has cleared the statement credited to him in yesterday's edition that he had told President Muhammadu Buhari to take away the Boko Haram suspects from the South East prison. What he said is: "The traders have right to protest but there is no need for the protest because the South East governors have told the Federal Government not to relocate Boko Haram prisoners to South East; and I think the Federal Government is doing someting about it"

tween his government and former cultists. Former President, NYCN, Bayelsa State, Bright Igrubia, asked the governor to tender an apology to the state over his alleged failures of his administration to empower and develop youths. But reacting to the allegations, the lawyers warned the groups against inciting the youth in the state. They said that Dickson's administration was reputed for its unparalleled youth development and empowerment policies. "It is therefore unfortunate that Bright Igrubia, who could not move freely in the state because of menace of cult activities before Dickson assumed office, could open his mouth wide to attack the governor.

"Dickson, mindful of the special place of the youth in the maintenance of peace, social order and development in the state has taken a holistic approach in tackling youths’ restiveness. "He has appointed more than 30 per cent of qualified youths into various political offices as senior special assistants as well as 70 per cent appointed into the rural development authorities among other empowerment programmes." The lawyers also noted that the Samson Siasia Football Academy at Angalabiri, the Sports Academy at Asuene, the International Institute of Tourism and other programmes were clear testimonies of the governor's determination to develop and empower youths in the state.

proper prosecution and the Oghara Youth election which was fast approaching. "On the day of his death, late Benson Ogedegbe was seen by a roundabout and was chased by the Army until he got to a no alternative road/route. He jumped off his car and started running until a soldier caught up with him and held him from behind. "My friend Uforma, who was watching from her room window, saw late Benson Ogedegbe dragging a riffle with the soldier who held him. All she heard next was a gunshot and Benson Ogedegbe falling to the ground."

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

Robbers sack Anambra community •Residents, college workers flee F OLLOWING the incessant cases of robbery in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra state, the community and staff of Federal College of Education, Technical, yesterday took to the streets to protest. The protesters, numbering over 1,000, carried placards and marched to the house of the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Promise Eze and the house of former deputy governor of the state, Emeka Sibeudu. The protesters also marched to the local gov-

n Nwanosike ONU, Awka n

ernment headquarters in the state, chanting war songs and cursing the armed robbers, who according to them, had laid siege to the community. Last Sunday, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Sunny Ike, died, following gun shots he received from the armed robbers who invaded his house about three weeks ago. Some of the placards read, ‘life and property no

longer safe in Umunze’; ‘fish out thieves in your mist’; ‘enough is enough; stop the killings in Umunze’ and ‘injury to one is injury to many’ among others. The protest was led by the Chairman of the institution Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Dr. A.T. Nwamaradi, Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) chairman, Alex Okoli and Eze Joachim, the chairman of senior staff union of college of education Nigeria (SSUCOEN). Though, the lawmaker

representing Orumba south constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon Nikky Ugochukwu, was not around, but the former deputy governor described the situation as unfortunate. He said that the administration of Governor Willie Obiano had done well in the area of security, adding that the community was a border town between Imo and Abia states, assuring the protesters that something must be done to arrest the situation. He said that the commu-

nity’s vigilante group was doing its best to curtail the activities of the robbers, adding that more efforts should be made to ensure the security of lives and property. Speaking, the chairman of (COEASU), Dr. A.T Nwamaradi, said as a result of the invasion of the community, staff and students have relocated to neighboring communities for safety. He said many staff of the college lost property and cash worth millions, adding that some of them had been robbed about nine times.

Akwa Ibom holds retreat for cabinet members S part of efforts to fulfill his campaign promises, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, yesterday declared open a retreat for the newly-appointed members of his cabinet, which he said is aimed at intimating them with the vision of the new leadership in the state. According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ekerete Udoh, the retreat, which is focused on industrialization, would appraise ways to build on the legacies of the former Governor of the State, Godswill Akpabio and keep the state’s sound footing for economic development. The statement added that the governor has declared his commitment to leverage on the economic potentials of the state to move it to the next level. Mr. Udoh said the retreat would also focus on how to harness the various resources in the state to achieve total industrialization for the benefit of all citizens, adding that it would map out strategies on how all the ministries can work together for the realization of the economic policies of the Udomled administration. He added that the new governor had set up a technical committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency, Technical Committee on Ibom Deep Seaport, and that on Monday, July 13, a Technical committee on Foreign Direct Investment would be inaugurated, while a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of a plant to assemble luxury cars, ambulances and fire trucks in Itu will also hold same day. While setting up the technical committee for the realization of the deep seaport project recently, Governor Emmanuel said: “Ibom Deep Seaport is an audacious attempt to re-write the maritime story of Akwa Ibom State. It holds the promise of an industrial revolution of our state, creation of over 100,000 jobs, as well as the promise of a selfsustaining commercial city with oil and gas support services. In addition, it holds the promise of our finally tapping into our awesome and largely untapped maritime potential.”

•From right: Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and his Deputy, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, undergoing a biometrics data capturing exercise at the state Ministry of Finance, Enugu…recently. On their right are the Head of Service, Mr. Chidi Ezema and the Accountant-General, Mr. Pascal Okolie.

Abia judicial workers refuse to end strike HE Abia State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria [JUSUN] has told its members that the strike action they embarked upon to press home their demands will not be called off except government accede to its demands. The union also advised its members to disregard any announcements or newspaper reports, claiming that the strike has been called off, describing such announcements as the work of their detractors. The stand of the Abia JUSUN was contained in a communiqué signed by the chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Onyemereibeya and Comrade Chinedu Ezeh, which accused government officials of trying to divide the union. The communiqué commended the judges, magistrates and other men and women of goodwill on

n Ugochukwu UGOJI-EKE, Umuahia n their continued understanding and support for the full implementation of the federal high court judgment on financial autonomy and independence of the judiciary. The union said that they had an agreement with the state government on how to stop the strike action, which it said includes the full implementation of the federal high court judgment. The communiqué reads in part, “We frown at the provoking and divisive actions of some agents of the state government on the implementation of the both the federal high court judgment dated 13th January, 2014, and MOU dated 22rd April 2015, on financial autonomy and independence of the judiciary.

Ayade tasks UNICAL on ethics, assures on partnership HE governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, has challenged the administration of the University of Calabar to focus emphasis of its curriculum on ethical attitude and conduct. Speaking while receiving the governing board of the university, led by its chairman, Dr, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, on a courtesy call, the governor observed that they should provide a training ground for young people to realize their worth in the society. According to him, “Your focus should be on ethical attitude and ethical conduct as you train the young ones year in year out. The university provides a molding ground that molds and develops a child. It creates hope and aspiration that build the society which is equally about morality. Until the value is instilled in a child, you would have failed in your responsibility as higher institution of learning.” Governor Ayade also noted that, “You are building a society for today and the future .You are representing that spiritual God force because God acts through men. “The university must focus on ethics, work and value as opposed to wealth and lifestyle that is now the trend, especially in Nigeria.” He charged the university to create an environment of morality that will help the students to grow, lamenting that he feels a sense of worry when some moral and core values are relegated to the background, even as he advised that social justice must prevail in whatever they do. Ayade, who disclosed that he was aware of the impact created by the university since its inception in 1975, promised to replace its burnt transformer to enable the restoration of electricity, stating that “The state will continue to support you irrespective of the fact that you are a federal institution because you are serving our people primarily.”

Police take over 22 Rivers council secretariats Continued from page 64 cally positioned around the Port Harcourt City Local Government Headquarters, along Moscow Road with no one seen inside the secretariat whose gates were firmly locked. The armed policemen who were polite when accosted simply said they were on official duty and are not expected to disclose their mission to anyone who is not directly connected to offering security services to Nigerians. When contacted for comments on the presence of armed policemen at the entrance of the local council secretariat, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP. Ahmad Mohammad, said in a terse text message that: "It's for protection of life and property". Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has kicked

against the decision of Governor Nyesom Wike to inaugurate members of the caretaker committees in 22 of the state's 23 local government areas, contrary to the order of the National Industrial Court (NIC), sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The NIC earlier gave an order restraining Wike from dissolving the 22 Rivers councils, pending the determination of the suit filed by the chairmen. Speaking on the development, Rivers APC, through its chairman, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, yesterday in Port Harcourt, insisted that the setting up and the inauguration of the caretaker committee members were illegal. Rivers APC said: "Wike, on Thursday night, appointed and sworn in caretaker committees for 22 Local Government Councils in Rivers State, presumably based on the illegal pronouncements of Federal High Court One, sitting in

Port Harcourt and presided over by Justice Lambo Akanbi. "The APC will like to unequivocally state that the ruling by Justice Akanbi on was illegal and to that extent, unacceptable to the APC. Our rejection of the ruling is based on facts. "On April 29, 2015, Justice Akanbi acknowledged that he was on notice that the jurisdiction of his court was on appeal by counsel to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and the Rivers State government, and therefore adjourned the matter sine die (indefinitely), pending the outcome of the appeal at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt. Consequently, all parties retreated to wait for the decision of the Court of Appeal, fixed for October 12, 2015, for which all parties are already on hearing notice. "The application to join by the APC, which Justice Akanbi turned

down, was appealed and that appeal is still pending at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt. There is a subsisting court order in suit number: NICN/YEN/26/2015 by the National Industrial Court, Yenagoa, preventing the Rivers governor and other parties from undertaking any action to dissolve the 23 councils and/or remove the chairmen and councilors from office. Both courts have co-ordinate jurisdiction. The party also called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase; the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS); the new Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Chris Okey Ezike; and all other security agencies to be on notice to continue to provide security for the duly-elected chairmen and councilors. But the Rivers chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, described the

move as a step in the right direction. Obuah also said the dissolution of the 22 councils, through a ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, and presided over by Justice Lambo Akanbi, was in order. The PDP said the ruling had once more strengthened the confidence and trust of the people in the Nigerian judiciary as the last hope of the common man, and praised its members for remaining calm while the litigation lasted. "The court's victory is not only for the PDP, but for the entire Rivers people, who are the beneficiaries of the sanity and rule of law that have been ushered in by the council election nullification." It will be recalled that Justice Akanbi sacked the 22 chairmen and their councilors, who were elected on May 23 this year, for allegedly disobeying his order.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

NEWS

My appointments are fair and just, says Ortom •Pledges to use bailout to pay salaries B

ENUE state Governor Samuel Ortom has declared that appointments made by his administration, took into consideration, the interest of all sections in the state to ensure that they were fair and just. He made the disclosure during a meeting with Idoma second class chiefs at the Och'Idoma's palace in Otukpo yesterday, in continuation of his meetings with traditional rulers across the state. According to him the appointments were made in consultation with stakeholders in line with the administration's philosophy of fairness, equity, justice and due process all aimed at reducing acrimony in the polity. He said no section in the state had the monopoly of holding onto a particular position for too long, pointing out that it was in such light that the position of Secretary to the State government was now moved to Benue North West while, the State Head of Service went to Benue South in addition to five commissionership slots, while the other senatorial districts had four each. The Governor said the Benue North East had five advisers, North West four, and South six. He appealed to people of the state to see rotation of appointments and other decisions of government as part of the change that Nigerians had fought for. He used the occasion to restate commitment of the administration to the welfare of the people, especially payment of salaries, pensions and provision of critical infrastructure. He also pledged to create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and boost the state's economy. Governor Ortom who was accompanied by the state Deputy Governor, Engineer Benson

Abounu, called on the Idoma Area Traditional Council to collaborate with the administration to tackle security challenges in the state and particularly in their domain. Gov Ortom commended the Och'Idoma for remaining non partisan and admonished all royal fathers in the state to eschew partisan politics. In his remarks, the Och'Idoma, Dr Elias Ekoyi Obekpa, stated that the people were more concerned with the provision of good governance than appointments of which they were not complaining about. He commended Governor

Ortom for finding one of their sons, Engineer Abounu worthy to be his Deputy. The Och'Idoma also expressed confidence, that all the problems confronting the administration were surmountable, promised that they would continue to pray for him to succeed and that on their part they would remain non partisan in dealing with the people. In another development, Gov Ortom acknowledged that Benue State has received N2.7 billion

from the bailout which President Muhammadu Buhari approved for states. He made the disclosure yesterday still at the Och'Idoma's palace in Otukpo. Governor Ortom explained that although the money was not enough to pay one month's salary with overhead. He however assured that, he would source for more funds elsewhere and add to it and pay salaries and pensions. He maintained that at the moment, the state has a monthly

wage bill of N3.7 billion including overheads, noting that apart from the bailout, the state government would improve on its internal revenue sources to enable it sustain payment of salaries and pensioners. Governor Ortom said the wage bill was bloated hence his directive for staff audit. He said the exercise was not to witch-hunt anybody, but to block leakages and accountability in managing resources.

Gas explosion kills 5 in Suleja HE police on Friday confirmed the death of five persons during explosion at a gas station in Suleja, Niger state. Police Area Commander, Suleja, Mr Abubakar Yahaya, confirmed the death in an interview with news men. He said the police were immediately deployed to the scene to safeguard further loss of lives and property. "Some staff of the company said three staff and two customers lost their lives, while those injured were rushed to Sabon Wuse General Hospital." The Medical Director of the Suleja General Hospital, Dr Adedokun Abdulaziz, also confirms that two people sustained high degree burns, and were referred to a specialised hospital in Zaria. Eligibility: Court upholds Sen. Dariye’s election as PDP candidate A Jos Federal High Court yesterday upheld the participation and election of Sen. Joshua Dariye as the PDP candidate for Plateau Central Senatorial District in the Dec. 7 party primaries. The eligibility of Dariye in taking part in the PDP senatorial primaries held in Pankshin, had been challenged by Mr Alexander Mwolwus, the former Special Adviser (SA) to former governor Jonah Jang. Dariye had left Labour Party (LP) and joined PDP where he won the primaries after beating five other aspirants, including Mwolwus. In his affidavit, through his counsel, J.S. Iliya, Mwolwus prayed the court to quash the election of Dariye at the primaries on the ground that he was not formally re-absorbed but was granted waiver by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja. According to him, the state party leadership did not recognise Dariye as a member of the party until the waiver that came shortly before the primaries. But Dariye through his counsel, Mr Garba Pwul (SAN), had asked the court to strike out the case for lack of merit, arguing that only a political party has the power to choose its candidates for any election. Justice Ambrose Allagoa, in his judgment, said after careful consideration of the arguments put by the counsels in the case, faulted the approach of Mwolwus to the case.

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau (left) and Deputy Governor, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, at the inauguration of sale of fertiliser to farmers for 2015 cropping season in Jos… yesterday Photo: NAN

el-Rufai: Radical in the saddle • Continued from Page 7 That notwithstanding, it is becoming clear that the list of Governor el-Rufai's political foes may be increasing as many feel alienated from the patronage they expected after their political party's election victory. Aggrieved politicians who expected much more than what el-Rufai is offering their ilk are not just sulking over the technocratic, cost-cutting disposition of the governor; they are eagerly awaiting the chance to pay him back in due course. Among the criticisms levelled against El-Rufai was the appointment of nonindigenes, including Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye and Jimi Lawal, whom he had been working with before becoming governor, as favoured appointees. Also, they note that the unprecedented appointment of a woman, Hadiza Bala Usman, as the governor's Chief of Staff puts men in such a patriarchal society in a difficult position in terms of seeking favour and pleading for various forms of patronage. Religious clerics, traditional rulers and politicians have made futile efforts, trying to change the governor's mind about free hajj seats, Ramadan feeding programme and some of the measures aimed at cutting the cost of governance but Governor el-Rufai is sticking to his guns. Born on 16 February, 1960 in Daudawa, Faskari Local Government Area in Katsina State, Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, a former Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, was Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from 16 July 2003 to 29 May 2007. He was reportedly in self-exile during the tenure of President Umaru Yar'Adua

‘

With that, he affirms the ruling APC's campaign for genuine fiscal federalism, leaving governors in other parts of Nigeria with a challenge of how to redirect their attention away from the easy plunder of huge resources in the hands of council chairmen, many of whom seem continually confused about differentiating between their right and left

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and an intimidating Senate investigation into land allocations during his tenure as minister took place shortly after he returned. With a tenacity partly inspired by the loss of his father when he was eight years old, el-Rufai passed through the prestigious Barewa College with award of excellence in 1976. At Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, he made First Class honours for his degree in Quantity Survey and later proceeded to Harvard Business School and Georgetown University. After years in public service, he went to the University of London for an LL.B degree, grduating in August 2008 with Upper Second Class Honors and then did a Master's Degree in Public

Administration at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University in June 2009. He also received the Kennedy School Certificate in Public Policy and Management having spent 11 months as an Edward A. Mason Fellow in Public Policy and Management from July 2008 to June 2009. The highs and lows of el-Rufai's public career are engaging and well presented in Wikipedia. He mounted a very daring and unprecedented crusade against corruption by successfully exposing two senators who had demanded for bribes from him to ease his ministerial confirmation. As Minister of the FCT, he brought sanity and boom into the real estate sector with the establishment of the Abuja Geographic Information System within 12 months of being appointed as minister, thereby making the FCT Nigeria's first municipality to have a computerised land register and information system. Along with the President and members of the Economic Management Team, he led the reform of the Nigerian public service which had become dysfunctional during years of military dictatorship. At various times during his tenure as minister, he oversaw the Federal Ministries of Commerce (twice) and Interior. ]He also chaired several high-profile cabinet committees that led to the establishment of a mortgage system in Nigeria, National ID card system for Nigeria, Electric Power Supply Improvement and the sale of Federal Government real estate in Abuja. Nasir el-Rufai is married to three wives, Hadiza, who is an architect, Asia and Ummi.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

NEWS

RAMADAN KAREEM

Ramadan 24, 1436AH

Cleric advises Muslims to seek Allah's forgiveness

LHAJI Garba AlYolawi, Chief imam of the Area 10 Central Mosque, Abuja, yesterday admonished Muslims to continuously seek Allah's forgiveness to win His pleasure. Al-Yolawi gave the admonition in a Juma'at sermon in Abuja. According to him, seeking forgiveness purifies the heart of believers, adding, ``as Muslims, we need 'Istighafar' to constantly purify and cleanse our hearts. ``We were not born in sin but we were born in weakness and we are faced with many temptations that are part of test in life.

``When we commit sin, it produces a dark stain in our hearts but when we show sincere repentance and pray for forgiveness, the dark stain is removed,'' he said. The cleric warned that it was dangerous for Muslims to commit sins without repentance. ``If people refuse to repent, a time may come when their hearts will be full of darkness due to un-repented sins,'' he said. The Chief Imam, who said that seeking forgiveness from Allah, particularly in the last 10 days of Ramadan, could be particularly rewarding, enjoined Muslims to imbibe the habit .

•From Right: Asiwaju Muslumi of Yorubaland, Khamis Olatunde Badmus; Managing Director, Tuns Foods, Eng Olalekan Badmus and Former Special Assistant to Osun State Governor, Alhaji Muniru Adebayo Raji at the Tarawih prayer in Osogbo, Osun State.

Islamic organisation donates items to orphans, less privileged

HE Jama’atu Izalatul Bidah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), an Islamic organisation, yesterday donated items worth N1.2 million to orphans and the less privileged in the FCT. Malam Muhammad Sanni, the Secretary to the organisation’s FCT Committee on

orphans and less privileged, said it was a usual practice, especially during Ramadan. “ We gathered the orphans today to see how we can assist them, being the month of Ramadan; the month of help. “So, we fixed today to see what we can do for them, especially now that Ramadan is coming to an end.’’

RAMADAN GUIDE WITH FEMI ABBAS e-mail: femabbas@yahoo.com Tel: 08122697498

Zakah of wealth

ERHAPS you knew. Perhaps you didn’t know that there are two types of Zakah in Islam. One is Zakatul Ayn (meaning Head Levy). The other is Zakatul Fitr (meaning festal charity). Both are obligatory albeit with different conditions. While Zakatul Mal is meant for Muslim adults who are in possession of net income that is taxable according to the measure of Nisab. The other is meant for all Muslims irrespective of age or level of income. Even expected children who are still in the wombs of their mothers are supposed to be assisted by their parents in paying the latter. Zakah, as a means of redistributing wealth, plays such a central role in Islam that the other four pillars only rotate around its axis. By the ‘central’ role it occupies and the coordinating role it plays among the five pillars of Islam, any good Muslim should understand that Zakah is divinely destined to serve a special purpose in the life of the Muslim Ummah. Zakah is an Arabic word which literally means purification. But technically, it connotes redistribution of wealth through a legitimate channel flowing from the rich to the poor, the indigent and the needy. Its spiritual objective is to sanctify the giver’s legitimately acquired wealth from which Zakah is paid. Yet, there is another means of redistributing wealth in Islam which is not obligatory. It is called Sadaqah meaning voluntary charity). The main difference between Sadaqah and Zakah is that while the latter has specific percentage of amount to be paid as well as a specific time to pay i Sadaqah is given according to the wish of the giver at his convenient time. Of the five pillars of Islam, only Zakah affects other people directly. That some people are rich materially while others are wretched is just the fulfilment of a divine promise contained in Qur’an 42 verse 27 where Allah says “If Allah should give provision in abundance (to everybody) they would certainly revolt on earth; but he sends it down according to a measure as he pleases.” The rich today can become poor tomorrow just as today’s poor can become rich tomorrow. No one is endowed with a permanent condition in life. In most Muslim countries, Zakatul Ayn, as distinct from Zakatul Fitr, is paid in the month of Ramadan. And this does not preclude the payment of Zakatul Fitr as they are separately obligatory. Who should pay Zakah? To whom should it be paid, when and how should it be paid? Read about these tomorrow.

Sanni noted that Sallah was very much around the corner and that orphans and the less privileged would need something to celebrate and even after Sallah. “So, we in JIBWIS, always

try to make them happy and comfortable, as if their parents were still alive. “ Though we cannot do exactly what their parents were doing for them while they were alive, at least we try to

reduce their pains and plight.” The scribe expressed confidence that by the time they go back to their various homes, they would feel

happy and elated by the gesture. He said that although there were over 5,000 of such people in the FCT, the organisation could only cater for 180 orphans at the moment.

Muslims commend community leader

HE daily distribution of gifts by the Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Khamis Olatunde Badmus has been described as a worthwhile gesture. Speaking after a Ramadan Tarawih prayer , the Muslim faithful who had come in droves to pray at the residence of Badmus in Osogbo, were full of gratitude. According to them, there could not be better time than now when there is economic challenge in the state. One of the beneficiaries, Abdulsami Rasak while thanking Badmus for the gestures said, "if we have three of his kind in Osogbo, things will be better and I pray that God will continue to bless him." Also speaking, a 21 -year-old student, Ibrahim Salaudeen, said he had been coming every night to pray in the house Alhaji Badmus and each time,he would go home with something. "The money he has spent so far since Ramadan started is enough to build house, I think we should all commend him for lifting lives and providing food on the tables of Osogbo people." Elated 16-year-old Sadiq while waiting to collect his gift said during the first day of the

programme, all the men and women who came were given 10kg of Semovita and the sum of two thousand naira adding that collection of gifts was a daily affair. Speaking on this Tarawih project,his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs,Alh Dawood Ajetunmobi said that the idea is conceived to alleviate the economic challenges that the people are facing. Dawood who personally supervised the disbursement of the gift items added that "each time I distribute the items to the young, the old and the elderly ones,I see happiness in their faces and appreciation to Asiwaju on their lips.People came from all the nook and cranny of Osogbo to participate in this project." "I think act of charity is in Asiwaju's blood. In him , you find a man that is very generous .He is generous to a fault. The beneficiaries of this noble act of generosity cuts across all boundaries. By my rough estimation,I don't think he spends less than N2m on this act of generosity weekly. “.Last year December, hundreds of truck loads of goods were given out as Xmas gifts to the different strata of people in the society.

Generation before you we destroyed when they did wrong: their Apostles came to them with clear signs but they would not believe! thus do we requite those who sin! Qur’an 10 vs 13 Sponsored by ALHAJI KHAMIS OLATUNDE BADMUS Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland

An average of 1, 500 attend the prayer on a daily basis and they go home with either food or cash gifts. While Badmus is being commended, he said that there was no big deal in what is doing currently. According to him, the programme started many years ago and it is the duty of Muslims, especially those who have to give to others during the Ramadan. Badmus said Tarawih prayer was not a special programme, but it is what Muslims all over the world do during the Ramadan. He explained that the presence of many Muslims in his house during the Ramadan in his house is to pray. "Prayer is for everybody and you cannot stop people from praying, besides , it is more rewarding when you have many people

praying with you than praying alone. The Muslims enjoy congregational prayers than individual prayers.” While he would not disclose the amount being spent on gifts on a daily basis he said whoever comes to pray, has to take something home after prayer. "Everybody who comes for prayer must take something gift home, though it is not compulsory that you take something home, it is voluntary. He also agreed that the economic situation is biting hard " it is because of the economic situation that is affecting everybody, it affects me too, it is from my own little from the excess I make that I share with my fellow brothers and siters. It is being done all over the world."

NEWS

CRIME & OTHER STORIES N eight-year-old pupil of a private school at Ota,Ogun State has been allegedly killed by his teacher for rituals. Killed was Olamilekan Olajide in his school located on Funmi Ayopo Street,off Ilogbo road, Oju Oore in the industrial town. His teacher, Sunday Anaeto and two others, said to be workers in the school,Uche Isaac and Opeyemi Shodeinde,have been arrested by the police in connection with the June 19,2015 incident. It was learnt that the suspects allegedly lured the pupil into one of the classrooms in the school and slit his throat. They also allegedly removed some parts of the body and threw the remains into an uncompleted building behind the school. Anaeto and his accomplices were however caught by vigilant residents who handed them over to men of the Obasanjo Farm Police Station, Ota. As news of the dastardly act spread,an angry mob vandalized the school. A resident of the area said the building was only rented by the school proprietor . Our reporter was not allowed to take a photograph of the school building. An eyewitness who declined to reveal her identity wondered “how many innocent people would have been killed in this gruesome manner” by the suspects. She added: “the suspects killed the boy and removed his body parts for ritual purposes. They did not know that some people were watching when they threw the boy’s mutilated body into an uncompleted building. “ They were about leaving the uncompleted building when vigilant residents who had become suspicious of their movement apprehended them. They were subsequently handed over to the police and we are hoping that they would be made to pay for their

•The ‘One Chance’ suspects

‘One chance’ armed robbers smashed by SARS

T is the end of the road for four members of an armed gang said to specialize in robbing passengers of money, handsets, laptops, watches and neck chains, in Lagos. The suspects who usually posed as commercial bus drivers and conductors were rounded up by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Lagos State police Command. Nabbed were Michael Shobi Shomuti (34), Bimbo Ibitoye (32), Idris Adebari (28) and Saheed Abdul Kareem (33), and their favourite routes,according to the police, were in Ikorodu, Oshodi, Ketu, Ojota, Oshodi, Oworonshoki, Victoria Island and Bariga. Their mode of operation was to pick only two passengers at a time for them to overpower and rob easily. However,they ran out of luck on April 28,2015 after picking two passengers –a female banker and an aged man - in their operation vehicle,a Mazda MPV Space bus at Charly Boy Bus Stop on the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway at about 5.03pm. The bus had a fake registration number plate - AKD510 CJ . The suspects allegedly brought out their guns and ordered the passengers to surrender their cash, phones, bag , wrist watches and ATM card. They also proceeded to rape the woman. They soon ran into a police team and an exchange of gun ensued,leaving a member of the gang dead and another wounded. Somehow,they escaped and took the wounded to a private hospital where they lied to the doctor that they were victims of an armed robbery. The police later arrested the wounded suspect which led to the rounding up of the other three. Shomuti, a commercial bus driver,throwing light on their mode of operation said: “We used to operate three times in a week. Our routes were Obalende, Oshodi between 8pm and 12midnight. We used to dress corporately like

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

n Ebele BONIFACE n

civil servants so as not to arouse suspicion from prospective passengers. “We used two guns. If we picked victims at Oshodi, we would drop them at Aswani or Airport road depending on the passengers and where they told us they were going. “We usually pushed out stubborn victims from the moving vehicle as a warning to other victims to cooperate with us.” The second suspect,Ibitoye,also a commercial bus driver Bimbo said he joined the gang in 2014 through a friend he named as Lawrence alias Ikeja. He claimed that he “did not know that one chance is a crime because my father supported me to follow them so that I would get rich quick.” He said he used to make N20,000 to N30,000 per operation and their meeting point was an Indian hemp joint close to the Oshodi rail line. The gang leader,Adebari, said: “I was the one that called Seyi aka Nice, Bimbo and others and told them that we would go and work to generate fund. They asked me how and I told them that it was one chance work. I told them that my intention was to help them to get money and establish themselves. “I advised them to buy their own buses. I helped them to get the money through several operations we carried out. Later I told them that I would resign which I did. We used to be a six- man gang but one died in an exchange of fire with police while one left the gang a long time ago and nobody has heard from him since. “In our first operation we shared N400,000 each. “I deposited N300,000 for my Mazda car 62, spent N100,000 to rent a self contained room at Ijede, and bought a plasma television and a fridge. Seyi took over when I resigned. They led police to my house and arrested me. I was not with them during the last operation.” The fourth suspect ,Abdul Kareem said he was lured into the gang by Shomuti .

Teacher allegedly kills pupil for rituals in Ogun n Stories Kunle AKINRINADE n misdeed.” Landlords in the area immediately summoned a meeting to discuss the issue with a view to beefing up security. A community leader who asked not to be named said: “We do not want a repeat of this dastardly act in our community and a meeting of community leaders shall be convened to task owners of abandoned or uncompleted buildings to put their property in order to prevent unscrupulous persons from using them to perpetrate evil.“ Confirming the incident, the spokesman of Ogun Police Command, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, said the three suspects have been taken to the Ota Magistrate’s Court which remanded them in prison custody while the case continues.

•Funmi Ayopo Street, Oju Ore, Ogun State

Court restores family rights of monarch Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere has restored the rights of Oba of Oworonsoki, Bashir Oloruntoyin Saliu, as a bonafide member of the Ojora royal family. Oba Saliu had approached the court to challenge the withdrawal of his rights and privileges as a member of the family. He also urged the court to compel the family, headed by the Ojora of Ijora, Fatai Oyeyinka Aromire ,to accord him his benefits and entitlements as a member of the family. Ruling on the suit on June 5, 2015, Justice Candide Johnson granted the prayers of the claimant and ordered that

his rights be restored by the leadership of the royal family. A copy of the enrolment order obtained by our correspondent reads in part: “A declaration is granted that the applicant is a bona fide member of the Ojora Chieftaincy/Royal Family of Ijora, Lagos State. “An injunction is granted mandating the defendant as head of family and for and on behalf of Ojora Chieftaincy /Royal Family to accord the claimant any rights, privileges, benefits and entitlements as a bonafide member of the Ojora Chieftaincy/Royal Family of Ijora, Lagos State.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY JULY 11, 2015

THE NATION SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015

SPORT EXTRA Haruna Lukman joins Anzhi

USSIAN Premier League newcomers FC Anzhi Makhachkala have secured the signature of Nigerian midfielder Lukman Haruna on loan from Dynamo Kiev. The former Golden Eaglets star, who represented Nigeria at the FIFA U17 World cup in 2007, has put pen to paper on a six-month contract which will see him remain at Anzhi Arena until December 31, 2015. This is a reunion of sorts for Haruna and manager Yuri Semin, who tutored him at Dynamo Kiev from 2011-2012. In his first words after the deal was completed, the superlative

midfielder expressed delight at joining the Russian side. “I am very grateful to Yuri because he invited me to Anzhi, I really like to work with him. “Glad to be here, and intend to do everything in my power to make the team finish the season in the top five. I will also want to thank my family for staying put with me and my fans back home in Nigeria, and am sure i won’t let anyone down. Haruna is tied to Dynamo Kiev until June 30, 2016. The central midfielder has appeared 50 times for Dynamo Kiev in the Ukrainian topflight, scoring 8 goals.

Akpeyi lands in South Africa for medical • Warri Wolves goalie close to Chippa United deal

ARRI Wolves have given permission for goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi to dialogue with

From Tunde Liadi,Owerri Chippa United towards sealing a move to the South African Premier League(SPL) and the

U-19 FOOTBALL COMPETITION

NIKE partners Youth Sport Mgt

OUTH Sport Management and NIKE to have come together to launch a football competition tagged Catch them young U-19 football tournament, to provide young talented and potential footballers from all over Nigeria the platform to showcase their talents to scouts and coaches from the UK, and help bridge the gap between the coach and young players. According to Mr Olumide Ojo the vision at Youth Sport Management is creating platform where raw talent is identified and harnessed. “Our vision at Youth Sport Management Limited is to create a platform where raw talent is identified and recognised. Our aim is to groom skilful and talented players into world class

players who can become good sports ambassadors for Nigeria all over the world, we hope to organise youth tournaments frequently with special emphasis on under 16 players to spot these players while they are still young and teach them what it takes to play against world rated players and teams” The tournament which kicked off on the July 4 at Ajegunle, came to an end with the final played yesterday at the Onikan Stadium Lagos. OBI Football Academy won on penalties beating Bethel football Academy. Trophies and NIKE products were awarded to Most Valuable player, highest goal scorer and best team. Youth Sport Management is managed by Olumide Ojo, Seun Peters and Seyi Kuforiji.

11TH ALL AFRICA GAMES (AAG)

I’ll get gold medal — Toriola

IGERIA’S international table tennis star, Segun Toriola, on Friday boasted that he would win at least a gold medal at the 11th All Africa Games. The Games is scheduled to hold from Sept. 4 to Sept. 19 in Congo Brazzaville. Toriola told NAN in Lagos that although he was due for retirement, he was keen on representing his country at the Games because of his love for Nigeria. ``My love for the country will spur me ahead at the Games in spite of my plan to retire soon. ``I’m interested in making my country proud and I have a deep love for my country,’’ Toriola said. He, however, observed that early camping of athletes ahead of the Games was paramount for Nigeria success. Toriola said that the National Sports Commission (NSC) should also ensure that athletes for the Games were adequately exposed with foreign tours. He said that although early camping and foreign tours would cost the commission lots of money, it would pay off with Nigeria winning more laurels at the Games. According to him, it will have no meaning for Nigeria to be at the Games with inadequate preparation and winning no lau-

• Toriola

rels. Toriola said that while most countries had commenced camping ahead of the Games, Nigeria was still foot dragging, saying it may spell doom for the country’s overall performance at the Gams. `Ì wonder why Nigeria has not started camping for the Games because many of our rival countries are ahead of us in preparation,’’ he said. Toriola also urged the Gamesbound athletes to ensure self-discipline and prepare personally ahead of the Games. `Àthletes for the Games should be disciplined and train ahead personally. `Ì deny myself of pleasurable activities so as to be well trained and make landmark in any competition. `Àlthough I’m not condemning pleasure, everything must be in a state of normalcy to enhance maximum concentration,’’ he said. The Olympian also urged parents and guardians to assist their children and wards in preparing for the Games, saying they would reap the joy of the success together. ``Parents should encourage children in sports like Europeans engage their kids at elementary stage, which enables them to build interest on it when they grow up,’’ he said.

• Akpeyi

goaltender has travelled to the South African region for his medical and to discuss his personal terms. Chippa United recently expressed its resolve to sign the Super Eagles' back up goalkeeper but after initial denial from Warri Wolves, the Media Manager of the club, Moses Etu told NationSport that they have allowed Akpeyi to travel to South Africa. Etu said that the club did not wish to stand in the way of any of their players seeking greener pasture but that both clubs would still have to agree on his transfer fees before a deal can be concluded. The soft-spoken goalkeeper is in his second season with Warri Wolves, having left Heartland at the beginning of last season and he has carved a niche for himself as among the quality goaltenders in the league and has also been capped by the se-

nior national team. "Akpeyi has left for South Africa. We have allowed him to travel and he has gone there for medical and to also agree personal terms. "We are not known for standing in the way of any of our players and Akpeyi won't be prevented from getting his wishes if Chippa United agrees on our valuation of the goalkeeper," Etu told NationSport. Meanwhile, a South Africa based Nigerian football agent, Mohammed Lawal who is at the heart of discussion between both Chippa United and Warri Wolves told NationSport yesterday that Akpeyi would become a Chippa United player in the coming days. He said both clubs have started negotiations and that Chippa United are willing to tie up Akpeyi to a very long contract after he impressed in the few training sessions he has had.

Flood takes over coach Alabi Aisien’s Benin home

HE persistence rainfall in Benin has submerged the private home of one time Nigeria Coach, Elder Alabi Aisien. Valuable documents were destroyed. Feeling very sad state, Coach Alabi Aisien said, "Now you can see how flood has taken over my home. I have lost every thing , my properties , valuable documents , the water came through the back and it was passing through the widow in the sitting room, now I am old , I am carrying my cross , the people I served refuse to come to my rescue . " You can see my house , am inside , God is only the answer . The road to salvation can be very rough. "You see , people forget so soon, we forget yesterday. I feel very bad that Nigeria used and dumped me. When they were sharing houses , they forgot that I played a part, another one, I presented a paper for COJA , every Nigerian that presented a paper was paid 200 dollars, but here I am , they didn't pay me a kobo. That how Nigeria has always treated me. My people won't recognise me, they say , charity begins at home. NFF , NSC disappointed themselves not me. On Keshi’s sacked and Sunday Oliseh, the 80-year old man who won WAFU Cup for keeps for Bendel Insurance in 1978 said, "You see, I like to quit the stage when ovation is loud-

• Says Nigeria use and dumped me From, Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin est. I saw this sack coming for Keshi , long , long before it came . Keshi was not smart , he ought to have resigned when he had credibility. " His credibility has been dashed to the ground , and he call for it, he has no right to be negotiating for a new job when he signed a two years contract. "The question of replacement , if you a mockery for a Bamboo , there is no change . " What is the antecedent of

Sunday Oliseh as a coach that qualifies him as Super Eagles coach , very good player he was, he was one of my feeder team player in Julius Berger . He came out strongly to captain the national team. Before you have him for the National side , there are some requirements , there are certain demands the person must meet , there must be proven ability from the league system or some where, what are the NFF falling on now, that qualifies Sunday Oliseh.

• Coach Alabi Aisien’s house (inset) Aisien

Wikki blames ref for Cup defeat

HE Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Wikki Tourists, have blamed the centre referee for their defeat to Tornadoes Feeders in the Federation Cup round of 32 clash in Gusau. The Bauchi outfit lost 5-6 on penalties to the Nigeria Nationwide League (NNWL) 2 side after full time scores stood at 1-1. Wikki Tourists captain and right back Mustapha Ibrahim said aside from the number disadvantage, the referee practically made it impossible for the side to play their game with endless bad calls.

“The referee killed us and killed every move we made to win the match before the penalty shootouts. “It was a game we could have comfortably wrapped up within the regulation time but the referee aside reducing our numbers to 10 unjustly disallowed two good goals we scored. “The referee made it a point of duty to frustrate any positive moves by us with his endless bad calls. “We are not happy because we actually lost to the referee and not Tornadoes Feeders,” said Ibrahim to supersport.com.

Ibrahim said his side have shifted their whole attention on the league especially on the weekend match day 17 clash against El Kanemi Warriors in Bauchi. “Right now we are facing the NPFL squarely especially the match day 17 game against El Kanemi Warriors on Sunday in Bauchi. “We are damn prepared to fight for the maximum three points at stake which will greatly boost our chase for the summit. “The three points is quite important more so as our next two matches will be on the road to

" Well, I will be happy to see Oliseh , but I will be sad if he can not take us to the promise land. Of all the coaches in this country, serving or retired , coach Amodu Shaibu is the best . Am telling you mind, because majority of all this coaches past through me as player or as a coach. " Coach Amodu Shaibu is a CAF and FIFA instructor, he is making waves , he qualified Nigeria for two world cups, Amodu Shaibu is always learning on job, they always bring him to feed the gap when ever there is problem like this."

Kano Pillars and Heartland. “We have no choice at the moment than to put all our energies in the league to ensure we get something at the end of the season,” said Ibrahim. Wikki Tourists are third on the 20-team elite league log on 29 points one point behind leaders, Sunshine Stars.

TOMORROW IN THE NATION PUNCHLINE

SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.10, NO. 3265

Conservatives and progressives must have the courage to identify public with their political stance, and no group should seek to benefit from the regime of change from shielded enclaves of reactionary forces in any part of the country while denying the existence of reactionary forces

—Ropo Sekoni

EY leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continue to be understandably elated and pleased at the internal turmoil that remains the lot of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following the unexpected outcome of the National Assembly leadership election of June 9. Despite the party’s numerical majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives, the APC leadership failed to get its preferred candidates for Senate Presidency and Speakership of the House, Senator Ahmad Lawan and Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, respectively, elected. Rather, those who lost out in the APC internal mock election process for picking candidates for the positions, Senator Bukola Saraki and Honourable Yakubu Dogara, triumphed on the floor of both chambers with the support of the PDP leadership and legislators who naturally and eagerly seized the opportunity to humiliate an APC leadership that had engineered their party’s devastating defeat in the March 22 and April 12 national and state elections. To worsen matters, not only did the PDP’s Ike Ekweramadu emerge as Deputy Senate President through the connivance of a minority of APC dissident senators, a situation utterly unimaginable under the PDP, the rebel Saraki and Dogara factions continue to resist the party’s position on filling other principal offices of the National Assembly. This is a key reason for the APC federal government’s incapacitation to take off full blast a month after formally assuming power. Ironically, however, the APC’s initial setback in this regard is also an indication of how Nigeria is slowly but surely changing in a positive direction in the emergent President Muhammadu Buhari dispensation. Under the Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan administrations, the PDP was completely subsumed under the presidency. Both men exercised maximum control as the undisputed leaders of the party. The party was only another parastatal of government at the beck and call of the presidency. The President’s word and will was law in the party. Party leaders were elected and removed at the president’s pleasure. Intra party democracy was an illusion. Yes, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, with the support of the then opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) emerged as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011 against the choice of his party. Although the PDP hierarchy was irritated by this development, it tolerated the situation because Tambuwal and other principal officers of the House remained PDP members. However, when Tambuwal as Speaker decided to bite the bullet and formally joined the APC, the PDP bared its fangs. The party immediately sought an ultimately abortive judicial decision to oust the Speaker from the office. Tambuwal’s security details were withdrawn. In an incident with no historical precedence, the police tear gassed the National Assembly in another futile effort to prevent him from presiding as Speaker on the chamber’s resumption from recess. It was

APC: Between people’s sovereignty and party supremacy

‘ •Oyegun clearly the imminence at the time of the last election that saved Tambuwal. A fresh wind of change is blowing under Buhari. The president is not flaunting his position as leader of the APC by virtue of being number one citizen of the country. By declaring at his inauguration that he is for everybody and not for anybody, he signalled his determination to elevate his presidency above party partisanship. Buhari is President of those who voted for him, those who voted against him and those who chose not to vote at all. This stance enhances the dignity and credibility of his presidency. Does this mean he must not have a firm position on issues and a specific and clear sense of direction? That is certainly not the case. He has a decisive mandate from a majority of the Nigerian electorate to fulfil an agenda presented to the people on the platform of his party. It is his responsibility to pursue this agenda decisively without fear or favour. Does Buhari’s elevating his presidency above partisanship mean that he should be indifferent to and disinterested in matters of his party including those who hold key

The constitution as at today has no place for independent candidates. Rather, public office holders can only be elected on the platform of registered political parties, which are the only constitutionally recognised organs for the expression of popular sovereignty. It is thus those who violate the tenets of party supremacy that impugn the sovereignty of the people

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positions such as the principal officers of a National Assembly in which his party enjoys a clear numerical majority? Again this cannot be the case. It is neither practicable nor desirable. The APC leadership, in my view, could not have formally backed candidates for these offices without reading the president’s body language and enjoying his tacit support. Unlike the vulgar style of the Obasanjo and Jonathan PDP presidencies, Buhari obviously deliberately chose to be subtle and unobtrusive in his approach to the National Assembly leadership elections to protect the twin doctrines of separation of powers and party supremacy. The blunt truth is that given the immense powers and resources at the disposal of the Nigerian presidency, Buhari could easily have imposed his preferred candidates on the party and would also readily have had his way in the National Assembly. With the security agencies, the anti- corruption outfits and the country’s treasury all at his disposal, even a sizable number of PDP legislators could have been coerced, cajoled or bribed to do the President’s bidding. It is significant

that Buhari has chosen a different path. He has opted to be a ‘President of precedents’ in terms of integrity and respect for systems, structures and processes. It is obvious that the likes of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, in deciding to so brazenly violate their party’s position, have mistaken Buhari’s restrained, dignified and cultured presidential style as a sign of weakness. Beneath his unassuming exterior, however, those who think this way may ultimately discover that Buhari remains a shrewd military tactician who you can take for granted only at your peril. In defending his action, the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, has reportedly made the interesting argument that the sovereignty of the people supersedes party supremacy. Yes, in a democracy, sovereignty belongs to the people. Government derives its mandate from their expressed will at the polls. But then, the people do not govern themselves directly as in the ancient Greek City states. They do so through elected representatives in both the legislative and executive arms of government. Again, however, these elected representatives are not elected on their personal recognition as individuals. The constitution as at today has no place for independent candidates. Rather, public office holders can only be elected on the platform of registered political parties, which are the only constitutionally recognised organs for the expression of popular sovereignty. It is thus those who violate the tenets of party supremacy that impugn the sovereignty of the people. The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo made this point with characteristic pungency on Saturday, 8th November, 1980, with reference to the 1979 constitution, which hardly differs from our current 1999 constitution. Whatever may have occurred in the past, we can only begin to strengthen our democracy as we urgently begin to adhere to the sage’s admonition. Permit me to conclude by quoting him at some length: “Members of the Legislature and the Chief Executive of any Government are, in the first place, candidates of the Registered Political Parties and, in the second place, in the case of those elected into the legislature, enjoined by the constitution, under pain of severe sanction, to remain loyal to the registered party which sponsored their election… Indeed, the Registered Political Party is the sole source from which candidates for election and elected members of the Legislature and Executive derive their life-blood for acceptability, public status, and legitimacy. Any elected party member or group of elected members of a Political Party who refuse to toe the party line – that is choose to break their link with the party source – must, of necessity, either quickly affiliate with another Political Party for a link with another party source, or be doomed to political dehydration or anaemia. In other words, by express provisions as well as necessary implications in the Constitution, the Registered Political Party is supreme and absolutely decisive in the conduct of our public affairs".

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Oliseh and the new mentality

T is increasingly clear that Nigeria is in debted to the class of footballers who got us our first World Cup appearance in the United States. We have them in all our male national teams. Unless we are told our level of indebtedness to this class of 1994, our football will stand still, recording arithmetic growth than geometric, despite our huge population. But can we make the right decisions to give the game the desired fillip? I hope that Sunday Oliseh’s appointment would be the last from this class. Oliseh is coming with one or two foreign assistants, who would interpret his tactics to the players. I hope he doesn’t come with a Frenchspeaking assistant with passable English. I

don’t want to believe the Belgian name being bandied in the media. I feel strongly that a big country like ours should have her new coaches heralded by the international media because of their pedigree in the game. I don’t want to be a spoilsport in this matter but I shudder to ask if Oliseh can fix our game that has fallen to its worst rating ever at FIFA. Nigeria is ranked 57th in the world and I’m not surprised. It is our worst placing with FIFA. It hurts because we were once ranked fifth on that FIFA ladder. How are the mighty fallen. But, doesn’t it serve us right? For the purpose of analysis based on NFF’s decision on Oliseh, which is irreversible, it is seems to me that something good is about to happen to Nigeria’s football. I hope I’m not hallucinating. Our soccer chiefs appear to

know where the problem with the beautiful game lies. And I’m tempted to be excited because a new dawn for football in Nigeria, at this time, is the elixir other sports need to blossom. When our football is run seamlessly by the private sector, firms that cannot compete for the marketing windows in football will fall back on the other sports. The spiral effect of such a new dawn for soccer is that sports would be taken as the real business that it is in other climes rather than the recreational slant which has seen our governments and their officials using sports to siphon cash rather than as a life-changer for the youth at the grassroots. I wholly welcome this new dawn if it can be sustained because it simply means that the

youth in the hinterlands would be effectively engaged in sports. This will invariably take them out of societal vices. In many villages there are no recreational grounds. The spaces in the primary and tertiary institutions have been built up. Yet the standard of education is falling. Perhaps with a new mentality towards sports, using football as the litmus test, the private sectors and rich individuals and possibly local governments would see the need to invest in the industry. That will be the day. I digress! Oliseh is expected to come up with a five – year developmental plan, fashioning a unique playing and coaching philosophy for all the national teams, and will for this purpose, in

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