The Nation July 1 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

News FinBank ex-MD, others urge court to halt their trial P7 Sport Taye Taiwo gets permit to play for Inter Milan P23 Business CBN spends N150b yearly to maintain naira notes P11 http://www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 6, NO. 1807 FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

N150.00

Workers give governors two-week deadline NLC, TUC reject removal of fuel subsidy

W

ORKERS told the Federal and state governments yesterday to pay the N18,000 minimum wage and stop the planned removal of petroleum products subsidy or face a strike.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), at a joint news conference in Abuja, issued a two-week ultimatum for “full implementation of the wage law”.

NLC President Abduwaheed Omar and TUC President General Peter Esele spoke to reporters on what they termed the “manifest reluctance of the Federal Government and state governments to implement the minimum wage, which has consequently caused implementation inertia in the private sector”.

The difference between what the governors are ‘doing and what Boko Haram is doing is that the

Boko Haram is just exploding bombs, which we are against because they are also showing lack of respect for the law of the country. That too is what the governors are doing; showing lack of respect for the law of the country.

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

They asked unions in public and private sectors to mobilise Nigerians for a nationwide strike at the expiration of the ultimatum.

Omar said: “Anything short of N18,000 minimum wage is totally unacceptable.”

The governors have said they will be unable to pay N18,000, unless there is re-

’

moval of subsidy on petroleum products to fatten the Federation Account for more money to be shared.

They are also requesting for the review of the revenue formula for states to have more cash.

The labour unions said there would be no more room for negotiation, adding that the only option is the implementation of the minimum wage.

Esele said: “Even if we are called 24 hours to the expiration of the deadline, we will go on with the strike. What we expect is implementation.

Let me ask you one question, if they call us for a meeting, are they going to pay us the N18,000 minimum wage right away? So, what we are talking about is the law.

There is no negotiation anyContinued on page 2

Senate clears Usman, Adoke, Maku, others

•The late Mrs Essien-Igbokwe

Christy Igbokwe dies at 50

From Gbade Ogunwale and Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

S

EVEN more ministerial nominees cleared the Senate hurdle yesterday, bringing the number confirmed to 14. There is a list of 34.

Cleared are former AttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke, his counterpart in National Planning, Shamsudeen Usman and former Information Minister Labaran Maku.

Musa Sada and Yusuf Suleiman also scaled the hurdle. So also was a woman member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hadjia Zainab Maina.

Mrs. Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi also got the nod. Adoke was grilled on issues ranging from the withdrawal of high profile corruption cases to state police.

He said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to bring up enough proof Continued on page 2

•Fans mourn Lady of Songs

By Okorie Uguru, Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, Joe Agbro Jnr and Mercy Michael

S

•Oba Michael Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland, Chairman, Oando Plc, discussing with Mr. Wale Tinubu, the company’s Group Chief Executive (right) during its 34th Annual General Meeting held in Lagos ... yesterday.

ONGSTER and actress Christy Uduak EssienIgbokwe is dead. She died in Lagos yesterday at the age of 50. She would have been 51 on November 11.

Her husband, Chief Edwin Igbokwe, said last night that she was ill for two days.

Igbokwe said his wife had the premonition of her death.

According him, she told her kids a few years ago that after clocking 50, she would leave this planet earth. He said she had been lamenting the state of the country, the growing rate of crime and the bad economy saying she would soon leave “this sinful world to go and rest.”

Her eldest son, Obiora, described her death as “a global loss.”

Obiora said he was tired of receiving international calls following his mother’s death. He spoke briefly to our reporter in front of the Igbokwes’ house on Talabi street, off Adeniyi Jones in Ikeja, Lagos at about 7pm.

Continued on page 2

•BUSINESS P11 •SPORTS P23 •SOCIETY P29 •AGRIC P54 •MONEY LINK P56

2

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

NEWS Continued from page 1

•President Goodluck Jonathan , Boni Yayi (Benin Republic) and Deniss Nguezo (Congo Brazaville) after the opening session of the African Union Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea ... yesterday.

The atmosphere around the house was sonbre but not crowded. A few people, mostly neighbours, moved in and out of the house to sympathise with the Igbokwes.

The songster and actress started her career very early in life. She recorded her first album (Freedom) in 1976 when she was 16. She got married three years later.

She followed up with other albums, including; ‘Patience’, ‘Time Waits for No One’ (both 1978), ‘One Understanding’ (1979), ‘Give Me A Chance’ (1980), Her 1981 hit album, ‘Ever Liked My Person’ remains her best.

The late Mrs Igbokwe started her musical career at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Channel 6, Aba. She sang on Ukonu’s Club and Now Sound

Arewa rejects ministerial nominees

T

HE northern socio-cultural organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), yesterday said most of the President’s ministerial nominees are not credible. It urged Senators to live up to their oath of office by rejecting such nominees.

The ACF said in a communiqué at the end of its first Joint Board of Trustee (BOT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Kaduna that some of the nominees “cannot vouche for their personal integrity is needed for the enormous task of delivery on the promise of the new transformational agenda against corrupt practices in the polity”.

The communiqué, which was signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Anthony Sani, said since the Senate could not defend the content of the character of some of the nominees, it should not allow them to be made minister, pointing out that the government cannot afford to make former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s “Geneva declaration” become a reality.

The forum expressed concern over the spate of bombings across the north and resolved to organise a peace and unity conference for true reconciliation and peace among the people of the North.

The meeting was presided over by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Lt.-Gen. Jerry Useni (rtd).

The communiqué reads:

Senate clears Usman, Adoke, others Continued from page 1

against the accused parsons and that the cases were dismissed mainly for lack of evidence.

He cited the cases of the Vaswani brothers, the Halliburton scandal and Kenny Martins’ Police Equipment Fund as examples of such cases, which were terminated due to poor prosecution.

Adoke said: “We looked at the evidence against them and we decided to look at the position of our law. We decided to evaluate the weaknesses in our laws and at the end of the day, in line with global best practices, we opted to settle with them.

“If we had decided to prosecute, the likelihood of even securing a conviction was very minimal and in the event that we get a conviction, they will only be liable to pay fine.”

He disagreed with state police, saying it will be abused by governors - a position that was described as fraudulent by Senator Olusola Adeyeye.

Adeyeye cited the case of former Governor of Anambra State Chris Ngige, who was From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

“The meeting considered the deteriorating security situation in the country and the recent spate of bomb blasts in some parts of the country. It, therefore, resolved that in addition to the assignment to its security committee comprising the retired security chiefs of northern extraction, ACF is to convene a Peace and Unity Conference for the express purpose of affording northern leaders of diverse backgrounds the opportunity to deliberate on how to inspire confidence, trust and tolerance needed for peaceful co-

abducted and locked in a toilet on the orders of a Deputy Inspector General of Police, the late Mr. Raphael Ige. The senator also cited the case of former Governor of Plateau State Joshua Dariye, who was “impeached” by a minority six of about 20 lawmakers. The police under the federal umbrella, presided over the two cases. This renders the case of possible abuse by governors untenable, Adeyeye said.

Usman answered questions on Islamic Banking, the Ajaokuta Steel complex, budgeting, currency policy and Vision 20: 2020. His answers were mainly a rehash of pedestrian official positions advanced by government functionaries over the years.

Maku said the problem of education is governance without attempting to proffer concrete solutions. His explanation on NITEL, the troubled telecoms giant, also seemed unconvincing. Zainab Maina was cleared – without answering any question.

The screening appeared to have lost steam as a result of the perceived lacklustre performance by the nominees.

existence, not only in the North but within a united Nigeria.”

“Arewa Consultative Forum welcomed the decision

by Mr. President that this government would depart from ‘business-as-usual’ towards transformational agenda. The Forum also noted that the presidential dream could find expression only if Mr. President is able to multiply his strength through individual members of the cabinet who enjoy the confidence and trust of most Nigerians.

“However, ACF wishes to

observe that some of the ministerial nominees submitted to the Senate for screening cannot vouche for their personal integrity that is needed for the enormous task of delivering on the promise of the new transformational agenda and campaigns against corrupt practices in the polity.

“It is against this backdrop that the meeting appealed to the Senate for the need to live up its oath of office by rejecting those nominees whose content of character the hallowed chamber cannot reasonably defend.”

Christy Igbokwe dies at 50 programmes.

Besides her then fledgling musical career, she was also part of the cast of one of Nigeria’s longest running sit com, the Masquerade, rechristened New Masquerade. She played the major role of Apena, the wife of the Yoruba character Jegede Shokoya.

Although Christy EssienIgbokwe became a household name through her performance in The Masquerade, it was her foray into music that shot her into national and international stardom.

The late musician had such hit songs like ‘Omo mi seun rere’, “Hear the call” and “Tete nu na ula” and she also had the honour of composing and performing her state’s anthem ‘Akwa Ibom mi’ when the state was created in 1987.

The late Mrs Igbokwe was the President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) between 1996 to 1999.

She was reportedly planning for her 11th album before her demise. She was also into business with her husband.

Musicians, music buffs and entertainers have been eulogising her.

Former PMAN President Tony Okoroji said: “Christy Essien Igbokwe is like no other woman of her time. The first nationally accepted female pop icon of the Nigerian nation with music that was cherished across the length and breadth of Nigeria and far beyond, she gave to the arts in Nigeria a towering stature.”

He added: “Beyond her extra-ordinary multiple talents as a songwriter, singer, actress and comedian, Christy Essien Igbokwe was deeply devoted to the future of the Nigerian creative industry, committed herself to the emancipation of artistes in Nigeria and played an unequalled role in the founding of PMAN, the national musicians’ union of which she became the president for two successive terms.

She was also a founding member and later, Chairman of the defunct Performing & Mechanical Rights Society

(PMRS) which is one of the key organisations that gave birth to COSON, Nigeria’s sole government approved collective management organisation for musical works and sound recordings.

It is impossible for the story of the development of modern entertainment in Nigeria to be told without a significant mention of Christy Essien Igbokwe.

The human body of the irreplaceable Christy Essien Igbokwe may have quit the stage but her spirit will continue to live in her millions of fans and admirers everywhere.

Songster Onyeka Onwenu said: “I’m very sad and shocked.

Christy was someone I had immense respect for. Having pulled herself out from nowhere, not having proper education, not having her mom around, who died at a tender age and all that after becoming an international star. I’m proud of her. She was a very hard working woman, great artiste, very energetic, and fun to be with, good company always.

“The last time I got in touch with her was when the State House was trying to reach her; I had to ask for her permission before giving out her number.

And I also called her on this battle that she had with the Akwa-Ibom government and I was trying to tell her to take it easy, giving her moral support basically.

“If PMAN were organised, I’m sure there will be closer connect and not only that, she would have reaped more from an industry that she gave everything to.”

PMAN President Dele Abiodun said: “It is a rude shock. Although, I’ve not been to her house because I’m at Ibadan as we speak. The last time I spoke with her was about six months ago when I went personally to her house to discuss some issues regarding PMAN. As always, she gave her advice, which was always so wonderful. Christy deserves a befitting burial for her contributions to the Nigerian music industry and that I can assure you she will definitely get it.”

‘I’m very sad and shocked. Christy was someone I had immense respect for. Having pulled herself out from nowhere, not having proper education, not having her mom around, who died at a tender age and all that after becoming an international star. I’m proud of her. She was a very hard working woman, great artiste, very energetic, and fun to be with, good company always.’

Workers issue two-week deadline to governors Continued from page 1

more. It is like taking someone to court and they deliver judgment based on the law.

The N18,000 wage is based on the law.”

Esele described the failure to implement the minimum wage as a negation of law and insensitivity to the people’s plight.

He said: “The difference between what the governors are doing and what Boko Haram is doing is that the Boko Haram is just exploding bombs, which we are against because they are also showing lack of respect for the law of the country. That too is what the governors are doing; showing lack of respect

for the law of the country.”

According to him, the fact that no political party is opposed to the “lawlessness” shows that there is no opposition party in the country.

The organised labour recalled that having reviewed the minimum wage law, it came to the sad realisation that no tier of government has implemented the law, which became effective in March.

Omar said the National Salaries and Wages Commission has been unwilling to produce a table for implementation to enable the Federal Government implement the law.

He said while some state

governments indicated their readiness to pay, others are blackmailing their colleagues.

The NLC President said some governors were applying the twin-tool of intimidation and timid compromise on the workers leadership by threatening mass sack and high taxation.

He said: “We hereby serve notice that any state government that indulges in this or induces an illicit agreement to pay less than N18,000 will have to contend with a most robust form of resistance ever in the annals of workers solidarity in our country.”

Omar described the Nigerian Governors Forum as a

social forum, which has engaged “in a show of reckless insensitivity to the plight of the Nigerian people and have introduced strange elements into the scene, geared at subverting the process”.

He said: “We find this laughable and completely unacceptable because the law is clear and unambiguous.

All stakeholders were party to the formulation of the law and we know of the fact that they can pay the N18,000 minimum wage.”

On the proposed removal of subsidy, Omar said the introduction of the argument for the withdrawal of subsidy was tantamount to asking the government to increase the

prices of petroleum products and further impoverish the masses.

“Again, we reject this, and state unequivocally that there can be no conditionality for payment of the new minimum wage,” he said.

He insisted that Labour would not succumb to the blackmail of the masses to accept an increase in fuel prices.

“Any attempt to increase the prices of petrol in guise of deregulation will be resisted, and organised labour is willing, ready and capable of leading the Nigerian people on mass resistance against such unprovoked, unpatriotic move,” Omar said.

•NLC president Omar

ADVERT HOTLINES: 01-280668, 08070591302, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

3

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

NEWS

• Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (fifth left), his deputy Mrs. Adejoke Adefulire (sixth left) and Head of Service Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe during the presentation of awards to PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES principals of secondary schools during the performance presentation 2009-2011 at Oregun Industrial Estate, Ikeja..... yesterday

Why Africa is plagued with bad leaders, by Tinubu

F

ORMER Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu spoke yesterday on leadership in Africa.

Back from Ghana where he received the African Servant Leadership Award from the Ghana Graduate School of Leadership and Governance, the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) leader explained that if Africa must make progress, it needs to drive integration and collaboration.

Tinubu was answering reporters’ questions at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. He stressed that Nigeria needs to brace up in her development efforts to fix the problem in the power sector.

Nigeria’s inability to fix the manufacturing sector despite its vast natural resources including crude oil puts it behind countries like Brazil that were on the same rung of ladder many years ago, he said.

Tinubu said: “Every time we undertake any study about leadership, maybe we should now flip the coin upward and start to look at the reasons for bad leadership in Africa and Nigeria. We have been advocating for good leadership all along, but we need to ask ourselves, what is the cause of bad leadership?”

In his view, Africa can achieve many things through integration and collaboration. “It is only in doing this that we can see the future

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

developing. As the new generation of leaders, we have to come up with constructive ideas to rescue this continent.”

He went: “In the entire Africa, let us look at it we have always theorised about leadership. But leadership that is define for the people is driven by care and compassion, ability to chart a new course that will be for the common man and the downtrodden and lift millions out of poverty. “ If you look at Brazil, we were on the same development level many years ago. Today, the Brazilians are able to uplift their people, the standard of living, the purchasing power which is improving their own economy, the creative nature of their economy and the resources available.” ‘’What Nigerians as a people then need to ask themselves are: “Why should we as a country continue to grapple with issues of economic development. ‘’Why should we continue to wallow in under-developmen, with the abundant resources that God has given to us; and the human resources that are available to us continue to export our goods to bring back these items as finished product from other countries?

“Where are those industries that will create jobs and develop skills

‘If truly Africa is our Mama, then we have abused this Mama too much, yet, she refused to die’ and the capacity of human beings?

We have a huge market, we have huge material resources, we are blessed with good weather, and we have not been devastated by natural disasters but man -made disaster in leadership, among others.”

“If truly the African continent is our Mama, then we have abused this Mama too much, yet, she refused to die. If truly our political fore-fathers have gone to the extent of sacrificing their lives, if Nelson Mandela has sacrificed his own life and time to move Africa forward, in addition to the visionary foresight and wisdom of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the fight of Samora Michael; and if they all have contributed their best to improve our living conditions, where, therefore, is the contribution of our own generation?”

Tinubu said the painful thing is that we can only fight if we know the cause to fight for.

Provoking thoughts on the quest for good leadership in Africa, he queried: “How much does it take to invest in education, for a start? We know that education is the greatest weapon against poverty. But why are our famers still very, very poor?

Why are our rural dwellers neglected to the extent that they are migrating to urban centres? And if we don’t look at those things early enough, with the population growth at three per cent per annum, before the next 20 years, we may be heading towards chaos in the future.”

The former governor warned: “We could be inviting famine and chasing serious hunger. The danger here is, we will face anarchy and an unsettled ground. This is the time, we are already late preparing for it.

If Nigeria is still lamenting about electricity, health care and if our manufacturing sector is at nil level, if our railway system is comatose, what is happening to our crude oil?

“Indeed, Nigeria should be the centre for producing plastic products, with the crude oil that Nigeria is endowed with. So, where are we?

We talk about it, yet, we cannot do it. This is about time this mother Africa should be really taken care of, else, how will the nation become an economic giant?’’

My teacher killed my dad, says 16-year-old pupil

A

16-year-old pupil has accused her teacher of killing her father during the April postelection crisis in Kaduna State.

The pupil told the post-election panel sitting in Kaduna that her History teacher, used a machete to kill her 52-year-old father in her presence.

“After the incident, he looked at me and said, ‘l am sorry, forgive me’, and left me and my other siblings,” the pupil said.

She explained that her deceased father, Alhaji Abubkar Sidi Ali, was dressed in a woman attire in a bid to move him to safety among women and children when he was spotted by her teacher.

‘After the incident, he looked at me and said, ‘l am sorry, forgive me’ According to her, women and children are the only group spared by the rioters during the violent crisis.

She, however, said that the culprit was left walking the streets as no arrest was made to bring him to justice.

The SSS III pupil of Government Secondary School (GGSS), Zonkwa, Kaduna State was invited as a witness to support a memorandum pre-

sented by an NGO, Network for Justice.

She said that her grand parents resided in the area since 1945, adding that she and her parents were born and lived all their lives in Zonkwa, Zangon-Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The pupil said the crisis had disrupted her studies and that of her sisters and brothers, who were displaced, lamenting that they could not write their West Africa Examination Counci (WAEC) and Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) examinations.

She appealed to the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute those involved in the killings

of innocent persons in the area for peace to reign.

Earlier, Dr Bashir Kurfi, the coordinator of the NGO, accused the security agents of taking sides in handling the situation in most of the affected areas.

Kurfi said there would be no peace without good governance and justice to the aggrieved.

He accused Kaduna State Government of what he described as slow motion intervention into the crisis.

Mustapha Wali, the Sub-chairman of the panel, adopted the memo and gave the assurance that the panel would investigate and make appropriate recommendations to the Federal Government.

Nigerian arrested in US for flying with expired boarding pass

A

NIGERIAN boarded a Virgin American airplane last week with an invalid boarding pass — making it through a federal security checkpoint where travellers must show identification and their boarding passes.

Olajide Oluwaseun Noibi got through security, the airline let him onto the plane even though his boarding pass was for a flight the day before, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The identification check at airport security checkpoints was put in place as one of many new security measures after the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States. These federal document checkers have basic fraudulent identification training.

Mid-flight from New York to Los Angeles, a flight attendant noticed Mr. Noibi was sitting in a seat that was supposed to be vacant. Mr. Noibi showed the attendant the expired boarding pass that was in someone else’s name, and then showed him a University of Michigan identification card with his picture on it.

The boarding pass belonged to a man who said his boarding pass went missing from his pocket on his way to the airport June 23. Mr. Noibi boarded the plane with the expired pass the next day.

Mr. Noibi was arrested Wednesday when law enforcement officials saw him trying to board another flight and discovered he had more than 10 other expired boarding passes belonging to others in his bag.

Mr. Noibi has been charged with being a stowaway.

“Every passenger that passes through security checkpoints is subject to many layers of security including thorough physical screening at the checkpoint,” Transportation Security Administration spokesman Greg Soule said. “TSA’s review of this matter indicates that the passenger went through screening.” TSA would not comment on what else happened, citing an ongoing FBI investigation.

4

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

NEWS Eyiboh sworn in as 360th member of House of Reps From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

A

FTER a prolonged judicial battle, former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Eseme Eyiboh was yesterday sworn in as a member of the Seventh House.

The Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mr. Sanni Omolori, swore in Eyiboh at exactly 10.52am to the admiration of his colleagues.

Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Abuja High Court declared Eyiboh as the authentic candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Eket Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State.

The judge nullified the candidacy of Mr. Bassey Dan Abia because the purported primary election that produced him was held at a venue not recognised by the Electoral Act.

Court upholds tribunal’s power to declare winner in election dispute A

FEDERAL High Court in Lagos has voided Section 140(2) of the Electoral Act (EA) 2010 (as amended) for being inconsistent with the provision of the Constitution. It ordered that the section be struck off the Act. Justice Okechukwu Okeke, in a judgment yesterday, held that the section was at variance with the provisions of the Constitution in relation to the powers of the court or tribunal as contained in Sections 4 (8), 6 (1) and (2), 6 (6) (a) and (b), 239 (1), 246 and 285.

The section provides: “Where an electoral tribunal or court nullifies an election on the ground that the person who obtained the highest votes at the election was not qualified to contest the election or that the election was marred by substantial irregularities or non compliance

•Voids Section 140(2)

By Eric Ikhilae

with the provisions of this Act, the election tribunal or court shall not declare the person with the second highest votes or any person as elected, but shall order a fresh election.”

The judgment was on a suit instituted against the National Assembly by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), challenging the constitutionality of some provisions of the EA 2010.

Upon an earlier agreement by parties that Section 141 of the Act was validly made and should be retained, the court upheld the provision contained in the section and ordered that it was valid and

should be retained.

The section provides that “an election tribunal or court shall not under any circumstance declare any person a winner at an election in which such a person has not fully participated in all the stages of the said election.”

Justice Okeke upheld the National Assembly’s argument on the necessity of Section 87 (8) of the Act and accordingly, decalred it valid and ordered that it should be retained.

Section 87(8) provides that “no political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate at the convention or congress of any political party for

the purpose of nominating candidates for any elections.”

In upholding the provision, the judge said it was necessary to ensure a level playing filed for all contestants in an election. He said the provision was intended to provide a level ground for all contestants.

The court held that with the provision, anyone who accept political appointment now know that he can not act as delegate in his party’s primary.

“It is my humble view that section 87(8) is a valid provision in the interest of peace; so that all contestants will be on an equal footing,” the court held.

ACN had, while contesting the provision, argued that it

Lagos, Ogun to avert flood disaster LAGOS State Government and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (O-ORBDA) have come up with plans to avert flooding of communities in the Centre of Excellence.

In a statement yesterday, the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment said a team from the ministry visited O-ORBDA in a move to reduce the effects of flooding in Lagos and Ogun states.

The statement in Lagos said the Permanent Secretary in the Office of Drainage Services in the Minsitry of the Environment, Mr Muyideen Akinsanya, led the team to a monitoring tour of the Oyan and Ikire Gorge dams.

It said that the ministry and O-ORBDA had also jointly set up a committee for monitoring rise water level to be able to issue warning signs to communities early.

Panel to stop election violence From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

THE Presidential panel on post-election violence has promised to find a permanent solution to ethnoreligious and political violence in the country.

The Chairman of the panel, Justice Mohammed Bashir Wali dropped the hint while leading other members on a courtesy call on the Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso at the Government House in Kano.

Wali, who is leading one of the three sub-committees said the panel was in the state to find out the immediate and remote causes of the post-election violence that rocked the North including Kano, resulting in the wanton destruction of lives and property.

He disclosed that the panel would visit affected areas and victims of the riot, with a view to recommending compensation for them.

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola signing the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the representatives of Korea and Hong Kong---Vice Chairman of Synctop International, Korea/ Chief Executive Officer, Synctop International Limited, HongKong, Mr. Moon Kyungsoo (second right), Executive Director, Songlim Data System, Mr. Kim Woo Soon (left); Leader of the Team, Dr. Ismail Adewusi (middle) and Mr. Bolarinwa Ganiyu (right) at the Governor's Office in Osogbo... yesterday

NYSC to mobilise 95,000 for batch B

T

HE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is set to mobilise 95,000 Corps members for the Batch B, of this service year.

But Akwa-Ibom State has been exempted due to the on-going work at its orientation camp. Prospective Corps members posted to the state are to resume at a later date.

The NYSC Director-General, Brig-Gen Maharazu Tsiga, who spoke yesterday on the exercise scheduled to begin on July 5 nationwide, said the camp will close on July 28.

Emphasising that any Corps member posted to Bauchi State but who wishes to redeploy due to security reasons will be redeployed. Tsiga also said all expectant and nursing mothers will be sent to their preferred state after their registration.

He said:“On redeployment, all marital cases should be treated with dispatch while health cases should be handled appropriately by medical committee on camp”.: “All hands must be on deck, Corps members must take their personal security seriously, do not hesitate to inform the security agencies about any suspicious movement during the orientation.”

•Akwa Ibom exempted From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

He said the influx of visitors to the camp should be controlled while entry points to the various camps will be well manned and visitors thoroughly screened Also yesterday, Tsiga disclosed that about N315 million has been spent on the entrepreneurialship training and empowerment of about 1,940 Corps members. Corps members that were trained and just returned from Miami,Florida in the United States, said the project was supported by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millenium Development Goal, (MDGs).

He said the feat of honouring the seven corps members was attained by merit as the applicants went through rigorous screening processes which included the presentation of business proposals that were adjudged the best.

offends the provision of section 40 of the Constitution.

She added that it is unconstitutional because it purportedly limits the exercise of a right under Chapter 4 of the Constitution.

It further argued that the prohibition of members of political parties, who hold public appointment, from exercising their associational rights in the party’s nomination process, derogates from the constitution.

Reps seek compliance over appointment of advisers From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

T

O the House of Representatives, President Goodluck Jonathan erred by not informing it of his request for the appointment of Special Advisers as required by Section 151 of the Constitution.

The House’s position was sequel to an observation raised by its former Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila that the President has acted at variance with the Constitution by writing a letter to only the Senate for approval to appoint 20 Special Advisers.

The House subsequently directed its Clerk, Mohammad Ataba Sani Omolori to bring the issue to the attention of the Presidency so that the Constitution may be immediately complied with.

Section 151 of the Constitution which deals with the issue in question states: “The President may appoint any person as a special adviser to assist him in the performance of his functions. The number of such advisers and their remuneration and allowances shall be as prescribed by law or by resolution of the National Assembly.”

Barely plenary commenced when Gbajabiamila, brought up the issue under a point of Constitutional Order.

As soon as the Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over the session recognised him, he said: “I am drawing attention to the provisions of Section 151 of the Constitution. This constitutional provision stated that the President should seek approval from the National Assembly to appoint special advisers.

But I am not aware of any letter sent to this House in that regard. I have even heard that the Senate has approved that the President could appoint 20 advisers. I do not want to believe that there is any intention to undermine the House of Representatives, but I just want to ask that the House should ensure that the right thing is done”.

Alleged N35m fraud: Abiola’s son pleads not guilty, granted bail

T

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned the second son of the late businessman Chief Moshood Abiola, Deji, at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, over alleged N35.5 million fraud.

He was docked before Justice Surajudeen Onigbanjo on a count charge of stealing by fraudulent conversion.

The anti-crime agency alleged that Abiola collected N35.5 million from Mr Jide

By Joseph Jibueze

Jose on May 24, 2008 after promising to supply him printing machines from Switzerland.

The agency said the younger Abiola never imported or supplied the machines, but converted the money to his personal use.

According to it, the alleged offence contravenes Section 390 (7) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C17, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.

Abiola pleaded not guilty

to the charge.

His counsel, O.A. Fasugba, urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms because the alleged offence is bailable.

“The matter arose out of a mere commercial transaction between my client and the complainant and there was alleged breach of contract,” Fasugba said.

But EFCC’s lawyer Omeiza Adebola, opposed the bail application, saying Abiola had attempted to com-

promise investigation by allegedly bribing two officials with N20,000.

Justice Onigbanjo said the allegation was not enough to deny him bail. He granted Abiola bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.

One of the sureties must be a relative and the two sureties must be Lagos residents with evidence of three years tax clearance.

The judge ordered Abiola to deposit his international

passport with the EFCC, saying it must not be released to him without the court’s permission.

Also, an EFCC operative is to verify the business and residential addresses of the sureties and make a report to the court’s registrar, while the defendant will remain in EFCC’s custody until and the bail conditions have been met.

Justice Onigbanjo adjourned trial till September 22.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

5

NEWS 217 arrested in Oshodi

By Miriam Ndikanwu

S

CORES of street urchins popularly referred to as ‘Area boys’, who reside under the bridge at Oshodi and Alausa in Lagos State, were yesterday arrested by officials of the State Task Force on Environment and Special Offences.

This followed a directive by Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN).

In all, 217 urchins were arrested, including, men, women and children.

It was gathered that the Task Force swooped on them at about 3am.

The officials arrested about 192 at Oshodi and 23 at Alausa.

They were taken to Alausa in a Black Maria, where they will be arraigned at the Special Offences Court Task Force Chairman Bayo Sulaiman said the raid lasted for two hours. He said some of the suspects are not from Lagos.

He said about 19 ‘Area boys’ were arrested last week at Mile 12 while smoking Indian hemp at a notorious joint.

Lagos Assembly screens 12

T

HE screening of commissioner-nominees and special advisers in Lagos State, which started on Wednesday at the House of Assembly, continued yesterday with 12 nominees going through the grindmill.

Those screened yesterday are: Olatubosun Jeje; Ademoren Kuye; Babatunde Humpe; Aderemi Ibirogba; Oladisun Holloway; Adeola Ipaye.

Others are: Gbolahan Lawal; Mrs. Florence Oguntuase; Adebiyi Mabadeje; Jide Idris ; Obafemi Hamzat and Ganiyu Johnson.

The screening of Jeje, who was the first to appear, evoked emotions as Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji praised him for his service to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), his constituency and

By Oziegbe Okoeki

the state.

Jeje won the party primaries to the House of Representatives for Kosofe Federal constituency but stepped down when the party leadership asked him to.

According to Sikiru Oshinowo (Kosofe 1), though Jeje stepped down he still donated vehicles for campaign and printed campaign posters for candidates. He was subsequently told to take a bow and leave.

Apart from Humpe, Holloway and Mabadeje who were questioned, the remaining nine were told to take a bow and leave.

The exercise will be concluded today as the remaining 12 nominees appear before the lawmakers.

Daniel defends sales of public assets

F

ORMER Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel yesterday defended his administration’s decision to concession the three Gateway Hotels, Olumo Rock, Remo Plantation, among others.

He said it was done in the “best interest of the state.”

Daniel said all Governor Ibikunle Amosun told the people in his ‘state of the state account’ were “lies and concoctions of an overwhelmed governor.”

He said: “Amosun should concentrate on the real task of governance after one month of heat without motion.”

Daniel spoke in a statement by ex-Commissioner of Information Sina Kawonise.

The former governor said the concession was carried “in line with the best practices under Private Public Partner-

•Silent on N22b unremitted funds From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

ship (PPP).”

Kawonise said until the concessioning of the public assets under PPP, they existed as drain pipes unable to fulfil the objectives for which they were established by the state’s founding fathers.

He accused Amosun of “playing to the gallery and blaming his predecessor for what is now clearly his cluelessness in handling the affairs of the state.

“In the case of the Gateway Hotels, they could not meet the objectives for which they were set up and there was a need to reconsider government funding.

“To achieve this, the OGD administration opted to in-

volve private investors in the management and/or ownership of the hotels.

“Due diligence and process were followed in all the transactions.

“The move was intended to, among other objectives, ensure efficient management of the ventures and generate higher returns and employment ,” Kawonise said.

The ex-commissioner cited the divestment of the Federal Government from its ownership of NICON NOGA Hotel, the Lagos local airport concession and the Lekki Expressway as examples.

But Daniel remained silent on the allegation that his administration short-changed the state of N22billion through the Bureau of Lands and Survey.

Amosun had in his address said the Bureau remitted less than what was possibly accruable from land sales and ratification in the eight years of the Daniel administration.

His words: “The Land Use Act makes it mandatory for every state to have a Land Use Allocation Committee.

“But in the case of Ogun, due diligence and processes were not followed.

“There was a breach of the extant laws and an unacceptable abuse of official position.

“The revenue that ought to accrue to the state from the huge land allocations was at least N33.8 billion, if we use the Bureau rates.

“In eight years, the last administration posted a meagre N10.9 billion for land allocation and N577 million for land ratification.”

Oyo Assembly summons council heads From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

T

HE Oyo State House of Assembly yesterday summoned the Directors of Personnel (DPM) in the 33 local governments to give account of how 495 electric transformers bought by the Adebayo Alao-Akala administration were distributed.

The transformers were bought at the end of the last administration.

Fifteen transformers were for each local government. But complaints have trailed its distribution.

Raising the motion at plenary yesterday, Olusegun Olaniyi(Ibadan North 11) said there was need for the House to probe the distribution of the transformers.

The motion was seconded by Adeyemo Adesina representing Ibarapa Central Constituency.

Speaker Monsurat Sunmonu ordered all DPMs to report to the House on Tuesday with information on the distribution of the transformers.

They are also to give details of the location of the transformers.

Governor’s wife saves accident victims

W

HAT would have resulted in the loss of 16 lives was prevented yesterday by Ondo State Governor’s wife Olukemi Mimiko as her entourage rescued the victims.

The accident, which occurred on Ore-Sagamu Road, was witnessed by Mrs. Mimiko, who was on her way to Lagos State.

The driver and a child died in the accident.

The passengers, who were in a 18-passenger bus, were going to Delta State from Lagos.

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

An eyewitness said the driver was driving recklesslyand ran into a trailer.

Mrs. Mimiko’s convoy stopped and she directed her aides to rescue the victims.

The victims were taken to the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital .

A sympathiser, simply identified as Abiodun, commended the governor’s wife for her gesture.

He said: “If not for her intervention, all the passengers would have died.

Activist to sue Ekiti lawmakers From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

A

HUMAN rights activist, Morakinyo Ogele, yesterday said he would sue members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, if they fail to cancel their plan of inspecting the 16 local governments.

Ogele said the tour was unconstitutional. He alleged that the lawmakers were trying to enrich themselves with local government funds.

Ogele said: “There is no power giving to any State Assembly to constitute itself as local government inspectors.

“The lawmakers are trying to loot the treasuries of the local governments because this is not part of their functions.

“Ekiti State House of Assembly members should be informed that any illegality coming from their chambers will be restricted by the masses.”

•From left: Dr. Doyin Abiola; Mimiko; National Co-ordinator, National Think-Tank Initiative Prof. Steve Azaiki; former Minister of Health and Guest Lecturer, Prof. A.B.C Nwosu and former Ambassador to Russia, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd)...yesterday

Ministerial nominee to be resolved soon, says Mimiko

O

NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has said the issue of the state’s ministerial nominee will be resolved soon.

The governor said he did not nominate the former nominee, Mrs. Omobola Johnson.

“I know her. I also know that she is eminently qualified for the position,” the governor said.

Describing Mrs. Johnson as “an illustrious daughter of the state” whom he holds in high esteem, he said the issue of a ministerial nominee should not have generated any heat since it is the constitutional duty of the President to present his choice to the Senate for confirmation.

Mimiko also said the April

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

elections were a watershed in the nation’s history.

He warned that politics would always be attended by fiercely-competitive and undemocratic means of elections.

The governor spoke in Abuja at a post-election conference with the theme “Reappraising the losses and gains of the 2011 general elections” organised by the National Think-Tank Initiative.

He said: “Politics will always be attended by fiercelycompetitive and mainly undemocratic means that may not be amenable to the control of even the morally-up-

right.”

He said there was sloppiness in certain aspects of the preparation toward the election, which led to the postponement of the first election earlier slated for April 2 as well as the attendant economic implications.

Mimiko commended security agencies for their impartial role, saying “significant progress was made in ensuring, to a large extent, the neutrality of security agents in the conduct of the elections.

On the other hand, he berated the agencies for not being proactive and plan against post-election crisis in the North, which resulted in unquantifiable and unnecessary loss of lives and prop-

erty.

“The security agencies must do a better and proper assessment of security challenges before, during and after elections. They should be adequately motivated and mobilised to stave off or confront such challenges before they escalate.

“We must make the necessary and deliberate efforts to restructure governance towards democratising the access to the good things of life to make democracy gains visible for all to see. Nagging problems, such as the devolution of resources from the centre, establishment of state police, can be tackled by a Legislature that is attuned with the demands of the people.”

Aregbesola: seven years of Oyinlola a waste

O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has described the seven and a half years of deposed Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s executive council as a waste.

Aregbesola, for the first time yesterday, lashed out at those criticising his non-constitution of an executive council.

He challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders to compare his achievements in seven months with that of the PDP-led government for seven and a half years, if they would not be stoned by the people.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

His words: “When I read their litany on the pages of newspapers about the noncomposition of my executive council, I asked myself that these characters what have these people done with their own executive council when they were there other than useless jokes.

“What they ever discussed at that executive council were issues on chieftaincy title to victimise one king or the other. Nothing reasonable was

discussed besides mischief.

“Instead of them to be ashamed of their misdeeds and the trauma they subjected the people to, they are still condemning the government that is performing.

“They are totally incompetent to comment about us. T “his state had never witnessed anything close to what we have succeeded in doing in seven months.

“Ask anybody in Osun, aside the limited time of Chief Bisi Akande, this is the beginning of reasonable government. The seven and a half

years they spent before our advent on November 27, last year, was a waste and a disaster.

“The fact is that we are incomparable at all. Without living here, we are bringing investors close without spending a dime.

The only cost is the cost of the pen and the ink with which the agreement was typed.”

Aregbesola recalled how his administration within 100 days in office created 20,000 jobs for youths and engaged them for socio-economic development.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

6

NEWS Police seal off GTbank branch over N22.3m

‘Alimosho more populated than some African nations’

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Customers of a branch of Ilorin Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), in Kwara state capital yesterday could not gain entrance into the bank as police sealed it off on the order of the court.

The bank is indebted to one Cukuemezie Peter Ekemezie, one of its customers, to the tune of N22.3million.

Some of the bank’s customers who had gone to the bank for transactions were disappointed as the court bailiff and policemen, who were at the bank as early as 7.30am could not gain access.

The police were said to have seized movable items of the bank to recover the amount owed the customer.

The plaintiff, Chukwuemezie Peter Ekemezie got the judgment in the state high court to recover the money owed him by the bank.

Ekemezie said since the judgment was entered in his favour on March 7, the bank had refused to act.

Four Hilux vehicles belonging to the bank found in the premises were removed, while the bank staffers were locked outside together with customers.

All efforts to speak with the bank branch manager and staff proved abortive.

Indigenes host Fayemi, deputy, others in Lagos Notable Ekiti indigenes in Lagos would, this evening, converge on the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja at a reception in honour of Governor Kayode Fayemi, his deputy, Mrs Funmi Olayinka as well as state and federal lawmakers from the Fountain of Knowledge.

Organisers of the reception - Ekit Parapo, Lagos, a soci-cultural association of all Ekiti sons and daughters, said the chairmen from the 16 Local Government Areas have been invited.

Dr. Fayemi will also be honoured as the group’s grand patron.

According to the group’s president, Chief Kola Akomolade and publicity secretary, Mr. Bode Ajayi, former Minister of Health Prince Julius Adeluyi would chair the reception, while the former governor of the defunct Western Region, Maj. Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo would be the special guest of honour.

G

OVERNOR of Osun State Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said Alimosho Local Government is more populated than some African countries.

He described the council as the bastion of progressive politics in Nigeria.

He said the council has over the years been a pride to Lagos and Nigeria.

Aregbesola accompanied by his wife, Alhaja Sherifat, spoke at the opening of a mini-General Hospital at Okunola, Lagos.

The hospital, built by Chairman, Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Abiodun Mafe, was named Rauf Aregbesola Medical Centre.

He hailed the vision and doggedness of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating the 37 LCDAs in 2005. The governor described the health centre as another feather on Tinubu’s cap.

“Our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s struggle for development at the level local has been justified.

This is yet another of his (Tinubu’s) numerous achievements. I am proud that one of the LCDAs has succeeded in building this giant edifice bigger than what state governors outside Lagos could boast of,” he said.

•From left: Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Yusuf Ageni, wife of the Chairman of Surulere Local Government, representing the First Lady of Lagos State, Alhaja Mosunmola Folami, Chairman, Surulere Local Government, Dr. Rasak Oyesegun Folami and Executive Secretary, Surulere Local Government Education Authority, Mrs. Yetunde Abike, during the commissioning of Obele Nusery and Primary School, renovated by Nigeria Breweries, held at the school premises, Lawanson road, Surulere, Lagos...yesterday.

Fear of crisis in Osogbo over Ataoja

S

OME residents in Osogbo, Osun State are threatening to march on the Ataoja Palace today and force Alhaji Jimoh Oyetunji Olanpekun to vacate the throne in accordance with the last Tuesday’s court ruling.

A human rights group, the Committee for Democracy

Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

and Rights of the People (CDRP), yesterday said it would lead a peaceful protest to eject the deposed monarch from the palace.

A National Co-coordinator of CDRP, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, at a news conference

in Osogbo yesterdaysaid the state government and the state police command should effect the court order that the Ataoja should vacate the stool “or else we will do it ourselves.”

But the Police Commissioner, Mr. Solomon Olusegun, yesterday in a telephone

interview said nobody had the right to eject the monarch except the police, saying the law has made a provision for rights of appeal for the defendant.

He assured that the police are prepared for troublemakers and those that might want to disturb the peace in any part of the state.

Fashola: why I enrolled my son as carpenter apprentice

L

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday said he sent his son, who has just completed secondary education, to a carpenter’s workshop, to acquire vocational training.

Addressing the maiden edition of the Governor’s Education Awards in Lagos, Fashola said he was surprised that his son could not fix a plug after six years of sound post-primary education.

He said: “I called my son

and asked him: ‘What do you want to do now that you have finished your secondary education?’ He replied: ‘I want to do something with my hand’.

“And I asked him: ‘Ccan you fix a plug?’ He said no.

Then, I knew there was a problem and we (my wife and I) decided to send him to a carpenter’s workshop to acquire some skills.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was organised by the Lagos Eko Project to

reward performance in schools.

Fashola stressed the need for pupils to balance classroom education with vocational training, saying it would empower the youths and promote the technological development of the country.

He described technical and vocational training as the bedrock of education.

Fashola said: “This type of education is key to solving high rate of employment and the poor technological

development of the country.

“Government will continue to come up with initiatives to promote technical education apart from the measures that had been taken to ensure that the five state-owned technical colleges are revived.”

The governor, who urged students to show more interest in the acquisition of vocational training, praised the 120 schools recognised for exceptional performance on the occasion.

IG not recalled

I

INSPECTOR- GENERAL of Police Mr. Hafiz Ringim has not been recalled home ahead of schedule or on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan. Contrary to several newspapers’ reports, Ringim will return to the country today.

According to a source close to the IG, the police chief is returning to the country at the conclusion of his assignment. Said the source; “The InspectorGeneral of Police went on this trip with the knowledge and approval of Mr. President.

“As scheduled, the IG met with the top echelon of the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation and the State Department. The only assignment he did not fulfil was the keynote address he was supposed to deliver at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington DC and this is due to the invitation by the Nigerian Senate to all the Service Chiefs”.

Lagos State praised for effective use of bond

L

AGOS State was yesterday singled out among the eight states in the country for effectively using the multi-billion naira bond raised from the capital market at the wake of the global economic meltdown for execution of capital projects.

Former Director-General of Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) Alhaji Suleyman Ndanusa hailed the state in Minna while presenting a paper at a retreat for Niger State commissioner, designates, permanent secretaries and special advis-

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

ers.

Ndanusa said: “Of all the eight states that assessed over N317 billion from the capital market, Lagos State was a good example of states that used the bonds well.” According to the former SEC chief, “Lagos State used the bond for the construction of schools, bridges and hospitals.”

Ndanusa also commended Akwa Ibom State for effective utilising of the N15 bil-

lion bonds for the upgrading of the Obudu Cattle ranch. He also cited the Imo State government which spent the proceeds from its bond on the Imo Wonder Lake Presenting a paper tiltled, ‘Taking Advantage of the Capital Market: A Case for Niger State’, the former SEC chief said states turned to the capital market on the wake of the global economic meltdown to enable them meet there capital projects following short falls in revenue allocations from the federation account.

Citing the benefiting states, Ndanusa said, with N250 billion, Lagos State topped the list. Thers are Cross River N15billion, Imo N18.5billion, Akwa Ibom received N6billion, Kebbi N3.5b, Kwara N18.5billion and Niger N6billion.

Ndanusa, who is also the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai in the state said that about N20 billion earlier collected by Yobe, Edo and Ekiti states collectively are now being repaid by the states.

Ekweremadu, Atiku, lawyers mourn Aniagolu

D

EPUTY Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday mourned former Supreme Court Justice Anthony Aniagolu, whom they described as a special gift that God gave to the legal profession in Nigeria.

Justice Aniagolu died on Tuesday in Enugu at the age of 89.

Ekweremadu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Paul Odenyi, said

By Joseph Jibueze Aniagolu’s contribution to the development of the legal profession and the constitution would remain indelible.

He said as Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) of the aborted Third Republic, he and his team reinforced Nigeria’s belief in the presidential system of government, which has now endured for the last 32 years.

He said: “On the bench, Justice Aniagolu’s rulings

were like the guiding principles for good conscience, equity and justice.

“Justice Aniagolu’s fame and standing in our society emanate essentially from the examples he showed; his hardwork and patriotism and above all the charity with which he looked at his fellow man.”

Atiku described Aniagolu’s death as another major defoliation of Nigeria’s judicial tree.

In a statement by his me-

dia office in Abuja, noted that with Aniagolu’s death at 89, a brilliant star has set in the nation’s judicial galaxy.

“It is on record that the document produced by the Aniagolu-led Constituent Assembly represents the best effort so far at forging an enduring national consensus and for which reason the 1989 constitution continues to be a reference point in the constitutional development of Nigeria,” he said.

Senior lawyers described

the death of former Justice as a huge loss to the legal profession.

Professor of law Gabriel Olawoyin (SAN) said Aniagolu was a great justice in the “real school of jurists that earned the respect of all.”

Beside his fearless, he said he had high level of integrity that is lacking in the judiciary today. “We will sorely miss him,” he said.

Olawoyin added: “Aniagolu belonged to a class of jurists that is a far cry

from what we are experiencing now. We pray that his soul rests in perfect peace.”

Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) said Aniagolu adorned the bench with impeccable language, comportment and integrity, which are qualities a judge must have.

“I wish there were other ways of immortalising him,” Fagbemi said.

Chief Emeka Ngige said Aniagolu shone like a beacon on the bench, and that one could “feel” justice in his verdicts.

7

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

NEWS Tunji Bello gives scholarship to students

CAN protests killings From Shola O’Neil, Warri

THE Delta State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday protested the killing of Christians and other southerners in the North, especially by the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Led by the state CAN Chairman, Bishop Goddowell Avwomakpa, it marched on major streets of Warri to register its anger at some national issues.

It warned that their members might be compelled to retaliate attacks on Christians in the North if the Federal Government failed to punish the perpetrators.

The association carried placards with various inscriptions, including: No to Islamisation of Nigeria; Sanusi, resign now; Boko Haram is haram (taboo), among others.

Avwomakpaalleged that the Islamic group was being sponsored to cause mayhem.

Already, he hinted that CAN and other Christian religious leaders in the country would be compelled to tackle the muslim extremists if President Goodluck Jonathan and security agencies continue to handle the group without the iron fist it deserved.

Jang urges tie with Israel on agric, tourism From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

LATEAU State Governor Jonah Jang and the Mayor of Tiberias, Israel, Mr Zohar Oved, have begun discussions on cooperation.

A statement by the Director Press and Publicity to the governor, Mr James Manok, said: “The meeting, which took place at the Rimonim Hotel and Resort, Tiberias, bordered on agriculture, power and energy, fish farming, tourism, technological development as well as spiritual rel Jang travelled out of the country after signing into law this year’s Appropriation Bill.

The statement said: “Jang told the Mayor about the potential that abound on the Plateau, particularly in the area of agriculture, tourism, solid minerals, political developments and the profile of Plateau State.

P

A

•People scooping kerosine from a tanker that had an accident at Costain roundabout in Lagos..yesterday.

PHOTO:NAN

Alleged N10b theft: FinBank ex-MD, others urge court to halt trial ORMER Managing Director of Finbank Plc, Mr Okey Nwosu and two former executive tirectors yesterday urged a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, Lagos, to suspend their trial because they have filed an appeal challenging its jurisdiction to try them.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that Nwosu, Dayo Famoroti, Danjuma Ocholi and Agnes Ebubedike stole the bank’s N10,934,708, 402.17 between September 2006 and November 2007.

The trial judge, Justice

F

By Joseph Jibueze

Lateefat Okunnu, had ruled on May 24 that the court had jurisdiction to try them. She also refused to quash the charges.

Nwosu’s lawyer, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), told the court yesterday that they were challenging the ruling, adding that the records had been transferred to the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos.

He said the Court of Appeal Rules stipulate that once an appeal has been filed, until it is determined, the

lower court shall stay proceedings.

“The summary of this provision is that this court has lost jurisdiction and I urge it to be persuaded,” Idigbe said.

Ocholi, through his lawyer, Victor Ukutt, prayed the court to set aside the ruling.

He did not file an appeal.

But EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, opposed the bid to halt proceedings, arguing that it amounted to a bid to frustrate the trial.

Jacobs said: “The defendants are not being fair with us. The case was adjourned

for the argument of the Motion of Stay of Proceedings.

This morning they served us a process wherein they claim that an appeal has been entered.”

According to him, if an appeal has been entered, the respondent ought to be notified. He said EFCC was not informed.

Jacobs asked the court for an adjournment to enable him file a further affidavit in response to the defendants’ prayers.

Justice Lateefat Okunnu adjourned till July 6 for argument.

Reps urge Fed Govt to implement findings of Sultan Panel T HE House of Representatives yesterday urged the Federal Government to implement the recommendations of the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar-led Committee on the Communal Crisis between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers.

This followed the adoption of a motion on the recent crisis between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers in Nasarawa and Benue states.

It was sponsored by Emmanel Jime.

The House also adopted motion to mandate its relevant committee–when

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

constituted–to probe the crisis and proffer solutions.

It urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to refugee camps to assist victims and families affected by the communal crisis.

The House urged the Federal Government to intervene in the crisis and provide security for the affected areas.

It urged security agencies, especially the State Security

Service (SSS), to do more intelligence gathering.

Jime said the recent conflicts and violent crises between itinerant Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers in Nasarawa and Benue states, resulted in many deaths, maiming and displacement of thousands of Tivs over disputes on farmlands and grazing areas.

He noted that Tiv and Fulani had coexisted peacefully and used the same fields for farming and grazing for over 100 years in the present states of Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Plateau

and other states in the Middle Belt.

Jime said the crisis had led to displacement of over 40,000 people, including women and children now living under difficult conditions because of lack of food, water, clothing materials and medical care in five camps at Daudu, Ortese, Igyungu-adze in Guma and Makurdi local governments.

He said that the pupils of the primary school at Daudu and Igyungu-adze towns have been sent on forced holiday by the Guma Local Government Education Authority due to the communal strife.

EFCC seeks transfer of Nnamani’s, others’ trial

T

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, to disqualify Justice Charles Achibong from further presiding over the trial of Enugu State former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani and some of his aides.

The commission’s request is contained in a June 27 petition written by its lawyer, Kelvin Uzozie.

It accused the judge of of bias in handling the case.

By Eric Ikhilae

EFCC also accused the judge of describing the charge it filed against the accused as “bogus”.

It cited an incident on July 22, last year, when the judge allegedly threatened not to try the case unless the prosecution reduced the number of counts it contained.

The commission accused the judge of refusing its lawyers access to records of proceedings, several months after they applied for them.

EFCC said it believed cer-

tain comments and conducts of Justice Archibong were prejudicial to the case.

Yesterday, despite Uzozie’s insistence that his client was seeking a transfer of the case to another court, Justice Achibong proceeded with it, denying knowledge of the said letter.

The judge said: “I am not aware of all these correspondences nor has my Chief Judge informed me about any letter.”

Justice Achibong listened to the lawyer to one of the accused, Mrs.Sylvia

Onwuebemeli (a permanent secretary in the Enugu State Civil Service), who moved an application seeking to strike her name from the charge.

The lawyer, Tony Igboji, argued that there was no evidence linking her client to the alleged offences. He adopted his written submission.

The court adjourned the matter till July 25 for ruling.

Justice Achibong adjourned the substantive charge till 19 October for trial.

Nnamani and others are facing a 124-count charge of money laundering. They are

also accused of illegal diversion of public funds estimated at about N5 billion.

On trial with Nnamani are Enugu State former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters Sam Ejiofor; Sunday Anyaogu and six firms linked to the ex-governor.

They include Rainbownet Nig Limited; Hillgate Nigeria Limited; Cosmos FM; Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited; Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.

N annual scholarship to support the education of five indigent but academically gifted students will be inaugurated today to mark the 50th birthday anniversary of a Lagos State commissioner-designate, Mr Tunji Bello.

The celebrant said beneficiaries of the gesture must be indigenes of Lagos State.

Bello, the Chief Executive of the Lagos State Advertisement and Signage Agency (LASAA), was Commissioner for Environment between 2003 and 2007.

He will be joined by family members, friends and associates by 6pm, for the inauguration of the scholarship scheme at The Margue, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Bello said he instituted the scheme to show appreciation for God’s goodness in his life in the past 50 years.

The maiden edition of the scholarship will be presented to the authorities of the Lagos State University (LASU). The institution is to hold it in trust for the five of its deserving students.

UK denies CPC chair entry visa From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

THE Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) yesterday alleged that the United Kingdom (UK) High Commission in Nigeria denied its National Chairman, Prince Tony Momoh, entry visa.

Momoh, according to a statement by CPC National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, had applied for a UK visa to attend a family function.

Fashakin said: “The CPC hereby brings to the attention of the Nigerian public the fact of the refusal of entry visa to its National Chairman, Prince Tony Momoh.

“Ordinarily, denial or acceptance of visa application is strictly the discretion of the issuing country; however, it is bewildering when the decision is largely based, not on the weight of the evidence supplied, but on some other clandestine criteria.”

“In the document of refusal, the British High Commission stated inter-alia: ‘You have not provided any evidence that your sponsor is able to accommodate you as you claim.”

Falcons out of World Cup SIMONE Laudehr finished off a 54th-minute goalmouth scramble with a thunderous shot high into the net to give Germany a 1-0 win over Nigeria in Frankfurt and a place in the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals yesterday.

German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer celebrated her 100th international cap with a clean sheet which kept the host team perfect with two victories, but hardly convincing in the three-week tournament it is favoured to win.

France records a 4-0 win over Canada to also advance. Nigeria was eliminated along with Canada.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

8

NEWS Court stops Obong of Calabar’s appeal

‘We’ll deliver’ From Kunle Johnson, Calabar

THE contractor handling the renovation of the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, Cross River State, has reaffirmed his company’s commitment towards completing work on or before July 8.

Asuquo Akawan gave the assurance when members of an adhoc committee visited the site yesterday.

Akawan assured members, led by Deputy Speaker Itaya Asuquo Nyong that with suitable weather the renovation would be completed on schedule.

The Managing Director of JAMEON Nig. Ltd, the contracting firm, Jude Nwachukwu, said the contract was signed on November 30, last year, and the contractor mobilised to site in May. He said the July 8 deadline was feasible.

‘ Niger Delta disarmament illegal’ From Tayo Owolabi and Genevieve Ajewole, Abuja

THE Federal Government has described the ongoing surrendering of arms by some militants in the Niger Delta to the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) as illegal.

The Chairman, Presidential Committee on Amnesty, Kingsley Kuku, said the disarmament managed by the amnesty office was finalised on May 25.

Kuku spoke yesterday in Abuja at a pre-departure orientation course for 176 exmilitants to South Africa for vocational training in marine engineering, pipe line welding and diving.

He said those surrendering their arms are only helping the government and the JTF to mop up arms in the region Kuku said: “For me, amnesty has ended in the Niger Delta. Only 26,358 persons accepted amnesty and they are the only ones recognised by the Federal Government.

“So those who are submitting cutlass and bottles to the JTF are not recognised by the Federal Government.

“I urge the JTF to stop the purported disarmament to avoid the disruption of the amnesty.”

Lagos to employ 502 teachers

By Miriam Ndikanwu and Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

LAGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has approved the employment of the 507 graduate teachers, who were recently engaged to provide remedial training for pupils preparing for the just concluded Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.

Fashola gave the approval yesterday at the maiden edition of the Governor’s Education Award in Ikeja, Lagos, where he disbursed N252 million to 126 public schools.

He said the government would not renege on its promise to absorb them into the teaching service after the three-month engagement.

From Kunle Johnson, Calabar

HE legal tussle for the Obong of Calabar, Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, to retain his seat has suffered a setback.

An Appeal Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, dismissed an application by his counsel, Ms Rebecca Tanga, asking it to stop the lower court from continuing with the matter.

Former Minister of Finance Etubom Anthony Ani and four others had, in April 2008, sued Otu and seven others, challenging the verdict of the Etuboms Council in selecting and proclaiming Otu V as the Obong of Calabar.

The matter took another twist last week as Ani and the others filed a notice withdrawing their case against the Cross River State Government and two others, leaving only the Obong and four others as defendants.

Justice Obgojor Ogar of the High Court adjourned the matter till October 11 for the counsel to file their addresses.

Justice Ogar had turned down an application by the Obong’s counsel requesting to file some documents.

But in another move, Ms Tanga went to the Appeal Court seeking for an extension to appeal against the decision of Justice Ogar .

Tanga told the court to order the lower court to stop the hearing until the matter in the Appeal Court is finished.

But Ani’s counsel Joe Agi opposed the application, saying “the motion was incompetent on grounds that refusal to admit a document is not an interlocutory decision to appeal before final judgment.”

The Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Kumai Akaahs, struck out the application by Ms Tanga.

He said the issue should be included in the final appeal in case they lose since the matter is still in the lower court.

T

•Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole cutting the tape to commission a High Court Complex in Benin...yesterday. With him are Chief Judge Justice Cromwell Idahosa and President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Joseph Olubor

Two bank robbery suspects lynched in Warri

T

WO bank robbery suspects were yesterday lynched in Warri, Delta

State.

They were burnt to death after allegedly dispossessing a man of huge sums of money in front of a new generation bank on Airport Road.

The incident occurred a week after a robbery suspect was lynched around Enerhen Junction after snatching a lady’s handbag, containing N150.

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

It was gathered that the yesterday incident occurred at 2pm, after the suspects manhandled a victim returning from the bank and made away with his money.

Sources said a few days before one of the suspects had dispossessed a 65-year-oldman of N400,000, which he abandoned after the victim raised an alarm.

The suspect was not so

lucky yesterday, as a mob caught up with him and his accomplice and set them on fire in front of the bank.

Some aggrieved ex-militants have vowed to eliminate armed robbers and secondary school cultists, whose activities have led toan increase in crimes in the city.

A security source said the former militants were unhappy that they are blamed for the crimes committed in Warri and environs.

He said: “Some of the exmilitants who stormed our office yesterday have vowed to search out and eliminate any criminal arrested and released by the police.

“They expressed dissatisfaction over insinuations that the increase in the rate of robberies was because of ex-militants.”

Police Area Commander, Delta South, Abutu Yaro said he was yet to be briefed on the development.

Delta rerun: Tribunal to meet tomorrow

T

HE Delta State Election Petition Tribunal is to meet tomorrow to decide whether or not to strike out an application by the counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Emmanuel Uduaghan in the January 6 governorship rerun.

Great Ogboru of Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) is challenging the declaration of Uduaghan as the winner of the election.

The amendment to the 1999 Constitution stipulates a 180day timeline for tribunals to write judgments from the date of filing of petitions.

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

A three-member panel was last month constituted to hear cases involving the rerun and legislative elections.

The panel has Justice Uzoamaka Doris Ogwurike as Chairman. Justices Okereke Louis Ogbonna and Bello Duwale are members.

Justice Ogwurike said the delay was due to the fact that the venue was being renovated.

During the pre-trial session, Uduaghan’s counsel

Ken Mozia objected to the mode of the pre-hearing session.

He said he would file a reaction to the issues raised in an application by the petitioner and requested the tribunal to give him three days.

But DPP’s counsel Mogbeyi Sagay (SAN) said due to time constraint, it was imperative that all objections be taken at the end of the trial.

He urged Mozia to withdraw the application because the objection was filed three months after “we sent our application for preliminary hearing of issues to the tribunal.”

•Uduaghan

Justice Ogwurike adjourned till tomorrow the application seeking to strike out and dismissed the petition.

Ondo PDP, govt bicker over minimum wage

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State yesterday berated the government for its inability to implement the N18,000 minimum wage.

A statement by the party’s Director of Publicity, Ayo Fadaka, said the state does not know the number of its workers before insisting that it could not implement the wage bill.

Fadaka said the government also failed to give account of the income from the Federal Allocation; Internally Generated Revenue and

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

the amount in its bank accounts to justify its decision to pay N14, 000.

But, the Commissioner for Information, Ranti Akerele, described antagonists of the Salary Relativity agreement between Organised Labour and the government as enemies of peace and good governance.

Akerele asked the PDP to show any welfare package it implemented for workers in its six years in power.

He said: “People know those who have conscience and have the love of workers and the electorate at heart. Retrenchment was the order of the day during their reign of terror, throwing workers, who voted them into office into the unemployment market.

“Although it is not appropriate to be dignifying ignoramuses and irritants with reactions to their outbursts, it is ,however, necessary to knock off lies, half truths and falsehood being peddled about to confuse the people of the state.”

Fadaka said it was most disheartening that a government with a mandatory function to maintain law and order would compromise it to suit its operators in the case of the minimum wage as demonstrated by the Olusegun Mimiko-led government.

The party asked the state to publish its financial statement since Mimiko was inaugurated.

Akerele advised the PDP and its members to desist from making false statements when the facts are on the table for all to see.

Senate to revisit Bakassi issue, says Ndoma-Egba

T

HE National Assembly is to revisit the Bakassi issue since the United Nations has refused to respond to the Green Tree Agreement after Bakassi Peninsula was handed over to Cameroon, Senate Majority Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba has said.

Ndoma-Egba told reporters in Calabar that he was con-

From Kunle Johnson, Calabar

cerned about the indifference of the international community to the issue.

He said: “If you remember, the Bakassi issue was driven by the UN, urged on

by Britain, United States and France.

“Since we signed the

Green Tree Agreement and Bakassi was ceded, I have not seen any international organisation coming to Cross River to ask any questions about what problems these refugees are having.

“Yes, we would like to revisit the issue. We would like to go through the Green Tree agreement again to make sure that parties that have respon-

sibilities under the agreement are living up to their responsibilities.

“The Bakassi issue was resisted by the Senate and to the best of my knowledge, I am not sure the Senate ratified that treaty. It is still there it has not been ratified. It is an issue we are going to raise it in this seventh Senate. It has to be revisited.”

Osun, Korean investors sign MoU From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Korean investors, Synctop Corporation Limited, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of $400m (N60 billion) agricultural company.

The memorandum was signed a month after that the proposal was presented to the governor.

A statement by the Director, Bureau of Strategy and Communications in the Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, said the MoU was signed under the Green Wealth Agricultural Project.

It is expected to generate 127,000 jobs and boost the state’s economy when it takes off.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

9

10

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

NEWS

Police intensify search for abducted seven-day-old T HE police in Aba, Abia State, have intensified their search for a seven-day-old baby boy who was allegedly abducted by gunmen who stormed the home of its parents on June 27.

The family of Sunday Njoku of Amaise Umuokerengwa,in Obingwa Local Government is seriously traumatised that it has not hear from the abductors of the baby.

A family source said two gunmen stormed the home of the couple at about 2.45am and took away the baby at gun-point.

He said efforts made to reach the abductors had been futile, which had aggravated their concern for the health of the baby said to be the fifth in

the family.

Mr Rabiu Dayi, the Aba Area Police Commander, who confirmed the incident yesterday, said the police had scaled up their investigation.

Meanwhile, members of the community have become apprehensive over the incident, which they described as

very strange in the area.

They said some soldiers currently on security assignment under ‘‘Operation Jubilee” in Obingwa Local Government are cooperating with them and had adopted a common strategy to fish out the abductors.

They said some members of the community had already been questioned over the incident.

Boko Haram political saboteurs, says Orji

G

OVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has described the Boko Harams as political saboteurs.

He said rather than engage in dialogue with the Islamic fundamentalist group, President Goodluck Jonathan should mandate the security agencies to act appropriately because “the group is engaged in criminal activities.”

The governor spoke yesterday through his Special Adviser on Media Ben Onyechere.

He said: “The Boko Harams are enemies of the nation and as such no effort should be spared in curbing their activities.

“Amnesty should not be considered for people who are determined to bring the nation down in the eyes of the world. The President should, as a matter of urgency, charge the security agencies to do everything to stop this political rascality hiding in the garb of religious intolerance.

“Our security agencies should bring the culprits to book, while every Nigerian should share information to expose them and their activities since they are living within the society.”

Orji urged the Customs to halt importation of arms and ammunition into the country, saying: “the proliferation of small arms in the country is too dangerous.”

The governor described the bombing of police headquarters in Abuja and incessant killings by fellow Nigerians as “horrendous and condemnable acts which should no longer be tolerated.”

G

From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

P

HARMACISTS Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 200 patent medicine shops in Aba, Abia State.

The PCN directed the Abia State Police Command to ensure that the shops remain closed.

The closure of the shops followed the inspection of Markets on Tuesday by the PCN Inspection Team, led by the State Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria [PSN], Pharmacist Emeka Ogbonna.

Speaking with reporters in Aba shortly after the inspection of the markets, Ogbonna said the sealing of the shops was in accordance with the laws of the country.

“The PCN hereby calls on the Abia State Police Command to maintain surveillance in these premises and arrest any person found contravening the laws there,” Ogbonna said.

The PCN boss warned Pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria to stop their representatives from selling/distributing their products through un-licensed premises.

He urged residents of Aba to procure medicines from registered/licensed premises and solicited the support of all to PCN. He said: “The places we have closed have become safe havens where fake and counterfeit drugs are sold to people.

“People should understand the enormity of the activities of those un-licensed premises which are the main causes of the increase in the number of people having kidney, liver and heart failures, increase in male impotency and infertility in our young generation and high rate of medicines and hard drug abuse in Nigeria.”

Elechi decries slow pace of work

G

OVERNOR Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State yesterday decried the slow pace of work by contractors handling vital projects in the state.

The governor spoke during an inspection tour of ongoing projects undertaken by his administration. He directed the contractors to ensure early completion of the projects.

Elechi inspected modern rice mill clusters ( Oso-Edda), Ikwo Water treatment plant(Oferekpe),Unwana road projects and five span bridge( Ukaba), as well as 12.3 kilo-

From Ogbonnaya Obinna,Abakiliki

metre road and bride projects(Iyioji, Mgbede and Nkwobe).

He said 28 brides and access roads have been completed by his administration and urged motorists and other road users to make judicious use of the projects.

Eng. Kanayo Okoye attributed the delay in completing some of the projects to bad weather and assured on the early completion of the projects.

Tension in INEC over arrest of workers Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State(right) welcoming Clement Maduako, Leader of Imo State Indigenes in Aba ,during a solidarity visit to the governor in Umuahia...yesterday.

Obi gets Igbo Person of the Year award

G

OVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has been given the 2010 Igbo Person of the Year a w a r d .

The award was presented to him by Igbo Amaka and Ohaneze Ndigbo at Nike Lake Hotel Resort, Enugu, in recognition of his efforts towards the promotion of Igbo language and culture.

According to the Chairman, Igbo Amaka Advisory Assessment Board, Prof Eddiefloyd Igbo, Obi emerged the winner of the award out of over 79 nominees selected

by Igbo in the diaspora who voted on-line through website and facebook.

It said Obi had taken farreaching measures to promote Igbo language and culture, including making learning and speaking Igbo language compulsory in schools. He said scholarship for the best Igbo pupil competitions among Igbo pupils

‘Obi Nwachukwu said the governor has remained in the forefront of the promotion of the language, adding that he is the only governor who speaks Igbo language in public and private meetings irrespective of who was in attendance’ and making the language as criterion for employment in the State Civil Service would encourage people to read the language.

The project director of the award ceremony, Obi

Nwachukwu said the governor has remained in the forefront of the promotion of the language, adding that he is the only governor who speaks Igbo language in public and private meetings irrespective of who was in attendance.

Mr. Nwachukwu explained that the award was designed to reward excellence as well as honour Igbos, who had contributed to community and national development to encourage others to aspire to greater achievements.

The Chairman of the occasion and the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo worldwide, Ralph Uwechue, represented by the Deputy National Secretary, Chief Eddy Onuoha, hailed Obi on his performance in the promotion of Igbo language and culture.

He noted that the honour would encourage other Igbos to always pursue ennobling things.

Elechi retires Perm Secs OVERNOR Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State has retired Permanent Secretaries in the State Civil Service who have served for seven years and above.

Elechi’s Chief Press Secretary Onyekachi Eni spoke yesterday in Abakaliki shortly after the governor returned from an inspection of on-going projects.

He said: “As part of measures to inject fresh momen-

PSN seals 200 patent medicine shops

•Orders demolition of illegal structures From Ogbonnaya Obinna,Abakiliki

tum into the administrative machinery of the state, Elechi has approved the immediate retirement of all the Permanent Secretaries in Ebonyi State.”

“Those affected are Permanent Secretaries who have put in seven years and above.

Accordingly, all the affected

Permanent Secretaries are hereby directed to proceed on retirement immediately.”

The retired Permanent Secretaries are expected to handover to the most senior director in the different ministries.

The retired Permanent Secretaries would be entitled to a monthly pension of N300,000.

Governor Elechi has also

directed that illegal structures in Abakaliki metropolis be demolished.

“Despite effort to ensure the development of Abakiliki, many developers have continued to flout government directives and regulations,”he said.

Governor Elechi, however,directed owners of such structures to remove them or face prosecution after the demolition of the structures by the government.

From Nwanosike Onu,Awka

T

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra State is in disarray over the arrest of 10 of its workers in connection with the missing electoral materials used in the National Assembly election at Ogbaru Local Government.

Some persons allegedly broke into the INEC office in Ogbaru and made away with vital materials.

Those arrested are Okonta Catherine, Madu Josephat, Ogochukwu Onwualu, Jennifer Chukwudife, Anene Christian, Okeke Felix, Ijeoma Fredrick, Nwankpa Ifeanyi and Elebo Delemubarang.

INEC spokesman Frank Egbo assured that those indicted would face the wrath of the law.

“We are not known for such dirty deals, we are waiting for the conclusion of police investigations. But all I want to tell you is that we are not folding our hands,” Egbo said.

Police beat up activist in Onitsha

T

HE police yesterday beat up a human right activist and head of publicity of the International Society for Civil liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) Comrade Justus Ijeoma for refusing to part with N30,000.

Ijeoma, who addressed reporters yesterday in Onitsha, said he got a distress call from a resident of the city who was arrested by the Fegge police. He said he subsequently sought audience with the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) Mr. Adeniyi Agboola.

According to him, the resident (who did not want his name in print) was illegally arrested by the police. He said when he demanded for the reason of the arrest, he

From Adimike George, Onitsha

was beaten up.

Ijeoma said the police demanded for N30,000 for his bail. This made him to contact the human right group.

“I reminded him that his office was a public one. He should attend to the public who comes to the office. But if he feels that he cannot serve the public, he should give way for other people to fill in the position,” the activist said.

He said it was at that point that Agboola ordered his men to beat him up.

He said the timely intervention of Divisional Police Officer Tafida Saleh saved the situation from degenerating.

Church marks covenant days

T

HE Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Olivet Area Headquarters, Jubilee Model Parish, IjaiyeOjokoro, Lagos, will mark its annual “Seven Covenant Days” programme from July 4.

Christians are expected to enter into covenant with God during the event.

According to Pastor Tayo Adebola, God has promised that every covenant made with Him during the programme would receive “accelerated attention.”

11

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

We have huge infrastructure deficit in many of our countries. I believe the solution is to continue to grow world class capital markets.

It is important because for us to deploy the wealth of our nation on investment, to realise our full potential, we can raise the funds we need for infrastructure from the capital market and transform our economy.

–Aruma Oteh

NERC to remove some charges in electricity bill

‘CBN spends N150b to maintain naira notes annually’

T

HE Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Samuel Amadi, has said the body is working towards expunging some of the charges in its billing system.

Amadi, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos, yesterday, said the commission is currently reviewing some charges in the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO).

He said the commission’s position was that customers should just pay for services they enjoy and should not be charged for what they did not consume.

He said the NERC wants to adopt the current practice employed in the utility industries, including the telecommunications’ sector. “ The main issue is that such charges have to be transparently administered so that the customer will know why he or she is being charged.

“Meter maintenance charge will not be part of the new tariff because it does not disclosed as service that the customer enjoys.

“Other charges can remain as long as they are fair and reasonable and go to a specific service the customer enjoys,’’ he said.

Amadi, commenting on the July 1 date for new electricity tariff, said that the date was not an imposition by its leadership.

He said in 2008, the first MYTO was established to last till 2013, stating that the tariff framework provides that on June 30, the average tariff will increase marginally. “ Since we have not finished our MYTO review, we cannot interfere with that order because it is a matter of law.

“The distribution companies are gearing up to charge the slightly adjusted tariff since the law allows them to do so until we finish the review,’’ Amadi said.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$112.3/barrel Cocoa - $2,856/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢78.07.pound Gold -$1,161/troy ounce Rubber - ¢146.37/pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N8.1 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -11.3% Treasury Bills -2.64% Normal lending -24% Prime lending -18% Savings rate -3% 91-day NTB -6.99% Time Deposit - 6% MPR -7.50% Foreign Reserve -$32.5bn FOREX CFA 0.281 • 220.9 £ 253.5 $ 153.59 ¥ 1.5652 SDR 245.85 RIYAL 39.3

T

• From left: Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Mr. Jibril Aku; Independent Director, Mrs. Nadu Denloye and Chairman, Board of Directors, Olorogun Sonny Kuku, at the bank’s Annual General Meeting at the Muson Centre, Lagos.

Stock market closes first half with marginal gain T HE Nigerian stock market closed the first half with a negligible average gain of 0.85 per cent as last-month recession eroded average year-to-date gains from N360 billion by the fifth month to N74 billion by the close of the market yesterday.

The All Share Index, the common value-based index that measures price changes on all listed companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), closed first half at 24, 980.20 points as against its year opening index of 24,770.52 points, indicating average gain of 0.85 per cent.

Aggregate market capitalisation of quoted companies closed first half at N7.988 trillion, representing an increase of 0.93 per cent or N74 billion on 2011’s opening market value of N7.914 trillion.

The first half position reflected the sustained reces-

By Taofik Salako

sion witnessed in June when the stock market lost N280 billion or 3.4 per cent.

The stock market had picked up in May with a gain of 3.29 per cent to push the overall average yield for the five-month period to 4.43 per cent compared with about 1.1 per cent by the fourth month.

The five-month review had also shown that the stock market returned N360 billion as the market rallied on the back of gains by manufacturing companies.

Month-on-month analysis had showed that investors’ value appreciated by N271 billion in May as against N130 billion recorded in April. Market capitalisation had closed April at N8.0 trillion.

The first half performance represented a significant meltdown from the exceedingly bullish outlook that started this year. The stock market had closed January with a year-to-date return of 8.2 per cent, indicating a gain of more than N690 billion for equities investors.

Global stock market returns indicated that Nigeria was second on the returns table, trailing India, which recorded average return of 10 per cent.

But a decline of 3.04 per cent in February and further depreciation of 5.36 per cent in March, dropped the Nigerian average return for the first quarter to -0.60 per cent, indicating that investors had lost N0.04 trillion over the three-month period or a

loss of N730 billion given the market capitalisation of N8.6 trillion in January.

ASI had jumped to 26,830.67 points by January month-end but subsequently sloped to 26,016.84 points and 24,621.12 points in February and March respectively.

Sectoral analysis of the stock market had showed that the NSE 30 Index, which serves as barometer for the 30 most capitalised stocks, rose from 1,081.95 points in December 2010 to 1,173.10 points in January 2011.

It however, declined to 1,138.79 points in February and further down to 1,062.32 by March month end. The NSE Food and Beverages Index, which opened at 778.47 points, leapt to 859.62 points in January and consolidated the bullish run at 871.84 points by February month-end. It however, dropped to 784.84 points by the end of March.

Insurers record N200b income last year

T

HE insurance industry recorded a gross pre mium income of N200 billion last year, the Chairman of the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA), Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi has said.

Ladipo-Ajayi, who spoke at the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), in Lagos, said the volume of business written by the industry grew from N178 billion in 2009 to about N200 billion last year.

He said, insurance penetration remains at 0.5 per cent, while insurance density is less than $10 per citizen.

By Chuks Udo Okonta

He said: “The volume of business written by the market grew from N178 billion in 2009 to an estimated N200 billion in 2010, an 18 per cent increase.

“The insurance penetration which is a measure of the relationship between premium earned and the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), remains at an unacceptable low level of 0.5 per cent. ”Similarly, the industry density, the measure of per capital consumption of insurance services is at less than

$10 per citizen, one of the lowest among emerging markets,” he added.

He said the capital market crisis has impacted negatively on the shareholders’ funds of most operators, adding that efforts that are put in place by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the NIA will turn the situation around.

He said following the crisis that rocked the capital market in 2010, the investment performance of member companies was grossly affected. This, he said, “impacted negatively on some

of our members’ shareholders’ funds and payment of dividend to shareholders.

“It is expected however, that the various returns subsequent to the crisis, the initiatives of NAICOM and the NIA’s programme of enhancing members’ services delivery, will turn the situation around,” he added.

He noted that the introduction of the Local Content Policy has impacted on the local retention capacity, adding that the initiative has paved way for increase participation of insurers in oil and gas business.

Nigeria accounts for 60% of ECOWAS $565b GDP

O

UT of the Economic Community of West African State’s (ECOWAS) $565 billion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (with a population of 289m), Nigeria, with a population of 150m, accounted for $374 billion.

In an exclusive interview with The Nation at the International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria (ICCN), Annual General

By Toba Agboola

Meeting (AGM), in Lagos, the Chairman , ICCN, Dr. Olusegun Osunkeye, said from the research conducted by the chamber, this figure represents 60 per cent of the total ECOWAS total output.

He said some of the intervention programmes and strengthening policy actions in some countries, have led to

positive market development, including the successful issuance of bonds. He said year-on-year change of global output for 2010, was between five per cent to three per cent for advanced economies and 7.1 per cent for emerging ones.

Osunkeye, said the delay in the 2011 Appropriation Bill, with aggregate expenditure of N4.5 trillion , is not healthy for effective plan-

ning.

He said: The proposals for high public spending were highlighted as a major factor in the decision to tighten monetary policy again. This public outcry on cost of governance was corroborated by ICC and to better align our actions with these values, we proposed reduction in the number of aids , advisers as well as paraphernalia of office,’ Osunkeye stated.

HE Deputy Governor, Financial System Sta bility, Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu. has said the apex bank spends about N150 billion annually to maintain naira.

Moghalu, who disclosed this at a public forum in Lagos, said the amount was used to produce, store, transport, protect and destroy the naira notes every year.

He said the cashless policy being promoted by the CBN, would offer opportunities to trace movement of funds.

Moghalu, said investors’ fears about constant systemic crisis in the banking sector was responsible for inability of the troubled banks to resolve their crisis immediately.

He said the banking sector regulator should be allowed to sort out the problems associated with mergers and acquisitions in some of these banks, adding that CBN was not interested in liquidating any bank.

The CBN deputy governor, said the mergers were still on track, adding that the apex bank has made various options available to the affected financial institutions.

Moghalu said theCBN was expecting transaction agreements among some banks in the next one week.

Nigeria’s move to IFRS to boost stock valuations

N

IGERIA’s planned adoption of international accounting standards next year should boost foreign investment and valuations for the best-managed companies, analysts said.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) held a workshop this week with listed companies on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which Nigeria hopes will help build confidence in its capital markets.

“One of the strong foundations of a world class capital market is a market where companies abide by best practice,” SEC DirectorGeneral, Arunma Oteh told reporters.

Nigeria, which sees itself rivaling South Africa in the coming years as the continent’s economic power house, has accounting standards dating from the 1970s and disclosure levels lagging behind smaller rivals like Kenya.

Last month, the National Assembly passed a bill establishing a single regulator for financial standards and making it compulsory for all quoted companies and state-owned enterprises, such as utility firms, to comply with IFRS from 2012.

12

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

13

14

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

15

16

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

17

18

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Leaderless in Europe

Bad example •How could a state government have failed to make appearance in a case that came up 17 times?

W

HAT would be the excuse of the Ondo State Government for its failure to appear in the trial of a case involving one of its officials and one Friday Ekpotor? The matter came up for 17 times and the defendant (the state government) did not make any appearance.

Ekpoto had alleged in court on July 5, 2010, that Mr. Sunday Oga of Ondo State Ministry of Natural Resources, drove without regard, either for traffic rules or other road users, resulting in a collision with his vehicle. The crash triggered an inferno, which engulfed and destroyed Ekpotor’s 18-seater bus at the J4 Area on Ogun stretch of Ijebu-Ode-Ore Expressway.

His lawyer said the loss of the bus has caused his client emotional shock and distress, and asked an Ijebu-Ode High Court

‘In the specific case of Ondo State under consideration, we would have understood if it had occurred under the immediate past administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, as the party was noted for its lack of regard for rule of law and due process ... But we are worried the more in the matter because of the fact that the present government in the state is itself a product of the rule of law’

to award N12 million as compensation against the driver and the Ondo State government.

Even if the trial judge, Justice Catherine Ogunsanya, had wanted to be lenient, the failure of the state government to enter appearance throughout the duration of the case was enough to make her angry. This was total disregard for the court and constituted authorities which any judge would frown at. How else would one explain the absence of a party to a case that was heard 17 times and was absent all through the trial? The court did the needful; weighed the evidence before it and concluded that the state government was guilty.

“I have no doubt that the claimant had been able to convince the court that he is entitled to the damages he is seeking from the court; I hereby order the Ondo State Government to pay the sum of N5.5m as damages to Ekpotor”, the court ruled.

Now, the state government has two options: either pay the fine or appeal the judgment. Either way, public funds will be spent. Yet, this was a matter that could have been resolved amicably at less cost to the state government if only it had showed sufficient concern in the case.

Even if it was a matter of appearing to plead with the court to allow both parties settle out of court.

But this is a typical example of how governments in the country accumulate avoidable judgment debts. For instance, in 2008, the Federal Government discovered that it had about N58 billion

judgment debts on its neck and set up a committee to verify how its ministries, departments and agencies came about the debts.

Of course it is not that there will not be judgment debts at all; but N58 billion is a huge sum to spend on judgments that were given against these agencies of government. Obviously, the government itself felt worried that certain underhand dealings might have taken place and this was part of the committee’s terms of reference.

Obviously too, public officials bother less about these debts because public funds would be used to defray them.

But this should not be the spirit. Money spent on judgment debts that were avoidable could have been spent to provide social amenities.

In the specific case of Ondo State under consideration, we would have understood if it had occurred under the immediate past administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, as the party was noted for its lack of regard for rule of law and due process. We should not expect anything better from a government that rigged itself into power.

But we are worried the more in the matter because of the fact that the present government in the state is itself a product of the rule of law. Why then would it want to trample on the same institution that made it? Ondo State government owes the public an explanation on this matter.

IMF’s new boss •Christine Lagarde’s appointment marks a new beginning for the Fund

A

FTER weeks of bad press as a result of the allegations of rape levelled against its former Managing Director, Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has appointed Ms. Christine Lagarde as his replacement.

Lagarde, who is France’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Finances and Industry, was the odds-on-favourite to secure the position, in spite of growing dissatisfaction with the unwritten convention which stipulates that the IMF head must be European, while the World Bank boss should be from the United States.

She brings a great deal of experience to the headship of the IMF, having worked at the highest levels in global corporate law. Her tenure as finance minister was characterised by her deft management of the global financial crisis and the implementation of austerity measures. As chairperson of the G-20’s finance ministers, she played a decisive role in helping to combat the international fallout of the global economic meltdown, and helped to organise the bail-out of distressed members of the Euro-zone area like Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

Lagarde’s candidacy was assiduously advocated by influential countries like Germany because it was felt that she would be vital to handling the delicate negotiations that are required to ensure that the crisis in countries like Greece is successfully resolved.

To that extent, Lagarde’s emergence as IMF Managing Director has altered very little: the cosy Euro-American duopoly of the Bretton Woods institutions remains unchanged; the French were able to hold on to the position, in spite of Strauss-Kahn’s exit; the growing dissatisfaction of emerging economies with an outdated global financial regulatory system appears to have died down, at least for now.

Yet, the new IMF head does symbolise significant change. As the first woman to head a Bretton Woods institution since their founding in 1944, her appointment is a clear indication that the old order can no longer be sustained. The circumstances of her emergence have also placed a renewed emphasis on managerial competence, personal integrity and acceptability to a majority of members of the 187-member Fund.

Whatever else she does, Ms. Lagarde realises that she will be judged solely on the basis of her effectiveness as managing director and the ability of the IMF to help ameliorate the financial difficulties of its members, regardless of region. After the Strauss-Kahn debacle, it is clear that Europe can no longer take its dominance of the body for granted, nor can the growing influence of the world’s new economic powers be ignored.

It is in realisation of this that Lagarde should work with the IMF’s top management to re-position the Fund to make it much more responsive to the

needs of the emerging economic powers of Brazil, Russia, Indonesia and China, as well as the developing countries as a whole. The global financial crisis has shown that many of the tools, techniques and procedures established by bodies like the IMF and the World Bank for regulating the world economy are inadequate to cope with current realities and must be substantially re-configured.

Fortunately, Lagarde is reputed to have the linguistic and technical abilities, as well as the negotiating skills that are vital for success in a post-Strauss-Kahn IMF. Her success in this regard will certainly have salutary effects on the world’s economy.

‘‘... Lagarde should work with the IMF’s top management to reposition the Fund to make it much more responsive to the needs of the emerging economic powers of Brazil, Russia, Indonesia and China, as well as the developing countries as a whole ... Many of the tools, techniques and procedures established by bodies like the IMF and the World Bank for regulating the world economy are inadequate to cope with current realities and must be substantially reconfigured’

T

HE survival of the common European Union currency, free movement across national borders and trans-Atlantic collective security are all in serious doubt. Europe’s leaders are in denial or paralyzed.

How could any European leader let these pillars of the Continent’s well-being be jeopardized?

The problem is there are no European leaders, just a German chancellor, a French president, an Italian prime minister and others who profess a continental vision but never look much beyond their local political interests.

Europe’s unraveling is also a problem for Americans. A fracturing of the euro could drag down the global economy. A breakdown of NATO would mean the United States would have to bear an even bigger security burden. More than a year into their debt crisis, major European leaders are still unable to make the necessary tough decisions.

The constructive way out would be to restructure excessive debt, recapitalize affected banks and relax austerity enough to let debtor countries — Greece, Ireland and Portugal are most at risk — grow their way back to solvency. No one country could afford to finance such a solution, but Europe as a whole could.

In a welcome concession to reality, France’s president, Nicolas Sarkozy, announced that French banks are now prepared to “voluntarily” extend the maturity of some Greek debt. That could help, but only if all of Europe follows France’s lead — Germany’s banks have yet to sign on — and then eases its pressure on Athens for still more austerity. Selling this to European voters will require politicians to tell the truth. The alternative is to let the euro-zone break apart and trade suffer across the Continent.

The opening of most European internal borders over the past two decades has been an economic boon. But almost every country has also seen an alarming rise of anti-immigrant political parties.

Economic crisis and the arrival of tens of thousands of Tunisian and Libyan refugees have pushed this xenophobia to new levels. France, Italy and Denmark have sought to selectively opt out of the historic Schengen agreement, with its passportfree borders. The refugee problem is also too big for any one country to handle. It, too, requires real European leadership.

Europe’s early response to Col. Muammar elQaddafi’s brutality in Libya was promising. France pushed hard for international action, and NATO allies agreed to assume leadership after a round of American airstrikes.

But the cost of years of military underinvestment by most European members quickly became clear, as they had to turn to Washington for bombs and other basic support. Collective defense always assumed that America would come to Europe’s aid against a superpower like the Soviet Union. But European NATO’s inability to master a minor challenge like Libya should frighten every defense ministry in Europe.

Americans are weary of war — and fear of weakening NATO no longer deters politicians, as the fight over the Libya campaign has made clear. We don’t know how much longer voters here will support an alliance in which the United States shoulders 75 percent of the military spending and a much higher percentage of the fighting.

Europe’s leaders need to find some broader vision of their own quickly, or Europeans — and their American allies — could pay a huge price.

– New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi

• Controller (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu • Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho

•Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

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

•Pre-Press Manager Chuks Bardi •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

S

IR: The ugly sight of posters and billboards is becoming widespread in the strategic areas of Kano State. It has now become a norm for some politicians to erect the billboards and paste the posters wherever they deemed strategic.

Every wall or fence in Kano State is not spared by either the posters or some scrawls with ugly penmanship. The beautiful designs of Kano roundabouts are fading by the day as they are daily defaced by the politicians. The famous Silver Jubilee roundabout, which can pass as a monument, is no more its radiant self. The Dangi roundabout, Kofar Nassarawa roundabout and other roundabouts in Kano State no more wear their beautiful façade.

The level of indiscipline in Kano State has descended to its lowest ebb despite the billions of naira spent by the immediate past administration on societal reorientation.

My advice to Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso is to take radical approach to behavioral change

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

Ending Kano’s riot of billboards in order to make people obey the law. Behavioral change project is obviously not a capital-intensive venture. Instead, it can fetch money for government through fines and levies. Since the law is made to be broken, the lawbreaker should be made to face the wrath of government – at least through fines.

I am glad Governor Kwankwaso is borrowing a leaf from Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State. His recent visit to Lagos shows Kano people how passionate he is about putting Kano State on the path of socioeconomic growth. Whether we like it or not, Lagos is now the role model of Nigerian cities. Lagos streets are now clear and free from

the posters. Any signboard or billboard on the streets of Lagos might have undergone the rigours of the state regulatory agency before it is erected.

Another option for Kwankwaso adopt is to impose tax on the signboards even if they carry his portrait. Lagos State government has harnessed such revenue potentials and now translated it to the robust developmental projects all over the state. So Kwankwaso should either ban the political billboards or harnessed the untapped revenue for the development of the state. In this regard, standard and stringent conditions should be set for whoever is interested in erecting political billboards in the state. Again, gov-

ernment should ensure that some areas remain free from the political billboards no matter how much one pays for that.

In Lagos, which is even more complex than Kano, posters are not pasted indiscriminately as the case may be in Kano. I was told that since sticking the posters are part of the electioneering campaigns, Lagos State government ensured that posters are pasted only according to the dictate of the Electoral Act, which defines when to start and when to terminate campaigns.

The governor of Kano State should ensure that people adhere to the dictates of Electoral Act regarding campaigns.

If discipline can be instilled in

Curbing the excesses of security operatives

S

IR: Scarcely a month after the deadly clash between soldiers and policemen which led to the death of some policemen at 242 Bereko, Badagry, Lagos, another bloody clash between them was recently avoided in Lagos. The whole episode began when a soldier driving a Sport Utility Vehicle took the restricted Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane and was accordingly apprehended by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and police attached to the unit. As it is to be expected, the soldier rebuffed all appeals to leave the BRT lane culminating, predictably, into his beating by the police. The issue of inapt behaviour among Nigeria’s security operatives has been with us for quite some time.

There are countless incidences of security operatives’ acting as if they are above the law. It is a common sight in major cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano to see security operatives’ board commercial vehicles without paying fares. And if the driver or conductor has the gut to demand for his fare, he could end up in an

untimely grave or if he’s lucky in the hospital. It is difficult to understand why our security operatives behave the way they do.

It is ironic that they take pleasure in brutalizing the very people whom they are paid and trained to protect and secure. Some have claimed that it is the rigorous training that they undergo that inculcate in them the ruthless and bestial mentality they display from time to time. But, I think this line of argument is rather feeble and as such cannot stand the test of scrutiny. It is inconceivable to think that the authorities in charge of designing the operatives training programmes would put civil disobedience as a course in their curriculum. I think the long years of military rule in the country has negatively affected the psyche of our security operatives as they tend to see the so called ‘bloody civilians’ as inferior creatures who are not fit to live in same place as them. The naked and blatant use of force which was the order of the day during the military era has simply refused to get out of their system even after 12 years of un-

interrupted democratic rule. The police, on their part, have simply continued in their uncivilized mode of operation. I marvel at times when I see police officers, beating, slapping and generally brutalizing people who have neither been taken to the court nor convicted. It is high time our security operatives imbibed the culture of civility in their interaction with members of the public. They need to imagine what the society would look like if doctors, engineers, civil servants, and other members of the society behave in similar loutish fashion as they do. There is nothing that makes them to be above others in the society. They are not in any way more important than the teachers or lecturers for instance. The leadership of the various security agencies in the country should begin to re-orientate their members on how to behave in a civilized society. They need to re- define their role in a democracy. Equally, it is important they understand the damage that any reprehensible act by them could do to the image of the country especially in the eyes of foreigners who come into country for various reasons. It is

ridiculous to see some of them behave discourteously at the various airports across the country. They need to be courteous while dealing with the people. This is the minimum that is expected of them. It is not negotiable. The authorities in charge of the various agencies need to take the issue discipline more seriously. Security agencies are institutions that thrive on discipline across the world. Ours must not be an exception. Those that fall short of expectations should be shown the way out.

There should not be no attempt to protect those that bring the image of the agencies into disrepute as this will send wrong signals among the ranks and file. One commends the military authorities for taking the bold step of not only expelling the officer that recently contravened the BRT law in Lagos but also handling him over to the relevant authorities for prosecution. This is the spirit of the new Nigeria that we are all clamouring for.

• Tayo Ogunbiyi Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

Lagosians, I wonder why it can not be instilled in Kanawa. If a notorious Lagos thug can abide by the law, there is no reason why a less malignant Kano thug can not be made to abide by the law.

As a Hausa proverb observes, the stem is bent in its early stage of growth. Kwankwaso, it is not too late – you can still make a mountain out of a molehill.

• Abubakar Sani Tanko Sharada Quarters, Kano.

Toast to Wale Babalakin (SAN) at 51

S

IR: It is my great pleasure to celebrate a unique Nigerian Dr Olawale Babalakin as he marks his 51st birthday today. He has been wonderful, a truly a great man, brilliant, compassionate sensitive, caring and above all, Godfearing man.

His sense of humour is unrivalled. His keen intelligence is awesome. His company is inspiring. From year to year, his kindness and compassion remain unchanged.

Today I want to tell the world how kind, how caring and how totally lovable this great Nigerian is.

He always finds time to listen, never too busy to lend an ear even in the wee hours of the morning.

He feeds the hungry, clothe the needy, a real friend in time of trouble. He is never too busy to drop everything and attend the birthdays, weddings and funerals of his friends, no matter how inconvenient.

He has made his mark as one of the most successful and impressive personages in the land. A doctorate from Cambridge, a glittering career, and a long list of achievements and excellence. On behalf of all those whose lives he has touched I say a very happy birthday to Dr Babalakin.

May God crown him with good health and long life. May he go from glory to glory in every area of his life. May the joy he has given others be multiplied in his life a thousand times over. May the Lord continue to hear his prayers as he has answered the prayers of others. Amen.

• Funke Adebayo Lagos.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011 16

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Frittered chances, lost April

Reality Bites C

Olatunji Ololade

HANCES are that some amply corrupted youth would read this and surmise that the writer is afflicted by a Karmic delusion of sort. Chances are you belong to such youth bracket and probably think, it would be wrong to aver that all wrong-doing shall be punished, this dispensation.

You would probably think it silly to demand that gross and wanton perversions beget the harshest of punitive measures. I would not fault you if you did nor would I deny the fact that this dispensation; everyone has learnt to flaunt their right to everlasting madness – or greatness, as realities dictate.

An “Honourable” Speaker was impeached for embezzlement of public funds, today, that Speaker emerges from the doldrums of dishonor. That thieving “Honourable” of yesterday is today, an informed choice for ministerial appointment. Today that shameful “Honourable” is exonerated and venerated as a fine stateswoman by the same assembly that dishonoured her.

A party chairman was prosecuted for dipping his hand in the public till and he was issued a sentence that even now resounds as a pat on the back. A

thieving Governor robbed his State senseless and he is let off the hook in an astonishing act of political expediency.

A dishonest bank chief was caught stealing poor customers’ savings to service her vanities and those of her rich clients and she was issued a punishment that even now connotes some modest and enjoyable vacation.

Political thugs, assassins, arsonists, executive fraudsters and murderous public officers are let off the hook in the wake of suspicious plea bargaining with the State. Makes one wonder what virtuousness we mute to accentuate our grotesqueness and disgrace.

Contrary to cheerlessness the cynics accentuate, the end is hardly nigh for the Nigerian dream. This is just the beginning of our descent to infamy and disgrace. Current realities offer the clearest though not the only illustration of decadence of our wholly under-utilised intellect and mind.

And the reasons are hardly farfetched: for all our self-righteousness, the Nigerian society today, guarantees mindless profiteering off the State by public officers desperate enough to assure the continuance of

‘The upside is that public officers we elect to serve as the means to the attainment of our various ends, consequently end up exploiting us as the means to their ends.

The greedier we evolve, the more neurotic we become – as elected representatives and electorate – in our practice of leadership and citizenship “for the general good of society,” “for the good of future generations” and everything and anything except actual humankind’

R

ECENTLY, some commentators and hired writers took a well-calculated swipe at the governor of Kano State, His Excellency Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, insinuating that many of his actions were laced with a tinge of vengeance.

There is need for one to set the records straight regarding some revelations that generated varied degrees of commendation and condemnation during the transition period in May. While there were hues and cries from certain camp, there was outpouring accolades from the larger segment of the society.

Obviously, some disgruntled elements were referring to the vital revelations regarding the spending of over N4billion on hotel bills, the missing N3bilion pensions funds, the 1,490 ‘pensioners’ who dropped dead immediately after Kwankwaso was declared winner, the whopping N100 billion liabilities, name it.

Telling this to the public, they say, was a ‘distraction’ that may divert the attention of the government. How could telling public the truth be a “preoccupation”? Of course there was high stake as Kwankwaso assumes the mantle of leadership at the threshold of the worst government Kano ever had. And so he discharged his duties diligently with speed in order to correct the anomaly bequeathed to him.

The Ibrahim Shekarau administration elevated propaganda to high heavens in order to portray the opaque image of the government as transparent. Many good programmes and policies initiated by Kwankwaso during his first tenure as governor between 1999 and 2003 were upturned by the succeeding administration of Malam Shekarau who elevated policy summersault to statecraft. After upsetting the apple cart, the former governor went ahead to legitimize his action through propaganda and grandstanding.

Reader may recall that good policies like school feeding and uniform programme were abolished for political reasons; the state university suffered neglect because of the simple fact that it was Kwankwaso who established the university. While Kano University suffered neglect under Shekarau administration, the same government executed projects worth over N200 million in University of Nigeria, Nsukka in a buy-back arrangement for a honorary doctorate degree. This should have sparked torrents of condemnation from our editorialists and commentators.

Indeed converting the eleven-storey Ado Bayero House to a school may sound funny to some people, but beneath the comical effect of the decision lays the logic. This is a place that has laid unutilized for nearly 30 years. The governor’s logic was that since there are millions of stu-

wanton pilferage of State coffers to the detriment of the Nigerian dream.

The extent of our perversion no doubt, is amply illustrated in Nigerians’ seeming desperation to substitute virtue for vice and approximate the rewards for uprightness to loathsome ridicule and an insidious susceptibility to witch-hunt.

This is not to imply that certain honest individuals do not subsist in our clime, more often than not, they are wholly repudiated and consumed by the same system they’d die to benefit. Nigeria’s culture – despite her claims to probity – in fact, reveals a deeper evil than all that it wishes to repudiate.

It reveals the extent to which pretentiousness, selfishness and greed erodes the average Nigerian’s capacity to grasp the over-utilised concepts of honesty, human rights and associated values. It reveals a culture from which the expectations and realities of humanity has been totally wiped out.

The upside is that public officers we elect to serve as the means to the attainment of our various ends, consequently end up exploiting us as the means to their ends. The greedier we evolve, the more neurotic we become – as elected representatives and electorate – in our practice of leadership and citizenship “for the general good of society,” “for the good of future generations” and everything and anything except actual humankind.

Hence the appalling recklessness with which we acquiesce to bestiality of all kinds, accept betrayal and the most atrocious mode of leadership indefatigably imposed by a treacherous minority on our despicably wanton and degenerate majority.

A unilateral breach of contract characterises the Nigerian leadership.

Governance in Nigeria today, involves the most insidious form of tyranny exemplified by wanton disregard for human life and an indirect

use of physical force.

It consists, in essence, of one man or a group of men exploiting and monopolising the material wealth of the entire nation, and then refusing to extend the benefits accruable from the exploitation of such resources – which is a cardinal principle of government by representation – to all.

This listless lot ceaselessly appropriating by force and wile, the means of the general populace to themselves could no doubt be likened to ordinary and despicable fraudsters.

The Nigerian leadership commits grievous acts of fraud and extortion utilising variants of an indirect use of force: which consists of obtaining material values, not in exchange for values, but by the threat of force, violence or other forms of unconscionable deterrents to any citizen courageous enough to challenge them and demand his constitutional right to equity incessantly promised as core dividend of democratic governance.

After 50 years of self-rule, many Nigerians have perfected the art of moral subterfuge; the hallmark of which is the perverse inclination to aver that a thieving Governor actually means well or a light-fingered Speaker couldn’t help defraud the nation of hard-earned billions and dip his hand in the public till – because they were helpless pawns in the manifestation of a monumental rot the nation should be done with.

There is no moral difference between a 20-year-old who resorts to armed robbery or advanced fee fraud to actualise his dream of owning a yacht, an expensive bar, penthouse and state-of-the-art Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), and a Governor, legislator or President who in desperation to amass wealth and operate a Swiss bank account, advocates some grand scale public goal, without regard to context, costs and means – which are usually enshrouded in dense patches of venomous fog to hide the fact that millions of lives are

Why Kwankwaso ordered demolition of structures

By Jaafar Jaafar

dents wandering the streets without job or school, converting a moribund structure to a school appears more logical than leaving the students without school. The fallacy of the ICT centre was that not more than five offices at a single floor were occupied by the ICT ‘specialists’.

When Governor Kwankwaso visited the centre before taking the decision, there were only four computers at the centre despite the millions spent thereon. In this regard, we should know that Governor Kwankwaso is not against ICT but against white-elephant projects.

On the ‘rushing’ charge against Kwankwaso, I dare say that the critics shot themselves on the foot. If Governor Kwankwaso was accused of putting the cart before the horse in taking certain decisions, the critics should not only be accused but presumed guilty of jumping the gun. How did they arrive at the conclusion that due process was bypassed by the governor? The antagonists are supposed to be aware of the invalidity of data obtained outside the prism of research. Did they conduct any research to arrive at his weird hypothesis that Kwankwaso ordered the demolishing of Kofar Na’isa plots without adhering to due process? Obviously no! First of all, the governor – in adherence to the dictates of Land Use Act – revoked the allocation for overriding public interest, and not for reallocation to friends and associates.

On June 3, the Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA), which is the regulatory authority of urban planning and development, issued an order for the stoppage of development at the disputed land. Surprisingly, instead of people to comply with the order, it rather spurred the developers, resulting to spontaneous developments at the site. Aware of the defiant developers’ actions and in accordance with the requirement of the law, the authority marked all the developments with red paint, signifying illegal development. More than a week after the order, the governor declared the revocation order, and subsequently the demolition exercise began.

Another area of note is the fact that all the said ‘owners’ of the plots were only granted fencing permission by the

devastated and national growth, grievously stunted, in the actualisation of such public goal.

There is no excuse however, to justify the selfishness and greed of a Nigerian populace that persistently yields to cravings and temptations by which it loses its right to fair government and it’s much sought epoch of peace and abundance.

Progress can only be achieved by a conscious effort to challenge the status quo and demand that among other things, a country’s leadership live up to promises it made at election time. Picture by what leaps the status quo would improve if Nigerians did not involve in such abject perversions and evasions that spurs them to delude that some criminallyminded and power-thirsty politician is motivated by patriotic concerns for the “public interest.”

Picture what realities the nation could approximate if every citizen desisted from bartering their mandates for chicken-feed, rationalising and driving their minds into states of blind stupor, in dread of discovering that their favorite public officers are actually, mistaken or evil.

The current generation of Nigerians will continue to live, plug away and die in preventable misery. We shall continue to wait for the plenitude incessantly promised by our democratically elected representatives; who pleaded for our votes to impose upon us, poverty and unmitigated austerity.

Democratic tyrannies and corrupt governments continue to thrive because the general populace continues to barter their passport to plenitude and progress every time opportunity beckons for the oppressed to improve upon the leadership they have, by changing it.

We had our chances last April. Current realities, as forthcoming ones, will no doubt substantiate if we frittered away our chances or not, last April.

For SMS only 08038551123

planning authority. Fencing permission, according to Land Use Act, is not within the category of developments that can be compensated. Another interesting fact is that only a couple of allottees received certificates of occupancy. The remaining hundreds of illegal occupants only got approval – not certificate.

Some individuals who were bent on daring the government or testing the will of the governor began to burn candle at both ends in order to erect structures at the site despite the fact that they were only given fencing permission. Moreover, the disputed land does not in any way fit into a residential area.

As an African proverb observes, until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunters. The apologists of Shekarau administration attempted to erase history by burying the truth. Around 2003, the then administration of Kwankwaso allocated plots at Suleiman Crescent, Tudun Yola, Karkasara, among other places to the people – through a fair distribution process that recognized all the strata of the society. But one of Shekarau’s earliest decisions as governor was to cancel the allocations. And nobody raised an eyebrow over such a crass illegality!

As American author Katherine Anthony said: The lovers of romance can go elsewhere for satisfaction but where can the lovers of truth turn if not to history? Shortly after Shekarau was sworn-in as governor in the same year, he illegally cancelled all land allocations by Kwankwaso not for public interest but for the purpose of reallocating same plots to his cronies, friends, family and supporters of his party. One painful trait of the past government was that it did not just whitewash its crime but rather buried it deep down from not just a nosy historian’s scrutiny but inquisitive archaeologist’s ‘excavation’.

• Jaafar is a media aide to Kano State governor.

‘Aware of the defiant developers’ actions and in accordance with the requirement of the law, the authority marked all the developments with red paint, signifying illegal development. More than a week after the order, the governor declared the revocation order, and subsequently the demolition exercise began’

22

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

‘No great man lives in vain. The history of the world is but the biography of great men.’——Thomas Carlyle (1795 - 1881) Scottish historian and essayist.

In his ‘On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History”

newspaper. He afterwards became the chairman of the Editorial Board of ThisDay newspaper. TB’s foray into public service was equally exceptional as his splendid career in journalism. He is endowed with this magic want that turns things around and the results are there for all to see.

He was appointed on merit having proved his mettle as an accomplished journalist as Commissioner of Environment by then governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from 2003-2007. His outstanding performance in that ministry saw to its revival from its moribund state. During his tenure as commissioner, the impact of the ministry was well felt by the people and this earned for the government he served the respect of the teeming Lagos populace. When things went awry in the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), the Lagos state performing Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) called on him to come and rescue the graft infected agency that he (TB) established when he was in-charge of the environment ministry.

There is no doubt that TB has in just nine months of being in the saddle put LASAA on very strong financial footings, entrenching in the process impervious institutional checks to prevent the graft and procedural abuses of the past. Whoever takes over from him will merely consolidate on the well ingrained structure this astute journalist/lawyer has put on ground.

Without doubt, life has been so kind to TB for it allows his efforts to be crowned with glory while in its mystical sense, the unseen hands of providence has opened the doors of divine opportunities for him at every crucial stage of his 50 years of existence. TB is a classical example of the saying that it is not by age or wealth alone but by humble disposition that wisdom is acquired. Despite his God given stunning achievements/ blessings, he has remained very humble and empathic even to a fault. TB’s life is a deedful life guided by sacred wisdom. We can only pray that almighty Allah continues to bless and guide the husband of beautifully pleasant Professor Ibiyemi and father of Tolulope, Ayodeji and Olamide more as he crossed the age of 50. To my dear Egbon and the ‘Spider’ man of his 1983/84 set in the premier university, happy birthday and many happy returns of today. Your 50th is indeed golden!

EDITORIAL/OPINION

S

OME people believe that life is what we make out of it. To this set of people, the reward accruing from existence is a function of what effort was put into life. This position is particularly suspect as it has been empirically proved overtime that there is that propelling force called luck that needs to meet with opportunity before something reasonable can be brought out of life.

We have seen situations where the best student in a class with the best grades will later end up in life as the poorest just as the dullest would later pick up to be not only the richest but one with the most admirable academic credentials. These kinds of realities have forced others to postulate that life is a mystery that only needs divine touch to unravel. Otherwise, why will despite the immense wealth of some families, their offsprings rather confirmed the mystery of life by not doing well despite the avalanche of opportunities at their beck and call.

Somewhat, the children of unknown farmers in remotest villages, in most inexplicable circumstances most times, emerged as the most celebrated among their contemporaries.

So doing well in life is not transferable; it is not something that can be inherited.

If wealth and laudable attainments can be transferred, then, there would be no need to move far before sighting the children of Darocha, reputed to be the richest Lagos based Nigerian of his time, among the leading elites of today: nobody will have to crack his brain before seeing the children of late Olu Fajemirokun who until death in the seventies was the favourites of reigning musicians. It is equally sad that our revered winner of the June 12, 1993, late Bashorun MKO Abiola, a universally acknowledged wealthy business mogul will after death have one of his sons remanded in Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody for having allegedly swindled someone to the tune of over 30 million naira. Whoever knows MKO while alive will be forced to ask; how much is this amount to the legendary Nigerian? A chicken amount of course! But the situation Abiola’s son finds himself at the moment is

Y

ES, it is the most cynical kind of laughter, the type Baba (You know who) taught us. But it is nothing personal to the Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, no. I am actually laughing at all the governors across the country who have just won a hard- fought election.

Hard- fought, or hard- bought election if you like; whichever it may be, must be like a stroll in the park now for most of them in the face of a rapidly unfolding labor brouhaha. I have singled-out Ajimobi as a representative of all the other governors on account of his maiden broadcast to the workers and people of Oyo state recently over the #18,000 minimum wage palaver. He is only the template for this write up. In the broadcast, the Oyo helmsman had bemoaned the caper of a wage increment lobbed at him by his nemesis, the outgone Governor Adebayo Akala. He regaled us of how Akala spent a huge sum just to perfect and institutionalize the ‘damaging’ new wage regime as a sweet parting gift. Ajimobi’s broadcast is indeed dirigible and one could hear Akala bellowing away in signature raucous laughter over palm wine and pounded yam in his Ogbomoso homestead where he has repaired to. Surrounded by kinsmen and residual sycophants, holding court, he would mock: “Ajimobi thinks winning an election is all there is to governance, by the time he is through paying this new wage, he would wish he had lost the election.” More laughter.

But truly, governance or more appropriately, governorship(ing) will no longer be fun as it used to be when governors were lords and they had loose billions to play around with. By default, we may have ushered in our own quiet socio-economic revolution.

Have you paused to ponder how labor achieved a minimum wage increase of about 150 per cent(from #7500 to #18,000)? Was it the pre-election fever that blinded all concerned to the implications of this chunky hike? Was it the mood of a populace stewing in ire upon the revelation that each of our National Assembly members needed a bullion van to cart home his pay? Was it a well-timed strategic labor maneouvre? Did labor stampede the system to gain an undue advantage to the detriment of the rest of the polity or is there a divine design to it all?

Methinks change is forcing itself upon us.

TB: When to be 50 is golden

• Tunji Bello the reality depicting further, the mystery of life.

It is in the process of seeking better understanding of life that one has seized this occasion this week to celebrate Olatunji Abdul-Lateef Bello as he marks his 50 th birthday. He has put in great effort into life and the reward is there for all to see. He was born by a true successful Lagosian father who owned choice properties around Lagos. but that never beclouded his reasoning. To TB, inheritance without hard work is nothing. He never rest on his oars and today, he has promoted the Bello family name far beyond the height his father, a renowned politician and respected Islamic cleric from Lagos Island took it before he died.

When someone deserves to be celebrated, it will be hypocritical not to do so because it

is always pleasing to praise leading men because not all men will be lucky enough to get to the height of acclaim. The man popularly called TB deserves 50 gbosas from all those who know or whose path have crossed his own. He has survived the two arguments regarding how life works. TB has been able with the benevolence of almighty Allah to make something good out of life.

He puts in great effort. At a time when to have ordinary school certificate was enough to earn a good banking job and live a good life in the country, he shunned the temptations of ephemeral joy in pursuit of greener pasture at the premier University of Ibadan. After his first degree, the unseen hands of destiny took over his life for rather than work in a bank then, he was offered a job in the then famous Concord newspaper owned by late MKO Abiola in the mideighties. That was how his journalism career that has brought so much blessing to him began.

TB is not a man of little education. Apart from having his first degree in Political science and being vastly read, he had master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy.

Still in his ravenous search for knowledge, he enrolled and successfully completed his law programme at the University of Lagos, Akoka and also sat for his bar examinations at the Nigerian Law School where he was duly called to the bar thereby becoming Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

He was editor of the Sunday and subsequently that of the daily titles of Concord

EXPRESSO STEVE OSUJI

(SMS O8055001684 email: steve_osuji@yahoo.com

Gov. Ajimobi: I dey Laugh o!

The change that by sheer coldness of heart and mischief, we refused to embrace over the years, providence seems to be hauling at us like boko haram bombs, pardon me. Now Governor Ajimobi expects us to weep with him when he tells us in his maiden broadcast that if he implemented the #18,000 minimum wage the state would be in deficit every month as Oyo’s total monthly income is #4.2 billion while the new wage bill will be #4.4 billion.

No sir, we dey laugh. You asked for the job remember? If you can’t pay resign, says labour.

I don’t agree with them but they have a point there.

Conversely, Governor B. Raji Fashola expects us to clap for him when we read that he has rushed to disburse about #5 billion of our tax money to pay a few hundred zobodrinking civil servants who scarcely do any work. No, we are not clapping. In fact as the days go by, we shall have to be calling on him to account for what will amount to about #150 billion per annum(in wages, pensions and gratuities) of our revenue dished out to a few people. In due, time we shall seek to know the cost- benefit of spending such huge amount on a minuscule fraction of the population, and for him to show us in concrete terms, the returns on such spending.

This #18,000 matter will yet unravel all of us. Ajimobi tells us in his maiden broadcast that Oyo generates a miserable #1 billion monthly. That’s a laugh. Between Tokyo and Auxillary (and all the other gears attached to each of them in motor garages across Oyo state) I bet they are doing double that number

. Indeed, any state that cannot generate enough revenue internally to run its affairs is either not fit to be so called or the governor is not worthy of that title, or both.

Therefore, we expect Governor Ajimobi in his next broadcast , (which ought to be quarterly) to declare that in the first quarter, his administration had managed to raise the IGR to #5 billion per month and hopes to raise it to #10 billion by year end. That would be showing a class apart from Akala wouldn’t it? And how ecstatic that would make Oyo people.

In Ajimobi’s next broadcast, we will expect him to tell us how he intends to raise Oyo state to an enterprise doing a turnover of #150#200 billion annually. We want to hear how he is diversifying the economic base of his vast state and how the first shipment of his agric export will be due by year end. He will tell us how he intends to catalyse the setting up of at least five major industries each year making a total of 20 in four years. We expect to see in the next broadcast how Ajimobi has kept his administration lean and trim with only optimum number of appointees, cutting wastes and extravagance. To think that a certain state governor in Nigeria was alleged to have had about 2000 appointees! And another spent in building a fancy government house, a sum that would have been enough to build an entire new city. If nothing else, this #18,000 wahala will put paid to such madness. We will expect Ajimobi to tell us how many aides he has and their total annual emolument. We expect him

to be upfront with us on his security vote and we expect him to make his MDA’s work for the people by empowering his commissioners and aides. We don’t expect him to tell us how he jumps from one sky scrapper to the other trying to do everything. He is not superman nor king kong.

Lastly, we expect him to tell us how his team dialogued with labor and got the optimum graduation of the minimum wage. We need to know how he has gone about re-orientating the civil service to make them truly serve and add value. We must know how many exactly is Oyo state work force; how he pruned the redundant class, retrained and reassigned them and how he ‘killed’ the teeming ghosts in the service.

It is not the best of times to be a governor in Nigeria as it may no longer be business as usual (of sharing monthly federal allocation) But it is also the best time to be a governor for history makers those who will be sober, who will roll up their sleeves and see the #18,000 minimum wage as a challenge and an opportunity to excel and not a problem. I do not think it is the best time for long, magician’s caps, the type we saw Governor Ibikunle Amosun don the other day. It will not be time for flying abroad in search of any woebegone foreign investor as we hear Governor kayode Fayemi did recently. Any investor who is not on the internet must be an invader, more like.

We hope a few other governors will fined some good in this Ajimobi template. We wait.

Last mug:Dieziani really shouldn’t comeback yet : Delectable Mrs. Deizani Alison Madueke seems to be among the favourites of President Jonathan’s former ministers to return to her job. Her name is on every list of would-be appointees favoured by the President. It really will be a pity if she returns.

There are so much sordid allegations swarming around her like flies that picking her, inspite of these would do the President little good.

She needs to be left out to go clear all the debris of serious corruption allegations against her as immediate past oil minister.

Insisting on her will thoroughly diminish the Jonathan Presidency before it had chance to take off.

• Osuji is on the Editorial Board of The Nation(sms to 08055001684)

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

23

NATION SPORT

Taye Taiwo gets work permit N

IGERIAN and former Olympique Marseille defender Taye Taiwo is expected to join new club AC Milan next week for preseason training after he was granted a work permit.

Taiwo is still on holidays but he is expected in Paris soon to pick up his work

permit.

Italian champions Milan are due on an overseas training tour ahead of the new season.

The left fullback joined Milan on a three-year deal worth over 12 million Euros as a free player from top French side Olympique Marseille.

Taiwo himself has admitted to being “stunned” he is moving to the famous San Siro on a salary four times what he was on at OM. He was linked with several top European clubs including Benfica of Portugal when it became clear he will not extend his contract at Marseille.

Nigeria targets Bolt's records for athletes T

HE Federal Government has declared that it would not relent in the effort to encourage sports until such a time that Nigerians would break the world records like the Usian Bolts of Jamaica and Carl Lewis of the United States of America. Making this assertion in Abuja, the Secretary to the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim said it is only when athletes are well motivated that they can achieve the feat.

Senator Anyim was speaking at the reception held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for its men and

From Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja women that won various national and international medals between 2010 and 2011. The scribe who was represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary (Special Duties) Hajia Rabi Jimeta said "it is my belief that today's event will motivate you and act as tonic that will spur you to further successes in future competitions. I look forward to the day Nigeria will produce the Carl Lewis and Usain Bolts of the world, who broke world records at will".

He reiterated government

'Barca tableS £35m offer for Cesc Fabregas CESC Fabregas is confident of becoming a Barcelona player this summer.

The European champions have increased their bid for the Arsenal captain to £35million plus add-ons.

Speaking at a football campus in Tordera, Spain, the 24-year-old said: 'If a player is on the market it is because the club does not want him. I have no problems.

'I'm calm and I am optimistic. I have nothing to say and there is nothing to speak of.'

Arsenal have yet to make any official comment, as they did last summer, on reports regarding a return to the Nou Camp for Fabregas.

The World Cup winner is continually linked with a

move back to his boyhood club during every transfer window.

Last summer, the Gunners rejected a £30m offer for their inspirational skipper.

• Fabregas

Platini loves Mourinho despite ‘stupid’ comments UEFA boss Michel Platini says he loves Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho even if he said "stupid things" about favouritism that led to a three-match ban.

"I have a special affection for him. I love Mourinho," Platini

• Platini

said in an interview with Spanish sports daily La Marca published today.

"I like the man. His personality and as a coach.

That does not take away the fact that the UEFA disciplinary bodies are going to deal with him," he said in Nyon, Switzerland.

"He said stupid things. That is why the disciplinary committee acted and decided to sanction him."

Real Madrid's appeal against the three-match ban handed to 48-year-old Mourinho for his comments after the first leg of Real's Champions League semi-final defeat by Barcelona will be heard on July 29.

unflinching support and commitment to sports development while creating the enabling environment for sports to thrive "you will agree with me that this country is blessed with great talents that are waiting to be tapped". He urged all well meaning Nigerians to invest in sports development, while commending the NSCDC for its effort to motivate the youths in the country.

In his welcome speech, the Commandant General of the Corps Dr Ade Abolurin said the issue of brain drain has persisted in the country because the youths were not given the opportunity to discover themselves. He said for the best to be achieved from them, that the enabling environment should be provided for them, and with the needed encouragement and support. He said that within the last two years, that officers of the corps had won over 525 medals in various national and international sporting events.He emphasised that he would not relent in supporting the athletes until Nigeria recolonise Britain in the 2012 Olympic Games "I have told God I want us to recolonise Britain in Britain, and the best way to do it is to conquer them in the 2012 Olympics Games they are hosting" he boasted.

Among the officials honoured were the current fastest man in Nigeria OghoOghene Egwero, Gyang Emmanuel, Ajoke Odumosu, Damola Osayemi among others.

• Taye Taiwo

Dream Team V confirms Rabiu Ibrahim, others for Accra showdown

T

HE Dream Team V technical crew has included fit-again Rabiu Ibrahim and two other players to beef up the country’s Under 23 side as the team prepares for the second leg cracker of the All African Games Qualifier against Ghana in Accra next weekend after the initial leg had ended 3-1 in Benin City in Nigeria’s advantage.

The Assistant Coach of the team Stanley Eguma made this known in an exclusively chat with NationSport on Thursday morning as the country intensifies preparation ahead of the return leg.

Eguma disclosed that PSV of Holland new buy, Rabiu Ibrahim, former Lillestrom of Norway’s in demand striker who just penned a deal with Mainz of Germany, Anthony Ujah and the trio of Nurudeen Orelesi, Ahmed Musa and Lukman Haruna are also expected to lace their boots for the Nigeria in the allimportant tie in Accra. “ We are putting everything in place to ensure we have a very good outing in Ghana and to that effect, we have perfected plans to ensure that fit again Rabiu Ibrahim is in the team and we have got assurances from him that he

Man City offers •25m for Inter striker Eto’o TUTTOSPORT says after Inter rejected the prospect of a swap involving Carlos Tevez, City are trying again with a straight cash bid.

City are offering •25 million for Eto'o, who has declared this month an ambition to play in England.

City are now turning their attentions to Eto'o after pulling out of the running for Udinese star Alexis Sanchez.

• Eto’o

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri will be in for the encounter.

We also called up Anthony Ujah who just signed for a German club. We are also expecting Lukman Haruna and Ahmed Musa for the tie.

“We are not leaving any stone unturned in our bid to ensure we scale through the hurdles called Ghana and to do that successfully we have earmarked what to do to ensure that we aim for a win in Accra. We are not going to sit back and watch the Ghanaians play that I can promise Nigerians.” Eguma said The Dolphins of Port Harcourt’s Technical Adviser in the Nigeria Premier league (NPL) further enumerated that the technical crew was growing gray hair over the availability of the skipper in the match against Ghana, Nwankwo Obiorah whose team does not want him released for the return leg but assured that the coaching crew would do everything within its reach to ensure strict compliance from AC Parma of Italy, Oboirah’s club as regard his release for the tie.

His wods,“The availability of Obiorah Nwankwo for the second leg is still in doubt but are assuring Nigerians that we are not going to be deterred in our bid to have him play in the second leg owing to the significance of the tie to Nigeria and to the team. We are still mounting serious pressure on the club and I believe that the club will listen to us and have him released for the match.”

He further told NationSport that the technical crew was looking at the prospect of leaving for Ghana on Thursday next week from Lagos from where the team would begin the next phase of the build up to the second leg as from Sunday this weekend.

Nigeria is holding a 3-1 lead ahead of the second leg when the first was played last week at Benin City’s Samuel Ogbemudia’s Stadium with Nosa Igiebor on the score sheet twice and Edet Ibok with the third. The Dream Team V goals were a reply to Ghanaian’s Rabiu Mohammed initial 45th minute stunner with kept the Black Meteors in momentary lead.

17th NSF: LOC pledges to work with local media

T

HE Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 17th National Sports Festival tagged Garden City Games 2011, which kicked off on Monday, June 27, in Port Harcourt, says it will partner with media organizations in Rivers State in a bid to ensure effective media coverage for the event.

Chairman of the LOC and Vice Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee (MOC), Engr. Tele Ikuru, gave this hint today during a meeting with publishers and representatives of media organizations based in the State at the premises of The Tide Newspapers.

Engr. Ikuru, who is also the State Deputy Governor, noted that the input of the local media is critical to the

successful hosting of the festival, regretting that they have not been engaged in the preparations for the event, assuring that henceforth their support will be reciprocated.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Opaka Dokubo, thanked the LOC Chairman for the meeting, assuring that the media would give adequate support to the festival, lamenting the ordeal journalists in the State are exposed to in the course of doing their jobs.

He expressed the hope that the synergy between the government and the media would be sustained in the interest of the larger society, calling on his colleagues to discharge their duties with the highest ethical standards.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

24

NATION SPORT

Dolphins bridge gap on Sunshine

Ujah to miss Ghana tie D

A

close source of Mainz of Germany’s Anthony Ujah has exclusively told NationSport that the all action forward would not be able to honour his latest invitation to the Dream Team V camp ahead of the Ghana/ Nigeria All African Games 2nd leg Qualifiers owing to club commitment.

Speaking with NationSport on telephone the source informed our correspondent that Ujah would have loved to contribute his quota to ensure that Nigeria beat Ghana to the All African Games sole slot but the Benue born recent switch to the

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

German side, Mainz would not make that possible.

“I got the gist that Anthony Ujah has been invited for the match against Ghana but unfortunately, he will be unavoidably absent. He just signed for a German club and the formalities as regard the switch were just completed and the club will soon be proceeding on pre-season tour. He will not be around for this match but subsequent ones will have to be at the instance of his club.” The source said.

Ujah made his debut for the Dream Team V in the away 1-0

loss to the Vijana Stars of Tanzania in the first leg of the Olympic qualifiers which the

Under 23 side went ahead to win 3-0 in the return leg for a 3-1 aggregate scoreline.

• Ujah

TWO-GOAL HERO

Ozurumba: I still have many years ahead in football

T

WO goals hero in the Heartland of Owerri’s 4-2 whiplash of JUTH FC of Jos, Chibuzo Ozurumba has stated that his goals and his general contributions in their latest win was a clear witness to the fact that he still has years to play in the round leather game and was never a finished product.

Ozurumba who endured a series of disappointment with his current club, Heartland from being laid off during the start of the season to being reinstated in the team during the mid-season transfer told NationSport that his two goals in the four matches played thus far, was the start of good things to come for him and his club, Heartland. “ I am very happy I got two goals and the first two goals for that matter. I have had series of ups and downs but in everything I thank God that I am still alive to play yesterday’s (Wednesday) game. I was labeled all sorts of names when I missed some chances owing to the fact that I had stayed out of football for sometime. I will say I am not

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri all concerned about that but what is on the minds of Heartland players now is to ensure that we improve on the league standing.

“We thank the management of Heartland for reversing the decision to place the players on half salaries. We knew that it was because of the unimpressive results we have got in recent times and that they have deemed it fit to come back to us and tell us that nothing like that will happen goes to show that the management is a listening one.

“We the players have held series of meetings and the bottom line is to ensure that we do our best to salvage Heartland’s situation on the league table.” The former Nigeria League leading goals scorer told NationSport.

Chibuzo Okonkwo and Chinedu Efugh got other goals for Heartland while Danjuma Abdullahi reduced the arrears for JUTH FC with a brace towards the closing stages of the match.

NIGERIA FOOTBALL CRISIS

Ekeji heads to FIFA without NFF

T

HE Director General of the Sports Ministry, Dr Patrick Ekeji has expressed readiness to go over the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in his bid to send a delegation to FIFA's headquarters for discussion that could end the crisis in Nigerian football.

In view of the legality faceoff between the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) and the controversial Nigeria Football Association(NFA), Ekeji after several consultations had set up a committee that will visit and present government position to the world football governing body in a bid to resolve once and for all the incessant legality status of the NFF. But feelers from within the Glasshouse have it that the trip will not get the blessings of almost all the board members as the President, Alhaji Aminu Maigairi, first Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh, influential board members, Effiong Johnson and Chris Green have all maintained that there is no crisis in Nigerian football,

while also challenging the authority of the Sports Ministry to embark on the trip.

However, Ekeji has now told brilafm.net that irrespective of the reluctance of the NFF to tag along with the proposed trip, the delegation will still head to Zurich as there are other avenues to be exploited to make it happen.

“Well, if they refuse to tag along, there are other ways to exploit. I mean, we are talking about government position here and this is also a matter of national interest”, Ekeji maintained.

He further revealed that travelling documents for the delegation are already being processed.

• Ekeji

OLPHINS have equalled Sunshine Stars on points at the summit of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) following a one-nil win over Kaduna United on Wednesday.

In their own rescheduled game at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe, Sunshine Stars suffered their second heaviest defeat in this campaign.

Gombe United ran over the league leaders 3-0.

The win for Dolphins means they go on same 57 points with Sunshine Stars but the latter edge them on a healthy goals difference.

But Dolphins still have an outstanding game to play and a win would see them overtake Sunshine Stars by three points at the time.

Playing their home games at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt due to the ongoing National Sports Festival at the Liberation Stadium, Dolphins started brightly.

It took just seven minutes for the 2004 Nigerian

champions to open score through Osita Echendu.

And the goal turned out to be the winner in a game that Dolphins lost too many scoring chances while Kaduna United nearly got on level terms at the death.

But Sunshine Stars were soundly beaten 0-3 in this rescheduled Week 26 game

by Gombe United to stretch their losing streak at the ground of their hosts to three years.

The duo of Adamu Mohammed and Sanusi Sani got the goals for Gombe United.

Mohammed opened the floor for Gombe United's rout on the leaders on 43 minutes.

And 10 minutes into the restart, Sani got his first goal of the season.

Sani was on hand to poke home his second and Gombe United's third of the afternoon on 69 minutes to down Gbenga Ogunbote's men.

Gombe United are now on 38 minutes after playing 29 games.

Eneramo surprised at national team snub

Heartland rescinds pay cut EARTLAND FC has threat formally rescinded the earlier threat to

H

place the entire players on half salaries owing to the dwindling fortunes of the club in the NPL this season.

The Naze Millionaires through its Media Officer, Cajetan Nkwopara told journalists that the latest move by the General Manager of the club, Fan Ndubuoke is to ensure that everybody in the Heartland’s fold makes concerted effort to change the current position of the club on the NPL table before the season comes to an end.

He disclosed that the club had come to the realisation that it is not by fighting people within the club that solution would be found for the precarious position of the team this season with relegation staring it in the face.

“We have reviewed what happened and we know that in as much as we are under pressure, we should not allow criticisms from people to push

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri us into doing things that we should not do. We have come to the understanding that we have been recording dwindling performance but then because of the meeting we had with the players and the one at the management level the General Manager has decided to rescind the decision (to place them on half salaries) and the players are going to receive their full benefits. Even after the proclamation was made nobody has slashed anybody’s salary or entitlement in any form because we know that it is not by fighting ourselves that we will come out of this problem.”

Heartland now occupies 13th position on the log with 37 points from 29 matches while JUTH is still rooted to the bottom of the table with 22 points from same number of matches.

O

UT of favour Super Eagles striker, Michael Eneramo has expressed surprise at being left out of the team in recent times.

Speaking with brilafm.net, the former Esperance of Tunisia top scorer however expressed confidence on getting a call up with Samson Siasia at the helm of affairs.

"It's surprising that after

playing for the Super Eagles and scoring a few goals, I have not been invited in recent games. I am currently doing well for my new Turkish club and I’m surprised I don't get called up".

"But I am still hopeful I will get invited and with Samson Siasia whom I believe to be a very good coach in charge, I believe I will get called up anytime soon." he affirmed.

• Eneramo

OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS

Klitschko camp ready to defeat hit-and-run boxer Haye AHEAD of Saturday's unification bout, Wladimir Klitschko's trainer Emanuel Steward says he expects the same hit-and-run tactics from David Haye as the British champion used to win his world heavyweight title.

This will be only Haye's fifth heavyweight fight since stepping up from cruiserweight in 2008 and Steward expects the same tactics the Brit used for his 2009 fight against Russian giant Nikolai Valuev when he won the WBA title.

Haye has said he will show something new come Saturday night.

But Steward says he expects Haye to move in fast, strike and then get clear of Klitschko, who

is ready to inflict the 50th knock-out of his career on the man who has antagonised him by calling him 'a fraud' and 'Bitchko' in the past.

"David, regardless of what he might say he is going to do, will come out and fight the way he fought Valuev and in all his other fights against big guys," said the 66-year-old Steward.

• Klitschko

Ivanovic hires Nigel Sears from LTA as coach FORMER top-ranked player Ana Ivanovic hired Nigel Sears, the head coach of women’s tennis at the U.K.’s Lawn Tennis Association, after dropping to No. 18 in the world rankings.

Sears will coach Ivanovic, who won the French Open in 2008, on a full-time basis after quitting his LTA position. In the Wimbledon championships currently taking place, the 23-year-old Serb lost to Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic in the third round.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Ivanovic said on her website.

“I’ve admired Nigel for some time now, and I can’t wait to start working with him on court. It was important that I

waited for the right coach, and we are both excited about the challenges ahead.”

During Sears’s 4 1/2 years in the LTA post, five British women entered the world’s top 100, two reached the top 50, and two girls won Junior Grand Slam titles, the ruling body said.

• Ivanovic

FRACAS

CAMPAIGN

Residents, policemen attacked by hoodlums after NDLEA’s raid

Sylva advocates improved productivity among Ijaw

Lagos

38

Bayelsa

40

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

FRIDAY JULY 1, 2011

Page 25

T

WO hundred and thirty Nigerian schools have benefitted from the act of benevolence of Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF). The organisation recently donated over one million tons of books for distribution to these schools comprising 100 primary schools, 100 secondary schools and 30 tertiary institutions. The schools are from the six geo-political zones of the country.

Making the donations in Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, the founder of the foundation, Sir Emeka Offor said the objective of the foundation was to give back to the society what God had given him; declaring that there was no political undertone to the donation.

Present at the distribution of the books and other educational materials including laptops, desktops among others, were the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and the host Governor Mr. Peter Obi. Others present included the Primate (Emeritus) of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, Rt. Rev. Peter Jasper Akinola, Senator Emmanuel Anosike, all the ViceChancellors of benefiting universities and Rectors of Polytechnics.

Also present were the Managing Director of National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Dr. Paul Orhii and former Chief Executive of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) Mr. Ernest Ndukwe.

Traditional rulers, market women, school children, members of the academia and corporate organisations, government officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps and clergymen were also in attendance.

Newsextra gathered that the books and other educational materials were procured by the

Offor, Anyim, Okorocha, cutting the tape

Emeka Offor’s elixir for education Donates N900m worth of books to 230 schools The rich urged to help the needy From Nwanosike Onu, Anambra

foundation in collaboration with Books for Africa (BFA) at the cost of N900m.

Speaking at the event, Sir Offor announced that the distribution was the first phase of such exercise which he said has nine phases. He added that in the next four months, another set of similar educational materials more than the first set would arrive in the country.

Offor further said that the foundation which started about nine years ago was just established to re-direct the focus of the leaders of tomorrow from crime.

He said: “We want our children to follow the good path. We want to make sure that we create a good atmosphere for our children. He disclosed that he learnt the idea from Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha.

Governor Obi, who expressed his

happiness on what the foundation has done, announced that the state will now approve a policy of adopting schools instead of the extravagant lifestyle of some of the so-calledrichmeninthestate.

Obi said his government would address letters to the affluent in the society in the state to cut down on their ostentatious lifestyles in order to embrace programmes like this in ordertomovethestateforward.

He said that everybody had

gathered in the state to support a genuinecause,evenasheaddedthat education is the foundation for sustainableprogress.

However, he implored the students, teachers and all the benefiting institutions to remain prayerfultopeoplelikeEmekaOffor whom he said had genuine cause for the needy and the less privileged in the society. “That is my advice to the beneficiaries,”hesaid.

Chief Rochas Okorocha praised Emeka Offor’s gesture and said that the reading culture which had been Continued on Page 26

Drainage to alleviate erosion problem

D

Uduaghan

ELTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has re-assured Asaba residents that the ongoing drainage project will check the perennial erosionprobleminthestatecapital.

Dr Uduaghan, who gave the assurance while inspecting some projects in Asaba, directed the contractor to fast-track the project sothatthepeopleofAsabawillhave immediaterelief.

He explained that though it was difficult to appreciate the progress of work in a drainage project, he nonetheless expressed satisfaction

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

withthepaceofwork.

“Iampleasedwiththepaceofwork.

Drainage work has a complicated processandIbelievetheconstruction company is doing a good job. This willhelpsolvetheerosionproblemin Asabaanditsenvirons” The governor promised that the drainage project would be extended to connect internal roads in Asaba, even as he explained that within two to three years, there would be an effective drainage system in the town.

Governor Uduaghan also encouraged youths in the state to device means of empowering themselves rather than depending solely on government, saying “I think many of our youths should emulate this. The boy grinding garri atbankoftheAnwaiRiverisearning alivingfromit.”

Engineer Pierre Karim of Modis Construction Company who conducted the governor round the drainage site along Okpanam and Anwai Road said the project was a master underground drainage system.

He noted that the drainage would channel flood into the Anwai River, stating that his company was currently carrying out excavation work and constructing 200 meters retaining wall to protect the Infant Jesus Academy building which is closetothedrainagesite.

Karim also explained that his company was constructing kerb stones to create a walk way along the drainage system and promised to deliver not just a quality job but that which would meet government’s specifications and completed on schedule.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

26

Emeka Offor’s elixir for education •Continued from Page 25 He said: “Today, we have found the true son of Igbo land in Emeka Offor Today, you have given back to nature, and nature will bless you.

“Any rich man whose wealth does not go round is a poor man and that is the reason for me being here today. Emeka, keep up the good work you are doing”.

Furthermore, he noted that life is useless unless somebody provides for the needy.

Contributing, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim said he was overwhelmed with what he called Offor’s wonderful gesture to the schools in Nigeria, adding that there was no other way to lift the schools in the country than what Emeka Offor had done.

Anyim, who was the special guest of honour, noted that the donation of the books would help the children to embrace reading culture that used to be the norm but which has dwindled of late.

“We know that our children no longer read, but I believe, with the quantum of books to each school and 15 states and community libraries in the six geo-political zones, that reading spirit will be rekindled in Nigerians.

In his address, the Coordinator of (SEOF), Sir Anthony Obi said the objectives of the foundation were mostly to alleviate poverty through empowering the populace to gainfully source means of livelihood, availing affordable free medical treatment, assisting indigent but intelligent pupils to acquire education and rehabilitation of basic infrastructure.

He further said that at the moment, the foundation (SEOF) carries out her operations under the following schemes: youth’s empowerment (YES), widows’ cooperative societies scheme (WCSS), health services scheme (HSS), education scholarship scheme (ESS) and infrastructural development scheme (IDS).

He said: “The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) and Books for Africa (BFA) will monitor the use of the learning materials. We appeal to other educational institutions that could not get theirs this time to exercise patience as other consignments are being expected

T

Sir Anthony Obi said that the objectives of the foundation were mostly to alleviate poverty through empowering the populace to gainfully source means of livelihood, availing affordable free medical treatment, assisting indigent but intelligent pupils to acquire education and rehabilitation of basic infrastructure soonest.

Representative of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education Chinyere Ngerem said the distribution would have serious positive impact on the country’s educational system.

She said that the strength of any nation was dependent on its human resources, adding that the gesture was an excellent way of supporting quality education in the country.

She however called on other individuals, corporate organisations in the country to emulate the foundation in helping the poor and the needy in the society.

The President of Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Prof. I.L.O Aina who was represented by the 2nd Vice-President Nancy Achebe implored the foundation to involve the association so that the aim for which the donation was made would not be defeated.

She added that she was there representing over 5,000 librarians in the country, an association she said started in 1962 to support the schools and the reading public.

Responding on behalf of other beneficiary universities, the ViceChancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Prof. Boniface

HE Abia state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has said it has arrested six people and three trucks belonging to Oando Oil Company at Obehie in Ukwa West local government area of the state for alleged illegal oil bunkering.

Speaking with journalists in Umuahia, the state commandant of the NSCDC, Nathaniel Ubong said that his men arrested the suspects who are believed to belong to Millennium Oil and Gas Company while trying to lift crude oil illegally from the area.

Ubong said that his organisation got a tipoff that some people are illegally lifting oil from the area.

“This necessitated our sending our people to find out if the information we received was true. We decided to look out for them, and on

•Some of the children who came for the distribution of books

•Books donated Egboka described Offor’s philanthropy as both born and developed.

He however promised that the schools and students would take adequate care of every book or material given to them. He commended the foundation for

championing the cause of the needy in the society.

Also, the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Oko in Anambra State, Prof. Godwin Onu, told Newsextra that the school would always remain grateful to the foundation and the donor.

Onu said that no single individual or organisation had donated such volume of books to any school in the past, adding that if others who are rich in the society could do what the foundation had done, the society would be a better place to live in.

NSCDC arrests six suspected illegal bunkerers From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

June 19, 2011 they were caught with two Toyota Hilux vans” He noted that the surveillance yielded fruits when his men apprehended six men from the Millennium Oil Company and three trucks with registration numbers, XC 216 EFR, XC 144 EFR and XC 193 EFR. It was also disclosed that the three trucks had the inscriptions of Oando Oil Company on them.

The NSCDC commandant said that when the men were asked to provide proof of authority given to them to lift oil from that area of the state, they could not provide any, stressing that his office is aware that such illegal business

Since we are aware that such illegal bunkering takes place there, we decided to tackle the situation as it is an act of sabotage on the economy of the country and we cannot fold our arms and watch such economic saboteurs run down the economy of the nation with impunity

takes place there.

He said. “Since we are aware that such illegal bunkering takes place there, we decided to tackle the situation as it is an act of sabotage on the economy of the country and we cannot fold our arms and watch such economic saboteurs run down the economy of the nation with impunity.”

Ubong said that his men has the mandate to checkmate the destruction of the country’s infrastructure such as oil pipelines and the illegal lifting of oil, stressing that his office will never allow such illegal businessmen to operate in the state freely.

He noted that his office has contacted the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and that it confirmed that Millennium Oil and Gas has the right to lift oil for six weeks which was from November 2010 to January 2011. “But the contract has expired and they had not renewed such contract. So, they have committed a criminal offence.”

Ubong further said that their action is purely an economic sabotage, which the NSCDC

and other security agencies in the state are working hard to forestall. He disclosed that the case will be transfer to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and possible prosecution.

He gave the reference letter number that allowed the suspects to lift oil as from Oil Well Pest Operation as CS/POT/007/V.1/14 OML 11 and that the application was application on November 4, 2010 and approved on given on November 12, 2010. They received feedback on their application on1 November 15 and they started loading on 14th December 14, 2010 with a time frame of six weeks.

THE NATION

27

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

W

ORRIED by what is perceived as unnecessary recognition being given to paper qualification in the Nigerian labour market, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has advised that the phenomenon be downplayed.

Speaking in Port Harcourt during a zonal industry conference on National Vocational Industry Consultation Meeting on National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF) whose theme

NBTE worried over paper qualification From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

was “NVQF-New Deal for Nigeria’s Skills Development,” the Executive Secretary of the NBTE, Dr Masu’ud Kazaure lamented that the existence of many tertiary institutions in the country has placed unnecessary emphasis on paper qualification.

The idea of marshalling a competent workforce through national certification for crucial skills was conceived and dubbed National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and National Vocational Industry Consultation Meeting (NVQF)

Kazaure said: “In spite of the existence of over 100 universities and over 120 polytechnics and similar institutions, in addition to hundreds of technical/vocational colleges, educational institutions have been largely disconnected from industrial and socio-economic needs with consistent neglect of competence and undue emphasis on ‘paper qualification.”

Identifying lack of awareness of technical education, emphasis on academic programmes, poor national planning and ‘academic’ assessment as the obstacles to skills development, Kazaure said the idea of marshalling a competent workforce through national certification for crucial skills was conceived and dubbed National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and National Vocational Industry Consultation Meeting (NVQF).

The NBTE boss also said that the prospective qualification framework “knowledge and skills” would be “demonstrated

as a common grid for all qualifications included within the framework.” He also pointed out that it would allow for parity “between elements of different qualifications.”

Kazaure also said the framework would facilitate “establishment of progression routes between different fields of study, general and vocational education, learning in initial and further education; and qualifications obtained through formal and non-formal education and training.”

Making his own remarks, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the NBTE, Mr Musa Abdullahi, an Engineer, disclosed that the project has been on the drawing board since 2004.

Abdullahi, who was represented by Bishop Anthony Okosun, a member of the Board added that with the coming of the present board, a serious push has been given to it with technical and financial support from the United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and World Bank.

Anambra women want bill on gender signed into law

A

COALITION of 25 women group in Anambra State under the auspices of National Coalition on Affirmative Action (NCAA) have demanded the signing of the gender and equal opportunity bill which had been passed into law by the State House of Assembly. Governor Peter Obi is yet to sign the bill into law, the women alleged.

The women also said that the bill has been passed by the House twice and Obi is alleged to be unwilling to give his accent to it.

The coalition led by Prof. Mercy Anagbogu, stormed the office of the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Ego Uzoezie and appealed to her to prevail on Governor Obi to quickly sign the bill into law.

The out-gone state legislature headed

by Hon. Anayo Nebe, on December 10, 2007 passed the gender and equal opportunity bill into law and repeated same in 2010 before quitting office.

But Newsextra investigation revealed that Governor Obi has refused to sign the bill into law as a result of some salient issues which he had advised the women to expunge.

Other women leaders who met the com-

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

missioner included Prof. Ngozi Egbue, Barristers Margret Nwogbo, Iruka Nwokedi, Kachi and Grace Nnadozie, a national officer with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The visit to the commissioner, according to (NCAA) leader, was part of the struggle of the women to get the gender and equal opportunity bill signed by Obi. “We know Governor Obi is gender sensitive and what we are talking about is the implementation of the 35 per cent affirmative action,” she said.

Anagbogu told Newsextra that the group had reported the matter to the international community which holds Obi in high esteem as the most gender sensitive governor in Nigeria, even as it wondered what would be its impression if the governor fails to do what is expected of him in helping the cause of women.

For Barrister Iruka Nwokedi, what NCAA wants is a legal framework to help women, which she said was the reason why they are agitating for the signing of the bill, adding that there had not been adequate protection of women interests from the men folk.

•From left: NCAA Exco members, Mrs Nwokedi, Prof. Egbue, Comm. Uzoezie, Prof.

Anagbogu, Mrs Nwogbo and another member

“When we look at our colleagues from other parts of the country, we feel that we still have a long way to go. We should start practising “zebra stripes.” Affirmative action is the only way forward for the women of Anambra State,” she said.

She further said that if the women fail to have a common front, the men will always cheat them. Therefore, “we need a formidable force to get what is due to us,” Nwokedi stated.

P r o f .

N g o z i E g b u e noted that “we in the NCAA are working for everybody both male and female.”

R e sponding, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, E g o Uzoezie told the w o m e n that her ministry

•Bauchi Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Saleh (left) welcoming the Director General, National Boundary Commission, Dr Mohammed Ahmed to Bauchi Government House PHOTO: NAN

had been working hard in making sure that those issues that concern women are not neglected.

She however said that she was aware that there were some technicalities concerning the gender and equal opportunity bill which had made it impossible for the governor to accent to it, adding that if they had been removed, she would personally prevail on Obi to sign it into law without further delay.

She noted that 70 per cent of voters in the country today are women, adding that there was no reason why women should not be given sensitive positions to man at both federal and state government levels.

Uzoezie further said that the administration of Peter Obi is gender focused and the reason why she introduced the State Compass called Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS) was to carry everybody along in moving the state forward.

She said that everything should not be left for government alone, even as she added that the groups, individuals and corporate organisations should come together to chart a new course for Anambra State.

She therefore expressed satisfaction over the activities of NCAA and promised that she would table their complaints to the governor, adding that the Ministry of Women Affairs would make sure it keys in all the gender issues in the state.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

28

T

Govt builds N3.3b dam

HE Federal Government has embarked on the construction of N3.3 billion Qua Falls dam in Akamkpa Local Government Cross River State.It is to ensure rural transformation through its multipurpose use water supply, food production, hydro-electric power generation, tourism, employment creation and food security.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Ambassador Godknows Igali, said the dam is designed to supply water to several communities and irrigate about 500 hectares of farmlands downstream of the dam as well as generate hydroelectric power.

•Imoke

Monarch hails Oshiomhole DO State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has been praised for touching the lives of Irrua people through the provision of people-oriented projects.

The Okaijesan of Esanland, Alhaji Willams Momodu, made the commendation during his 40th coronation anniversary at Irrua.

The monarch said he is particularly grateful to governor for the renovation of Eguare Primary School, Irrua, the Annunciation Catholic College, Irrua as well as the reconstruction of the Usugbenu-Ugbegun road.

He said when he ascended the throne on June 22, 1971, he had a vision to ensure the promotion and sustenance of peace in Irrua kingdom.

“This is because I recognise peace as a veritable ingredient for achieving social, cultural, economic political and religious growth of any living environment. I must say that since then, peace has been achieved in Irrua kingdom. It is also important to mention that Irrua kingdom since my 40 years of reign has witnessed tremendous growth and development which include the establishment of a modern post office, the National Strategic

E

Edo Grains Reserve Silo, the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital which is a centre for the control and management of Lassa fever amongst others,” the traditional ruler added.

Oshiomhole, who was the special guest of honour, said the government would continue to collaborate with traditional rulers because they have a lot to contribute to development.

According to him, “40 years on the throne is not a mean feat and we are happy to associate with you on this occasion”. He assured that government would bring development to the community.

“We will give practical expression to your dreams and we will continue to collaborate with traditional rulers because we believe you have a lot to contribute to the development of the state. I thank you for the honour you gave me six years ago when you awarded me a title of merit as President of Nigeria Labour Congress and today you are honoring my mother with a chieftaincy title,” he added.

T

HE Anambra State Government has spent N1.062b on the construction of five Universal Basic Education (UBE) classroom blocks in 177 communities through the Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS) programme.

The education commissioner, Mrs. Kay Onyechi, said at the presentation of the last cheques of N2 million to presidents-general and community leaders at Government House, Awka, that only communities which utilised the earlier money given to them were qualified for additional one.

Towards the end of 2009, empowered presidents-general and traditional rulers to build UBE classrooms in each of the 177 communities through the ANIDS programme.

Governor Peter Obi promised every town a refund of any amount spent but warned that any attempt to make deductions under any guise would be resisted.He even promised to pay extra charges.

He decried the attitude of workers who abandoned their jobs for personal business but would always be the first to demand for

Cross River Igali said the design consists of construction of an earth fill embankment dam of 26 metre high and 530 metre long, reservoir with capacity of 68 million cubic metres of raw water and hydropower component of about 16 megawatts (MW) with a potential of 36 mega watts when Ikpan Dam is constructed and connected through a diversion canal of approximately 4.3 kilometre long.

He said the project which is expected to be completed in 24 months with a 12 month maintenance period, is one of the biggest projects to be executed by the Federal Government in the state, adding that it has a spread effect and as such, calls for community participation while appealing to all to cooperate with the contractors and government to ensure its success.

“I urge you to view this project as belonging to you and to support its construction as this will employ the local labour, empower them and boost the overall rural economy. Therefore, we solicit the cooperation of all stakeholders including the elders, the youth to provide a conducive environment for the construction exercise”, he said.

He commended the initiative efforts of Bassey Ewa Henshaw, the immediate past Chairman of Senate Committee on Water Resources, in attracting the project to the state, which is the first major hydropower project to be located in the South-South geopolitical zone of the country.

•Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State receiving the keys to two Hilux vehicles and torches donated to the Nigeria Police, Abia State Command by C.Y. Foundation from their President Sir C.Y. Nwankwo in Umuahia

FADAMA groups spend N1.2b

F

ADAMA III Project has funded over 2,600 sub-projects in the Southeast geopolitical zone worth over N1.2 billion.

Of this number, about 260 sub-projects have been completed; the ether are at various levels

Council chief sues for peace

T

HE Caretaker Committee Chairman of Orumba South Local Government in Anambra State, Chief Godson Obi, has promised to reconcile warring communities.

Two communities Owerre Ezukalla and Ogbunka, are involved in a land dispute. Two persons have been killed and houses and properties worth over N100 million destroyed.

Obi, the Owelle of Ogbunka, spoke after his inauguration in Awka, the state capital.

Though, normalcy has returned to the communities following the government’s intervention, the chairman promised a new dawn in the area.

Obi lamented the council’s undevelopment, expressing his determination to change the situation.

He promised to be guided by the development compass of Governor. Peter Obi, which described as the Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS), .

Anambra From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

“For too long, our people have lagged behind in economic development, and I will utilise all the resources at my disposal to change this situation,” Obi said.

He said his priority would be the pursuit of peace and even development with emphasis on education, healthcare, road construction, youth and women empowerment.

Obi promised to lead his people with the fear of God and called for the commitment of all community leaders.

He thanked the Governor of the State, Mr. Peter Obi and his Deputy Mr. Emeka Sibeudu as well as the leadership of APGA for finding him worthy of the appointment, promising that he would achieve the desired results.

• From left: Mr Balogun Ayinde Lateef; Mr Segun Opebi and Mrs Ayo Shotonwa at the press on Phonetopia TM phone fair organised by Kristal Stone Promotion Company Ltd to be held PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS from JuLY 6 to July 9 at Eko FM Exhibition Hall.

‘There is need for tax amnesty’

T

HE former president of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Mr Gabe Fasoto, has canvassed for what he called “tax amnesty” to address improper remittance and payment of taxes by individuals.

Fasoto was speaking on the topic: Tax options and ways of curbing tax evasion and avoidance in Lagos State at the Lagos State Polytechnic Alumni Association 2nd quarterly lecture when he made the call.

He said granting tax amnesty will help the government maximise profits and thereby develop the economy because those who own huge taxes that are kept away would have

Church holds programme

T •Former Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Muiz Banire assisted by his wife.

Olufunmilayo (right) to recieve a gift from Director, Conservation and Ecology, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment, Mrs Adebola Agun during a sendforth party organised by the PHOTO: TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO Ministry for Dr Banire

HE 10-day annual prayer programme of the Christ Abundant Power Apostolic Church, Ibudo Agbara began yesterday. Tagged: Upper Room Experience 2011, it is holding at 34/36, Ezeobi Street, Alapere last Bus stop, Ketu,Lagos, from 10pm 5am daily.

The General Overseer and Senior Pastor, Dr David Olorunleye said: “During a prayer session on one of the mountains, God unfolded his plans for the leaders, nation and Lagos State, instructing the church to embark on the programme.

He said churches should embark on evangelism to reclaim souls, pointing out that the country will soon experience food surplus instead of scarcity.

37

By Amidu Arije

opportunity to come back and pay their taxes if they know their previous debts have been waved.

He praised the Lagos State government for efficiency and proper utilisation of taxes collected so far. He, however, urged the government to engage the services of professional institutes and bodies so as to adequately get the taxes from the people.

Speaking also on the same topic was the Personal Assistant to the Lagos State Governor Mr Babatunde Fashola on Taxation, Mr Ade Ipaye.

Ipaye said tax evasion is the failure of individuals or corporate bodies to pay taxes.

He said failure of proper remitting of taxes in the state is rampant. ‘’Failure to deduct and remit taxes is tax evasion,’’ he said.

Ipaye stated further that both tax evasion and avoidance slow down the progress of the economy of the nation. He gave the account of tax evasion and avoidance as a result of poor business ethics.

“The causes of tax evasion and avoidance include; poor business ethics, poor perception of government, the prevalence of the informal sector and lack of proper record,” he said.

Ipaye gave the solution to these problems as “simplify tax system, increase awareness, improve knowledge and efficiency of the tax personnel and encourage voluntary compliance.”

Anambra From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

of completion.

These facts were contained in the status reports presented by the five Project Implementation Units (PIUs) in the zone.

The mission noted that over 683 Fadama Community Associations (FCAs) and 7,712 Fadama Users Groups (FUGs) were already benefiting.

At the presentation in Awka, the Anambra State status report Project Coordinator, Mr. Chudi Mojekwu, said the state funded 525 sub-projects worth over N350 million.

He said 128 of the sub-projects had been completed; the rest are at various level of completion.

Mojekwu added that of the 182 registered Fadama community associations, 120 or 65.93percent are currently benefiting from the project through the implementation of their Local Development Plans (LDPs).

He maintained that through the implementation of the project, the lives of about 33, 000 people had been touched.

Anambra State was praised for presenting a report and for keeping to the project’s implementation arrangements as contained the in Project Development Objective.

Participants included the World Bank team, the NFCO team led by the Senior Community Development Specialist, Dr. V C Agu, representatives from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Zonal Project Coordinator for South East, Dr. C A Udah, the five project coordinators from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states and their management staff, Component IV Desk Officers, nongovernmental organisations, among others.

Community leader marks Ifa festival

T

HE family of Chief Fakunle Alaramile Ifa of Agbado Community in Ogun State ,will mark its 15th Ifa anniversary on July 2.

Speaking on the event, Chief Fakunle said the festival is an annual event which ushers in peace, progress and prosperity for the community, the state and the nation.

He prayed for travelling mercies for those that will attend the ceremony, saying the f e s t i v a l promotes the culture and tradition of his people.

•Chief Fakunle

Bayelsa seeks completion of prison From Isaac Ombe,Yenagoa

G

OVERNOR Timire Sylva has urged the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS) to hasten the completion of a prison complex for Bayelsa State.

The state lacks prison service despite its creation over 15 years ago.

The completion of the complex will end the movement of prison inmates from Yenagoa, the state capital, to other states, Sylva said.

He spoke when he received a delegation led by the Deputy Controller-General of Prisons(Works and Logistics), Alhaji Aminu Suley, in Government House, Yenagoa .

Convicts in the state are being kept at Ahoada Prisons in Rivers State.

Represented by Deputy Governor Werinipre Seibarugu, Sylva said: “It is the wish of the state government that the prison project is commissioned soon so that the era of transferring prisoners to Ahoada and Port Harcourt will be over”.

Besides ending the transfer of prisoners to other states, it will also provide employment opportunities for people of the state, Sylva said, adding that as it will enable the state have a feel of federal presence.

As rehabilitation centres for inmates, he hoped that inmates of the Yenagoa Prisons will come out reformed and advised that modern equipments should be installed in the new prison.

Briefly

‘Put round pegs in round holes’

By Nneka Nwaneri

A call has gone to President Goodluck Jonathan and the governors to choose members of their cabinet without sentiments.

The Proprietor of A Prince with God Schools, Mushin, Mr Jacob Idowu Oku-Pevi, made the call while briefing newsmen on its activities to mark the Silver Jubilee of the school.

He said that the constant change of ministers has caused decadence in the education sector and the incessant failure at the just concluded UTME and WAEC and NECO examinations.

“The challenges we are are facing in the education sector are blamed on the federal and state governments;one minister implements policies and leaves office. When another comes, he cancels those policies and starts his own . “ Besides, the sector is not well funded. This affects the teachers and their output and consequently the students,” he said.

The school, having staff a strength of over 50 teachers and more than 450 pupils and students, was founded in February 1986, and has over the years, trained children and employed many. It has offered 50 scholarships to orphans and the less privileged .

The week-long event which will take place from July 18 to July 2, will feature activities such as match parade, a cultural day celebration, an interdenominational service and a visit to the SOS orphanage home and elderly home. As part of its corporate social responsibility (SCR), is soon to embark on a portable borehole water project for its community. It called on private and corporate organisations to assist them in their projects.

Anambra spends N1b on classrooms Anambra increased wages. ‘I’ve observed that every week starting from Thursdays, offices are deserted by workers who say they are attending one burial or the other. We’re not running a charitable organisation and this must stop,’ Obi warned and threatened to sack such workers.

He said this attitude was what informed the decision of his government to post the newly recruited teachers to their communities so that their people would

• Obi monitor their commitment to duty.

He said the condition for the receipt of the cheques was performance with the ones earlier given.

Hotel introduces new product

I

N its efforts to render cutting-edge services to its clientele, Best Western the Island Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, has added a new product to its offerings. tagged “After Hour”, the initiative is targeted at providing a fun spot for the busy and upwardly mobile executives to relax after a hard day’s job.

Guests will be treated to a variety of mouthwatering local and intercontinental dishes, cocktails, drinks and wines at the uniquely alluring courtyard of the hotel, with soft music wafting in the background.

A statement by the Managing Director of

the hotel, ms. Toyin Dada, said the idea is meant to provide”a haven for busy and upwardly mobile executives to relax after a hard day’s job.”

“It is almost certain that once it is 4p.m. and you are on the Island, you are stuck, especially now that the rains are here. Instead of hitting the road and getting stuck in traffic jam, with its attendant risks, why not come to our oceanfront facility and eat, drink, relax and enjoy at a pocket-friendly rate?

“You do not have to be a stay-in guest; just walk in and give yourself a treat in a unique, cool and secure ambience,” Ms. Dada said.

Honour for Tinubu

F

ORMER Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu along with 32 other people will be honoured with a merit award by the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Lagos State council on July 3, at Ikorodu Town Hall.

The ceremony is part of the activities marking the society’s 12th Biennial Congress and 8th Merit award ceremony. The threeday programme starts on July 1 with thanksgiving prayer during Jumat, congress meeting on July 2 and award of excellence the following day .

Fed Govt builds 10,000 houses in Bakassi T HE Federal Government is building 10, 000 housing units in Bakassi for most of the returnees from who have no place to stay, Secretary to the Cross River State Government,Mr Ugbo, has said.

Speaking to reporters in Calabar , Ugbo said the Federal Government was building the houses through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

He said: “So far ,we have done our bit. The Federal Government has also done its best under the circumstance. But what we are driving further to see is how we can assist the people to get the United Nations (UN) that was the arbiter in this matter to do something.This is because if we had a tsunami and the whole world stood up to help, the Bakassi situation can be likened to that.

“So we expect the international community to also help in ensuring that the people are given proper settlement. That is on-going.

Even today, I did a letter to the UN commission office here in Calabar to see which areas they can assist the people, because they are talking about establishing

Cross River

From Kunle Johnson, Calabar

skills acquisition centres.They will intervene directly. They are not going to give money to the state. Whatever we are doing is for the interest of people who have returned.”

He said government would not discriminate against anybody in the exercise as ceasing Bakassi to Cameroon issue is a Nigerian affair.

“As far as you are a citizen of Nigeria and you were living in Bakassi and you come back and you feel that you want to remain in Cross River State, we would not discriminate. We will give you a place to stay. If you go to the camp now, you will find people from Bayelsa who are living there,’Ugbo said ‘In the same place which we have been running elections without problems. So to me it is not a problem that is beyond us. It is just politics and I think that political decisions would require political solutions so that would be properly addressed’

•From left: Director-General, the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria(ASCON), Mr. Ajibade Peters; welcoming Stepheny Okereke (an actress) on a visit to the college

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

29

PEOPLE THE NATION

A FIVE-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

Here comes the ‘prince’ at 53 From hiphop to evangelism. As he made wave in music, he has also become a household name in pastoral work. Rev. Chris Okotie, the pastor-politician who wants to be president, celebrated his 53rd birthday in Lagos. NNEKA NWANERI was at the celebration.

•Okotie (left) being annionted by Bishop Amu

I

N the 80s, Kris Okotie, the pop singer, was a household name.

Then, he got born again, and he turned from Kris to Chris. But the singer in him is still alive. It manifested at the celebration of his 53rd birthday in his church last Sunday. He sang and danced to the admiration of all.

As early as 8am, guests and members of the church began trooping into the expansive church auditorium for the birthday service.

The cool ambience of the auditorium was inviting. At the middle of the altar is a fountain.

There were white cream cakes on all the pillars and corners of the hall, numbering up to 25. There were also flow-

ers in the vases beside the pillars. The allwhite hall also shone with light.

The praise and worship session was filled with traditional and contemporary gospel songs, which made members to sing and shout for joy. It lasted for 90 minutes. Also in attendance were well dressed guests for the occasion as they stood out in their African and traditional attires.

Then the ‘birthday boy,’ Rev Okotie, made a grand entry with his wife, Stephanie, and accompanied by the General Secretary, Lagos State Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop George Amu. Okotie looked as trendy as ever in his black suit with silver shiny studs from the neckline down through the button

The Prophet’s soldiers Pg 31

holes.

His wife, beaming with smile all through, stood beside him. She looked stunning in her pink Indian dress and long flowing hair.

When Rev Okotie mounted the altar, he told the congregation that every man of God like himself, called by the Almighty, has a prophetic assignment. “I have a prophetic assignment for Nigeria,” he said, as he called on Bishop Amu to join him on stage.

Amu said he has known Okotie for 40 years, adding that he is honoured to be celebrating the day with him.

Reading the Bible passage from Psalm 91, Amu consecrated Okotie “Prince of Nigeria,” saying: “I hereby consecrate

•Stephanie •Continued on page 30

Love at first sight Pg 32

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

30

SOCIETY

Here comes the ‘prince’ at 53 •Continued from page 29

you, ordain you and crown you Prince of Nigeria.”

Asked of the significance of the anointing, Amu said it was for peace.

“Okotie is a man with the spirit of peace,” he said.

When Okotie took over from Amu, he showed that he has not lost his spark as he dished out tunes from his old songs.

He said he and his wife decided to sing the songs to remind them of the past, savour the present and look forward to the future.

Okotie hit the dance floor with a handkerchief in one hand and danced as he sang with passion. Some of the songs were Jesus the medicine He will cure you today.

Okotie, who said he was a catholic before he got ‘saved,’ explained that he became a pastor at 28. He also recalled that he had sung up to 20 songs before he met Jesus Christ.

He could not hide his joy when he told The Nation how he felt on the day. “I feel fantastic and exhilarated. Today is a day of great conjugality. I want today to be remembered for a foundation of a new beginning; of a great new Nigeria of our dreams. That means that you are going to see a manifestation of our desires. We can get there by divine intervention. That is the only answer for Nigeria. There has to be divine intervention, and that is what is happening here today.

“What I’m doing today is in accordance with the Prophesies of the Last Outcast. The prince of Nigeria is the

main character in that book, and he is the pastor of the Household of God. I am representing him now in that office. It is a spiritual thing. You cannot understand it now till you read the book, blend it with the Bible, and then you will understand the ramifications of what I am talking about. Anything I am going to be politically must come from the spiritual realm.”

When asked what his dreams for the country were, he said he had none, but quickly added that: “Being ordained today positions me to achieve all God wants me to achieve in Nigeria and in the world. I am a man under authority. Jesus is the boss. It is what He tells me to do that I do. I only work within the confines of His instructions.”

His best biblical quote he said is: “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Okotie said his only regret was that he did not get saved in time. “I stayed in the world a bit too long. When I was a child, I spoke and acted like a child. But now I am an adult and I act like a man,” he said.

He has a message for the youth, whom he said represent the spirit of Nigeria.

“They occupy the strength and political backbone and that is why they should not be ignored,” he said.

The El-Shaddai party celebration was also done with those who were born in June and they gave a brilliant cultural performance, praising God in Yoruba, Hausa and Efik. Thereafter, the popular birthday song: “For he’s a jolly good fellow” was sung for him.

The birthday cake was cut by the celebrator at the spell of JESUS and the service ended with members singing the national anthem

•CEO Energy Express Limited Ambassador Brikins (right) and Christy Solomon Essien

•MD Network Aviation Captain Olusola Gabriel and Gloria Ebebeli

•From left: Amede Oputa; Gift Famous and Emma Okenwa

•Elfreda Rowland (right) and Jumoke Famoriyo

PHOTOS: RAHMAN SANUSI

SEMINAR ON ISLAMIC BANKING IN LAGOS

•From left: Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Mobolaji (lecturer, Fountain University) Dr Mohammad Obaidullah, facilitator, IRTI & IDB Prince Sulaiman Olagunju, Dr. Mohammad Akhyar Adnanfacilitator, Int’l Islamic University Malaysia, and former special adviser to the Lagos State governor on Legal and Islamic issues, Malam Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef.

From left: Head of Mission, Alfatitul Quareb Islamic Society of Nigeria, Sheik Abdulrahim Sulaimon Adangba and Alhaji Isiaka Ajibola

31

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

31

SOCIETY The Nawair-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Lagos Branch (Division Three), held its annual special lecture and merit award at the Club Arcade, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Onikan, Lagos last Sunday.

TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO was there.

The Prophet’s soldiers

T

HEIR white and blue uniform Alhaji Ganiyu Balogun, praised NUD memstood them out. Passers-by bers for their steadfastness over the years.

Balogun said the award was in recognigawked at them as they filed into the tion of the immense contributions of the Club Arcade, Tafawa Balewa Square awardees to the organisation and society (TBS), Onikan, Lagos, for their yearly at large. special lecture and merit awards.

He urged members to be attentive to the For members of the Nawair-Ud Deen lecture and imbibe the lessons derived from society of Nigeria (NUD), the event, it in their daily affairs. which featured special prayer, has be“The lecture is not for jamboree. Rather, it come an annual ritual is to develop and enlighten ourselves about Eminent personalities and re- Islam and event around the world. That is spected clerics led by the revered why we have gone all the way to Kano to scholar, Sheikh Muhydeen Ajani Bello, invite an erudite scholar,” he said. prayed fervently for the unity of NigeChairman, NUD Lagos State chapter, ria and God’s guidance of its leaders, Alhaji Subair Awore, saluted the leadership especially those elected officers. of the Division Three for initiating the The guests included Oba of programme and sustaining it.

Oworonsoki, Oba Bashir Salau; a soAwore urged members to be mindful of cialist, Prince Bode Oshinusi; Chair- their actions in the society. man, Al-Hujaaj Nigeria Limited, Alhaji The guest speaker, Sheikh Bello, decried AbdulJeleel Animashaun; former the poor state of security in the country.

Chairman, Lagos State Muslim PilApparently referring to the bomb blast at grims Board, Alhaja Qudrah the Police Headquarters in Abuja last week, Durosinmi-Etti; business tycoons and the cleric chided Nigerians leaders for the philantropists, Alhaja Muinat porous security in the country.

Shopeyin-Akande; Hajia Idayat Muse “What happened to the billions of our and Alhaja Shukurat Sanni (aka Shine money voted for security? If a sensitive place Shine); Chairman, TADECO Nigeria could be bombed, it shows how ordinary Limited, Alhaji Tajudeen Adekoya; Nigerians on the streets are exposed to danNUD state Deputy Chief Imam, Alhaji ger,” he said.

Isiaq Tejidini; representative of Baba He blamed the government’s continuous Adinni of Eti-Osa, Alhaji M.A Badmus insensitivity to the plight of the masses as and Amirah, Federation of Muslim the reason for the civil unrest.

Women Association of Nigeria “When you continue to amass wealth (FOMWAN), Lagos State Chapter, meant to better the lives of millions of NigeAlhaja Fatimat Gawat. rians, you should know that evil days are The highpoint of the event that also being invited because idle hands will defifeatured recitation from the Holy nitely dine with the devil,” he said philoQuran; Mass Asalat; lectures; scholar- sophically. ship to indigent students; goodwill He warned Nigerian leaders to retrace messages was the presentation of their steps and offer good governance to the awards to distinguished personali- populace. ties.

Sheikh Bello prayed Allah to return peace According to one of the organisers, to the country and guide the leaders aright.

Alhaji Rasak Gawat, the awardees Oba Salau on behalf of the awardees needed not to present their profiles be- thanked the organisers for the gesture. cause their humanitarian deeds speak The monarch, who received his plaque volumes. from Sheikh Bello, said the honour would Gawat, who moderated the event, encourage the honourees to do more for the congratulated the awardees. society.

The Division Three Chairman,

•Oba Salau flanked by Sheikh Bello (right) and Alhaji Badmus.

•Prince Bose Oshinusi flanked by Chairman, Al-Hujaaj International, Alhaja Abdul Jeleel Animashaun (right) and Alhaji Gawat.

•From left: Alhaji Ganiyu Balogun, Alhaji Subair Awore and Sheikh Ishaq Tejidini

AT THE SERVICE OF SONGS FOR THE LATE MD/CEO OF GTBANK, TAYO ADERINOKUN IN LAGOS

•From right: Chief Kayode Aderinokun, Mrs Yejide Ajayi and Mrs Oluremi Johnson

•From right: Prof Gbemi Oke, IreOluwa Aderinokun and Babatunwa Aderinokun

•From left: Emeka Okafor and Governor Peter Obi

•Acting MD/CEO GTBank, Segun Agbaje and wife Deriola

PHOTOS: ADEJO DAVID

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

32

SOCIETY

The Central Mosque in Abesan Estate in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos was filled when Olatunji Abd’Lateef Ololade and Fatimah Abd’Ganiyu, got married last Sunday. The couple met in the office. RISIKAT RAMONI witnessed the event.

Love at first sight • You ‘re the woman I’ll marry

T

HE first time they met was at the doorstep of The Nation. He had just been employed, while she was about completing her one-year industrial attachment (IT). She was startled when a man she was seeing for the first time said to her “You’re the woman that I will marry.”

Weeks after when she discovered that he was not a playboy, she accepted his proposal.

Her consent was to later draw family, friends and well-wishers from far and wide to Abesan Estate Central Mosque last Sunday. That day, Fatimah and Abd’Lateef Olatunji were joined in holy matrimony.

Journalists, artistes, businessmen and women, educationists, graced the occasion. The Deputy Editor (News) of this paper, Mr Adeniyi Adesina, led other members of staff to the nikkah.

The groom virtually wore a golden brown beautifully embroidered top with a pair of trousers and a matching Tajia cap.

Fatimah was dressed in brown too. She looked exceptionally beautiful. Her face was lightly made-up. Her hands, legs, and nails were designed with black Laali and a touch of gold.

The gold ring and wristwatch sparkled from a distance. She wore a golden brown gown and a cream coloured Hijab with a touch of brown, wrapped over her head. Both the bag and her shoes were shades of brown.

After a while, the couple’s outfit was transformed. They both changed into a lemon green and wine attire. While the groom changed into Buba and Sokoto with Agbada, the bride wore Iro and Buba with a beautiful matching headgear.

The regular chit-chat by the couple made it obvious that their matchmaking was ordained from heaven.

The guests too were gorgeously dressed in colours that best suited them. One common thing in the hall was the headgear. Some of the guests tied a green headgear, some pink; some wore blue, while others simply used white Hijab to wrap themselves.

The hall was well decorated with different colours, with pink and green appearing prominent.

The missioner of Ansar-ud-deen, Ipaja branch, Alhaji Abd’Rasheed Akinsanmi, who joined the couple in holy matrimony said couples do have misunderstandings, and that the best way to go about it is to settle them amicably without involving third parties such as friends, parents or neighbours.

He said for them to have a happy married life, they both need to be matured emotionally, spiritually and financially.

He urged the guests to always marry people of the same religion, saying that they would be able to unite in prayer. “A family that prays together will continue to be together,” he said.

After completing the marriage rites, he officially joined the couple together along with their parents, noting that in Islam, it’s not only the couples that are married but their families as well.

The groom’s father, Mr Rasheed Ololade, described his daughter-in-law as a pious and upright woman. He advised her to know her man more and understand him well for her to manage his weakness and enhance his strength.

He noted that men have their ego to protect, so, the bride should learn to exercise a lot of patience. He urged them to forgive and forget their spouse’s imperfection.

Bride’s father, Mr Musliudeen Abd’Ganiyu, described the day as his happiest, saying the couple is compatible. He observed that during the time they were together, he has never heard them complain. He encouraged them to turn to the Qur’an whenever they have any challenges.

The bride’s mother, Mrs Esther, on her part urged the bride not to forget everything she was taught in their house, adding that she prayed her daughter would have many children who will make them happy.

Clarion Chukwura Abiola, a prominent Nollywood actress, highlighted patience, love and understanding as keys to successful marriages. She made them to understand that two people from different backgrounds will definitely have misunderstandings. They should get to know and understand each other for their marriage to survive. She described the groom as an easy-going, humble and excellent gentleman.

The radiant smile on the face of the bride said it all. To her, “He’s not someone I can’t miss out of the crowd because he is so special to me.” She said their relationship is young and it’s going to grow older.

The groom was lost for words when asked to describe his wife. “If I attempt to describe what she is to me, I’ll kind of denigrate her.

She is indescribable and very valuable. She is heavens best blessing to me in a long while,” he said.

•Groom’s parents, Alhaji & Alhaja Rasheed Ololade

•Clarion Chukwura, and husband, Femi Oduneye

•The couple Olatunji and Fatimah

•Bride's parentsAlhaji & Alhaja Abdul Ganiyu

•Evangelist Ekundayo Tella

•Tella of the Okukenu, Ogun State Princess PHOTOS: GABRIEL KUTELU Adepeju Gbadebo

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

33

SOCIETY

The Lafarge Cement Conference Hall, Elephant House, Ikeja, Lagos was beehive on June 22, when the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ikeja Branch, honoured Chief Emmanuel Awoyinfa for his achievements. VIVIAN EBBAH reports

A founding father’s day

F

ROM his citation, it was clear that Chief Emmanuel Awoyinfa is a man of repute.

It is because of this that the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) organised a lecture in his honour with the theme: “Maximising the potential and contributions of engineers in National development.”

The Larfage Cement Conference Hall, Elephant House, Ikeja was the venue and everyone stood to be counted. To them, Chief Awoyinfa is a man worthy of emulation considering his numerous achievements in the engineering sector. For this reason and many others like it, they came in large number for the annual public.

The event started with the introduction of guests to the high table followed by the recitation of the National Anthem and the opening prayer.

At the entrance of the beautifully decorated hall were security men stationed to direct guests from missing their ways, while lights of different colours, illuminated the hall.

The event kicked off when Awoyinfa’s citation was read.

In it Chief Awoyinfa was described as the founder, Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers in 1969. He was also cited as a member, Petrochemical Committee of Manchester Chambers of Commerce, 1970-1976.

He also worked with the team of engineers in Shell who designed and supervised projects for Speco Mill Ikeja, Aba Kadles, Sokoto Tanery, Kano State Oil Mills, Gusau Oil Mills and Onitsha Textiles.

He is chairman Ibcon and Associates Limited; member Governing Council, Africa Network for Scientific and Technological and Team leader World Bank SME Consultancy project in Nigeria.

The guest speaker, who is also the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer,

Afribank Estate Company Limited, Mr Charles Njoku, started the lecture by describing Chief Awoyinfa as a visionary leader.

Njoku gave a brief history of Engineering in Nigeria and some of the challenges facing it, tracing its history to the establishment of Public Works Department in Lagos in 1896. According to him the department then comprised of mainly Civil, Mechanical and Electrical disciplines.

He noted that the department was responsible for managing engineering problems in the then Southern Government of Nigeria.

The current challenges facing the engineering sector, according to him, resulted from the poor state of private sector engineering firms, which deny fresh engineering graduates the opportunity to gain experience and develop their careers; government’s attitude towards maintenance of infrastructure and its development which do not promote capacity development for engineers and the leadership and management of relevant government establishments by non- engineers.

Njoku gave some factors affecting engineering profession in Nigeria as poor government policies on housing, works, power and water resources.

He noted that engineering curriculum has a unilateral focus on technical core skills/ knowledge, which, regrettably, has resulted to lack of management behavioral skills.

The proposed interventions for maximizing the participation of engineers in national development, he added, proffers a tripartite approach, which include increased participation of NSE at national levels of policy formulation and implementation, and the creation of opportunities for networking and partnerships exchange programs between local engineers and foreign counterparts.

At the end of the lecture, guests were hosted to an elaborate reception followed by the induction of 20 engineers into the NSE.

•Mr and Mrs Olu Awoyinfa

•Mr Otis Anyaechi, (Mrs) Margaret Oguntala

PHOTOS: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

The ancient town of Ado-Odo, Ogun State, hosted dignitaries when its monarch, Oba Lateef Adeniran Akanni, celebrated his 2nd anniversary on the throne. KUNLE AKINRINADE reports

After darkness comes light

•Oba Lateef Akanni and wife

•Elder Joel Oje,Mr I. Iroko, Alhaja Mujidat Badmus, Alhaji Waheed Sulaiman, Chief (Mrs) O. George, Alhaja Shakiru Alhaja Jemilat Anigege and Mr Akibu Akinola on the occasion

F

OR Olofin Adimula Oodua of Ado –Odo community in Ogun State, Oba Lateef Adeniran Akanni, the aphorism that there is always a ray of light at the end of a dark tunnel, played itself out when he rolled out the drums to mark the second year of his ascension

to the throne. It was an end to a bitter crisis which rocked the community over his ascension in May 2009. It culminated into a protracted violence leading to imposition of curfew on the town for several months by the then governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

it was a two-pronged celebration that started with the beating of traditional Gbedu drums followed by cultural /traditional dance round the community. There were also drama performances by different groups to honour the traditional ruler and his high profile guests, which included top traditional rulers from both Lagos and Ogun states.

The colourful ceremony witnessed paying of homage to the monarch by indigenous groups, individuals and members of social clubs in the town.

The king’s wife, Olori Fausat Adebisi, could not hide her joy while speaking with The Nation.

“What more can I say other than to show appreciation to God for sparing the life of my husband during the turbulent days. When many people including friends deserted us, God was our strength and He proved himself as the most benevolent,” she said.

One of the celebrator’s classmates, Alhaji Waheed Sulaiman, described Oba Akanni as a godly and responsible leader.

He said: “Oba Akanni is an unassuming person who cannot hurt a fly. It was, therefore, sad when various attempts were made to thwart his ascension to the throne while he was also attacked by armed men for daring to retrieve his stolen mandate through legal means. Those of us who know him can attest to his godly mien and responsible leadership qualities right from our school days.”

Another friend of the celebrator, Mr. Akibu Akinola, also said: “I am here to felicitate with Oba Akanni because of his courage and doggedness in the pursuit of his mandate. I have known him for many years and I believe that he deserves all the accolades showered on him today because of his enviable leadership qualities. I wish him many more years on the throne of his ancestors.”

The occasion was chaired by Mr Muftau Alani Abass, while Ambassador Olusegun Olusola delivered the keynote address imploring the gathering to promote and guard jealously, their rich Yoruba cultural heritage.

The event also witnessed the presentation of

the biography of the celebrator, which was followed by conferment of honorary chieftaincy titles on deserving individuals within and outside the ancient community.

While thanking indigenes of the community for their support, Oba Akanni, admonished those aggrieved over the chieftaincy tussle to sheathe their swords and join in the development of the town.

He said: “The support given to me by notable members of this town is immeasurable, especially during and after the crisis trailing my ascension to the throne via a Supreme Court ruling in 2009.”

“To this end, I want to advise pockets of aggrieved persons to have a rethink and join hands with the leadership of the town in our bid to rebuild and develop this town for posterity.”

Oba Akanni, who is the 39th monarch of the community, called for government attention in the infrastructural development of the town.

He said: “We want the government to build good roads in this town. We have an abandoned community hospital project and we want the Ogun State government to help us complete the project so that we can have access to good healthcare service. The nearest hospital to us is the Badagry General Hospital in Lagos State because the Ota General Hospital is very far from us.

He also implored the state government to restore part of the community land taken during the First Republic.

“Most of our lands were taken away by the defunct Western Region Government. Now, we want a village extension so that we can have enough land for developmental projects.”

Among those honoured with chieftaincy titles were a Lagos businessman Alhaji Buari Oloto and his beautiful wife, Shadia; former council boss, Ado-Odo /Ota Local Council, Hon.Abayomi Tella and Idowu Akindele, an engineer.

Some of the traditional rulers at the event included Onitire of Itire, Lagos, Oba Abayomi Dauda and the acting Chairman of Yewa Council of Traditional Rulers, Ogun State, Olu of Imasayi, Oba (Dr) Gbadebo Oni

34

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

35

36

COMMENTARY

FEMI ABBAS ON

J

UST as hunger reminds us of food and war reminds us of peace, so do certain circumstances of life remind us of others. With the coming of Ramadan in a few weeks time, one vital issue that immediately comes to mind is the Prophet’s medicine.

Muslims who are well educated about their faith will surely know that Ramadan is theoretically and practically a divine medicine prescribed by Allah for mankind. It heals man not only of physical and spiritual diseases but also of ignorance which is the mother of all human diseases.

Adam, the primogenitor of mankind, was hardly one hour old when he started prescribing medicine against ailments. He was commanded by Allah to teach the Angels the names of all things which they had confessed not to know. By teaching the Angels, Adam could be said to have carried out the duty of a teacher which confirms teaching as his first profession.

But, those in the information sector could as well, argue that what Adam did was more of information dissemination than teaching.

Thus, for the purpose of academic exercise, a fierce debate might ensue between teachers and journalists over what can be called the first profession of the first human being. But the truth is that both professionals are right. By teaching, a teacher informs. And by informing, a journalist teaches. And the two professions are mutually complimentary.

What Adam actually did by teaching the Angels was to cure the worst disease in the life of man. That disease is ignorance.

Shortly before the creation of Adam, Allah informed the Angels that He was going to create a new living being and put him in charge of the garden to be called the earth.

But, feigning knowledge, the Angels kicked against the plan and advised their Lord not to do it. Allah then told them in a tone of finality that “I know what you do not know”. Q.2:31. It eventually took Adam, by Allah’s command, to heal those Angels of their disease (ignorance).

If Adam had not taught them the names of all things on earth, as revealed in the Qur’an, the Angels would have remained ignorant forever.

And, Allah’s messages to mankind, as contained in the Holy Books, would not have come through them.

In ordinary man’s view, medicine is the substance required to cure an ailment.

Such substance may be natural or artificial.

It may also be as crude as herbs or as sophisticated as surgery.

However, it is generally believed that a person does not need medicine unless he is ill. That is why the Western conventional medicine is rather curative than preventive. Illness resides in the body just as ignorance makes the mind its abode. Today, in most cases, people neither go to the hospitals nor take medicine unless they are sick.

Though unlettered, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had known this before he diagnosed two basic ailments and prescribed two fundamental medicines for them. The first of these ailments is ignorance. The second is poverty. And poverty in this case is not lack of material wealth alone as many people erroneously believe. It is lack of many things including health and conscience. Thus, in Islam, ailment is basically of two classes: ignorance and poverty. Many people are victims of one. Many more are victims of both.

A person is said to be poor-sighted when he cannot see well without artificial aid.

He is deemed poor in memory when his remembering ability becomes weak. He is also pronounced poor in health when some of his organs malfunction or he lacks some active enzymes or minerals or vitamins. Thus, man may be poor, not in terms of money or material needs but despite his possession of both.

As an antidote for ignorance, the Prophet prescribed the Qur’an. And for body ailment, he prescribed honey. Qur’an is the encyclopedia of life which personifies knowledge in all its ramifications. There is nothing about knowledge whether spiritual or mundane, in this world or the hereafter, that is not contained in the Qur’an.

By recommending the Qur’an as medicine for ignorance, the Prophet simply provided cure for the ailment of the mind. And by prescribing honey for body ailments he encouraged prolongation of life expectancy through a

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

Femabbas@yahoo.com 08051101861

The Prophet’s medicine ‘And, as an antiviral and antibiotic substance, honey is the best medicine for eye and ear diseases, tooth ache, insomnia, staphylococcus, constipation and whitlow as well as for burns and wounds’ •Bees

boost to the immune system.

It is not by accident that a whole chapter in the Qur’an (chapter 16) is named after the insect that produces honey. Verse 68 of that chapter reads thus: “And your Lord revealed to the bee (saying): Build your homes in the mountains, in the trees and in the hives which men shall make for you.

Feed on every kind of fruit and follow the trodden path of your Lord’.

“From its belly comes forth a fluid of many hues as healing (drink) for mankind.

Surely in this, there is a sign for those who can think….”

And, in the Bible, references are made to the use and efficacy of honey in more than 25 places.

Contrary to general belief, honey is not the only product of the bee.

There are six others so far known to man. These are: propolis; pollen; royal jelly; bees wax; bee venom and bee bread.

More can be discovered as research continues in line with the Qur’anic challenge. Each of these products has specific functions in maintaining and immunising the human hormone system.

To produce honey alone, the bees make contact with at least 250000 plants picking their flower nectars. They may contact more plants depending on the richness of the vegetation they dwell in. Nectar is the main raw material which the bees use to produce honey. Propolis, on the other hand, is produced by the bees from the resin of certain trees.

Through research, propolis has come to be known as the strongest anti-biotic ever discovered by man. This product is used not to protect the living alone but to preserve the remains of the dead as well.

At least it is on record that the famous historic Egyptian mammies were embalmed with propolis several millennia ago. This same propolis is the product used by the bees, themselves, to sterilise their bodies against bacteria and secure their hives against predators. Whenever they sting a predator to death, it is propolis they use to embalm it to prevent its decaying body from polluting the hive.

Pollen is the secret of longevity. It heals almost all the old age diseases like prostate, arthritis and cold. It rejuvenates the nerves and reinvigorates the hormonal glands. Royal jelly on the other hand solves the problem of infertility in men and women. It is the exclusive food of the queen bee which enables her to lay an average of 2000 eggs every day. And bee venom is a natural vaccine which

strengthens human immunity against all diseases. It works like magic in the human system especially when applied through the acupunctural points in the body.

Bees wax, as distinct from other products, is used to produce non- chemical cosmetics and to coat pharmaceutical tablets and capsules while bee bread is used to prevent or heal children’s diseases.

The use of each of these products to heal human ailments depends on the extent of knowledge of apitherapy possessed by the user. Apitherapy is the use of bee products to prevent or heal human or animal ailments. A specialist in this field is called apitherapist.

The uniqueness of using these products for healing or prevention of diseases is in the fact that they do not entail any negative side effect. And that is one sharp difference between them and the synthetic drugs manufactured chemically by the conventional pharmacists.

Honey is the only known product in the world that serves as both food and medicine. Hippocrates, the father of medicine once reportedly told his patients while prescribing honey for them thus: “let your food be your medicine and your medicine your food”. There is no known nutritional value in terms of vitamins, minerals and enzymes that is not proportionally present in honey.

Whereas no synthetic medicine can and should be taken by an ill person without doctor’s prescription, honey requires no such prescription for anybody who is not allergic to it. Honey is a multipurpose food and medicine. It can be taken along with other foods or alone.

And, as an antiviral and antibiotic substance, honey is the best medicine for eye and ear diseases, tooth ache, insomnia, staphylococcus, constipation and whitlow as well as for burns and wounds. After many years of disputing these facts ignorantly, conventional doctors have come to realise that no medicine is as effective in sealing up surgical wounds and healing sores as honey. Today, it is used for some of these purposes in most public hospitals in various parts of the world, including Nigeria.

Besides the above medicaments, the bees also assist mankind in producing foods by pollinating their crops. At least, these wonderful insects are responsible for pollinating about 80 per cent of the crops anywhere in the world. It is an understatement, therefore, to say that without the bees, humanity would starve to death. Bees are a vital part of our

environment, killing them is like killing oneself.

If most people were knowledgeable about the efficacy of the bee products in preventing and healing diseases, hospitals would have been less congested and substantial percentage of their incomes would have been saved to enhance the quality of their lives.

The world of bees is a wonderful world.

It takes only those who know it to appreciate it and benefit from its healing miracle. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had known it almost one and a half millennia ago and he had recommended it to humanity accordingly.

The fact that honey is still a subject of scientific research today is a further confirmation that the unlettered Prophet from Arabia was a divine genius. At least the revelation of the Qur’an to him in the month of Ramadan starting from 610 CE is an undisputable confirmation of that fact.

The case of bee and honey is like that of hen and egg. No one can tell which first came into existence. Without bee there can be no honey.

And without honey, the bees cannot exist since honey is the food upon which the bees depend for survival.

Honey in Ramadan is as potent in human system as it is in ordinary days of life. It does not only ameliorate the harsh effect of hunger and thirst, it also lubricates the nerves and fortifies them against viral diseases.

But, how can one recognise genuine honey in this era of rampant adulteration?

That is one of many questions to be answered in this column in the future God willing.

The story of the insect called bee is inexhaustible despite centuries of research on it. It is therefore impossible to tell it all in a one page column of this type. Much, more will be said on this subject subsequently if only to assist Nigerians in safeguarding their health matters and enhancing the quality of their lives.

That Prophet Muhammad (SAW) knew this much even as an unlettered person at a time when the world was assailed by blatant ignorance and primitivism is a further confirmation of Michael Hart’s classification of him as the greatest human being that ever lived on earth.

MUSWEN Essay Competition The second MUSWEN Essay competition which commenced in April this year was concluded last Sunday with the writing of the final by qualified candidates. Seventeen in all from the six Southwest states, those candidates were supposed to be 18 in number making it three from each state. But one of the candidates was absent leaving Osun state with only two candidates. The grand finale of the annual event will come up on July 10, 2011, at main bowl of the House of Chiefs, right inside Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan. It is on that day that the best three candidates to emerge from the lot will be presented to the public with worthy presents. MUSWEN’s annual essay competition for Senior Secondary School pupils is attached to MUSWEN’s annual lecture. Both will come together on the above mentioned date and place in sha’Allah. Details about this essay competition and the role of certain individuals and groups in it will be published in this column very soon, God willing.

Approaching Ramadan In about six weeks’ time, Ramadan will be with us in full regalia. And, as usual, your darling column, ‘RAMADAN GUIDE’ will come handy for those who are ready for it. We are hereby calling on all God-fearing Muslims with wherewithal to come forward and sponsor this daily Ramadan publication bearing in mind that doing so will not be in vain. Give a little back to Allah from the much He has given you and you will not regret you do so. We pray Allah to grant life and health with which to sail through this coming Ramadan and many more thereafter.

THE NATION

38

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

CRIME WATCH

Residents, policemen attacked by hoodlums after NDLEA’s raid

P

ANDEMONIUM broke out in OdiOlowo area in Mushin, Lagos State,last week as some urchins in the area locked horns after a raid by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Three persons were reportedly killed; seven others sustained severe injuries while more than 10 vehicles got damaged.

Investigation revealed that the incident was a clear act of vengeance, as hoodlums and drug dealers from the notorious Akala drug enclave, attacked people they believed were behind last Thursday’s raid on the notorious drug zone by operatives of the (NDLEA).

During the raid, the agency arrested over100 persons, while more than 2000 bags of Indian hemp, which were loaded in two lorry trucks, were recovered.

Newsextra gathered that 24 hours after the raid by the anti-narcotics agents, from the Lagos State NDLEA Command, some hoodlums who escaped arrest during the raid, went gaga as they crossed into Erekpo Street and it’s peaceful environ, which is being separated by a rail line. They launched reprisal attacks on persons they perceived were sponsors of the NDLEA’s raid.

Temitayo Olari, a resident of Erekpo Street who spoke to Newsextra on Tuesday during a visit to the scene, said hoodlums from the notorious Akala, in their hundreds invaded their homes with guns and other dangerous weapons in what seems like a reprisal attack on the NDLEA’s raid.

Narrating the incident Temitayo said: ”It was like a movie and some of us were standing outside our houses recounting the shocking raid on Akala while some older people gathered at that place (he pointed at a stall), when we saw a large crowd of young men running into our streets from that railway line with clubs, machetes and broken bottles, heading towards our direction. We heard rounds of gun shots from

By Jude Isiguzo

the surging crowd and everyone in our street took to his heels. The moment they arrived where we were, they started smashing vehicle windscreens parked along the street.

“They did not spare shop owners and traders along our street; they attacked them and looted their shops. These hoodlums did not stop there, they went into one man’s (Baba Ismaila) house, dragged him out and started beating him. They accused him of bringing the NDLEA against them. Soon, their activities caught the attention of some mobile policemen from Mopol20, who are on standby in our street since the previous clash. When these mobile policemen confronted the hoodlums, they retaliated by shooting at them also. While the gun battle continued, a passerby was hit by a bullet in his head after one of the policemen dodged a bullet from the hoodlums. Few minutes later, the policemen succeeded in forcing the hoodlums out of Erepo Street”, he narrated.

Seun Balogun, a student of Lagos State Polytechnic who spoke to Newsextra said he watched from the window of his apartment overlooking the notorious Akala on Saturday as hoodlums descended on some mobile policemen from Mopol42 who were stationed at Alhaji Lasisi street to quell any form of trouble; “I overheard them accusing the policemen of bringing NDLEA to raid their homes and they asked the policemen to leave their area, that they don’t need them any more. When the police resisted, they started firing shots and throwing rocks at them and the police shot at them as well.

Surprisingly, the hoodlums over powered the policemen and they ran away. This made their other members to invade the area in their large numbers and they ended up taking over the whole of Akala.” he narrated.

A mobile policeman who pleaded ano-

•Burnt vehicles

T

HE Zaria District of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Kaduna State has expressed concern over the vandalism of 29 of its transformers between December 2010 and now.

The District Business Manager, Alhaji Sulaiman Abdulkadir said that the vandalism was sabotaging the efforts of the government and the PHCN at providing essential services to the public.

Abdulkadir appealed to traditional rulers, religious and community leaders to join hands with the company in protecting its installations from vandalism.

The manager listed areas affected by the sabotage as Albarka Cinema, Aminu Road, Anguwan Kaya, Anguwan Malamai, Kaura, Kwarbai and Jushi, among others.

According to him, the vandals usually cart away the expensive sing-core and incomer copper cables found in the transformers.

“The best way to ensure the safety of these materials is for the public to be extra vigilant

•One of the affected streets. Inset: an injured resident

We had to leave our beat because the situation became so dangerous after these hoodlums out numbered us and we did not have enough ammunition to face them. The situation degenerated to that of life and death as lots of people were injured while some were on the ground lying helpless as no one could take them to the hospital nymity told Newsextra that he left the scene when the restive hoodlums became uncontrollable. “We had to leave our beat because the situation became so dangerous after these hoodlums out numbered us and we did not have enough ammunition to face them. The situation degenerated to that of life and death as lots of people were injured while some were on the ground lying helpless as no one could take them to the hospital”, he lamented. Continuing, the policeman said they left the area, but not before calling for reinforcement which later reclaimed control of the area. A lot of people have been arrested in connection with the violence.”

Seun who took Newsextra through the scene around Akala, praised the efforts of the police and the NDLEA in trying to rid the area of the ugly menace.

He said, “I’m very glad this is happening.

I’ve been waiting for this all my life and I hope this could be a step in sanitising this area of illicit drug trade. We have been forced to live with this menace for a long time and we have written to all relevant government authorities in the past and nothing has been done about it until now. In the past, it has been business as usual between the drug dealers and the police authority in Mushin.

I think they work cooperatively because the police often come around to collect money from the dealers. If you doubt what I am saying, check the proximity between the

Akala and the Area D police headquarters, then you will know what I am saying. I wonder why those hoodlums decided to attack innocent people. All we want now is for government to continue with this raid and not relent. With more of this, drug trafficking and criminalities will become history in Akala and its environs.

Speaking on the incident, spokesman of the NDLEA Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the action was necessitated following wide spread petition against the area. His words: “We have received several complaints against activities of drug addicts and dealers in that area and these complaints corroborated several other intelligence reports we’ve gathered from some of the arrested suspects.

Arrest from our earlier raids within Lagos State, has shown Akala as the major distribution zone in the state.

So, operatives from the Lagos State Command of the agency acting on this reports carried out an early morning raid on the notorious drug heaven, known for it notoriety in harboring dreaded armed robbers who have been terrorising the state. The operatives broke through shops where illicit drug are stored and they recovered two truck loads of drugs.” he stated.

Lagos State Police Command spokesman, Samule Jinadu, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) on his part said over 30 persons have been arrested adding that normalcy has been restores to the restive areas.

29 PHCN transformers vandalised in Zaria and report any activity they are suspicious of to the nearest appropriate authority,’’ he said.

The manager noted that the vandals had moved from the removal of transformer oil

to the theft of the expensive copper cables in the transformer.

He lauded the Zaria Local Government Council for the understanding between it and the district, saying that the relationship

The best way to ensure the safety of these materials is for the public to be extra vigilant and report any activity they are suspicious of to the nearest appropriate authority

had led the council to replace no fewer than 70 per cent of the vandalised items in the area.

Abdulkadir denied allegations that some staff of the company always collected money daily from customers before supplying them power at the expense of others.

The manager explained that the incessant power outage in Zaria was as a result of the breakdown of a transmission transformer at the Kwangila Transmission Station.

He said the breakdown had affected power supply to Zaria, Funtua and Zamfara, adding that the development had compelled the company to embark on load shedding.

Abdulkadir, therefore, called on all PHCN customers in the area to be patient, even as he assured them that the district would find a solution to the problem.

THE NATION

39

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

Inspired to serve humanity

I

N many hospitals in Nigeria, the practice is for one to deposit money before treatment. But in Meridian Hospital, D/Line, Port Harcourt owned by Dr Ikechukwu Odo, it is life before money.

This belief was what made Odo to admit Mrs Pee Ekwonwa into his hospital sometime in June, 2001 when she was brought to him unconscious and without a dime.

Odo disclosed this in Port Harcourt when he feted children born in his hospital from June 1996 till date. The event also marked the child dedication of his first son, Master Ekenedilichukwu Odo who was born four months ago.

He also said that Ekwonwa had gone to many hospitals including governmentowned ones and was rejected because she did not have money to deposit till “an unknown old man appeared to them, gave her N20 for transport and advised that she be taken to Meridian hospital, which was on Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt then.”

Despite borrowing money to set up the hospital, Odo said that he was moved by the sorry state of the woman and so he commenced treatment immediately. To divine glory, on June 30, 2001, the woman was delivered of triplets,-two girls and one boy. They were named Chiamaka Precious Ekwonwa; Chioma Prudent Ekwonwa and Chukwudi Prince Ekwonwa. They were the first triplets to be born in the hospital.

Added to the treatment, Odo said that through the media, he got public-spirited individuals to make donations for the upkeep of the children as well as rented a two-bedroom apartment in Diobu for the family, but this could not be sustained.

Still keeping tabs on the triplets, he, along the line, decided to give them scholarship because their parents could not cater very well for them due to their economic status.

The Ekwonwa triplets are not the only ones who are reaping from the kindness of Odo. At the celebration which also marked the 15-year anniversary of the Meridian Hospital, Master David Nnaji, the first child delivered in the hospital on June 18, 1996 was also granted scholarship to study in any university of his choice in Nigeria.

The boss of Meridian Hospital whose birth date is June 4 said: “I started the hospital on June 1, 1996 and David was delivered on June 18, 1996 and I am having this celebration in June. So, it is all a June affair.”

David’s mother, Mrs Florence Nnaji was honoured as “Meridian Hospital Mother”

•Odo speaking at the ceremony and the triplets From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

and was given a piece of George wrapper and scarf while his father was given a new refrigerator.

Some members of staff of the hospital who distinguished themselves in their services were also given merit awards.

I started the hospital on June 1, 1996 and David was delivered on June 18, 1996 and I am having this celebration in June. So, it is all a June affair

Woman seeks dissolution of marriage

A

37-YEAR-OLD woman, Mrs Mercy Olaiya, has sought the dissolution of her six-year-old marriage with Mr Olatunji Olaiya over frequent extra-marital affairs on their matrimonial bed.

Mercy also told the Ado-Ekiti Customary Court Grade 1 that her husband, who is a farmer, always beats her and neglects his duties to her.

She said that their marriage has not been blessed with any child.

“I am tired of my husband sleeping with different women in our matrimonial bed.

There have been several occasions when I come back home to see different used condoms scattered all over our bedroom.

“He sleeps with different women in the town. As if that is not enough for him, he brings them to our matrimonial bed and sleeps with them.

“After committing such disgusting acts, he does not even have the courtesy or respect

I am tired of my husband sleeping with different women in our matrimonial bed. There have been several occasions when I come back home to see different used condoms scattered all over our bedroom

to clean up the bedroom.

“On several occasions, I have pleaded with him to change for the better, but the end result of my pleading is my husband beating the hell out of me. Please I want this court to separate us.’’

She also told the court that her husband did not take care of her, adding, “he is also a drunkard.”

“My husband shies away from his responsibilities as a man. I am the only one that pays the rent of the house we live in.

“The only thing he knows how to do is to spend his money on beer. He is always drunk and this is part of the reasons why he always beats me.’’

The case was coming up for the fifth time in the court and the husband was not present in court.

In her ruling, the President of the court, Mrs Christiana Ajibabi, dissolved the marriage and ordered that peace must be maintained between them.

She added that any party that was not satisfied with the judgment should appeal to the high court within 30 days.

Sisters die in Sokoto building collapse

T

•Vice President Mohammed Sambo greeting the President, Architect Registration Council of Nigeria, Umaru Aliyu at the opening of the Architects Colloquium 2011 at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja... on Tuesday. With them is the Director of Architect Colloquium, Mohammed Faworaja

QUOTE

WO girls of school age in Nakasari Ward in the Sokoto South Local Government Area, have been killed in their sleep when a building housing them collapsed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the house, belonging to one Malam Mohammed Isa, collapsed after a heavy rainfall.

The two sisters have since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.

Many sympathisers were seen visiting Isa’s compound to condole with the family of the deceased.

Speaking, Isa said: “It is Allah we all come from and it is to Him we are all going back. That is all I will say.”

When contacted for comments, Alhaji Adeola Adeneji, the Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, said: “I am yet to be briefed about the incident.

“As soon as I am briefed, I will let you know.”

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

40

With a Nigerian President of Niger Delta extraction, a clear roadmap can emerge through which we can begin to determine a feasible, realistic and just solution to our problems as a people

G

OVERNOR Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State has urged people of his native Ijaw ethnic nationality to make optimal use of the production possibilities around them to improve their stake in Nigeria and guarantee happiness for the greatest number of the Ijaw.

Sylva spoke at the 2011 Boro Day Summit and 14th Annual Service and Devotion Award Ceremony in Newark, New Jersey, United States last weekend.

He was the keynote Speaker at the summit organised by the Ijaw National Alliance of the Americans (INAA) according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Doifie Ola. Present at the occasion were President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by one of his aides, Hon. Braiye Ekiye ; King Alfred Diete-Spiff, former military administrator of the old Rivers State and Dr. Atuboyedia Obianime, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC). Also in attendance were: Presidential aide, Hon. Oronto Douglas; retired university teacher, Prof. Ayebaemi Spiff; traditional rulers; activists; politicians and Ijaw from home and in the Diaspora.

The two-day event, with the theme, “A New Era, a New Perspective,” was held in memory of Major Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro, an Ijaw, who, in 1966, waged a resistance to free the Niger Delta from perceived oppressive tendencies of the newly independent Nigerian state.

Sylva said even though Boro was forced by the circumstances of his day to take up arms, “Today, we live in a new era different from that in which Boro lived. We grapple with different challenges. The tools of yesterday are not good enough to fix the problems of today. So, I daresay that armed struggle will not take us to the Promised Land!

The ‘war’ we have to wage now is how to ensure quality education, improved healthcare and better life for all Ijaw people.”

He said to achieve the “Ijaw land of our dream, this Ijaw land that Boro and many of our heroes died for, the clichés of yesteryear will not do, and neither will the

At US summit, Jonathan, Sylva, others rise for Adaka Boro

•Sylva

By Nneka Nwaneri

cheap sloganeering of the past be sufficient.

We must be ready to roll up our sleeves and work, and not merely be contented by the fact that we have ‘oil money.”

The governor said to remain relevant and competitive within the current scheme of things in the country and the world, every Ijaw must constantly strive to improve themselves by acquiring the capacities that would enable them make optimal use of their environment for the good of all and sundry.

“For the Ijaw people at home and in the Diaspora, the greatest challenge of our age is not access to political power or fear of domination by other ethnic groups. The principal challenge of our time is how to get our people to acquire the right knowledge and ideas to make them productive and competitive in the global economy.

The key words here are knowledge, ideas, productivity and competitiveness,” Sylva said.

“The world today and tomorrow belongs to those who have brain power, and not to those who have crude oil! By brain power, I mean the knowledge, the knowhow, the expertise and skills to translate ideas from the realm of intellectual conjecture or theory into tangible products and services for the use and betterment of humankind.”

Sylva said though Ijaw are abundantly blessed with oil and gas, there are clear limits to their control of it due to lack of technology.

“The man who has the knowledge and technology will always be in control,” he said.

Sylva emphasised: “If the Ijaw nation is to survive and make its mark in the 21st Century, we must begin to move away from dependence on natural resources. We must begin to pursue and acquire knowledge, skills and technology to produce things. This is because the man with physical might will always be at the mercy of the man with intellectual might.

Were our grandfathers not physically strong? Yet they were colonised by white people–people of ideas–over a hundred years ago. Today, we should not make the mistakes our forefathers made by relying only on physical strength or even our natural resources…

“Just imagine for once that the technology for drilling crude oil was developed by an Ijaw man, you can be sure that he would include in it a fail-safe measure to ensure that crude oil does not spill into the water in the creeks around which his daily life is woven” The governor noted that there is a sense in which it can be said that the struggle that Boro waged had come to a historic end with President Goodluck Jonathan, a Niger Delta indigene, as the Nigerian leader.

“With a Nigerian President of Niger Delta extraction, a clear roadmap can emerge through which we can begin to determine a feasible, realistic and just solution to our problems as a people,” he said.

Sylva said his administration has, since its inception in 2007, taken conscious steps to establish peace and stability in Bayelsa State, the once restive Ijaw heartland, and set the state on the path of productivity and industrialisation. He said his government had prioritised key sectors of the economy like roads, power, health, education, and agriculture.

He said his government had built over 52 internal roads in Yenagoa, the state capital, and helped to stabilise power, promising that soon, power failure would be a thing of the past in Yenagoa. The government has also constructed two major regional water projects in Nembe and Oloibiri, and normalised water supply in Yenagoa, while constructing 14 other water schemes across the state,” Sylva said.

With completion of the first phase of the Okaka Housing Estate and Ekeki Estate in Yenagoa, commencement of the 500unit Okaka Phase II Housing Estate, and plans for about 550 other units of houses in the state capital, Sylva said Bayelsa would soon achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as regards housing development.

In the health sector, the governor said his administration had “constructed 24 new health centres across the state; redesigned the Melford Okilo Memorial Hospital into a quaternary centre of medical excellence; increased the number of doctors in the state by about 70 per cent and received full accreditation for the Niger Delta University (NDU) Medical School and College of Pharmacy. The Diete Koki Memorial Hospital, Opolo, which was inaugurated by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in October 2010, is currently rated as one of the most modern in Nigeria.”

Olorunfemi said for effective implementation of the ban on street begging, the administration would soon introduce customised alms collection boxes in the city to provide alternative way of assisting the poor.

The coordinator of SAP-CLN, Mrs Grace Adogo, said the initiative had improved the lives of young women as they now see things differently.

She listed the challenges facing the organisation as lack of a home where destitute and child hawkers could be rehabili-

tated.

Miss Loveth Snowman, one of the children being rehabilitated, said she had benefited a lot from the organisation, saying that prostitution was not what one should be proud of.

“Prostitution is not a job and would never be a job. It is just a life time fun and also a life time of regret,” she said.

Snowman said the rehabilitation had helped her establish herself as she now owned a salon.

FCT to sensitise public on social vices

T

HE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is to sensitise the public on the challenges of street begging, child abuse, prostitution and other related vices currently ravaging Abuja.

Dr Biodun Olorunfemi, the Permanent Secretary in the FCT, made the disclosure during the flag-off of a road show on the sensitisation exercise.

He said the exercise was being organised by the Society against Prostitution and Child Labour (SAP-CLN), an NGO, in collaboration with the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and the FCT Social Development Secretariat.

“The exercise will enable the administration to achieve a new era of social stability and security in the city.

“The administration will address squarely all the identified social and environmental challenges through a more strategic approach,” he said.

Olorunfemi said the administration had incorporated and introduced a juvenile rehabilitation programme for child-hawkers, beggars and other children in conflict with the law.

“This is to engage them meaningfully, thereby keeping them off the street permanently and to reshape their future,’’ he said.

According to him, the administration has established a family court and inaugurated the Child Rights Act Implemen-

•Abuja city

tation Committee (CRIMCO).

Olorunfemi, who was represented by Mrs Jumai Kwanashi, Director, Monitoring and Inspection, said the mandate of the court was to prosecute, in accordance with the laws, anyone trampling on the rights of a child.

To curtail the menace of commercial sex workers in Abuja, he said the administration had established a rehabilitation centre to provide vocational training for young women.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

41

42

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

43

44

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

45

46

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

47

48

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

49

50

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

51

52

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

53

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

54

AGRO-BUSINESS World food digest

Farmers get $403m lifeline OVER the next five years, Sierra Leone is set to spend $403 million to help small scale farmers.

The money will be used to help small scale farmers boost their crop production in the West African nation.

Agriculture is being used to help rebuild Sierra Leone’s economy after an 11 year-long civil war, which ended almost a decade ago. Despite this the nation is still struggling to boost its crop production.

Farmers are being encouraged by Sam Sesay, Minister of Agriculture to plant crops through the government’s programme, a group which received an agriculture grant of $42 million from the World Bank.

So far the government has distributed $28 million to aid agriculture in Sierra Leone, a country which has been described as one of the poorest on the continent, with gross domestic product per capita of $341.

Firm to invest $1.5b in Argentina

• From left: Head, Quality Assurance, NAFDAC, Mrs Bukky Irurhe; Food Scientist, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mrs Margaret Eshiett; immediate past President, Prof. Dele Fapohunda and President, Mycotoxicology Society of Nigeria (MSN), Dr Olusegun Atanda, at the 6th Annual Conference of the society in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Increase farmers’ subsidies, govt told T

HE Federal Government has been urged to increase farm ers subsidies if the war against hunger must be won.

Vice President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said the government should focus on smallholder farmers, especially women, as they represent majority of the farming population.

He argued that while large farms are needed, they may not necessarily solve food problems.

Adesina spoke at the Food Security, Health and Impact Knowledge Brokering Conference, in Leeds, the United Kingdom (UK).

He said food prices are rising, adding that governments spend over $50 billion annually on food imports. With the trend of events, Adesina said, there is the need for governments to take the issue of food crisis seriously.

“We must translate research and innovations into impacts on farmers’ fields. And we must do this at a scale that can drive down hunger and poverty,” he said According to him, investment in agriculture, feeds the continent’s growing population and set the foundation for manufacturing and services.

AGRA, Adesina noted, is working with national governments, development partners, civil society organisations (CSOS) and farmers to drive a green revolution in the continent, tackle the challenges of degraded lands, lack of good seed, functioning markets, credit and favourable policies.

• Adesina Stories by Daniel Essiet, Agric Correspondent

His words: “This is a home-grown green revolution. It is driven by Africans themselves. It is focused on smallholder farmers – the majority of who are women. It is focused on staple food crops, while respecting cultural diversity and agro-ecological differences between regions and countries.”

He said it is also focused on technological change, which is vital to feed Africa. All of these, he argued, must be done in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Said he: “The main challenge in Africa, today, is turning all these potential into impact. Africa lacks the

appropriate policies to drive change to scale.”

He said the continent should learn from China, which used homegrown policies to drive technical change.

“The government mobilised large number of seed producers to multiply the seed, setting in motion a rapid uptake of the hybrid rice. The government promoted the system – from seeds to finance to marketing.”

For this to happen across Africa, Adesina noted that governments must also get the policies right.

Governments should liberalise the production of foundation seed and allow private seed companies to produce their own foundation seeds. This will revolutionise the seed sector. Seed companies also need access to affordable financing – both equity and debt- for processing plants and working capital. Policies should also promote access of farmers to seeds and fertilisers in rural areas and build on the revolution now underway now in rural markets. Rural farm input shops called agro-dealers are now making farm inputs available to farmers on time, in small affordable sizes and at prices they can afford.”

According to him, AGRA has over 15,000 agro-dealers in several countries. “They have sold over 374,000 tons of improved seeds and about 770,000 tons of fertilisers in rural areas. They have secured about $45 million in loans from banks. Farmers can now get seeds and fertilisers close to their fields, producing more at a lower cost.”

RUFIN: ‘Imo, Edo yet to pay counterpart funds’

I

MO and Edo states are yet to pay their counterpart funds for the implementation of the seven-year Rural Finance Institution Building Programme (RUFIN) which started last year.

RUFIN is receiving funding from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to strengthen rural microfinance institutions to enable them to secure financial services for the rural poor.

The programme, targeted at women, youths and the physically challenged, is also aimed at enhancing the income, agricultural productivity of the beneficiaries as well as boost rural micro-enterprises.

The RUFIN National Coordinator, Alhaji Musibau Azzez, who spoke in Abuja, said both states are owing N24 million each for 2010 and 2011.

He noted that the inability of some

states to pay their counterpart fund constituted a challenge to the implementation of donor-assisted programmes.

According to him, the development has slowed down work in the affected states, while the other 10 participating states are doing very well in their various ongoing agricultural and rural development projects.

He said states’ offices have been fully established with local government offices in the 36 selected local government areas in the 12 participating states.

Azzez commended the Federal Government for the prompt provision of its counterpart contribution.

“The Federal Government has, to date, lived up to its financial covenant under the programme. All the key partners have equally paid, except Edo and Imo, while the programme has surpassed all indi-

cators within the first year of operation,” he said.

In an interview with journalists, the IFAD Country Programme Officer in Nigeria, Dr Benjamin Odoemena, noted that the lack of political will is hampering programme implementation.

He said one of the conditions of implementing the scheme is the payment of counterpart funding, stating that all efforts to get the Imo and Edo governments to pay their counterpart fund arrears have not yielded positive results.

However, he said RUFIN would continue to dialogue with them to ensure that they settled outstanding counterpart funds.

He said RUFIN, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has facilitated the formation of Micro Finance Institutions in all the six geo-political zones.

Implementation of RUFIN is expected to cost $27.2 million.

BEIDAHUANG Group, a company based in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, expressed its intention to invest in an agricultural co-operation project with Argentina’s Rio Negro Province, news reports have indicated.

The Chinese company will invest $1.5 billion over 20 years to grow farm produce, including soybeans and corn, and export those crops back to China. The project will use advanced irrigation facilities to develop 300,000 hectares of arable lands for agriculture use, and construct supporting power stations and port expansions.

This project, expected to start this year, will be the first investment in Argentina’s agriculture by Chinese companies, according to the media.

$30m plant for Mozambique NESTLÉ has announced plans to build a $30 million food manufacturing factory in the central Mozambican province of Sofala.

The new unit will produce a range of food products including seasonings, milk products, coffee and other types of drinks.

Nestlé Mozambique Director, Diogo Vitoria, said the company will have flexibility to adapt the products to meet the needs of consumers and the local farmers who will supply the raw materials.

The goods produced at the factory will be supplied to the domestic and the wider Southern African Development Community market.

The Mozambique Government approved the construction of the factory as part of its policy to boost industry at district level.

France bans British firm’s seeds FRANCE has banned sales of vegetable seeds from Thompson Morgan, a United Kingdom gardening company, as the health authorities have found the deadly E-Coli strain in the vegetables grown from seeds sold by the company.

The authorities said six of the people who have been hospitalised in Bordeaux consumed vegetables grown from seeds sold by Thompson Morgan. Even as the government awaits the test results, it has imposed a ban on mustard, fenugreek and rocket seeds from the British company, according to media reports. About 10 E.coli cases have been reported so far in Bordeaux.

However, Thompson Morgan, claimed that it had sold thousands of packets of seeds in Britain and Europe without any problems being reported.

The company added that the French outbreak seemed to be localised to a specific event, which indicated that something local in the Bordeaux area, or the way the product had been handled and grown, was responsible for the incident rather than its seeds.

Meanwhile, the UK’s Food Standards Agency, said its officials were finding out if there could be a link between the E.coli cases detected in Bordeaux and seeds sold by the British firm. The deadly E.Coli strain has killed 42 people and sickened 3,000 people in Europe so far.

Farmers get business skills training OVER 400 farmers in DR Congo, Burundi and Rwanda are poised to benefit from enhanced business and marketing skills, thanks to a capacity-building project that aims at increasing their income in a bid to fight rural poverty.

The business plan training is being co-organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (TSBFCIAT) and the Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU. Most small scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, who make up a majority of the population and of the poor, lack proper business and marketing skills. Therefore, they are not able to maximise the benefits of their investments and remain poor despite all their hard work.

To address this, the Consortium for Improved Agriculture-based Livelihoods in Central Africa (CIALCA) has been training smallholder farmers to enhance their business and marketing skills to enable them to better manage their farm enterprises and engage with markets to improve their livelihoods.

The training covers a broad spectrum of activities, from basic farm management principles such as farm record keeping and analysing the profitability of the farm enterprise to identifying good markets and laying out a business plan.

According to one of the lead trainers, Emily Ouma, an agricultural economist with IITA, “With the training, these farmers will be able to determine for themselves if they are making profit or not. If they are not, then they will be able to shift strategies.

If they are, then they would be able to plan better to increase their profits even more. For example, through value addition such as sorting, grading, processing, and storing their produce, and selling when supply is low and demand is high.”

Another facilitator, Eliud Birachi, an agribusiness specialist with TSBFCIAT, adds that most smallholder farmers neither keep records nor plan their production, harvesting and sales according to market demand.

“Usually, they first grow the crops then look for markets,” he says. “It should be the other way around. This often leads to a glut in the market and the farmers are forced to sell their produce at markedly lower prices than their production costs. Obviously, this results in huge losses for them,” he added.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

55

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

56

MONEY LINK

Nigeria may issue Eurobonds by 2012

N

IGERIA may sell an other set of Eurobonds by the end of 2012 to diversify its funding and provide a liquid yield curve for international debt.

International investment firm, Morgan Stanley, said although the local bond market has the capacity to fund Nigeria’s debt requirements, the need for diversification and provide liquid curve for offshore debts makes the issuance inevitable.

“If you look at it from a funding perspective, it is clear that they do not really have to tap the international markets, as the local bond market has the capacity to handle their funding needs. The motivation therefore appears to be one of diversification, but also the need to provide a liquid curve in off-

when the price of crude goes above the benchmark used for the country’s budget, and foreign-currency reserves dropped.

President Goodluck Jonathan had slashed almost N500 billion off a budget adopted two months earlier, taking the final spending plan to N4.5 trillion. Nigeria’s Senate passed a bill last month creating a Sovereign Wealth Fund to help the country save more of its oil revenue and funnel money into projects.

“With the sovereign wealth fund firmly in place now, the fiscal position outperforming official targets, and the recurrent-capital mix of public expenditures likely to improve going forward, we believe that Fitch’s concerns are being addressed,” Masai, said

• Fitch may upgrade BB- rating Stories by Collins Nweze Senior Correspondent

shore debt,” Andrea Masai, a Johannesburgbased economist at Morgan Stanley told Bloomberg.

Nigeria sold $500 million in a debut Eurobond sale in January to give investors a “transparent and internationally observable benchmark,” Olusegun Aganga, the former Finance Minister, said.

The yield on the 6.75 per cent debt due in 2021 has fallen 70 basis points to 6.091 per cent since its issue in January.

The notes have “traded exceptionally well” and “there is definitely appetite for Nigerian debt, given its improving macro fundamentals and liquid

and tradable, fixed-income markets,” Masai, said.

Nigeria has N4.5 trillion ($29.6 billion) in outstanding debt in 2010, or 15.6 per cent of Gross Domestic Product(GDP), Morgan Stanley, said in its report, citing the Ministry of Finance. This may rise to 16.7 per cent of GDP in 2012, a “comfortably low level,” they said.

Fitch Ratings may upgrade its “negative” outlook on Nigeria’s BB- assessment, the third-highest non-investment grade ranking, within the next 12 to 18 months. Fitch lowered its outlook on Nigeria from “stable” on October 22 due to concern that the nation was making withdrawals from the excess crude account, a windfall saved

Bank PHB’s Profit Before Tax hits N32b

B

ANK PHB Plc, yester day reported a profit before tax of N32 billion for the period ended December 31, 2010 to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Due to the high level of losses in the preceding year, the bank had accumulated Deferred Tax Assets (DTA) of N88 billion. This intangible asset was written off the books through the tax line, leading to a loss after tax of N58 billion, the bank said.

In its presentation, the bank’s management stated that it has followed the provisions of the prudential guidelines issued by the Cen-

tral Bank of Nigeria, effective July, 2010, where DTA was classified as intangible assets that should be taken against capital. Our investigation reveals that some other intervened banks continued to carry the DTA on their balance sheets.

A statement from the bank, said it took charges for impairment of goodwill of N9.2 billion arising from the acquisition of its foreign subsidiaries as well as impairment of property plant and equipment to the tune of N11.1 billion in 2010.

These properties were

being carried in the books at values far in excess of market values mainly due to high initial purchase cost.

The bank said its management is confident that potential investors and shareholders will have true and unimpaired return on their investments.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had expressed concerns with the potential estimated industry-wide mark-to-market losses of N350 billion from the portfolio of FGN Bonds.

The CBN encouraged the banks to carry out their

bond classification with a view towards eliminating the losses.

In addition to write-off of the DTA, the bank also took additional clean up provisions to ensure that future earnings are unimpaired. These include mark-to-market losses of N16.2 billion on the bank’s FGN bond portfolio.

Investigations from our business desk also reveal that other banks are yet to complete the mark-to-market exercise and may be forced to deal with it as they adopt IFRS fair value measurements from 2012.

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 30-6-11

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

JBERGER CAPHOTEL UBN STERLNBANK NIGERINS UTC UAC-PROP AIICO LONGMAN FIRSTINLND PLATINUM

56.50 3.05 2.66 1.70 0.65 0.65 18.50 0.75 5.39 0.59 0.90

59.30 3.20 2.79 1.78 0.68 0.68 19.30 0.78 5.60 0.61 0.93

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CONOIL NAHCO COSTAIN ZENITHBANK TRANSCORP PRESTIGE INTERCONT JAPAULOIL RTBRISCOE SKYEBANK DANGFLOUR

38.00 8.26 2.71 14.80 1.13 1.83 1.15 1.18 2.27 8.00 16.56

36.10 7.85 2.58 14.11 1.08 1.75 1.10 1.13 2.18 7.70 16.00

Exchange Rate (N) 153.59 153.4 153.45

Date 25-5-11 23-5-11 16-5-11

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

7.9-10% 10-11%

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Amount Sold ($) 400m 400m 499.8m

EXHANGE RATE 30-05-11

INTERBANK RATES

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

ing the Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA), so I cannot call the names. Their submissions have gone through the due diligence. At the end of the due diligence, we are looking at three serious contenders and will be narrowed down further,” he said.

He disclosed that compliance in the bank is championed by management and it is supportive of the exercise.

From the reports we are getting from the regulatory agencies, Oceanic Bank is at the forefront of compliance.

The compliance starts from the top, the rules on compliance is set by the board of directors, we have a board committee on risk management and they deal on compliance issues, he stated.

He said compliance risks is becoming one of the major risks banks face. The increasing globalisation, adherence to good corporate governance in complex institutions, changing laws and regulations, the understanding of what constitutes sound risk management, and the continuous evolution of financial products, introduce complexity in bank management.

“We operate in an industry that is heavily regulated.

However, we are not alone.

Our customers in other industries operate within laws and regulations that are specific to them. This makes it imperative that we, under the entire gamut of compliance, as institutions, and collectively as an industry, have to be up to date on all regulations that affect us and our customers,” he said.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 467.7m 400m 452.3m 500m 499,8m

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

O

CEANIC Interna tional Bank will in the next three weeks, sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a core investor, the Group Managing Director/ CEO, John Aboh, has said.

Speaking yesterday during a meeting of the Committee of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in Nigeria (CCCOBIN), Aboh, said after an aborted merger plans with FirstBank, six core investors have shown interest in the bank. The investors which are both local and foreign, have signed a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with the bank, making it difficult for their identities to be made public.

“I think that in the next three weeks, we will make official announcement about the investor,” he said. The bank had carried out a due diligence on the prospective investors from where it selected three. The choice will be narrowed down to one investor that will sign MoU with the bank, he stated.

He said the bank could go straight from the point of MoU to transaction implementation agreement, adding that Oceanic Bank is very confident that it would meet the September 30 recapitalisation deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“It is of common knowledge that we terminated discussions with FirstBank, and we have about six investors who have shown interest in the bank. They have gone through the process of sign-

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

Oceanic Bank to sign MoU with core investor

CHANGE 2.80 0.15 0.13 0.08 0.03 0.03 0.80 0.03 0.21 0.02 0.03

LOSER AS AT 30-6-11

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N)

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

Name

DISCOUNT WINDOW January ’11

February ’11

May ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.00%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.3%

7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

% Change 0.4% 0.4%

Rate (Previous) 04 MAR, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 24, MAY, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 117.62 122.45 0.84 1,575.41 10.12 1.00 1.39 1.87 8,827.74 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.16 121.55 0.81 1,567.25 9.62 1.00 1.33 1.80 8,557.73 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor

29-06-11 N7.969tr 24.923.64

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS

CHANGE 1.90 0.41 0.13 0.69 0.05 0.08 0.05 0.05 0.09 0.30 0.56

28-06-11 N8.001tr 25,023.84

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 MAR, 2011

07, MAR, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

57

EQUITIES

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

Total sets Sept. deadline to comply with IFRS • Shareholders approve N2.72b dividend

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 30-06-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED No of Deals Quotation(N) 2 0.50 11 8.00 13 AIR SERVICES Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) NIGERIAN AVIATION HNDLING COM PL 4 7 7.85 Sector Totals 47 AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC 28 2.18 Sector Totals 28 BANKING Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) ACCESS BANK PLC 208 7.20 AFRIBANK NIGERIA PLC 35 1.37 DIAMOND BANK PLC 74 5.38 ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC 28 2.95 FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC 51 7.21 FIDELITY BANK PLC 128 2.69 FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC 543 12.21 FINBANK PLC 49 0.61 GTBANK PLC 501 15.16 STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC 46 9.51 INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. 66 1.10 OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC 1 6 8 1.50 BANK PHB PLC 74 0.93 SKYE BANK PLC. 66 7.70 SPRING BANK PLC 15 0.85 STERLING BANK PLC 31 1.78 UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. 303 5.60 UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC 76 2.79 UNITYBANK PLC 19 0.89 WEMA BANK PLC 29 1.00 ZENITH BANK PLC 288 14.11 Sector Totals 2,798 BREWERIES Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) CHAMPION BREWERIES PLC 3 4.05 GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC 71 245.00 INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC 22 6.44 NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC 134 87.50 Sector Totals 230 Company Name LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIG PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC NIGERIAN ROPES PLC. LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

BUILDING MATERIALS No of Deals Quotation(N) 86 23.00 28 9.75 103 129.99 1 8.69 78 47.53 296

Quantity Traded 3,000 550,913 553,913

Value of Shares (N) 1,500.00 4,406,104.00 4,407,604.00

Quantity Traded 633,387 633,387

Value of Shares (N) 5,037,012.62 5,037,012.62

Quantity Traded 347,170 347,170

Value of Shares (N) 780,124.52 780,124.52

Quantity Traded 14,765,529 2,063,544 21,667,703 269,387 1,126,393 16,756,918 23,092,308 5,964,035 17,433,221 1,413,094 4,690,960 15,616,872 7,100,092 1,001,160 280,635 4,131,593 17,516,483 9,539,329 733,311 3,049,685 2,999,784 171,212,036

Value of Shares (N) 105,255,206.65 2,823,198.79 116,641,274.53 798,287.04 8,133,291.29 43,706,969.28 288,453,335.80 3,638,061.35 267,587,055.44 13,463,372.34 5,219,821.94 22,917,000.97 6,479,069.84 7,687,065.86 228,314.35 7,337,283.05 99,370,004.42 26,614,727.91 641,078.11 3,046,139.86 43,329,922.62 1,073,370,481.44

Quantity Traded 29,877 432,410 355,150 851,693 1,669,130

Value of Shares (N) 122,974.65 105,101,630.40 2,184,630.67 75,581,105.88 182,990,341.60

Quantity Traded 3,853,776 595,540 809,288 5,000 1,584,997 6,848,601

Value of Shares (N) 87,566,029.20 5,886,349.84 103,476,253.92 41,300.00 75,591,889.73 272,561,822.69

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded AFRICAN PAINTS (NIG.) PLC 1 3.16 500 BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC 1 10.43 2,000 CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PL 1 3 32.50 17,797 Sector Totals 15 20,297 COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded COURTVILLE INVESTMENTS PLC 2 0.50 350,000 RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 15 2.79 849,950 Sector Totals 17 1,199,950 COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. 4 5.96 79,190 TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC 2 3.25 3,003 Sector Totals 6 82,193 CONGLOMERATES Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC 1 2.09 500 JOHN HOLT PLC 1 7.21 690 PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC 70 38.34 839,611 SCOA NIGERIA PLC 4 6.76 6,000 TRANSNATIONAL CORPN OF NIG PLC 114 1.08 15,840,819 UAC OF NIGERIA PLC 32 39.01 150,085 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC 69 27.00 582,033 Sector Totals 291 17,419,738 Company Name COSTAIN (WA) PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC Sector Totals

CONSTRUCTION No of Deals Quotation(N) 23 2.58 21 59.30 1 0.50 45

Quantity Traded 368,300 1,137,189 2,800 1,508,289

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded 3 2.18 13,400 4 0.54 28,580 7 41,980 FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC 14 46.00 16,035 CADBURY NIGERIA PLC 51 17.95 240,428 DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC 92 16.00 806,741 DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC 59 12.85 534,371 FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC 98 93.00 1,221,059 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC 7 4.34 69,997 MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC 1 1.78 1,000 NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIG PLC 24 5.39 1,134,988 NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY PLC 23 41.00 91,595 NESTLE NIGERIA PLC 53 400.00 165,202 NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC 1 26.36 500 TANTALIZERS PLC 4 0.50 301,000 UTC NIGERIA PLC 15 0.68 455,870 Sector Totals 442 5,038,786 HEALTHCARE FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 29 1.83 1,378,200 GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. Pl 1 0 26.94 66,680 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 32 3.89 410,872 Sector Totals 71 1,855,752 HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded CAPITAL HOTEL PLC 3 3.20 770,693 IKEJA HOTEL PLC 36 1.45 9,385,007 Sector Totals 39 10,155,700 INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC 1 7.45 6,164 FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC 5 0.50 584,760 VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC 12 6.05 31,813 Sector Totals 18 622,737 INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded STARCOMMS PLC 22 0.50 5,798,938 Sector Totals 22 5,798,938 INSURANCE Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 73 0.78 4,290,576 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 16 1.15 5,300,000 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSUR PLC 16 3.01 12,640,457 EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC 5 0.50 7,375,678 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 2 0.50 55,000 GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC 3 1.52 9,200 CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSUR PL 1 0.50 30,000 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSUR PLC. 2 0.54 152,012 N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. 26 0.57 840,700 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 13 0.68 311,520 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. 9 1.75 319,800 Company Name CUTIX PLC NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

Value of Shares (N) 1,505.00 19,820.00 607,233.64 628,558.64 Value of Shares (N) 175,000.00 2,288,412.50 2,463,412.50 Value of Shares (N) 482,159.90 9,279.27 491,439.17 Value of Shares (N) 995.00 4,726.50 32,640,583.67 38,580.00 18,649,386.42 5,857,339.99 15,704,748.10 72,896,359.68

T

OTAL Nigeria Plc yesterday told its shareholders of its readiness to fully adopt the International Financial Reporting Standard, (IFRS) in the presentation of its 2010 financial statements by September.

Shareholders of the company also approved its total dividend of N2.72 billion to be paid from July 1st, 2011.

Speaking at its 33rd Annual General Meeting, AGM, in Lagos, Chairman of the company, Mr. Stanislas Mittelman, said that the company has already commenced the implementation process and has sent a road map for full compliance with the IFRS to the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC. According to him, the road map, which was sent since February this year, indicated three major steps to compliance including assessment of the gaps between the Nigerian standards and the IFRS, conversion of the 2010 financials to IFRS and sustaining the process.

His words: “To this effect, we announce to this annual general meeting that the Steering and Technical Committees as well as the Project Management Committee were inaugurated on May 9, 2011. In our communication process, a presentation on IFRS adoption was made to members of the audit committee, June 21.

The process of gap analysis has since commenced. It is envisaged that the project will come to its full completion tentatively by the end of September this year.”

The company, despite a decline in its turnover, retained the yearly declaration of dividend. The shareholders were given a total of N2.72 billion, which represented N8 per share. This is was a combination of interim dividend of N679.04 million and final dividend of N2.04 billion, representing N2 per share and N6

Value of Shares (N) 725,884.80 4,313,158.81 12,944,293.40 6,825,434.70 112,644,933.74 304,226.98 1,700.00 5,992,185.63 3,804,405.33 65,832,398.20 12,525.00 150,500.00 295,650.80 213,847,297.39 2,519,671.00 1,726,131.20 1,609,024.68 5,854,826.88 Value of Shares (N) 2,466,217.60 13,400,961.65 15,867,179.25 Value of Shares (N) 44,997.20 292,580.00 192,368.65 529,945.85 Value of Shares (N) 2,899,509.00 2,899,509.00 Value of Shares (N) 3,162,121.40 5,928,035.00 37,895,262.18 3,687,839.00 27,500.00 13,620.00 15,000.00 82,086.48 462,385.00 203,837.30 568,830.08

per share respectively.

The company, in its 2010 financial performance, recorded a turnover of N160.6 billion, representing a drop of 10 per cent from N178.57 billion recorded in 2009, while its profit before tax and extraordinary item stands at N5.783 billion, dropping by six per cent from N6.16 billion recorded in 2009.

However, boosted by an extraordinary item of N1.46 billion, it posted a profit after tax and extraordinary item of N5.44 billion, rising by 37 per cent from N3.97 billion recorded in 2009.

Mittelman assured shareholders of the plans to boost its revenue and bottom line in the near future, through the expansion of its marketing activities and increased investment in productive aspects of its business.

He said that the company has put in place machineries to grow the retail segment of its business, as it as taken steps to differentiate itself from its competitors through the provision of exceptional services to its customers.

To this end, he said the company is planning to set up new petrol stations across the country, while it will refurbish old ones, making them effective in service delivery to customers.

Also at the meeting, shareholders appealed to the company to consider issuing bonus shares in the coming financial year, going by its huge reserves.

According to the shareholders, the company last gave bonus shares in 2004, and offering new shares to shareholders in form of bonus, considering the reserves of the company, will not affect the company negatively.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian stock market halted its recent bearish trend to close the first half yesterday on a positive

note as the benchmark index inched up by 0.23 per cent. The All Share Index closed yesterday at 24,980.20 points as against 24,923.64 points recorded at the previous trading session. Market capitalisation of quoted equities rose from N7.968 trillion on Wednesday to N7.987 trillion.

The market recovery yesterday was driven by gains by non-bank sectoral leaders with Mobil Oil Nigeria leading the gainers’ list with N350 kobo to close at N157.50.

Julius Berger Nigeria trailed with a gain of 296 kobo to close at N62.26. Flour Mills of Nigeria rose by 200 kobo to close at N95 while CAP Plc and UACN Property Development Company added 162 kobo and 70 kobo to close at N34.12 and N20 respectively.

On the other hand, Oando led the losers with a drop of 225 kobo to close at N42.80. Forte Oil dropped 101 kobo to close at N19.28.

Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (Nahco) slipped by 35 kobo to close at N7.50. Skye Bank declined by 32 kobo to close at N7.38 while Stanbic IBTC Bank dropped 31 kobo to close at N9.20 per share.

Turnover on the NSE stood at 1.1 billion ordinary shares worth N3.03 billion in 5,463 deals.

Turnover volume was driven largely by transactions in shares of the trio of DN Tyre and Rubbers, Multiverse and Guinea Insurance. DN Tyre and Rubber was the most active stock with a turnover of 229.3 million shares worth N114.65 million in seven deals. Multiverse and Guinea Insurance recorded turnover of 180 million shares worth N90 million each but the transactions in Multiverse were concluded in three deals while those of Guinea were struck in four deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

Value of Shares (N) 950,214.00 66,988,626.88 1,400.00 67,940,240.88 Value of Shares (N) 29,212.00 14,921.60 44,133.60

By Tonia Osundolire

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 30-06-11 STACO INSURANCE PLC 3 STANDARD ALLIANCE INSUR PLC 434 INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSUR PLC 5 Sector Totals 608

0.50 0.50 0.53

1,413,000 7,378,000 1,318,538 41,434,481

MARITIME Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC 9 4 1.13 3,270,156 Sector Totals 94 3,270,156 MEDIA Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC 5 0.50 134,770,600 Sector Totals 5 134,770,600 MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded ABBEY BUILDING SOCIETY PLC 1 1.44 100 RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC 1 0.50 1,000 UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS Pl 1 0 0.60 105,500 Sector Totals 12 106,600 OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded NIGERIAN ENERGY SECTOR FUND 1 552.20 324 ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC 6 0.50 74,771 Sector Totals 7 75,095 PACKAGING Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded NIGN BAG MANUFACTURING COM PLC 5 4 2.45 1,645,480 Sector Totals 54 1,645,480 PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC 2 0.50 59,000 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC 17 72.00 29,077 CONOIL PLC 22 36.10 221,678 ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. 2 4.75 21,100 FORTE OIL PLC 14 20.29 25,417 MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. 27 154.00 36,882 OANDO PLC 159 45.05 899,186 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC 10 195.50 7,022 Sector Totals 253 1,299,362 PRINTING & PUBLISHING LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC 13 5.60 148,760 UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC 6 5.50 54,700 Sector Totals 19 203,460 REAL ESTATE UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. Pl 2 0 19.30 483,135 Sector Totals 20 483,135 ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC 3 0.57 49,000 Sector Totals 3 49,000 THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded ECOBK TRANSNL INCORPORATED 28 14.44 266,920 Sector Totals 28 266,920 Overall Totals

5,488

408,612,886

706,500.00 3,689,000.00 698,825.14 57,140,841.58 Value of Shares (N) 3,771,156.32 3,771,156.32 Value of Shares (N) 67,385,300.00 67,385,300.00 Value of Shares (N) 137.00 500.00 60,255.00 60,892.00 Value of Shares (N) 169,967.16 37,385.50 207,352.66 Value of Shares (N) 3,951,334.00 3,951,334.00 Value of Shares (N) 29,500.00 2,069,094.40 8,002,602.30 95,372.00 515,710.93 5,679,917.95 40,703,968.72 1,373,152.10 58,469,318.40 816,886.00 311,188.00 1,128,074.00 9,248,158.84 9,248,158.84 Value of Shares (N) 27,930.00 27,930.00 Value of Shares (N) 3,830,864.37 3,830,864.37 2,127,831,511.88

58

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

59

60

FOREIGN NEWS

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

Youths are Africa’s greatest assets, says Jonathan

Y

OUTHS are very critical to the development of the continent, President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday in Equatorial Guinea.

He spoke at the 17th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government at the ongoing African Union Summit.

President Jonathan described the youths of Africa as the continent’s greatest assets for achieving its sustainable development.

He also called for greater commitment from leaders

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

by productively engaging the youths and harnessing their debate on potentials for the prosperity of the continent.

Contributing to the debate on “Accelerating youth empowerment for sustainable development” at the summit, President Jonathan said Africa must harness the boundless and innovative energies of its youths into a positive force for change and development. “The youths

are the greatest assets of any nation. Not only are they future leaders, they are indeed agents for peace, stability and prosperity of Africa,” he said.

He reminded the summit that Africa has a huge youthful population of 600 million out of the continent’s one billion population, going by a growing increase in the population of young people globally where persons below 35 constitute above 60 per cent of the world’s population.

Sarkozy assaulted at public appearance

A

MAN grabbed French President Nicolas Sarkozy and yanked him nearly to the ground yesterday during an appearance in southwestern France.

As Sarkozy moved down a barricade greeting a small crowd in the town of Brax, about 70 miles from Toulouse, a hand reached out and grabbed Mr. Sarkozy hard by the lapel of his dark suit, throwing him against a metal barrier.

The man, identified by the French daily Le Monde as a 32-year-old from the surrounding region of Lot-etGaronne, was quickly tack-

led to the ground by French security. He is currently being held by police and his name was not given.

While another French newspaper, Libération reported that the attack, which lasted only a few seconds, was the first of this kind against a French president, Sarkozy’s predecessor, Jacques Chirac, was shot at during a parade in 2002. As The Associated Press explains, the attempt on Mr. Chirac’s life was carried out by “a far-right activist, Maxime Brunerie,” who “pulled a rifle from a guitar case.”

At the time, aides to Mr. Chirac said that he did not

hear the gunfire but was informed of the incident later.

The violent greeting was captured on video, which circulated quickly and caused a stir online and in the French press. While many speculated at the motivation of the assailant, which was not immediately known, others appeared to play down the attack.

“These are the vicissitudes of political life, and as far as I know — and fortunately — the Republic was not endangered,” said Dominique de Villepin, the former French prime minister.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

61

62

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

63

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2011

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 6,

In the last few weeks, I raised and discussed the fundamental question of a structure for the Nigerian state. In the series last week, I dealt with the Yoruba agenda as proposed to the National Political Reform Conference. Today, my son, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who just happens to share some of my views, takes the discourse to another level focusing on what the Western states can do even now without the benefit of an essential restructuring at the center. He argues strongly for economic integration and cooperation in the Southwest states. I welcome other responses, including disagreements with my position.

T

RIPPLES HOUSE OF REPS SET TO WIN CONFIDENCE OF NIGERIANS- DEPUTY SPEAKER

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

Towards a Fuller Union-1 (Economic Integration and Cooperation in the Southwest States)

•Map of Nigeria

Delta can be added to these six because of their ethno-linguistic and historical affinities. These six states together once formed the powerful Western Region that was a pacesetter for the rest of the Federation, particularly in the areas of Education and Industrial Development.

Political crises, military rule and militarisation of society, austerity measures and structural adjustment programmes, capital flight and brain drain have successively sapped the energy and resources of this once promising economic zone. Most industries are wallowing in the doldrums, having been brought low by insensitive and visionless policies, poor infrastructure, and lack of resources, such

as land and capital, as well as a badly prepared labour pool. The most vibrant institutions in the land today are the new generation banks that specialise in funding retrogressive businesses such as diesel importation (that contribute to our collective misery) rather than in financing of industrial activities that would create true wealth.

Given the advanced state of decay of all infrastructure and institutions and the attendant loss of function in society; and given the social, cultural and economic interconnectedness of these six (+4) states, an integrated approach to development of the Western states is imperative. The current haphazard attempts by the individual states will not take us to the promised-land. A unified approach would enable us to combine forces and present a common front not only to the other regions in the Federation but also to the outside world.

Presentation is all-important when playing the game of international business and politics. In the case of the Odua States, why present ourselves individually as minnows when we can present ourselves collectively to the outside world as a 30 million strong emerging tiger with the right people, politics and products?

If Nigeria as a whole is un-enticing to the all important bearers of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), are there not ways in which various regions can repackage themselves and set the pace for the rest of the country? It is time to examine these issues carefully and adopt a new pack-

HARDBALL

T

Fool...reduce that JUMBO SALARY, first!

NO. 1,806

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

Summary: The new ACN-Governments in the Southwest should operate harmonised annual budgets, economic and educational plans in order to actualise the people-oriented development programmes of the party. This is part 1 of a two-part series HE Western-region states of La gos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti have received a new lease of life with the advent of new Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governments in the recent elections. These states were once collectively strong as the old Western region but have become individually weak due to a lack of vision and collective enterprise. It is the fervent hope of the young and old in Yoruba-land that the story will be different this time around.

The six states carved out of the old Western region are Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo (not under control of ACN) and Ekiti States. The Middle Belt States of Kwara and Kogi and the Southsouth States of Edo and

‘While managing to soak it all in and trudge on, some persons think the arrant nonsense should continue with the creation of some nebulous drainpipes in the guise of federal ministries! Why not create a Ministry of secondary health care and tertiary health care to complete this wackiest joke of the season?’

YOMI ODUNUGA

O succeed as a coach or player in the world of professional football these days, it is not just excellent dribbling or coaching ability you need; you equally must possess peerless diplomatic skills. Just listen to top players and coaches in the European leagues perform during interviews. Their answers would make a diplomat at the United Nations proud.

Everyone knows that in diplomatic circles you are expected to say everything but the truth. Blunt talk is a no-no.

Apparently, someone forgot to remind the coach of our female football team, Super Falcons, about this fact of life. Little wonder that Nigeria is making waves at the ongoing female World Cup not for the number of goals scored, but for the opinions of coach Eucharia Uche.

She has caused an uproar by granting the New York Times an interview ahead of the tournament, in which she labelled homosexuality “dirty” as well as “spiritually and morally very wrong.”

age of economic reform and development that will take our people out of their current hopelessness. With the right set of policy instruments, educational programmes and financing, we can take huge steps forward such that the region will be unrecognisable in a few years time.

The major urban centers of the Western states are today torn by overpopulation, unemployment and poverty. Despite this, there is a continuous daily stream of new arrivals from the rural areas with high hopes that the answers to all their problems can be found on the streets of our badly scarred and incapacitated cities. Meanwhile, large tracts of land are left uncultivated in the countryside and potential smallscale industries are left un-nurtured.

We cannot produce enough food for ourselves even though the means to do so are available.

There is a need for an agricultural, industrial and economic revolution in the Western States- a NEW DEAL that will be driven by an all-embracing public works programme based on a comprehensive ‘Marshall Plan’.

This public works programme will put the unemployed to work in urban renewal and beautification projects, infrastructure projects and large-scale agricultural initiatives.

The starting point should be a targeted increase in food production through the establishment of mechanised farms and plantations on which the urban poor and unemployed can find a new lease of life. With the increased food production, artisans, technicians and unskilled labourers will be put to work, if only for three square meals a day and a tangible stake in the revolution in the form of redeemable development bonds issued by a Western States Development Corporation (WSDC-Wedeco).

Urban renewal and rural development projects can then be pursued with this workforce.

• To be concluded next week •Dr. Gbadegesin •For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Falcons coach and the gay storm She disclosed that her team had been troubled by the problem of lesbianism, but she had since expelled the practitioners. “Yes, the lesbians in our team were really a big problem,” she said, “but since I’m coach of the Super Falcons that has been cleared up. There are no more lesbian players on my team.

I cannot tolerate this dirty life.”

Her timing could not have been worse.

The New York State Senate just passed into law legislation allowing same sex marriages – a landmark political development that the gay community in America has been celebrating deliriously.

Our coach’s comment was therefore akin to raining on a gay pride parade.

Now, football’s governing body FIFA has joined in to slap Uche down for her overly candid views. The organisation’s head of women’s competitions, Tatjana Haenni, who warned that “FIFA is

against all forms of discrimination,” summoned her to a meeting in Frankfurt, Germany to set her straight.

No one knows what transpired at the Wednesday meeting, but at the news conference afterwards, Uche “firmly denied” the “discriminating statements” attributed to her.

Poor lady! Everyone knows about gay male and female footballers – but no one talks about them. She may be an excellent coach, but she has clearly not heard of something called ‘political correctness.’

Her views would probably have won her plaudits back home. Now, she would be in shock that she’s been cast in the mould of a bigot and villain. But such is the nature of the culture clash existing at this time between increasingly libertine Western countries and the more conservative ones in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos.

Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Editor Daily:01-8962807, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302.

E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO