July 23, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

EFCC to quiz Saraki’s wife, Yar’Adua’s daughter

•July 27, 28 dates with operatives

NEWS

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•PPMC shuts down facility

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•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3284 THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

Scores dead in pipeline fire

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•A cross section of the students protesting their exclusion from screening for admission at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) gate...yesterday.

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

Applicants protest JAMB’s cut-off marks at UNILAG

•PAGE 57

Buhari: ex-ministers, others will face trial for oil theft Nigeria rejects gay marriage

Accounts with looted funds to be frozen

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By Our Reporter

O

IL thieves, including former ministers and some prominent individuals, have been put on notice – the law is coming after them.

President Muhammadu Buhari did not name them, but he spoke of how they plundered Nigeria’s economy by stealing one million barrels of crude oil daily, selling the stuff overseas and lodging the proceeds in their personal accounts.

Buhari spoke on Tuesday at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington D.C., United States

?

(U.S.) at a parley with members of Nigerians In Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) as part of his four-day visit to the U.S. He told his audience – NIDO members in America and Canada – that his administration would recover

•President Buhari (right) acknowledging cheers on arrival at the town hall meeting.

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has foreclosed a possible shift in Nigeria’s anti-gay stance. He told a joint sessionof the United States (U.S.) Senate and House Committees on Foreign Affairs that Nigeria’s law abhors same-sex marriage.

The President said sodomy is illegal and abhorrent to Nigeria’s culture.

The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said his principal was “point blank” in declaring Nigeria’s position on gay marriage and rights.

In statement, Mr. Adesina explained that the matter was not pushed at the session President Buhari had with President Barack Obama on Monday.

“The issue of gay marriage came up here yester-

The amount involved is mind-boggling. Some former ministers ‘were selling about one million barrels per day. I assure you that we will trace and repatriate such money and...prosecute them ’ •ENERGY P15 •SPORTS P23 •POLITICS P44 •N/HEALTH P47 •PROPERTY P49 •FOREIGN P60 WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS EVER RETURN?

Continued on page 4

Continued on page 4

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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U.S., Nigeria partner to increase electricity access •CEO, Ethics Institute of South Africa, Prof Deon Rossouw receiving a plague from the President/ Chairman of Governing Council, Institute of Directors Nigeria (IoD), Mr Samuel Yemi Akeju at the Institute’s Quarterly Business Forum tagged: "Governing the Ethics Performance of Organisations" in Lagos... yesterday. With them (from right) are: Immediate Past President, Chief (Mrs) Eniola Fadayomi; past President, Mr Chike Nwanze and CEO, Mauritius Institute of Directors South Africa, Jane Valls.

PHOTO: BIODUN ADEYEWA

•President and Chairman of Council, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Dr Suleyman Abdu Ndanusa and Registrar/ Secretary speaking during its 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos... yesterday. With him (from left) are: Vice President Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrator of Nigeria, Dr. Nat Ofo; President and Registrar/Secretary, Mr Dele Togunde.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

• Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Abdullahi Dikko (middle) discussing with Executive Secretary, Shipper Council of Nigeria, Mr Hassan Bello during a meeting on technical committee on areas of collaboration between the Council and Customs on the inland container depots projects in Abuja...yesterday. With them is Director, Commercial Shipping Services, Nigeria Shipper Council, Mrs Dabany Shall-Holma.

•From left: Head Girl, Doregos Private Academy College of Champions in Lagos, Davies Praise, outgoing Head Boy, Bello Opeyemi, founder, Mrs Clementina Abeke Doregos, outgoing Head Girl, Tosin Ojutayo and Head Boy,Gbolahan Bruce cutting a cake to mark 21st valedictory service in Lagos .

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Electricity supply is a major problem in Nigeria. Successive governments have tried to solve this challenge, which many believe holds the key to solving other challenges facing the country. Yesterday, the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) unveils a solar energy plan towards increasing electricity access, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU

I

T is known as the Power Africa initiative. It is President Barack Obama’s baby. Its aim is to improve electricity access in Africa, of which the United States sees Nigeria as perhaps the most important.

Yesterday, as President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the United States was wrapped up, the United States Trade and Development Agency provided a grant to Quaint Global Energy Solutions for a solar power project being developed in the North.

The significance of the deal is driven home by the fact that the North is said to enjoy about one per cent of the power supply in the country.

Chairman, Nigerian Electricity regulatory Commission (NERC) Dr. Sam Amadi explained that the North does not have sufficient connection and the lines are weak, making the lines transferring power to the North constrained and only able to take 100 to 1000 megawatts of electricity.

Speaking in Abuja on Energy and Household poverty, at the Annual lecture of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Amadi said the national imperative would be to provide more power to the North.

Amadi said: “Today in Nigeria, there are many people who do not even have access to electricity talk more of the electricity bill and that number is close to 40 and above, people who have no connection whatsoever at all to electricity. So the first marker to energy poverty is access, to people who do not have access to electricity.

“Why do we not have access enough? Of course we are a big country and we have just 6000 or 7000 megawatts available capacity not supplied. The constraints to electricity is access and connection, even if we have today 10 to 20 megawatts of electricity many parts of Nigeria will still not have light because there is no connection to those places, that is why the government created the rural electrification agency.

“What we have been doing with the past is supplying transformers to low areas so if you put transformers to a community where the lines are weak, the lines cannot go. Today the whole of the North receives about only 1% or less than one percent of supply, why? Because the lines trans-

ferring power to the whole north cannot take, it is constrained, it can take maybe 100 to 1000 megawatts, the urgent work now is to finish the line from Calabar to Markurdi to free more power to the North.

“To see very clearly between electricity supply and poverty, the same part of the north is the area that has the largest indicators of poverty and it is still the same area that has the least supply of electricity, so the national imperative would be to provide more power to the North as a way of reducing poverty.

“Nigeria is poor generally but relative poverty we have more in the North, so what we are doing more as regulators is that we are looking at imbedded generation; you know that our networks are very poor; they are not good so even if we have 10,000 megawatts today on the grid, we may not be able to more than 1000 megawatts or above to the north so it is very urgent that we improve the whole network to the north, it is urgent that we use the next new regulation to provide more imbedded power.”

Commenting on the agreement signed for the solar power project, USTDA Director Leocadia Zak, who signed the grant agreement with Quaint’s President, Mobolaji W.Durodola, said: “This project is a great example of how the U.S. and Nigeria are working together to increase electricity access under President Obama’s Power Africa initiative.

By working together on projects like this one, we can ensure that more Nigerians have access to renewable energy.”

Durodola described the deal as the tonic for the much-needed clean and renewable energy.

“USTDA’s support is a step in the right direction for the development of much-needed clean and renewable energy capacity for Nigeria and subSaharan Africa,” said Mr. Durodola.

“Quaint is happy to receive this grant and is committed to adding value, talent and energy into the Nigerian power sector.”

Quaint, a Nigerian company specifically organised to develop renewable power projects, is working with a U.S. energy project developer, Tetra Tech ES, Inc. (Pasadena, California), on a feasibility study to determine the best technical configurations for the project. 50 megawatts of clean, affordable energy is expected to be supplied

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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•Representatives from Quaint Energy Solutions and USTDA, including Deputy Director Ebong, at the grant signing ceremony on Tuesday.

s Kaduna State. It also has the potential to leverage over $160 million in public and private capital.

The feasibility study will include the development of initial costing for the project’s engineering, procurement and construction, as well as the preparation of an operations and maintenance Tetra Tech will also provide training for Quaint employees to support the company’s capacity to develop and operate the project.

USTDA Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer Enoh Titilayo Ebong, who oversees the operations of the agency and manages staff responsible for developing and executing USTDA’s program activities, summed up the importance of the deal in an article released yesterday titled Investing in Nigeria’s future.

He said: “When I was growing up in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, my father used to say that his future was in his past. In other words, you can never know how what happens today might impact tomorrow.

“My father, Ime James Ebong, used to regale my sisters and me with stories about rising through the ranks of the Nigerian Civil Service after the country gained independence in 1960. As the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Economic Development and Reconstruction, he worked to coordinate foreign investment that could help build infrastructure and promote growth. He believed strongly in a global Nigeria, and traveled to the United States many times to establish partnerships with American companies.

“My father died several years ago, but I think of him often. I thought of him when I joined the civil service at the U.S. Trade and Development

‘

By collaborating on projects like this one, we are helping to ensure that more Nigerians have access to renewable energy.

And we are helping to strengthen economic ties between Nigeria and the U.S. •Durodola and USTDA Director Zak Conclude at the signing ceremony.

Agency, a U.S. foreign assistance agency that does exactly what he did – collaborate with U.S. companies to craft solutions to development challenges in Nigeria and around the world. And I thought of him yesterday, when President Obama welcomed the new President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, to the United States.

“Economic development will be the focus of many discussions during President Buhari’s visit: Working together to increase trade and investment between our two countries.

Building business-to-business partnerships that can support sustainable development. Collaborating to increase access to electricity for Nigeri-

ans, most of whom live without reliable power.”

He continued: “Together, we are making important progress in all of these areas. Last summer, President Obama convened industry leaders from the United States, Nigeria and across Africa at the first U.S.-Africa Business Forum. And deepening our trade and investment ties will be an important focus of his trip to the continent later this week.

“Nigeria has demonstrated its commitment to increasing these ties by taking a number of steps to collaborate with the private sector. When I first came to USTDA, the Nigerian government had recently begun to open up its telecommunications sec-

‘

tor. We have been connecting Nigerian telecom companies with U.S. experts who can help them modernize their infrastructure. For example, we are currently helping Nigeria’s Main One Cable Company plan for the extension of a 300-mile undersea fiber optic network from Lagos to Port Harcourt. Through their work with a U.S. company, HIP Consult, Inc. (Washington, DC), Main One will increase the number of people and businesses with access to telecom services throughout the region.

“Because this model has proven so successful, we are adopting it to help our Nigerian partners privatize their electricity sector. In fact, we’re working across the value chain to bring

energy to more Nigerians. As just one example, today we provided agrantto Quaint Global Energy Solutions for a solar power project they’re developing in Kaduna State. Quaint is a small Nigerian company specifically organized to develop renewable power projects. They will work with a U.S. energy project developer, Tetra Tech ES, Inc. (Pasadena, California), to determine the best technical configurations for the project.

“This effort will bring 50 megawatts of much-needed clean, affordable energy to northern Nigeria. It also has the potential to leverage over $160 million in public and private capital. It’s a great example of how the U.S. and Africa are working together to increase electricity access under President Obama’s Power Africa initiative.

“By collaborating on projects like this one, we are helping to ensure that more Nigerians have access to renewable energy. And we are helping to strengthen economic ties between Nigeria and the U.S. “As both a daughter of Nigeria and a proud American citizen, I am starting to see how my father’s past shaped my future. His commitment to public service – and to Nigeria’s growth – inspired me to join the U.S. government’s efforts to promote development by leveraging the expertise and resources of the U.S. private sector. I know he would agree that, by strengthening trade and development ties today, we are helping to ensure a safer, more prosperous tomorrow. “ Perhaps with more of this sort of project, the country will join the league of major players in the clean and renewable energy circle.

From left: U.S. Secretary of Treasury Mr Jack Lew, President Muhammadu Buhari, a guest of the Treasury and U.S. President Buhari accompanied by the Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S., Prof Ade Adefuye exchanging greetings with the Ambassador to Nigeria James F. Entwistle during a meeting to boost the Nigerian economy in Washington...on Wednesday. staff of the Nigerian Embassy on arrival for a town hall meeting in Washington.

PHOTOS: STATE HOUSE

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

NEWS •From left: President, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Alumni in Nigeria, Mr Isa Hussein; Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Noh Kyu-Duk and Country Director, Jung Sang-Hoon, with some Nigerians awarded scholarships to study in leading Korean universities, at their perdeparture orientation in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Buhari: ex-ministers, others will face trial for oil theft Continued from page 1

“mind-boggling” sums of money stolen from the oil sector.

“250,000 barrels per day of Nigerian crude were being stolen and people sell and put the money into individual accounts,” he told NIDO members, according to a statement issued yesterday by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Garba Shehu.

The statement reported Buhari as vowing to trace the accounts of individuals, who stashed away ill-gotten oil money, freeze such accounts, recover the loot and prosecute the culprits.

Buhari lamented that “corruption in Nigeria has virtually developed into a culture where honest people are abused”.

On the contentious fuel subsidy on which Nigeria spends billions of dollars in months, the President disclosed that if fuel subsidy was removed; transport, housing and food prices would go out of control and the average worker would suffer untold hardship.

He said the U.S. and other developed countries had agreed to assist in tracking the

accounts where looted funds are deposited.

“We will ask that such accounts be frozen and their owners be prosecuted,”, he said.

Buhari told the NIDO members: “The amount involved is mind-boggling. Some former ministers were selling about one million barrels per day. I assure you that we will trace and repatriate such money and use the documents to prosecute them. A lot of damage has been done to the integrity of Nigeria, with individuals and institutions already compromised.”

Citing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), President Buhari said unlike what obtained when he held the forte as Federal Commissioner for Petroleum in the military regime when the NNPC had only two traceable accounts before paying oil proceeds into the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), “now everybody is doing anyhow”.

Agreeing that the “economy is in an extremely bad shape”, Buhari said the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration would fulfill its threepronged campaign manifesto of providing security, turning around the economy with a

major focus on youth employment and fighting corruption.

When asked if the Federal Government will negotiate with Boko Haram to pave the way for the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, the President said his administration would only negotiate if genuine and confirmed leaders of the militant sect came forward and convinced the government of the conditions of the girls, their location and the sect’s willingness to negotiate.

“Our objective is that we want the girls back, alive and returned to their families and rehabilitated. We are working with neighbouring countries, if they will help,” he said.

Buhari also said agriculture and mining would receive priority attention as faster job-creation avenues for the teeming unemployed youths, adding that some foreign investors had agreed to take advantage of the immense business opportunities in the country.

Speaking on when he would form his cabinet, the President jokingly observed that the question on the cabinet had been chasing him around the

world even to the point that he had been nicknamed “Baba Go Slow at home.”

He, however, noted that not even the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during all the years it ruled the country ever formed a cabinet within the first four months.

“I am going to go slow and steady,” he said, calling for patience to allow the new administration “put some sense into governance and deal with corruption”.

The President promised that his administration would at the right time tap into the enormous talents available amongst members of NIDO, especially as consultants. Their requests for voting right in 2019, a Diaspora Commission and opening of new consulates in parts of the United States and Canada are to be considered.

The President had earlier met at the same venue with a group of young professionals in the U.S. and assured them of his administration’s resolve to fight corruption, remain steadfast and invest heavily in education which he said was the answer to taking the youth out of poverty and ignorance.

Nigeria rejects gay marriage Continued from page 1

day,” Mr. Adesina tweetedWednesday.

“PMB was point blank.

Sodomy is against the law in Nigeria, and abhorrent to our culture. Talks shifted to another matter once PMB emphatically stated Nigeria’s stand on same sex marriage.

The issue was not pushed,” Adesina said.

Besides Nigeria’s criminal laws which outlaw gay acts and union, the country in 2014, approved an anti-gay law with stringent penalties for homosexual relation-

ships.

Under the law, gay persons risk up to 14 years imprisonment if convicted.

Also criminalised in Nigeria is the meeting of homosexuals; operating or attending a gay club, society or organisation.

Anybody engaging in public shows of outlawed samesex and intimate affection may be jailed for up to 10 years.

Nigeria has been under intense pressure from the U.S. government which opposes the laws.

DSS releases Jonathan’s ex-CSO Obua after six days in detention

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ETAINED former Chief Security Officer to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Gordon Obua, has been allowed to go home. He was released on Tuesday night by the Department of State Services (DSS).

According to sources, Obua was let go at about 10pm after six days in detention and hours after dispelling his rumoured death in custody at a news conference.

Obua told reporters at the news briefing that he was be-

ing debriefed by the agency after completing his tour of duty at the Presidential Villa as a former CSO to Dr. Jonathan.

There were reports that Obua’s detention had something to do with investigation into the disbursement of security vote, alleged financial mismanagement and money laundering at Aso Villa under his watch as CSO. The former CSO, who suffers from diabetes and hypertension, took ill on Continued on page 61

EFCC invites Saraki’s wife, Yar’Adua’s daughter

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited Mrs. Toyin Saraki, Senate President Bukola Saraki's wife and Zainab Dakingari, late President Umar Yar'Adua's daughter.

Dakingari's wife is expected at the agency on July 27.

Saraki's spouse will take her turn on July 28.

The two women were invited by the anti-graft agency for alleged money laundering.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: "Saraki's wife is needed to explain issues relating to the management of the accounts of some companies where she has some stake.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

"There is a suspicion of money laundering. We want her to come and explain how these accounts are being run."

On the former First Lady, the source added: "I think Zainab, a former First Lady of Kebbi State, is expected to respond to some issues on state funds allegedly traced to some companies owned by her. We cannot say whether these companies executed some contracts for the state or not.

"The ex-First Lady has only been invited to make clarifications."

When contacted, the Head of Media and Publicity of the Continued on page 61

Scores feared dead in Arepo pipeline fire

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CORES were yesterday feared dead at an oil facility at Arepo, Ogun State.

They died in the System 2B pipeline fire that erupted from a clash of two rival gangs, whose members stormed the facility to scoop product from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

It was gathered that an explosion occurred during a gun duel between the rival gangs, who regularly storm the area in boats laden with plastic containers to steal petrol.

The victims were said to

By Emeka Ugwuanyi and Precious Igbonwelundu

have been burnt beyond recognition in the inferno, which occurred after midnight on Tuesday.

The owners of the facility, the Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a NNPC subsidiary, said it had cut off supplies through the affected pipelines, but the fire was still raging in the swampy area last night.

Some eyewitnesses said they saw floating bodies on the Majidun River. Others claimed that some bodies were evacuated by security

personnel.

But, PPMC spokeman Nasir Imodagbe said nobody had access to the scene because of the fire.

A source claimed he sighted five bodies on the river, adding that more may have been removed by security personnel.

He also confirmed that there were several others burnt beyond recognition.

The incident came few weeks after the Federal Government stopped the multibillion naira pipeline protection contract awarded to the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) by the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration.

System 2B is an important pipeline that transports more than 11 million litres of petrol daily from the Atlas Cove Jetty across the Southwest, spanning some 512 kilometres.

The pipeline has been a source of attraction to vandals due to its accessibility, despite huge investment by the NNPC to adopt horizontal directional drilling (HDD), that could have buried the pipelines deeper than the previous 1.5-feet installation layout.

A major attack occurred in Arepo early in the year.

At the time of filing this report, the actual casualty figure could not be confirmed, as rescuers were yet to gain access into the scene for fear of being killed.

It was learnt that neither the police nor the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the bodies mandated to protect pipelines, were on duty when the vandals struck.

A source told The Nation that the security agencies had abandoned their

CORRECTION The Cross River State Shippers’ Association was erroneously referred to as the Nigerian Shippers Council in the reports ‘Shippers Council seek probe of N20b Port dredging” and N20b Calabar Port contract sparks crisis” in yesterday’s publication. The error is regretted.

duty posts, adding that emergency workers said they could not enter the canal where the fire was raging for lack of protection.

Another source identified the victims as the vandals, their relations and those who buy stolen fuel in canoes, buses and tankers.

Because of the lucrative nature of their activity and the availability of a market, it was learnt, the vandals make between N300, 000 and N2 million daily, depending on their level of involvement.

Imodagbe told The Nation on phone last night that the fire broke out in the morning and that PPMC had mobilised to put it out after which the damage will be assessed.

However, he noted that because the Arepo pipeline right-of-way is located in a difficult terrain, it had not been possible to access the point where the pipeline was vandalised. Until we have access to the pipeline, we may not be able to put out the fire but we have cut off fuel supply to the line, he added.

He said: “We are aware of

the Arepo fire but you know it is in a difficult terrain and we have not been able to get access to the scene. We have stopped pumping product to the pipeline to bring down the level of combustion. We are working with other agencies of the government, including fire-fighters, to get access to the fire point and put out the fire.

“Currently, we are not able to assess the damage including the casualty figure - if any. It is only when we put out the fire that we will be able to assess the damage, repair the pipeline and resume pumping of product.”

On measures against vandalism and product theft, Imodagbe said that the police were monitoring the pipeline. He noted that even the Office of the Inspector-General of Police is involved in the policing of the pipeline.

“Towards the end of past Continued on page 61

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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NEWS First Class graduates to serve in higher institutions, says NYSC

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•Brig-Gen. Olawumi; Dr Balarebe and participants at the NYSC 2015 Batch 'B' Pre-mobilisation Workshop in Kaduna ... yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

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USTICE Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday refused to restrain the Senate President Bukola Saraki and 17 others from bypassing the Senate’s standing rules in the appointment of the Minority Leader for the Eighth National Assembly.

Two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - Alaye Don Pedro (Ward 8 Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State) and Okechukwu Ibeh of Umukegwu/Umuopia in Ide Ato Local Government Area, Imo State - had, in an ex-parte motion sought to restrain Saraki and 17 members of the PDP Southsouth Senate Caucus from choosing the Minority Leader outside the provision of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended).

The plaintiffs contended that the alleged plot by some individuals to make former Akwa Ibom State Governor Godwill Akpabio (a first term Senator) the Senate’s Minor-

Minority Leader: Court refuses to restrain Saraki, others From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

ity Leader, was in violation of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended).

Named with Saraki as respondents are Akpabio, Nelson Effiong, Bassey Albert, Emmanuel Paulker, Ogola Foster, Ben Murray Bruce, John Owan Enoh, Gershom Bassey, Rose Oko, James Manager, Peter Nwaoboshi, Ighoyota Amori, Clifford Ordia, Matthew Urhoghide, George Thomson Sekibo, Olaka Nwogu and Osinachukwu Ideozu.

Ruling yesterday, Justice Kolawole refused the plaintiffs’ prayer for “an order restraining the second to 18 respondents from selecting or appointing the Minority Leader by a procedure in breach of Order 3(2) of the

Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended) pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

The judge also refused their request for an “order prohibiting the first respondent from accepting, recognising, announcing or giving effect to the appointment of a Minority Leader of the Senate, whose appointment is in breach of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended) pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

Justice Kolawole, who noted that the plaintiffs were neither members of the Senate nor contestants for the position of Minority Leader, said he could not grant their prayers because they failed to establish the interest they sought to protect.

He said being members of

the PDP from Imo and Rivers states was not sufficient to warrant granting their prayers.

The judge declined the plaintiffs’ request for the abridgement of time within which the respondents could file their responses to the substantive suit. He also declined to grant accelerated hearing of the main suit.

Justice Kolawole, however, granted the plaintiffs’ prayer for substituted service of court documents (processes) in relation to the suit through substituted means by media publication. He directed that the processes be published with an enrolled copy of his orders.

He adjourned to October 5 for mention, but said the case file would be returned to the court’s Chief Judge for reassignment when the court resumes from vacation.

Ex-Commonwealth Secretary General Ramphal for Nigeria

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ORMER Commonwealth Secretary General Sir Shridath Ramphal is visiting Nigeria next week for the international conference on the EUECOWAS Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) organised by Africa Today in partnership with the Bank of Industry.

The conference will take place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel from Tuesday, July 28, to Wednesday, July 29. As part of his visit to Nigeria, his historic memoirs, Glimpses of a Global Life, will be formally presented and launched for the first time in Africa before a distinguished gathering of Commonwealth, African and

European Union ambassadors in Nigeria.

The publisher of Africa Today and chief host of the conference, Mr Kayode Soyinka, told reporters in Abuja that “Sir Ramphal is a great friend of Nigeria and he has many old friends here in Nigeria, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Emeka Anyaoku who took over from him as secretary-general. I am pleased that he has accepted our invitation to come. His choice as special guest of honour could not be better as the participants would benefit from his deep knowledge of the EPA, especially as it affects the developing world and

Africa in particular”.

Soyinka noted that as a great friend of Nigeria and Africa, Sir Ramphal, while he was secretary-general of the Commonwealth, championed many laudable causes, including the anti-apartheid cause, especially with his Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (EPG), which Nigeria’s former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Australia’s former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser cochaired.

“His coming to Nigeria, and the arrival of Sir Ronald Sanders, who is contesting as the next Secretary-General for the EPA conference, is a reflection of the international

IRECTOR-GENERAL of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi has said First Class graduates and their counterparts, who graduated with distinction from the polytechnics, will now be posted only to tertiary institutions for their primary assignment.

He said universities have been banned from offering post-graduate admission to serving corps members, as doing so have been in violation of the NYSC Act. Brig-Gen. Johnson spoke in Kaduna yesterday at the opening ceremony of 2015 Batch ‘B’ Pre-Mobilisation Workshop.

Addressing participants of the workshop, tagged, “ICT and NYSC Mobilization Process: Towards Eliminating Identified Challenges”, the NYSC boss emphasised that henceforth, “all First Class graduates will be posted to the universities for their primary assignments” and appealed to the Vice-Chancellors to retain them after their NYSC

T

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

ing a ‘few arrests here and there’ he urged President Buhari to carry out his anticorruption fight in a way that would not be seen as selective.

He also said the fight against corruption can only succeed where there is transparency, justice and honesty.

“This challenge, obviously lies squarely on those who now have the power to rule our nation. I want to beg

them, and I am glad the chairman of the ruling party is here, to resist the temptation to rub in the plagues of defeat on the losers and try to avoid policies of persecution, some even talk of execution of losers.

“We have to tackle dishonesty and I believe we need to retrieve stolen goods, especially those that are just piling up other people’s money.

While we do that, it is my strong feeling that we should try to avoid as much as pos-

Kaduna

programme.

NYSC’s Director of Corps Mobilisation Mr. Anthony Ani said the workshop would “look at the data entry used for the exercise for the Senate Approved list, the list of Approved Corps Producing Institutions and the list of accredited courses”.

Brig-Gen. Olawumi, who enumerated his reform programmes aimed at improving service delivery and efficiency by the NYSC, stated that, if fully implemented, the scheme would add value to young Nigerian graduates.

Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai, who was represented by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe Musa, applauded the decision of NYSC to post First Class graduate corps members to tertiary institutions, adding that with the paucity of lecturers in such institutions, it was an encouraging decision of the NYSC to do so.

‘Nullify INEC chair’s appointment’

By Joseph Jibueze

A

CTIVIST-LAWYER Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa yesterday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to nullify the appointment of Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari as acting chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said the 1999 Constitution did not provide for the position of acting chairman of INEC. Besides, he argued that Mrs Zakari’s tenure as a national commissioner ended on Tuesday, therefore her stay in office is illegal having not been re-appointed by the President upon due consultation with the Council of State and confirmation by the Senate.

The plaintiff asked the court to to declare her appointment as acting chairman of INEC illegal and unconstitutional, and to order her to vacate office immediately.

Adegboruwa is also praying the court to restrain her from presiding over the conduct of any election in Nigeria, including the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States.

President Muhammadu Buhari, Attorney-General of the Federation, INEC and Mrs Zakari are the respondents.

No date has been fixed for hearing.

Nigerians fleeing to Cameroon, says UN

A •Ramphal

community’s acceptance of Nigeria as a thriving democracy, especially with the transparent way in which President Muhammadu Buhari was elected,” Soyinka added.

REFUGEE camp deep inside Cameroon is receiving many people fleeing Boko Haram violence in Nigeria, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported Tuesday.

Families are leaving unstable and dangerous zones on the Nigeria-Cameroon border “and seeking shelter some 100 kilometres (62 miles) inland at the Minawao camp,” run by UNHCR and its partners, spokesman Leo Dobbs said.

Most of the new arrivals had initially stayed close to the border after fleeing

Onaiyekan advises Buhari to tread softly on anti-graft probe HE Catholic ArchBishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, on Tuesday night advised President Muhammadu Buhari to go slowly on his anti-corruption drive so that his actions are not seen as ‘persecution’.

He spoke during an evening dinner organised for Catholics in Politics at the Church of the Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja.

Pointing out that fighting corruption goes beyond mak-

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe,

sible humiliating or disgracing people who may indeed have tried their best to serve the nation.

“How to do this and keep these two elements together requires a lot of sagacity and clear mindedness. But we should pray for our leaders to be granted the grace.

“We must be clear-minded on this matter and not allow ourselves to be naïve thinking that it is just enough to make a few arrests here and there and the matter is

settled. Let us pray that God will guide our nation.”

On insecurity, he said Nigeria needs to go beyond arms and ammunition in order to reconcile minds and hearts for genuine peace.

The time, he said, has come for all to link hands and seriously tackle the problems facing the country.

“The problems of Nigeria can only be resolved if we all link hands across political, ethnic and religious lines.”

clashes between Boko Haram jihadists and Nigerian troops in the hope they could return home quickly, Dobbs added.

Refugees said they ran from militant attacks in Borno State. The Boko Haram insurgency has killed more than 15,000 people in Nigeria since 2009.

The population of the Minawao camp has risen to 44,000 from 30,000 at the same time last year.

The UNHCR and Cameroon’s government are trying to contact refugees remaining in border territory to see whether they would prefer to come to Minawao or be taken to secure zones inside Nigeria, Dobbs said.

The UN agency estimates that nearly 12,000 unregistered refugees are in northern Cameroon, while Camerooonian authorities put the figure at 17,000.

Boko Haram, which has extended its campaign across Nigeria’s borders and prompted a regional military response, carried out its first suicide bombing in Cameroon last Sunday.

Two women wearing the full Islamic veil blew themselves up in the far northern border town of Fotokol, killing 11 people.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

6

NEWS

Buhari seeks access to U.S. weapons to fight terrorists

P

R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the United States Government and its Congress to review Nigeria’s status regarding the application of the ‘Leahy Law’ to enable the country access appropriate strategic weapons to fight insurgency.

The President spoke in a paper he delivered at the U.S. Institute for Peace (USIP) in Washington yesterday.

He said the blanket application of the Leahy Law by the U.S. on the grounds of unproven allegations of human rights violations levelled against the nation’s forces had denied Nigeria the necessary weapons to prosecute the war.

The Leahy Law or Leahy amendment is a U.S. human rights law that prohibits the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense from providing military assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights with impunity. It is named after its principal sponsor, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

Buhari said: “In our efforts at combating the activities of Boko Haram, the new government has sought and obtained the support of not only our neighbours, but other international friends and partners.

“Regrettably, the blanket application of the Leahy Law by the United States on the grounds of unproven allegations of human rights violations levelled against our forces has denied us access to appropriate strategic weapons to prosecute the war against the insurgents.

“In the face of abduction of innocent school girls from their hostels, indiscriminate bomb-

•President promises to sustain public goodwill From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

ings of civilians in markets and places of worship, our forces have remained largely impotent.

“This is because they do not possess the appropriate weapons and technology which they could have had, had the socalled human rights violations not been an obstacle.

“Unwittingly, and I dare say, unintentionally, the application of the Leahy law amendment by the U. S. Government has aided and abated the Boko Haram terrorist group in the prosecution of its extremist ideology and hate, the indiscriminate killings and maiming of civilians, in raping of women and girls, and in their other heinous crimes.”

According to him, this is not the spirit of the Leahy Law, and the American people cannot support any group engaged in these crimes.

The President, therefore, appealed to both the Executive arm and the U.S. Congress to examine how the U.S. Government could provide Nigeria with far more substantial counter-terrorism assistance with minimal strings.

“The longer we delay, the deadlier the Boko Haram gets.

At all events, we have re-written the rules of engagement protecting the rights of combatants and in particular safeguarding civilians in theatres of conflict.

“As we ramp up our efforts to defeat Boko Haram, we know that winning this battle sustainably will require that we

Young business leaders target 1.2m jobs

By Wale Ajetunmobi

Y

OUNG business leaders have vowed to generate millions of jobs for the unemployed before the end of next year.

They made the pledge when they gathered yesterday for the launch of Young Business Leaders of Nigeria (YBLN) - a network of young professionals aimed at assisting budding entrepreneurs to hone and develop their business acumen.

The focus of discussion at the forum at Muson Centre in Onike, Lagos, was centred on how potential and innovative minds of young people could be harnessed to generate the promised jobs and ease the nation’s employment burden.

Ms Temitayo Etomi, YBLN founder, said the initiative was aimed at creating platform for entrepreneurs to rally resources together for the financing of practicable business ideas.

They ideas, she said, would generate decent employment for the youth before the end of December 2016.

Temitayo, who is a 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow, said several feasible strategies had been mapped out to create opportunities for unemployed and under-employed people, who are willing to change their conditions.

To achieve the aim, she said the group would engage unemployed youths in batches of mentorship programmes that would run for eight weeks, after which the trainees would be given soft loans to start businesses in their preferred areas of interest.

If continued, Temitayo, who is the group managing partner of Redwire Marketing Group, said the group, by the end of 2016, would have achieved its projection to engage more than one million jobless youths in lucrative ventures that would have positive impact on the economy, adding that the group would also train unskilled people to create employability values for their selfsustenance.

She said: “The YBLN has objectives to bring about new idea that will help solve unemployment crisis. It is basically exploring the effort and ideas of a minority in business to help confront the challenges of the majority who don’t have job. We are creating a network of young professionals and business leaders to create platform for solving unemployment crisis we are facing.”

She said the initiative would be funded from regular contributions by successful businessmen, adding that the money would be used to train jobless youths in employability skills and finance entrepreneurship ideas that are found business-worthy.

Noting that the rising unemployment was taking its toll on the country, Temitayo said two of every three youths are either unemployed or under-employed. She said government alone could not be responsible for provision of lucrative jobs, saying it was time for young people to think about how they could use their potential to create opportunities for themselves.

The event featured a discussion on unemployment, which had top business managers, including Mr George Etomi, Managing Partner of Etomi and Partners, Ms Doyin Odunfa, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Jewel and Mr. Uyi Akpata, Country Partner, PricewatersCoopers, as discussants. The Editor of Sunday Punch, Ms Toyosi Ogunseye, moderated the session.

expand economic opportunities and create jobs for our teeming young population,” he added.

Buhari promised that he would work hard to sustain the goodwill his government has received at home and abroad.

He said despite the perceived slowness and the reality of lack of resources he would work very hard “so that people will see and believe that we are trying and can deliver and hopefully become less critical.”

Acknowledging the huge challenges confronting his administration such as the crash in the price of crude oil, oil theft, pipeline vandalisation in the Niger Delta, hostage-taking

and insecurity in the Northeast, the president restated his determination to sustain the goodwill by working hard.

Buhari assured that his administration would improve the quality of governance; ensure that governments at all levels were responsive, inclusive, transparent and accountable, and that public institutions delivered services in a timely and efficient manner.

“We must win and sustain the trust of the people we govern,” he added According to the President, the fight against corruption is a full-time job that his administration would carry with sustained resolve, saying he al-

ways maintained zero tolerance for corruption.

“I am even more committed to fighting this number one enemy decisively because I am convinced beyond any shadow of a doubt that the much needed impetus for our country’s survival is held back by corruption.

“I will not allow this to continue. Again, as with every action of the government that I lead, we would be fair, just, and scrupulously follow due process, and the rule of law, as enshrined in our Constitution.

“I will lead by example to ensure the prudent management of Nigeria’s resources. The government will plug the leak-

ages that fuel corruption in Nigeria,” he said.

He noted that the future of Nigeria, indeed the future of Africa, “lies in democratic governance, not only because it is the expression of the will of the people, but because democracy can help us build fair, just and inclusive societies.

“Only in a democracy can Africa’s numerous ethnic, cultural and religious diversities find harmonious expression, and the freedoms and opportunities that come with it.”

Buhari called on the U.S. Government to help Nigeria’s democratisation process to gain roots by investing in the expansion of education, health and economic opportunities for the millions of youths.

NAFDAC crisis: Orhii denies alleged graft •Union gives agency ultimatum on arrears •Activists caution Buhari on ‘petitions’

By Sina Fadare, Lagos, Vincent Ikuomola and Bukola Amusan, Abuja

•Orhii

D

IRECTOR-General of National Agency for Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Dr. Paul Orhii yesterday denied allegations made against him by the agency’s former Finance Director, Mr. Ademola Mogbojuri.

Orhii, who spoke to reporters in Abuja on issues affecting NAFDAC, said the allegations credited to the former director of Finance were false.

He claimed that the ex-director of Finance was removed because of incompetence and some sharp practices.

He insisted that he would “rather leave this agency than to allow such impunity to continue”.

Mogbojuri had accused Orhii of financial recklessness, saying he had evidence of inappropriate financial transactions involving the director-general.

He also alleged that Orhii had been spending money generated by the organisation to the tune of N9 billion yearly on phoney contracts to some of his cronies and business associates at the expense of the wel-

fare of workers.

“Before he joined the agency in 2009, the annual total revenue of NAFDAC was about N2.5 billion and he met around N600 million in the account.

Now, the total internally generated revenue is about N9 billion and the agency owes about N5 billion in debts,” he alleged.

But Orhii did not deny the fact that despite being a revenue generating agency, NAFDAC was indebted to the tune of N5 billion.

He noted that the law establishing the agency allowed it to generate funds and spend them.

Orhii said the law had been assisting the agency in carrying out its programmes and projects.

He said the removal of the ex-director of Finance was not to cover up, but to ensure that the agency functions properly unhindered.

On why he transferred the director, Orhii said as the chief executive, he could not just watch workers and contractors complaining about the attitude of the man without doing anything.

He said: “As chief executive, workers run to you that they are being owed and you find out that those who were paid had to bribe to get their pay. If you are the chief executive, would you just sit down and

watch?

“Also, some contractors were not paid, do you want me to sit down here without doing anything.”

On the issue of the agency’s indebtedness to the tune of N5 billion, Orhii said: “For me, I would rather collect a loan from the banks to execute my projects. If I know that equipment in the laboratory has broken down, when I know that is where my money is coming from. So, when you refuse to collect a loan when the equipment is broken down, how do you generate revenue to run the agency?”

He maintained that it was through prudence that the agency owed N5 billion.

He said: “When compared with its United States (U.S.) counterpart, it is by prudent management that we are owing N5 billion. If you compare our budget with that of U.S. agency, we should be spending close to N400 billion a year.

And as I said, the law allows us to generate and spend ‘user fees’.”

The money spent, he said, “is not money we should pay into the Federation Accounts”.

On the allegation that the agency had not been remitting money in the past one and half years, Orhii said it was the responsibility of the former director of Finance to pay workers and contractors.

But he said Mogbojuri was not doing that.

Members of the Medical and

Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN, NAFDAC chapter, have given a week ultimatum to the management to pay outstanding allowances owned the workers, otherwise the union would embark on another strike.

The union, led by its chairman, Ibrahim Attah yesterday at a news briefing shortly after its congress at the agency’s Isolo Operational office, lamented that the outstanding arrears that led to the last year strike were not settled by the management despite available resources.

Attah argued that with the latest revelation that the organisation was generating about N9 billion annually, it had no cause to owe workers.

He said it was unfortunate that all along the management had been economical with the truth that the agency was broke.

A coalition of 14 civil societies has urged Buhari to be cautious of fake petitions.

The civil societies under the aegis of African Arise for Change Network said they decided to warn the President because some “fifth columnists are already positioning to truncate the gains of change”.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition yesterday in Abuja, its Secretary General Mr. Samson Bello revealed that the target of the protest was the director general of NAFDAC. The coalition called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), NAFDAC and the citizens to disregard the distractions constituted by the protesting groups as well as their sponsored petitions.

•From left: Special Representative and Head, United Nations Office for West Africa Mohammed Ibn Chambas; Former Ekiti State Governor/Guest lecturer Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Ghanaian Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur and Chair, Governing Board of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Dr. Christina Amoako-Nuama, at the Third Annual Prof. Atta Mills Memorial Lecture in Accra, Ghana…on Tuesday.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

7

Reorganise Ekiti APC, says chieftain From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

A

•Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (fourth right); Secretary to the State Government Tunji Bello (second right); Managing Director, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, Boyi Ibrahim (third right),Chairman, Executive Group, Ayo Ogunsan (third left), Executive Director, Finance, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, Alli Jumad (fourth left),MD/CEO, Infinity Group, Johnson Sehinde (fifth left), Head of Sales, Auto Nation, Mrs. Cladius Ojinmah (fifth right), Showroom Manager, Auto Nation, Mishra Navendu (right), Director, Transportation Engineering Department, Ministry of Transportation, Frederick Olofin (left) and his Finance & Administration counterpart, Mrs. Olabisi Ariyo(second left) when representatives of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria visited the governor at the Lagos House... yesterday.

Propagate true information, says Osun APC

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has appealed to professionals and educators to purposefully promote and disseminate truthful and enlightening information.

The party advised the media to always seek truth and propagate facts that would not mislead the public.

The party’s Director of Publicity, Kunle Oyatomi, was reacting to an article by Prof Niyi Akinnaso.

Oyatomi said: “The publication is perhaps the most graphic, truthful, factual, educative and enlightening piece that has been done by any commentator, critique, reporter or investigative journalist on the financial crisis in Osun.

“It is a model of dispassionate and carefully investigated story told by a person who fully understands what truthful and factual information is all about - to educate an ignorant or misinformed public.

“It is regrettable that in the Nigerian market place of ide-

as, so much falsehood about Osun has been propagated and assimilated by the gullible and impressionable consumers that the facts contained in Prof. Akinnaso’s piece will be a bitter pill for them to swallow. “‘Facts garnered from the article are that the economic crisis in Osun was as a result of a reckless, profligate and kleptomanic Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in Abuja that collapsed the country’s economy.

“That in reality, it was a

masterpiece of socio-economic engineering that Aregbesola could still undertake the level of development he achieved before the crash, despite the fact that every kobo earned by the state was used for recurrent expenditure from 2012 to 2014, incurring a deficit of N2 billion.

“The level of ignorance about the Osun situation is so widespread that it becomes a sad commentary on the status of education in the country vis-a-vis the quality of information available.

Ambode to assist blind columnist Falodun

L

AGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Tunji Bello, to ensure that all promises made to the former Radio Nigeria/Daily Times Ace Columnist Wole Falodun, are fulfilled.

Falodun, who wrote a popular column, Waka About, in the defunct Lagos

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

Weekend in the 1970s, went blind after a surgeon at the Lagos Island General Hospital made a mistake while treating him for glaucoma.

The surgeon, Dr. Orekoya, had mistakenly operated on the right eye instead of the left, resulting in Falodun’s blindness.

Falodun had sought assistance from previous administra-

tions, but his efforts did not yield results.

Moved by his plight, Ambode told Bello to contact Falodun and ensure that promises made by his predecessors were fulfilled.

According to the governor, the promises made to Falodun by his predecessors were not personal but made on behalf of the government.

A statement from the office of the SSG signed by the Di-

rector of Public Relations, Fola Adeyemi, said Falodun’s family is expected to liaise with the SSG’s office so that the governor’s directive could be carried out.

“This singular move is a demonstration of the commitment of this administration to the plight of its citizenry and it will ensure that promises made to Lagosians are fulfilled,” the statement said.

Lagos Assembly to partner Nollywood

L

AGOS State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa has advised the Movie Marketers Association of Nigeria to come up with ideas to improve Nollywood, especially tackling piracy.

Obasa spoke yesterday at the Lagos Assembly Round Table Dialogue with the Movie Marketers Association, comprising marketers, distributors, producers and directors, at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium, Assem-

By Oziegbe Okoeki

bly complex, Alausa, Ikeja.

“There is a ministry in charge of matters that concerns anything about Nollywood and with one of you here as a lawmaker we are sure we will do something to protect your interest.

“It is a war that we have to fight together. Your existence is a source of joy and happiness to Nigeria and that is why we are glad to help,” Obasa said.

The Speaker assured them that the government will not allow Nollywood die because “your industry has developed the economy and made this country popular abroad”.

Nollywood actor and the lawmaker representing Surulere 1 Desmond Elliot, who facilitated the forum, attributed the slow growth in the film industry to lack of government’s involvement.

He decried piracy, saying it was killing the industry

T

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

muter, died when a truck fell on him at a bus stop in IjebuOde. The dump site is within the old State Road Maintenance Agency (OGROMA) yard, opposite Agbeloba Building on Quarry Road.

A bricklayer working at the site, who witnessed the

incident, said the victims were working on three underground tankers, which were relocated from the government fuel dumps at the old secretariat.

It was gathered that firemen put out the fire quickly to enable rescuers retrieve the victim’s body.

On the Ijebu-Ode accident, the spokesman of the State

Police arraign ‘pastor’, brother for fraud From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

A

FAKE pastor, Ademola Alade and his brother, Adewumi, have been arraigned at an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s Court for alleged N1.7 million fraud.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Caleb Leranmo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on November 7, last year.

He said the accused fraudulently obtained the N1.7 million from seven people, who were seeking employment into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Leranmo gave the victims’ names as Femi Olowo, Emmanuel Ojo, Ireti Ojo, Gbenga Oluwasuyi, Kayode Dada, Fisayo Olubumo and Ayodele Omosowon.

The accused, who were arraigned on a four-count charge, pleaded not guilty.

The defence counsel, Busuyi Ayorinde, urged the court to grant them bail.

The Magistrate, Doyin Akosile, granted them bail of N50, 000 and two sureties.

She adjourned the case till July 27.

‘Summit organisers are PDP stooges’ •Obasa and its operators.

Elliot said the dialogue was to examine “how development partnership between the government and the film industry can boost the state’s economy”.

Two dead, two injured in Ogun accidents WO people died and two others were injured in separate accidents in Ogun State yesterday.

One person died in an explosion at a government petroleum dump site in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Two others were injured in the accident.

The last person, a com-

“People are as educated as the quality of information available for their consumption. Those who are in that business have a huge responsibility to educate our people correctly.”

The party, therefore, advised that any unbiased person or believer in truth who wants to know the facts about the Osun situation should read Prof Akinnaso’s article.

“No fake summit of unenlightened stakeholders can match the details in that piece”, the party said.

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Dr. Bayo Orire, has urged party leaders to reorganise, harmonise and reconcile the state chapter before a minister is appointed from the state.

Orire, who spoke in AdoEkiti yesterday, called for a caretaker committee to oversee the reorganisation, remobilisation and re-registration of new members.

The former Chairman of State Hospitals Management Board said the party has the potential to dislodge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), if all interests are harmonised.

The medical doctor-turned politician noted that Ekiti is a progressive state and the people are waiting for the APC to liberate them from the “draconian and iron-fisted rule of the PDP”.

He argued that the national leaders must put in place a thorough reconciliation process and reorganisation of the Ekiti APC to make it an election-winning platform ahead of the 2018 governorship poll.

Orire said: “We will need the national body to come to our aid fast enough. A caretaker committee will be needed to oversee re-registration, remobilisation and reorganisation of our party in Ekiti.

“We need a brand new, refurbished and strengthened APC. We will be able to win any election against the PDP once we are united.”

Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, said a Mack tanker, APP 81 XL, killed a man, Ahmed, when the truck fell on a Nissan space bus, KJA 901 BX. Akinbiyi said the tanker driver, identified as Chinedu, is in police custody.

The victim’s remains have been collected by his family.

T

HE Senator representing Osun East, Babajide Omoworare, has described the organisers of the proposed summit on education and the financial status of Osun State holding today as stooges of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement by his media aide, Tunde Dairo, the senator said this was one of several moves by the PDP and its agents to destabilise the peace and political tranquility in the state.

According to him, the PDP is hiding under “an emergency and politically conjured group, calling itself Osun Stakeholders”.

He maintained that the group is a front organisation of the PDP, adding that the “conveners of the summit are the party’s agents being used to fight a dirty cause”.

“Nothing necessitated the summit except being a forum to execute plans targeted at frustrating the Aregbesola administration.

“The financial stress in Osun is not peculiar to the state. It is a direct result of the economic cluelessness of the PDP controlled Federal Government.

“We recognise the right of groups and associations under whatever appellation, including the PDP, to assemble, but this latest move by the so-called stakeholders is capable of resulting in treason.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

8

NEWS

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (fifth right); Chairman, State Police Community Relations Committee, Amitolu Shittu (sixth right), Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Babatunde Sowole (fourth right), Superintendent of Police (SP) Waare Samuel (third right), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Folashade Odoro (sixth left), Public Relations Officer, State Police Community Relation Community (PCRC), Adeniran Ibitoye (second right) and others, when PCRC members visited the governor.

No one is above the law, says Osinbajo

N

O Nigerian is above the law, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday.

This is the first rule in any developed nation, said the Vice President, who insisted that the rule of law must be maintained in Nigeria.

He spoke at the Presidential Villa when the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) visited him.

According to Osinbajo, there was no reason why Nigeria should not be well run as other countries.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, Laolu Akande, the Vice President said: “Good economies are run by men, not spirits.

There is no reason why our country cannot be like that.”

•VP: rule of law must work From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Noting that the key to a good society is the rule of law, he said: “We insist that the rule of law be maintained, that no one is above the law.

“It is the first rule, the President has committed himself to this. He said it again in the United States.”

“If somebody is held according to the law, we must support that. Let us support what is good and right for the country,” he added.

Commending the important role road transporters play in the economy, the Vice-President said the union is “one of the truly national organisations that Ni-

geria can boast of”.

He said the union’s role could not be ignored, observing that its members provide the “most accessible form of transportation for our people.”

Osinbajo said because of the union’s strategic role, its members carry “a great deal of responsibility”.

“Your role comes with a great deal of responsibility and with tremendous opportunity,” he said He thanked the union for obeying the law.

The Vice-President said: “One of the things President Muhammadu Buhari has said consistently is that our elite must understand that every privilege comes with responsibility, like main-

taining the peace and stability of this nation. Without the peace, none of us can function.

“I believe we would see the end of Boko Haram, because we hold ourselves responsible to ensure that the insurgency does not continue.”

He urged NURTW members to remain vigilant, because “those who are being used for the attacks, the children, are conveyed from place to place.”

The union’s President, Najeem Usman Yasin, said the leaders came to congratulate the President and the Vice President on their electoral victory.

He praised the Buhari presidency for “adopting various strategies to end corruption and insurgency”.

Banjo: National Assembly crisis embarrassing

E

MERITUS Professor Ayo Banjo has described the National Assembly crisis as a “national embarrassment”, saying he was “embarrassed, disappointed and ashamed”.

The former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), who chaired the 10th remembrance anniversary of the late Prof Poju Onibokun at the International Conference Centre, Ibadan, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the United States was a step in the right direction.

“It shows what others think about us and how we think about ourselves. We can leverage on that. We should tidy up all the mess going on in this country because people are watching us. We must behave like adults,” he said.

Banjo described the late don, who died at 63, as one of Nigeria’s bravest scholars.

“As far back as 1990, the late Prof Onibokun established the Centre for African Settlement Studies and Development (CASSAD).

“He was involved with the big Abuja project under the supervision of Prof Akin Mabogunje.”

Describing the late Oni-

•’Universities need overhauling’ From Sikiru Akinola, Ibadan

bokun’s legacies as unforgettable, Banjo called for massive overhauling of universities.

He said: “Our universities need massive overhauling to make them a veritable engine of development, producing scholars working within and outside the university system, who will ensure a consistent rise in the level of development in the country.

“Prof Onibokun has bequeathed a legacy, which should challenge generations after him to be in the vanguard of efforts to develop the country and enhance the well-being and happiness of its inhabitants.”

In his lecture, Prof. John Bade Falade advised Nigerians to always obey town planning rules, because they are panacea to many health challenges in the country.

Speaking on the roles of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in sustainable community and national development, Falade observed that it was easier for the government to work with NGOs to achieve success in all areas.

He said: “Government, through the planning agency, is supposed to have plans for our communities. What we find in Nigeria at the moment is abnormality as people do not see town planners as their friends.

“Now, the case of Ibadan is a quite interesting. I grew up in Ibadan to some extent. I was here around 1969 till 1974, when I travelled abroad.

“The problem was that the planning was truncated, following the Agbekoya incident. That was the time of Maj-Gen Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd).

“Residents protested that town planners were extorting money from them, some people were killed. The protesters went to Agodi Prisons to set some people free.

“Then the governor went on television to say that there was no town planning again.

It was a law. So, all the development you see towards and around were as a result of how people began to build without government approval.

“This is the genesis of narrow roads in Ibadan today, and so till today, you see a lot of people building their

houses without approval.

“Town planning came as a preventive arm of medical service. We have to make sure that town planning works. We need to obey town planning rules. It is for our own good. In England where I practice, they don’t joke with it. So, we must learn to obey it for our own good,” Falade added.

Mabogunje described the late Prof Onibokun as an enterprising Nigerian, who was concerned with the problem in the country.

“He paid attention to ways in which we really don’t pay attention to our cities. And he wanted to come and see what can be done to improve the conditions in the cities.

“Although he worked for many years in the public sector, he took his money to start what is presently known as CASSAD. And so, he gave examples to people that you don’t wait for government to solve a problem.

“Ten years after, some things have changed, some are just as bad as when he left. This celebration is to show that we have not forgotten him and his contribution and to use it as an example which people can copy and improve upon,” he said.

Ambode: speak out against violence

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AGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has urged residents to speak out against sexual and domestic violence.

The governor spoke when the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team visited him at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

He assured the team that the government was ready to protect the identities of those who volunteer to report these cases.

“We just want to appeal to all Lagosians, they should not be afraid to speak out.

“We have our dedicated lines and we also know that we are going to give resources out; at any point in time they should be ready to speak freely to us.

“We would protect the

identities of everyone and the fact is that we should be the first point of call.

“In 2007, Lagos State passed a law on domestic violence. But beyond that, the law cannot work by itself, except we create the framework that enforces our laws. “ That is what we are standing for and in that respect, we talked about issues that relate to sexual and gender violence.

“What I want to let you know is that together whatever it is that we need to now reach out in a larger way and give support to those who have been victims.

“We have to let them know they have our support. That’s what we are going to do together. This government will strongly enforce our laws.”

Ondo workers suspend strike

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HE Ondo State government yesterday said it had reached an agreement with Organised Labour to suspend its proposed indefinite strike.

At a joint meeting at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, the two parties agreed on the payment of all outstanding allowances and deductions for March and April within 24 hours.

The unions and the government directed the payment of May salary of local government workers and primary school teachers.

Other workers will be paid after the sharing of the next federation allocation.

The Chairman of the Joint

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Negotiating Council (JNC), Sunday Adeleye, threatened that the unions would go on strike, if the government failed to honour the agreement.

Head of Service Toyin Akinkuotu said the government was committed to workers’ welfare and would fulfill its part of the agreement.

The meeting was attended by the governor’s Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Dayo Fadahunsi and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance as well as the chairmen and secretaries of various labour unions.

Trader dies in accident

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MEAT SELLER died yesterday in AdoEkiti, the Ekiti State capital, when a truck hit his motorcycle at Mojere Market.

The deceased was said to be on his way to keep an appointment.

Eyewitnesses said the motorcyclist was trying to overtake the truck.

The accident caused a gridlock on Iworoko Road.

The police and officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) ensured free

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

flow of traffic.

Passers-by wept as the body of the victim was being conveyed to the hospital.

Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi confirmed the incident.

Adeyemi said the driver was being interrogated.

The victim’s remains had been deposited at the State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH).

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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NEWS Delta poll: ‘INEC frustrating inspection’ From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

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N All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Sapele in the Delta State House of Assembly, Felix Anirah, has said Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials ara frustrating the inspection of electoral materials.

The APC candidate sued the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Monday Igbuya, at the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Asaba, the state capital.

He is challenging the declaration of Igbuya as the winner of the election.

The tribunal Chairman, Justice A. A. I. Banjoko, granted an order on July 8, for a joint inspection of the ballot boxes and ballot papers used in the ward/polling units in the constituency.

The court directed a recount of the votes of the first petitioner/applicant and the first defendant/respondent, following a motion on notice filed by the counsel to the petitioner, Ikhide Ehighelua, on July 6.

Addressing reporters at the INEC office in Sapele, counsel to the petitioner, represented

by Bukola Asema, frowned at the attempt by an INEC official to frustrate the petitioners’ right to inspect the electoral materials, as ordered by the court.

She said: “We all agreed to meet here at INEC office in Sapele by 9am this morning (yesterday). However, we have been waiting since. Now, it is 3pm and the EO is yet to come. This is a clear case of breach of the court’s order, which directed that all the parties should be in INEC office by 9am on July 21 and 22 for a joint inspection.”

Edo tells Perm Secs to block revenue leakages

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HE Edo State Government has directed its permanent secretaries and directors to block leakages and fraud in their Departments, Ministries and Agencies (MDAs) or face the repercussion.

The government gave the order at a seminar on enhancing internally generated revenue (IGR).

Head of Service (HOS) Jerry Obazele, who issued a communiqué at the end of the seminar, said top civil servants resolved to block all loopholes and increase the state’s IGR to cushion the effects of the dwindling revenue from the Federation Account.

Obazele said: “It was generally agreed that there is an urgent need in Edo State to increase the IGR because of the dwindling receipts from the Federation Account and other external sources of revenue to it.

“Permanent secretaries in Edo State, as the accounting officers of their MDAs, should take necessary steps to ensure that the revenue accruable to their MDAs are duly identified, collected and remitted intact into the government’s treasury. The permanent secretaries should take necessary steps to ensure that revenue leakages are blocked.

Probe Jonathan, wife, APC chief urges Buhari

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KINSMAN of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Perekeme Kpodo, yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prosecute his predecessor and his wife, Dame Patience.

Kpodo, who addressed reporters in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, said the former President, his wife and allies should be tried for alleged financial misdeeds.

The Bayelsa indigene declared himself a factional

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He faulted the defection of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to APC. According to him, the acceptance of the defectors to the APC by the Tiwei Orunimighe-led executive committee was illegal.

Kpodo said those rushing into the APC aimed to escape prosecution by the Buhari administration.

The APC chieftain described most of the defectors as corrupt politicians who should face the law.

He urged President Buhari not to be discouraged by pressure from those whipping up sentiments to protect Jonathan and his wife.

Kpodo said the APC stance against corrupt associates of the last administration of Jonathan was well known.

He said: “As a decent state executive, we consider the attempt to make the APC a

dumping ground unacceptable and vexatious. APC in the state will not allow itself to become a dumping ground for desperate looters and thieves in need of protection from prosecution.

“We call on President Buhari to order a detailed investigation into the acts of fraud and embezzlement by these defectors and their associates.

“We support the moves by President Buhari for the prosecution of former President Jonathan, his wife, Patience

Jonathan, and his known associates for the looting and associated crimes committed against the state.”

Kpodo advised APC’s aspiring defectors to get clearance at the ward and state levels.

The APC chieftain said defectors to the party must show clear records of performance from their parent party or parties before official presentation to the loyalists and progressive supporters of the party.

He said the APC would soon release the timetable to receive its supporters, defectors and the processes for its primaries.

Protest rocks Otuoke Varsity •Indigenes demand managerial positions From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

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•Imo State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Chief Gideon Ezeji (left), reading the resolutions of the council endorsing the protest by Imo pensioners over arrears of pension and gratuity owed them, in Owerri...yesterday. With him is the State Secretary, Mr Livinus Asiegbu and others.

PHOTO: NAN

Army urges calm over UNIBEN student’s death

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HE 4 Mechanised Brigade in Benin, the Edo State capital, yesterday enjoined students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) to remain calm, following the death of one of their colleagues on Tuesday.

The brigade made the appeal in a statement in Benin by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Capt. Jonah Unuakhalu.

Two female students of the university were knocked down on Sunday morning in front of the university’s gate by a patrol vehicle of a security outfit, Operation Pulo Shield, driven by a soldier.

The death of one of the students sparked a protest, which grounded activities at Ogbowo in Benin.

The Army said the brigade had started investigation into the matter to determine the cause of the accident.

It said efforts were being made to reach the families of the deceased.

The statement said: “On Sunday morning, at 8.30a.m, there was a road accident involving Operation Pulo Shield

FRSC to build rumble strides on road near UNIBEN

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HE Edo State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is to build rumble strides at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) main gate axis of the BeninLagos Expressway to prevent further deaths from accidents on the road.

A female student in the Department of Philosophy was knocked down recently by an Army patrol vehicle when she was going to church.

Another female student, who was also hit, has been stabilised and admitted at the institution’s health centre.

UNIBEN students angrily blocked the highway, causing a heavy traffic.

They demanded the construction of flyover on the highway.

The students built a speed breaker on the highway after several hours of protest.

A visit to UNIBEN main gate showed that a zebra crossing was being drawn on the road.

FRSC’s Unit Commander Ameen Adewale said the zebra crossing would be completed From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

vehicle, driven by a soldier.

It knocked down two ladies, who were confirmed to be UNIBEN students.

“They were, however, evacuated to a nearby hospital

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

by today.

He said the construction of rumble strides on the expressway would slow down traffic on the road.

Adewale said: “Rumble strides will be the answer to the problems on that road. Vehicles will slow down. Street bumps will not work on the road. The one done by the students has been knocked away by vehicles.”

Also, the Edo State House of Assembly has passed a resolution, urging UNIBEN authorities and other relevant agencies to save the students from further deaths.

The resolution was passed after the lawmaker representing Ovia North East I, Sunday Osazemwinde, presented the issue under matters of urgent public importance.

Deputy Speaker Bright Osayande said the school authorities should have placed a zebra crossing on the road, instead of waiting for the government, to prevent more deaths from similar accidents.

where one was confirmed dead; the other student is responding to treatment.

“Efforts are being made by the command to reach the university authority and families of the two students involved in the accident and to further dialogue with the

Students’ Union Government (GUG) to avert the protest. But the students insisted on speaking with government officials.

“It is advisable that the students should keep calm as the command is looking into the issue.”

APC, Peterside to tribunal: ask INEC to move election materials inspection of the materials it IVERS State All Proto Abuja for inspection used for the election. gressives Congress

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(APC) and its governorship candidate in the last election, Dr Dakuku Peterside, have begun moves to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to produce the materials used in the election to Abuja for inspection.

The party and its candidate have filed a motion to that effect before the State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

They said their decision was informed by INEC’s contin-

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

ued refusal to obey the order for inspection made by the tribunal on June 11.

APC and Peterside are challenging the outcome of the election, in which INEC declared Nyesome Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the winner.

They said the election did not comply with the Electoral Act (EA), INEC’s Electoral Guideline and manual made pursuant to the EA.

The petitioners had complained to the tribunal that INEC was working with the PDP and Wike to frustrate the inspection of the election materials.

Following the complaint, the tribunal, in a ruling on July 9, restated its order, which it said was directed at INEC. The petitioners’ lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), informed the court yesterday that INEC refused to allow the

“Your lordship made an order on June 11 for the inspection of election materials.

The order was restated on July 9. That order has not been obeyed by INEC,” Olujinmi said.

After the tribunal’s proceedings, the eminent lawyer addressed reporters.

He said: “We have now applied that INEC be compelled to bring the election materials to Abuja for inspection since they have made inspection impossible in Rivers State.

GGRIEVED youths in Bayelsa State yesterday protested in Otuoke, the hometown of former President Goodluck Jonathan, in Ogbia Local Government Area.

They sought the appointment of indigenes into managerial positions in the Federal University, Otuoke (FUO).

The protesters accused the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, of ethnicity.

They said none of the principal officers in the institution hails from the state.

It was learnt that the over 200 placard-carrying youths consisted of members of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide and students from tertiary institutions in Niger Delta states.

The protesters were said to have converged on FUO main campus and locked the workers and students out.

They were said to have marched from the main campus to the administrative buildings. But they were denied entry by security operatives, who got a wind of the protest.

The protest caused panic among the residents.

Business owners hurriedly closed their shops for fear that hoodlums could hijack the protest.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards include: “Bayelsa youths say no to change of principal officers from Bayelsa”; “Registrar is not a Bayelsan. He is short-changing Bayelsans”; “Leave our woman bursar alone. We need equal representation in the management of FUO, Otuoke”; “IYC declares war, if bursar and librarian are changed” and “VC and registrar must go now. Enough is enough.”

The President of the National Union of Bayelsa State Students (NUBSS), Richard Lawyer led the protest.

He said the protesters were sending a message to Prof Aluko and the school management.

The union leader alleged that the VC edged out the Acting Bursar, an indigene, and “manipulated” the retention of his preferred candidates for choice positions.

Richard said the people would not accept a situation where principal offices, including heads of departments, were occupied by non-indigenes.

The students’ leader said they were unhappy with the way Prof Aluko was running the university, adding that the alleged neglect of Bayelsa indigenes must stop.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

11 ‘The present challenges we are facing should not deter us from growing our economy. It shouldn’t stop us from investing. It’s just a passing phase. Other countries that we refer to as developed started from somewhere’ •President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote

GENCOs: Three banks under probe over N50b in escrow accounts T HE Presidency is probing three banks for short-changing the Federal Government in the management of the N50 billion escrow accounts interest yield for seven Electric Power Generation Companies (EPGC).

The row over the escrow accounts was referred to President Muhammadu Buhari following the loss of over N10 billion interest yielded in the last two years.

The companies are: Afam Power Plc; Egbin Power Plc; Geregu Power Plc; Kainji Hydro-Electric Plc; Sapele Power Plc; Shiroro HydroElectric Plc; and Ughelli Power Plc. Each of the generation companies (sellers), pursuant to the provisions of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act No. 6 of 2005,

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

were mandated to take over generation and related businesses of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Safety escrow accounts were established to protect the stake of private investors in the seven generation firms.

The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) in 2013 entered into an agreement with three banks to manage the N50 billion.

The said N50 billion was sourced from the proceeds of the privatisation of Egbin Power Plc. But, contrary to the guidelines of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the banks have not been paying “the required in-

terest on the escrow accounts”.

It was gathered that instead of paying 10 per cent interest on the N50billion as applicable to other funds being managed by NBET, the banks had been remitting only 0.02 per cent interest per annum.

It was also gathered that Clause 7.1 (Compensation) of the agreement that the interest on the escrow accounts be compounded monthly together with the balances in the Escrow Accounts” The agreement reads in part: “The Escrowed Funds in the escrow accounts shall bear interest at such rate as shall be agreed between BPE and the Escrow Agents from time to time (“the Interest’’). The Interest shall, subject to Clause 7.1

(Compensation), be compounded monthly together with the balances in the escrow accounts pending distribution in accordance with Clause 5 (Distribution of Escrowed Funds) of this Agreement.”

Sequel to the earlier petition, it was learnt NBET’s efforts to persuade the banks to adopt CBN’s guidelines on the escrow accounts have failed in the past one month.

In a letter to the banks, NBET said the interest rate was no longer acceptable.

The letter said: “Pursuant to the commencement of TEM, NBET is now poised for an active management of the escrows.

“A myriad of events have altered the fundamentals of the

macro economy. The surge in inflation coupled with decisions made by the Monetary Policy Committee of the apex bank(CBN) that included a review of the CRR have necessitated NBET to call for a meeting with the lead escrow bank.

“The meeting will serve as an avenue to review the management of the Escrow and consider strategies to maximise returns on the funds more efficiently.”

“Further to the meeting held between ourselves and all three escrow banks, while working on amending the Egbin escrow agreement, we wish to request for an increase in interest rate earned on our credit balances “As discussed, this is in line with market realities, especially with the recent increase in CRR and with a bid to maximise returns on the funds more efficiently.”

Firm urges support for N20b Calabar port dredging project From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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HE Managing Director, Calabar Channel Man agement Limited (CCM), Mr. Bart Van Eenoo, has urged those who lost out in the bid for the dredging of the Calabar Port, which his company won to be honourable in defeat and support it for early completion of the project for the benefit of Nigerians.

CCM is the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)’s Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) comprising a consortium of companies led by Niger Global Engineering & Technical Company Limited with world number one dredging company-Royal Boskalis and Westminster Dredging that is dredging the Port and is expected to maintain the Calabar navigation Channel.

A statement issued ostensibly in reaction to call by Nigerian Shippers Council to probe the dredging contract, explained that there was nothing fishy about the contract as “the entire contract followed due process, obtained all the necessary approvals and vetting of the agreement by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) before its execution”.

He said the losers in concert with a cabal in the sector were not happy with the progress made by his company to dredge the Calabar Port which in the past, remained a drain on the national treasury and have resorted to the campaign of calumny and falsehood.

He said activities at the Calabar Channel were similar to those at the Bonny and Lagos Channels and wondered why the losers would single out “Calabar Channel to constantly put it in bad light even when the contract is being executed by a consortium made up of world class dredging companies.

• From left: Legal Adviser, Bitflux, Bosun Hambolu; Senior Manager, Dr. Shanti Tripathi; Senior Staff, Engineering Department, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Victor Adoga; and a Department staff, Ikenna Mbar, during the inspection of Bitflux Data Centre facility in Lagos by the NCC’s team.

‘Concessioned Inland Container Depots ill-equipped’ CUSTOMS chief Abdullahi Dikko-Inde yesterday said concessionaires of the Inland Container Depots (ICDs) projects have no equipment to carry out their job.

The Comptroller-General spoke in Abuja during the inauguration of the committee on the ICD projects that comprises NCS officers and personnel of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).

He likened the inability of the concessionaires to when the Federal Government introduced service providers that operated in the country for a year without equipment only to invest money they made from the system .

Dikko said: “The concessionaires have no equipment; they don’t have and we should not shy away from telling the government that they don’t have.

“It is just like the situation we found ourselves when service providers were introduced into Nigeria. For one

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

year, they did not bring anything to operate in Nigeria and they were collecting money.

“The money they collected from Nigeria was what they invested. It was only when I became the ComptrollerGeneral that I put pressure on them and they started providing scanners.”

The Customs chief assured stakeholders that the NCS has a system of knowing any cargo departing from anywhere in the world, noting that it has a system of tracking cargoes.

Dikko however explained to the council that the Customs was yet to implement the single window due to what is embedded in the framework, especially the modern technology in clearing procedure.

He said: “There are issues that have to do with legal

backing, which I am sure with the new government if the president settles down, I am sure we will introduce the legal framework for his assent.”

According to him, Customs contributes 25 per cent of goods clearing procedure.

Speaking on the occasion, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, said the NSC has been the driver of the national single window.

He congratulated the Customs on the single window system. He said: “We will like to see its implementation because it will be a tool for policy formulation and for our trade; it will enhance the ease of doing business.”

Bello said the council has been saddled with the responsibility of tracking cargoes, stressing that the assignment would result in risk mitigation.

Inaugurating the committee, Dikko said it was to ex-

• Dikko

amine the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ICD concessionaires and the NCS prepared in accordance with the relevant provisions of the ICD Agreement.

The committee, he said is to among other things, develop a workable roadmap for effective release and smooth flow of ICD bound containers/cargoes to and from the seaports.

The committee was tasked to recommend applicable software (electronic data interchange ) for use and adoption by the ICD concessionaires/operators at the respective dry ports.

Job cuts, poor working condition at CCECC irk workers

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro, Kingsley Diko and Esther Unachukwu

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ERMANENT and casual workers of China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC) yesterday stormed the office of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, to protest the sack of about 500 workers by the corporation.

The workers who are engaged in ongoing construction of Lagos Blue Line Light Rail also lamented the poor working condition that the company subjected them to.

The workers, in a protest letter to Governor Ambode said many of their colleagues had been employed by the company for the past five years and were laid off without any form of payment.

They demanded the governor’s intervention in their plight to ensure that what duly belonged to them was paid by the Chinese firm.

One of the protesters, Mr. Mark Okila, who lost one arm while working for CCECC said the protesters want CCECC to pay the casual workers sacked N600,000 severance package and workers laid off N800,000 severance package.

He said: “We were deprived of our rights while working for the company in such a way that the company will offer us a job without appointment letters.

Even when they employ most of their workers for the space of five years, they will not convert them to staff.

“We are treated like slaves in the company and whenever we try to defend our rights, they will start dismissing us from work. They will say that if we are not ready to work in accordance with their policies, we should leave.”

Okila lamented that casual workers with the Chinese firm earned N550 per day while workers were paid N850 per day, adding that issues of safety had been jeopadised by the company as lots of industrial accidents had occurred during work-hour.

“We were given appointment without any safety induction, certification and safety gadgets. This has led many workers to have permanent disabilities and others even death in the process of working for the company and nothing serious has been done about it.

“We are seeking the intervention of the governor for justice to be done in this matter of abuse of citizen’s right by CCECC,” he said.

He vowed that the sacked workers would shut down the site of the rail project today if their entitlements were not fully paid by CCECC. The protesters stated that in the process of working for the company, Mr. Okila was involved in an accident which led to his right arm being amputated while Mr. Aondowase Fidelis lost his eye and Mr Moses Ajar lost his left thumb.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

BUSINESS NEWS

Nigeria spends N10tr on rice, sugar, wheat since 2005

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HE Federal Government yesterday said the country has spent over N10 trillion on the importation of rice, sugar, wheat and fish since 2005.

The government said the figure indicated that the country spends over N1 trillion year importing the food items.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Sonny Echono, said Nigeria’s food import bill is growing at an unsustainable rate of 11 per cent, while the country continued to rely on the importation of food from the global mar-

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

ket.

Echono spoke during a two-day workshop on Food Crisis Prevention and Management Charter held at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Abuja yesterday.

He added that import dependency was hurting Nigeria farmers, displacing local production and creating unemployment.

According to him, Nigeria’s unemployment rate is spiralling, driven by the wave of four million young people entering the workforce every

year with only a small fraction able to find employment.

“Nigeria became a net importer of food and major importer of wheat, rice, sugar and fish. Importation of these four commodities accounts for over N1trillion in foreign exchange every year since 2005. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that Nigeria is the world’s largest importer of United States hard red and white winter wheat with an annual food import of N635billion.

“It is also the second largest importer of rice (N700billion last year), sugar (N217billion) and

fish (N97billion). Nigeria’s food imports are growing at an unsustainable rate of 11 per cent per annum while relying on the import of expensive food on global markets fuels domestic inflation,” he said, lamenting that Nigeria imports what it can produce in abundance.

According to him, import-dependency is hurting local farmers, displacing local production and creating job loss.

Echono, who was represented by the Director of Agriculture, Mr. Damilola Eniayeju, explained that Nigeria had vast arable land for cultivation, adding that this must be har-

nessed by stakeholders in order to effectively prevent food crisis and reduce import to its barest minimum.

He noted that the country has about 174 million people to feed daily as well as its neighbours, adding that it was time to start thinking of massive agricultural production for export.

“Nigeria has huge agricultural potential, with over 84 million hectares of arable land, of which only 40 per cent is cultivated.

A population of over 167 million making it Africa’s largest market; and 230 billion cubic meters of water, making it one of the richest sources for agricul-

tural growth in the world.

“Agriculture contributes to rural people’s livelihoods by providing them with food and income. In addition, agricultural exports have potential to contribute to the national economy through generating foreign exchange and improving the balance of payments.

“The fact that the bread basket region-Northcentral part of Nigeria, has the lowest unemployment rate (nine per cent) in the country suggests that increasing investment in agricukture is a frontal attack on the unemployment challenge,” Echono added.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

Manufacturers, others laud Buhari on M improved power supply MANUFACTURERS acting under the aegis of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), commercial and residential consumers of electricity, have praised President Muhammadu Buhari over current improvement in power supply in the country. They urged the government to sustain the tempo and improve on it.

Major consumers of electricity in the country including the industrial, commercial and residential customers that spoke with The Nation lauded the improvment, saying it will lead to job creation.

The manufacturers that fall under the industrial or maximum demand customers consume the greatest volume of electricity. At the time of very low generation and supply that category of consumers depended solely on generators.

President of MAN, Dr Frank Jacobs confirmed that power supply has really improved. He told The Nation that his members are excited over the development, and urged President Buhari to sustain and improve the supply.

He said: “Most of our members that I spoke to on this issue confirmed that there has been significant improvement in electricity supply unlike in the past when we may not have elec-

•Seek privatisation of Transmission Company

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

tricity for some days.

“I will like to advise the government not to relax as much is needed to be done. Government should ensure that there is adequate supply of gas, and at very affordable price. This will go a long way to help stabilise the improvement we are witnessing now.

“The Federal Government should also privatise the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). This will not only help to fully achieve the goals of privatisation but also help the private firms to invest in that segment of power supply value chain. With the investment from the private sector, the transmission network will be expanded speedily and the problem of system collapses will be drastically reduced.

“The control of the transmission arm of the power sector by the government is slowing down the attainment of the privatisation goals because of

Govt urged to increase oil output above 2.2m bpd

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HE Federal Government has been urged to increase crude oil production from the current level of between 2.2millon and 2.3 million barrels per day (bpd).

The low output has made it difficult for the government to generate enough revenue for socio-economic development, data from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has shown.

The data showed that the country’s crude production has been less than 2.5mpd, while the global oil downturn persists. It is in view of this development that the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigerian chapter, advised the government to ramp up oil production by engaging in more drilling and exploration activities.

Speaking in Lagos during a briefing to herald the 2015 Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE), its Country’ Chairman, Emeka Ene said the need to buoy oil production became necessary in order to reduce the impact of global oil recession on Nigeria.

He said: “There is urgent need by the government to improve daily oil production via drilling more wells. The oil in the Gulf of Guinea holds more prospects for Nigeria.

However, the need to optimise the potentials in the nation’s oil and gas industry by drilling more wells would go a long way in boosting production. It is better for Nigeria to drill more oil wells during a down cycle period than a booming period. This is the only way we (Nigeria) can have more to sell and make more money during recession.’’

According to him, the industry operates in a cycle, stressing that there are upside and downside period in the sector.

“There was a period when oil was $11 per barrel before the price moved to $40, $50 and over $100 per barrel. Later, the price fell to below $50 per barrel. So, if we increase the volume of oil production, the country would benefit in the long- term no matter the hap-

the bureaucratic bottlenecks associated with running public owned and controlled organisations.”

The Director-General, Nigeria Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA), Mr. Jaiyeola Olarewaju said power supply has improved but added that much is still required to make the desired impact.

He said: “Power has improved but not up to 30-40 per cent of our requirement. About 70-80 per cent of the power we use ought to come from the national grid, so we still heavily depend on generators.

“Even though supply has improved in some places but we still cannot give them pas mark. The Federal Government shouldn’t relent on its efforts to supply adequate supply to the industrial sector. Government should also look at the private companies that bought the successor companies of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). The investors whose companies are not doing the right thing should forefeit their licences.”

Some artisans including welders, hair dressers, barbing salon operators at Berger and Ikeja in Lagos who spoke

to The Nation also confirmed that supply has improved and has boosted their business. Operators of cold rooms at Ijora and Oshodi said the hours of supply has improved but they still complement with their personal generators.

The increase in generation at Egbin Power plant is responsible for the huge improvement witnessed in Lagos State and its environs. The power plant a few months ago, was generating below 500 megawatts (Mw) but currently it generates over 1050Mw. The Chairman, Egbin Power Plc, Mr. Kola Adesina said the improvement being witnessed is part of the benefits and success of the privatisation process and power sector reform in Nigeria. He attributed the achievement partly to the direct intervention of the Federal Government in its determination to resolve the power crisis, which has resulted in recent improvement in gas supply.

“This is driving the increase in power supply in the nation, boosting socio-economic development.

Prior to this, we had invested

•Buhari

heavily and had the plant ready to generate power at full capacity but there was no gas to do so. This is indeed a good development for the power sector in Nigeria,” he said.

He commended the government for the intervention in the gas situation that has impacted on power generation positively, and called for more dynamic policies and incentives for sustainable gas supply across the nation.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Dallas Peavey said the transformation in Egbin commenced following its acquisition by Kepco Energy Resource Limited (KERL), in collaboration with its technical partners, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).

By Akinola Ajibade

penings in the international market.

Ene said activities in Kuwait and other oil producing nations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are all time hard, adding that the development made the country to try investing billions of dollars in the industry.

He said while UAE is putting in place measures in place to cushion the effects of the global oil downturn and further improve production.

He said Nigeria should do something over a long-term period to address problems in the industry.

Ene said the resuscitation of the industry is necessary in the light of decreasing oil production and revenue, adding that the government has taken steps in this direction.

On the conference, Ene said NAICE 2015 conference, being the 39th edition, will hold from between August 4 and 6, at the Expo Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos. The theme for this year’s conference is “Natural Gas Development and Exploitation in an Emerging Economy – Strategies, Infrastructure and Policy Framework,” he said.

The main focus of the conference is “Sustainability, Infrastructure and Framework in an emerging economy” with a focus on natural gas development and exploitation, he said, adding that there will be workshops on marginal field, among others.

Expected to speak at the event are the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, SAN, Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Group Managing Director NNPC, Dr. Joseph Thlama Dawha, Mr. Helge Hove Haldorsen, Vice President, Strategy & Portfolio Development & Production, North America, Statoil, Mrs. Elisabeth Proust, Chief Executive Officer, Total Exploration & Production, Nigeria, and Mr. Clay Neff Jr, Chairman & Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria Limited.

•From left: Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Joseph Ajienka; Mr. Ene; SPE Africa Regions' Director- Elect for 2016, Yemi Akinlawon; and BoT Chairman, SPE Nigeria Council, Alex Neyin, when SPE Nigeria Council signed an agreement with University of Port Harcourt for the building of an Energy Centre at the university.

Gas sector needs robust policy framework, says DPR

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HE Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has said the gas sector needs robust and appropriate policy framework to enable the country harness the opportunities and benefits in its abundant gas resource.

Its Deputy Director, Gas Monitoring and Regulation, Mr. Antigha Ekaluo who spoke in Lagos yesterday at the 2015 Business Forum and Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Gas Association (NGA) said only a good policy could move the sector forward . The theme of this year’s Business Forum is Harnessing and monetising the potential of stranded gas fields.

Ekaluo said effective gas sector policy will give Nigeria the ability to harness opportunities in the sector and will afford the country the opportunity to enjoy

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

maximum value from its stranded gas resources. Nigeria, he said, is endowed with abundant gas resources and the sector holds huge potentials for unprecedented growth.

He said: “The existing legal and regulatory framework, written primarily for oil does not provide robust technical and commercial framework for gas. There is therefore the need to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law, which will underpin the ongoing sector reforms.

The gas sector policies will provide Nigeria with the opportunity to harness and get maximum value from its stranded gas resources.”

He said effective gas sector development remains a strong catalyst for growth of the economy.

Besides, such growth will also have a multiplier effect on the Nigerian economy, he added.

In harnessing and monetising stranded gas, Ekaluo said there is need to adopt new technologies, adding that government should also deepen market penetration, sustain demand growth and also vigorously pursue the completion of gas gathering and utilisation projects. He said there is urgent need to address gaps in regulatory and commercial frameworks across the gas value chain.

The Chairman, Society of Petroleum Engineering (SPE), Nigeria Council, Mr. Emeka Ene said to achieve effective strategy for monetising stranded gas, there is need to identify and secure country’s closest markets and develop an integrated flare-out model.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

ENERGY

Local meter manufacturers seek govt’s intervention T

HE Electricity Meters Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (EMMAN) has called on the Federal Government to assist its members’ firms from folding up.

He said some of the firms might go under for lack of patronage by the privatised power companies.

Its Executive Secretary, Mr. Muideen Adebayo Ibrahim, told The Nation that despite the huge loans his colleagues took from banks to build the meter manufacturing factories, the electricity distribution companies (DISCOS) have refused to buy meters from them.

The situation has forced some of their members to close shops, while others drastically cut their workforce, he decried.

He said: “Our members out of sheer patriotism, despite numerous challenges confronting manufacturers in Nigeria, took undaunted risks with borrowed funds with the accompanying high interest rates, established world-class factories with state-of-theart facilities.

“Every local manufacturer has production capacity of 1.2 million meters per annum with room for future expansion. Not only that, smart meters (single and three-phase) are produced with GPRS data bundle that allows for communication between the meter and the server.

“Our members have robust billing application system, energy theft accounting system, automatic metering infrastructure, superlative customer relationship management system platform, prompt after sales service and asset management mechanism, among others.

“In fact, some of the billing application system or platforms designed by our members are currently being used by some of the distribution companies.

This actually laid credence to the fact that the local meter manufacturers can

Stories by Emeka Ugwuanyi

do it, even if not better. But they have been faced with plethora of challenges in the past, which became more serious within the last one and half years, especially since the new owners of the distribution companies took over.

“In fact, without mincing words, it has been very tough for our members, hence some have downsized their workforce and others shut down factories. Currently, one of the financiers threatened to dispose the factory of one of our members for his inability to service his obligation. It is, indeed, a sad commentary because we are running from pillar to post in order to ameliorate the situation.”

As a result of the enormous challenges facing them, the EMMAN scribe urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the sector, create and make available a special intervention fund where local electricity meter manufacturers should draw soft loans at a maximum of two per cent interest rate. With such loans, locally produced meters can be sold to the distribution companies (DisCos) at very competitive price just as their counterparts from China sell to the DISCOS on one year moratorium and five per cent interest, he said.

He also asked the government to prevail on all the DISCOS to patronise locally produced electricity meters to create more jobs for Nigerians, increase its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which would on the long run boost the yearly revenue earnings of Nigeria and curb capital flight, among others. The government should support and encourage EMMAN members as the Chinese Government gave unflinching support to their counterparts in China, he added.

Other requests by the local meter manufacturers include providing them (manufacturers) with the necessary in-

frastructure and facilities because some of the manufacturers rely on generating sets to operate, prevail on the DISCOS to stop estimated billing, and let the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) step up and perform its oversight functions and responsibilities effectively and efficiently without bias or sentiment. NERC should apply the necessary sanction to any errant firm if need be, and ensure that the provision of Local Content Act on power sector is obeyed to the letter, he said.

“Government should place embargo on the importation of meters in order to encourage local meter manufacturers, just as it was recently done in the automotive sector, protect the local manufacturers just as done in Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and South Africa, allow local manufacturers to sell meters to consumers and/or approved vendors in order to open up the market, and mandate all the local meter manufacturers to roll out at least 200,000 units of meters monthly. ‘’This will keep the factories running and more Nigerians would be gainfully employed. Rather than allowing the DisCos to buy from Chinese companies, which means developing China at the expense of our dear nation. NERC and Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment should act as the supervisory bodies in this regard.

“We will like to recommend the constitution of a monitoring committee for the DisCos and the manufacturers. The committee should comprise of representatives from; NERC, DisCos, EMMAN, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), EMS, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and Ministry of Power. This will ensure that things move on in the right direction which in the long run will propel the economy and this would no doubt enable more jobs to be created for the teeming unemployed,’’ he added.

Bell Oil chief laments jobs’ export THE Managing Director of Bell Oil & Gas, Mr. Kayode Thomas, has regretted that some firms still take jobs abroad even when such could be done at home.

He said it had become imperative for such firms to change or be compelled to do so to promote indigenous firms and create jobs.

Thomas spoke when his firm’s spool yard for Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) pipes was inaugurated in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Denzil Kentebe.

NCDMB’s spokesman, Obinna Ezeobi, in a statement, said the spool yard manufactures pipes with diverse bends and angles, delivering liquids to various outlets at different temperatures and pressures, hence cannot be manufactured in conventional pipe mills.

Ezeobi said the NCDMB chief praised Bell Oil and Gas for the investment, which came on the back

of the Board’s Nigerian Content Equipment Component Manufacturing and Certification (NCEC) programme commenced under the leadership of the pioneer Executive Secretary, Dr. Ernest Nwapa.

He described the NCEC’s initiative as laudable, pledging that the Board would continue to implement the framework and other programmes geared towards encouraging investments and establishment of facilities in Nigeria.

Kentebe noted that such facilities contribute to the Board’s vision to use the Nigerian Content as a vehicle for industrialisation and creation of employment and training for qualified Nigerians.

He said the focus of the Board is to create shop floors that would train and empower Nigerians in all sectors of the industry, adding that NCDMB would continue to promote hands-on training in manufacturing, engineering, fabrication, marine, subsea, drilling and well services and all other activities.

Total begins production from Dalia field

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OTAL said it has started production from Dalia Phase 1A, a new development on the offshore operated Block 17, located 83 miles off the coast of Angola.

The Dalia Phase 1A project involves the drilling of seven infill wells tied back to the Dalia Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit. The project will develop additional reserves of 51 million barrels and will contribute 30,000 barrels per day to the Block’s production, according to Total.

Total President Exploration & Production, Arnaud Breuillac, said: “The Dalia FPSO came on stream nearly nine years ago and with the addition of Phase 1A will still produce around 200,000 barrels per day. It is the latest milestone in the success story of Block 17, Total’s most prolific licence with cumulative production reaching two billion barrels in

May 2015. Dalia Phase 1A demonstrates Total’s commitment to maximising value through the optimal use of existing facilities. These types of profitable satellite tie-back developments play an important role in maintaining production levels and generating additional free cash flow for the group.”

Total operates Block 17 with a 40 per cent interest alongside Statoil, which holds a 23.33 per cent interest, Esso Exploration Angola Block 17 Limited, which holds a 20 per cent interest, and BP Exploration Angola Limited, which holds a 16.67 per cent interest.

Through Blocks 17, 0 and 14, Total’s equity production reached 200,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2014.

The company’s operated production exceeded 700,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2015, making it Angola’s leading oil operator.

Angola requests bids for 10 onshore blocks THE national oil firm of Africa’s second largest crude exporter Angola’s Sonangol has requested prequalified bidders to submit bids for ten onshore oil blocks in order to open up new exploration opportunities for Angola.

According to Reuters, United States’ oil major Chevron, Italy’s ENI, commodities trader Glencore and Portugal’s GALP were among the prequalified companies that could operate the blocks, Sonangol said in a press release. Bid proposals must be submitted by September 18, the firm said..

Sonangol had last year said that the 10 blocks may hold on average, reserves of 700,000 barrels of oil each. The government puts Angola’s total reserves at just under 13 billion barrels.

Operators will need to work with Angolan companies as the government seeks to increase local ownership of its resources. Seven of the new blocks are in the Kwanza basin and three in the Congo Basin.

Angola produces around 1.7 million barrels per day of crude oil from large offshore fields developed by oil majors, including Chevron, Total, Exxon and BP.

Gas exports from Tullow’s Jubilee field suspended TULLOW Oil Plc has said that natural gas exports from its Ghanaian Jubilee field to the Ghana gas plant at Atuabo have been suspended since July 3 because of technical issues with its gas compression systems. This has also restricted oil production, the company said.

According to MarketWatch report, gas exports are forecast to resume by mid-August and oil production is currently restricted to about 65,000 barrels

•Power facility

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HE Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Denzil Kentebe, has said the successful implementation of Nigerian Content is good to all stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, including the international oil companies (IOCs).

He spoke when the General Managers of Nigerian Content departments of IOCs paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

He said the Nigerian Content Act was well implemented, adding that the Board and the operators see themselves as parttners in progress.

The Board decided from its inception in 2010 to collaborate with the

of oil a day, with no effect on the field’s reservoir or resources, the company said.

The U.K., Ireland and Ghana-listed Company said it has mobilised a team of experts to fix the fault within the gas compression system and estimates that it will take approximately three more weeks to reinstate gas exports and full oil production.

Tullow said it would provide a further update at its half yearly results on July 29.

Nigerian Content good for IOCs, others, says NCDMB IOCs, other operators and stakeholders in the service industry, he said, adding that the model had proven very effective in stimulating compliance with the provisions of the Act. According to NCDMB’s Media Relations Supervisor, Public Affairs Division, Obinna Ezeobi, the Content Board chief said the developmental role of the Board was critical and it involved collaboration with stakeholders to develop incountry’s capabilities, which make it possible to execute most industry projects hitherto taken abroad be-

fore the advent of the Act. He praised the operating companies’ partnership with the Board over the years, and their support to the development of local capacity through various initiatives.

Kentebe charged the companies not to rest on their oars, considering that he is new on the job and needs their contributions.

He assured the General Managers that the Board would work with them to find solutions to the problems their various companies might have with the Nigerian Content.

The General Manager, Nigerian Content, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Mrs. Callista Azogu underscored the IOCs’ commitment to the Nigerian Content development, which she said began before the enactment of the Act in April 2010.

Azogu, also chairperson of the group, admitted that the operators had challenges complying with some provisions of the Nigerian Content Act, noting that such problems were resolved with the Board to the benefit of all stakeholders.

The General Manager, Nigerian

Content Department, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Raymond Wilcox, said their group and the Board had the same objectives, which include drive to increase the participation of Nigerians and utilisation of indigenous assets and facilities in the oil and gas industry, retain a greater part of the industry spend in-country and transform the economy.

He said the Nigerian Content had taken root in the operating companies and members of their group were the vanguards of that philosophy in their organisations.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

17

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Wike’s indefensible act • Rivers State Governor’s unannounced visits to CJN and rude defence HE visits by the Governor of Rivers State, NyesomWike, to the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmoud Mohammed, without an appointment, is irresponsible. The reasons he has offered for the visits do not hold water, because he knew that he has a case before the election petition tribunal, and he knows his case could eventually come before the CJN for adjudication. So, was Wike not bothered that his visits could trigger an alarm, that he was seeking an opportunity to compromise the judicial process?

According to Wike’s media aide, the governor had gone to the CJN’s office to discuss the renewal of the appointment of the state acting chief judge, and the state acting president of the customary court of appeal, before the vacation begins. He conveniently chose to forget that as a litigant before the courts, his visits could raise a doubt in the minds of his opponents, about the impartiality of the judicial process, of which the CJN is the chief custodian. But for the fact that Wike did not meet the CJN, it would have been reasonable for his opponents in the election petition case to worry whether Wike had compromised the process, using his influence as a sitting governor.

To make matters worse, Wike chose to make the visit a personal affair, instead of an official visit, which would have seen his protocol officers set up an appointment through the protocol officers of the CJN. Such a process would have

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made the purpose of his visits clear from the beginning, and so allow the learned jurist an opportunity to accept or decline such inauspicious visits. But for the vigilance of the press, Wike’s clandestine visits, if successful, could have impugned the integrity of the highest judicial official in Nigeria; for it appeared as if Wike was determined to continue his visits to the office of the CJN, until he succeeded.

For many, it is scandalous that a governor would, unannounced, attempt to badge into the office of another state official. It depicted the governor as unmannered in state protocols. But considering that Wike is a former minister of the country, it beggars belief that he could behave in such a manner, unless of course he had other ulterior motive for his two failed attempts to see the CJN. Wike’s political antecedents may have lent credence to the accusation by his opponents, that he holds nothing sacrosanct.

It is also important that Wike reins in his media aides, unless he authorised the gibberish which they tried to pass off in their paid adverts, as explanation for his faux pas.

The attempt to denigrate and impugn the integrity of the reporters who exposed his secret visits should be condemned. If we may ask, did the visits not take place, or did the governor not go to the CJN’s office without official information as to his motives? Or was the governor expecting the reporters not to report that

the clandestine visits took place; or is it a lie that Governor Wike’s election is hotly contested by his opponent in the last general elections?

Going forward, we expect that the governor would not make another attempt to visit the CJN, as long as he has a case pending in court. We also expect that if he insists on another round of visits, the CJN would rebuff him. If the governor wants to communicate with the CJN, he should do so in writing. We also urge the CJN to guard his reputation jealously, in the overall interest of our judicial process, regardless of the desperation of those seeking his attention.

‘Considering that Wike is a former minister of the country, it beggars belief that he could behave in such a manner, unless of course he had other ulterior motive for his two failed attempts to see the CJN. Wike’s political antecedents may have lent credence to the accusation by his opponents, that he holds nothing sacrosanct’

Managing IDPs •Laudable gesture from South Africa but…

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HAT the Federal Government has been lax in managing the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is not in doubt. Reports emanating from a number of the camps have been that of misery, squalor and the most abject of human conditions.

In shelters in Abuja and other parts of the north, basic amenities like kitchen, water, electricity, clinics and classroom blocks are almost non-existent. Some camps have been shown to be derelict and unfit for human habitation while food supply and security have posed serious challenges both for managers and inmates.

We have had cause to raise some of these points here a number of times, calling for a more articulate and professional handling of the IDPs problem that has beset the country since the upsurge of the Boko Haram terror about five years ago. However, as the activities of the terrorists were intensified with more villages sacked

‘This kind gesture of the South Africans is worthy of commendation ... On the other hand, we urge the Nigerian authorities, especially the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and all concerned in the affairs of the IDPs to wake up to the enormous task of managing compatriots who are caught in the crossfire of an insurgency’

early last year, the number of displaced people rose rapidly across the country.

More camps were also hurriedly set up but without the requisite facilities and support services. We were not surprised however by the reports emanating from two camps in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recently. Two bodies: the South African High Commission working in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Institute (NMI) were apparently moved to intervene in the IDPs affairs.

As part of the activities to mark the 2015 Nelson Mandela International Day, they had produced and distributed no fewer than 400 identity cards for the IDPs in Area 1 and New Kuchingoro camps of the FCT. Some of the details contained in the identity cards include name and photographs of the displaced persons. Other information include: state of origin, identity card number, signatures and location of the camp.

Apart from procuring identity cards for IDPs, the team led by the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Mnguni Lulu, also presented what they called support Booths which would serve as information-cum-administrative centre for each camp. These are intended to ease the administration of the IDPs camps as well as ensure effective dissemination of information. Essential items like generators and food stuff were presented by the South African team.

The envoy noted that his country would continue to support Nigeria and her efforts to contain the Boko Haram menace.

Their visit to the camp, according to him, was to improve the quality of lives of the displaced and to promote the legacy of Mandela. He promised that the embassy

and the NMI would replicate the gesture in other camps within the FCT for the overall good of the displaced.

This kind gesture of the South Africans is worthy of commendation and their especial courage to break diplomatic bounds and take needed help to hurting humanity is particularly worthy of note.

We hope other countries would emulate this noble gesture and push through official barriers to ferry relief and succour to where they are sorely needed.

On the other hand, we urge the Nigerian authorities, especially the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and all concerned in the affairs of the IDPs to wake up to the enormous task of managing compatriots who are caught in the crossfire of an insurgency.

We wonder how the IDPs have been managed all these years without such basic tool as identification. If the ones camped in the FCT are lacking such basic requirement we shudder at the state of the camps in far-flung areas of the country.

Apart from the funds voted for taking care of the IDPs, many kind-hearted Nigerians and international organisations would be willing to lend a hand if called upon and if they can observe a professional and accountable management of the problem.

Lastly, it is common knowledge that no part of the country is still under the control of the insurgents. We therefore urge the handlers of the IDPs to begin to work towards resettling them back to their towns and villages from whence they were displaced. This is the next line of action and it should be done with utmost diligence.

Challenge before new service chiefs

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IR: Now that President Buhari has finally parted ways with Jonathan’s men and has since approved the appointments of Major-General Babagana Mongunu (RTD) as National Security Adviser, Major-General Abayomi Olonisakin as Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General T.Y Buratai as Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Iba as Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshal Morgan Riku as Head of Defence Intelligence, while Lawal Musa Daura has been appointed Director General of Directorate of State Security (DSS), with Abdulahi Gana Muhammadu appointed to man the NSCDC, the question on the lips of Nigerians is – could these be the long awaited “messiahs” that would finally do the needful that would effectively put a permanent end to the menace of Boko Haram in this country?

One bears in mind that some of the problems that has hampered and slowed down the wheels of progress of Nigeria’s fight against insurgency also includes the activities of traitors and Boko Haram sympathizers within the rank and file of the military and para-military agencies, rivalry and lack of proper and elastic intelligence-sharing among the different security agencies, and human rights abuses and extra-judicial killings of innocent Nigerians by the military. Nigerians patiently and eagerly awaits how and what these new sets of service Chiefs would do differently, to bring BokoHaram to its knees.

Corruption, indiscipline and fifth columnists are the issues which must first of all be “weeded” and effectively uprooted from the military if we are to make any meaningful headway in defeating Boko Haram.

Systematic and intelligence measures should be put in place to identify and “fish out” Boko Haram informants and sympathizers. Cases of human rights abuses and extra-judicial killings must be properly investigated and perpetrators brought to book. The different security agencies must “pocket” their ego and needless rivalry and work together in intelligence-gathering and sharing to achieve a common aim of stamping out insurgency and other forms of violent crimes in the country. Whether the present administration or the new service chiefs knows this or not, the release of the Chibok girls and their subsequent reunion with their families and loved ones would be the high point of their success in the war against Boko Haram. The time to finally and permanently crush Boko Haram is now or never!

• Hussain Obaro, Ilorin Kwara State

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

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•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

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• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

•Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

18

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: Many times I wonder how life would have been in Nigeria if there were no religion other than the religion of love. Life might have been more organized than it is now. Love, after all is not learned but comes effortlessly from the heart unlike the other imported religions whose precepts you must learn and master. Many are riotous laws which when applied literally conflicts with the natural order of love.

Did I hear you say what about our traditional religion? The gods have all gone to sleep and there are no more instant justices by the gods anymore when acts of wickedness are committed in the society. Traditional rulers have chosen to be ‘Pharaohs’ in a democracy and chiefs have all abdicated the village square for the cities. Now, many unattached ladies proudly breed children for different men whilst in their childhood homes and tradition accepts the disorder.

At the present moment, many

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Best religion for Nigeria malevolent urchins have taken over shrines, and are interfacing on behalf of, the devil and Nigerian politicians - forever in search of fetishes for power to become elected officers.

But the religion of love is the only religion that makes human beings have social conscience as a matter of course. So good that politicians see it as a stain on their moral conscience when they cannot use their influence and office to build mass housing schemes in Nigeria so we can have roof on our heads, makes them protect leaseholders from the abrasive increases by landlords

who have maintained the status quo: the under 40 percent are not qualified to have land titles in their names.

The religion of love encourages all people to love humankind without reservation such that the environment is very safe for people to back-package round the country to get to know Nigeria better, the same way our forebears did without the fear of being bushwhacked, sent to the gallows and eaten by man-eaters or killed by insurgents.

Love never makes us forget national heroes such as Sebastian Brodericks Immasuen etc.

The charade in Osun

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IR: I wish to bring to the attention of the Speaker of

Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Nojeem Folasayo Salaam, and the honourable members of the House, to the charade going on in the name of a petition from one Justice Olamide F. Oloyede against Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

It is in the public domain that her petition has been sent to the governor and for which he has responded. The House has also constituted a panel to look into her petition, invite her and the governor and make recommendations to the house.

This whole exercise is a huge charade and an injustice to the

governor. The governor has a state-wide overwhelming mandate which he received from the governorship election of August 9, 2014 and which has just been validated by the Supreme Court.

He is therefore not answerable to her and her petition which emanated from malice and ill-will.

Why then should the governor be subjected to this ordeal? Is it because she is a judge? Where is the separation of powers? Lawmakers should not be brow-beaten by a judge who has clearly overstepped her bounds. They constitute the second arm of government. They should call her bluff.

Her petition should have been dismissed long ago; instead, she should be the one answering charges for bringing the judiciary

to disrepute. It is never heard that a sitting judge will write a petition against a governor. It is the height of judicial recklessness.

They should not entertain this lawlessness. Judges and lawyers in Osun are outraged by her action while the generality of the people are bewildered by her brazenness and indiscretion. If anyone therefore should be on trial, it should be her, not the governor.

I hope also that the Osun State Judicial Council and the National Judicial Council will arrest this cancer before it spreads to the entire judicial body.

• Mike Ogundele, Osogbo, Osun State

Oh! Love makes statesmen from all geographical region rally country men in a united Nigeria for nationalism. And never go on a crying jag to denigrate regions, persons, dead - others alive, and paint them in ways that suggests that they were and are responsible for their predicament.

Religion of love doesn’t make people conceited to celebrate the

misfortunes of others, they never see the war on insurgency as that concerning other people - they rally the populace to condemn it and show support to all those affected.

In kingdoms managed by precepts of love, there are no minorities, the life of the Nigerian is not worth less than that of the Asians and the Arabs in Nigeria - and citizens are not beaten by law-enforcement agents in the bid to protect these Lords of the Manor.

Adherents of the religion know their neighbours, the landlords, tenants of all the houses on their street and they share gifts on special days.

Nigeria need to embrace the religion of love. Others have taken us backwards many years.

• Simon Abah, Port Harcourt.

Re- PMB: If this not inertia?

S

IR: Steve Osuji’s article on the expectation of President Muhammadu Buhari government forms an interesting reading.

The print press particularly some columnists have been very hostile to this government in trying to stampede him into avoidable pitfalls and calamities. Thank God, the President is an avid reader of Nigerian newspapers and with his two seasoned media advisers he can wave the storm. These were the mistakes of our immediate past president that left him confused by the parade of solicited and unsolicited advice leaving him of no grabs and losing control of his government.

The few appointments recently made by the president have been criticized to be pro-North; the same people advising him to immediately make appointments of his cabinet ministers are obviously not prepared to take his terms. The removal of the fuel subsidy by President Jonathan immediately on assuming office on advice of the

uninformed columnists almost threw him out of office. The I.M.F apologists were the brain behind this costly government’s decision.

Governance especially in a multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious setting like Nigeria should be taken with care and I say extreme care. While people need change and of what they voted for, but the president should not be stampeded and his government to take decisions that are not well researched upon.

Governance is not a hundred metres dash but a long distant marathon which takes off on reserved energy and to peak up at the halfway. We need not to rush this government. The least we can give this government is to support it with patience and understanding because if it should fail, God forbid, this could be our last chance.

We all want change but the change must start with each individual.

• Biyi Adesanya Ring Road, Ibadan.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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COMMENTS

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State finances after federal bailout

E must give thanks to President Muhammadu Buhari’s rescue package for all the states of the federation that could no longer discharge their financial obligation to their employees following the drastic reduction in federal allocations consequent upon the drop in earnings from crude oil sales. With the exception of a few states, most of the states of the federation were under stress and acute distress. I visited the secretariats of Oyo and Osun in Ibadan and Osogbo respectively when both states were on strike I was struck and saddened by what I saw. The two places were virtually lifeless and deserted presenting a scene that I had never experienced in Ibadan where I had practically lived all my life. The situation reminded me of glory departing from Israel as a result of sin and conquest by its enemies. Ibadan which has withstood enemy conquest since its foundation circa 1830 presented a sorry situation. Osogbo was also a sad reflection of what I saw in Ibadan. Yet these two state capitals had never witnessed the kind of stupendous development that governors Abiola Ajimobi and Rauf Aregbesola had accomplished since their creation. The road networks in Ibadan put to shame all previous governments in the state since independence.

Aregbesola has definitely transformed Osogbo not only in terms of roads but by building modern and up-to-date megaschools in the state as well as feeding school children once a day a phenomenon that states collecting jumbo federal allocations have not been able to replicate or match. You can blame this young man for too much optimism but certainly not for corruption or squander-mania My prayer particularly for Aregbesola is that through internally generated revenue he will be able to finish all the projects he has embarked on especially the dualisation of Akoda to Gbongan which will lead to the emergence of a conurbation stretching from Osogbo through Ede, Ode-omu to Gbongan with common services for all the towns brought together and increase in the tax base and springing up of industries enjoying economy of scale because of the size of the new market.

While still on Osun, I wonder why there has been so much negative focus on the state as if it were the only state lagging in payment of salaries. Perhaps this has something to do with the over-exposure of the governor or perhaps people have come to expect too much from him. Whatever the case may be, there has been all kinds of do-gooders demonstrating more enthusiasm than wisdom offering help and even food to the so-called starving population of Osun State!

It is of course true that the APC states in the South-West borrowed money for infrastructural development following hostile treatment by the PDP-controlled federal government.

With the decline in the value of the naira, these states may in future be the better for the loans they took. If they had waited longer, the kind of work done with minimal allocations one

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Y virtue of their office, governors do not move anyhow. Their schedule is planned in detail and everything is done according to protocol.

Without the protocol say so, a governor would not move out of his home or office. So, whenever a governor moves, it means all loose ends have been tied. The all-clear to go is critical because of the governor’s safety and security.

A governor is not supposed to visit any place on the spur of the moment. To do so will amount to disrupting the security arrangements for his movement.

In an impromptu change in a governor’s itinerary, his security aides may be stretched in order to ensure his safety. A governor is a charge of the state, which is responsible for his welfare and security. But some governors, out of mischief, dump protocol and insist on doing things their own way.

And when the bubble bursts, they try to defend the indefensible.

They make up stories to cover their self-serving action, forgetting that the people are wiser than they think. I have not ceased wondering since the story broke why a governor with a case at the tribunal would go to the Supreme Court to see the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Mahmud Mohammed.

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike called at

465 DAYS AFTER

STILL WAITING FOR CHIBOK GIRLS’ RESCUE

sees in Ekiti under Fayemi, Osun under Aregbesola , Ogun under Amosun, Oyo under Ajimobi and the giant strides in Lagos under Fashola may never have been accomplished. It is only when one visits neighbouring states of Kogi and Kwara in the same cultural environment that one can appreciate what has been accomplished in these states.

All I have said is of course no excuse for poor planning and not saving money against lean times. But when faced with absolute and abject underdevelopment, does it really make sense to postpone responding to the development yearnings of our people? This is the question we should ask ourselves.

The answer lies in each state becoming self-sufficient and not depending on revenues accruing to the federal government that itself, unhealthily in economic sense, depends on hydrocarbon sale and taxes levied on multinationals involved in their production. We must as a people and a country move away from dependency on oil and gas. Our country is blessed

by God. We are in the tropics where we can grow crops all the year round unlike in the temperate regions of the world where for half of the year, the land is too cold to support agriculture.

With a population one ninth of that of India and vast arable land lying fallow, we should not be importing rice from India Thailand, the USA and Bangladesh of all places! We should not be importing vegetable oils from Malaysia and Indonesia or textile from anywhere when all our textile mills are mothed up and moribund due to lack of use. We should not be importing any kind of wines including champagne of which we are the largest consumer outside France. We should refrain from eating or using whatever our ingenuity cannot produce. The only concession I would make is industrial machineries, industrial inputs, transportation and electrical grid and maybe, chemicals and drugs. We should do away with our indulgent lifestyles of conspicuous consumption .This was the strategy the Chinese adopted that leapfrogged their economy from the laughable level it was a few years ago to the fastest growing economy in the world. This prescription is at the macro level of the nation.

But at state level, we must allow the people to own the government. The situation at present where only salary earners pay taxes is one of the reasons why the people do not care if state officials are corrupt or clean. The unearned income from oil and gas is a curse and this is why we suffer when their prices like a yoyo go up and down We must bring back the regime of flat or poll tax on all adults. Jangali or cattle tax should be levied road tax should also be paid. The federal government should allow states to collect VAT and VAT which is actually luxury tax which need not fall on the poor should be increased to 20 percent . We should not wait until our economy goes the way of the Greek economy and international caretakers are called to impose

unbearable conditionalities on us before we can access development assistance. States must also levy commodities tax on cash crops and recreate commodities boards that used to exist before the craze of market forces determining price of commodities.

This will help stabilise prices paid to producJide ers who will be protected from the vagarOsuntokun ies of rise and fall in the world market. All the states of the federation should be asked to explore charging annual land use and development tax on home owners in such a way that the least able to pay are excluded. Transparency will be the watch word. If the people see what is being done with their taxes, they will respond positively to these changes. All this will be unpopular to begin with but it is the duty of government to explain to the people their responsibility. This is the meaning of representation based on taxation which is at the core of democratic governance. Dependence on oil and gas revenue will not last and the earlier we get used to paying for the services we need the better and the less painful it will be in the long run.

Finally, the federal and state governments should stop meddling in the financial affairs of their universities. There is no where in the world not even in the richest countries in the world where university education is free. Councils of universities should be allowed to draw up their budgets and spread the cost to users of their services so that they can operate maximally and efficiently. The present situation where salaries are not paid particularly in the state universities leads to poor graduates and inability of these tertiary institutions to contribute to the pool of knowledge and consequently to industrialization and wealth creation. A situation where school fees in universities are pegged at N25,000 or N50,000 a year is not just laughable but very sad and shows us as an unserious country. States that cannot fund one university as in the case of Ondo goes ahead for purpose of vainglory to establish three! And before you know it all other states will join in a race to establish funny institutions and call them universities.

If only we will be honest with ourselves and be less selfish and ego driven, I doubt if there is anybody in government in this benighted country who does not know that we are punching bellow our weight both nationally any internationally.

Wike’s tricky visits the CJN’s office not once, but twice. With a petition challenging his election before a tribunal sitting in Abuja, where the CJN has his office, there is more to that visit than meets the eye.

If The Punch had not broken the story of the inexplicable visits, chances are that Wike and his aides would have pretended as if nothing happened. As a lawyer whose wife is also a judge, Wike is expected to know that you do not visit a judge, whether in your private or official capacity, when you have a matter in his court.

Even if he has a matter before his wife, she is not expected to discuss the case with him at home because like her fellow judges, she is expected to dispense justice without fear or favour, affection or ill will to all manner of men.

Wike may argue that his case is not before the CJN, but he should not forget that the tribunals were set up by the CJN, who while inaugurating them warned that they should shun corruption. By trying to see the CJN, Wike’s intention was to go right to the top to pull strings in respect of his case.

Wike knew what he was doing by embarking on those two visits in three days - between July 6 and 8. He knows that the CJN wields enormous influence over the tribunals. So, he thought by sweet talking the CJN, his lordship could be made to get the tribunal to play ball.

The governor will never admit that he had ulterior motive in going to the CJN’s office without appointment; no he will never. He will defend his visits with the last

drop of his blood, if need be, because what he went there for is not for public consumption - it is not something the ears should hear. His reasons for the visits are puerile. He said he went to see the CJN to thank him for sending Bayelsa State Chief Judge Justice Kate Abiri to swear him in on May 29 and over the vexed issue of a chief judge for Rivers. ‘’I didn’t go there to lobby for anything cynical. If I was going to lobby for anything like that, would I go in the afternoon? You may wish to know that we have an acting chief judge in my state, and the judiciary is already on vacation and that the National Judicial Council (NJC) may also be on vacation. So, I needed to do a letter to the NJC on the need to extend or approve the appointment of the acting chief judge in my state. I went there on the two days in daytime; and see Nigerians, they are already imputing another meaning to the visits’’, Wike said.

Yes, we are already talking because he did not exhibit utmost good faith. The governor did not act honestly under the circumstance. Who were those who followed him to the CJN’s office? If he had met the CJN would he have limited himself to issues of his inauguration and the renewal of the appointment of his state’s acting chief judge (ACJ)?

Would he? Nigerians are no fools; they can see through Wike’s visits, whether or not he comes out with the truth.

With due respect to him, the issues he listed for his visits are what the governor should not have

broken sweat over because they have been constitutionally settled.

The CJN was not doing Wike any favour by asking Justice Abiri to swear him in. The CJN was only interpreting Section 185 (2) of the Constitution, which stipulates that the chief judge; or grand kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal; or president of the Customary Court of Appeal of any state can swear in a governor, where nobody holds those offices in the elected governor’s state. Moreover, immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation Mohammed Adoke (SAN) had asked Justice Abiri to take up that job last May 29, a directive, which the CJN later confirmed. Has he visited Adoke too to thank him? Must Wike visit the CJN personally to show his appreciation? Couldn’t he have written to thank the CJN? ust he also go to Abuja over the renewal of the appointment of his state’s ACJ? All he needs do is to write the NJC, seeking its approval to renew the ACJ’s appointment as contained in Section 271 (5) of the Constitution.

Did Wike visit the CJN before he appointed the ACJ shortly after he assumed office in May? His wife is a judge; so if he is confused about these matters, why didn’t he seek her opinion instead of embarking on a mission that could have

M

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204, 08112661612

destroyed the judiciary. Thank God that he didn’t meet the CJN during those visits. The governor would have ended up tarring a man, who is doing all he could to uphold the integrity of the judiciary.

This shows that our judges must be extra careful with politicians who will stop at nothing to ensure that they have their way. If Wike had met the CJN during those visits, the public would today have been calling for the nation’s foremost justice’s head because of fear that his lordship may compromise his office. Milord, there are many Wikes still out there looking for men of honour like you to destroy; so, be careful.

To remain safe, the catchword for the CJN and his men is beware of politicians and their tricky visits.

‘By trying to see the CJN, Wike’s intention was to go right to the top to pull strings in respect of his case. If he had met with the CJN, the public would today have been calling for the nation’s foremost justice’s head’

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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COMMENTS

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EACTING to my pieces Ekweremadu’s opportunism and Atiku’s apostasy, and June 9: Fallout of clash of cultures, many readers accused me of being fixated with the Igbo and their leadership’ as if there were no leadership problems in Yoruba land. Others accused me of bigotry, xenophobia, dismissing both articles as ‘hate filled orchestrated campaign against a people’. The relief however was that it is not hard to imagine that such comments like – ‘’You are a fool to say the Igbo thrive more in other peoples country; Have we taken over your fathers village or is Abuja a Yoruba country” could only have come from an uninformed mind.

Alas, little did this critic know that the Igbo have indeed become a threat to women in my village who are in fact now gearing up to reenact the first women protest in Nigeria when Calabar women embarked in popular uprising against the Igbo women who took over from the natives in the sales of bush meat in their remote villages. The difference is that while the Calabar women confronted Igbo women, the targets of the planned women uprising from my village are able bodied, heavily built and physically intimidating Igbo young men who have taken over the sales of yam , corn, okro, pepper – all hitherto exclusive preserve of our women and mothers. And if my insolent critic really wants to know: our mothers don’t care if Igbo take over Abuja.

They care more about their villages. They are also worried about Igbo disrespect for our traditional rulers. The other day, they took up arms against our revered Oba of Lagos whose only fault was threatening those who would work against the interest of Lagos with ancestral curses. And but for his quick intervention, they would have used Igbo block vote to snatch Lagos for PDP just as they did in Abuja recently when they used their block vote to deprive APC the clear majority given to them in the National Assembly by the electorate.

That is not the only reason why we cannot but talk about the Igbo. They have claimed to be descendants of the Jews. And like the Jews, they are not only very stubborn, they are very resilient. They don’t like enjoyment. They detest our ‘owanbe’ parties. They love ‘suffering and smiling’ (apology to Fela). Like the Jews, they control the commerce of wherever they settle. Even in bad behaviour, they excel. When they dabbled into ‘danfo’ driving in Lagos, they outwitted the traditional insolent ‘danfo’ drivers in bad behaviour.

When they took over ‘okada’ business in Lagos, they became more aggressive, threat-

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Only the truth can liberate us

ening motorists on the roads. They mobilized their members against the Lagos APC government who quickly relaxed some of its laws shortly before the election. In far away Ekiti, Governor Fayose is said to be in love with Igbo Okada riders. They came in very handy during his war against his state lawmakers.

Igbo Okada riders along with the local thugs manned the borders to prevent the marooned lawmakers from sneaking to town to do their jobs.

The fear of the self-professed Igbo descendants of Jews is the beginning of wisdom because when they sneeze, the nation catches cold. But as argued earlier, the fault is not in the Igbo man but in his culture. It was not an accident that Ekweremadu celebrates unscrupulousness as shrewdness and an amoral behaviour as politically right. He has even tried to draw a parallel between his opportunism and similar events in our past history such as the self-serving coalition between the NCNC and NPC in 1959, and NPP and NPN alliance in 1979 both of which collapsed over sharing of perks of office. I am sure, Ekweremadu, the usurper, would be delighted to know that Richard Sclar in his Nigeria Political Parties: Power in an Emergent African Nation and Trevor Clark’s autobiographical work – Sir Tafawa Balewa ,The Right Honourable Gentleman’ have helped him to document some other parallels.

Zik, according to Sclar, was the only Igbo man during the inaugural meeting of NCNC shortly before it transformed into a political party in 1944 and assumed the leadership of NCNC following the death of Macaulay in 1947 without a whimper from the Yoruba

HEN business leaders, investors, technocrats and allied stakeholders meet next week in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, for the second edition of the state’s Investment and Economic Forum, the attention would be on critical perspectives on economic diversification and the burning quest for industrialization in the state. It is also an auspicious time for the state government to brief the august gathering on its score card since the maiden edition last year, particularly on the investments generated and future possibilities.

It has to be stated that the forum initiative is a commendable one which takes into account the nation’s vulnerable overdependence on oil as its economic mainstay and the fact that the Bayelsa State government had been in the forefront of economic diversification before the current clamour for such idea as an inevitable course of action if Nigeria must survive now or in the future.

But the challenge we face in economic development drive over the years is not that of policy but a decisive action plan to practically demonstrate our resolve to walk the talk and actualize our dream of economic viability with serious interest in an inclusive industrialization which is critical to the existence of a productive economy and thus effectively tackling the problem of job creation.

This seems to be the fresh perspective which the Bayelsa State government is bringing into the mix of a calculated paradigm shift in addressing the inherent issues in economic development through an aggressive drive to woo serious investors to the state and ensuring a clement environment to do business with generous incentives.

At a dinner with business executives in Lagos last week, the state Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Investment, Kemela Okara, brought the various issues and dimensions to the fore by explaining the difference which his ministry is making in making the investment landscape attractive to investors and the mutual benefits accruable to all parties. He reviewed the progress made from the maiden outing which drew over 800 participants as an avenue to showcase the investment opportunities in the state and the encouraging responses by notable investors who have already signed MoUs with the government to begin business in the state while further intensifying the clarion call for many others to come on board.

However, in the second edition which holds from July 29 – 31, the focus, Okara said, would be to leverage on the success it had recorded by sensitizing investors to the major business areas where the state has comparative advantage like oil and gas, agriculture and power generation. The commissioner predicated the success of investment in these areas on the availability of raw materials and infrastructure, stating, for

majority. But Zik saw nothing wrong in ceding the NCNC presidency to Okpara when he vacated the position as against Fadahunsi, the candidate of TOS Benson and his Yoruba group. Similarly when Zik also vacated the Senate Presidency in 1960, he ceded the office not to any of the Yoruba NCNC stalwarts but to Dennis Osadebey. Trevor Clark also documented another parallel. Dr O Ikejiani had just lost his appointment with the University College Ibadan because his PhD turned out not to be in the requisite area of Microbiology he had claimed before his appointment.

But Raymond Njoku immediately took a memorandum to the Council of Ministers suggesting Dr. Ikejiani as successor to Emerson, the outgoing chairman of the University Council. Upon becoming Governor General, ‘without receiving ministerial consent and against the advice of the collegiate council which voted 8-2 against Ikejiani’s choice, Zik unilaterally approved his appointment as chairman of University Council that had just dismissed him’!

Trevor Clark also documented the power struggle for the succession to the British outgoing head of the Nigerian military, WelbyEverard, who had recommended Brigadier Ogundipe as an officer who could hold the military together. His second choice was Brigadier Ademulegun. His only reservation about Ogundipe was on account of his politics. He had led the Tiv operation and was the Sardauna and the NPC candidate. By his assessment, ‘Aguiyi-Ironsi of a Sierra Leonean father and an Umuahia mother was the least equipped militarily with narrowest background’. But Ironsi was Zik’s candidate. Zik

along with Mbadiwe, Okotie-Eboh and Mathew Mbu and Pius Okigbo lobbied Ribadu on behalf of Ironsi. Finally, Maitama Sule was flown to Kaduna on the order of Balewa to go and persuade the Sardauna who accepted with a warning that ‘Nigeria will regret it’. Ironsi’s promotion was announced in March 1965, the Sardauna was killed in the January 1966 coup under the leadership of Ironsi. But it must be noted that anthropologists however have warned that all these actions sometimes considered reprehensible by some groups, do not make Igbo culture which has sustained peaceful coexistence in their communities for centuries, inferior to other cultures.

It was perhaps for this reason that to the British – “It was clear that Nigeria if it was to be a nation, must be a federation with as few subjects reserved for the central government as would preserve national unity”. Thus following Oliver Lyttleton suggestion of May 20 1953, representatives of the three dominant Nigerian regions were invited to London to redraft the 1951 constitution in such a way as to provide for greater regional autonomy and the removal of the power of intervention of the centre in the matters which will be placed within regional competence between July and August 1953. This was the elixir for the monumental achievements of the federating units between 1953 and 1960, the golden era of our nation.

For instance in 1960, 60%of our Gross National Product and 85% of our exports were agricultural. We were the world’s largest producer of groundnut and oil palm and seventh in cocoa. Each region managed its own affairs. In 1960-61 financial year, the West with a population of seven million generated 29 million pounds and decided to spend 16 million on capital expenditure and 17 million on recurrent while the East with a population of eight million generated 16 million and opted to spend seven million on capital and 15 million on recurrent. The north with a population of 18 million spent 10 million of her earnings on capital and 18 million on recurrent.

Truth is the only thing that can liberate us.

Like the Indians, Russians, Canadians, and even Britain that gave us a template almost 60 years ago, we must come to terms with our own demons. Unfortunately those behind our travails these past 60 years have continued to label all those that call attention to our missed path to greatness including the late sage, Awo a ‘tribalist’. What they have been unable to do however is invalidate the British thesis, or suppress the self-evident consequences of ‘the path to Nigeria greatness’ not taken.

As Bayelsa woos investors

By Kelechi Nnamdi instance, that Bayelsa has the largest deposit of natural gas in the country and why power generation is being recommended to investors as a strategic move and great opportunity to add about 5,000 – 10,000 mw of power to the national grid, thereby adding fillip to the quest to transform the national economy.

Okara also noted the huge potential in mechanized farming in the state with all the natural endowments as major incentives, especially in oil palm and rice processing, stressing that this is the reason why the government is bringing together large scale farmers to tap into the huge potentials which some investors are already exploiting as a lucrative business in the state.

Yet the cornerstone of the on-going economic diversification in the state will have so much to do with industrialization.

Conscious of the challenges, the state government, Okara said, will be selling the idea of its Eco Industrial Park (EPI) to the would be investors at the business summit. The EPI, as conceived by the government, is fashioned as world class 21st century model that can realistically meet the basic inter-related manufacturing needs of industrial concerns with the targets in chemical and pharmaceuticals, domestic and industrial plastics, rubber, wood and wood products, electrical and electronics, non-metallic mineral products, pulp and paper products and other manufacturing activities. Of significant value would also be the urea fertilizer plant which is being developed by the state government which Okara said would benefit those core investors who could key into its major facets of development and a major component of the nation’s agricultural needs with huge market and quite a lucrative investment. Real estate is also not left out which will place emphasis on both residential and commercial. Interestingly, some clever investors seem to be appreciating the message of the economic progress and possibilities in the state by signing MoUs with the government for business take-off including the N20 billion Kesio Building Materials Market which has about 500 stalls to create a cluster for people in the real estate just as others are participating in power generation, pharmaceuticals, telecoms, agriculture and ICT. This year’s edition of the business parley which has “Unfolding Bayelsa State’s Industrial Future”, Okara also informed the Lagos gathering, has attracted the participation

of major private sector players like Shell Development Company, Okomu Oil Palm, PrescoPlc and Olam, among others.

Although wooing investors is a normal step many governments have taken in the past, the difference in the Bayelsa foray is what the drivers of the initiative regard as the practical demonstration of the will to excel and help prospective investors actualize their business ideas and models in the state.

The inter-related issues in this regard were well addressed by Okara when business executives and investors engaged him at the Lagos pre-event dinner, asking pertinent questions not just about the availability of natural resources but also on the critical support they hope could get from the government.

These are very germane topics but which Okara answered by informing and assuring his audience that the Bayelsa State Government under the watch of Governor Seriake Dickson in the last three years had in addition to having invested massively in infrastructure, also worked tirelessly to create an enabling environment of stability, created institutional framework, legal structures and built relevant skills through manpower development. The major interest of government in the development of SMEs was also underscored by the disbursement of hundreds of millions of naira till date. Thus economic diversification and industrialization had all along been in the front-burner of government economic policy which among other incentives would also encourage serious investors in the state with tax holidays and attractive Public-Private Partnership models.

• Nnamdi wrote from Lagos.

‘Although wooing investors is a normal step many governments have taken in the past, the difference in the Bayelsa foray is what the drivers of the initiative regard as the practical demonstration of the will to excel and help prospective investors actualize their business ideas and models in the state’

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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PRESIDENT Buhari has done Nigeria proud in America this week. Everywhere during his three-day visit, the American media welcomed him with great warmth, enthusiasm and optimism. For a change, here is one Nigerian leader who is reassuring the world very convincingly about Nigeria.

Known or unknown to us Nigerians, the world has, for years, been gradually giving up on our country. The stories, and the plain evidence, of public corruption in Nigeria have been simply overwhelming. They have been so overwhelming that a foreigner who wrote a book on Nigeria gave it the title This House Has Fallen. An American journalist, Richard Dowden, who visited Africa a number of times wrote a book on Africa and titled his chapter on Nigeria, “Look out world, Nigeria”, as if warning the world that a dangerous predator called Nigeria was on the prowl. Then, he wrote in dismay: “Nigeria has a terrible reputation. Tell someone that you are going to Nigeria and if they haven’t been there themselves, they offer sympathy. Tell anyone who has been to Nigeria and they laugh. Then they offer sympathy. No tourists go there. Only companies rich enough to keep their staff removed from the realities of Nigerian life do business there. And big companies rarely mention Nigeria in their annual reports for fear of what it will do to their share price. Journalists treat it like a war zone. Diplomats regard it as a punishment posting.”

Dowden adds that, in fact, Nigeria’s popular image falls short of the reality – and that Nigeria is a failed state that somehow manages to keep standing. An American young man who took part in a Christian missionary group drilling water wells for poor villages all over Africa returned home and told his friends that he believed that God is probably using Nigeria for an experiment – that God is probably gathering the worst human beings into Nigeria in order to see what would happen if the worst

Nigeria’s greatest visit to America human beings were gathered in a country. He added that he found in Nigeria something that cannot be classified as ordinary corruption – village heads demanding bribes from the missionaries as a condition for allowing the missionaries to drill the well for the villagers. A well-informed agency of the American government wrote in a report in 2004 that Nigeria could break up in 15 years.

Of course, we Nigerians know that these images are not fair to most of us. The influential citizens who have given us these images are only a minority among us – but they are the most visible ones among us. The foreigner who comes to Nigeria for some business would inevitably encounter our immigration officials, customs officials, police and security officials, may be military officials, then various levels of civil servants, Central Bank officials, ministers of state – and perhaps our President. Predictably, all of these men and women of our country’s frontline are likely to demand or take an illegitimate something from the foreigner. If the foreigner is a journalist or researcher of some kind, he will see most of the above; he may also see, during an election, high public officials grabbing and taking away ballot boxes in broad daylight in order to rig the election – and he will see police, military, and security officials helping the high public officials. If the foreigner happens to be a senior bank official in his own country, he very probably will encounter some Nigerian high public officials who have stolen huge amounts of Nigerian public money and who are seeking help to hide the loots in secret bank accounts. If he happens to be a realtor in his country, he will probably encounter clients who

‘When our military rulers robbed our states of their powers, resource control, and development initiative, and pooled all together in the federal centre, they created a super-corrupt federal government, the mother of corruption, the dispenser of corruption all over our country.

President Buhari must not leave this unattended to’

I

T is no longer news that about 24 states of the federation are currently feeling the heavy burden of the economic crisis occasioned by the fall in international oil price, which consequently led to the decrease in revenue allocations to states.

As it would be expected, in some of the states, workers have embarked on industrial action in order to press home demands for the prompt payment of their wages. The recent parley held between President Muhammadu Buhari and the governors, over the issue of unpaid salaries and allied matters, perhaps, underscores the gravity of the wage crisis currently bedeviling most states in the country. At one time, the Nigeria Governors Forum was agitating for a financial bailout from the federal government as a way out of the imbroglio.It is, however, heartwarming to state that it is not all the states in the federation that are enmeshed in salary crisis. Lagos State, for instance, does not have any issue with regards to the prompt payment of salary. This has always been the trend since 1999 when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu began the process that led to the financial emancipation of Lagos State. The trend continued under the immediate past governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola. However, that trend is now being taken to a new level under the leadership of the current governor, Akin Ambode, who incidentally was one of the brains behind the financial re-engineering that has solidified the economic base of the state as spearheaded by Asiwaju Tinubu.

First impression, as the saying goes, lasts longer. This undoubtedly summarizes the attitude of Governor Ambode towards the payment of civil servants salaries. It was quite a new and refreshing experience for the civil servants who all got salary alerts from their various banks for the month of June by the 23rd of same month. To the civil servants, it was a joyous thing and a welcome development. But to the governor, it was a way of fulfilling one of his campaign promises that was hinged on the prompt payment of workers’ salaries and creating of a conducive atmosphere for workers in the employment of the state government to thrive in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities.

are Nigerian public officials seeking to invest large amounts of stolen public money on expensive real estate properties.

These are only a few examples. The manifestations are legion. And in reality, many of us too who are not public officials do cut corners in order to survive the poverty that our governments have foisted upon our country. Still, it is not fair to say that Nigerians are all thieves and takers of bribes – as lots of foreigners who come into contact with our country say (innocently or maliciously) about us.

However, fair or unfair, the image hurts. It has hurt us Nigerians, as well as our country, terribly. We live today in a world in which capital owned by investors from various parts of the world is crucial to development in every country. Most of that capital is searching for the best countries to invest in. We live in a world in which commerce – the exporting and importing of goods – builds most of the wealth of countries. And we live in a world in which tourism is one of the generators of the wealth of countries. We have a country that is wonderfully rich in resources, and that should be one of the world’s largest focal points of manufacturing, commerce, tourism, movements of finance, etc, but our country’s awful image inhibits our share of these things. What this translates to is poverty. We Nigerians live in undeserved poverty, and much of that poverty is generated by the terrible image that we have acquired in the world.

But now, with Buhari, new prospects are opening up for our country and us – new possibilities, new glimmers of hope. No Nigerian ruler has ever had the quality of image and perception that Buhari has acquired in only seven weeks. From the few steps he has already taken, nobody doubts that this is the real fight against corruption in Nigeria – and not just another one of the endless and empty promises of fight against corruption. And what that can do for our country and us is incalculable. Buhari is inviting the world to trust us and come, and the vibrations strongly indicate that the world will respond. From my home in a distant country abroad, I speak this message to my people back home: Buhari is

Nigerian thoughts putting together s o m e thing big and good for our country.

This is a war for all of us Nigerians to fight; it is n o t Buhari’s alone. We Banji Akintoye must all join hands and fight it. I hereby offer some contributions of my own. One of the things that have made corruption easy in our country is that, since the mid-1960s, we have removed the old civil service rules, regulations and processes that protected access to public money.

Today, our president and governors more or less go about with all of our public money in their pockets. We need to revive and retool the measures that guarded public money before 1966. In addition, we need to establish watchdog agencies that oversee budget performances and the movement of public money. And we need to make ethics laws that all must obey, and establish enforcement processes from which no public official is exempt. We did not have massive “security votes” before 1966 – security votes that nobody can audit. It is a poison from Satan’s own hand. We must review it.

Finally, as I have said repeatedly in this column and elsewhere, the search for and recovery of stolen public money, the punishment of the culprits, and the establishment of rules and processes for protecting public money – all are just the surface battles of the war against corruption. In addition to them, we must deal with the fundamental root of corruption. When our military rulers robbed our states of their powers, resource control, and development initiative, and pooled all together in the federal centre, they created a super-corrupt federal government, the mother of corruption, the dispenser of corruption all over our country.

President Buhari must not leave this unattended to.

Workers’ salary: The Ambode example

By Kayode Olopade In our climes, there is, indeed, no better way to motivate workers than ensuring their wages are paid as at when due. This makes them to avoid distractions that emanate from financial worries. Perhaps, Ambode’s gesture, which is the basic practice in most multinational firms, originates from his firm belief that the workers are the ones that determine the pace of development in the state and as such must not be denied their wages which is, indeed, one of their core entailments.

Those that are closer to the governor would readily tell whoever cares to listen that the man values hardwork and would go to any extent to reward those who are committed to the value and principle of hardwork. Hence, prompt payment of salary is just one of his ways of encouraging the Lagos State civil servants to buy into his vision of provision of diligence service to the state and her people.

Without a doubt, especially with the current trend in the country where workers are being owed months of salaries, Ambode has started on a rather good note. It is expected that other states’ governors would take a cue from him by making prompt payment of staff salaries a priority. This is the only way forward for our dear nation in the face of current economic difficulties. When workers are owed salaries, it portends great danger for our already troubled nation. With the crisis of Boko Haram insurgency in the north, kidnapping, armed robbery, unemployment and other difficult challenges that the country is presently contending with, to add unhappy civil servants to the lots would, no doubt, suffocate the nation. This is why one is canvassing that the federal government intervenes, as much as it could, by assisting some of the troubled states in lessening the burden of unpaid salaries. Any aid in this direction would be a worthwhile one as it would save the nation from chaos, workers’

rebellion and labour unrest. As it has been previously emphasised, with the myriads of problems we are contending with as a nation, labour unrest should be the last item that we should include in the list.

This is why the Ambode’s model is the best for the country.

It is, however, not in the area of prompt payment of civil servants’ salaries that Ambode is displaying a strong resolve to make Lagosians happy. He is equally making great efforts to ensure that Lagosians experience free flow of traffic in a mega city that is infamously renowned for its chaotic traffic situation.

The governor recently set the ball rolling when, in company of the Secretary to the State Government and other top government functionaries, he embarked on an on the spot assessment of traffic gridlock situation across the state. The objective is to have an on-thespot feel of the traffic situation. This becomes quite imperative in view of the huge economic implications of what the state loses to traffic gridlocks.

It is the conviction of the governor that the several manpower hours that are daily lost to traffic chaos, if properly reversed, could translate into economic boost for the state.

Consequently, during the governor’s visit to Berger Bus Stop, along the ever busy LagosIbadan Expressway, he reiterated his administration’s commitment to providing solutions to the traffic snarls as he approved the construction of a pedestrian Bridge at Berger Bus Stop.

Also during his visit to traffic points in Apapa and Ajah axis, the governor who despite a heavy gridlock at the area on that day, together with all that accompanied him, walked through Apapa to Tin Can, expressed his displeasure about the torment that commuters and motorists are condemned to on a daily basis, which he said was largely due to the indiscriminate parking of articulated trucks attempting to access the port and tank farms located within the axis. He said: “We’ve

all seen that the gridlock in Apapa is multifaceted. We have examined things that relate to activities of trailer drivers and tanker drivers. Apapa belong to the Federal Government and this Tin Can Bridge that has been under construction for about six years has been abandoned. This, however, has given rise to tankers parking indiscriminately on the road.

It is totally unacceptable that we would be having tankers parked on our bridges”.

On the whole, one could safely conclude that Ambode has started his sojourn as the state governor on a good stead. Judged by the direction of his government so far, Lagosians are, no doubt, in for a pleasant experience. The progress and development of Lagos is what the people voted for. This is what he governor promised. This is what he is set out to deliver!

• Olopade writes from Governor’s Office, Alausa, Ikeja.

‘It is, however, not in the area of prompt payment of civil servants’ salaries that Ambode is displaying a strong resolve to make Lagosians happy. He is equally making great efforts to ensure that Lagosians experience free flow of traffic in a mega city that is infamously renowned for its chaotic traffic situation’

22

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

The Odetola twins were the cynosure of all eyes at the 17th graduation of Taidob College last Saturday.

They made the same grades in the same subjects they took in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Was it happenstance? Or do they share the same mental capacity?

ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA and OLUWATOYIN ADELEYE reports.

• Mrs Odetola (middle) flanked by her twins, Taiwo (left) and Kehinde.

W The highflying twins

HAT do we call this? Intellectual compatibility?

Shared destiny?

Departure from the age-long belief that twins are born different? Odetola twins seem to have debunked that notion.

Taiwo and Kehinde Odetola were born on November 26, 1997, with similar physical features. They started primary school together, scoring almost the same scores as high flying pupils; proceeded to secondary school together, wrote the same subjects in the West African Senior School certificate Examinations (WASSCE) and had six distinctions and three credits in

CAMPUS LIFE

INSIDE

‘Nigeria needs N180b to rescue Mathematics’ standard’

NATIONAL Mathematical Centre's (NMC) Director/Chief Executive Officer Prof.

Adewale Solarin, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare an emergency to arrest falling standard in Mathematics.

-Page 27

the same subjects. They secured admission the same year into the University of Ibadan (UI) Taiwo is studying Civil Engineering and Kehinde, Petroleum Engineering.

The lads took the shine off other graduating students of Taidob College in Asero Estate, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during the school’s 17th graduation and prizegiving day last Saturday. The school management gave them Special Recognition award with cash prizes and scholarships, courtesy of the Dr. Abayomi Oluwatosin Jibokus’ Foundation, which was founded by the school proprietor.

The twins were the star attractions of the ceremony held on the school

Edo deaf students lock out staff

Our Ramadan takeaway, by students -Page 39

-Page 29

field. Parents, teachers and well wishers cheered as the twins’ grades were reeled out. “A in Maths”, “A in Additional Maths “A in Physics” “AA in Chemistry” “A in Biology”..., called out the moderator, whose announcement was punctuared with shouts of joy.

But, no one would have noticed the duo on the crowd if they had not been called. Calm and collected, Taiwo and Kehinde briskly walked to the podium, collected their awards, took photographs and left.

In an encounter with them, the shylooking lads said they play a lot because they don't see reasons for •Continued on page 26

•A 10-page section on campus news, people etc

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

26

EDUCATION

Oyo higher institutions begin indefinite strike CADEMIC staff unions in Oyo State tertiary institutions yesterday began an indefinite strike action over the non-payment of their salary.

If government does not call them for negotiation within the next 14 days, they would continue the strike, the unions threatened.

The unions, under the aegis of Joint Action Forum of Academic Staff (JAFAS), after a meeting at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, said that the last time members received salary was in February. JAFAS said the nonpayment of salary has started taking tolls on its members as more than five of them had died in the last few days.

JAFAS comprises members of Association Staff Unions of Polytechnics (ASUP), and College of Education Academic Staff Unions (COEASU), at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igbo-Ora and Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo. Kelani Ajadi who spoke on behalf of the association disclosed that

A

From Tayo Johnson and Sikiru Akinola, Ibadan

JAFAS gave three days warning strike to their respective managements to give room for negotiationthey before finally embarking on the strike, "Since the negotiation is not forthcoming, we decided to take our destinies in our hands,"Ajadi said.

He revealed how six of their members died when they could not foot their medical bills.

"They could not get enough funds to maintain themselves. Some are still critically lying in hospitals. Though we welcome the idea that the internally generated revenues of various institutions should be improved, this should not be attached to payment of salaries. Government should release the statutory fund due” to these institutions as and when due," he lamented.

He said that the deaths of Messrs.

Olusola Ayeni of the Public Administration Department and Bayo Atanda from The Polytechnic, Ibadan and three others from Ibarapa Polytechnic Eruwa, could have been averted if they had been paid as and at when due.

In the same vein, its counterpart from Oke-Ogun State Polytechnic, Mr. Olawumi Muyiwa, said since the struggle started, government did not deem it fit to invite them.

COEASU chairman at the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, Mr. Kingsley Oke also revealed how the union lost a colleague. "Mr. Ajibade Taofeek's death was a sad one. There was no money, even from the union's purse to help him. He was of the Department of Technical Education. Some are dying presently. Must we die before we get what belongs to us?

‘Since the negotiation is not forthcoming, we decided to take our destinies in our hands’

S

TUDENTS of Muslim Senior College, Oworonsoki, have been enjoined to choose a lifefulfilling careers for themselves.

This advice came from the Piovision Club of Nigeria at a career guidance and counselling programme it organised for the students in the school premises.

Its President, Alhaji Rasaq Oyetola, also admonished the students to be calm and well comported always.

Oyetola underscored the need for them to have career guidance.

"It is very important because people should not make wrong career choices," Oyetola counselled.

Counselling programmes, he noted, would be carried out in secondary schools across Lagos to sensitise students on career path.

He said the club would go to more schools to counsel students on the choice of career.

Solomon Kareem, a Computer Science graduate from Adamawa State University (ADSU), urged participants to be decisive about what they want to do with their lives. "You are a product of your thought. Nobody would think for you," he counselled.

He advised students to move with brilliant friends that can teach them subjects they find difficult instead of mingling with potential touts.

Kareem continued: "Do not follow a friend because he or she tells you

‘Work hard for your career’

By Faruk Hamzat

what you like to hear. A good friend will always tell you the truth, which is usually bitter to swallow."

Principal assistant registrar, counselling unit, Students' Affairs Division, University of Lagos, Mrs. Aderonke Asiwaju, advised the students to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way.

Career guidance, she said, is targeted at preventing students from making errors when choosing a career.

Mrs. Asiwaju told the students to assess themselves and the career they choose to know if they are on the right path. She urged them to be well prepared for examinations to get good and required grades to qualify for their desired careers.

She implored them not to be job seekers but look at the possibility of becoming entrepreneurs.

She also called on parents never to impose any careers on their children because it would be counterproductive. "This will affect them negatively and they may never do well in such careers because they were not interested in the first instance," Asiwaju warned.

The highflying Odetola twins •Continued from page 25 serious study.

Taiwo said their weaknesses, such as noise making, or engaging in other frivolities, were, most times, overlooked by their teachers who were confident that they (twins) would make up for it with their performances after each examination.

"Our teachers are always confident of us. That does not mean they don’t scold us when we err. But, they usually do not have to worry so much about us as we don’t dissapoint them after each exam.”

Neither of them could say how many hours they spend reading.

"We play a lot," said Taiwo, "but that does not mean we don't read.

Truth is, we simply see reading as something normal. We read whenever we just feel like it but we don't believe we need to read and read like some others do."

Their courses Chemical Engineering and Petroleum Engineering- did not come by accident, said their mother, Mrs Abimbola Hannah Odetola.

"I'd always wanted to study Civil Engineering because I want to be a civil engineer and contribute my qouta to the development of this nation," Taiwo said. Kehinde plans to join the academia once he is through with his studies."

Mrs Odetola, who accompanied her children to the event, said the pair had been demonstrating signs of geniuses since childhood.

"They have been showing these signs of geniuses since they were growing up," said their civil servantmother. "They used to come first, right from Primary I to Primary Six at Young Free Nursery and Primary School and when they got here (Taidob), they came either second or first throughout.”

Except for struggling to cope with their financial needs, Mrs Odetola said the other thing the family had to contend with is the children’s playfulness.

"There were not many challenges growing up, but the only issue I had with them was that they played a lot though they also read. But as a civil servant, we had to tighten things up. We went to cooperative to collect money to pay their school fees," she said.

She added: "Kehinde particularly has been winning different awards from the school for the past six years.

Every year, he won something, both in the school and outside. There was no competition they would do that both of them would not be part of.

They had always wanted to study Petroleum Engineering/Civil Engineering and that is what they are doing now."

The twins’ friends Akinola Festus Oyetunde and Akinbode Widom also spoke about their playfulness.

"Our relationship has been cordial for over seven years now," said Oyetunde, also a UI Law undergraduate.

"They are very playful, to the point of annoyance. But their strength is in their intelligence, academics and moral upbringing. Sometimes, we quarrel, and disagree. Friends always quarrel, but what I know about them is their intelligence and how they relate with people. " Wisdom, who is studying Biochemistry at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), said Taiwo and Kehinde could be “very annoying sometimes”.

Despite their intelligence, Wisdom said he and many others did not believe they could have the same grades in same subjects.

"They are brilliant, intelligent and helpful. They could be annoying, sometimes; they joke and play a lot.

Nobody expected that they would have the same results. We knew they were both intelligent, but not that they would have the exact grades in all subjects. I was very happy for them when I heard it, although I was surprised, but they really tried."

The management of their alma mater is also stunned.

"Their case, of course, is astonishing. I am sounding spiritual here because it sounds a bit strange to us that the twins have come out scoring the same kind of grades in the same set of subjects. It shows the fraternalism of twinship and it

• Taidob graduating students.

shows that God is a wonderful God and has a way of doing His things,” said the school proprietor, Dr Abayomi Jiboku.

Jiboku said though the school never expected anything less from the lads’, it was shocked that their results were the same.

"I must let you know that what we experienced was not unexpected because the two boys are very sound academically and also of good character and conduct, and that is what we stand for here as an institution. So when the results came and we found out that they both did very well, we were very happy although it was not unexpected, judging by their antecedents, " he said.

From the medical lens Doctor Kemi Akintoyosi is a Clinical Psychologist at the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.

She said from the medical point of view such development is rare.

Dr Akintoyosi said: "It is more of genetic factors that cause this occurrence. It is common for identical twins to share virtually

the same thing.

"However, It is a very rare situation. So we can only have about five to 10 of such a case in 100 children acting like that. Because most often, even when they have the same monozygotic, you still don't find them treading the same path. It is not so common.

"What could account for what they are experiencing is more of genetic bonding. We have monozygotic twins and dizygotic twins. Some twins have the same monozygotic chromosomes; that means their mother's egg cells split into two to form them, unlike the dizygotic chromosomes, who were formed from two different egg cells.

"The biological implication is that these twins share the same sex cell, so the likelihood of doing things the same way is high. Because they share the same egg cell, they have 50 per cent chance of acquiring traits like schizophrenia from their parents.

That means the bond is very high between the two children.

"The environment is also another factor. They have been subjected to the same environment all through their lives: same school, same

‘They are brilliant, intelligent and helpful. They could be annoying, sometimes; they joke and play a lot. Nobody expected that they would have the same results. We knew they were both intelligent, but not that they would have the exact grades in all subjects’

• Dr Jiboku

training, same everything. So that would also aid the genetics. The genetics may not be able to influence their similarities on its own, but it would aid the genetic factor of what we are seeing in these children today.

"Their choice of career may be influenced by their environment.

They have seen different things and interpreted them differently, so despite the fact that they might like the same things, specific interests could be different.

"If you probe further, they may both like football, but one might like it more than the other. So it is expected that they would go for the same career but in different fields.

Hence, their interests and desires are influenced by environmental factors.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

27

EDUCATION

N

ATIONAL Mathematical Centre's (NMC) Director/ Chief Executive Officer Prof.

Adewale Solarin, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare an emergency to arrest falling standard in Mathematics.

Solarin, who spoke in Abuja at the First National Olympiads Award for Secondary Schools, said the country needs about N180 billion to rescue the situation.

He said NMC has been partnering many organisations through competitions in an attempt to promote interest in Mathematics.

Solarin said in moving the mathematical project to international standard, NMC management awarded medals to deserving students from the first round of the competition.

He added that this year, a score of between 60 to 69 won bronze medals; 70 to 79 got silver medals and 80 and above won gold medals.

The cut off points would be reviewed upwards from year to year, he added.

His words: "We need about N108 billion to rescue the falling standard of Mathematics in Nigeria, considering the number of public schools we have. We cannot get that only from education budget; this is where we have problem in getting the fund.

"The private sector and others should be involved. I think government should declare national emergency on Mathematics like it is done in some other countries. Then national local centres should be established through to the Presidency and then funds can be gotten from various agencies to fund them.

He said the Mathematics Improvement Project (MIP) is an attempt by NMC to revamp mathematics teaching and learning

T

‘Nigeria needs N180b to rescue Mathematics standard’ From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

at the secondary school level.

Solarin added: "It (MIP) is designed to present a clear structured and unique teaching methodology that is characterised by active teachers' participation and monitoring of students' activities, using the centre germane instructional materials (teaching modules, student's workbook, models, mathematical

games) and follow through evaluation mechanism.

"This is paradigm shift from the old methodology of expository method to active teaching and learning. MIP came up as a result of research findings, which stipulates that the abysmal mathematics performance of students in West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) and National

Examination Council (NECO), has more to do with methods of teaching than the content of curricula of the school mathematics.

"The indisputable fact about the poor performance of students in WASSCE throughout the federation over the years in mathematics is a reflection of the poor state of teaching and learning processes in Nigerian schools,"Solarin concluded.

Varsity holds training THE 'Nimbe Adedipe Library of FUNAAB in collaboration with the Information Training and Outreach Centre for Africa (ITOCA), held a 'Train-thetrainers' workshop on The essential electronic agricultural library (TEEAL) and Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA) for librarians, academic staff, researchers and students.

Declaring the programme opened, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, represented by his Deputy (Development), Prof Felix Salako, noted that the goal of the programme was to integrate library electronic resources in education and research institutions, through strategised, institutional training workshops.

He added that ITOCA needed to train the trainers, who would in turn, teach others in the various institutions.

Worker wins Commonwealth scholarship

• The Ogun State Deputy Governor Chief Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, (2nd left), Mrs. Oyinade Adegbite, Senior Manager Communications and external Affairs (GTB) (1st left), Mrs. Yewande Ige, Divisional Head Southwest (GTB) and Miss. Adeyinka Jumoke Captain of Isolu Muslim Community High School football team, Overall winner (female category), (2nd right) after the final match of GTB - Ogun Principal Cup 2015 at MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta

FG restate commitment to partner with private sector on education

HE Head of Research of National Educational Research and Development Commission, Mr. Garba Gandu, has restated Federal Government's committment towards partnering with non-state innovators to ensure that Nigeria children have access to meaningful learning opportunities.

Gardu made this known at the Nigeria Education Innovation Summit (NEDIS) organised by the Educational Partnership Center (TEP Centre) in conjunction with Center for Education Innovations and held at the Africa Sun, Ikeja, Lagos.

Gandu said the need for new insight, innovation and creativity in the formation and implementation of national curriculum is very apt, and can be achieved through transparent public and private partnership that

FUNAAB FILE

By Adeola Ogunlade

priortise children interest.

The Founder, LEAP Africa, Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli, noted that research is imperative in thinking about how much the public and private sectors can collaborate to scale promising innovations and exhorted implementations of the models to ensure that they have sufficient capacity to implement and scale their initiative.

In her words, the Representative from Leading Learning, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo emphasised the need for education stakeholders to put the child first and to consider ways by which emerging innovations focus on effectively

strengthening teaching and learning.

Earlier, in her opening speech, the Managing Director of TEP, Mrs. Modupe Adefeso-Olateju, said from evidence available, it is clear that the general quality of learning as measured by pupils achievement and teacher competence is perversely low in Nigeria.

She said: "Nigeria currently accounts for close to a fifth of the estimated 60 million out-of-school children globally-10.5 million Nigerian children are not yet enrolled according to statistics by the British Council".

Olateju said one of the key challenges to attaining goals of access, quality and equity in education is the

limited participation of the non-state sector in the funding, provision and management of education.

The programme tagged strengthening the design Implementation and Impact of Education Innovation in Nigeria brought together 50 experts drawn from government agencies, research institution, civil society groups, donor agencies and media.

Participants at the summit included representatives of government institutions such as NERDC, and the Universal Basic Education Board, (UBEC). Other participants were: United State Aid for International Development, Ford Foundation, TY Dajuma Foundation, British Council, LEAP AFRICA, Ashoka Changemakers and CEI East Africa, among others.

A RESEARCH fellow in the Department of Computer Science of FUNAAB, Mr. Oluwatimilehin Salako, has won a Commonwealth scholarship tenable in the United Kingdom during the 2015/2016 academic session.

Salako was one of the 387 applicants that were offered the scholarships, funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DfID).

The Executive Secretary, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, John Kirkland, noted that successful candidates were those with strong academic backgrounds, having demonstrated in their applications a clear and realistic plan of study as well as the likelihood of tangible development impact after the end of their fellowship period.

Kirkland said the gender balance in selecting the candidates was taken into consideration, advising nominating agencies to continue to put forward, strong female candidates.

Oluwatimilehin Salako holds a B.Sc degree in Computer Science (First class honours) from FUNAAB. He teaches practical classes as well as undergraduate students' tutorials.

He won the FUNAAB Senate Prize for First Class graduates in the Department of Computer Science, College of Natural Sciences (COLNAS).

Tertiary Institutions need law and morality to grow - Olanipekun

L

AW and morality have been described as siamese twins that can aid the growth of tertiary institutions and by extension national development.

The prescription was made by the legal luminary and former ProChancellor of the University of Ibadan, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) while delivering the seventh Registry annual lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). He spoke on the topic: 'Law and morality in tertiary institution in Nigeria: Catalysts for national development'.

Olanipekun said: "The role of law and morality cannot be overemphasised in charting a positive direction for Nigeria's tertiary institutions. In fact, any tertiary institution that is devoid of the foundational principles of law and the basic tenets of morality, even if it purports to carry out activities or make progress, is nothing but a sounding brass, a twinkling cymbal.

Such institutions can be assured of being bereft of any developmental worth to the nation and its people."

By Adegunle Olugbamila

He said acquired knowledge or invention not guided by sound moral considerations and ethical principles can only make the world a worse place to live.

Lamenting the state of the university system in Nigeria, Olanipekun said: "The dearth of discoveries and inventions in our universities can be linked to the dual-core of this discourse, law and morality.

While many may fault lack of adequate funding and competent hands as causes of this sorry state, I opine that the causal factors go beyond this. I blame the dearth of critical reasoning in our institutions, I blame the absence of diligence that births innovations, I blame the predominance of plagiarism, I blame the demise of originality."

He, however said research, critical thinking, novel proposition, discoveries and inventions should find a natural habitat in Nigerian universities as they do in several universities of the world.

Olanipekun called for a redefinition of tertiary institution from being mere repositories of obsolete and uneventful

knowledge to becoming organic and dynamic centres of discoveries and innovations.

This begins with conscious

pollination of students minds with the seed of intellectual adventurism at their matriculation.

• The Executive Secretary of Mushin Local Government Babajide Bello, (left) posed with some students who were beneficiaries of his Free WASCSCE forms held at the council secretariat in Mushin.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

28

EDUCATION

Don warns graduating pupils against excessive freedom

G

RADUATING pupils look forward to greater freedom after completing their secondary education. However, a professor of Mathematics at the University of Ibadan, Mrs Adebisi Ugbebor, has warned that there is too much of it in tertiary institutions.

Prof Ugbebor was the guest speaker at the 17th valedictory service/graduation programme of Jextoban Secondary School, where she warned the 82 graduands, educated in the Ketu, Lagos and Ibafo, Ogun branches of the school, to be wary of too much freedom.

“A higher institution of learning is a place that has too much freedom for young people. But don’t think that you can do whatever you like because people are not watching you. God is there with you,” she said.

She also warned the young ones to resist the temptation of denying their families because of socio-economic status, which she said she sees at play among some students at the University of Ibadan (UI).

She advised them to count themselves privileged to have families and treat them with respect even if they are not rich.

“Be satisfied with what God has given you; and what your parents have for you. Never look down on your parents. No matter how humble they are, you have an address to go home to; and you cannot buy that with money. Some people have no home to go to at the end of the session. Don’t listen to people who claim to wear N50,000 worth of clothes but you do not know where they get their money from,” she counselled.

Mrs Ugbebor urged the pupils to pursue Mathematics as a course in the higher institution. She told them of various ways Mathematics could be applied to real-life situations, including voting.

She already has a prodigy in the

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

person of Titi Agboola, the overall best graduand, who plans to study Mathematics and Computer Science in the university and nurses the ambition of becoming a renowned professor of Mathematics.

The 15-year old, who had met Prof Ugbebor during a Mathematics competition that held at UI, told The Nation that her passion for the subject influenced her decision.

“I discovered that most people go for courses based on their parents’ ideas and at the end of the day discover that it doesn’t work well.

Mathematics is my passion and I learnt that passion is the best motivation. So, that is making me a unique person because extraordinary people are only different because of the extra they add to their things,” she said.

In his speech, chairman, board of governors of the school, Pastor Ezekiel Ojo, charged the graduands to dare to be different in the wider world even in the face of difficulties.

“My charge to the graduating students is simply, “Dare to be a Daniel”. The society in which you are living and will be stepping into is fraught with intimidating challenges. You will be confronted with the dilemma of whether to stand alone or join the maddening crowd.

That corruption is the order of the day is an understatement. Deceit, power struggle, wealth acquisition by all means, cultism, and all kinds of vices are prevalent in the present day society. Yet, in all these, you still must survive and stand out as the lily stands in the midst of mire,” he said.

Principal of the school’s Ibafo campus, Mr Victor Aigbefoh, said he was confident in the graduands’ ability to excel because they had been adequately prepared by the school.

‘We’re proud of you’

P

RINCIPAL of The African Church Model College, Ifako-Ijaye, Lagos, Mr. Olanrewaju Ogunkola, has expressed confidence that the this year’s outgoing students of the college will be worthy ambassadors of the school.

"We are graduating another set of students today, and I have full confidence that they are going to become worthy ambassadors of this great school and faithful leaders in the future," Ogunkola said while expressing his confidence.

Ogunkola, who is the college outgoing principal spoke at the school valedictory service and prize giving day which held at the college auditorium. The event was to celebrate the Senior Secondary School (SSS) III class.

Decked in their beautiful sparkling white on black suits, the graduands gracefully stepped into the hall amid loud ovation that heralded their arrival. Parents, family members and their junior ones struggled to catch a glimpse of the outgoing seniors.

Ogunkola explained that the ceremony was a celebration of the success of the children entrusted and nurtured by the school on the completion of the second stage of their academic pursuit and towards creation of a new future for themselves.

He advised them to brace up as the next four to six years of their lives would be critical as they attempt to fashion out a new direc-

By Abimbola Ojo

tion of careers.

"Do not engage in anything that could truncate your dreams and hopes for the future. Remain focused and always ask God for guidance. He alone decided how you would be born and you must realise that the He has a purpose for your life.

"We plead with you to remain ambassadors of the school as well as your home. Shun all those paths that are all over the place today which the devil has created for the destruction of the unwary youth.

As you go out and as you prepare to make God your focus, we pray that the moral, spiritual and academic baptism you have received from us will guide you in your choice career. It shall be well with you," he added.

The outgoing senior prefect, Opeyemi Ekundayo in his valedictory speech, said he had learnt a lot of lessons and roles expected of a leader amongst which are discipline and proper courtesy as a reflection of proper upbringing.

In the same vein, the Head girl, Oluwatomisin Shonde, advised her junior colleagues to eschew discipline and keep their imaginations and creative instincts alive.

She admonished them to go into the world and showcase what the school had taught them and strive hard to be better Nigerians.

Highlights of the ceremony include rendition of beautiful songs,

• From left: CEO Ola Petroleum, Otunba Sule Olayinka; Area Commander of Police, Ondo State, Olayinka Olayemi; Chairman/Managing Director of Yem-Kem International Nigeria Limited, Prince Akintunde Ayeni; Chairman, Big Daddy Foundation, Chief Adetunji Adeleye; Lord Bishop of Methodist Church, Nigeria, Owo, Diocese, Bishop Samuel Adegbite; General Overseer, Marvellous Light Gospel Church, Akure, Prophetess Titilayo Durotolu; and Divisional Police Officer, A' Division, Akure, Supro Dino Ojo, cutting the cake at the fifth anniversary of Big Daddy Foundation, an NGO that awards scholarships to indigent pupils of Ondo State annually.

• Pupils of Julliard Academy displaying their certificates.

M

ASTER Zerah Ukoko of Julliard Academy Magodo, Lagos shone like a million stars at the school graduation.

Intestingly, Ukoko who won the best student last year also repeated same feat at the ceremony, while Charles Chineme of Berkeley Science Magnet School, the junior arm of Julliard, won in the Julliard junor category.

Julliard's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Maria Onyia, who spoke at the school hall, venue of the event, said the purpose was to reward the best students.

She said: 'Julliard Academy is just a year old and we are graduating

Lad tops school twice

By Opeyemi Samuel

students. I think people should be rewarded for hardwork. When I started it, I noticed the competition increased. The truth about competition is that everybody that struggled to win, moves a step further. I also gave award to staff and parents, that is my own way of motivating them because they are doing a wonderful job.”

On her advice for graduands, she said: "I don't want to advise the graduands because they have been equipped. They are change in motion because they are taught to

make change when necessary. Most of them are going to university abroad, I don't want them to forget quickly all that we taught them. I want them to keep to what they have learnt, they should lead and not be led.”

Zerah Ukoko, the best graduating student also said: "I won last year and this year because my parents have been pushing me the extra mile.

They don't allow me to watch TV. It's either we rest or study."

Master Charles Chineme also told The Nation how his parents encouraged him to work harder.

•Pupils of Pacific Comprehensive College, Shasha, Akowonjo during their valedictory service in the school premises.

thanksgiving and cultural displays by the college cultural group.

Also prizes were awarded to the students in various categories. In the best student award for the Jun-

ior Secondary School; Ibilola Damilola, Fashola Similoluwa and Olayinka Tobiloba came first in the JSS I, JSS II, and JSS III respectively.

In the Senior Secondary School

categories, Ruth Nwarueze topped SSS I with 10 distinctions, while Emmanuel Gbadamosi emerged winner in the SSS II class with a total of 9 distinctions and one credit.

All work and no play...

‘Afrika lives on’ Page 31

THE NATION

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 34

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Our Ramadan takeaway, by students Last Friday, Muslims celebrated Eid-El-Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month. Students stressed the need for peace and unity in the country during the occasion, report OLADELE OGE (NYSC ENUGU), HALIMAH AKANBI (300-Level Law, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto) and MUFTAUDEEN RAJI (100Level Mass Communication, University of Lagos).

AST Friday, Muslims celebrated Eid-El Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting from sunrise to sunset. Many campuses were agog for the festivity. At the Eid grounds, imams spoke about the significance of the month.

Chief Imam of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Central Mosque Sheikh Adam Idoko urged Muslim students to reflect on the lessons of Ramadan and the teachings of Prophet Mohammed in their lives.

Idoko, the leader of Muslims in Enugu State, enjoined Muslim youths to promote peace and show love to their neighbours, irrespective of religion, ethnic or political affiliations.

He said: “Islam is a religion of peace that does not compel anyone to belong to it. But, anyone who willingly accepts the faith according to the teaching of Prophet Mohammed must promote peaceful coexistence where he lives and show love to his neighbours even if they are non-Muslims.

“It is based on our conviction that we become Muslims, and the teaching of Islam is that, we must show love and care to all without discrimination. If we want to receive more blessings from Allah during this period of celebration and after, we must remember the poor, the needy around us as well as obey all the teachings of Allah and His Prophet.”

Idoko said Muslims must always show appreciation to Allah and refrain from negative tendences.

The imam urged those in authority to ensure justice, equity and fairness. He advised them to shun corruption, because Allah detests acts that could subject people to untold hardship.

Idoko said: “As Nigerians, we must pray for our leaders. We should all support President Muhammadu Buhari administration as it commits itself to ridding the country of corruption and other challenges we face. Judges and security agents must ensure that only the guilty are punished, while the innocent are set free. No matter the position or class we belong to, we must always say the truth even if it affects our personal

L

•Sheikh Idoko delivering his sermon at Eid prayer in UNN

interest. This is the best way to restore dignity to the country.”

Chief Imam of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Central Mosque Prof Murtador Bidmus enjoined Muslims to imbibe the lessons of Ramadan, urging the youths to maintain strong bond with their fellow youths, irrespective of status.

The cleric, who noted that Ramadan teaches goodness, said it was about time Muslims sunk their differences and work for a common goal to engender a balanced and just society.

Quoting Quran 2:143, Prof Bidmus urged Muslims to maintain peace in the world.

He said: “Islam prides itself as a

religion that promotes unity and brotherhood. These fundamental values cannot be compromised.

This implies that Muslims must do the right thing; they must accommodate people of diverse backgrounds. We must be good example to others and we must show the will to see that righteousness prevails. We must not fan the embers of violence and injustice in the society.”

Lateefah Abdulazeez, a 100Level Mass Communication student of UNILAG, said she learnt steadfastness in prayers and acts of worship during Ramadan.

Tajudeen Mukaila, a 400-Level Education and Mathematics student, said Ramadan taught him

fear of Allah and dedication.

He said: “Ramadan taught me good manners, charity and kindness. We must continue to reflect on the lessons in our dealings with our neighbours.”

At the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State, the message was the same.

Students, who stayed back in school for Sallah, prayed for peace in the North.

Hassan Abdulkadir, a 200-Level Education Biology student of UDUS, said he was frightened by the insecurity in Northeast. He said: “I did not fully concentrate on the Eid prayer because any-

thing could happen. I did not even wait to supplicate or exchange greetings with my colleagues before leaving the prayer ground. I was in fear.”

But, Abdulrozaque Ahmad, a 300Level Law student of UDUS, said he was not scared of bomb at Eid prayer, because “death is something we cannot run away from.”

At Bayero University, Kano (BUK) some students converged early to observe the prayer, because of security threat. Abubakar Sanni, a 200-Level Law student of BUK, said: “We prayed for peace in Kano and other parts of the North. We hope the end of Ramadan would bring lasting peace to the nation.”

•Corps member’s parting gifts to AAUA-P32 •‘Why we must stop kidney diseases’ -P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Pushing Out

What drives successful leaders?

W

HEN the results of the last elections were announced and now President Muhammadu Buhari was declared the winner, I got a call from my mother. Immediately I picked her call she said “Finally, your man has won.”

Unlike my mother, she didn’t – or momentarily forgot - to ask how my family is doing. As a long time Buhari advocate and fan who has been trying to sell his candidacy to my extended family since 2003, she felt I deserved commendation and congratulation for remaining steadfast against all odds. During our conversation I could sense the confusion on how Buhari won in her voice. I will explain what I mean.

My home state, Benue - like some north central states - has been experiencing a recurring farmer/herdsmen clash over the years. The overwhelming local conclusion is that these attacks are being sponsored by some elusive individuals. The big question on the lips of indigenes is ‘who are these herdsmen and why has none been caught and prosecuted?’ Since that has not happened, the undercurrent is that it has to be the ‘Hausas.’ This was why it was widely perceived that a Buhari candidacy “cannot fly” in the state.

To be very frank, I initially shared the opinion that it might be difficult to sell Buhari in the state because our people are very emotional and their distrust of anything ‘Hausa’ runs deep. It goes back to almost all the religious crises in the north where many citizens of the state paid the supreme prize. Emotions often run high whenever the coffins start arriving after each crisis. The new regime thus has its work cut out for it as the people expect radical change in this area.

But change comes at a prize which is why I refuse to join the bandwagon of those castigating the president for being ‘slow.’ The enormous challenges we face today as a nation requires deep reflection and introspection. I was glad to hear the president say in Washington last Monday that the delay in the appointment of ministers is to allow for critical reforms which will guide their conduct. For me, there’s no need hurrying to nowhere.

So what drives successful leaders? Leadership is an essential feature of all govern-

ment and governance. Weak leadership contributes to government failures, and strong leadership is indispensable if the government is to succeed. Wise leadership secures prosperity in the long run; foolhardy leadership may bring about a catastrophe.

Leadership is a historically concrete phenomenon; that is, its structures and methods change with the passage of time. To influence events and affect outcomes, leaders need to be prepared to abandon policy instruments and ideas that no longer work in a new environment. They need to be able to embrace the new and reevaluate the old, even some of the earlier discarded ideas and methods of adapting to environments, if the circumstances call for it.

I strongly believe that a successful leader chooses a particular course of action and then in some way gets others to go along; or more subtly, the leader encourages the led to ‘choose’ the course that the group will follow. The co-determination of the two parts of the leadership–followership system means that leaders are, to a significant extent, created by the led just like we saw with the overwhelming endorsement of a Buhari presidency. In the complex leadership quotient, followers matter a great deal; indeed leadership, as a process, is greatly influenced by following.

Successful leaders are also driven by the introduction of new ideas or novel orientations which often promote major changes in societies. By advancing vision, inspiration, conceptualization of change, articulation of ideological goals and their communication to followers they are able to take their societies to greater heights.

In Nigeria, whenever the word “leadership” is mentioned people conjure a mental image of those few individuals who steer the nation at the helms of power as politicians, bureaucrats, religious leaders and business moguls. This is vertical construction of leadership which is a top-down affair where the fulcrum of power is concentrated at the top of the social, economic, and political hierarchy.

with

Agbo Agbo 08116759750 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com One of the defects of this model is the stifling of grassroots initiatives necessary for social cohesion. Another is that it does not consider how individuals, in collectivist contexts, can exercise leadership that will address problems, create solutions, and benefit the common whole. We need a radical departure from this style.

Successful horizontal leadership, on the other hand, lays emphasis on individuals being empowered to benefit the larger community and ensure basic human rights by responding to the dictates of the situation.

It recognises the value of individuals beyond mere instruments but instead empowers them in understanding policies and the part they have to play.

This model requires that citizens take responsibility for improving society and at the very least participate in local, state, and national governance. This type of individually empowered leadership fuels the full-spectrum of social change that Nigeria needs, from the base of the pyramid to the apex.

Indeed, horizontal leadership is the cultural heritage of Nigeria, embedded in our traditional narratives, myths and civil religion. We have since jettisoned this type of indigenous leadership model but we need to revisit it as a viable vehicle for making institutions accountable to Nigerians and Nigerians accountable to each other.

For the successful leader too education is critical. Without access to education and literacy, the next generation of Nigeria’s leaders would be crippled. Few would doubt that there is a crisis in our education sector. Because our educational system has not kept up with the practical demands of the age, Nigerian graduates are not taught the necessary skills to favourably compete in the marketplace.

Our system produce graduates who can regurgitate information, but not those who can innovate, create, and lead according to the demands of changing times. With this mindset it is not surprising that our schools

keep producing job seekers, but we need to produce job creators. Our system must equip students to innovate for the betterment of society. To accomplish this redefinition of the goal of education and reorientation towards viable skills, we need to transform our curriculum.

In developed societies, students are not only engaged in traditional education, they are tasked with solving real-life problems, working in groups to innovate, and provided platforms to implement change. If our education cannot help us live better, we need to change our understanding of what education ought to accomplish. When students are untrained in skills that matter, how can we expect Nigeria’s factories, hospitals and businesses to operate well and employ Nigeria’s people?

The new leadership is thus challenged to redefine the objective our education which should inculcate both formal and informal forms of learning to incorporate more dimensions to convey knowledge that meets 21st century needs. This may take time to evolve, but if we start implementing it in piecemeal, it may end up producing wellrounded graduates who would in turn fulfill the missions of education.

Leadership therefore plays a crucial role in the development of any society, a look at the leadership structure of a society says a whole lot about that society, which is why John Maxwell - who has written and researched extensively on the subject - said everything rises and falls on leadership.

Leadership can either move a people forward or backward, it can cause incalculable damage that in some cases may require decades to correct. As a student of history and political economy, I’ve taken the pains to study the critical path of nations, and in my studies and research, I’ve discovered that leadership plays a fundamental role.

Most countries in the advanced world have a laid down blueprint and guideline for leadership grooming and selection – even though no one is going to print out a manual and give to you, nonetheless such things exists -that is why they never have issues in this critical area of progress.

Nigeria’s, and by extension Africa’s leadership crisis is deeply engrained and multifaceted; it is a combination of lack of vision, greed, tribal, religious and sectional affinity and most importantly, the unwillingness to leave the stage when the ovation is loudest. But we have broken the jinx with the election of president Buhari. All we need now is to patiently wait for him to turn things around or lay the foundation for the change we all agree we need.

From his base in the United States, Oluwole Olabode is championing the cause of people living with disabilities. Oluwole, who is physically-challenged, floated Gifted Minds, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), to create awareness on the needs of people with disabilities. He shares his plan in an online interview with HABEEB WHYTE (NYSC Abuja).

‘Nigeria doesn’t care for physically-challenged’ T ELL us about your background I attended Comprehensive Academy in Ogun State and proceeded to Community College in Baltimore, United States, where I bagged a degree in Computer Science. I want to take a course in Information Technology to equip myself with knowledge and analytical tools that will make me achieve my dream.

How did you come about Gifted Minds?

Having lived in both Nigeria, and the United States, I realised how physically-challenged individuals are finding it difficult to achieve their dreams. Many physically-challenged are dreamers who want to live a better life, change the world as much as they can, and also contribute to the growth of the nation. But, their dreams are cut short because of the neglect by the society. There is no social welfare for people with disabilities. Rather than being in school, many are on the street, begging for alms and handouts. Some end up being hit by vehicles. Because of this

neglect, many of them have lost confidence in the society. I felt the need to help them achieve their dreams. I find physically-challenged people intelligent and brilliant.

How would you compare access to education by the physically-challenged in Nigeria and in the United States?

There might have been some fallacious statistics on education accessibility for people living with disabilities in Nigeria. But, from facts available to me, many physically-challenged do not have access to education and some of them who are in school lack supporting facilities to enable them concentrate on their studies. In most cases, people with disabilities are found on the street, hawking and begging. They have not been given special attention in education and social services. The situation in Nigeria is nowhere comparable to what is obtainable in the United States. I want to use my organisation to intervene and help them to return to school.

Don’t you think the government is doing well in terms of welfare

•Oluwole

and equal opportunity for the physically-challenged?

No! Statistics and facts would help us to make judgment here. According to the 2011 World Report on Disability, approximately 25 million Nigerians live with disabilities, with 3.6

million of them having very significant difficulties to function. Also, there was a report that physicallychallenged people are neglected and abused. A body established by the government to oversee the welfare of the physically-challenged is underfunded. Virtually all political parties’ manifestos fail to address the welfare of persons with disabilities.

This tells how much the people have been neglected. Their rays of hope usually come from kind-hearted individuals and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Nigeria cannot be said to be helping the cause of the physically-challenged.

Rights of persons with disabilities are embedded in statutory books of most countries. Do you think such laws have worked in Nigeria?

I don’t believe so. The society and NGOs are not championing the cause of persons with disabilities in a way it is supposed to be done. Nigeria has a law, which recognises and preaches that all people be treated equally, regardless of their physical state. The question is, how has the

law been enforced? People with disabilities suffer domestic violence and abuse daily. They are not being treated equally in my view. They are being segregated and marginalised.

They are being discriminated against in job market. Yet, nobody is punished for the discrimination. My NGO intends to enlighten the government, create awareness about the marginalisation, discrimination and segregation of people with disabilities. I hope the situation is changed for the better.

What is your advice to students with disabilities?

With the uncertain future facing people with disabilities in Africa, I want them to see themselves as hope for the continent. I was once in a position when I felt so hopeless. I did not lose hope; I was strong to stand tall and face the task. Here I am, championing a cause for the physically-challenged. We must see ourselves as symbol of humanity. We are great people that can achieve great thing. We must always seek a platform to express our ideas, passion and goals.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

31

CAMPUS LIFE Sixteen years after some Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Students Union Government (SUG) leaders were killed, their killers are yet to be found. Last week, students gathered at the Awolowo Hall Cafe in their memory. AFEES LASISI (300-Level Political Science) reports.

J

‘Afrika lives on’

ULY 10 is full of memories for students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State. Reason: it was the day they rose to fight and free their campus of cultism. For the students, it was freedom day. But, it was at a price. The freedom tree was watered by the blood of their colleagues.

In the wee hours of July 10, 1999, residents of Awolowo and Fajuyi Halls were woken up by gunshots, when cultists believed to be members of the Black Axe Confraternity, stormed the campus. They shot sporadically. When the dust settled, five students lay dead.

The victims were student-leaders – George Akinyemi Iwilade, Yemi Ajiteru, Eviano Ekelemu, Efe Ekpede and Babatunde Oke. They were killed between 3am and 4am.

The late George, who was known as Afrika, was a 21-year-old 400Level Law student and General Secretary of the Students Union Government (SUG).

There were reports that some students got wind of the attack, but they could not inform the students before the gunmen struck.

Students quickly mobilised and chased the assailants, who were said to be non-OAU students, to their base off-campus. Some of them were apprehended and handed over to the police.

It was reported that the gunmen were released by the police. This led to an unrest which prompted former President Olusegun Obasanjo to set up a panel to investigate the matter.

Sixteen years after, the assailants are yet to be brought to book. Last week, students gathered to remember their heroes. They held a symposium at the Awolowo Hall Café as part of activities to commemo-

rate the day they have since tagged Freedom Day. The theme of the lecture was: 16 years since July 10: Afrika’s unfinished struggle.

One of the speakers was Comrade Hassan Soweto, national coordinator of Education Rights Campaign (ERC). He was represented by Comrade Michael Ogundele, ERC’s national secretary.

Soweto noted that Afrika and other victims were killed because of their activism and their interest in students’ welfare.

He said: “Afrika and others were murdered by the powers that be, because of their struggle against hike in school fees, victimisation of students’ leaders and cultism. We lost these promising Nigerians because of their radical belief for better education system and a better country for all of us.”

Afrika’s struggles, Soweto argued, were yet to be accomplished, noting that things have been getting worse.

He said: “Today, none of Afrika’s dreams and aspirations has been fulfilled. Indeed, the economic and political conditions of the country and that of the African continent have gone from bad to worse, compared to what we had in 1999. Not only does Nigeria have one of the worst education systems in the world, it is also one of the worst places to live in.”

Soweto urged students to emulate the late Afrika, advising them not allow his principles to die. He said: “The only way to mourn Afrika and other victims is to actively take up their unfinished struggles. That is the struggle for better education and better society. That can only be achieved when we rise up in struggle

•Students writing tributes to the late Afrika

against fee hike and all neo-liberal attacks on education.”

Earlier, the SUG President, Omotayo Akande, said the victims were dogged fighters whose struggles transcended the campus.

Omotayo said: “They fought to free our campus of cultism. The freedom we enjoy today is because of their activism. They fought for our peaceful coexistence. The best way to remember them is to join

hands with the union in the fight against injustice, impunity and recklessness.”

The union leader urged the management to declare July 10 lecturefree day, saying the struggle for which the students were killed kept the school tick.

A student, Shola Adebayo, said: “OAU is the most peaceful campus and it is as a result of the struggle against injustice and mal-

administration, which the late Afrika and other fallen comrades championed. The best we could do is to emulate their principles.”

A Master’s student of University of Leeds in the United Kingdom (UK) and former OAU presidential aspirant, Oluwaloseyi Babaeko, called on the InspectorGeneral of Police Solomon Arase to re-open the case and prosecute the culprits.

The Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, the Anambra State capital, was agog with festivities when the students marked their Cultural Day. FRANKLIN ONWUBIKO (400-Level Mass Communication) reports.

UNIZIK’s day of culture

I

T was a sight to behold. The Igwes (kings) and their lolos (Queens) led their subjects in processions. They moved in measured steps, and wherever they stopped, they beseeched the gods to bless their subjects. The subjects offered gifts in return as a mark of respect to the ‘custodians’ of their cultures and traditions.

It was not a scene in an epic movie; it all happened at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, the Anambra State capital, last week. The school literally became a melting pot of cultures. There was celebration in every nook and cranny of the campus as students marked their Cultural Day. For many, it was the first time they would be witnessing a large-scale cultural event. Hitherto, such event was held without much publicity.

•Mass Communication students in the traditional attires

But, the cultural festival was marked in all departments of the institution.

Students were clad in colourful traditional attires, each reflecting

the culture of a typical Igbo society.

Each department had its own uniform just as they had their kings and queens. They all marched round the campus, celebrating with

exceptional displays, which attracted a large crowd of residents of the institution’s host community.

All departments’ troupes took turns to entertain their colleagues

with their traditional dance steps.

The event was held to rejuvenate social life on the campus and to promote values of the nation’s cultures.

•Continued on page 36

32

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE ‘Nigeria needs new generation of activists’

L

•Prof Adebowale (arrowed) in a group photograph with some management officials and Corps members after unveiling the signposts

Corps member’s parting gifts to AAUA

F

OR erecting seven direction signposts as parting gifts to Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, the school management has praised John Adeniyi, a Batch “B” National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member.

Unveiling the signposts, the ViceChancellor, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, represented by his deputy for Academic, Prof Oluyemisi Adebowale, described the Corps member’s gesture as useful gift for the university.

Adebowale said: “The university appreciates you for leaving a legacy by donating these locational signposts. This is not about donation; it is about making a difference.”

Prof. Adebowale said the Corps member has made an indelible mark

From ‘Seyi Oluwalade

AAUA in the university and would be remembered for his selfless service.

She urged other Corps members to make positive impact on their host communities.

The Acting Librarian, Dr Olujide Ajidahun, under whom the Corps member served, said, “We have had Corps members in the Library over the years, but we have noticed that John is the best of all. He is always punctual, diligent, humble, courteous, responsible and full of ideas.”

The Director of Physical Planning and Development, Mr Emmanuel Orimoloye, hailed the Corps member for the initiative, noting that the signposts would ease location of fac-

ulties for new visitors.

The NYSC Zonal Inspector in Akoko, Mr Adedotun Adegboyega, said the Corps member made the body proud. He thanked the university management for providing conducive atmosphere for Corps members to have successful service year.

Responding, John noted that the idea was conceived in April to give direction to facilities on the campus.

He said he gained useful experience during his service period in the university, appreciating the management for its support.

John graduated from of Library and Information Technology at the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) in Niger State and had his primary assignment at the AAUA library.

EGAL luminaries, rights activists and students were among participants at an event held to celebrate former National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) president, the late Emma Ezeazu, at the University of Lagos, (UNILAG).

The event with the theme: The role of human rights and democracy activists in a democratic Nigeria, was organised by Media Rights Agenda in collaboration with the institution’s Students Union Government (SUG).

Dr Olisa Agbakoba, former president, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said the nation needed a new generation of activists, adding that students’ bodies must connect to human rights movements to forge a common front in pressing home their demands.

He said: “Whatever you study in school, there is always connection with the human right movement to salvage the nation from its current problems.”

A human rights lawyer and chairman of the occasion, Mr Femi Falana, advised students to identify with labour struggles. He said workers would reciprocate the gesture if students were in need of labour unions’ support to establish a just society.

Falana also disclosed that plans were underway to set up a foundation to cater for children of activists, who died in the course of

OAU students hail Soyinka at 81

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TUDENTS of the Department of English and Literary Studies at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun Stateý have hailed Prof Wole Soyinka as he marked his 81st birthday. They described the Nobel Laureate as a blessing to the nation, saying the playwright has proven his mettle in literary world.

In a congratulatory message to the literary icon, President of National Association of English and Literary ýStudies (NASELS), Sodiq Oyeleke and Assistant ýGeneral Secretary, Afeez Gbadamosi, said Soyinka was an inspiration to all Nigerians, especially the students.

The message reads: “We align with well-wishers from around the world to celebrate our icon and social justice activist, Prof Wole Akinwande Soyinka, as he begins another decade of abundant vitality. It is a blessing for Nigeria to be endowed with a cerebral playwright and intellectual giant, who has changed the course of Nigerian literature for the better. There is no

From Miftaudeen Raji

UNILAG fighting for justice.

Describing Ezeazu as a detribalised Nigerian, a senior lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Dr Ismail Ibrahim, said the late activist was committed to the cause of humanity.

He said Ezeazu was always willing to accommodate everybody, adding that the five-million-manmarch hero had good vision for the nation with the commitment to advancing the change through several platforms and networks.

Ismail advised students to move beyond what he described as “existential context” of looking after what to get after university, passing courses or seeing degree as a mere meal ticket.

His words: “We need to look beyond all these. We need to see ourselves as change agents in the society. We need to ourselves as being the bridge between the ideals which universities are known for.”

The SUG President, Abiodun Martins, described the late Ezeazu as an exemplary personality, who represented justice and stood to defend the oppressed.

He promised that students would continue to promote the good legacies left behind by deceased in protecting the interest of the masses and the rights of students.

From Afeez Lasisi

OAU gainsaying that every material literature students read today has input of Soyinka in one form or the other.” ýThe students also praised Soyinka for his efforts in promoting African beliefs, values and culture.

The massage added: “We respect the Nobel Laureate’s staunch advocacy for the preservation and promotion of African cultural values and beliefs. Today, we celebrate a man with strong moral fibre, who never loses thirst for knowledge despite his unprecedented success in the realm of literature.

“Soyinkla’s deeds and writings give credence the aphorism that pen is mightier than sword. As good students of history, we are not oblivious of his firm stance against despotic regimes of the military rulers through his poems, prose, plays and caustic observations.

“His works has always been warning against persecution, segregation, corruption, racism and injustice. With this, ý English and Literary Studies students of OAU extend their birthday greetings to Soyinka and wish him good health.”

LAUTECH students protest •Prof Udenwa (second left), Prof Uwaleke (left) and other members of the department during a short ceremony held to present the scholarship to Emmanuel (middle)

Physically-challenged student gets scholarship

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PHYSICALLY-CHALLENGED student of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), Emmanuel John, has been given full scholarship to complete his programme. The 300Level student of Banking and Finance was the beneficiary of the grant by the pioneer Head of the Department (HOD), Associate Prof Theresa Udenwa.

In a letter notifying the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mohammed Mainoma,

From Sani Makama

NSUK the HOD, Associate Prof Uche Uwaleke, an Associate Professor said Emmanuel was chosen for the scholarship, because of his performance and belief in education despite his challenges.

Udenwa, who is also the chairman of Board of Trustees of Heartland Childcare Foundation, said she believed the student would justify her

confidence.

Uwaleke praised his predecessor for “the kind gesture”, urging the student not to disappoint his benefactors.

Responding, Emmanuel said he was overwhelmed by the kindness, promising to study hard to make good grades.

He said: “I am overwhelmed by this act of kindness by our mother and I promise to make her proud by ensuring that my grades are good at the end of every semester.”

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TUDENTS of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State protested, penultimate Monday, in support of the industrial action embarked on by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The protesters shut the Ogbomoso North Local Government secretariat and barricaded the Ogbomosho–Ilorin Expressway for hours, calling on Osun and Oyo states’ governors to accede to the demands of their lecturers.

The protesters also visited Soun of Ogbomoso’s palace to register their complaints, urging the monarch to appeal to the school’s visitors on their behalf.

The institution’s ASUU members,

From Tobi Oseni and

Ridwan Adelaja ILORIN on July 10, declared full action, following the non-payment of their salaries for 13 months. They claimed that the school was being run by its Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR). The ASUU action disrupted the semester examination, which was ongoing before the strike.

But, in a turn of event, the striking lecturers suspended their action last week, prompting the management to recall students back on campus to continue their examination.

The LAUTECH Campus Ambassador, Adeneye Olayinka, urged students to maintain peace as trhey returned to school.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE

Ekiti students plead for bursary

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HE Association of Ekiti State Local Government Students’ Union Presidents (AELOGSUP) has called on the state government to hands off the local government bursary.

The association’s Chairman, Adebowale Dada, and its Secretary, Tunde Oluwayomi, in a statement after a meeting at the Ekiti State University (EKSU) in Ado-Ekiti, called on Governor Ayo Fayose to order local council to disburse the grant.

From Temitope Yakubu

ADO POLY The statement reads: “The 16 Local Government Students’ Union Presidents have unanimously drawn the attention of Gov. Fayose to an issue rocking grassroots Students Union in the state. The bursary we get from our respective councils had been withdrew from the local government by the state. We are using this medium to call on the government for the separation of the local government bursary from the State Scholarship Board.”

The students complained that there was no transparency in getting the grant from the Board, adding that unnecessary protocol scared away eligible students.

They said getting forms for local government bursary was more reliable than the state bursary. They urged the government to study their complaints and make changes.

•Okorie (left) presenting the award to Prof Ozumba

VC gets NANS leadership award

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EMBERS of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) in Zone B have conferred the leadership award on the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Prof Benjamin Ozumba.

The VC became the fifth person to receive the award. Others recipients include the late Prof Chinua Achebe, Prof Wole Soyinka, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) and Prof Peter Ejiofor.

Presenting the award at the VC’s conference room, the Coordinator of NANS in the zone, Comrade Okorie Ikechukwu, said Ozumba was given the award, because of his contributions to the growth of education in the country.

He said: “We can, without any equivocation, bear testimony to the fact that Prof Ozumba has always supported any cause that uplifts education and anything that accelerates

From Inya Agha

UNN the pace of socio-economic transformation in Nigeria.”

The NANS leader described the VC as a man “who is dedicated to the pursuit of truth and fair play with the ability and patience to reconcile competing interests”.

He said NANS had confidence in Ozumba and his ability to make sacrifices for the interest of students, saying the VC had demonstrated the trait through the reduction of fees.

Okorie called for youth involvement in governance to enable them expend their energy in nation building.

Responding, Ozumba hailed the students’ body for the award, saying he was happy his contributions to education were being recognised by students, who he described as members of his primary constituency.

Law students honour CAMPUSLIFE reporter From Jennifer Umeh

ILORIN OR being outstanding in news reporting, Toyin Ali, a 300Level Law student and CAMPUSLIFE reporter, has been honoured with Most Creative Law Student award by members of Law Students’ Society (LSS) of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).

Toyin was honoured at the Society’s dinner and award night at Bovina Suits in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The event started with a red-carpet session and music performance by campus artistes, including Nytspass, Monali and Horain. There was also a comedy session.

While presenting the award, the outgoing LSS president, Mujeeb Imran, described Toyin as “creative student”, saying the campus writer had made the Law faculty to be proud.

Responding, Toyin said: “I feel elated that my creativity is being recognised by the prestigious Law society. I started as a lone writer when I was in 100-Level, before I became well known within the school. I dedicate the award to every member of the Society.”

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•Toyin displaying the plaque

He said his interest in the students’ welfare dated back to his undergraduate years at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where he was an activist.

He said: “While serving as a Dean and the Provost of College of Medicine, I continued to fight for and protected the interest of my students.”

He said his administration was making effort to improve municipal services in all the campuses of the university. According to him, the administration has provided internet services for students’ use and ensured steady flow of water in the hostels. He said plan was being made to provide independent power source for the school.

Ozumba expressed confidence in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the new leader would bring succor to the education.

•The students’ leaders after their meeting

‘Why we must stop kidney diseases’

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PROFESSOR of Medicine and Surgery, Evelyn Unuigbe, has delivered the 158th inaugural lecture of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) at the Akin Deko Auditorium. She spoke on a lecture titled: He gave them for your purification and good health, protect those amazing kidneys of yours.

Prof Unuigbe, who is also a consultant nephrologist, in her lecture, revealed how Acute Kidney Disease (AKD) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) have caused preventable deaths. While AKD was treatable, she said CKD manifests late and untreatable.

She said patients suffering CKD usually go for treatment, a situation, she said, made the illness treatment difficult. She listed inadequate equipment, research funding, lack of public awareness and poverty as some of the challenges making the CKD treatment difficult include. She urged governments at all level to step up efforts in addressing the problems.

She said: “We are not always happy when we see patients die of CKD. Many of them come late because the symptoms manifest late.

Renal transplant and dialysis are expensive and they beyond what an average Nigerian can afford. The average dialysis and the immunosuppressive drugs, which the patients have to take for lifetime, can be put at N2.6 million annually.”

She added: “Patients need dialysis three times a week but many of them do it twice, some once and others, when they have the money.

•Prof Unuigbe From Eddy Uwoghiren

UNIBEN There was the case of two 400-Level medical students, who died of CKD. They died one year after they had kidney transplant; it is not because the surgery was faulty but they could not continue with the dialysis. Their dreams to become doctors were truncated. We don’t need to lose people to kidney disease again.”

The lecturer noted that kidney transplant is free countries, such as United States, United Kingdom, South Africa and Sudan, wondering why Nigerian government lagged behind in providing free dialysis for its citizens.

She recommended improved awareness, lifestyle modification, regular consultation and promulgation of laws to make dialysis and kidney transplant subsidised.

Dean of College of Medicine, Prof Moses Momoh, hailed the inaugural lecturer for her “thoroughly conducted” research. He said: “The lecturer has done well. I hope her recommendations would be implemented by the appropriate authorities.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE Lectures were suspended last week at the College of Medical Sciences of the University of Benin (UNIBEN). It was all for students to participate in games organised by the Medical Students’ Association. EDDY UWOGHIREN (300-Level Medicine and Surgery) reports.

•Prof Momoh (in fez cap) with students during the games’ opening ceremony

All work and no play...

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CADEMICS were suspended at the College of Medical Sciences of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), last week, for students to participate in the Dean’s Cup. The week-long contest was organised by the University of Benin Medical Students Association (UBEMSA). It featured football, chess, scrabble, track event, volleyball and table tennis.

The Dean, Prof Moses Momoh, who declared the event open, said there was a need for students to exercise their muscles and relax their brains, despite their busy schedules.

He observed that the sport fiesta underscored a popular saying: all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. The Dean said medical students must set a good example for other students.

UBEMSA’s Director of Sports Anthony Adams said the event was

“O

YOU who believe, fasting in the month of Ramadan is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may become pious.”

This Quranic verse set the tone for a Ramadan lecture at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State, last week, as the Islamic month wound up.

The lecture was held in honour of Sheikh Muktar Isalekoto, the founder of Muktar Isalekoto Islamic Foundation.

Muslim faithful from all walks of life converged on the university’s main auditorium for the lecture, the seventh in the series.

The Coordinator of the foundation, Ustadz Lukman Muktar Isalekoto of the Faculty of Engineering, said the focus of the lecture was on frequently asked questions about dissolution of marriage in Islam and what Muslims could do to maintain their piety.

Chief Imam of Asbunallahu Central Mosque in Ilorin Sheikh Abdulrafiu Oloduowo traced the cause of marital disagreement among young Muslim couples to lack of spirituality and the absence of incentives before their marriage. He said spiritualism should be the foundation on which a marriage is built, stressing that the embrace of secular wedlock is responsible for the collapse of marriages.

Using the Quran and Sunnah (Prophet Muhammed examples) as a

‘One would not have expected this crowd, but the level of participation of students in the contest, shows they have accepted sports as part of their training in medical school’ •Captain of 600-Level class lifting the trophy

held to build friendship among medical students and to create an avenue for the students to relax.

The opening soccer fixture was played by 100-Level and 600-Level students. The game ended 3:2 in

favour of the 600-Level class.

Other matches were played during the week; the final match was

What can young people do to have a happy marriage? Speakers at a Ramadan lecture at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) offered tips on how Muslims can build good homes. AFIS ODEYEMI (300-Level History) reports.

Building a good home

•Students at the event

reference point, the cleric said marriage in Islam is an injunction established by Allah to mankind for the purpose of legitimate worship.

He said: “Today, many people

marry for the wrong reasons. As soon as they are joined together, they begin to experience problems and they will discover that the marriage won’t work. Allah has created marriage for

you in order that you may achieve comfort from your spouse and achieve lifetime happiness.

“Those who are married under the shade of Allah, they naturally will

played by 400-Level and 600-Level.

The final match was entertaining as players entertained their colleagues with their exceptional football skills.

After 90 minutes of play, the match ended 2:0 in favour of 600-Level class.

Clinical students beat their preclinical counterparts in the final volleyball match. Also, in the track event, Imana Eragbai, a 300-Level student, won the 100-metre race, while Amedu Osemudiamen, 400Level student, and Joseph Enejo, 600-Level student, came second and third.

In the 400 metres race, Adeleke Adeyusi, 600-Level student, came first, while Ese Udi, a 200-Level student and John Temitope, a 100-Level student, came second and third.

There was also a marathon for both boys and girls. In the female category, Oriri Orgo, Chioma Eleje and Victoria Anekwe all in 400Level class emerged first, second and third. While Degustin Oteri, a 400Level student, won in the male category, with Israel Osagie and Adeleke Adeyusi 600-Level students as runners-up.

A 600-Level student, Victor Idubor, won the table tennis contest, while Kiko Igwubor, a 100-Level student, won cheese game and Sere Ikhimi, a 600-Level, scrabble.

When the medal table was unveiled after the final match, the 600Level class was declared the overall winner with four gold medals, four silver medals and three bronze. The 400-Level class became the first runner up with two gold medals, four silver medals and a bronze.

Presenting the trophy to the 600Level class, Mommoh hailed the students for participating in the contest. He said he was marvelled at the display of sportsmanship by the students. He said: “One would not have expected his crowd, but with the level of participation of students in the contest, it shows they have accepted sports as part of their training in medical school.”

Captain of the 600-Level class, Pius Ojemolon, described the feat as deserving, saying: “I am happy we won. It was to lead my classmates to success. We prepared hard for the games and I am not surprised we won.” have feelings towards their spouse, and they will feel protected. This is a natural feeling that Allah places automatically in their heart which was not there prior to the union.”

Oloduowo advised young couples to be conscious of their Allah’s command and maintain constant communication to have long-lasting marriage. He urged students to explore Quranic guidelines in choosing a spouse, noting that spiritual life of a man or woman should play good role before marriage.

He added: “If anyone bases his opinion only on beauty when choosing his or her spouse, the beauty will fade away. If the opinion is based on wealth, the wealth will vanish one day. If the opinion is based on reputation, such reputation may be tarnished overnight, but if it is based on spiritualism, such will only increase as time passes by.”

Imam Abdulwahab Ajia spoke on Hidaah (waiting period) of a divorcee or a woman who has just lost her husband. He said: “Widows should mourn for a period prescribed by Shariah Law. For a woman whose husband has given oral divorce notice twice, she must be allowed to remain in her husband house for a period of time she is observing her menstruation.

“But in cases where only one or two oral divorce notices have been made by the husband but the third one has •Continued on page 36

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE

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ENULTIMATE Friday marked 16 years of the unresolved murder of five student-leaders of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State. The controversies that trailed the death of the students are yet to be resolved, especially the unproven allegation that the former ViceChancellor, Prof Wale Omole, sponsored the attack.

On July 10, 1999, George Iwilade – popularly called Afrika, Babatunde Oke, a member of the Democratic Socialist Movement, Efe Ekpede, Eviano Ekelemu and Yemi Ajiteru, were mercilessly butchered in their hostels by student-cultists. It was gathered that the students were murdered because of their stern opposition to cultism and the tough times they gave the school management. A few years before then, Williams Obong, the then Secretary-General of the University of Benin Students’ Union Government, was murdered in broad daylight because of his opposition to cultism.

Prior to the murder, on March 7 1999, some students of the Obafemi Awolowo University led

by Afrika, apprehended some cultists with ammunition and handed

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Who killed Afrika, others? them over to the school authority and then to the Nigeria Police. The Ile-Ife Magistrate Court discharged and acquitted the cultists for lack of evidence, since the said weapons could not be found while the trial lasted. Unfortunately, the same students came back to campus and this led to the July 10 murder.

All the Federal Government could do later in September of that year was to give a directive to heads of higher institutions to eradicate cultism. That was all. I would confidently say that the failure of the government to bring the perpetrators to book gave rise to cultism all over the nation. Infact, secondary school students are now staunch cult members, bullying their mates and teachers.

Now, allow me to digress a bit.

The Nigeria judiciary and police have failed the masses. Taking a critical look at the Boko Haram bombings, we have heard several times when some members of the sect have been apprehended and one waits for what will happen to them. It’s so annoying to know that

By Boluwatife Sanya the judiciary has done nothing; a military man whose colleague died in pursuit of capturing some Boko Haram members would not be inspired if later he learns that the people he captured have been

freed.

Could independence be the problem of our judiciary? However, the Nigerian judiciary cannot give out a fair and just judgement all the time not because they don’t want to, but because they are not free from the shackles of the executive and legislative arm of government.

Section 231(1) of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution vests the president with the power to appoint the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Is that not giving the president an edge to appoint his own person based on the basis of nepotism? Of course the person would always dance to the president’s tune. I would rather suggest that the appointment of the CJN should be left solely with the National Judicial Council.

Moreover, the funding of the judiciary such as payment of salaries of the Chief Registrar, Deputy Registrars, Magistrates and other staff of the state judiciaries is at the moment the responsibility of the Executive arm of government. Provision of the court halls, staff quarters, cars etc is also the responsibilities of the executive.I would

rather suggest that whatever is appropriated to the judiciary by the legislature should be paid directly to the heads of court.

I would support the words of Hon. Justice M.E Ogundare when he said: “A judiciary which is made to go cap in hand for funds cannot be expected to be efficient and effective.” That statement is particularly insightful for any government that wants to be a bastion of justice and fairness.

In a nutshell, the only way forward so as to attain a modicum of justice in Nigeria is for the judiciary to be independent without anybody meddling on its affairs.

On the other hand, the judiciary needs to exercise a greater level of discipline.

And for the fate of those articulate young men massacred in OAU, the question still remains: why was the case closed? Where are the murderers? Why isn’t National Association of Nigeria Students clamouring for justice, rather than seeking money and selfish gratifications at the drop of a hat? They have become an ignominious group known for their penchant for begging. All I cry for is Justice.

Boluwatife, 400-Level Law, OOU

Are we winning anti-corruption war?

ORRUPTION is a disease that has pervaded almost every state in Nigeria. It has increased in quality and intensity, with alarming and devastating consequences on humans and their standard of living. The endemic nature of corruption constitutes one of its greatest threats to humanity. It’s pathetic and shameful to say that a country flowing with milk and honey has been plagued with corruption at all levels.

Corruption extends to every aspect of public life, making it more or less impossible to stay in business without being infected with this bug. As we have the common bribegiving people and leaders, so also we have the most common bribetaking people and leaders. In fact, it has become a natural/destructive web as anyone hoping to do business, be it small or big in Nigeria, must first of all take corruption as a paramount factor by making room for its operation or by putting it into consideration.

Indeed, the situation is so bad that even some government officials allegedly collect bribe one to get government business done. The continuous threats of unemployment, embezzlement of public fund, mismanagement of the nation’s wealth, social unrest, political instability, extortion, influence peddling, and fraud and lots more - all these have bred inefficiency, unethical value and indiscipline, pervasion of integrity, abuse of power, greediness and selfishness in some of us.

One cannot but to agree with Smith, who describes Nigeria as a

country that is plunging into evergreater depth of corruption and decay. Thus, the greater the development plans, the larger the scale of corruption which their implementation encourage as efforts that are being made for the benefit of the community are diverted to at private pockets. Rev Charles Caleb Colton (1780-1932), said: “Corruption is like a ball of snow, once it’s set a rolling, it must increase.” Also, a social critic, David Brin, said power corrupts, but actually it’s truer that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power.”

Corruption poses a serious development challenge. In the political realm, it undermines democracy and good governance by subverting formal processes. Corruption in elections and in legislative bodies reduces accountability and fair representation in policymaking; corruption in the judiciary undermines or suspends the rule of law; and corruption in public administration results in the unequal provision of services. More generally, In Nigeria another major cause of corruption is ethnicity called tribalism in Nigeria. Friends and kinsmen seeking favour from officials may impose difficult strains on the ethical disposition of the official. Corruption erodes the institutional capacity of the government as procedures are disregarded, resources are siphoned off, and officials are hired or promoted without regard to performance. At the same time, corruption undermines the legitimacy of

government and such democratic values as trust and tolerance.

Corruption also undermines economic development by generating considerable distortions and inefficiency. In the private sector, corruption increases the cost of business through the price of illicit payments, it also generates economic distortions in the public sector by diverting public investment into capital projects where bribes and kickbacks are more plentiful. Corruption also lowers quality of standards of compliance with construction, environmental, or other regulations; reduces the quality of the government services and infrastructure as is too evident to Nigerians; and increases budgetary pressures on government.This may be the reason in spite of the unprecedented hikes in crude oil prices that have led to the so-called excess oil revenues.

Painfully, the Federal Government is still finding it quite difficult to balance its yearly budgets.

How do we claim to be on the winning the war against corruption when indications has shown that many Nigerians leaders at all levels, including past heads of state, governors, politicians, retired civil servants, judges, law makers and a army generals, have engaged and are still engaging in corrupt practices. For this reason, the question that Nigerians should be asking is not, who among the moneyed elite class is corrupt? But, who is NOT corrupt? That this must be so is evident from the way many Nigerians seem to live above their legitimate

incomes. Otherwise how does one explain the sources for the financing of those luxurious, palatial, stately mansions (that have mushroomed in many Nigerian cities, towns, and even villages), not to speak of the sumptuously lavish social parties and very expensive topend luxury cars put on display by a large number of businessmen, senior public servants and military personnel, serving and retired. Perhaps the real challenge with tackling corruption in Nigeria is that most of the corruption warriors (the policy makers, the legislators, the police and the judiciary) pressed into service are themselves not innocent. These are the realities that have stared past and present leaders on the face as they moan about corruption and pretend to fight it.

With the new administration on board, can we say with boldness that we can walk tall and deliver ourselves from this web of corruption, though many Nigerians saw a level of transparency, integrity, and accountability in 1985, under the military administration of General Muhammadu Buhari(rtd), where a cross section of political gladiators were convicted of various corrupt practices and prosecuted. Now that President Buhari has been sworn in, is there any proof or evidence that the history of 1985 can repeat itself? As a nation, let us be sincere with ourselves.

Essentially, what is required to tame the feathers of corruption in

By Esther Mobolade Ibironke the polity is the political will and dedication of the leaders, and the enabling environment to make the process credible.

This, nevertheless, must begin with an overhaul of the country’s anti-graft agencies, a review of the laws as well as ridding of indiscipline from the judicial system.

The stakes are high, so also is the optimism that even if the grip of corruption cannot be cut off, it would certainly be curbed to the bearest minimum. It is cherry news that the president and his deputy have taken the bull by the horn by declaring their assets.

This, to a large extent, will restore the hope that Nigeria will would soon be free to a reasonable extent from this canker worm that has penetrate its system.

•Esther, 400-Level Mass Comm., UNILORIN

Way out of power outage and related challenges

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HE Akoka Campus of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) enjoys 20-23 hours power supply, baring any electrical fault. The power situation is relatively stable and encouraging for learning, that students and residents are wondering if they are still living in Nigeria, or if they are living in a fantasy land. Power Holding Company of Nigeria is the major source of power supply to the school with support from giant generating sets. Sometimes ago, the university management published that it took a huge sum of money to maintain the generating sets. No serious organisation will wholeheartedly trust the power provided

by PHCN, because of their incessant outages. Their excuses, of

By Chima Azubuike course, usually range from installation issues to shortage of gas supply, thereby keeping the whole school in the dark. As a response mechanism, management resorts to rationing power among faculties, halls of residence, leaving essential departments like the medical centre and study room to power their facilities with generating sets.

The importance of power in an academic environment cannot be overemphasized, as there are many activities which are power dependent — from public address systems, projectors, to cooling systems such as fans and air conditioners. A university is not worth the name if it does not encourage research. This

can only be realised when students and lecturers are provided with an enabling environment. And yet, in the final analysis, inventions and creativity are fuelled by electricity, a least, to a great extent.

As a student with great potentiality just like many others, I advise management of federal schools to look inward by developing other sources of power such as wind, solar and waste as these will not only reduce the financial burden of maintaining generators, it will reduce noise pollution and promote a totally noiseless environment. It should encourage researchers to develop plausible means of generating suitable power supply that will power the entire campus. There is no doubt that harnessing other

sources of power will provide adequate supply of electricity, thereby improving the standard of living on campus.

If there is somewhere that should never have issue of power or that should not have generators and PHCN as itssole sources of power is the university campus. This is because,by all intent and purpose,continued research is a major activity of any learning environment. To a large extent, this goes to show our retrogressive move towards development especially as no nation develops without electricity. University management must, as a matter of urgency, devote quality attention towards contributing solutions to this nation’s myriad of power chal-

lenges instead of joining in consumption. President Buhari should empower universities by encouraging research projects that are energy driven as it will not only benefit these schools but the entire nation.

Although the power condition is pretty stable now but the school must forestall a situation where the university is not put in perpetual darkness by PHCN as it can be unpredictable. The school management should be able to look inward as there are great minds waiting for the slightest opportunity to manifest their inventiveness. What they seek is maximum support. It is obvious that management has intention to reinvent other sources in •Continued on page 34

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE Union parliament holds sitting EMBERS of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Students’ Legislative Council (SLC) held their maiden sitting on Saturday. The meeting, which was held for five hours, took place in the parliamentary building at the Students Union Building. About 50 of the 89 members attended.

The Speaker, Olusegun Jawosinmi, directed the clerk, Adeonipekun Adeyanju, to give report of the activities of the principal officers since the inauguration of the parliament last month.

Members deliberated on several issues, including standing order of the parliament, the College of Medicine challenges and the composition of committees, among others.

Members passed resolutions, which include the right of faculty associations to have legislative arms, minimum of PhD for course adviser at all levels, drawing of zebra crossings on the campus roads and summoning of members of executive arm of

M

•Jawonsinmi flanked by his deputy, Segun Tijani (left) and Adeyanju From Emmanuel Afolabi

UNILAG the union to appear before the House within seven days give account of their stewardship.

Other issues discussed but not resolved

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor

08061522600

included the replacement of mattresses in hostels, suspension of Distance Leaning Institute (DLI) Vice President, inefficiency of UNILAG Ventures in circulating bottled water to everywhere on campus and commercial drivers’ conduct, among others.

The House ratified composition of seven standing committees, which are Welfare and Academics, Social, Sports, Budget and Finance, Inter-Governmental, Ethics and Special Duties, and Transport.

Way out of power outage •Continued from page 35

order to boost its power capacity. All of these measures can be sped up to limit the extent of disappointment that will be occasioned byPHCN’s unannounced outage.

Resources and strong will are two major constituents meant for the realisation of this laudable dream. It is common knowledge that today, most countries are going green and moving towards the rescue of the depleting ozone layer, thereby using less-harmful means to generate power. University of Lagos, the university of first choice and the nation’s pride, should be able to reposition

and lead the entire nation in finding alternative power to drive research and real growth in our economy. The sun, the wind and waste are ever in abundant supply, which make the dream pretty realistic. Universities must take their rightful place in developmental strides of a nation, and government in turn, should be willing to empower them financially and constitutionally in order to truly set the pace. Recently attempts have been made to provide a few lecture theatres with inventers but their duration remains a puzzle yet to be resolved.

Chima, 400-Level Philosophy, UNILAG

Building a good home •Continued from page 34

not been issued, the husband is allowed to settle with his wife if he has a change of heart.

In the instance of three divorce notices and the couple decides to settle, a fresh marriage must be conducted and a new bridal price be paid as it is the case in the first marriage before they can be allowed to live together again.”

Speaking on direction to face while observing Solat (obligatory prayer), Imam Abdulsalam Saliu said Solat would not take place if Muslims did not position themselves properly. He said Muslims must maintain a position of the Kibla, which points towards holy Kaabah (holy site) in Saudi Arabia. This is believed to be the centre of the earth.

In cases, where the direction of Kibla could not be identified, Saliu said Muslims must

employ the services of experts in determining the direction to face in observing Solat.

He said: “We can possibly determine the direction of Kibla through the use of compass or weather forecast it was the practice in the early period of Islam.”

Participants described the lecture as educative, saying their knowledge about marriage had been enriched by the discourse.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, represented by his deputy for Management Services, Prof Yisa Fakunle, described the lecture as timely, noting that it would serve as guidance to the youth in choosing their life partner. He said the institution would continue to support programmes that would have impact on the life of the its students, irrespective of religion and culture.

UNIZIK’s day of culture •Continued from page 31

Students hailed the management under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Joseph Ahaneku, for rejigging the disappearing cultural festival, adding that the event would help them to learn the ideals and values of their dialects.

Some Igbo students, who are not based in the Southeast, were enlightened on some customs during of the day.

At an event at the Department of Mass Communication to mark the day, the Head of the Department, Prof Chinyere Stella Okunna, described the event as a step in the right direction.

According to her, many students have lost touch with their culture, because of western civilisation.

Such students, she said, needed to be taught Igbo values and norms to connect them to their roots.

Okunna hailed the management for allowing the event, expressing optimism that the cultural festival would keep Igbo tradition alive among the youths.

Other departments that held elaborate events to mark the day included, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, English and Literature and Social Sciences.

Indigenous associations were not left out in the festival. Students of Abia and Imo states held their processions, while Yoruba students moved round the campus in their cultural attires.

For Iloegbunam Okeke, a final year student of Mass Communication, the cultural celebration is a welcome development. According to him, most of the students have lost touch with their cultures and languages because of Western civilisation. He said sustenance of the cultural day would re-connect students back to their roots.

Lilian Nwofor, a 200-Level Law student, said: “The cultural day will help facilitate interrelationship among students from different backgrounds. It will create harmony and enhance proper dressing on the campus.”

The SUG Public Relations Officer, Martin Nworah, said the union would sustain the event His words: “I strongly believe that our generation should be closer to their roots and learn about our rich cultures. If this celebration is continued, we would be aware of where we are coming from, where we are currently and where we are going to.”

Kelvin Nweyi, a 100-Level Mass Communication student, said he enjoyed every bit of the day, urging for its sustenance. He said: “I learnt new things in Igbo tradition and I hope to learn more because I don’t want to go astray culturally.”

Highlights of the cultural day included breaking of kolanut, dance, drama, pageantry, coronation of Igwes and traditional wrestling.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

37

CAMPUS LIFE

I

• Pupils of Crane School during a cultural performance.

Crane Schools in graduation mood

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RANE Schools, ‘Sangotedo, Lekki, Lagos’ graduation turned out a happy day for the outgoing pupils and their parents who came to grace the occasion.

The event, which took place at the school's premises, brought together parents, teachers and students to celebrate academic success Speaking at the event, Crane Schools Proprietress Mrs Stella Ebomwonyi, certified the students as 'academically, morally and socially trained ' She therefore urged them to be good ambassadors anywhere they go.

As schools embark on long-term holidays, Ebomwonyi advised parents to pay more attentions on security of their children and also show interest in what they do at any time. She also used the opportunity to appeal to Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to

F

‘Think big. Find out what you love to do and do it. Maintain a positive mental attitude always.

Believe in your capacity to succeed’

day for the staff, pupils and parents of All Nations International School, Alagbado Lagos, asthey celebrated their maiden graduation and prize-giving day.

The Proprietress of the school, Mrs Olubukola Cole, while speaking with reporters, recalled how the school birthed five years ago, with the vision to train children that would be confident and remain trail blazers in their chosen fields.

Since then, she said management has not looked back. According to her, the product of this vision were the first set of graduands.

Her words: "The school started about five years ago, we thank God that He has seen us through. People come here, and when they see the environment, they feel the environment is not big; but they are all impressed by what we have been able to turn out.”

In her message to the pupils, she said:"Twenty children cannot play for 20 years, so wherever you find yourself in life, remember where you are coming from. You should

By Pascal Okezu

not join bad gangs because that is easy in secondary school. I am confident that with the training you have received from here, there will be no problem."

Mr Koko Amba, a parent, said he was impressed by the school facility. "The way I have seen my child improve over the years, I am impressed, and I want them to continue in that direction. I believe that the school can still improve the more, because the more experience they gather, the more they will improve. However, the way they have started is very encouraging.

For another parent, Mrs Oje Kehinde Uju, her advice is simple: "This is the first institution they have attended. They should please make sure that they further their education up to tertiary level. Right now the world is preaching the gospel of education, because education is a very essential tool for success."

ensure a more conducive environment for private schools operators to thrive so they can fulfill their mandate.

A parent, Mrs Ene Odikpo, said moral upbringing of their children remains one of the greatest challenges they have to cope with.

Odikpo suggested that all hands must be on deck to stop things that distract children's attention.

She expressed satisfaction on the quality of education her child and other students have received from Crane Schools.

Expressing appreciation on behalf of graduating students, the outgoing head girl, Miss Olugbuyi Grace, described the graduation day as a dream come true.

She said her set would miss other school mates and teachers. Presentation of awards, quiz competition and cultural displays were part of activities that spiced the event.

Caleb Varsity founder warns parents on wards’ careers OUNDER, Caleb University, Lagos, Dr. Ola Adebogun, has warned parents against trying to force careers down their wards' throat, especially when the children are against it.

Rather, they should seek intervention towards guiding their children when choosing careers.

Adebogun spoke at the 22nd anniversary and valedictory service of Emcoy Favoured Group of Schools, Ogba, Lagos.

Dr. Adebogun urged youths in the country not to expect success by accident, saying no achivement comes without toil.

"It (success) is the product of preparation meeting with opportunity.

Proper preparation prevents poor performance," he counselled.

"Think big. Find out what you love to do and do it. Maintain a positive mental attitude always. Believe in your capacity to succeed. Be openminded to new ways of thinking and avoid conflicts," Adebogun added.

The Proprietor of the school Dr. Femi Oyewole, scoffed at what he called 'embarrassing malpractices' during West African Secondary School Certificate Examination

School celebrates maiden graduation T was a fun-filled and exciting

By Aderenike Gbadebo

(WASSCE), National Examinations Council (NECO) and Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations.

He craved governments' intervention in dealing with erring schools to safeguard the nation's education system.

Oyewole, also a senior pastor, in the Deeper Life Bible Church, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to re-introduce War Against Indiscipline and Corruption in the various institutions in the country as he did as Head of State in 1984. This will stop what he described as 'slide in our educational system.

His words: “The word change which most of us have embraced will be a mere slogan if the fraud and malpractices being perpetrated in our various institutions by schools management and the so-called examiners should continue. That simply means the future of our education is bleak.”

He added: "Over 90 per cent of our secondary schools nationwide depend on cheating to pass exams. Our teachers are no more teaching the students as expected. Unfortunately, most students are lazy and very happy over this. They don't want to read but they want to pass exams.

That is why cultism is so rampant in our various higher institutions," he noted.

Oyewole, called on the parents and the various schools management s to embrace attitude change, adding : "Any parent who does not believe in integrity, honesty, hard work and the fear of God, should not bring his children to any of this schools.”

•Graduating pupils of MICTEC International School.

Be problem solvers, pupils told

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T was not just a day of fun for the graduating pupils of MICTEC International School. They were told to be problem solvers.

Speaking on the theme: “Blossom to impact,” Chairman of occasion, Banji Ayoola, warned the pupils not to misuse their stay in the university, rather equip themselves with the right knowledge and skills to arrest issues in the country.

He said: "As you are going into the world have your aim right. At this stage you have gotten some liberty, of what use will you put it?’ ‘’Always be good ambassadors.

There are problems to solve in Nigeria, the world are looking up to you

By Jane Chijioke

to solve them. Use your time wisely.

"Have great plans for yourself; know where you want to be in the next few years. Remember, when you blossom, let it affect lives; let it spread out to your generation. It is only when people can feel your impact that your long uneasy journey in life would count".

The guest speaker, Mr George Emebuche, taught the pupils the principles of success. He urged them to always be responsible and steadfast in their pursuit to succeed. He explained that distinction is a quality they must imbibe.

• Dr. Oyewole and the outgoing pupils of Emcoy Favoured School.

"What you are going to achieve is a function of what you know. In order to overcome your environment you must quip yourself positively.

You must distinguish yourself by your performance; you must cross your t’s and dot your I’s,” He warned.

Principal of the school, Mrs Roseline Awoniyi, said mentoring is one activity done in the school in which the pupils have not only been watered in academics but also in exhibiting good conduct.

She advised them to be courageous and face challenges with the right mind. She also urged the parents not to relent in their duties as the task has just begun.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

38

CAMPUS LIFE NOUN, IPMA sign MoU S part of efforts at equipping its graduates with Advanced Professional Management Skills that will make them globally competitive, the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Professional Managers Association (IPMA) of United Kingdom (UK).

Among the benefits of the collaboration to NOUN students are mapping and integration of NOUN academic and IPMA-UK professional programmes to give NOUN management and management-related students accelerated career advancement by graduating with their degree and IPMA-UK. The collaboration will also provide NOUN students the unique opportunity of accessing the renowned IPMAUK electronic library to enhance their study and research.

IPMA-UK is a United Kingdom based international examining, licensing and regulatory membership qualifying body that provides management and management-related students and workers with the opportunity to be part of the process of improving administrative and managerial performance and effectiveness in all areas of business, in‘The dustry and collaboration public administration will also around the provide world.

IPMA is a NOUN member of students the the National Academic unique Recognition Information opportunity of Centre of accessing the the United renowned Kingdom ( U K IPMA-UK NARIC) and electronic recognised in Nigeria library to by the Fedenhance their eral Ministry of Educastudy and tion.

A

research’

SCHOLARSHIPS APPROACHING DEADLINE PhD scholarships 2015 FINDAPHD.com is proud to announce the launch of our postgraduate scholarships for 2015, giving away £12,000 worth of funding to prospective postgraduate students for the fourth year running.

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•To be eligible to win you must have formally accepted a place at any university listed on FindAPhD.com or FindAMasters.com between September & October 2015.

•Only one scholarship per person is available.

All set for Augustine Varsity to open in Sept

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ITH beautiful structures, tarred roads, and a serene environment conducive for learning, Augustine University, owned by the Catholic Church will, in September, open its doors for its first set of students. A responsive Governing Council is already in place to set the ball rolling.

According to Chairman of the university’s Governing Council, Chief Temisan Grant, 500 students are being penciled down for the take off of the university. They are being pegged by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the next five years.

Grant spoke with reporters at the university’s premises in Ilara-Epe, Lagos State. He was supported by other members of the Council of the new institution.

Grant said the school, like other Catholic educational institutions, would make a difference in administering moral and academic education towards the nation’s growth.

“Every university is set up to create a place for learning and research and to build excellence that will develop our country. But in addition to this, our university puts premium on the building of persons with proven character. That is why our university’s logo shows a very simple statement that means: ‘for learning and character’. We put as much emphasis on character development as we put on academic excellence,” Grant said.

The pioneer students, he said, would live on campus big enough to accommodate them. The university is offering 13 academic programmes from nine departments across three faculties. The

•From left: Registrar, Mrs Margaret Aziba; Chief Grant, Cardinal Okogie and Prof Afolami.

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

programmes are: Computer Science, Mathematics, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Banking and Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Philosophy, Religious Studies and English.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Steve Afolami, said management has agreed that none of the programmes would exceed N750 000, including accommodation.

Conducting reporters on a tour of

the university facilities, the Arch Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Church, Lagos, Cardinal Anthony Okogie, said the university would make a difference by producing graduates that would meet standards regardless of their religions.

He said: “It (Catholic education) is going to be holistic, not just focused on academics... there must be clear-cut difference. We want students that will come out of our institution to make the mark. We don’t like to speak for ourselves and ring a bell but we would allow the

‘I can promise you that this institution is definitely going to be different, otherwise, I would not be bothering my head thinking about giving the nation a university’

Akeusola reappointed MOCPED provost

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AGOS State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has okayed the re-appointment of Prof. Olu Akeusola as Provost, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Noforija-Epe, for another four year-term. The appointment takes effect from Sunday, August 2, this year.

Akeusola was first appointed MOCPED Provost on August 1, 2011.

The approval for the reappointment was conveyed to the Registrar of the institution, Mr. Bola Shittu, via a letter with Ref. LGS/ HOS/204/VOL.1/62 dated July 13, 2015 and signed by the Head of Service Mrs. Shade Jaji.

A professor of Comparative Grammar of French and Yoruba at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Akeusola was born in Epe, Lagos in 1962 where he also had his primary and secondary education, before proceeding to the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Otto/Ijanikin where he graduated in1986. He also had his first degree, masters and doctorate from the University of Lagos between 1987 and 2003.

The college’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ilori Abiodun, said Akeusola had done well and his re-appointment was well- deserved.

postgraduate studies in autumn 2015 at any university listed on FindAPhD.com or FindAMasters.com, should sign up now to get a chance of winning a £5,000 PhD scholarship or a £5,000 Masters scholarship, or one of four £500 scholarships.

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school to speak for itself.”

Okogie said the institution was borne out of the desire to assist government in giving quality education to Nigerians, especially youths.

He faulted the society for moral decadence and declining education standard, promising that Augustine University would bridge the “lacuna in the education our youths are getting today”.

“I can promise you that this institution is definitely going to be different, otherwise, I would not be bothering my head thinking about giving the nation a university,” he added.

Cardinal Okogie said: “Anybody, who wants something good must be ready to spend money because it is a life investment. We must make clear-cut difference in academics and morals.”

NGO trains 1,200 drug addicts

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•Prof Akeusola

O fewer than 1,200 drug addicts have been rehabilitated in the past nine years through training in various vocations and skills acquisition by Kaduna-based, Nigas Rehabilitation and Skills Acquisition Centre.

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

Founder of the centre, Alhaji Lawal Muduru, made this known in Sokoto while briefing reporters on the activities of the centre.

According to Muduru, the gradu-

•Vice Chancellor National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof Vincent Tenebe (3rd right), handing over the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) to the Africa Head of International Professional Managers Association of UK (IPMA-UK), Prof Olufeyisan Taiwo Feyi-Sobanjo (2nd right), while other top principal of NOUN look on.

ates were part of the nearly 1,600 inmates rehabilitated by the centre during the period under review.

He said graduates, who were drug addicts were trained in carpentry, blacksmithing, Information Communications Technology (ICT), tie and dye, shoe making, saloon, cosmetics production, sewing and knitting, among others.

Muduru said the centre had assisted inmates with assorted tools to start up their businesses to facilitate their re-integration into the society. “This is to make them self reliant and reduce the likely stigma they may face after leaving the centre,'' he explained.

He said the centre is part of his efforts to ensure the health of inmates via use of traditional and Islamic medicines, as well as partner with orthodox medical practitioners, in addition to massive enlightenment campaigns against social ills in schools.

“The centre has about 240 inmates, including Muslims and Christians.

The task of taming the drugs menace is not the responsibility of government alone.

“NDLEA should be adequately funded, staffed and equipped to make it more efficient, and as such boost the anti-drugs war," he appealed.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

39

EDUCATION

Protesting deaf students lock out staff

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RINCIPAL and teachers of Ihogbe College in Benin City were shocked when they resumed for work only to be locked out by deaf pupils of the institution, who protested over poor infrastructure.

The college comprises a section for ‘Special Children' and the other for the physically fit.

The action of the deaf pupils paralysed academic activities at both schools as the teachers and pupils were stranded on the streets. What made matters worse was the absence of an intepreter to explain their agitation.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

After waiting for hours, the school principals ordered them home.

It was through exchange of written words that reporters were able to communicate with the protesters.

Their grievances were that they don't have Special teachers (teachers for disabled) and necessary facilities to boost their studies.They said they needed a school bus and well-equipped classroom.

Incidentally, their protest came a day after the Association of the Deaf Community protested on the

streets of Benin City over poor learning facilities in the school.

Chairman, Deaf Community, Ekhorutomwen Iyobosa, said they wanted a re-introduction of free West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) enrolment for the deaf and other physically-challenged pupils.

He said the college is the only secondary school for the deaf in the state in addition to four other primary schools. He lamented that there are only four deaf teachers in the secondary school.

Iyobosa said: "There are inadequate Special Education teachers.

Deaf education in Edo is in shambles.

Deaf students can't continue going to school without being taught. Edo State cannot boast of producing a deaf university graduate. The few graduates among us are products of other states.

"We need hostel to accommodate deaf persons from other local government areas since Ihogbe is the only secondary school in Edo. The state government should establish a library for the deaf and provide us with textbooks and contempo-

rary language text books for pupils and teachers.

"There should be provision of sign language interpreters at the stateowned television station, general hospital, sports council, courts and all major public events in the state."

A visit to the school of the deaf showed that renovation work is ongoing but the students were not seen around.

Efforts to speak to the state Commissioner for Higher Education, Washington Osifo, was unsuccessful as calls made to his phones were unanswered.

How to make education functional, by Ibidapo-Obe

By Wale Ajetunmobi

F

• Pupils of Gbaja Senior Secondary School with Mrs Kolade (left) and their Principal, Mrs Abosede Falue (right) during the anniversary.

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EENAGE school girls in Lagos State Education districts III and IV, have been registered to participate in a girls' summer camp next month.

The camp, which is hosted by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Ornaments of Grace and Virtue, (OGAV), in collaboration with the two districts, is meant to nurture and empower girls to be independent and self-confident as they grow.

President of OGAV, Mrs Olubusola Kolade, said the camp, with the theme: "Etiquette," would

Foundation rewards Edo brilliant students

O

VER 200 pupils from some secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Edo State have been rewarded with cash, books and iPads for emerging victorious in the Seventh Kenneth Imasuangbon Essay Competition.

Some of the pupils were given a copy of the book written by former Minister of Information, Prince Tony Momoh, titled: "Echoes from the Past".

The cash prizes ranged from N50,000, N30,000, N20,000 to N15,000 for first, second and third places.

Topic of the essay competition was "Tenacity and resilient: The Buhari example for the Nigeria children".

Six winners from both junior and senior secondary schools were picked from each of the 18 local government areas while three winners emerged from tertiary institutions in the state.

Some the winners from Ehor Grammar School said they would not be afraid to participate in an essay competition.

Igginigie Osagbokan, who came first in the senior secondary school category, said he was informed about the competition by his uncle and had to study hard.

He said: "In my essay, I suggested that we should learn from the examples of Buhari's experience and what he passed through to become President of Nigeria."

Winner of the junior school category in Uhunmwode, who gave his name as Ekhator, said he consulted

Summer Camp for teenage girls underway

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

feature career guidance, character education, life coaching as well as academic and leadership skills development.

She said her girls were expected to develop virtues of self-control, fairness, care, good citizenship, selfmotivation, punctuality, reliability, creativity, respect, trustworthiness, responsibility and creativity in the

month-long camp.

Being a day-camp, Mrs Kolade said activities would begin from Tuesday, August 4 and end on Thursday, August 27 at the Lagos State Education District III office, Falomo, Ikoyi.

She expressed confidence in the success of the camp based on the testimonies at the organisation's first anniversary celebrated with

Gbaja Senior Secondary School, Surulere, last month.

"My girls were so happy by the end of the training, which we started in their school last year.The programme is highly essential for young girls, because it is a mentorship club. My facilitators are well-trained in relating with the girls so everything they need would be provided," she said.

school days propelled him to become a Professor of Child Health.

Akenzua praised the founder for seeking out creative writing talents in the youths.

He noted that the challenge was for the beneficiaries to be motivated to achieve greater things in the future.

The Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, urged the pupils not to sell their i-pads, but to use them in achieving greater things.

Imasuangbon, who is a chieftain of

the All Progressives Congress (APC), recalled how a white lady at the store where he bought the iPads initially refused to sell to him.

He said the white sales girl thought he wanted to use them for terrorism.

He added: "When my wife and I walked into Apple Store, they were hesitant to sell to us because they felt we want to use them for terrorism.

They have to google our names to be satisfied. The lady later said the world needs people like us.

"We need to inspire the young ones. This little donation will open the world to them. I am fired up by character of the Edo State. There is no hope in this country except we build these younger ones. This is to trigger the energy of the youths. To give them access to information."

•From left: Prince Momoh; Chairman, AAU Governing Council and Enogie of Obanosa, HRH, Kenneth Imasuangbor, his wife, Kate; and Chief Igbinedion at the event.

By Osagie Otabor

with his teachers and brothers before going for the competition.

He said: "I gathered all the advice and it helped me. This victory will help me to always go for more competitions. With this success, I will no longer be afraid of any topic."

Speaking at the presentation, Chairman of Ambrose Alli University Governing Council, Prof. Gregory Akenzua, recalled how an essay competition he won during his primary

‘In my essay, I suggested that we should learn from the examples of Buhari's experience and what he passed through to become President of Nigeria’

OR a nation that seeks development, provision of quality education remains the key to unlock its potential, the Vice Chancellor, Federal University Ndufu-Alike (FUNAI) in Ebonyi State, Prof Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, has said.

He spoke at the N200 million fund raiser dinner at Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Tower in Ikeja, organised by the Old Students Association of Olivet Baptist High School in Oyo State to mark the school's 70th anniversary.

The spoke on the theme: Education and the change mantra.

Ibidapo-Obe, who was accompanied by his wife, Sola, an alumnus of the school, said the curricular of basic and secondary education are dysfunctional and useless, and that the education system has failed to impart knowledge on pupils.

He condemned the replacement of merit in admission into higher institutions using catchment area, observing that such policy had further eroded the values of education. According to him, due to emphasis on catchment area education had been taken out of the reach of deserving students.

To the former VC of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the practice of converting blocks of flat to classrooms by private school owners is an aberration that negates the essence of outdoor education. According to him, pupils could only learn better in a setting where they could freely relate with natural environment.

He said: "We educate people so that they can be functional. Education that has no function is a useless education.

I can see that we have a lot of useless education in this country. We have to change it because the whole idea is to affect national development. And we know that, to achieve national development, knowledge is key. Education must impart knowledge to bring about positive thinking and emancipation.

If that is not there, then it is useless."

In his view, education will be functional if the society payed attention to public education by recruiting quality teachers and providing good curricular. He added that there should be mass public education of illiterate adults to solve insecurity challenges facing the nation.

Ibidapo Obe called for the merging of Federal Ministries of Education and Science and Technology to properly inculcate modern method of instruction in young generation. He said the government must implement the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act of 2004, which makes school attendance compulsory for all children.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, who was chairman of the occasion, said the solution to identified problems in education remained a challenge for local intellectuals without shopping for solution abroad.

Earlier, President of the old students association, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, said the lecture was a wake-up call to the government and the people to save public education from its steady decline.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

40

EDUCATION

FirstBank’s tree planting goes to schools

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• Mr Hontonyon (second left) being assisted by other officials of the college.

Boost tree planting culture, Ambode tells AOCOED

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AGOS State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has called on Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Oto/ Ijanikin, Lagos to improve on the culture of tree planting to restore the dignity of the earth.

Tree planting, Ambode said, remains the cheapest and simplest option for tackling challenges of climate change and its effects on lives.

Ambode made this appeal at the AOCOED Eighth Tree Planting with the theme: 'Tree: The lungs of the earth'.

Ambode, represented by a member, Lagos House of Assembly, (Apapa Constituency 1) Toyin Lisbat Lawal, said his administration is committed to the preservation of the environment and mitigation of global warming through tree planting.

Lisbat said the state has planted about 5.9 million trees since its inception in 2008 through the Lagos State Parks and Garden Agency (LASPAK), adding that the agency aims at planting additional 10 million trees in the next five years, thus providing jobs for the ever-teeming unemployed youths and professionals across the state.

"For every tree removed, at least five must be planted. This tree planting exercise is taking place in over 180 locations comprising the 20 local government areas and the 37 local council development areas and other designated sites within the state," she said.

The Provost of the college, Mr. Bashorun Wasiu Olalekan , said over the years, tree planting has been discovered to be the cheapest mitigation option and the world's largest most expensive means of drawing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, cleansing the air and protecting the environment against flooding and coastal erosion.

Basorun, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Wole Ajose, said: "We in AOCOED community, we have developed the habits of tree planting, which also marked our special occasions and ceremonies. Our college is full of trees, to the extent that we were recognised at the state level as one of the recipients of last year’s Best Nurtured Tree Award (Institution category) from the immediate past governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, (SAN).

Bashorun added that AOCOED students were reaping the benefits of trees planted in the previous year, adding that the students now sit on the seats constructed under the shade of the trees, to have group discussions or relax during free periods.

"Our college is going to step up the

By Adegunle Olugbamila

pace of tree planting such that no other parastatal in Lagos State shall beat us to it. We want to be recommended by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, for similar awards in many years to come," he said Earlier in his welcome address, the state Ministry of the Environment represented by Mr. Seyi Adetunji, noted that trees help to turn carbon dioxide into animal food. He added that tree planting stems the tide of environmental degradation, complement the land scalping and beautification of the state.

AOCOED’s Registrar, Mr. Olumuyiwa Coker, in his goodwill speech, said tree planting had become a tradition in the state. He called on

all to celebrate tree planting and ensure that trees were planted for a better, cooler and healthier Lagos.

Coker represented by his deputy Mr. Adegboyega I. Adetayo, enjoined other stakeholders in the state to appreciate other policies and groundbreaking initiatives being embarked upon by the government to provide a healthier, better and prosperous Lagos for the benefit of all.

The Chairman, AOCOED Tree Planting exercise, Mr. Anthony Hontonyon, enumerated processes involved in tree planting, such as holistic observation of the environment, a distance of about 30 feet from an electric pole or a building, careful nursery stage, and good seedling among others.

IRSTBANK has taken its tree planting campaign to Evboise Mixed Secondary School in Edo State, where it partnered the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) in launching a conservation club in the school.

The club will empower members to be involved in climate change and be champions for action in their school and communities.

The bank's Head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, Ismail Omamegbe, said the setting up of conservation clubs in secondary schools was to create a culture of planting trees and preserving our environment and the biodiversity.

"The idea is to catch them young so that they can embrace a climate friendly culture by understanding the ways in which tree planting and climate change are linked, while also rallying support for action and change within communities and country. Furthermore, the clubs will serve as platform to heighten awareness about the importance of all types of forests and trees outside forests,” Omamegbe said.

He explained that the conservation initiative is one of the key programmes of the bank as part of it's long-term approach to promoting sustainability, which involves minimising it's direct and indirect impacts on the environment.

The initiative employs the tree planting and pupils' conservation clubs as vehicles to drive environmental protection and conservation and to educate and build environmental conscious pupils through partnerships with reputable non-governmental organisations(NGOs) and institutions. In the last five years, it has partnered the NCF in tree planting to minimise deforestation which is fast becoming a danger to the nation.

Omamegbe said FirstBank is in-

• From left: The sports master Agidingbi Primary School, Ikeja Mr Akeem Amosu, Mr Duyilemi Ogunyemiand wife/retiree Mrs Eunice Ogunyemi, Treasurer Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Ikeja branch, Mrs Foluke Oluyemi, Chairman NUT Ikeja Comrade Sakiru Alase and Mrs Oyetade during the presentation of NUT gift to the celebrator.

NGO to empower girl-child with ICT

T

O make the girl child versatile in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills, Women Technology Empowerment Centre (WTEC) is set to mentor pupils from public schools in the state.

The two-week programme titled: 'Geeky Divas-Grooming ICTpreneurs' which commences on Sunday August 2, will expose 30 pupils to animation programming using scratch raspberry Pi, mobile application development, digital video production, graphics designing using corel draw, 3D designing using sketch-up, robotics programming and excursions to technology

By Jane Chijioke

companies. They will also participate in leadership activities.

WTEC is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to improving the economic and social empowerment of girls and women via ICTs. Mrs Modupe Darabidan, WTEC programme manager, said evidence abound that knowledge of ICT in women is lower than men, thereby depriving the former of the opportunities and chance to network with others.

She said: "Our objectives are to help girls develop an early interest

in computers and other information technology. The two weeks education will be provided with conducive atmosphere. The long term goal is to increase the number of Nigerian women using technology productively for learning, professional and leadership activities."

The WTEC's initiative comprises technology literacy training, technology-based projects, mentoring and work placement. It also engages in research and publishes works examining pivotal issues on African women use of technology, barriers preventing or limiting technology, and strategies for more efficient technology.

By Jane Chijioke

volved in various corporate social responsibilities, which include community support under which tree planting and education and environmental sustainability fall.

"So, in terms of educating pupils and driving a message of conservation, we are collaborating closely with the NCF on that because we are going to plant trees across the country, he added.

The event witnessed the planting of 120 trees. Omamegbe said this was a symbolic representation of the bank's over 120 years in existence and a commemoration of the anniversary of the bank on its contributions to Nigeria on the green economy as well as combating deforestation/desertification, while recognising the key role of children/youths in the sustainability agenda.

The planting of 120 trees’initiative took off in Lagos State and now berthed in Edo State will also be taken to the 36 states of the federation.

NBC trains teachers

By Abimbola Ojo

N

IGERIAN Bottling Company (NBC) Limited has completed its 'Teacher4Change' project.

The project, which lasted for a year, was concluded recently, with a certificate presentation to teachers who attended the programme.

Speaking at one of the presentations, held at the St. Theresa Primary School Apapa, Lagos, Ifeoma Okoye, the Public Affairs Manager, Lagos, said: "The knowledge gathered from the trainings should be put to good use. All teachers should learn to share knowledge and other best practices with their colleagues."

Sharing her experience from the exercise, Mrs. Antonia Akude, a teacher in St. Theresa Primary School, Apapa, said the training accorded her with the best teaching approach to imparting knowledge while taking into consideration the uniqueness of every child in a classroom.

Mrs. Margret Imokhodu, the Head Teacher of St. Theresa Primary School, Apapa, thanked NBC for the gesture and for focusing on their development.

Mrs. Udeafor, another teacher from Adeniyi Jones Primary School, Ikeja, Lagos, said she had planned to quit the profession, but for the NBC nomination. She added that the training gave her a new spirit, new discovery and new motivation like never before towards teaching, adding that she felt elated to be a teacher, imparting knowledge to the younger generation.

The one-year programme was designed in line with the school curriculum of the state with tailor-made learning experience that can be put to use by participants.

The teachers were also awarded gifts and electronic gadgets to assist them in their learning research and best global practices.

NBC Limited is collaborating with the Lagos State Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in the 'Teacher4Change' project, an initiative which has trained 24 teachers from the two schools in Apapa adopted by NBC. The training was done in partnership with Stephen Adams Social Reformation Foundation.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

43

SHOWBIZ

A

FTER so much anticipation, Mavin Records First Lady Tiwa Savage yesterday put to bed. She gave birth to a baby boy.

The singer’s husband and manager, Tunji ‘Tee Billz’ Balogun, broke the news when he shared photo, holding baby’s hand. The caption he. “Thank You Jesus....”

Several artistes took to the social media to felicitate with the couple. One of the first to rejoice with the Baloguns was singer Nikki Laoye. “Yaay! Baby Mavin has arrived. Congrats to you @teebillz323 and my dear sister @officialtiwasavage,” she posted on Instagram.

Tiwa’s label mate Reekado Banks also sent in his felicitations on Instagram; “Big congrats mama .. @officialtiwasavage .. Big congrats papa @teebillz323.”

Mavin Record’s honcho, Don Jazzy congratulated the celebrity couple on Twitter and also on Instagram. “Congrats to Mavin First Lady @officialtiwasavage and Mr @Teebillz323 on the delivery of their bouncing baby boy. We thank The lord. Yayyyyyy turn up time. #DoroBaby,” he wrote “To God be the glory great things he has done and he will still do in our lives.

Welcome our baby! Congrats @teebillz323 and @of-

Artistes celebrate Tiwa Savage’s baby boy

•The baby

By Ovwe Medeme

ficialtiwasavage. Oluwa a da si o! Ire a kari!,” Funke Akin-

•Tiwa Savage

dele also wrote.

For former head of Chocolate City, Audu Makori, the birth signals ample reasons

to celebrate. “Congrats to @teebillz323 and @officialtiwasavage for unto them a child is born,” he posted.

Other celebrities who have joined in congratulating the singer are Rugged Man, MI Abaga, D’prince,

Cecil Hammond, among others

Waje

Why I won’t move into my new house,

by Pasuma

F •Don Jazzy and Davido

Don Jazzy squares up against Davido at Tech+ 2015

E

XCITEMENT mounts as the duo of Don Jazzy and Davido will be challenging each other at the forthcoming Tech+ Conference and Exhibitions.

Holding in Lagos at the Eko Hotels and Suites on Friday with the theme, Leadership in Digital Technology, Tech+ will feature gaming sessions, exhibitions, the digital school, programming, plenary and break-out sessions as well as panel discussions to be led by high profile speakers drawn from local and global brands, organizers say.

The entertainers took to their Twitter handles to announce their participation and, also, throw up challenges to any would-be contestants.

Davido, who recently won the MTV AMA Best Male artist Award in South Africa, had tweeted, “My FIFA 15 skills will be on point 4 Tech+! July 24th 25th at EkoHotel.”

Don Jazzy also tweeted;

“Think u can beat me @ FIFA 15? Come find out @ Tech+ from July 24th-25th at Eko Hotel.”

Tunji Adeyinka, CEO of Connect Marketing Services Limited, organisers of the conference disclosed that there is a total prize money of N1.5m. Winner in the FIFA 2015 category will receive a cash prize of N500, 000 while the first and second runners-up go home with N300, 000 and N100, 000 respectively. In the Mortal Combat category, the sum of N300, 000 goes to the winner, the second-placed person receives N200, 000 and the third N100, 000, Adeyinka disclosed.

Some of the notable speakers include Jim McKelvey (co-founder of Square), Wael Fakharany (Google X Middle East and Africa) and Nicolas Martin, CEO, Jumia Africa among others.

TECH + is powered by MTN Nigeria with sponsorship from Huawei, Jumia, Coscharis Motors, Samsung,

Google, Uber and Terragon Group. Partners include Enplug Africa, Atlantic Exhibition and Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA).

UJI musician Alabi Pasuma has been criticised by his fans for still living in a rented apartment. The artiste has said that he is not bothered by the comments.

He says he has just completed his house around OPIC on the popular Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway but he is yet to move in. He won’t vacate his present house in Omole Estate on the outskirts of Lagos because the new surrounding is not yet well developed.

“It’s true I have finished my house in OPIC area as you said but because that place hasn’t developed, I just have to pause, pending the time the area will be developed. Everything is completed to taste; nothing is

By Adewoyin Adeniyi

left to be done to make it habitable.

“I just decided that when the area is full, I will move in. Also, I have got another one I am building in Omole here. I think that one would have been completed by the time I celebrate my birthday in November this year.

That’s my prayer,” he said.

Pasuma who has •Pasuma also been active in the hip cluding a collaboration hop scene since early 90s with Mavin Records first hinted his fans that he will lady Tiwa Savage. be releasing a hip hop album. He has since dropped over four hip hop songs in-

Johnny ‘Kabas, Anne Inyang, MC Abbey, others for The Encounter

By Joe Agbro Jr.

•Johnny ‘Kabas

S

OME leading entertainers in the music and comedy industry are set to perform at The Encounter.

The event, which is in its fourth edition, holds by 3pm on Sunday, July 26, at The

Church of God Mission International, Grace Chapel, 38 Maidan Road, Mile 12, Lagos.

Among headliners for The Encounter 2015 are Princess Anne Inyang, MC Abbey, Centrik, Johnny Kabas, CeeY, Sohlah Babs and Eldero. Also featuring are MC Ajele, Laff Doctor, Gospel Shakers, AGV, Favish Eyak and others. The host of the event is Rev. M. A Lamai.

Convener of the project, Johnny Kabas, who is also a gospel singer, said the show promises to spiritually uplifting and entertaining.

“The main content is gospel

music,” said Kabas, an undergraduate of Lagos State University. I call it soul lifting music, ethical comedy and dance.

It’s going to be entertainment like you’ve never had it before,” he said.

Speaking on the inspiration behind The Encounter, Kabas said it was a vision borne out of necessity when as an unknown artiste, he had problems getting a platform to showcase his talent. Having broken that jinx, Kabas said, he thought of helping others.

“I thought that one of the best things I can do to help myself and help others that are trying to come up is to create that platform. And we started

very little but today ‘The Encounter’ not only promotes young acts but also gives them that opportunity to mingle with the experienced acts.”

Kabas also lamented lack of corporate sponsorship for gospel entertainment but thanked God for making ‘The Encounter’ a reality every year since its inception.

“Right from the first edition, ‘The Encounter’ has been full of surprises. And one the major surprises about the event has been the financing aspect of it. Every single edition of it has caused us huge amount of money and how the money sometimes comes about I don’t know.”

THURSDAY JULY 23, 2015

44

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

KOGI POLITICS

As the Kogi State governorship poll draws nearer, aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have started making preparations for the primaries. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN looks at the issues that will shape the contest and the chances of the two parties.

• Wada

• Audu

•Mohammed

PDP, APC in battle of titans over T Lugard House HE Kogi governorship election, scheduled for November 21, will once again put to test the strength of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which suffered defeat in the hands of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the recent presidential and National Assembly elections. The poll will also afford the APC the opportunity to prove that its victory during the general elections was not a fluke.

Though there are about 19 political parties in the state, the contest will be a straight fight between the APC and the PDP, which has been in power in the state since 2003 when former Governor Ibrahim Idris defeated the Prince Abubakar Audu of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).

To observers, the election would be a keenly contested one. They contend that the profound changes occurring in the political arena and the twist in the conscience of Kogi people will thwart the machinations of aspirants that rely on primordial factors for victory at the primaries and the election.

They are of the view that the election will be determined by many factors: the platform on which the candidates are contesting; the candidates and the parties’ antecedents and the process through which the candidates emerged. The results of the recent presidential and National Assembly elections in which incumbent Governor Idris Wada lost all seats in his local government suggest that he has lost grip and political relevance. What took place during the general elections in Kogi has clearly established that the power of incumbency may no longer remain relevant in future, especially in cases where the candidates being imposed on the people are unpopular.

However, observers have warned that the APC not to be carried away by its victory in the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. The party has been enjoined to go for a saleable candidate. According to analysts, there were instances where voters support the presidential candidate of a party, yet they would not back the governorship candidate of the same party.

They recalled that, in 2011 general elections, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) had a sweeping victory in Kano State, but the party’s governorship candidate had

the Kogi governorship election, scheduled for November 21, will once again put to test the strength of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which suffered a crushing defeat in the hands of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) during the last presidential and National Assembly elections a very poor outing; he lost to his PDP counterpart. The reason adduced was that, despite the fact that the CPC was adjudged to be a core and famous northern party, it lost its governorship bid in Kano because it dropped a popular candidate, who had emerged through the primaries, but was denied the ticket. Thus, protest votes gave the PDP victory.

Indeed, the impunity displayed by the leadership of the defunct CPC in Kano in 2011 governorship is not different from what happened in Kogi State in 2011 where Jibrin Isa Echocho was dropped in favour of the incumbent Governor Wada. The only dissimilarity with Kogi is that despite the obvious undemocratic process which led to Wada’s emergence, the PDP was noted to have been able to manipulate the election to its favour.

However, the APC state chairman, Alhaji Haddi Amentur, is very optimistic that his party would emerge victorious in the coming governorship election. He said the party would repeat its performance during the presidential and National Assembly elections because the people are tired of the PDP’s bad governance.

He said: “The people are tired of the PDP and they desire change, which the APC represents. The PDP cannot boast of any achievement, despite being in power in the last 13 years. This is a plus for the APC. The people want development and not hopelessness. The people are yearning for change and that

change will come through the APC. The people cannot afford to make another mistake during the next election because it would be another opportunity to ensure development of the state.

“When you look at the state, the only positive development that is visible is what the opposition did under former Governor Abubakar Audu. The PDP has spent 13 years with nothing to show for it. What will they use to campaign? Is it the bad roads that dot the capital city and other parts of the state?”

Also speaking on the chances of the APC, a chieftain of the party, Mr Yori Afolabi said he was confident that his party would win the election, if it presents a credible candidate and observe due process in the shadow election where the governorship candidate would emerge. Afolabi, the former Minority Leader in the State House of Assembly, said the chances of the opposition were very high, given the woeful performance of the PDP. He reiterated that the personality and character of the person that the APC would present matters a lot in the crucial governorship election. “Nigerians are becoming wiser and politically enlightened. They don’t vote for party alone. They consider the candidates involved. People are tired of the PDP. They want change and they see that change in President Muhammadu Buhari,” he added.

But, a PDP stalwart, Mr John Ele, did not see it that way. He said the National Assembly elections should not be used as a yard-

stick to judge the outcome of the governorship election. According to him, the dynamism of state governorship election is quite different. He noted that despite the fact that the APC won the presidential and the National Assembly elections, the PDP won the highest number of seats in the House of Assembly. Given this scenario, Ele said the PDP would have the upper hand in the election scheduled to take place in November. He added: “All that we need to do is to put our house in order.”

Another factor that will affect the outcome of the governorship poll is the alleged marginalisation of certain areas in the state.

Kogi West and Central Districts have teamed up to challenge the dominance of Kogi East District. Both zones have resolved to present a single governorship candidate for the election. They also vowed to disown anyone from their zones who accepts to be the running mate of any candidate from the East senatorial district.

Their grouse stems from what they describe as “unconscionable level of marginalisation and oppression of the people of the Central and Western districts.” Available statistics show that the two zones account for 55 per cent of the state population and about 85 per cent of the internally generated revenue, but in terms of appointments and recruitments into the civil service, as well as resource allocation, Kogi East district has continued to dominate. It has also been producing governors since the inception of the state.

Many aspirants have indicated their interest to run for the governorship election. The APC has the highest with over 10 aspirants jostling for its ticket. So far, only two aspirants have shown interest in the PDP ticket.

Idris Wada Although Governor Wada has not publicly declared his interest for a second term, his body language suggests that he is the candidate to beat. He emerged the PDP governorship candidate in 2011 in a rescheduled primary skewed in his favour, following the cancellation of the earlier exercise that produced Echocho as party flag bearer. Wada polled 300,372 votes to emerge winner of governor• Continued on page 45

THE NATION THURSDAY JULY 23, 2015

45

The support of the PDP National Working Committee ‘(NWC) for Wada’s re-election bid is in doubt ’

POLITICS

PDP, APC in titanic battle • Continued from page 44 ship election, while his closest rival, Prince Abubakar Audu of the defunct ACN polled 159,913 votes.

Things will not be as rosy as it was for Wada in 2011 this time around because of certain developments.

First, the people of Kogi are not impressed by his performance; his four years in office has not witnessed any significant development. Secondly, Kogi elders who were instrumental to his victory in 2011 are divided over his re-election bid. Many of them have withdrawn their support for him. Thirdly, the support of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) for Wada’s re-election bid is in doubt. The NWC had cancelled the delegates election held on June 27. According to party sources, the result favoured Wada’s camp which would have made it easy for him to emerge as party’s governorship candidate at the primary. Fourthly, even if he wins the primary, he will have to go the extra mile to win the governorship election. According to observers, this is because a lot of disenchanted leaders of the PDP in Kogi have dumped the party for the APC, with their teeming supporters.

Abubakar Audu Audu is a foundation member of the APC. It was by virtue of this fact that he became the party leader in Kogi State. He was elected governor in 1999 on the platform of the

ANPP. Since he was defeated in 2003 by the PDP’s Ibrahim Idris, all attempts to return to Lugard House, Lokoja, the seat of power, have been unsuccessful. Audu believes this is his finest hour in Kogi’s politics, as he led the party to electoral success in the last general elections. Hence, he has expressed his aspiration to contest the November 21 governorship election.

Some APC leaders have challenged Audu’s leadership. A group known as the All Progressives Elders Vanguard alleged that Audu has hijacked the party machinery to his benefit, warning that the APC would lose the goodwill it enjoyed during the presidential election, if Audu was not called to order. In the same vein, another group, Kogi Renewal Group, has kicked against Audu’s quest to get the APC governorship ticket. The group leader, Dr Abubakar Yakubu, said the return of Audu to Lugard House is not the change the state needs.

However, a group loyal to Audu, Confluence for Change insists that the former governor is the leader of the APC in the state and that he remains the rallying point for the APC not only in Kogi, but in the Northcentral zone. On the rationale of Audu’s bid to return to power, it said since the former governor left office in 2003, the state had collapsed socially and economically, adding that they wanted him to come and save the state from bad leadership.

James Ocholi A legal practitioner, James Ocholi (SAN) is a leading aspirant on the platform of the APC. A Lokojabased group, the Network for Change and Good Governance, said Ocholi stands tall among other aspirants. They noted that though he is not a moneybag politician, he is credible, dependable, honest and of high integrity.

Ocholi was a member of the CPC, one of the legacy parties that merged to form the APC.

Yahaya Bello Bello is one of the aspirants contesting for the APC ticket. The youths, under the aegis of Kogi APC Youths Arise Movement, are rooting for him. The group leader, Mr. Edward Onoja, said Bello stands out as the most pro-masses and youth friendly. He said: “As youths of Kogi State, we see Yahaya Bello as the carrier of our hopes and aspirations. His blueprint is pro-youths and it addresses the germane issues that concern our demographic needs.”

Jibrin Isa Echocho Echocho won the PDP ticket for the 2011 election, at a primary conducted by the party in 2010. But, he was dropped in favour of the incumbent Governor Wada. The fallout of this development has not been addressed by the party. So far, it has resulted in mass defection of

•Echocho

•Ali

its members. This deliberate mistake of the PDP has not only weakened the electoral capacity of the party, it has also grossly contributed to strengthening the APC. Echocho worked for the APC’s success at the recent polls. He is hoping to realise his governorship ambition on the platform of the party.

APC that have declared their intention publicly. They are Suleiman Ali, Habib Yekeen and Zakari Jiya.

Yakubu Mohammed Veteran journalist Yakubu Muhammed was former editor of the defunct National Concord. He was co-founder of the rested Newswatch magazine. He vied for the PDP ticket in 2009, but lost. He is of the Igala ethnic nationality, the dominant tribe in the east senatorial zone. He believes his integrity will make up for what he lacks in financial wherewithal.

There are other aspirants from the

Mohammed Ali Ali is the former Chairman of Dekina Local Government. He is the only aspirant that has come out to slug it out with Wada at the PDP primary. His posters bearing the PDP logo have flooded major towns in the state. The under-40 aspirant represents generational shift and effective management of the state’s largely untapped resources. Observers see him as the bridge between the new and the old order in the state. They are of the view that almost all persons that have worked with him in the past are supporting his aspiration to become governor speaks volume of his character and leadership quality.

Plateau PDP, ALGON accuse Lalong of instigating conflict

P

•Plateau State Governor Simeon Lalong(right), Director Corporate Affairs and Public Relations, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Bukar Umar, and Executive Secretary, TETFUND Prof Suleiman Bagoro during the governor's visit to TETFUND in Abuja yesterday.

PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

‘Why Tinubu can’t be ridiculed’

A

MEMBER of the House of Representative from Oyo Federal Constituency, Oyo State, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, has cautioned against primordial sentiments,gang-up, and acts of brigandage capable of jeopardising the fortunes of the All Progressives Party (APC).

He also warned that any subterranean moves by stakeholders to malign the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, would be resisted.

Adeniyi gave the warning at the APC stakeholders meeting in Oyo the Constituency, comprising Afijio, Atiba Oyo-East and OyoWest local governments.

The meeting, which took place at the Alliance Hotel in Oyo, was attended by leaders and chairmen of the party at wards and local government levels.

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

The federal lawmaker, who is the son of Alaafin of Oyo, berated what he called ‘’senseless persecution and unwarranted hatred against the personality of Asiwaju Tinubu by some self-seeking stakeholders in the party over the lingering leadership tussle in the Senate”.

Adeyemi said: ’’Asiwaju Tinubu remains an enigma and incontrovertible pathfinder in the nation’s political history. His stand on party’s decision concerning leadership of both the Senate and the House of Representatives was distinctively clear, but turned the other way by some stakeholders, who are hellbent on reaping where they did not sow, by causing pandemonium and discord among the lawmakers.”

He said rather than being myopic, egoistic and envious, those sponsor-

LATEAU State Governor Simon Lalong has been accused of taking actions capable of provoking political conflict in the state.

The accusation followed the suspension of the local government chairmen by the governor and his alleged refusal to respect the court injunction restraining him and the House of Assembly from tampering with the tenure of elected council chairmen.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Association of Local Government Chairmen (ALGON) staged a peaceful protest in Jos on the matter.

The police commissioner, Nasiru Oki, addressed the protesters behind close door for an hour. They included the local government chairmen, state zonal vice chairman of PDP (central zone) Hon. Yusuf Ishaya and the legal adviser of PDP, Bitrus Gyang.

Ishaya, who represented the party chairman, Raymond Dabo, said: “The party has to lead the council chairmen to see the commissioner

•Lalong From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

of Police because of the actions of the state governor in recent times” “I am here to represent the state chairman of PDP in this struggle along with all the ALGON members to intimate the state police commissioner on the actions of the state governor who have chosen to disobeyed the law, disrespect court order and ridicule the entire judiciary.

He added: “The governor announced the suspension of elected local government executives without genuine reasons, and when the council chairmen went to court to seek justice, the court ordered that status quo remains pending the determination of the case.

Group canvasses power shift in Kogi

A

•Adeyemi ing disunity in the party could have teamed up with the leadership to evolve vibrant legislative chambers.

Adeniyi, who said the meeting became imperative to keep his constituents abreast of the development, pledged his unalloyed loyalty and support to the party.

HEAD of the governorship election in Kogi State, a group, under the Kogi Equity Initiative (KEI), has called for power shift from the East Senatorial District to another zone in the state.

The group alleged that, since the creation of the state in 1991, the slot and other key political appointment have been skewed towards an ethnic group.

In a communiqué in Ilorin KEI chairman and secretary, Dada Fehinti and Comrade Taiwo Otitolaye said power should shift to give the zones a sense of belonging.

“We are united by common destiny of political equity, power shift and social justice in line with the

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

collective aspirations of our people that have been marginalized for over twenty years.” the group said.

The group added: “Since the creation of Kogi State, no non-Igala has been governor and given the backwardness of human and capital development, despite the enormous resources; when compared with other states created at the same time, power shift is inevitable.

“We express dissatisfaction with the way some positions and offices are been made birth right of the Igalas and, therefore, demand for equity and justice for the people of Kogi West and Central.

THE NATION THURSDAY JULY 23, 2015

46

No senate president or deputy senate president can be elected ‘pursuant to a non-existent or forged Senate Standing Orders ’

POLITICS Frontline lawyer and rights activist Jiti Ogunye examines the crisis at the National Assembly. His opinion: the election of Senate President Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President Ibe Ekweremadu should not stand.

‘Saraki, Ekweremadu’s elections are a nullity’

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INCE the National Assembly (NA) erupted in crisis during the “inauguration” of the 8th NA and the “election” of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday, the 9th of June, 2015, a lot has been said and written about the issues in dispute in the crisis. Unfortunately, rather than subject the “election” in the NA, in particular in the Senate, on that day, to a rigorous legal examination, in order to determine the legality of that election, many of the principal actors in the NA leadership crisis or in the All Progressives Congress.

Since the National Assembly (NA) erupted in crisis during the “inauguration” of the 8th NA and the “election” of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday, the 9th of June, 2015, a lot has been said and written about the issues in dispute in the crisis. Unfortunately, rather than subject the “election” in the NA, in particular in the Senate, on that day, to a rigorous legal examination, in order to determine the legality of that election, many of the principal actors in the NA leadership crisis or in the All Progressives Congress (APC) imbroglio, and a host of other interveners have been discussing the politics of the crisis and its “mishandling” by the APC leadership, who, according to these interveners, was hell bent on foisting a leadership on the NA. Many simple-minded gloaters have even reduced the serious issues thrown up by the crisis to a celebration of the “ political defeat of Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, as if that alleged defeat was all that was needed to make the aberration that occurred in the NA acceptable. In this intervention, we seek to redirect the discourse. We argue that the NA leadership crisis primarily should be discussed and resolved on the basis of enquiries as to whether there had been a violation of the rule of law and the provisions of the Constitution.

What transpired in the NA on Tuesday, 9th June, 2015 was a coup d’état. If it was merely a coup d’état by the treacherous members of the APC against their party’s choices for the offices that constitute the leadership of the NA, we would not have been bothered. We are bothered because it was also a coup d’état against the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the rule of law.

On that day, while Senator Bukola Saraki of the APC, who has confessed that, like a typical coup d’état leader, he sneaked into the premises of the NA at dawn, was “elected unopposed” as the Senate President, by 57 Senators, in the absence of 51 Senators, who were “ambushed” into a fence-mending and ranks-closing meeting that eventually turned out to be a hoax, Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the People Democratic Party ( PDP) “defeated” his opponent, Senator Ali Ndume of the APC by 50 votes to 24 votes ( with one abstention) to clinch the post of the Deputy Senate President. Instructively, the APC controls the Senate with 59 ( now 58) Senators, while the PDP has 49 Senators, meaning that 108 members ought to have congregated on the Senate Floor on the said date to constitute the leadership of the Senate. Alas, only 57 senators and 75 senators took part in the elections into the two offices.

In the run up to the “inauguration” of the NA on 9th of June, 2015, after the initial intraparty horse-trading and compromises, two blocs within the APC, keenly interested in fielding candidates and contesting available positions in the NA leadership, had emerged: The offices are that of the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives and Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives. For the House of Representatives, there was the Femi Gbajabiamila and Yakubu Dogara Blocks, and for the Senate, there were the Bukola Saraki and Ahmed Lawan Blocks. To put its house in order, the APC, correctly and responsibly, in our view, conducted a straw poll amongst her elected legislators to determine the popularity and acceptability of the aspirants and adopt consensus candidates of the party for the positions.

It would not have made any sense for the APC to have allowed its aspirant members to go on the floors of the Senate and the House to slugger it out amongst themselves. That is not the way a responsible party behaves.

Strangely, some dubious partisans and jaun-

• Saraki

•Ekweremadu

diced interveners have condemned the APC for striving to forge consensuses amongst its party members, insisting that the NA should have been left alone to self-constitute its leadership, without the input of the parties of the respective members. This position that is being laundered as the correct approach that ought to have been adopted by the APC in order to guarantee the independence of the legislature is ignorant, plain dumb and silly.

At the end of the straw poll, which the Saraki and Dogara blocs boycotted and walked out of, obviously because they were in the minority and because they did not want the decision of the majority to bind them, the Lawan and Gbajabiamila Blocks emerged victorious.

Consequently, the APC directed all its legislators that were to participate in the NA Leadership Elections to tow the party line and vote for the party’s candidates in the elections.

Upon realising that they did not command the following of a majority of their party members, the Saraki and Dogara blocks surreptitiously hatched a conspiracy against their party’s interest and forged a coalition with the PDP against their party choices That coalition led to the “defeat” of the APC choices in the elections, and the triumphs of the Saraki and Dogara Blocks. In the House of Representatives leadership election, Dogara scored 182 votes to Gbajabiamila’s 174 votes. Given the result of the election, it was obvious that out of the 209 APC legislators in the House, about 36 of them leagued up with PDP legislators to defeat Gbajabiamila, their “party’s” candidate for the office of the speaker, and Monguno, their party’s candidate for the office of the Deputy Speaker. Saraki, Dogara, and Lasun, all defectors from the PDP, simply reached out to their kith and kin in the PDP. And it only took the infusion of Ekweremadu for the family reunion to be complete. Blood, as we know, is always thicker than water. It was an act of gross betrayal and misconduct.

Was that act of betrayal illegal or unconstitutional? No, even if it is immoral. Section 50 (1) of the Constitution says so. It provides that “ there shall be:- (a) a President and a Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves; and (b) a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves”. By virtue of this provision, any member of the Senate or House of Representatives, be s/he of the majority party or minority party can be elected into any of the aforementioned positions, in so far as he

or she is a member of the Senate or House of Representatives. It only stands to reason that if any legislator, regardless of the numerical strength of his party, can aspire to a leadership position in the upper and lower chambers, he or she can draw his electors from his own party or from other parties in the legislature. And any member can elect any other member of his choice to occupy any of the said positions, regardless of political party affinity or divide.

Without any doubt, the leadership tussle in the NA has shown clearly the fault lines in Section 50 (1) of the Constitution. Section 50(1) needs an urgent amendment, such that the indubitable legislative intendment of having a majority party constitute the leadership of the parliament, while the minorities parties play the role of the parliamentary opposition can become more manifest and taken out of its current state of wooliness.

We have argued that the act of betrayal of the APC insurgents is not illegal or unconstitutional, but immoral. But do we all not know that immorality, lack of integrity, opportunism and perennial power and money hunting are the hallmarks of a majority of Nigerian politicians? Lacking in scruples, values, principles and ideology, they change political parties, switch political allegiances and positions on any matter, based on their whims, caprices, political calculations and expectations, and pecuniary interests. Most of them are nothing but charlatans and political mercenaries. Lacking shame, noble comportment and decorum, but fixated on grabbing power for primitive accumulation and self aggrandizement, they do not mind dumping a “ national conscience party”, “a national salvation congress”, or people redemption movement” for “ a kidnappers party of Nigeria”, or “congress of Nigerian armed robbers “, regardless of the repugnance of such names, if the platforms give them an assurance of a short cut to power, and a shorter and surer route to the public till.

The APC that is now talking about party loyalty and supremacy, and is bellyaching about the treachery of the renegades within her ranks reeks of the vice of political prostitution, which usually is masked as patriotic expediency, political pragmatism, and free exercise of the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of association. We are, therefore, not concerned about the moral wrong that the APC has suffered in the hands of her saboteur members, who, apparently fled a leprous PDP into the APC in the belief that staying back in the PDP in the 2015 general elections was going to harm

We have argued that the act of betrayal of the APC insurgents is not illegal or unconstitutional, but immoral.

But do we all not know that immorality, lack of integrity, opportunism and perennial power and money hunting are the hallmarks of a majority of Nigerian politicians

their ambitions to get elected or re-elected into political offices. It was a mutation from one party to the other for political survival. It was “change”, indeed.

As we have stated above, we are bothered because the events of 9th of June, 2015 have serious implications for Nigeria’s democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law.

It is our considered view that the election of Bukola Saraki as the Senate President and Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void. It is a sham. Put in another way, Bukola Saraki and Ekweremadu, are not, legally speaking, the Senate President and Deputy Senate President of Nigeria. They are impostors, who should stop parading themselves as senate president and deputy senate president. Asking Ekweremadu to yield up the office of the Deputy Senate President, as some partisans who have labeled him a PDP usurper have suggested, does not arise.

De jure, he is not occupying the office of the Deputy Senate President from which he may resign. You cannot resign from an office you do not occupy. Why do we say so?

First, by their own declarations and admissions, the organizers of the sham election on the floor of the Senate on the 9th of June, principally the Clerk of the National Assembly and his cohorts, claimed that they organized that election pursuant to the Senate Standing Orders, 2015, as amended, which purportedly provided that elections into the two offices shall be by secret ballot, instead of the open ballot as provided by Orders 72 and 73 of the Senate Standing Orders, 2011. As it has now become glaring, there was, in fact, no such Senate Standing Orders, 2015. As at the time of the dissolution of the 7th National Assembly, on the 4th of June, 2015, the operative Rules of the Senate were Senate Standing Orders, 2011. Between that dissolution and the inauguration of the 8th Senate on the 9th of June, the Senate was not in existence. It was a period of interregnum. The Senate leadership of the 7th Senate went with the dissolution of that Senate. Therefore, that leadership, acting alone, or in concert with the generality of the members of the 7th Senate could not have amended the Senate Rules to produce the Senate Standing Orders, 2015. By virtue of Order 110(5) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2011, two-thirds majority of the Senate shall decide proposed amendments and such amendments shall form part of the Rules of the Senate. This purported amendment is the act of forgery that is being alleged against David Mark, Ekweremadu and the Clerk of the National Assembly, which has now become the subject of police investigation. While the crime of forgery that is alleged may lead to prosecution and conviction, if investigation establishes a prima facie case, the effect of that forged or manipulated document on the election at the Senate is stark. Being the foundation of that election, the election is rendered illegal, null and void. No senate president or deputy senate president can be elected pursuant to a non-existent or forged Senate Standing Orders.

In underscoring the nullity of the Saraki and Ekweremadu’s presidency and deputy presidency, we find it very apt to use the analogy of a familiar legal principle.

“A court can only be competent, if among other things, all the conditions precedent for its having jurisdiction are fulfilled. In Madukolu and Ors. v. Nkemdilim (1962) 1 All N.L.R. (Pt.4) 587 at 594 Bairamian, F. J, (as he then was) stated the principles which , ever since, have been accepted in successive cases in the Supreme Court of Nigeria. ‘A court is competent, he said, ‘when- (1)it is properly constituted as regards numbers and qualifications of the members of the bench, and no member is disqualified for one reason or another; (2) the subject matter of the case is within its jurisdiction, and there is no feature in the case which prevents the court from exercising its jurisdiction; and (3) the case comes before the court initiated by due process of law, and upon fulfillment of any condition precedent to the exercise of jurisdiction. Any defect in competence is fatal, for the proceedings are a nullity however well conducted and decided; the defect being extrinsic to the adjudication.’ See Skenconsult(Mg.)Ltd, &Anor. v.

Ukey (l98l) 1 SC 6 at 15 • To be continued

47

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

How to treat impotence, by expert

M

EN suffering from impotence also known as erectile dysfunction (ED) need not be ashamed of their condi-

tion.

The disease can be treated with herbs, says Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nature Healing Alternative Dr Leye Popoola.

He said though the disease is common among men as they advance in age, they often keep it secret.

They should not, he advised, noting that a problem shared is a problem solved.

Impotence, he said, is the inability of men to maintain erection during normal sexual activities.

“This means somebody may have an erection, but he may not be able to discharge spermatozoa before erection will come down. The man may not also be able to have an erection at all,” he said.

He identified andropause, which is men’s equivalent of menopause in women, lifestyles and medical problems as some of the causes of impotence.

“As men age, they enter into andropause, which is similar to menopause in women. At that stage the sexual hormone, androgen reduces drastically in them. Similarly, the urge to have intercourse also reduce. This is why most old men often used some drugs to enhance their sexual prowess,” he said.

He said most men who are diabetic often suffer from ED because they do not have proper blood circulation, particularly to their private part, toes and fingers.

“In most diabetics, the blood circulation is cut off from most parts of the body and their male organs dysfunctions,” he added.

Men with heart problems, he said, might experience impotence because the heart is the engine room of the body.

Besides, once the heart is malfunctioning, proper blood circulation will be hampered.

“Men who are suffering from Parkinson’s disease often experience ED. This is due to the nature of their ailment. They are always trembling. Also, men who have backache may not be able to consummate their marriage by having intimacy with their wives.

Sexual activities are burdensome to them.

Even when they have erection, they may still be incapacitated,” he said.

He said smokers can experience the condition because of nicotine in the tobacco, and as such, they have constricted heart rate and smooth intercourse often become a problem.

“So, most smokers usually end up with poor blood circulatory system. This predisposes them to high propensity to come down

•Ginkgo biloba

•Dr Popoola

•Damiana

By Wale Adepoju

with ED,” he said.

Popoola said men who are alcoholics can suffer ED. “When estrogen level in men rises in comparison with their testosterone, it can trigger ED,” he said.

He explained that men can experience the condition as a result of the side effect of drugs they have ingested.

High blood pressure (HBP) drugs, he said, are known to have effect on the male reproductive organ, adding: “Ulcer medication and anti-depressant drugs can also affect men’s potency. This affects men’s libido.”

Prostate drugs, he said, can also make men become impotent.“This information is clearly written on the package or bottle of the drug. So, men suffering prostate enlargement may not be able to have intimacy with their wives again in their lifetime,” he said.

The natural medicine practitioner said pros-

tate can be addressed without having recourse to drugs as there are solution in natural endowments.

Some sleeping pills, he said, can initiate poor libido because of their constituents.

He continued: “People who have hypotension (low blood pressure) could come down with ED. Men experiencing low blood sugar may be unable to have proper erection. Low level of blood in men may hamper their sexual function.

He urged men to always find out what is wrong with them before using drugs.

He said regular consumption of balanced diet would supply men with the needed minerals and vitamins for sexual performance.

“Men who take proper diet cannot experience low blood sugar or low level or blood as the case may be. Balanced diet will not allow them to suffer from ulcer, insomnia and depression.”

Advising men, he said, smokers need to

quit, alcoholics should reduce what they consume or stop it completely.

“Men having backache should consult a doctor. They should eat balanced diet regularly. Men who are obese should exercise regularly. Also, 30 minutes of daily brisk walk is good for the body.

They should use natural treatment, adding that a western herb known as yorinbe s good.

“It increases blood flow to the male private organ. But it has side effects. It is not advisable for men having hypertension or HBP or even those with normal blood pressure are advised to use it sparingly or intermittently. It is not safe to use it without guidance.

“Damiana is another herb often used by natural medicine practitioners. It is good for blood circulation, especially to the private part and it is safe to use by all ages with no side effects.

“There is also ginko biloba, which also helps the blood circulatory system.

Another herb is maca. It helps to energise the men for a better sexual intercourse. It can triple the sexual strength of men because it has the capacity to improve libido and boosts the immune system.

Horny goat weed is another herb, which is often used to address the problem. It is used across the world.

Among the Yoruba people, gboingboin is used by herbalists to treat impotence. It is an age-long therapy for ED. The herbs mentioned can be made into tea and taken twice daily by those suffering from the condition.

The goingboin comes as a stick and it can be soaked in water and taken with tablespoon twice daily.

Also, there is atapariobuko and egbo atorin, which are seen across Yorubaland. They are very potent in curing ED. They do not have any known side effect.”

He identified vitamins and minerals as immune boosters to enhance men’s sexual health.

“Vitamin A is very good for maintaining an erection. Balanced diet is also important to the health of the prostate.

“A healthy prostate leads to a high libido.Vitamin B complex is very essential for men’s virility. This vitamins helps the body to absorb food taken properly.

“Vitamin C is also good as it repairs the body. It mops up the free radicals in the system.Vitamin E helps to produce the sexual hormones.

“Zinc is very good because it promotes the health of the male organ,” he said.

Popola is against the use of blue drugs also known as sex enhancer. “Many end up badly afterwards as result of heart attack of raised blood pressure,” he said.

He said men with dysfuctional erection should consult their healthcare providers, stressing that self-medication may compound their problem.

Tests, he said, should be carried out on suffers to detect the problem before initiating treatment.

Moreover, appropriate diagnosing could make the problem a lot easier, he added.

Benefits of cabbage CABBAGE, which is often lumped into the same category as lettuce because of their similar appearance, is actually a part of the cruciferous vegetable family. Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, kale and broccoli are notorious for being chock-full of beneficial nutrients. If you are trying to improve your diet, cruciferous vegetables should be at the very top of your grocery list.

Cabbage can vary in colour from green to red and purple, and the leaves can be smooth or crinkled. With less than 20 calories per half cup cooked, it is a vegetable worth making room on your plate for.

Consuming fruits and vegetables of all kinds has long been associated with a reduced risk of many adverse health conditions. Many studies have suggested that increasing consumption of plant foods like cabbage decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes,

heart disease and overall mortality while promoting a healthy complexion, increased energy, and overall lower weight.

Protection from radiation therapy A compound found in cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables known as 3,3'diindolylmethane (DIM) has been shown to protect against the harmful effects of radiation therapy. In a study conducted at Georgetown University, rats were given a lethal dose of radiation. Some were left untreated, and others were treated with a daily injection of DIM daily for two weeks. All the untreated rats died, but over 50% of those receiving the DIM remained alive at the 30day mark. The same researchers did the experiment on mice and found similar results.

They were able to determine that the DIMtreated mice have higher counts or red and white blood cells and blood platelets, which

radiation therapy often diminishes.

It is well-known that DIM has protective effects against cancer, but this study shows there is also hope for using it as a shield to protect healthy tissues during cancer treatment in the future.

Cancer prevention Another cancer-fighting compound found in cabbage is sulforaphane. Research over the past 30 years has consistently shown that consuming cruciferous vegetables has been associated with a lower risk of cancer. More recently, researchers have been able to pinpoint that the sulfur-containing compounds (namely sulforaphane) that give cruciferous vegetables their bitter bite are also what give them their cancer-fighting power.

More studies with sulforaphane are testing its ability to delay or impede cancer. Promising results have been seen with multiple

types of cancers including melanoma, esophageal, prostate and pancreatic. Researchers have discovered that sulforaphane has the power to inhibit the harmful enzyme histone deacetylase (HDAC), known to be involved in the progression of cancer cells. The ability to stop HDAC enzymes could make sulforaphane-containing foods a potentially powerful part of cancer treatment.

Another natural chemical found in cabbage, parsley, celery and other plants known as apigenin has been found to decrease tumor size in an aggressive form of breast cancer in a recent study conducted at the University of Missouri. Researchers claim that their findings show that apigenin has potential to be used as a non-toxic treatment for cancer in the future.

•Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com

48

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

NATURAL HEALTH

Understanding and treating bad breath (Halitosis)…2

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EGUN last week, this series has examined possible causes of this condition in the gum, teeth, mouth, throat , lungs and the involvement of diabetes (fruity breath) and kidney insufficiency or disease which leads to acetone build-up in the blood, urine and breath, (nail polish breath).

Coincidentally about then, I developed a minor, unproductive cough originated in the upper throat. My nostrils were partially blocked. I realized these when I began to hear wheezing sounds whenever I lay in bed and paid attention to my breathing. I reached out for a jar of Echinace with Gold seal with root. It should help a bruise gum at the site of two teeth which often catches strands of beef and which sometimes get mauled by tooth pick. I emptied two capsules with my mouth, and with the tongue, later, a finger, spread it evenly on the gum, particularly the affected area. Then, I opened a third capsule which I employed as a snuff in one nostril after the other. Literally speaking, it went straight into the head, lighting a fire as it were.You know, a cold occurs when the system is cold. Heat overcomes cold and keeps the engine running smoothly. My nostrils ran, and I felt much relieved. The wheezing sound disappeared, and gum and teeth sourness and pain abated. I have seen then thought of another way of doing it with similar, if not better, effects and feel comfortable to recommend this other method to the mother of a four year-old child who said last week that the child was suffering from Sinus and Tonsil challenges. The other method involves dissolving the contents of one capsule in lukewarm water and, with a dropper, delivering it installmentally into one nostril at a time. Each time, the opposite nostril will be blocked so that the solution in the other nostril can be inhaled.

Mouth odour, body odour, These conditions appear inter-related. When I was a boy, I was miseducated by tradition that people beset by body odour were people who were not well batted immediately after birth. Now, it seems more reasonable to link this condition to a smelly internal environment where odour cannot be completely expelled through the mouth, nose, urine and stool but through the skin and sweat as well. In many cases, these other excretory organs have deteriorated in their make – up and function and the skin, as the largest excretory organ, is called into service to handle more than its fair share of work. This thinking fascinated me years ago when I read a British Broadcasting Corporation (B.B.C.) report of an experiment on why mosquitoes appeared to attack some people more than others. Socks from many men were hung in pairs outside from a window overnight in a mosquito- prone area.

In the morning, the socks were checked. The ones which had the most mosquitoes belonged to men who not only sweated most in the feet, but whose sweat contain the most nauseating smell. In other words, suggests the study, mosquitoes would appear to go more for poisonous oxidations. So, to address these questions, we should try to understand some of the things in such organs as the stomach, liver and intestine which may cause odor to develop in them and how to help these organs to overcome these conditions, so that, in overcoming them, we can surmount body odour as well as mouth odour and bad breadth.

The stomach Many people eat to fill the stomach, rather than filling it half way. When the stomach is too full, food cannot be well digested. Therefore, it stays longer than it should. This makes the food begin to rot before it is pushed to the intestine for further digestion. The smell of rotten food can escape upwards to the mouth and the breadth. To worsen matters, the stomach may lack enough stomach acid to digest food. This, too, would keep the food hanging out longer, and the acid which rotten food will later produce can predispose the stomach to gastritis and peptic ulcer. One way to determine if stomach acid is low is to take one tablespoonful of apple cider vinegar (ACV) in a glass of water thirty minutes before a meal. If it doesn’t hurt despite seeming high acid level, low acid is the cause of the problems. Food will digest in the stomach far more quickly and the problems in the stomach may disappear. Gas is another problem of the stomach. It may cause bloating, cramping and pain. It may come from the ingestion of air with food, through talking while eating or in some other ways, or from the gas of putrefying food, the digestion of which is compromised by Helicobacter pylori, (H. Pylori) bacteria. The bacteria can be eliminated using Golden Seal root,Ditto probiotic (friendly bacteria) and colloidal silver among other herbs. Gas can be mopped up using activated charcoal zeolyte Pure or diatom pure. Digestive enzymes should also help. A standard product should provide amylase (for digestive carbohydrate), Lipase (fats) and protease (proteins). They help well in the intestine.

THER useful suggestions for gas and for bloating are fennel, charmomile, Anise, ment, peppermint, ginger. Some people who have low stomach acid may think they actually have excess stomach acid and, therefore, make the mistake of consuming antacids. This has the effect of actually increasing stomach acid and worsening the problem they had set out to correct. One product I cherish in balancing stomach acid, whether high or low, is bell’s excessive acid/alkaline balance. Another is Sodium phosphate, no 10 in the 12 number series of biochemic cell salts. It addresses acidoses throughout the body. Of excessive acid and Alkaline Balance, on of the readers of this column who was advice to try it for his ulcer-related conditions, was kind enough to accept that I share his experience with other readers. David (08032013005) said to me: The acidic Stomach Alkaline balance is a piece miracle worker. I took two tablets as prescribed on the evening of June 26th, 2015 and went to bed at 9:30pm. I woke up at 3:30am, lying on my left side

O

and other dangerous compounds and the retention of water by the colon as a support for bowel movement. It helps, also, in the excretion of excess estrogen, which prevents elevation of estrogen in the blood of men and women. When there is not enough bile or bile flow is sluggish, these activities suffer, and the result can be not only pain an bloating from digestive system troubles but fermentation and food decay as well. Gas, such as methane, infiltrating the bloodstream can then cause headaches, bad breath and even body odour. In hospital settings, ultrasound, surgery and other methods are employed to break up gall stones so they can move freely through the bile duct and support, thereby, unhindered bile flow. In alternative medicine, the resort is to food medicine, including herbs.

Historically, olive oil has been used to improve bile flow.

Flax seed oil is said to improve inflammation and pain. Maria Trebent, says in her HELP THROUGH GOD’S PHARMACY: “interestingly, more women than men have gallstones. Nausea, vomiting and agonizing pain which shoots up and across the right rib cage towards the heart are the symptoms. Since there are many remedies available in God’s pharmacy, it does not always have to end in an operation. A six- week course on radish juice has helped every time, unless the stones are of the rare kind that do not dissolve. In this case, an operation is necessary”.

HE story of a general’s wife taught her this remedy.

She had had gallstones surgically removed and, to remind her, had mounted one of them on the handle of a knife. As she was cutting radishes in the kitchen one day, the door bell rang. She kept the knife in the tray and went to answer the knock. By the time she returned, the radishes in the tray had dissolved the stones!

Besides radises, herbs which protect the liver and support its functions are known to help out in gallstone condition.

Among these are milk thistle, carqueja, dandelion, lipase enzymes, turmeric, artichokes, wild yam root, vitamin C (which helps to convert cholesterol into bile), digestive enzymes, probiotic, chanka predra (the Asian name for a tropical plant known in Asian as stone crusher) and Eclipta Alba (another remedy widely used in Asia for liver, gall bladder, kidney and spleen conditions.

Eclipta alba last week, I promised more information on this plant remedy after describing how it helps the elimination of excess bile, to prevent it from being reabsorbed and converted to cholesterol, a process which leads to the use of new cholesterol sources and, thereby, ultimately reducing cholesterol level.

Indigenously belonging to India, china, Thailand and Brazil, eclipta alba has been reported used for liver, eye, skin, hair, health, among other uses.

There are few controlled studies on the medicinal use of this herb. But the few reported in scientific journals suggest it may be a remedy for many seasons. It has been found, for example, to inhibit growth of cancer cells, kill staphylococcus bacteria, promote hair growth, darken hair when used with honey as cream, stop nausea and vomiting in the ulcer patients. The Tawanese use it to stop bleeding. The Chinese use it as a “cooling and restorative herb” to support “the mind, liver and eyes.”

According to an Eclipta alba literature review by BAN LABS LTD: “A clinical trial was conducted on 50 children suffering from hepatitis. All patients were administered eclipta alba powder with honey in doses of 50mg/kg body weight in three divided doses for a period of one to five weeks. The results revealed that 80 percent of patients recovered fully. In another clinical trial, 100 percent cure in the patients of infective hepatitis was observed with Eclipta herbal powder. A clinical trial was conducted on 30 patients of viral hepatitis with a compound herbal preparation containing Eclipta alba as one of the ingredients. The response was excellent in terms of clinical as well as biochemical parameters as compared to the placebo group. Eclipta alba is source of coumestan type compound used in phyto pharmaceutical formation of medicine prescribe for treatment of cirrhosis of the liver and infectious hepatitis. … Eclipta alba is widely used in India is cholagogne and de obstruent in hepatic enlargement, for jaundice and other ailments of the liver and gall bladder. The literature review speaks of stress relieving and muscle relaxant properties of Eclipta alba as well as a capacity to boost Macrophage (white blood cell) production, thereby signally an immune-boosting function. Its alkaloids help with pain reduction, it is said.

The literature review examined damaging effects of paracetamol (Acetamophen) when it is used to induce damage in the livers of mice.

“Treatment with 50 percent ethanol extract of E. alba (100 and 250 mg/100g body weight) was found to protect the mice from hepatotoxic (liver damage) action of Paracetamol as evidenced by significant reduction in the elevated serum transaminase levels.

Histological studies showed marked reduction in fatty degeneration and centrizonal necrosis in animals receiving different doses of E. alba along with Paracetamol as compared with the control group.’’

On a final note today, there is good news in Eclipta alba for people who have hair, problems, such as falling hair syndrome. When juice of the fresh leaf was mixed with petroleum jelly, it cut hair growth time by half. When the leaf extract was boiled with coconut oil, it not only promoted hair growth similarly but blackened it. This should be good news for Mrs Toyin Obasanjo who has just begun to produce Virgin and extract Virgin coconut oil, despite all the challenges it presents. What about presenting it to friends as a beauty agent in association with Eclipta alba?

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this. This I haven’t been able to do since September 2014 despite having been examined by specialists in Germany, Sweden and Nigeria with course of this health challenge.’’

Thanks, David. Many people put their light under the bushel. You have kept yours on the table to light the void for other people. And what does this product contain? The ingredients are Alfalfa extract, Barley grass extract, MSM, blue green algae, chamomile extract, cinnamon extract, gilantro extract, sodium carbonate, Rosemary extract, bearbeing, Aloe vera, Turkey, rhubarb extract, sodium phosphate, potassium carbonate and potassium and potassium sul-fate.

Blue green alga, of course, refers to SPIRULINA, often mentioned in this column.

The liver When I was a boy, and wished to grow tall and muscular, I loved to eat liver. We were taught in health science literature that it was a powerhouse of all –rounded nutrients. We were not informed that it was, at the same time, a warehouse of poisons waiting to be detoxified or inactivated or in various stages of inactivation. Ever since I knew about this, I stopped eating liver. What’s the point, I reasoned, of loading up on toxins while trying to load up on nutrients.

HE liver is an important organ of detoxification as it is of digestion. Subnormal livers have been linked to cancers. They have been linked also to digestive problems which can lead to bad breath. Alcoholism can lead to fatty liver, a condition in which excessive levels of fats accumulate in liver cells, causing inflammation and making this organ unable to perform its functions. One of the well known problems of the liver, which causes belching, abdominal pain and bad breath is gall bladder disease. The gall bladder is located under the liver to store and concentrate the bile, which is produced in the liver. Bile salts help to digest fat after it is released into the upper part of the small intestine known as the duodenum. I have an acquaintance who has been beset with gall bladder problems for many years. In the beginning, stones formed in his gall bladder. Later, the stones dissolved under medication with herbs, but the gall bladder remained inflamed. He suffers excruciating pains in the upper right abdomen, belches frequently and is literally knocked out whenever he eats any fatty food. Many people have gall bladder stones without knowing they have them. Recent studies suggest such stones may be the underlying cause of low blood pressure, especially where the nails have begun to present vertical ridges. If the stones are too large to pass through the bile ducts to the duodenum, they block the flow of bile. This condition can cause inflammation of the gall bladder called cholecystitis sometimes, this condition can become life-threatening and demand surgical removal of the gall bladder. Some of the symtoms include “pain after meals, intolerance of fatty foods, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite” e.t.c In many studies, deficiencies of certain nutrients have been linked to the formation of gall stones. These nutrients include the fat emulsifier, lecithin, magnesium, antioxidant, vitamin A, C, and E, B complex vitamins, zinc and selenium.

Phosphotidyl choline, found in lecithin, has been found to dissolve gall stones which are often calcium stones. The preponderance of calcium in gall stones suggest that there is too much free calcium in the system and a lack of magnesium.

Other risk factors include elevation of cholesterol in the blood stream and decrease in the secretion of lecithin, as already stated, which may cause cholesterol stones. Rapid weight loss, which releases large quantum of fat into the system is another.

Yet another is fiber- free diet. Food intolerance or food sensitivity may also have a role to play, according to many studies.

Bile is a greenish- yellow substance made of bile salts, water, electrolytes, bilirubin, cholesterol, and phospholipids.

Bilirubin is the yellowish portion of degraded red blood cells which accumulates under skin, in the nail bed or the eyes if the liver does not promptly and efficiently clears it up.

Phospholips are fat molecules. Bile helps in the digestion and absorbtion of fats, absorbtion of fat soluble nutrients, such as vitamin A and E, evacuation of bilirubin, elimination of drugs

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e-mail:johnolufemikusa@yahoo.com or johnolufemikusa@gmail.com

Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 08116759749

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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THE NATION

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes * Real Estate

BUSINESS PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com 08114495369

property@thenationonlineng.net muyiwalucas2002@yahoo.com

VI: Tale of a deserted island Once the choice of the rich, and the powerful, but Victoria Island is being deserted, MUYIWA LUCAS reports.

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ICTORIA Island (VI) is a prestigious real estate destination in the Eti Osa Area of Lagos State. It enjoys proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and Lagos Lagoon. This makes it an attractive location for corporate bodies and multinationals.

The same category of people also put up residential buildings for their staff, for its proximity to their work.

This makes Victoria Island an exclusive preserve of the rich. For example, an exquisitely-furnished four-bedroom Penthouse for rent in Victoria Island is available for N24 million per year, while in lower options, a self-contained apartment at Oniru Estate, an extention of Victoria Island, goes for N450,000 yearly.

Owning a property or residing on VI used to be the exclusive preserve of the super rich. However, in recent times, the fortunes of VI seem to have nosedived. There are a lot of buildings unoccupied in the area. A walk around VI presents you with the stark reality of empty houses.

Originally designated as an upscale residential area, failing infrastructure and overcrowding in the old business district on Lagos Island and tax zoning enforcement on Victoria Island led to a mass migration of businesses over the last 25 years.

Today, Victoria Island is one of Nigeria’s busiest centres of banking and commerce, with most major Nigerian and international corporations headquartered on the Island.

However, the influx of banks and other ventures have changed the formerly serene atmosphere of the Island. Long-time residents complain about the increase in traffic and influx of street traders, who cater to bank employees and businessmen.

Now, a growing trend on VI is the unoccupied flats and buildings. The properties, though are exquisitely and tastefully finished with top-ofthe range facilities and services, they have not been able to attract tenants.

Usually, the properties come with well-cut lawns, fitted kitchens, fitted bedrooms, gym, table tennis, 24hour electricity, and bar, among others.

The Principal Partner, Bode Adediji and Co., Mr. Bode Adediji, blamed the rising number of unoccupied buildings or apartments on the absence of the middle class in Nigeria.

According to him, the luxury apartments were not built for lower income group, but for the upper middle income group. “Therefore, once the economy does not support the growth of that income bracket, then, we are only building speculatively,”he said. But in terms

•Property in Victoria Island... increasingly becoming vacant.

of the indices on the ground, Adediji said the volume of demand could not justify the massive influx of luxury apartments into premium locations, such as VI and Ikoyi.

Experts say the infrastructural decadence on VI and in Ikoyi was an unfortunate development that affected property value and occupation in the area. They maintain that, despite the huge taxes generated from the area, in return, investment in infrastructure is negligible.

“By the time you take away the main arterial roads - Awolowo Road, Bourdillon, Adetokunbo Ademola - there is nothing you can trace as active acknowledgement and contribution of government of upgrading this environment where the majority of her tax income spinners work and live. Eighty percent of the banks have their headquarters here, yet they benefit next to nothing as against the volume of what they contribute. Land use charge alone, the bulk of it actually emanate from this axis, yet the bulk of the roads are still what they were prior to the introduction of this land use charges,” Adediji said.

Stakeholders maintained that the conversion of VI from a residential area to commercial has nothing to do with the unoccupied buildings that now adorn the area. However, they put the blame at the government doors for refusing to plan ahead.

“As you witness changes, you have to re-examine your plans to conform.

For instance, it is the inability of Nigerians to create highly-designated

and controlled commercial preccints that make people to convert their residential places to commercial use. On Victoria Island, there is a CBD, but it is just about one square kilometre; they never envisaged the volume of growth in business around the area,” Richard Ibilola, an architect said.

Many stakeholders are of the view that the development in Lekki is part of VI problem. As adjacent neighbourhoods grow, the primary source of meeting their demand would be from the existing neighbourhood.

The situation has forced occupiers of VI. according to Oyedele, to relocate to Lekki, where we have, for the first time, the concept of gated communities, which is absent on VI. “So, why would you have to pay $70, 000 for an apartment on VI when, for one-third of the amount, one can get a better apartment in Lekki with better facility and ambience?” Adediji asked.

A past National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV), and newly elected Chairman of the Lagos State Branch, Mr Sam Ukpong, said the glut is an interplay of demand and supply.

He said many houses have been supplied to the market without effective demand. He explained that when the Federal Government sold its properties in Ikoyi, some years ago, most of the buildings had large expanses of land with single occupants, which its new buyers con-

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

verted to storey buildings for multiple prospective tenants.

He said the demand for the properties is not as high as supply – thus, leading to a glut. Besides, he further said, the disposable income of people and even companies have shrunk to unimaginable levels.The developers of these houses, most times, lack construction knowledge or trends in housing development and build what will not easily be taken up by tenants.

Ukpong also blamed the development on the concept of building a functional house. For instance, he said that some developers build wrongly, by either not having a kitchen or sitting room big enough for tenants’ need. So, people inspect such buildings but they are not usually satisfied with them.

A former Chairman, NIESV, Lagos branch, Mr. Shola Fatoki, said the property glut is a mirror of the downturn in the economy.

This, he said, could be seen in the movement of some residents from the upscale areas to places, such as Gbagada and Ilupeju, while the former residents of those middle class abode have since relocated to Ogba, Agege and Mowe/Ibafo in Ogun State.

A developer, Mr Kayode Oyedele, confirmed the high vacancy rate in the VI area. He said it was more visible on VI and Lekki, where a great percentage of houses carry the “to– let”banners and boards. He said some properties are over-priced by their owners – making it impossible for them to be sold or let out quickly. He said it was more worrisome where

‘But with a huge housing deficit, can the nation afford to have buildings unoccupied? What can be done to arrest the situation?’

houses which do not have competitive facilities or services are prized so high. He, therefore, urged developers to be realistic and also work in tandem with current economic realities to beat the property glut.

Within the Victoria Island/Ikoyi axis, there are commercial spaces whose rents go as high as $1,100 per square metre yearly and residential apartments whose yearly rents are above $130,000. Examples are the Maersk Building and the Ocean Parade apartments for commercial and residential tenants.

But with a huge housing deficit, can the nation afford to have buildings unoccupied? What can be done to arrest the situation?

A real estate lawyer, Rotimi Jaiyesimi, said as obtains in developed economies, property speculation and arbitrariness is discouraged through special levies on vacant properties. Known as “The fee structure”, it is a motivation for property owners to realistically pursue the sale of the building or find a productive use for it by possibly dropping the price at which it can be rented or sold.

“In developed societies, there are laws that force owners of buildings vacant for over 90 days to register them, and fees are imposed after the first year, at $500 a year, and increased to $5,000 a year after 10 years,” Jaiyesimi said.

This, he said, will discourage property owners from keeping their buildings in the city vacant and unproductive.

Stakeholders canvass that a timely intervention to reverse this trend is needed, especially given that vacant buildings are potential public safety and fire hazards. Besides, people who may be involved in criminal activities also occupy such properties.

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 22-07-15

Flour Mills declares N5.5b dividends

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HE board of directors of Flour Mills of Nige ria Plc has recommended distribution of N5.51 billion, about 65.13 per cent of the company’s net profit, as cash dividends to shareholders for the immediate past year ended March 31, 2015.

In a dividend recommendation released yesterday, directors of the flour-milling company said shareholders would receive a dividend per share of N2.10 after proceeds from disposal of assets and tax gains helped the bottomline to a positive close.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of Flour Mills for the year ended March 31, 2015 showed visible decline in the operational performance of the company but tax earnings boosted the net profit for the year.

Total sales dropped to N308.76 billion in 2015 as against N325.79 billion in 2014. Gross profit also declined from N37.30 billion in 2014 to N35.37 billion in 2015.

Operating profit slumped to N10.22 billion in 2015 compared with N19.38 billion in 2014. With decline in investment income from N5.03 billion to N2.3 billion and in-

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

crease in interest expense from N16.10 billion to N18.70 billion, Flour Mills was primed for a loss during the year.

However, the company’s bottom-line was mitigated by a N14.29 billion gain from disposal of investment from an associate company and a N738.3 million tax income gain. Profit before tax still closed lower at N7.72 billion in 2015 as against N8.23 billion in 2014. With the tax gain, profit after tax rose from N5.37 billion to N8.46 billion.

Earnings per share thus stood at N3.47 in 2015 as against N1.93 in 2014.

In 2014, Flour Mills had distributed N5.01 billion as cash dividends on the basis of N2.10 per each ordinary share. Also, a total of 238.6 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each were also distributed to shareholders through a bonus of one for 10 shares.

Flour Mills last week received shareholders’ nod for a N40 billion rights issue, which the company plans to use to bolster its working capital and restructure its leveraged balance sheet in order to avoid long drain of fi-

nancial mismatch.

Shareholders of Flour Mills, Nigeria’s most capitalised and largest flour-milling company, also last week approved increase in the authorised share capital of the company. Shareholders approved increase in authorized share capital of the company from N2 billion to N2.5 billion through the creation of additional 1.0 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each. Besides approving the N40 billion rights issue, the meeting also granted a waiver to the board that in the event of under-subscription, the board can allocate unsubscribed rights’ shares to interested investors.

The meeting generally mandated the board of directors to use net proceeds of the rights issue to meet the funding requirements of the company.

Chairman, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Mr. John Coumantaros, said the company would use the net proceeds to also cushion the adverse effect of the sudden slump in global crude oil prices, which has resulted in major devaluation of the naira and caused increases in import costs and financial charges.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 22-07-15

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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MONEYLINK

Crude price rises by 12 per cent in Q2, says World Bank

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HE World Bank is nudging up its 2015 forecast for crude oil prices from $53 in April to $57 per barrel after oil prices rose 17 per cent in the AprilJune quarter, according to the Bank’s latest Commodity Markets Outlook, a quarterly update on the state of the international commodity markets.

The Bank said energy prices rose 12 per cent in the quarter, with the surge in oil offset by declines in natural gas (down 13 percent) and coal prices (down four percent). However, the Bank said it expects energy prices to average 39 per cent below 2014 levels.

It said natural gas prices are projected to decline across all three main markets—U.S., Europe, and Asia—and coal prices to fall 17 per cent.

Excluding energy, the

By Simeon Ebulu

World Bank reported a two per cent decline in prices for the quarter, and forecasts that non-energy prices will average 12 percent below 2014 levels this year.

“Demand for crude oil was higher than expected in the second quarter. Despite the marginal increase in the price forecast for 2015, large inventories and rising output from OPEC members suggest prices will likely remain weak in the medium-term,” said John Baffes, Senior Economist and lead author of Commodity Markets Outlook.

Iran’s new nuclear agreement with the US and other leading governments, if ratified, will ease sanctions, including restrictions on oil exports from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Downside risks to the forecast include higherthan-expected non-OPEC production (supported by falling production costs) and continuing gains in OPEC output.

The bank said possible upside pressures may come from closure of highcost operations—the number of operational oil rigs in the US is down 60 percent since its November high, for example—and geopolitical tensions.

In a special feature assessing the roles played by China and India in global commodity consumption, the Outlook finds that demand from China and, to a lesser extent, India, over the last two decades significantly raised global demand for metals and energy—especially coal—but less so for food commodities.

Wema Bank records N20.87b gross earnings

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EMA Bank’s unau dited financial re sults for the period ended June 30, 2015, showed that it recorded gross earnings of N20.87 billion, up from N20.82 billion in first quarter of last year.

Its Net Interest Income stood at N9.06 billion, down from N9.71 billion in first quarter of last year while Profit Before Tax dropped to N1.17 billion, from N1.70 billion in the first half of 2014.

The bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Segun Oloketuyi, said: “Given the tough operating environment in the first half of 2015 attributable to economic headwinds, regulatory restrictions and political uncertainty, the bank has been able to sustain its financial performance, albeit, on a lower level compared to the same period in 2014”.

He said the first quarter of the year was characterized by election-related activities and political maneuverings with limited emphasis on economic matters, while the second quarter was largely characterized by the contin-

By Collins Nweze

ued pressure on the currency, the tight monetary policy conditions and the low level supply of petroleum products. All these issues affected consumer discretionary spending and indeed the growth in our Retail volumes.

He said the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) harmonisation has reduced liquidity with significant impact on margins from money market investments. “We are confident that as the new administration settles into office, its policy thrust will become clearer, hence, enabling us to continue to make well informed lending decisions mitigate risk exposures and further expand our customer base.”

The bank’s Chief Finance Officer, Tunde Mabawonku, said: “Operationally, the bank has continued to efficiently deploy its assets. Our loans to deposits ratio has moderated to 57.1 per cent, compared to 57.6 per cent as at December 2014, through a cautious approach to our

•Oloketuyi

lending, pending policy clarity from the new administration.

The liquidity squeeze and tight monetary policy conditions affected our yields from money market investments.

Technically, banks can only lend 39 per cent of available resources, as CRR is 31 per cent and liquidity remains 30 per cent. We therefore used the first few months of the financial year to streamline our mix of deposits and funding sources. This has resulted in slightly smaller deposit liabilities volumes but a better cost of funds.

Afrinvest boosts clients’ investments with AfriTrack

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FRINVEST Securities Limited (ASL) has launched AfriTrack, a unique service designed to unlock the value of outstanding and unclaimed entitlements of investments in Nigerian quoted securities, equities and bonds.

Targeted at High Networth Individuals (HNIs) and corporates, cooperative societies, estate account clients and busy executives, AfriTrack is a combination of ancillary services bundled into a single service, for ease and convenience.

“It involves reconciliation of client’s shareholding and investments; recovery of all outstanding certificates, bo-

nuses and dividend warrants; recovery of return moneys on unallotted public offer shares; dematerialization of recovered share certificates; revalidation of expired dividend warrants; and consolidation of multiple shareholding accounts and CSCS accounts in multiple houses,” said Charles Egbunonwo, Managing Director of ASL. On how to avail AfriTrack services, Egbunonwo said, “simply open a brokerage account with Afrinvest Securities Limited, fill out the AfriTrack application form, supply basic information on your investment portfolio and provide us with a mandate or authorization letter. We would then leverage on

our cordial relationship with various company registrars to promptly reconcile actual shareholding against benefits and entitlements received.”

“AfriTrack services would normally be concluded within a period of one to three months depending on the complexity of the portfolio and peculiar circumstances”, Egbunonwo noted.

Afrinvest Securities Limited is a broker dealer and dealing member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. It is a fully-owned subsidiary of Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited, a wealth advisory firm involved in investment banking, securities trading, asset management and investment research with a focus on West Africa.

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HE Tony Elumelu Foun dation has reiterated its commitment to private sector economic growth and giving the operators a leading role in Africa’s development.

Africapitalism, the economic philosophy first developed by Tony O. Elumelu, back in 2010, and has been heavily influenced by his long career as a banker, investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

The Africapitalism Institute and Durham University Business School, co-hosted a daylong academic symposium on the economic philosophy called “Africapitalism” at the Foundation’s headquarters in Lagos.

The primary goals of Mr. Elumelu’s Africapitalism mission are to promote public policies that facilitate private sector growth, to educate established businesses about how Africapitalist business practices can enhance both

Tony Elumelu Foundation backs private sector economic growth profits and prosperity, and to address the specific needs of Africa’s emerging entrepreneurs as the best source of new and inclusive local value creation.

“The purpose of today’s discussion is to explore the key issues influencing Africapitalism as an economic philosophy from the perspective and scrutiny of academia,” said David Rice, Director of the Africapitalism Institute at the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

“Years ago, Mr. Elumelu developed this philosophy from the perspective of a practitioner and his role as a banker, businessman, investor, and entrepreneur. Now his Foundation is supporting the rigorous, independent analysis of Africapitalism’s merits.”

Several distinguished fac-

ulty members from Durham University made presentations to a diverse audience that included scholars, students, business people and investors.

Participating faculty members included Professor Geoff Moore, Chair of Business Ethics and Deputy Dean; Professor Mehmet Asutay, an expert in Islamic Finance; senior lecturer Dr. Emmanuel Adegbite, who spoke about Africapitalism and corporate governance; and Mark Learnmonth, Professor of Organizational Studies. The day’s agenda was driven by Dr. Adegbite, who is a member of the Africapitalism Research Project team led by Professor Kenneth Amaeshi, who has appointments at Edinburgh University in Scotland and at Lagos Business School.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

I still love my wife, says Emeka Ike •’I’m no longer interested in him’

By Basirat Braimah

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•File photo of the collpased building

Synagogue: Engineers urge court to quash coroner’s report T WO engineers have gone to court to quash the coroner’s report which ‘indicted them

for the September 12, 2014 collapse of the Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN) guest house in Ikotun, Lagos.

The plaintiffs, Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun, filed two suits numbered FHC/L/CS/1095/ 15 and FHC/L/CS/1096/15 against Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice and the coroner, Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe.

Yesterday, the plaintiffs’ counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, told Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos that he filed ex-parte applications seeking to restrain the police from inviting his clients for questioning in order to prosecute them.

The plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that “the findings and recommendations of the 4th respondent (Komolafe) as contained in his verdict dated 8th July, 2015 as they relate to the applicants’ indictment for prosecution for criminal negligence and recommendation for prosecution for criminal negligence by the 1st to 3rd respondents are invalid, null and void and of no effect, whatsoever.”

They are also urging the court to declare that the police lacked the power to act on the coroner’s verdict to prosecute them.

Among others, they want the court to perpertually restrain the Attorney-General or any officer under his authority from initiating criminal proceedings against them on the basis of the coroner’s report.

Ojo urged the court to protect his clients, claiming that the police had been after them since the verdict was delivered.

He said their constitutional rights to dignity and personal lib-

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O case has been heard in Court 1 of the Ikorodu Division of the Lagos State High Court since Friday last week.

Reason: Justice Olayinka Gbajabiamila was attacked after work last Thursday evening by two assailants. They took away his briefcase containing court documents.

Sources told The Nation that Justice Gbajabiamila had closed for the day when the incident occurred.

He was said to have been attacked as he parked his Sport Utility Vehicle

Lawyers hail Ambode

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AWYERS have hailed Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his decision to implement the Coroner’s report on the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) building collapse.

They urged him to back his statement with action in order to deter those who flout the laws.

Constitutional lawyer Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) believes the church and its contractors flouted the law by not getting approval for the building.

“The statement from the Lagos State Government is commendable. This is because the whole tragedy not only involves human lives; it also involves the lives of non-Nigerians creating what I will call a diplomatic incidence between Nigeria and South Africa.

“It is a major tragic development and it has become clear from the findings of the coroner that the building was not professionally constructed and they did not receive the imprimatur of the Ministry of Physical Planning before constructing it.

“The engineers who took part in the exercise ought to have demanded approval before commencing construction based on the plan given to them. It is a criminal offence and they should be punished and investigated.

“Also, the church authority, who actually engaged them to do the work without first obtaining physical plan permit should also be prosecuted for breaching the physical planning laws of Lagos State,” Sagay said.

A former Ikeja Branch chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Monday Ubani said it was heartwarming when a government official promises

By Joseph Jibueze erty enshrined in Sections 34 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution were being violated as they can no longer move about freely.

The lawyer said the police went to Ogundeji’s home, but when they could not find him, they arrested his brother-in-law.

Ojo said the police were also at Fatiregun’s office in Ikeja on July 16 to arrest, adding that he voluntarily reported at the police station

to execute a court judgment.

“Nigerians will be happy to see government follow up on their vow and promise to do the right thing. If the coroner has made a recommendation and the government has vowed to implement it, that is a healthy development because most times, judgement of the court are usually not being followed up by government officials.

“Let us begin to follow our law. And the change we have voted for, let it now start from every angle. Those who have been implicated by the coroner should be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” Ubani said.

Activist-lawyer Jiti Ogunye believes Ambode deserves praise for insisting on diligent prosecution of those who handled the failed project.

“We do not expect anything less. After the incident, especially during the coroner inquest, we said that the Synagogue church of All Nations didn’t exhibit the expected response.

“We are saying this not because we are jumpy about condemning a place of worship but because of the monumental disaster, one incident in which 116 persons perished.

“We certainly did not expect the church to be instigating laughable protests, people carrying placards, insinuating or suggesting that the coroner was partial and exhibiting a conduct that shows that they are not sorry about the accident.

“Now that the coroner has recommended that the civil engineers who handled the construction and the church to be prosecuted for criminal negligence and refusal to obtain building permit, I believe the Lagos State Government is right in insisting that there should be diligent prosecution,” he said.

and was asked to write a statement on the role of his company, Hardrock Engineering Construction Limited, in the building collapse.

According to the lawyer, the move to arrest the engineers on July 16 came a day after they filed fundamental rights enforcement action against the respondents on July 15 challenging the coroner’s verdict.

Ojo argued that arresting them in the face of the pending suits

would not be just because they raised serious issues for the court to determine.

Judge Idrus directed parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the applicants’ motions on notice.

No fewer than 116 persons, including 85 South Africans, 22 Nigerians, two Beninoise, one Togolese and six unidentified persons died in the building collapse.

Justice Idris adjourned the case till August 3.

Hoodlums snatch judge’s briefcase (SUV) at the venue of an event.

“They attacked him just as he got out of the car and was closing the door,” the source told The Nation.”They must have been hanging around.”

The source continued: “They were two armed men. They threatened him and took his briefcase from the car. It contained several things including files and other court documents. I don’t know if they took other things as well.”

On the whereabouts of the judge’s orderly at the time of the attack, the source said: “Not all judges have personal orderlies that accompany them everywhere.”

The judge was not “physically injured” but he was shaken by the experience, the source added.

The Nation learnt further that since Friday and Monday were public holidays, all his cases since Tuesday were rescheduled by officials at Court 1of his court.

The cause list for Tuesday showed that there were nine matters before the court: two for judgment, two for ruling, and three for mention. Two were for argument. The court does not sit on Wednesdays.

It was not known whether the attack was connected to a judgment the honourable justice he was scheduled to give The judge may come today to make his quarterly returns even though the courts are on vacation.

CE Actor Emeka Ike yesterday prayed the Lagos Island Customary Court not to dissolve his marriage, saying he still loves his wife, Emma.

Emma had gone to court, seeking dissolution of their 12-yearold marriage.

Abdul’Hakeem Labi-Lawal, who represented Emeka, said his client had not appeared in court because he was ill.

“My client is ill but I will try my best possible he comes on the next adjourned date. We indulge the court to give us six months from this day to see if there is possibility of settlement between the couple,” he said.

But Mrs Ike said six months was too long, adding that the respondent had two years to reconcile with her but he didn’t.

She said: “The last time I wanted to speak with our children, it was my mother-in-law who picked the call and she asked if I had read Exodus 21, which says that if I go, I shouldn’t return.”

The court’s President, Chief Awos Awosola, said the court could only grant two weeks.

He said: “I am expecting Emeka Ike in this court if he really wants settlement.”

Awosola adjourned the matter till August 12 for further hearing.

After the court rose, Mrs Ike told The Nation that she wasn’t ready to return to her husband.

“Over two years since I left the house, he never taught of reconciliation. He had every opportunity to ask me to return but he didn’t. So why now?”she asked.

Mrs Ike said her husband took her last two children from her when she was going for her mother’s burial in February.

“He promised to bring them to me immediately I returned from my mother’s burial but he didn’t.

Even when he didn’t allow me access to see our children, I spoke with them on several occasions but now, he doesn’t allow me anymore. My children are now against me, she said.

Mrs Ike said she left her matrimonial home because she could no longer bear being tortured anymore.

“If I was still with him, I may not survive. I was 19 years when I met him and he was the one who deflowered me. I see no reason I shouldn’t be treated with utmost respect.

“Due to physical torture, my health has been affected. There was even a time I thought I had breast cancer because I felt a lump on one part of my breast.”

Mrs Ike said.

She said things became worse last Sunday when she called her husband to speak with their children.

In tears, Mrs Ike said:”I almost went mad when my first son told me on phone that if I truly loved them, I wouldn’t have abandoned them. Even my seven-year-old son, whose day wouldn’t be complete without seeing me, said he doesn’t love me. I love my children. I miss my children. I never abandoned them. I am in pain. They don’t have any other mother. I really need my children. I am a good woman; I endured so many things as his wife.”

The union produced four children between ages 4 and 13.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

57

CITYBEATS P

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Applicants protest JAMB’s cut off marks at UNILAG

ROSPECTIVE University of Lagos (UNILAG) students protested yesterday during their screening for admission for 2015/2016 session.

UNILAG’s Registrar Dr Taiwo Ipaye said only 9,000 of the 32,000 applicants were eligible for screening.

Ipaye said the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) considered a lot of options at its 2015 Combined Policy Meeting held on July 4, as a way out for the candidates.

“JAMB had during that meeting adopted a policy whereby candidates of universities with surplus applicants for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are reassigned to other universities with lower number of candidates, than their capacities.

“This will be beneficial to needy universities; as this will ensure that they will have more candidates to admit.

“This policy has been implemented with immediate effect and consequently, the eligibility for post- UTME screening in the University of Lagos like other universities in country, has been determined by JAMB. “In effect, only candidates, whose names were forwarded to the University of Lagos by JAMB, are eligible for the 2015/2016 post-UTME,’’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of parents, who

brought their children for the exercise, expressed disappointments over the applicants’ exclusion from the JAMB’s list of shortlisted candidates.

A parent, Dr Ben Emone, told NAN that his son made UNILAG his first choice, and scored 260 marks in the UTME. According to him, it has been the tradition of the university to peg its cut-off mark, at least, at 200 for the post-UTME. Emone criticised the university and JAMB for the sudden change in procedure, saying: “I will not take this whole thing they are trying to explain because my son passed the UTME convincingly. If there was to be any change, we should have been sensitised well ahead of time and not just waking-up one morning to change the rule of the game.All I am saying is that my son must write this post-UTME or nobody will.

Association of Tutorial School Operators (ATSO) National President Mr Oludotun Sodunke blamed the crisis on the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde.

He said Ojerinde was insensitive to parents’ plights, adding that the JAMB registrar was wrong to have introduced such last minute decision after pegging the cut-off mark at 180.

“I think Prof. Ojerinde has some questions to an-

‘

I think Prof.

Ojerinde has some questions to answer on this whole issue. There must be something he is not telling the public. Ojerinde must stop running JAMB as if it is his personal business empire

’

swer on this whole issue.

There must be something he is not telling the public.

Ojerinde must stop running JAMB as if it is his personal business empire.

“How can Ojerinde impose such high and unacceptable cutoff marks for five notable public universities in Nigeria under the guise of catchment, to qualify for post-UTME, and you expect us not to protest.

“The worst case scenario at least ought to have been the normal 200 marks and above, which universities like UNILAG and others were known for.

“If there must be anything new, it should be introduced next year after due consultations with all critical stakeholders, and the public adequately sensitised.

“For now, all we want is for all the candidates to be

allowed to sit for the postUTME or we go to court,’’ he said.

Former Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), UNILAG Chapter, Mr Joseph Adefolalu said JAMB’s action was meant to destabilise the present administration.

JAMB’s spokesman Fabian Benjamin, described the parents’ agitation was uncalled for.

According to him, universities are at liberty to go higher than 180, as cut off marks, based on their peculiarities.

He said, whatever cut-off points they were adopting must be uniformly applied to all candidates.

“I do not see anything wrong with what UNILAG has done.

“This is because a time will come when some universities may have to peg their cut-off points at 300 marks, based on performance.

“Before we send candidates to the universities, we normally ensure that we know their carrying capacities; because we do not want a situation, whereby, they will present more than they can admit.

“There are private universities and other tertiary institutions that also need candidates, so, we try to distribute evenly,’’ he said.

Benjamin said JAMB, in its magnanimity, posted students that scored 200 and above to private universities, to prevent them from staying at home for another year.

Man in court over rights activist’s death

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HE Lagos State Government yesterday arraigned Seun Oladapo in court for the alleged murder of a rights activist and community leader, Kunle Fadipe.

Oladapo was arraigned before Justice Atinuke Ipaye of the Ikeja High Court in Lagos.

He is standing trial on a five-count charge bordering on murder, robbery and assault occasioning harm.

Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mrs Idowu Alakija

By Adebisi Onanuga

said the offence contravened Sections 221, 295 (2)(a) and 171 of the Criminal Law. The charge reads: “That you Oluwaseun Oladapo on the 4th day of July 2014 at about 0300hr at 1, Harmony Estate, Ifako-Ijaiye, Iju Lagos in the Ikeja Judicial Division whilst armed with an offensive weapon to wit a knife did rob one Kunle Fadipe of a large sum of money and murdered him by stabbing him severally on numerous parts of the body”.

The defendant was also charged with the murder of one Cecilia Owolabi; the assault of one Abiola Owolabi and Folahanmi Fadipe.

He pleaded not guilty.

The defence counsel, Worer Obuagbaka, informed the court that he got the file not too long ago and pleaded with the court to allow him to go through it. ”The proof of evidence was served on me this morning less than an hour ago. My perusal of the proof of evidence showed that there was an autopsy report

attached. This is a serious offence and the defendant needs adequate time to prepare for the trial.”

Mrs Alakija said the prosecution was prepared to go on with the case adding that two of its witnesses were in court.

Ruling, Justice Ipaye said the defence should be given ample time to prepare for the trial.

She adjourned the case till August 17 and 18.

Fadipe was stabbed to death on July 4 last year.

Moneychanger charged with fraud

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HE police yesterday arraigned a 41year-old Bureau De Change operator, Ibrahim Kabiru, at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged fraud.

The prosecutor, Raymond Odion, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the accused, on January 14, with an accomplice who is at large, obtained N900, 000 from one of his business associates, Kabiru Yakubu, under pretext of giving him the dollar equivalent.

The prosecutor alleged that under investigation, it was discovered that the accused fraudulently obtained $33, 000 (N6.5million) from an unsuspecting victim

By Joseph Jibueze

through the internet.

The three-count charge of conspiracy and fraud contravenes Sections 1 (3) and 7 (2) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Oher Related Offences Act, Laws of the Federation 2006.

Justice Mohammed Idris ordered that Kabiru, who pleaded not guilty, be remanded in prison custody pending the hearing of his bail application The defence lawyer, Mr Chuma Mepe-Olisa, sought an adjournment to enable him prepare the bail application.

Justice Idris adjourned to October 12.

Police arrest 22 in Bariga raid

T

HE police arrested 22 persons and recovered some dangerous weapons from them during a raid of a dark spot in Somolu, Bariga, Lagos.

The raid followed complaints by residents that the Bollar area of Oke-Alo in Gbagada “is a notorious spot for robbery, rape and bandits hide-out” Six of the suspects have been arraigned before a Yaba Magistrates court in Lagos. The police alleged in charge A/ 27/2015 that Solomon David Okon and five others conspired with others at large to steal N65, 000 from a woman and also assaulted her.

The defendants were said to have unlawfully assembled to carry out criminal activities, offences punishable with terms of imprisonment under contrary to Sections 409 of Lagos State Criminal Law. The traditional ruler of Gbagada, Oba Gbolahan Timson and residents commended the police for flushing out the suspected criminals and for bringing sanity and security back to the area.

He confirmed that the bollar dumping site had been taken over by “Armed Robbers, cultists and rapists’’ and named some of the alleged criminals are souk, Babsilgonia, Hammed of Idi-aba and among others.

He called on police to intensity their raid on the dump site and other notorious dark spots in the area.

Juvenile home rejects boy 17-year-old theft suspect, was returned to the Ikorodu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos following his rejection at the Special Correctional Centre for Boys in Oregun. The Centre’s officials, it was learnt, felt he was older than his age.

The suspect, who was arraigned on Tuesday with three other juveniles on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony and stealing, was ordered remanded at the centre by

A

•Sacked China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) workers protesting at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja...yesterday.

PHOTO: KINGSLEY DIKO

By Robert Egbe

Mrs. A.B. OlagbegiAdelabu. The other boys were admitted to the Centre, formerly known as the ‘Boys Remand Home’.

The magistrate had earlier on Tuesday granted them bail provided they were able to provide two responsible sureties, one of whom must be a blood relative, with proof of identification.

“They said I was not 17,” the suspect, who had tattoos on his forehead, cheeks and arms, told The Nation yesterday.

His counsel, O.M. Folami said efforts were underway to contact the suspect’s mother for his birth certificate. “He is now in police custody, but we’re optimistic that by tomorrow or Friday, his bail conditions will be met,” she added.

The suspect and the other street kids were arrested on June 15, while sleeping at “a place near some Mallams”on Sagamu Road, by police officers from men of the Sagamu Road Police Station in Ikorodu.

They were caught with N3000, a Nokia 110 phone with an Etisalat line valued at N5,000, belonging to the complainant, Yusuf Kazeem.

They pleaded not guilty.

The offences contravened Sections 409 and 278(b) of the Criminal Law.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

58

NEWS

Alleged debts: Ex-Governor Shema accuses Masari of falsehood, character assassination

I

MMEDIATE past Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema has described as deliberate falsehood, allegations of misappropriation of funds and huge debt profile levelled against his administration by Governor Aminu Masari.

Shema, in a 13-page petition addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari written on his behalf by the law firm of Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), decried what it called the unexpected campaign of calumny waged against him

by Masari.

Titled: “Deliberate blackmail, denigration, vilification and persecution of Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema, the immediate past Governor of Katsina State by the Governor Aminu Bello Masari-led administration appeal for caution,” the petition described the allegations as untrue and unconscionable attempt to sully the locally and globally applauded developmental strides of Shema’s tenure as well as dent his image.

The letter, according to the law firm has become necessary, giving that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have started hounding the former governor’s appointees, without any charge or accusation, and without information on who their accusers were.

Urging Buhari to call the Masari-led administration to order, it said that heavy propaganda was being mounted against Shema by the present administration through the state owned media, portraying him and his government as treacherous.

On the alleged N42 billion debt incurred by his administration, Shema said no loan, whether internal or external, private or public, local or foreign, was applied for, collected, received or in any way obtained for Katsina state.

He denied owing local government workers N6.2billion gratuity, adding that the local governments were incharge of payment of salaries and gratuities of their workers.

The petition reads: “In appreciation of and respect for the constitutionally created tiers of government, local governments were in charge of

• Writes Buhari to caution Katsina Governor

By Precious Igbonwelundu

payment of salaries and gratuities to their workers. Hence, the alleged N6.2billion gratuity, which is obviously fabricated, cannot in any way or under any guise be tagged or branded ‘a state debt’. It is also untrue that a sum of N3.1billion or any other sum was owed in gratuities to retired civil servants/workers as at the end of the tenure of our client.

“Particularly, in response to the contrived allegation on the foreign debt portfolio of $78million USD, our client categorically posits that this figure represents an accumulation of facilities taken and facilitated by previous administrations in the state, starting from the military era; and not a single dollar of it was incurred, borrowed or obtained by the administration led by our client...some predate the inception of Katsina State in 1985, and others dating as far back to 1965-about two decades before the creation of Katsina State.

“It is therefore, mind-boggling and preposterous that the Masari administration would make such unfounded allegations, despite the well documented report and details furnished it upon inauguration.

“For the avoidance of doubt and at the risk of repetition, be it noted that not one cent of the said loan was incurred during our client’s tenure as Governor.

“What is more? The Federal Government, right from time, makes the necessary deductions from the monthly statutory allocations due to Katsina State, in order to settle this foreign debt portfolio.

“These monthly deductions, at some point, were as much as N72 million every month. As a result, the Ibrahim Shema ledadministration appointed an external auditor to audit all the payments made and the actual state of the alleged debt.

“The external consultant, in its preliminary report, stated that not only had the debt been completely defrayed, the state had probably overpaid and was entitled to some refund.

“In his handover note, our client further advised the

Madam Odukomaiya passes on

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HE death has occurred of Mrs. Rachel Aduke Odukomaiya (nee Oguntoye), wife of Prince Harry O. Odukomaiya, founding Managing Director & Editorin-Chief of the now defunct Concord Group of Newspapers and Managing Director of Champion Group of Newspapers. She was 73.

A business woman, the deceased was a reporter with the defunct Daily Express. Three years later, she gained admission into the University of Lagos and bagged a Diploma in Journalism.

She was appointed in 1970 as an Information Officer with the Federal Ministry of Information. Two years later, she became the Lagos City Editor of the Nigerian Herald but later quit and went into personal

•The late Mrs. Odukomaiya business.

Mrs. Odukomaiya is survived by four children and 13 grand children.

She will be buried in Lagos after a funeral service at the Yaba Baptist Church, 19/23 Commercial Avenue, by Raymond Street, Sabo, Yaba, on Friday, August 14, 2015 by 10am. This will be preceded by a wake and a recital of reminiscences at the Vining Hall of the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Oba Akinjobi Road, Ikeja GRA, at 4pm on Thursday, August 13, 2015.

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

present administration to conduct a more comprehensive evaluation into the repayment of the loan and pursue a refund of the probable excess payment.

“All the above were intentionally left out of the report of the transition committee.

Our client challenges the Masari administr?ation to make public, any foreign loan taken by his administration, as well as the date, the creditor (foreign bank), amount, and the purpose for which the purported loan was obtained.

“Our moneys disbursed by or through the Ministry of Finance throughout our client’s administration were carefully documented and the said documents were supplied to the present administration.

“It is therefore, strange and mischievous to say the least, that the transition committee alleged that a sum of N13billion is unaccounted for by/at the Ministry of Finance, without supporting the said accusation documentarily, factually and without founding same on any logical or analytical ground.

“This mischievous allegation totters the imagination and begs the following questions, to wit, how would the sum of N13 billion ‘disappear’ from a ministry in Katsina State when the same government admits that the amount left in the coffers of the state by the Ibrahim Shema led administration is in excess of N4 billion as at May? “How would anyone allege that such an amount is unaccounted for when it is on record that Katsina State was|is the only state in Nigeria that fully paid the salaries of civil servants and did not owe any arrears in salaries as at May 29?

“We invite Mr. President to note that this outstanding performer and very prudent administrator (our client), settled May, 2015 salaries before leaving office. How could such an amount of money be said to be ‘misappropriated’, when the Ibrahim Shema-led administration constructed a 35 thousand capacity stadium?

“Barring any ominous underpinning, a cursory look at the books of the Ministry and all rhe documents revealed that

there were no misappropriated funds and all funds were disbursed by the Ministry of Finance, and more, were used for the enviable projects executed by the state during our client’s tenure,” the letter stated.

It confirmed the transfer of N7 billion to ALGON account, noting that it was done in compliance with the allocation procedures of the state.

“The said sum is designated for the payment of salaries of members of the staff of 34 Local Government Areas of Katsina State, and applied in respect of the joint projects by the local government areas (LGAs).

“While the LGAs exercised immense autonomy in the use of this fund, our client ensured that same was dispensed and/ or used and applied shrewdly and prudently.

“Again, it is untrue that the SUBEB fund was misappropriated. Using the mildest of terms, this allegation is nauseating. All funds which have been allocated to Katsina State SUBEB have been appropriately and judiciously appropriated.

“At this point, it is important to mention that throughout our

•Shema

client’s eight-year tenure, he set up a free education programme for the entire Katsina State.

“Little wonder, the state was annually adjudged as the best performer by the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB)...

‘As regards the heinous allegations of N7,100,000,000 SURE-P fund, our client states that this is totally false and baseless. The disbursement of the SURE-P fund in Katsina is budgetarily provided for, and duly expended in strict compliance with the provisions of the state’s Appropriation Law. “All expenditures were duly tabled at the floor of the State House of Assembly and duly approved. The import of this is that the disbursements, allocations, and/or usage of the said funds are well documented.

•Headmistress, Madonna International Nursery and Primary School, Gwagwalada, Rev. Sis. Felicia Anukanti (middle), with pupils graduating from Nursery 3 to Primary 1 in Gwagwalada, Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Tribunal dismisses Ihedioha’s petition

T

HE Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital yesterday, dismissed the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha, challenging Governor Rochas Okorocha’s victory.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice David Wyom, dismissed the petition on the grounds that the petitioner failed to comply with the rules guiding the proceedings.

He ruled that the petitioner failed to pay for the pre-hearing notice within the seven days stipulated in paragraph 18

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

(1) of the rule guiding election petition proceedings.

Justice Wyom noted that the petitioner applied on June 23 but failed to pay for the prehearing notice until June 3.

“Based on the strength of the Supreme Court authority on this issue, the validity of the process starts from when the pre-hearing notice payment was made and not when it was applied, this in turn means the petitioner paid out of time but applied within time,” Wyom said.

Counsel to Okorocha, Ad-

eniyi Akintola (SAN), earlier moved a motion for the tribunal to dismiss the petition on the grounds that the petitioner abandoned the petition, having paid out of the stipulated time.

Addressing reporters after the judgement, Akintola said he saw the loophole in the petition and cashed on it. He said the judgement would enrich judicial jurisprudence in the country.

Counsel to Ihedioha, Mike Ahamba (SAN) said he was embarrassed by the ruling. He argued that, “the word ‘abandonment’ had lost its meaning if a petition that had gone

through pre-hearing can be described as abandoned”.

Ahamba insisted that the tribunal had overruled the Supreme Court order on the issue. He said his client would appeal the judgement at the Appeal Court.

Reacting, Governor Okorocha described the verdict as victory for the people, irrespective of their political affiliations.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said: “By Okaying my victory at the April 11 election, the tribunal has affirmed the renewed mandate the people gave me”.

Police burst baby factory, arrest robbery suspect in Abia

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HE police in Abia State have clamped down a baby factory, Nma Charity/Maternity Rehabilitation Centre.

The police were said to have acted on a tip off and rescued 14 inmates of the illegal home at Umukpeyi in Isiala Ngwa South.

Police spokesman Ezekiel Onyeke said the ages of the victims ranged between 14 and 25.

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

Onyeke said of the 14, four were suspected to have delivered some days earlier and the babies sold.

He said the police raided the place but could not arrest the owner as she escaped.

“Many of them claimed they were taken there by sympathisers after they were driven from their homes. 12 confirmed to be

pregnant while two said they were there for confirmation,” Onyeke said.

The police also arrested Michael Agbai for attempting to kidnap Mr. Onwuka Chidozie.

It was learnt that Agbai and his group, after a failed attempt to kidnap Chidozie, went away with his Toyota Corolla (KTU 573 BG) and a wallet containing identity cards, N4,600 and his

phones.

They were however involved in an accident some kilometres from where the scene of the incident. One of them escaped before the police arrived.

The police arrested Agbai, recovered the vehicle and a short gun.

Police sources said the suspect is in detention and helping with information to aid investigations.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

59

NEWS Ex-SGF Saleh dead •Saraki, Yuguda mourn From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

T

•Youths protesting at the Plateau House of Assembly over the sack of council chairmen, in Jos...yesterday

Kwara council workers seek stakeholders’ intervention From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

T

HE striking local government workers in Kwara State have urged stakeholders to intervene by appealing to the government to pay their fivemonth salary arrears.

The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) last Thursday embarked on strike over unpaid salaries.

NULGE Secretary, Comrade Abayomi Afolabi, who was a guest on a programme at a private radio station in Ilorin yesterday, said members had suffered, following unpaid salaries.

He said most members had withdrawn their children from schools, as they could not afford school fees, adding that they were indebted to food sellers and landlords.

The President, Kwara State College of Education Multipurpose Cooperative Union, Alhaji Ayinla Jimoh, said the cooperative spent N5million to buy food items for members, to cushion the effect of nonpayment of salary.

10 injured as PDP, APC supporters clash

T

HE suspension of the 17 council chairmen in Plateau State and the refusal of Governor Simon Lalong to reinstate them, yesterday led to a clash between supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and those of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The fracas, which occurred at the House Assembly complex about 11am, left 10 people injured.

Four councillors and six youths were among the victims.

The suspended local government chairmen marched

•Lawmakers flee Assembly From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos,

on the office of the police commissioner on Tuesday.

Yesterday’s clash forced lawmakers to suspend their sitting and flee.

The incident began with a peaceful demonstration by PDP loyalists, as youths carrying placards protested the suspension of the council bosses.

Before the arrival of the PDP supporters, the affected councillors had arrived the Assembly complex to com-

plain to the legislators.

APC youths later mobilised and disrupted the PDP loyalists’ and councillors’ protest.

The PDP supporters carried placards with the inscriptions: “No to council dissolution”.

“Bring back our chairmen and councillors”. “Lawyer Lalong, a lawbreaker”. “Lalong, we no go gree”. “Lalong is another Boko Haram on the Plateau”, etc.

Addressing reporters, a protester, Wangbe Njim, the councillor representing Seri Ward in Kanke Local Govern-

ment, said: “Lalong has no power to dissolve the councils.

The people gave us a mandate as they gave him.

“President Muhammadu Buhari cannot sack governors.

Lalong must obey the law. By the power of the law, we must have our seats and complete our tenure.”

A youth leader, Mr. James Nyam, said: “We are not happy with the situation because the politicians do not consider how it will affect the masses. These people were elected the way the governor was elected. He promised to work with them for the good of the state.

Police recover more explosives in Yobe

T

HE police in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, said they have recovered more explosives in one of the vehicles of the suicide bombers arrested at a checkpoint in Damaturu two days ago.

Police Commissioner Marcus Danladi told reporters at a news briefing that after a thorough search by men of the Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) of the command on the scene of the attack, more explosives and arms were recovered.

He said: “Besides the high calibre military bombs recovered from the body of the female member of the suicide squad, on Tuesday investigators were sent to the scene with police EOD experts to evacuate the carcasses for investigation.

“Upon evaluation by the EOD men, six

Osun Summit suffers setback as convener ‘withdraws’

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PHOTO: NAN

HE former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and elder statesman, Aminu Saleh, is dead. He was 87.

He died at the Federal Medical Centre, Azare in Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State yesterday morning after a brief illness.

A family source, who spoke to The Nation in confidence, said Saleh would be buried on Wednesday (yesterday) evening according to Islamic rites.

He is survived by one wife, 13 children and several grandchildren.

Among his children are Sagir, the former deputy governor of Bauchi State and Kabiru, his eldest son, who is an engineer.

Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki yesterday expressed sadness at the demise of Saleh.

Saraki added that the late Saleh was one public officer, who was very diligent and patriotic in the discharge of his duties to his fatherland.

He commiserated with the government, family and the people of Bauchi State and prayed the Almighty God to grant him eternal rest.

Ex-Governor Isa Yuguda described the death of the SGF as a great loss to the country.

HERE were indications last night that the summit slated for today by a group of opposition politicians in Osun State has run into a hitch.

One of the organisers, Dr. Muyiwa Oladimeji, reportedly dissociated himself from the programme.

Oladimeji, who addressed a news conference on June 17, heralding the summit, may have been discouraged by the condemnations the proposed summit drew and the failure of the conveners to divorce it from politics, sources said in Osogbo, the state capital.

The Osun chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had called on security agencies in the state to look beyond the summit as the real motive,stating that the entire programme could creating confusion.

A source close to the organiser was quoted as saying that Oladimeji, who is a former governroship aspirant in the state, had referred those who sought enquiries from him on the summit as yesterday to direct their inquiries to co- conveners, Messrs Yinka Odumakin and Niyi Owolade saying that “he no longer speaks on the controversial summit.”

The proposed summit attracted wide condemnations when it was associated with the defeated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2014 election Otunba Iyiola Omisore.

Contacted on the matter last night, an Osogbo-based human rights campiagner, Mr. Amitolu Shitu, said those who call themselves Osun stakeholders are just a bunch of renegades who are just bent on creating crisis in Osun.

He said: “These are just allies of Iyiola Omisore camouflaging as summit organisers. We know Odumakin and his recent past.

We know Niyi Owolade aligns with Omisore’ s position that this state must not know peace for one day. So, what summit do they think they want to put up that Osun people won’t say it is intended to just keep the embers of their political battles burning?”

Attempts to speak with Oladimeji were unsuccessful as calls placed to his phone were not going through.

It was learnt that the Police Command in the state invited some arrowheads of the summit for interrogation.

From Duku Joel, Damaturu

units of military mortal bombs and two heavy (50kg) improvised bombs, carefully concealed and primed, were recovered from the carcasses.”

Danladi said two military GPMG; general purpose machine gun; 500 live ammunition of GPMG; two units of Ak 47 assault rifles and two magazines of Ak 47 rifles were recovered from the scene.

The CP said the insurgents had an encounter with the police at Bara in Gulani Local Government.

He condoled with the families of the policemen, who died during the •Some of the recovered explosives and arms during the suicide attack in Damaturu suicide attack.

Eight killed in Jos attacks

E

IGHT persons have been killed in two attacks in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

One person was killed in his home, three were killed in an ambushed attack and four in a beer parlour.

It was learnt that one person was killed and two were injured on Tuesday night when a group of youths alleged to be from the Berom community stormed the home of a politician.

Youths, suspected to be

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos,

Hausa, irked by the attack, allegedly ambushed Berom youths, killing three. Their bodies were said to have been discovered in a well.

Tanko Salisu Nasir, a member of the Tanko family, who survived the attack, told our correspondent on the phone: “We had just finished eating when we heard gunshots. The gunmen killed my 10-year-old brother, Hassan Salisu.”

He said he was hit by a stray bullet and he regained consciousness in a hospital at Mainasara where four bullets were removed from his body.

A community leader in Barkin Ladi, Alhaji Danjuma Abdullahi, said the incident was reported to the sector commander in charge of the area, adding that residents were afraid of reprisals.

Gunmen yesterday attacked a bar at Anguwan Durung in Barkin Ladi Local Government, killing four

people, including Mr. Mark Lukas.

The Coordinator of Stephanious Foundation, Mark Lipdo, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

He said hoodlums stormed the beer parlour in the afternoon, shot sporadically and killed four persons.

Police spokesman Abu Emmanuel only confirmed the attack on the home of Alhaji Auwal Tanko. He said he was not aware of the three bodies found in a well.

Hearing begins in petition against Saraki’s election

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EARING at the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, began yesterday. The election of Senate President Bukola Saraki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is being challenged by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

Saraki represents Kwara Central.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

The petitioner came with a witness, Mallam Oloyin Abdullateef Adebayo, who is his private personal assistant.

The witness, who was led in evidence by the petitioner’s counsel, Mr. John Obumse, was cross-examined by the respondents’ counsel.

Obumse told the tribu-

nal that he had an application dated June 17, which was filed on June 29 and thus sought adjournment, based on three grounds.

He said the date of the printout of the card reader to be collected at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja, meant to be used for the petition, was yet to be obtained.

The lawyer said Mallam

Adebayo was the only witness in court.

He sought adjournment to move the application.

The respondents’ counsel did not object to the motion.

The tribunal Chairman, Justice Joshua Majebi, adjourned the matter till July 31 for the continuation of hearing of the petition and the hearing of the application filed by the petitioner.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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FOREIGN NEWS

Syria conflict: US strike ‘kills Khorasan Group leader’

More rain expected for flood-hit Pakistan

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ORE rain is forecast in north Pakistan after flash floods inundated several villages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.

At least three people have died, Pakistani media reported, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced.

Every year, monsoon rains trigger floods in Pakistan killing scores of people.

Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was among the worst affected, with major damage to buildings.

The provincial information minister, Mushtaq Ghani, told reporters that upper parts of the city were cut off, stranding about 200,00 people, according to Dawn newspaper.

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HE United States says it has killed a senior al-Qaeda militant in an air strike in northwestern Syria.

A Pentagon statement said Muhsin al-Fadhli was targeted two weeks ago while travelling in a vehicle near Sarmada.

It described Fadhli as the leader of a network of veteran al-Qaeda operatives, known as the “Khorasan Group”, who were allegedly plotting external attacks against the US and its allies.

The Kuwaiti was also reported to have been killed in a US strike last year.

Fadhli was a confidant of Osama Bin Laden and one of the few alQaeda members to receive advanced warning of the 11 September 2001 attacks, according to the US. Reward Shortly before the US began air strikes on Islamic State (IS) across Syria in September, cruise missiles

struck two areas near the northern city of Aleppo. The targets were not IS positions, but buildings allegedly used by the Khorasan Group.

US officials said the shadowy organisation was made up of about 50 veteran militants from Afghanistan and Pakistan, which jihadists refer to as Khorasan, as well as North Africa and Chechnya.

They had been sent to Syria by alQaeda’s leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, not to fight the government of President Bashar al-Assad but to “develop external attacks, construct and test improvised explosive devices and recruit Westerners to conduct operations”, the officials claimed.

Fadhli, their alleged leader, was believed to have arrived in Syria in 2013 but kept a low profile.

In 2005, the US treasury department said Fadhli was based in the Gulf and had been providing support to al-Qaeda militants fighting US-led forces in Iraq under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Seven years later, the state department offered a $7m (£4.5m; •6.4m) reward for information that led to the capture or killing of Fadhli, saying he had become the leader of alQaeda’s network in Iran and was responsible for the movement of money and fighters for its operations in the region.

Australian MP Don Randall dies suddenly

Ferguson names black officer interim police chief

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OWER house Liberal MP Don Randall has died in his Western Australian electorate of Canning.

The 62-year-old was found dead in his car on Tuesday, local media reports said.

He is being remembered as a passionate advocate by colleagues, including Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Mr Randall played a key role in unsuccessful moves earlier this year to oust Mr Abbott.

He said at the time his electorate was concerned about the prime minister’s leadership.

Mr Randall is survived by his wife Julie and their two children.

Local media said he passed away as the result of a suspected heart attack.

Cameroon hit by Maroua market suicide bomb

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WO suicide bombers have detonated explosives in Cameroon’s northern city Maroua, killing at least 13 people.

A source close to the local government told AFP news agency the bombers were two young girls.

One of the bombers detonated the explosives at the central market. This is the second attack of its kind in a week.

Cameroon has joined a multinational force battling Islamist group Boko Haram in neighbouring parts of Nigeria.

The burka was banned in Cameroon’s Far North region, which includes Maroua, following two suicide bomb attacks earlier in the month.

Cameroon’s Far North region borders Nigeria’s Borno state, where Boko Haram is most active.

The militants have increasingly been using female suicide bombers as they are often able to smuggle bombs into public places without detection.

No group has said it was behind the attack.

•Pakistan is hit by floods caused by monsoon rains every year

Italian police seize •2bn in ‘Ndrangheta mafia assets

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TALIAN police have seized •2bn (£1.4bn, $2.2bn) of assets that belonged to a powerful mafia group in a series of raids.

The seizures included hundreds of betting shops owned by the ‘Ndrangheta, who experts say are behind most of Europe’s cocaine trade.

Police also issued 41 arrest warrants.

Italy’s Interior Minister, Angelino Alfano, said the raids in the southern Calabria region were “a serious blow to the ‘Ndrangheta”.

Police said they had seized at least 1,500 betting shops, 82 gambling

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expand their activities,” it added.

The ‘Ndrangheta is a network of clans in the “toe” of Italy that dominates the country’s cocaine trade.

It is one of the most powerful mafia organisations in Italy, along with the Sicilian Cosa Nostra and the Neapolitan Camorra.

Last year, while visiting Calabria - the ‘Ndrangheta’s base - Pope Francis criticised the group’s “adoration of evil and contempt of the common good”.

Two weeks ago, police seized more than •1.6bn in assets from five Sicilian siblings suspected of links to the mafia.

India arrests 16 for beheading woman for ‘witchcraft’

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OLICE in India say they have held 16 people in connection with the killing of a woman accused of practising witchcraft.

Purni Orang, 63, was stripped naked and beheaded by villagers in Assam state, after she was blamed for illness in a tribal settlement in Sonitpur district.

Among those arrested were nine

France offers angry farmers emergency aid HE French government has proposed a •600m (£420m; $655m) package of urgent aid for farmers, who have blocked roads for days in protest at falling prices.

Most of the money will help farmers deal with a cash crisis by cancelling or deferring tax payments. But some of the money will help restructure debts.

Farmers said they would assess the plan but several routes remain blocked.

They accuse supermarkets and the food industry of keeping prices low, forcing many of them into bankruptcy.

One farmers’ union leader in

websites, 45 Italian companies and 11 foreign firms, as well as a large number of other properties.

Six of the companies were in Malta, they said. Two were in Spain, two in Romania and one was in Austria.

The gang “recycled an enormous amount of ‘dirty’ money through the use of gaming accounts assigned to willing or unwitting people,” a police statement said.

“They bypassed the laws governing this sector, accumulating significant profits that were then reinvested in the acquisition of new companies and licences to further

FFICIALS in Ferguson, Missouri, have hired an AfricanAmerican police chief nearly a year after racial tensions rocked the town.

Andre Anderson, who most recently worked in Glendale, Arizona, will serve as chief for six months.

Last August, a white police officer killed an unarmed black teenager there, sparking months of protests and unrest.

The mostly white police department’s aggressive response to the protests came under heavy criticism.

Michael Brown’s death was one of a number of contentious cases in the US in which white officers killed unarmed black men.

A grand jury declined to charge the officer in Brown’s death, but a US justice department investigation found widespread alleged racial bias in the police force.

“The city of Ferguson and our police department have endured a tremendous amount of distrust during the past nine months,” Ferguson Mayor James Knowles said in a statement. “We understand it will take time to once again gain the trust of everyone.”

The 50-year-old Mr Anderson said at a news conference on Wednesday that he would need the community’s help in increasing trust between the police force and the people it serves.

He said he is interested in becoming Ferguson’s permanent police chief.

“I am asking the city of Ferguson if we can set a course in the history books that clearly proves that peace prevails,” he said. “There’s a lot of work to be done.”

Normandy called for the blockade around Caen to be suspended. But key road bridges in the region remained closed to traffic on Wednesday evening and elsewhere the government’s intervention appeared to fall on deaf ears.

In the Loire Valley, some 100 protesters lifted their blockade near Chambord castle, but a union official said it was not because they were happy with the government’s offer.

Farmers said they would blockade access to France’s second city, Lyon, from Wednesday evening. More action are expected further south around Clermont-Ferrand today.

women.

Police in Assam say nearly 90 people, mostly women, have been beheaded, burnt alive or stabbed to death after such accusations over the last six years.

Branding women as witches is particularly prevalent among tribal communities and tea plantation workers in the state.

The police said the villagers in

Sonitpur district had killed another woman after branding her a witch some seven years ago.

A group of villagers have protested at the local police station, demanding the release of those arrested.

“Purni was a witch and had cast evil spells on her enemies, there is no place for such sorcerers and so her killing is justified”, Kiran

Teronpi, a villager, was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

In October, an Indian athlete Debjani Bora was severely beaten after being branded a witch in Assam.

Experts say superstitious beliefs are behind some of these attacks, but there are occasions when people especially widows - are targeted for their land and property.

Somalia’s al-Shabab loses key Bardere stronghold

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OMALI forces backed by African Union troops have retaken one of the last remaining strongholds of Islamist militant group al-Shabab.

Kenyan and Somali government soldiers entered southwestern Bardere town, which has been under al-Shabab control since 2008, backed by heavy weapons and air support, residents told the BBC. A Somali army commander told the BBC troops took the town without a fight.

Pro-al-Shabab media have also confirmed the loss of the town.

The al-Qaeda-linked group is battling Somalia’s government for control of the country.

A drone strike in the same town last week killed two alShabab commanders, residents said.

Thousands of soldiers from Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia

have been advancing on Bardere over the past few days.

“We did not meet any resistance. There were only small skirmishes. This is not a force that the extremists can resist,” Somali Col Abbaas Ibrahim Gurey told the BBC’s Somali Service.

Residents who remained in the town told the BBC by phone that some fighting had taken place outside Bardere.

The loss of the town, which is near the Juba River about 460km (285 miles) west of the capital Mogadishu, will be a big blow to the group, BBC Somalia analyst Mohammed Mohammed says.

It will lose the financial benefits brought by controlling an area rich in agriculture and will also lose access to roads that link to other parts of the country and to neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia, he says.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

NEWS 1985 coup: Dasuki denies arresting Buhari

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MBATTLED former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki has denied arresting President Muhammadu Buhari, shortly after he was overthrown as a Military Head of State in August 1985.

He also said he had supported Buhari’s presidential aspiration in 2003, 2007 and 2011.

He said he knelt down in 2011 for the former National Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande, to make Buhari a joint candidate of the ACN and the defunct Congress of Peoples Congress (CPC).

Col. Dasuki made the clarifications in an interview during an encounter with a blogger and the Publisher of the Economic Confidential, Mr. Yushau Shuaib.

The piece is titled: “Sambo Dasuki: An Encounter with the spymaster”.

He spoke against the backdrop of insinuations that his house arrest might have to do with a retaliation of a similar maltreatment against Buhari in 1985.

The ex-NSA also spoke against the backdrop that he attempted to truncate the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in March and inauguration on May 29.

In the extracts of the encounter between the two, Dasuki said: “I always respect and dignify my seniors and those in positions of authority, whether in service or after. Though as a young officer, I was reluctant to be among those that arrested him. And I was not.

“I only met him afterward at Bonny Camp with Lawal Rafindadi. There is no way I could have maltreated him as being alleged in some quarters. I am glad most of the actors are still alive.”

On the December 1983 coup d’etat, Dasuki admitted that he and two young military officers (who are still alive)

EFCC invites Saraki’s wife,Yar’Adua’s daughter

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

‘travelled to Jos to brief Major General Buhari, who was then the GOC of 3rd Armoured Division on the furtherance of the planning of the 1983 coup which made Buhari the major beneficiary of the ouster of the elected President Shehu Shagari.’

The journalist added: “He even told me how Buhari expressed his bitterness about insinuations on his stewardship in one of the public institutions. Dasuki assured the then GOC not to worry about such reckless and mischievous insinuations.

I asked why he participated in the ouster of Buhari just less than two years afterward. He simply answered that General Buhari should know whom he should blame.”

Asked why he participated in the ouster of Buhari just less than two years afterward, Dasuki simply answered that “General Buhari should know whom he should blame.”

He said he had been part of Buhari’s presidential aspiration in 2003, 2007 and 2011.

He said Nigerians could verify from respected Northerners, such as Adamu Adamu, Bashir Kurfi, Wada Maida, Sule Hamman and Kabir Yusuf among others.

The journalist added: “The major shocker for me in his narratives was his campaign for Buhari to emerge the joint candidate of ACN and CPC in 2011. He disclosed how he pleaded with Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu in the presence of Bisi Akande to accept Muhammad Buhari as the joint presidential candidate for ACN and CPC. “Dasuki stated that he knelt down, begging ‘Baba Bisi Akande’ who was then the National Chairman of ACN that ‘General Buhari is a man to be trusted’.

“In their belief that Yoruba and South Westerners are never religious fanatics espe-

Continued from page 4

•Col. Dasuki

cially regarding politics, Dasuki and his group suggested that Tinubu should be a running mate to Buhari.

“When other elements opposed that proposition, Tinubu team therefore recommended a Buhari-Osinbajo ticket. Unfortunately, the ticket failed to stick as Pastor Tunde Bakare was eventually pushed forward by other forces.”

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was later to be Buhari’s running mate in 2015 and the nation’s current Vice President.

On the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was won by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Dasuki said he was one of those who confronted the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

The journalist said: “Dasuki told me the story of how he and some others confronted late Gen. Sani Abacha over June 12 election which was won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO).

This led to their premature retirement.

“The persecution that followed forced him into exile where he teamed up with opposition elements struggling for the return of democracy in Nigeria.”

Scores feared dead in Arepo pipeline fire Continued from page 4

administration, we engaged the services of community security (the Odua Peoples’ Congress). The community policing contract has just elapsed,” he added.

Arepo has been a pipeline vandals’ haven for years. In September 2012, vandals killed three members of staff of NNPC who were sent to repair vandalised pipe there.

Between September 2012 and April 2013, about four incidents of vandalism occurred there claiming several lives.

However, another source claimed that the fire broke out after the vandals’ boat developed a fault and went up in flames in the canal.

The source said: “They said that the guys had finished their business but their boat developed a fault and in the process of fixing it, an explosion occurred. Others were injured but more than a hundred were burnt beyond recognition. We could not recognise them.

“It is a very sad day for those guys because it is not just a job where one person is involved. It is like a family business because they intro-

duce their relations to it and even buy jerrycans for them to join.”

Although rescue workers alleged that the scene is about two kilometres away from residential area and doubted the possibility of innocent citizens being victims, unconfirmed reports claimed that over 100 persons might have died in the mishap.

An eyewitness said: “We cannot enter that place. No one has been able to gain access into the canal. We do not have security protection and even the security personnel are afraid of their lives.

“It happened behind the NUJ estate and about two kilometres from the residential area. I think only the vandals are likely victims, since there is no possibility of innocent people going 50metres close to the canal.

“We cannot enter that place unless we are sure the vandals have removed their casualties, else we may be killed.”

Police spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu said policemen do not work in pipelines. His NSCDC counterpart, Emmanuel Okey, said he had not

been briefed on the development.

Ojukwu said: “I do not know the casualty figure. It is a calamity and we are investigating the cause of the clash as well as the fire.”

Asked why policemen attached to the pipeline were not on duty, Ojukwu said: “Policemen do not work on pipelines. We are only involved now because of the incident.”

Also confirming the incident, the Southwest spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, said the vandals’ clash occurred shortly after midnight on Tuesday.

He said: “An unconfirmed report on a clash between different groups of vandals at Arepo around midnight has led to pipeline explosion.

“NNPC has been alerted about the explosion and it immediately shut down supplies to suffocate the fire, while the NNPC safety unit is making effort to put out the fire.

“No one can confirm if there are casualties or any injuries because we have not accessed the place.”

EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: "I am aware we have invited some persons but I cannot give the details now."

Mrs Saraki last night confirmed her invitation by the anti-graft agency. Her private secretary, Akeem Olagoke, in a statement titled: "Without Prejudice", wrote: "Her Excellency, Mrs Toyin Saraki, Founder of Wellbeing Foundation Africa and wife of the Senate President has been informed by her office that a letter of invitation was delivered to her office, by and from the EFCC. "As Mrs Saraki has no idea what this invitation could pertain to, she has directed an immediate and formal response, to the EFCC, that she will be delighted to assist them with any lawful enquiries they may have, as a law abiding, transparent and accountable private citizen.

"Mrs Saraki has thus confirmed an appointment date to honour this invitation, at the earliest mutually agreed convenience."

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said he would extend his anti-corruption war to members of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

DSS releases Jonathan’s ex-CSO Obua Continued from page 4

Monday and was reportedly treated at a hospital.

His ill-health fueled speculations that he might have died in custody, prompting the management of the DSS to hurriedly organise a news conference to douse tension.

Obua had reporters that he was alive, hale and healthy, adding that the DSS management treated him well, being a security operative himself.

He said: “This morning, my attention was drawn to the fact that I have died in detention. This has caused serious anxiety in the public.

I want to use this medium to tell Nigerians, members of my family and all concerned citizens that I’m healthy.

“I’m a staff of the Department of State Services and having completed my tour of duty as the chief security officer to the last President, the service feels that I should give account of my tenure.”

•Obua

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

NFF adopts measures to boost marketing

• Inyama

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HE Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has resolved that due regard and appropriate honour be accorded to all partners and sponsors at

all of the federation’s events and programmes, including matches of all the national teams.

It is the first time that the NFF is making a policy decision to give its partners and sponsors

appropriate treatment and to facilitate the companies’ derivation of maximum mileage from all NFF programmes.

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick led the charge, following a presentation by the football body’s marketing consultant, Mike Itemuagbor.

“We are determined to give all our partners and sponsors their due regard henceforth. They put their money into supporting the federation’s programmes and deserve every respect and honour at all our events.

“Certainly, we need more corporate bodies to partner with us in our efforts to seriously improve Nigeria football. But prospective partners will normally do a check on how you treat your current allies before deciding to pitch tent with you. It is natural.”

Even before Itemuagbor’s presentation, which dwelt on the imperative of taking into consideration the interests of partners

and sponsors before making important decisions, Pinnick, Vice Presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko, and chairman of the Marketing Committee, Emeka Inyama had been pushing for new and refreshing attitude towards sponsors.

Weeks ago, the Executive Committee adopted a comprehensive document tabled by Inyama for an entirely different approach to marketing, as well as to sponsors and partners.

Pinnick said yesterday: “I have said over and over again that what we are doing presently is to focus hard on what needs to be done and summon the courage to do those things.

We are carefully putting in place the building blocks for a sustainable football culture, while not forgetting the mission of turning around the national teams to ensure that they will always do the country proud at international level.”

‘Assar has not matched Quadri’s status’

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ESPITE being the highest ranked African player in the world,

coupled with his pedigree on the continent, Egypt’s Omar Assar has not matched the global status of Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri.

These are the views of Togo’s Fessou Lawson-Gaizer and Cameroon’s Clarence Dinayen, who spoke to NationSport at the ongoing ITTF Africa Senior Cup. They said with what Quadri achieved in the world in 2014, the skills and entertaining quality of the Egyptian cannot rival what the Nigerian achieved globally for the continent.

“For me, Quadri remains the

best product of table tennis from Africa because what he achieved in 2014 brought a lot of attention to Africa and this has also confirmed that Africa is a force to reckon with in the world.

“I think Assar is also a good player, but he has not been able to rise up to the occasion like Quadri in the world. He can still be dominating Africa, but the super star status we are expecting from him has not been achieved. So, his performance in Africa is good, but he has not proved his mettle at the

global level, which is the biggest platform for any player to prove his worth,” Lawson-Gaizer said.

For Dinayen, no player can be compared to Quadri because he is the biggest star in Africa. “I don’t think one can compare Quadri and Assar at all because they are players of separate status.

“I love Assar because of his style of play, but for me as an African, Quadri is a true representative of the continent with his quality and never-say-die spirit. He is a super star and in a world of his own. In terms of entertaining the fans, Assar is good, but Quadri is a tourna-

bar, although it’s uncertain if they will host the event.

Many Nigerian athletes would be looking at putting up good to stand a chance of making the team to the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.

Former American sprinter and current Nigerian relay coach, Maurice Greene has arrived with some of the country’s athletes based in the United States,

tries have also hit Warri for the competitions.

South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Botswana, Mozambique and the United Arab Emirates are some of the countries that have confirmed their participation for the competition, and they will be taking part in the relay events as well as individual races at the meet.

From Olalekan Okusan, Yaounde, Cameroon

• Quadri

ment player whose fighting spirit is unequalled in Africa,” the University of Bamenda star said.

AAG: NSA Athletes arrive for 2015 Warri Relays/CAA Grand Prix charges Team Nigeria HE 2015 edition of the coming up next week in Calaand athletes from other coun-

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Warri Relays/CAA Grand Prix will come up tomorrow, with Nigeria looking forward to hosting other African countries.

Athletes have already started trickling in, and are set to take part in what promises to be an exciting Championship. This will be like a dress rehearsal for the National Championships

RESULTS Federation Cup Remo 1-1 Lobi (5-3 pen) Heartland 2-3 BJ Foundation Plateau Utd 0-1 El-Kanemi Nasarawa 2-1 A. Warriors Ifeanyi Uba 4-2 FC Taraba Prime FC 0-1 Akwa Utd Dolphins 1-1Tornadoes (4-2pen) Int'l - Club Friendlies Tondela 0 - 0 Oliveirense Torino 6 - 0 Savona Atalanta 3 - 1 Haifa Hellas 1 - 2 Trapani Bologna 1 - 2 Spezia Hertha 2 - 2 Fulham Nacional 2 - 3 Sporting Arouca 1 - 0 Academica Sudtirol 0 - 4 Sassuolo Lechia 0 - 1 Schalke Blumenthaler 0 - 9 Bremen Lille 1 - 0 Troyes ADO 0 - 2 Genclerbirligi CD Lealtad 1 - 9 Gijon Caen 1 - 1 Angers Dender EH 1 - 3 Anderlecht Montpellier 2 - 2 Toulouse Nantes 4 - 1 Lorient Vitesse 3 - 2 Asteras Aves 1 - 0 Rio Ave FC Twente 2 - 0 Sivasspor Sturm Graz 2 - 0 Besiktas

ZENITH BANK WBL

First Bank BC faces Dolphins in finals

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KECHI Akachili's game high 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists combined with Chidinma Nwakamma's14 points and reigning Zenith Bank Women's league MVP, Chioma Udeaja's 13 points helped defending champions First Bank to their first consecutive finals appearance since 2011.

The reigning champions defeated former four time champions First Deepwater 68-43 in the semi finals at the ongoing Zenith Bank Women's Basketball League Final Eight at the National Stadium, Lagos.

The reigning champions started rather slowly as First Deepwater raced to a 10-8 lead in the opening five minute. But a 10-0 run in the closing minutes of the first quarter from the Elephant Girls ensured they took an 8 point lead into the second quarter 18-10. The fine run con-

tinued in the second quarter as First Bank went on a 18- 9 run to lead 36-19 at half time.

However, First Deepwater came out of the locker room a different side outscoring First Bank 17-11 closing the game to 9 points in the 3rd quarter 36-47, only to run out of gas in the final quarter as the reigning champions raced to a 25 points win (6843) in the end, outscoring First Deepwater 21-7 in the final 10 minutes of the game.

Head coach of First Bank Basketball club, Adewunmi Aderemi said he is confident his team will defend their title successfully on Saturday.

First Bank will take on the Dolphins in the Finals for the second straight year after the flamboyant FIBA Africa Zone 3 champions secured their third straight finals appearance at the expense of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Queens 84-49.

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S the 2015 All African Games draw near, organizers of the Nigerian Sports Award (NSA) have urged the Nigerian contingent to the Games to go for glory at the event by winning all available medals.

The All African Games (AAG), which takes place every four years, will mark its 11th edition and its 50th anniversary as well as a return to Brazzaville, which hosted the first edition in July, 1965, this edition.

According to Kayode Idowu, the Executive Director, Unmissable Incentives, promoters of the Nigerian Sports Award (NSA), the Nigerian athletes must give their all and stay focused, improve on previous performances at the Games and compensate Nigerian Sports fans for the lackluster performance of the Flying Eagles and Super Falcons in recent tournaments. ‘’Nigerians are expecting so much from the Team Nigeria at the forthcoming All African Games, they want to see the team winning all available medals and dominating the different sports that they will be participating in, to bring smiles to their faces’’ he said.

He noted that, though the Nigerian U-23 football team under the tutelage of Coach Samson Siasia, were drawn in the “group of death” with Ghana, Egypt and Senegal, he enjoined the team to do everything possible to qualify from the group.

Iheanacho aims to break into Man City first team

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IGERIA youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho has set his sights on playing for Manchester City main team when the EPL season kicks off next month.

The 18-year-old forward shone like a million stars for City in a pre-season game against Roma, where he scored a goal with an assist for new boy Raheem Sterling.

He will battle the likes of Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, Wilfried Bony and David Silva for a place in coach Manuel Pellegrini’s main squad.

“I hope to play this year be-

cause I have been training hard and working with the team last season,” he said.

“I hope to break into the first team this year. The manager just says to me to work hard every day” Iheanacho said.

“I feel very honoured playing with Raheem because he is a very good player,” he added.

“He is intelligent and skillful and strong, so it was very good to play alongside him. He’s very easy to play with.

“I am a young player trying to grow, so I hope to learn some things from him – and also from the other players as well.”

TODAY IN THE NATION

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

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OOR Sule Lamido. After an eight-year remarkable tenure as governor of Jigawa State, which he, by sheer grit, transformed from a rustic community of farmers, building roads, schools and a beautiful airport, he has been arraigned before a court for alleged corruption. His fans- and foes- are wondering how and when he crossed the line – if the allegations are, indeed, true.

He was asked to be remanded in prison custody. Apparently exasperated by it all, Lamido exclaimed: “So I’m now a prisoner?”

The Jagoran Talakawa (friend of the poor) is, thankfully, now on bail.

Lamido is not alone. Former Imo Governor Ikedi Ohakim, former Head of Service Steve Oronsaye and former Adamawa Governor Murtala Nyako have all just returned from the court.

Apparently scared that this could be their lot, considering the reconnaissance of the Dr Goodluck Jonathan administration by the tactful Muhammadu Buhari presidency, many dignitaries have bombarded “Editorial Notebook” for a confidential advisory on how to go through it all. It will, in my view, be unfair to make such a critical document secret, considering the sheer number of our compatriots who will soon find it exceedingly useful.

Here we go: Merely taking you before the court – if you fail to get a perpetual injunction against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), its agents, privies, officers, operatives or whatsoever called, who may wish to investigate you from so doing - does not make you a prisoner. Be ready to shell out a fortune – obviously a small fraction of the cash they claim you have stolen - to get a damn good lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). There are many of them in town nowadays. Your adversary, the tempestuous EFCC, cannot afford them.

When you are remanded, don’t panic and give your traducers a chance to say: “Oh; he’s finished.” Remember, the offence, no matter how huge the cash involved, is bailable. In fact, the charges may be as long as the LagosIbadan Expressway. Never mind; as the case progresses, they may be withdrawn, amended or consolidated into one or two.

Bail will come in very liberal terms: N400m and a surety who must be a senior civil servant. He or she must own a property in Abuja (Is there any senior government official worth his seat who doesn’t own a choice property in that seductive city?) or be a National Award recipient– there are all manner of people (leaders and looters) who are proud honorees, you know. If the judge is the liberal type, he may just let you go on self-recognition.

When the case proper begins, your lawyer will tell the judge he has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter. The judge could be stubborn. He may fix a date to determine his jurisdiction and, in actual fact, rule that he is

RIPPLES

WEALTHY CLERICS SHOULD BE TAXED, says cleric

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

GBENGA OMOTOSO

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fit to hear the matter. Don’t fret. Your lawyer will simply head for the ever-busy Court of Appeal. This, no doubt, will take months to resolve. The appeal may be decided, most likely against you. Be strong; it is a temporary setback (if you see it as a setback o).

Remember, it is basic in law that you are innocent, until proven guilty. In fact, your lawyer should tell you that Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea (The act does not make a person guilty unless the mind is also guilty).

Another judge will naturally take over the case. A plea is taken – “Are you guilty or not?” Be firm in replying: “Not guilty at all, my Lord.” Your SAN will then raise a preliminary objection, saying again that His Lordship has no jurisdiction to hear the matter. “The offence was not committed in Abuja,” he will tell the court, “and the money involved is, after all, not the Federal Government’s.” Besides, no prima facie case has been established against you, the lawyer will say confidently.

As the case wends its way through, never forget you’re a politician, not a criminal. Never. Fight for your party’s ticket to run for governor (don’t mind the cost). If you win the election, the case automatically goes into the cooler for at least the next four years. If you are the considerate type, you can listen to the pleas of the good people of your dear state to serve for four more years. By the time you finish – you can run for Senate o – the case file

would have been missing. Don’t arrange for the judge to get beaten up and his robe torn and the court documents shredded and the court premises shut down. No need for all that as people will call you, a honorable man, names.

If the authorities dare to revive it all, your lawyer will simply make a no-case submission, insisting that the prosecution has no case against you and that you, ipso facto, should be compensated for the ordeal of being brought before the court.

If your lawyer is the theatrical type, he can muddy the waters. He will spring up to his feet, adjust his gown, frown, gesticulate like a Nollywood wannabe and tell the judge: “Objection, my Lord. I have an objection.

We have filed a motion, which is fundamental to the very essence of this case, from which we believe you should excuse yourself. We can smell some bias, with due respect, my Lord.”

Shocked, the judge will begin to put up a defence. “Me, biased? How?” He will then fix a long adjournment date. Again, you have been saved by the bell. When the date comes, his lordship will simply announce that since your lawyer has raised the issue of bias, he has returned the file to the Chief Judge for reassignment. Go home and relax as the court, which has its hands full of urgent matters, will not give a date so soon.

Outside the court, your supporters will bear big placards attesting to your integrity and notifying the world that you are being persecuted because of your political beliefs.

Some of the placards will read: “Leave our hero alone. He is not a thief”; “EFCC, is your money missing?”; “Our man is not guilty.

This is politics taken too far”; “It is better for 1000 criminals to go free than to have an innocent man punished”.

Of course, an army of television cameramen and newspaper photographers will be there to record the scene for all, especially your supporters who may not be able to join the solidarity bus to Abuja and those political enemies of yours who pray fervently for your downfall.

As the case progresses (with another judge taking charge), if your lawyer perceives that it could be against you, he will

HARDBALL

R

In fact, I recommend 50% TAX on INCOME

VOL. 10, NO. 3284

‘When our military rulers robbed our states of their powers, resource control, and development initiative, and pooled all together in the federal centre, they created a super-corrupt federal government, the mother of corruption, the dispenser of corruption all over our country. President Buhari must not leave this unattended to’ BANJI AKINTOYE

EPETITION is a powerful weapon in the hands of a spin doctor, and a body known as the Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC) is using it for the purpose of laundering the image of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Ikotun, Lagos. Of course, the effort to show that the church is not as black as it has been painted is also an effort to paint its leader, Prophet Temitope Joshua, as an innocent player in the tragic drama in the church’s compound in September last year. According to official figures, 80 South Africans, 22 Nigerians, two Beninoise and two Togolese died following a building collapse at the church.

Based on a Coroner’s inquest into the disaster, the Lagos State government indicated that it would take legal action against the church and certain individuals. Specifically, a statement by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s spokesman, Habib Haruna, said the government “would prosecute the contractor, Akinbela Fatiregun, of Hardrock Engineering Company Limited, and Structural Engineer, Oladele Ogundeji, who built and supervised the collapsed building, for professional negligence.”

so inform you. “Be strong and courageous.

Do not be petrified, do not be discouraged.” Isn’t that what the holy book demands of us? Besides, there is a way out.

Your lawyer will seek your permission to go into settlement talks with the prosecution. It is called plea bargain. An agreement will be drawn up. You will be required to give up some of the property you have acquired in exchange for your freedom. A filling station here, a mansion there and a shopping complex in the heart of the city. Just a few.

The judge may also ask you to pay a fine, usually the kind of cash you can easily ask your driver to whip out of the car trunk. Your detractors will call it a slap on the wrist, never mind; that’s their problem.

Freedom–at last. Get some rest and at the weekend storm your hometown in a long motorcade of exotic vehicles. A grand reception should be awaiting your arrival, with the community’s best musician on the band stand. Push the boat out. Flood the gathering with choice drinks. Let there be plenty of food as if it is Christmas Day. Remember the sumptuosity of it all is a reflection of your status.

Deliver a moving speech, thanking your people for standing by you all the way. All are not thieves whom the dogs bark at, you will say in an emotional voice. To your opponents, be magnanimous. Tell them you have forgiven all, that you harbour no malice against anyone and that you see your ordeal as the price you needed to pay for agreeing to serve your people. I assure you there will be a deafening ovation from the appreciative crowd of youths, elders and common folks.

On Sunday, storm the church with your army of supporters for a welcome/thanksgiving service. The sermon is quite predictable. The man of God will admonish the congregation to always embrace truth and service, adding that no matter how rough things are, the truth will surely prevail.

When it is time to dance up to the alter for the priest’s blessings, you can request for a popular local song, something like this: “O ti mu mi gbagbe o, ibanuje igba kan, A se were ni’se Oluwa, oba ti mo pe t’onje. A se were ni’se Oluwa, oba ti mo pe t’onje.” (He has made me to forget the sadness of the past.

God’s work is timely. He is the king that I call and he answers.)

To shame those who mocked you, you can then request to have that chieftaincy title you shunned because of your modesty.

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Joshua: Same old story In addition, the government said it would prosecute the church for failing to obtain a building approval, contrary to the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010. Reports said the collapsed building was originally a three-storey structure, which was being raised to accommodate three additional floors.

Nothing about the position of the state government is mystifying. But NHRC, self-described as “a coalition of 135 civil society groups spread across Nigeria”, introduced mystification when it said in a statement: “We use this medium to call on the United Nations (UN Human Rights Commission) to compel the Nigerian government to ensure full investigation into the matter so as to establish what was the cause of the collapsed building beyond the claims that the building fell on its own.”

Carrying the confusion further, NHRC said it “believes that there are new evidences that link the collapse of the building to terrorism”. According to the body, “Islamic extremists may have attacked the building due to Nigeria’ s war against Boko

Haram, which found a new wave of support from South Africa.”

It is curious that NHRC repeated the same old story that Joshua told a disbelieving public when the tragedy happened. At the time, Joshua claimed that a “strange aircraft” flew over the church a number of times before the guest house collapsed.

He also mentioned that an email he received showed that his church was targeted for bombing by the Islamist guerilla force Boko Haram. Joshua seemed fixated on the idea that the building must have collapsed as a result of an outside machination by those who do not wish him and his church well.

It is clear enough that Joshua’s presentation and the NHRC’s repetition cannot invalidate the points that support culpability, namely, identified professional negligence and failure to act in accordance with regulations. In this case, repetition has served no constructive purpose. The repetition of this particular angle sounds like a fictional construction; it is farcical.

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