July 24, 2014 by The Nation

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Nasarawa House asks CJ to raise panel NEWS

Page 10

•Lawmakers push on with impeachment •Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 2917 THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

Ki-Moon: world with Chibok girls

NEWS

Page 4

•Abduction’s 100 days marked •www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

•Soldiers walk past the remains of a vehicle in Gen. Buhari’s convoy after the explosion...yesterday

N150.00

PHOTOS: AFP

INSIDE

•ACF, JNI lament explosion •Nigeria leads world in ‘terrorism’ fatalities •Timeline of Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria •Buhari’s aides injured •Sheikh Bauchi unhurt •Kaduna imposes curfew •AND MORE ON PAGES 2-4 &67

•People stand near a wrecked Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), one of those on Gen. •Another vehicle in Gen. Buhari’s convoy...yesterday Buhari’s convoy...yesterday

82 die as suicide bomber hits Buhari’s convoy Jonathan orders arrest of perpetrators Tinubu: we’re all marked people

‘ •Gen. Buhari

The unfortunate event, clearly an assassination attempt, came from a fast moving vehicle that made many attempts to overtake my security car, but was blocked by the escort vehicle.We reached the market area of Kawo where he took advantage of our slowing down and attempted to ram into my car. He instantly detonated the bomb, which destroyed all the three cars in our convoy. Unfortunately, when I came out of my vehicle, I saw bodies littered around...

’

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

NEWS KADUNA TWIN EXPLOSIONS

People stand at a scene after a bomb exploded in Kaduna...yesterday

Military officers walk at a scene where a bomb exploded in Kaduna....yesterday

Military officers walk past a scene where a bomb exploded in Kadun...yesterday

Timeline of Boko Haram attacks July 23: The Boko Haram insurgents attacked Kaduna killing about 39 people and injuring many others July 14, 2014: The insurgents descended on Borno killing over 26 people and injuring many others June 23, 2014: Boko Haram attacked the city Kano killing over 12 people and injuring manyothers June 1, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Mudi killing over 40 people and injuring many others May 31, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Kala Balge killing 40 people and injuring several others May 27, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Borno killing 48 people and injuring several others May 25, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Yobe killing 54 people and injuring several others May 21, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Chikongudo killing 25 people and injuring several others May 20, 2014: Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram attacked Jos killing 108 and injuring 56 May 18, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Kano killing 4 people and injuring several others May 5, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Gamboru Ngala killing several people and injuring several others May 1, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Abuja killing 19 people and injuring several others April 14, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Abuja killing 88 people and injuring several others April 10, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Dikwa killing 8 people and injuring several others April 10, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Bala Balge killing 60 people and injuring several others March 1, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Mainokri killing 39 people and injuring several others March 1, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Maiduguri killing 51 people and injuring several others February 25, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Buni Yadi killing 59 people and injuring several others February 19, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Bama killing 60 people and injuring several others February 16, 2014:: Boko Haram attacked a village in Borno killing 90 and injuring several others February 12, 2014: Boko Haram attacked Konduga killing 39 people and injuring several others July 6, 2013: Boko Haram attacked Yobe killing 42 people and injuring several others May 7, 2013: Boko Haram attacked Bama killing 55 and injuring several others July 30, 2012: Boko Haram attacked Zaria killing 5 and injuring several others June 3, 2012: Boko Haram attacked Bauchi killing 12 and injuring several others April 30, 2012: Gunmen attacked Taraba killing 11 and injuring several others April 29, 2012: Boko Haram attacked Bayero University, Kano killing 16 and injuring several others April 26, 2012: Boko Haram attacked Abuja killing six and injuring several others April 25, 2012: Boko Haram attacked Maiduguri Police Headquaters killing seven and injuring many April 8, 2012: Boko Haram attacked Kaduna killing 40 and injuring several others April 8, 2012: Boko Haram attacked another church in Jos killing 20 and injuring several others March 24, 2012: Boko Haram attacked Kano killing two and injuring unspecified number of people March 11, 2012: Boko Haram attacked a church in Jos killing 10 and injuring several others February 3, 2012: Boko Haram attacked a police station in Kogi State killing four people Jan 22, 2012: Boko Haram attacked Bauchi, killing 11 people and injuring several others 18 Jan 2012: A key suspect in the 2011 Christmas Day bombing in Abuja, which killed more than 40 people, escapes police custody.

17 Jan 2012: Two soldiers and four BH gunmen are killed in an attack on a military checkpoint in Maiduguri, Borno State. Soldiers arrest six high-profile BH members in a raid on a sect hideout in the city. 13 Jan 2012: Boko Haram kills four and injures two others, including a policeman, in two separate attacks on pubs in Yola (Adawama State) and Gombe city in neighbouring Gombe State. 11 Jan 2012: Four Christians killed by Boko Haram gunmen in Potiskum, Yobe State, when gunmen open fire on their car as they stop for fuel. The victims had been fleeing Maiduguri to their home town in eastern Nigeria. 10 Jan 2012: A Boko Haram attack on a beer garden kills eight, including five policemen and a teenage girl, in Damaturu, capital of Yobe State. 9 Jan 2012: Boko Haram gunmen shoot dead a secret police operative along with his civilian friend as they leave a mosque in Biu, Borno State, 200km south of the state capital, Maiduguri. The president says BH has infiltrated the executive, parliamentary and judicial wings of government. 7 Jan 2012: Three Christian poker players are killed and seven others wounded by BH gunmen in the town of Biu. 6 Jan 2012: Eight worshippers are killed in a shooting attack on a church in Yola. Boko Haram gunmen shoot dead 17 Christian mourners in the town of Mubi in the northeastern state of Adamawa. The victims are friends and relations of one of five people killed in a BH attack on a hotel the previous day. 5 Jan 2012: Six worshippers are killed and 10 others wounded when Boko Haram gunmen attack a church in Gombe city. 3 Jan 2012: Boko Haram gunmen attack a police station in the town of Birniwa in Jigawa State killing a teenage girl and wounding a police officer. 1 Jan 2012: President Goodluck Jonathan imposes a state of emergency on 15 local government areas hardest-hit by BH attacks, in Borno, Yobe and Plateau states. He orders the closure of Nigerian borders in the north. 30 Dec 2011: Four Muslim worshippers are killed in a BH bomb and shooting attack targeting a military checkpoint in Maiduguri as worshippers leave a mosque after attending Friday prayers. 28 Dec 2011: A bombing and shooting attack by BH on a beer parlour in the town of Mubi, Adamawa State, wounds 15. 25 Dec 2011: A Christmas Day BH bomb attack on Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla town near Abuja kills 42 worshippers. Three secret police (SSS) operatives and a BH bomber are killed in a suicide attack when the bomber rams his bomb-laden car into a military convoy at the gates of SSS headquarters in Damaturu. A policeman is killed in a botched BH bomb attack on a church in the Ray Field area of Jos, capital of Plateau State. 22 Dec 2011: BH bombs in parts of Maiduguri kill 20. Four policemen and a civilian are killed in gun and bomb attacks on a police building in Potiskum, Yobe State. Around 100 are killed following multiple bomb and shooting attacks by BH gunmen and ensuing gun battles with troops in the Pompomari outskirts of Damaturu. 19 Dec 2011: One suspected BH member dies and two others wounded in an accidental explosion while assembling a home-made bomb in a hideout in Damaturu. 17 Dec 2011: A shootout between sect members and policemen following a raid on the hideout of a BH sect leader in the Darmanawa area of Kano State kills seven, including three police officers. Police arrest 14 BH

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

KADUNA TWIN EXPLOSIONS

The body of a suicide bomber lies beside a damaged vehicle at the scene where a bomb exploded in Kaduna ...yesterday

People look at the burnt out shell of a car following an explosion in Kaduna. ..yesterday.

People looking at the burnt out shell of a car following an explosion in Kaduna. ..yesterday.

suspects and seize large amount of arms and bombs. Three BH members die in an accidental explosion while assembling home-made bombs in a hideout on the outskirts of Maiduguri. 13 Dec 2011: A bomb attack on a military checkpoint by BH and resulting shooting by soldiers in Maiduguri leaves 10 dead and 30 injured. 7 Dec 2011: An explosion linked to BH kills eight in the Oriyapata district of Kaduna city. 4 Dec 2011: A soldier, a policeman and a civilian are killed in bomb and gun attacks on police buildings and two banks in Azare, Bauchi State. BH open fire at a wedding in Maiduguri, killing the groom and a guest. 27 Nov 2011: A Borno State protocol officer in the office of the governor is shot dead by motorcycle-riding sect members while driving home. 26 Nov 2011: Three policemen and a civilian are wounded in BH bomb and shooting attacks in Geidam, Yobe State. Six churches, a police station, a beer parlour, a shopping complex, a high court, a local council building and 11 cars are burnt in the attacks. 9 Nov 2011: BH members bomb a police station and the office of Nigeria’s road safety agency in Maina village, Borno State. No one is hurt. 4 Nov 2011: The motorcade of Borno State governor Kashim Shettima comes under BH bomb attack in Maiduguri on its way from the airport to the governor’s residence as he returns from a trip to Abuja. Around 150 are killed in coordinated BH bombing and shooting attacks on police facilities in Damaturu and Potiskum in Yobe State. Two BH suicide-bombers blow themselves up outside the military Joint Task Force headquarters in Maiduguri in a botched suicide attack. 2 Nov 2011: A soldier on duty is shot dead by sect members outside Maiduguri’s main market. November 2011: BH says it will not dialogue with the government until all of its members who have been arrested are released. 29 Oct 2011: BH gunmen shoot dead Muslim cleric Sheikh Ali Jana’a outside his home in the Bulabulin Ngarnam neighbourhood of Maiduguri. Jana’a is known to have provided information to security forces regarding the sect. 25 Oct 2011: A policeman is shot dead in his house in a targeted attack by BH gunmen in Damaturu. 23 Oct 2011: Sect members open fire on a market in the town of Katari in Kaduna State, killing two. 23 Oct 2011: BH members kill a policeman and a bank security guard in bombing and shooting attacks on a police station and two banks in Saminaka, Kaduna State. 3 October 2011: Three killed in BH attacks on Baga market in Maiduguri, Borno State. The victims included a tea-seller, a drug store owner and a passer-by. 1 October 2011: A butcher and his assistant are killed by BH gunmen at Baga market in Maiduguri in a targeted killing. In a separate incident, three people are killed in a shoot-out following BH bomb and shooting attacks on a military patrol vehicle delivering food to soldiers at a checkpoint in Maiduguri. All three victims are civilians. 17 September 2011: Babakura Fugu, brother-in-law to slain BH leader Mohammed Yusuf, is shot dead outside his house in Maiduguri two days after attending a peace meeting with Nigeria’s ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo in the city. BH denies any involvement in the incident. 13 September 2011: Four soldiers shot and wounded in an ambush by BH members in Maiduguri shortly after the arrest of 15 sect members in military raids on BH hideouts in the city.

PHOTOS: AFP

12 September 2011: Seven men, including four policemen, are killed by BH gunmen in bomb and shooting attacks on a police station and a bank in Misau, Bauchi State. The attackers rob the bank. 4 September 2011: Muslim cleric Malam Dala shot dead by two BH members outside his home in the Zinnari area of Maiduguri. 1 September 2011: A shootout between BH gunmen and soldiers in Song, Adamawa State, kills one sect members while another is injured and captured. 26 August 2011: BH claims responsibility for a suicide bomb blast on the UN compound in Abuja, killing 23 people. 25 August 2011: Gun and bomb attacks by BH on two police stations and two banks in Gombi, Adamawa State, kill at least 16 people, including seven policemen. 3 August 2011: The government rejects negotiations with BH. July 2011: Government says it will open a negotiation panel to initiate negotiations with BH. 27 June 2011: BH’s gun and bomb attack on a beer garden in Maiduguri leaves at least 25 dead and dozens injured. 20 June 2011: Seven people including five policemen killed in gun and bomb attacks on a police station and a bank in Kankara, Katsina State. 16 June 2011: BH targets national police headquarters in Abuja, killing two. 7 June 2011: Attacks on a church and two police posts in Maiduguri, blamed on the sect, leave at least 14 dead. 6 June 2011: Muslim cleric Ibrahim Birkuti, critical of BH, shot dead by two motorcycle-riding BH gunmen outside his house in Biu, 200km from Maiduguri. 29 May 2011: Three bombs rip through a beer garden in a military barracks in the northern city of Bauchi, killing 13 and wounding 33. BH claims responsibility. 27 May 2011: A group of around 70 suspected BH gunmen kill eight people including four policemen in simultaneous gun and bomb attacks on a police station, a police barracks and a bank in Damboa, Borno State, near the border with Chad. 29 December 2010: Suspected BH gunmen shoot dead eight people in Maiduguri, including the governorship candidate of the ruling All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Borno State. 24 and 27 December 2010: A series of attacks claimed by BH in the central city of Jos and Maiduguri kill at least 86. 7 September 2010: A group of BH gunmen free over 700 inmates including around 100 sect members from a prison in Bauchi. Four people including a soldier, one policeman and two residents were killed in the raid. 26 July 2009: BH launches a short-lived uprising in parts of the north, which is quelled by a military crackdown that leaves more than 800 dead - mostly sect members, including BH leader Mohammed Yusuf. A mosque in the capital of Borno State (Maiduguri) that served as a sect headquarters is burnt down. 11-12 June 2009: BH leader Mohammed Yusuf threatens reprisals in a video recording to the president following the killing of 17 BH members in a joint military and police operation in Borno State. This was after a disagreement over BH members’ alleged refusal to use crash helmets while in a funeral procession to bury members who had died in a car accident.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

Ki-Moon urges international community to stand by Chibok girls

NITED Nations Secretary General Ban KiMoon yesterday reiterated his call for the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, more than 100 days after. Ki-moon expressed his full support for the worldwide vigils which took place yesterday. “I stand in solidarity with all those taking part in vigils today to demonstrate that the world has not forgotten the girls who were so cruelly abducted from their school 100 days ago,” said Mr. Ban in a message. “I repeat my call for their immediate release and for an end to discrimination, intimi-

dation and violence against girls whose only wish is to gain an education. Only by shielding them from harm and enabling them to realize their full potential can we usher in a better future for all,” he added. Vigils were held yesterday around the world to demonstrate solidarity with the girls and their families. Supporters in Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States organised a series of campaigns, including lighting the candles, under the banner #BringBackOurGirls to maximize the visibility for continued global concern. A wide coalition of organiContinued on page 67

My escape, by Sheikh Bauchi

•A crowd of security men and others at the explosion site...yesterday

Tinubu: we’re all marked people

LL Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu lamented yesterday that the country is in the grip of terror. He also castigated the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration for its “bungling, back passing and blackmailing Presidency”. Tinubu issued a statement, “Attack on Buhari and innocent Nigerians” to denounce the Kaduna explosions. It said: “The multiple bomb attack today on General Buhari, one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and innocent Nigerians confirms that our

county is in the grip of terror. Sadly, we are in the hands of a bungling, buck passing and blackmailing presidency. “I condemn in the strongest terms the attack on General Buhari and his convoy. And the innocent Nigerians that suffered untimely deaths. I thank God that Gen. Buhari’s life was spared for greater service to the fatherland. Under an increasingly incompetent and incoherent PDP- government, Nigeria slips into a low intensity war. We are all marked people under a government that prefers to label and attack opposition rather than apply itself to providing security and good gover-

nance. “Today’s multiple attacks are a bad omen that signposts a future filled with danger and uncertainty. Unfortunately, Nigeria is saddled with a leadership totally intolerant of ideas, suggestions and advice that do not emanate from them. We in the APC has put forward concrete suggestions which have been consistently rejected and sneered at by the PDP-led Jonathan government. “Instead of reaching out and paying attention to our suggestions, they have turned the guns on us and are manipulating and doctoring reports and stories to label us. It is a

label that is false. It is a label that will not stick. We are patriots and stand united against anyone who wants to do this great country harm. “This government has raised the art of scapegoating to a new level. Rather than govern, they have politicised everything to the detriment of Nigerians and Nigeria. “There can be no justification for the continued loss of innocent lives and the unending attacks. I call upon those with the power, the resources and in charge of the security apparatus of this country to get up and do something before we all are consumed.”

Jonathan orders arrest of perpetrators

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan directed yesterday the police and security agencies to apprehend the perpetrator of yesterday’s attack on Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna. The President’s directive was announced in a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati. The statement said: “Presi-

dent Goodluck Ebele Jonathan condemns the bombings in Kaduna today which appeared to have targeted former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari and prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi. “President Jonathan denounces the dastardly targeting of the prominent political

and religious leaders by terrorists and enemies of the nation in an odious attempt to inflame passions and exacerbate disquiet, fear, insecurity and sectional divisions in the country. “While thanking God Almighty for sparing the lives of General Buhari and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, the President extends sincere condolences to

the families of those who were sadly killed by the bomb blasts. “President Jonathan also commiserates with all those who were injured in the twin bombings in this Holy Month of Ramadan which defy the tenets of Islam, and provide further proof that the terrorists Continued on page 67

SLAMIC Cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, yesterday spoke on the attempt on his life. He told Sahara Reporters that the explosion was targeted at him, but he escaped unhurt because of persistent prayers. He described the attack as “un-Islamic, barbaric and condemnable”.

Nigeria leads world ‘terrorism’ fatalities

IGERIA suffers from the world’s deadliest terror attacks, with an average of 24 deaths per incident out of 146 recorded between January and June, according to risk consultancy Maplecroft. The global average is two deaths per attack, the Bath, United Kingdom (U.K)-based group said in a report released yesterday titled: The Maplecroft Terrorism and Security Dashboard. Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy, recorded 3,477 deaths in those attacks as violence by the Boko Haram Islamist militants grew in scale and sophistication, it said. “The increased capacity of Boko Haram is likely to lead to a further loss of investor confidence,” Maplecroft said in the report. The latest figures

82 die as suicide bomber hits Buhari’s convoy

WIN bomb explosions in Kaduna, the headquarters of the old northern Nigeria killed scores of people yesterday. Former Head of State General Muhamadu Buhari, whose convoy seemed to have been the target of the second explosion, escaped unhurt. The Gen. who on Sunday warned President Goodluck Jonathan on the state of the nation, said it was an assassination attempt, a “clearly targeted bomb attack”. The first explosion was on Alkali by Isa Kaita Road, where a suspected suicide bomber on a motorcycle, who is believed to be trailing a famous Islamic scholar, Sheik Dahiru Bauchi, detonated the bomb. Kaduna Police Commissioner Umar Shehu said 25 people died in the first blast but eyewitnesses said about 32 died. About two hours later, another explosion rocked Kawo market, close to the popular Kawo flyover. The police chief said 14 people

I was the target, says Buhari

ORMER Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari spoke yesterday on the bombing of his convoy, saying the explosion was an assassination attempt on his life. In a statement he personally signed in Kaduna, Gen. Buhari said: “I am personally involved in a clearly targeted bomb attack today at about 2:30pm on my way to Daura. “The unfortunate event, clearly an From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

were killed, but a Red Cross official told Reuters that over 50 people died in that explosion. Shehu said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspected suicide bomber might have targeted Sheikh Bauchi, who had just completed the annual grand finale of his Ramadan Tafsir (lecture) at the Murtala Square. The bombers struck at about 12.45pm while large crowds of Sheikh Bauchi’s followers, were just departing the venue of the Tafsir. The cleric was driving

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

assassination attempt, came from a fast-moving vehicle that made many attempts to overtake my security car, but was blocked by the escort vehicle. “We reached the market area of Kawo where he took advantage of our slowing down and attempted to ram into my car. He instantly detonated the bomb which destroyed all the three

through the area in an openroof vehicle, greeting wellwishers, when he was targeted. Followers of the renowned cleric reacted angrily, throwing stones at the security forces and accusing them of failing to protect Nigerians. The security forces retaliated by firing tear gas. The angry supporters of the Sheikh wept profusely when they saw the huge casualty of the explosion. An eyewitness, who identified himself as Musa Aminu, said: “The suicide bomber was on a bike and he was desperately trying to follow the convoy of Sheik

cars in our convoy. “Unfortunately, when I came out of my vehicle, I saw bodies littered around. They were innocent people going about their daily business, who became victims of mass murder. “Thank God for His mercy, I came out unhurt, but with three of my security staff sustaining minor injuries. They have since been treated in hospital and discharged.”

Dahiru Bauchi when the security people diverted his path. In the process, he hit a parked car and the bomb exploded.” Gen. Buhari escaped the second explosion by the whiskers. Gen. Buhari, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was on his way out of Kaduna to his home town, Daura, Katsina State, when the bomb exploded. The second explosion appeared to target his motorcade. Gunmen rammed a vehicle into his convoy and fired shots at it, according to the BBC report. Three of Gen. Buhari’s bodyguards

“In Allah we trust. As such, nothing evil shall happen to me. As I speak to you now, I’m on my way to Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj, so nothing happened to me and my convoy. I’m safe and I call on our people to continue to pray against the perpetrators of this devil act,” Bauchi said.

were injured. Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the General was brought out of his Prado SUV unhurt and taken away in another vehicle. An SUV, one of those in the APC leader’s convoy, was completely burnt down at the scene of the explosion. The police chief said the bomber targeted a prominent Nigerian whose name he did not mention, but said 14 people died and four others injured. However, eyewitnesses insisted that the casualty from the Kawo explosion was far more than that of Alkali Road.

represent a doubling of the 1,735 deaths recorded in the previous year through June 2013, it said. Boko Haram, whose name means “western education is a sin,” is waging a violent campaign that has killed thousands, to impose Shariah, or Islamic law on the country. The group drew global outrage with its April 15 abduction of 276 schoolgirls from their dormitories in Chibok. The militant group claimed three bomb attacks this year in Abuja that killed no fewer than 120 people. Maplecroft ranks Nigeria fifth in its list of “extreme risk” countries topped by Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia. While more people have died in those countries Continued on page 67

WHERE ARE THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15? At the scene of the Kawo explosion, a man disguised as a woman was arrested by soldiers. The suspect was in possession of a bag containing many mobile phone handsets. Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero condemned the explosions which he described as an act of “cowardice” by those bent on creating tension in the state. Continued on page 67

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

NEWS Jonathan swears in Chidoka as Aviation Minister ‘I won’t tamper with Aviation master plan’ From Augustine Ehikioya and Faith Yahaya, Abuja

• Dr Abubakar Olanrewaju (left) and Mr Chidoka, taking their oaths of office before President Jonathan during Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja… yesterday

PHOTO:NAN

FEC approves $82m loan to end polio

HE Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved $82 million (about N13.1 billion) loan facility to accelerate the eradication of polio from Nigeria. Information Minister Labaran Maku briefed State House correspondents on the loan at the end of the FEC meeting, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan. Maku, who was accompanied by the Minister of Water Resource Mrs Sarah Ochekpe and Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Nwanze Okedigbe, said the loan was coming from Japan International Development Agency. According to him, the an-

•Council okays new National Water master plan From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

nual interest rate on the loan is 0.2 per cent. He said: “This concessionary loan, which is actually a grant, has been offered by the Japan International Development Agency to support Nigeria’s motion towards ending the incidence of polio in Nigeria. “Nigeria has been among the countries globally recognised as endemic in terms of the incidence of polio disease. Nigeria has been on this campaign for quite a while to bring down the incidence of polio. “With this new facility, if we are able to meet the tar-

get in the next five years, it is possible that Bill and Melinda Gates will take up the payment of this loan as a grant to the Japanese. “So, the Ministry of Health assured us in Council today that everything is on ground to ensure we succeed in implementing the radical programme, the increase momentum we expect in eradication of polio in the country.” Ochekpe said the FEC also approved the National Water Resources Master Plan 2013, which was developed in partnership with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency. Besides proposing new

funding method, the plan, the minister said, would take adequate care of Nigeria’s water needs even as the population may increase over time. She said the plan, which will last between 2014 and 2030, had been segmented into three stages to ensure that water resources in Nigeria are properly managed. “Through the master plan, it is intended that we will be able to gather and collate appropriate information that will help in terms of hydrological, hydro-metrological, and hydro-geological information management within each hydrological area and basin within the country,” Ochekpe said.

My airport ordeal, by Ezekwesili

FORMER Education Minister and #BringBackOurGirls campaigner, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, has narrated her ordeal, on Monday, in the hands of security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Mrs Ezekwesili was delayed for over 40 minutes by men of the Department of State Security (DSS), who said they were following “orders from above”. The former minister spoke on Tuesday with members of the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN), to whom she is a trustee. She gave details of what transpired between her and the security operatives as she waited to board an aircraft to London for a television programme on the BBC. A statement by CANAN’s Executive Director, Pastor Laolu Akande, after Ezekwesili’s visit to the group in London, revealed details of her ordeal. Ezekwesili said: “I arrived at the airport yesterday (Monday) to travel to London by British Airline. First, after the luggage screening section, I moved to the Customs area, sitting next to it. They were doing a thorough bag search. Rather than handle my luggage, as is the (normal) practice, there were three State

Security Service (SSS) men, who rudely took over before they (Customs officials) could do so. They (SSS) ordered me to open my bag. “I was travelling light, with just my hand luggage, leather roll-on and my computer bag. I placed the bag for them (to see). But one was already furiously rummaging through it, when the Customs advised that a woman be allowed to do it. She was allowed, and she did it. “She finished, zipped up the luggage. Then they said I could proceed. But I asked that the computer bag be also

searched, and they did. “I went to do my checking and got my boarding pass. This was swiftly done. I arrived at the Departure of the Immigration Desk at 7.15am and presented my passport and forms. The Immigration worker did the processing and handed it to the SSS official. “Usually, the process lasts no more than five to 10 minutes on a passport. As a frequent traveller through our Lagos and Abuja airports, I speak from experience and evidence. Even on the same day, the process for other travellers that I witnessed did

not last more than five minutes. But on Monday, it became five, 10, 15 and 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 minutes for the Departure Desk processing my papers, without any explanation except: ‘We are acting on instruction.’” Ezekwesili said after 10 minutes of waiting, she asked the officer why her passport had not been handed over to her. Quoting the officer, she said: ‘I am not doing this personally, madam. I am simply acting on instruction. You, of all persons, should understand that.’

Prisons get new controllers

LEVEN officers of the Zone A, Alagbon, Lagos, of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) have been promoted to Controllers of Prisons. Their elevation followed their success in their promotion examinations. Before their decoration with the new rank, the 11 officers, comprising 10 men and a woman, were Deputy Controllers of Prisons serving in Lagos and Ogun states. They joined the NPS between 1988 and 1993. The officers were yesterday decorated at Alagbon, Lagos, by the Assistant Controller- General of Prisons, Mr. Esu Isaac. Also at the ceremony were Controller of Prisons, Lagos State Command, Mrs. Kate Ononye; the Controller of Prisons, Ogun State Command, Mr. Olanrewaju Olalere and the Lagos State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps

By Adebisi Onanuga

(NSCDC), Mr. Ikemefuna Donatus. The others included the Administrative Officer of Lagos State Prison Command; Mr. Segun Oluwasemire; the Maximum Security Prisons, Kirikiri, Mr. Tinuoye Olumide and the Intelligence Officer, Zone A Command, Lagos, Mr. Usendiah Joseph. Also at the ceremony were: Mr. Ladipo Tunde, of the Medium Security Prisons, Kirikiri; Mr. Babarinde Olugbenga, of Zone A Prison Headquarters, Lagos and Mr. Afolabi Akinyemi. Those decorated included Mr. Ailewon Noel, of the Maximum Security Prisons, Abeokuta; Mrs. Akpanama Helen, Medical Officer in charge of Lagos Prisons Headquarters; Mr. Benson Abolade, of the New Abeokuta Prisons; Mr. Adebisi Adewale, of the Ijebu-Ode Prisons and Mr. Olayemi Omotayo, of Ogun State Command headquarters.

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday swore in two ministers and deployed the former Corp Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corp, Osita Chidoka (Anambra) as the new Minister of Aviation. Abubakar Suleiman (Kwara) became the Minister of National Planning and Deputy Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC). One of the former Deputy Corp Marshalls, Boboye Oyeyemi, was named the new FRSC Corp Marshall. President Jonathan urged the ministers to bring their wealth of experiences to impact positively on their new assignments. He said: “We expect that as you join the team at this time, this is an injury time, like in a soccer match, when you are brought in at that time you are expected to score goals or to give very solid defence. “So, Nigerians are expecting much from you... The issues facing us - of course, most of African countries - is the issue of governance. “We expect you to bring to bear your wealth of experience so that wherever you are deployed, you will make impact.” On the new FRSC chief, the President said: “We are appointing Deputy Corp Marshall Oyeyemi as the Corp Marshall. We will expect that you will do a very good job there. “I believe you will work with your colleagues and make sure that you don’t just maintain what Osita (Chidoka) has done but that you will also improve on that.” Chidoka promised yesterday not to start anything different from the existing Aviation master plan. Few hours after his appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan, the new minister met with workers of the Aviation Ministry. He urged them to deliver quality service to Nigerians. Chidoka, who spoke at the SGF Conference Hall in Abuja, wore a Southeast (Igbo) attire comprising an embroidered grey caphtan over a white round neck shirt and a red cap. The Supervising Minister in the ministry, Dr. Samuel Ortom, was absent at the ceremony. This pushed the handover ceremony till today. Chidoka hailed his predecessor, Ms Stella Oduah, for transforming the aviation industry. He said: “I want us to deliver service to Nigerians. We sometimes forget that the ultimate measure of our work is delivering to the people. “We sometimes forget that we are here because of people and we bring in our own issues. So, I believe that in the next few weeks, I will get presentations from everybody and get ideas on different areas. We will then create a straight line that we will work with. I beg all of you to feel free to say your minds because I know most civil servants will say, ‘Let’s study his body language’. But I am urging all of you to feel free.” Chidoka promised to build on the existing master plan. “We are not going to do anything different, but we will build on what already exists, in line with the Aviation master plan. We will measure where we are and take further step from there. I hope we will have a fruitful working experience and, most importantly, deliver service to Nigerians.”

Police, U.S dept sign MoU From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

HE police signed yesterday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States (U.S) Department of States Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement. Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar signed the document on behalf of the Federal Government. The U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, did on behalf of the U.S government. Entwistle assured the police that they would benefit from the International Police Education and Training Programme, run by the U.S authorities with funding from the U.S Department of States Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement. The ambassador said the pact would modernise police training in Nigeria. He said it would also enhance police officers’ strive for highest standard in ethical conduct and proficiency in law enforcement for sustainable development. Also, Abubakar has received officials of the Department for International Development (DFID). The highlight of the meeting was a formal presentation of strategic guidelines on counter-terrorism and eight other core areas of policing to the Nigeria Police Force. The presentation included segments in counter-terrorism, integrated intelligence, community-policing, fleet management, human resource management, among others. The IGP said the opportunity provided by the international police education and training programme would be harnessed to increase the capabilities of the Nigerian police, especially as the country is battling terrorism and equally preparing for the 2015 general elections. Abubakar said his commitment to reforms and strategic transformation of the Force in order to reposition it for better service delivery. He enjoined all police officers to key into what he described as the ongoing positive wind of change.

THE NATION THURSDAY JULY 24, 2014

NEWS Omatseye’s The Siege comes on stage today

•From left: Nollywood star/President, the Golden Movies Ambassador, Mr. Saidi Balogun; former presidential aspirant, Dr. Tunji Braitwaite; President, Campaign for Democracy (CD)/Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin; representative of Mushin Constituency, Lagos, Funmi Tejuosho; Secretary-General, National Conscience Party (NCP), Comrade Femi Aborishade and former President, Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), Ms. Ayo Obe, during the commemoration of 100 days of Chibok girls’ abduction at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Chibok abduction: Jonathan has failed, says NANS

XACTLY 100 days after over 200 pupils were abducted from the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has criticised President Goodluck Jonathan for his “indolent and incompetent” leadership over the incident. In a statement yesterday by NANS Public Relations Officer (PRO), Comrade Victor Olaogun, the students’ body decried the further collapse of the Education sector since the Jonathan administration took over. It noted that besides the suffering from insecurity, Nigerian students suffered the President’s “incompetence” more than any other Nigerian. Olaogun said since the Boko Haram insurgents started their killings and destruction of property, over 800 students had been killed, especially at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi; the Adamawa State University; the School of Hygiene in Kano; the College of Agriculture in Damaturu, Yobe State, among others. Olaogun said: “Or, do we talk about the killing of innocent National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members whose blood politicians

•Govt refusing assistance bad for rescue efforts’ Protesters clash over money

EMBERS of a protesting group for the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, ReleaseOurGirls, fought yesterday in Abuja over the sharing money. They were paid daily. The protesters, comprising young men, were exchanging fisticuffs. They were heard screaming: “You are lying, we must share the money! You must give me my share; you must give me my money! We must share it equally!” This happened after the group marked 100 days of the abduction of the over 200 pupils from the Government Girls’ SecBy Medinat Kanabe

have continued to march on to power? “We cannot but imagine the harrowing experiences of these innocent girls, who may have been subjected to terrible experiences in the last 100 days in captivity. There is hardly any nation where this could happen and the President would still have the temerity to stage a political campaign and dance Alanta, as our own President did in Kano few hours after the Iyanya bombing. It was a huge display of insensitivity and gross misconduct. “Also, I am a polytechnic student. With my mates in almost all the polytechnics across the federation and the

Fed Govt urges states to build waste plants

HE Federal Government has urged governors to build waste disposal plants in their states. It also urged Nigerians to be conscious about personal hygiene and environmental sanitation in their homes and communities. The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, spoke at the commemoration of this year’s National Environmental Day in Kogi State. She said the construction of waste disposal plants by state governments would enhance the Federal Government’s participatory approach in the fight against unsafe environ-

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

mental conditions. In a statement yesterday in Abuja by her Special Assistant (Media), Josephine Lohor, the minister said: “I want to seize this opportunity to call on all state governors to key into the Kogi State example by setting up waste recycling plants. I am happy that waste is indeed going to be turned into wealth. Development is coming to the area where the factory will be sited, as this is being done for the benefit of the people. “It is my ardent belief that environmental health prob-

From Grace Obike, Abuja

ondary School in Chibok, Borno State. The quarrelling protesters ignored the passersby as they tore one another’s clothes. Two of them were nearly hit by a car. The policemen stationed in front of the Millennium Park dispersed the protesters. One of the leaders of the ReleaseOurGirls had confessed that they were paid to hold the rally. The group, last month, attacked the Oby Ezekwesili-led BringBackOurGirls movement. They beat up its members, seizing their phones and breaking their chairs.

colleges of education, we have been idle for over 10 months and somebody would tell me we have a government in place? We should recall also that the university education was put on hold for over six months before our colleagues could return to their various campuses. These are not only unacceptable but also condemnable.” The students’ leader also condemned the $1 billion (about N165 billion) loan request by the President. He said students would be mobilised for a protest to the National Assembly, if the lawmakers approve “the fraudulent request”. Olaogun said: “Let me warn all the senators and the

‘Our health and wealth are in our hands as we cannot afford to play with our destiny.’ lems can be effectively brought under control by instituting effective collaborative measures at federal, state, and local government levels through the development and empowerment of environmental health units nationwide.” The minister explained that clean and healthy environment makes a wealthy nation. She said: “Our health and wealth are in our hands as we cannot afford to play with our destiny.”

members of the House of Representatives that if they want to return to their constituencies without being stoned, they should not even consider the loan request, not to talk of approving it. We are aware that the President and his clique of wanted elements ...are busy piling up our commonwealth to fight their way back to Aso Rock in 2015. We will fight it and make life more difficult for them.” Also, a group, the SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has said the failure of the Goodluck Jonathan administration to genuinely seek and accept assistance from other states and inter-

national organisations is a major reason the over 200 pupils of Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, have not been rescued. The schoolgirls were abducted 100 days ago by Boko Haram insurgents and have remained in the sect’s captivity since. In a statement yesterday by its Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, SERAP said: “It is 100 days today that the girls were taken away from their families. The question Nigerians are asking is why this government has not admitted that it cannot do it alone. It is now time for the government to genuinely and proactively seek help and international assistance to obtain the badly needed intelligence, logistics and other support so that the schoolgirls can return to their families without further delay. “At this point, seeking such assistance will not breach Nigeria’s sovereignty. As a matter of fact, SERAP believes that Nigeria has a duty, under international law, not only to seek international assistance but also to accept any such assistance when offered. This is the basis of the principle of international cooperation for the protection of human rights. “

LL is set for today’s premiere of The Siege, a new play written by playwright and poet, Sam Omatseye. The event, which holds at 5pm at the MUSON Centre, Lagos, is in honour of Prof Wole Soyinka’s 80th birthday. “To me, Soyinka has really been an iconic figure since my teenage years,” said Omatseye, who is also an award-winning columnist and Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation. The play highlights religious uprisings, a parallel shared between Sudan of old and contemporary Nigeria. “The Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria,” Omatseye said, “has brought to the open the danger of faith on both sides of the Christian and Islamic extremities.” The public is invited as admission is free.

Embassies: more girls being trafficked From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

MBASSIES in Nigeria have alerted the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) to an increase in trafficked Nigerian girls. NAPTIP’s Executive Secretary Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba said countries, such as Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Cameroun, among others, have become the preferred destinations for the traffickers. Jedy-Agba spoke yesterday in Abuja at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) on the inclusion of trafficking in persons as a subject in the school curriculum. “I have received several calls from embassies across the world on cases of Nigerian girls taken from Nigeria to other West and Central African countries where they are being subjected to various forms of exploitation. “The damage this scourge has done to the human capacity development of our country cannot be quantified,” she said.

Stakeholders hail Reps over Tobacco Control Bill TAKEHOLDERS have hailed the House of Representatives for conducting the recent public hearing on the National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB). They said the action would address the controversy surrounding smoking in public. Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) National Vice-President Dele Sotuba said the organisation was happy with the National Assembly for the planned law. He noted that such a statute would sanitise the tobacco industry. The NACCIMA chief urged the House to enact a producer-user-friendly legislation that would reduce the negative effects and maximise the positive effects of tobacco production and smoking in Nigeria. At the presentation of the organisation’s memorandum, the Director of Environmental Rights Action and Friends of the

Earth (ERA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, hailed the lawmakers for its front role to regulate the tobacco industry. He said ERA was calling for the regulation of tobacco products’ contents, the packaging and labelling. According to him, ERA is also advocating the rights of non-smokers, since tobacco affects its consumers and non-consumers. Also, the Head of Research of the Initiative for Public Policy Analysis (IPPA) Mr. Olusegun Sotola said the regulation should be balanced and cater for the rights of the smokers and non-smokers. He said this would ensure that it does not result in unintended consequences. According to him, it must be realised that the issue of tobacco has both the health and economic implications. “As long as there is demand, there must be supply. The right of smokers must be catered for and if the bill as it is drafted, is passed, it will not only affect the manufacturing but the whole value chain; farmers, distributors, retailers, suppliers. This will impact on the economy negatively,” Sotola said.

THE NATION THURSDAY JULY 24, 2014

NEWS Oyo council workers of better packages From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

HE Oyo State Local Government Service Commission has assured workers of better welfare packages. Its Chairman, Chief Lasisi Ayankojo, spoke during a tour of the 33 local governments. He visited three local governments- Saki West, Saki East and Atisbo–yesterday. Ayankojo said the tour was to assess the welfare and performance of the local government workers. Speaking at the Saki West Local Government Secretariat, the Chairman, Yunus Gbadamosi, an engineer, said the employees were performing well and supporting the government.

Panic in Ogun community as robbers threaten residents Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

EAR has gripped residents of Elerinko Estate in Ijoko-Ota, Ado-Odo/ Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State following a letter written to them by suspected armed robbers. The armed robbers, according to residents, promised to visit them. They appealed yesterday to Police Commissioner Ikemefuna Okoye to provide them with adequate security. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi the development, saying adequate measures have been put in place to secure the lives and properties of the people. According to Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said: “ The CP has acted on it.”

•Jakande (third right), his wife Abimbola (second right), Kuforiji (third left), Osoba (second left), Ibirogba (right) and Elumoye at the presentation of thebook PHOTO: BIODUN ADEYEWA in Lagos... yesterday.

Fashola, Osoba, Ikuforiji celebrate Jakande at 85

T was a glorious day for the first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, when Governor Babatunde Fashola, former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba and associates converged on Darlington Hall, Ilupeju, Lagos to celebrate his birthday. He turned 85 yesterday. At the occasion, a book titled: “Jakande: Fountain of Excellence” was presented. The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council sponsored the publication. Aremo Osoba described Jakande as a legend of journalism. He said Jakande was co-founder of the Nigerian Union of Journalists

By Leke Salaudeen

(NUJ), co-founder and first President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and co-founder and twice President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), The former governor also lauded Jakande’s leadership quality when he abolished in one fell swoop the shift system in Lagos public schools on assumption of office as governor in 1979. Lagos State Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji described Jakande as an enigma, a colossus and a giant among men. Ikuforiji said no administration had surpassed what Jakande’s achieved in four

years and three months as governor. He said it was the Jakande administration that built Lagos- Epe Road, Iba-LASU Road and EgbeIdimu Road. He said: “He tarred more roads in Epe where I come from more than any governments after him. He built affordable houses all over the state that are today referred to as Jakande Estates. Old men like Baba Jakande that served selflessly are not being respected because they are out of power; that is why we are in trouble today.” Ikuforiji, who was the book presenter, urged every Nigerian to get a copy. The book reviewer, Mr Gbile Oshadipe, a lecturer

at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), described the subject as a role model, a great administrator and the champion of the people. Oshadipe said Jakande would be remembered for his laudable achievements in education and 16 housing estates known as Jakande estates he built across the state during his tenure as Governor of Lagos state. He is a humanist, trainer of journalists, global activist in journalism profession, consistent and transparent in his dealings. He remains the hero of our time, he added Lagos NUJ Chairman Deji Elumoye said Jakande’s biography is one in

APC to Daniel: face your case with EFCC

Tribunal orders substituted Family announces service on Fayose T Fadipe’s funeral

HE funeral of human rights lawyer Olakunle Fadipe will start today with a a lying-in state at his Harmony Estate,Ogba, Lagos home. Fadipe was stabbed to death earlier in the month. The lying-in-state and a day of tribute will hold between 1pm and 4pm. The body will leave in a motorcade for Ile-Ife, Osun State tomorrow. Another lying-in state will take place at Parakin Estate, Mayfair Road, Ile-Ife. Interment will take place at his Parakin Estate home at 12pm on Saturday.

HE EKiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has permitted the All Progressives Congress (APC) to serve the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, through substituted service. The three-man tribunal headed by Justice Muhammad Sirajo granted the order following an exparte application by Kabir Akingbolu, counsel to the APC. Akingbolu told the tribunal that it was difficult serving Fayose the petition. Justice Sirajo also granted an order for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to permit the APC unrestricted access to

Customs intercept 23 vehicles in Oyo

HE Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) has intercepted 23 fairly-used vehicles loaded with 2,446 imported bags of rice estimated at over N30 million. Area Controller of the command, Richard 0teri, told reporters in Ibadan yesterday that 21 of the vehicles were intercepted in a convoy driven by smugglers. Many residents of the city and other law enforcement agents were attracted by the big haul as they gathered at the Command’s Bodija

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

Headquarters Ibadan. Oteri said the command’s anti-smuggling operatives impounded the rice and vehicles at Ilero-0tu Road, off Saki-Iseyin Road in Kajola Local Government and Alaraba village in Atiba Local Government Area. “The seizures represent a huge loss on the part of these elements despite the fact of a jail term that awaits any of them who will be arrested as a result of our long drawn investigative net,” he added.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

the electoral materials used in the said election for purpose of inspection. The motion brought pursuant to Section 151 (1&2) and paragraph 47(1 and 2) of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended was supported by a 15-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Christian Okoh, a lawyer. Justice Sirajo said: “Leave is hereby granted the applicant to move the application outside and prior to per-hearing session. “Prayer 2,3 and 4 are consequently granted subject to the payment by the petition-

er to the Chief National Electoral Commissioner the requisite fee for the certification of documents aforementioned. “With respect to the second motion no: EKS/Gov/ M3/14, the application for substituted service of the petition on the second respondent (Fayose) is also granted in view of the failure of personal service.” The APC’s lawyer told reporters that the ruling has empowered the petitioner to serve Fayose a copy of the petition through courier to his home country in AfaoEkiti or by pasting a copy on the wall of the PDP secretar-

T •Fayose

iat in Ado-Ekiti. Akingbolu’s said: “The court has granted us an order to use an expert in handwriting, biometric data and scientific analysts that can examine the ballot papers to prove whether the allegation we made is true or not, which we believe will be successfully proved.”

Ekiti Assembly approves 19 LCDAs

KITI State lawmakers have approved the creation of 19 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). This was sequel to the adoption of the report of an Ad-hoc Committee set up to work on the bill seeking the creation of the new councils at the plenary. The House increased the number of the councils by one. Governor Kayode Fayemi sought approval for 18. Presenting the report, a member of the Committee, Ayodeji Odu representing

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency 11, justified the increase based on the consideration of a petition submitted by the people Kajola/ Oreniwa in Ikole Local Government Area. He urged the Assembly to ensure that necessary steps were taken for the listing of the councils in the constitution. Majority Leader Churchill Adedipe moved the motion for the approval of the re-

the series the council plans to write. NUJ National President Mallam Garba Mohammed noted that Jakande was a gifted writer whose factual editorials were respected in the days of colonial regime. Dignitaries at the event are Fashola, who was represented by Commissioner For Information Lateef Ibirogba, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, represented by the Information Commissioner Yusuph Olaniyonu, the celebrant’s wife, Abimbola, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Regional Integration Rev Tunji Adebiyi and a former member of the House of Representatives, Chief Adekunle Ali.

port and the result of the referendum conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC). Adedipe said the result of the referendum conducted was a clear indication that Ekiti people were in full support of the exercise. Both reports were unanimously approved by members of the House. Adedipe also moved that the councils should be addressed as local councils Development Areas pending the final approval by the National Assembly.

HE Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC ) has advised former Governor Gbenga Daniel to concentrate on his trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC). A statement by its Publicity Secretary, Sola Lawal, urged him to stop attacking Governor Ibikunle Amosun. The APC said: “It is regrettable that pariahs, who ought to be behind bars for sundry unmitigated crimes against the people are pontificating on the way forward for the same hapless people. “Whereas the Amosun administration has been adjudged as the best in recent time in the annals of governance in the state, forces of retrogression could still hold firmly the levers of obstinate denials. “The infrastructural, health , education, agricultural and other transformations witnessed in Ogun State since assumption of office of the Amosun government and widespread endorsement of these programmes by the people speak volume of the eagerness of Ogun people to cut a final break from a past of mesmerising oppression by elected people.” The party went on: “The eight locust years of the Daniel administration left a legacy of executive pilfering, brigandage, huge proliferation of arms among youths, widespread dejection among the people and general air of hopelessness.”

THE NATION THURSDAY JULY 24, 2014

NEWS OSUN 2014 ‘Why Aregbesola’s agric programme is a success’

UREAU of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Osun State Governor has emphasised that the State Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (OREAP) remains “one of the successful, laudable development and wealth creation programmes of the Rauf Aregbesola administration.” The Bureau spoke yesterday while reacting to what it called “another in the litany of the Iyiola Omisore lies.” Omisore had claimed in some media reports that the state’s agricultural programme tagged OREAP was a fraud, alleging there is nothing to show for it in almost four years. Describing Omisore’s position as ill-informed and an indication of the crass ignorance of the working of development programmes in government, the Bureau said Aregbesola had not come to power before recognising the need for massive food production to grow an economy such as that of Osun; ignite industrialisation and create jobs. The statement by its Director, Semiu Okanlawon, said the allegation gave away PDP and its candidate as a lazy bunch of people who lack the capacity for simple facts-finding before going to the press. “Farmers are among the happiest beneficiaries of the current administration in Osun. This is because of the prime place Aregbesola accords food production. The agricultural sector has been very strategic to the overall development of Osun. At least, the state’s massive food production programme is central to the realization of three of the six integral action plans of the administration. Only the nitwitted would conclude that agriculture has not played a lead role in banishing poverty, banishing hunger and creation of jobs and wealth,” the Bureau stated Against the lies being bandied by the PDP that farm estates and settlements were supposed to be upgraded, he said land validation exercise and perimeter survey were done with latest technology in nine farm settlements which he noted is the first in the history of farm settlements in SouthWest of the country. He added that over 3,070.3 hectares of land was cleared and 6,209 hectares tractorised across the state. Okanlawon also noted that 20,000 Hectares of farmland were validated in the nine farm settlements, more 4,211 Hectares was discovered and reallocated to small holders. According to him, “This is a programme that was well thought out to empower farmers. The Government procured 5000 metric tons of fertilizers sold to farmers at 50% subsidy over the last 2 years; 1,830 rural farmers in 61 local communities received farm inputs from the State in collaboration with UNICEF.”

Party, Omisore’s group differ over plan to militarise poll

Election ’ll be credible, says Jega

HAIRMAN of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega has assured Nigerians of free, fair and credible election in Osun State on August 9. Jega, who spoke at an event titled: “Experience Sharing Dialogue With Media Professionals” in Abuja yesterday, justified the need for effective deployment of security personnel during the election. He argued that the measure would ensure a violence-free poll in Osun State. The commission chairman warned politicians involved in the Osun poll to eschew violence and to approach the election with a positive mindset. Jega said INEC would adopt the colour-coding method in the ballot papers to be used in Osun as it was effective in the Ekiti poll. He said: “In Ekiti, there was an effective engagement with

•INEC justifies heavy security need From Yusuf Alli and Yomi Odunuga, Abuja

security agencies. We believe that the mobilisation of security led to a violence-free election in Ekiti State despite the post-election complaints. “In Osun, we will also be up and doing. Though Osun is relatively larger than Ekiti with a voter register of about 1.4 million. We are looking at the size and the complexities and we have factored them in our preparations. “Contrary to what some persons say about the Ekiti election, we actually did colour-coding of our ballot papers and the procedures were so rigorous that we would be able to detect any fraud. We did it in Ekiti and we will continue to do that because it has eliminated fraudulent activities. “We will create a levelplaying field in Osun and we

are cooperating fully with the NYSC and security agencies to ensure a hitch-free election. My assessment is that everything is on course in Osun State for a free, fair and credible poll. What is left is for the politicians to have a positive mindset towards August 9 and eschew violence. “We are doing our best, we’ve done our best and we will do our best and also ensure that the 2015 general elections come out successful.” Describing the Ekiti elections as one of the best in recent times conducted by INEC, Jega said the redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State had nothing to do with an indictment of the affected officer, but to forestall the raging allegations and counterallegations by politicians in the state. “We are convinced that the former Resident Electoral

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

T •Jega

Commissioner has done nothing wrong, but we have had to take the painful decision to send another person there. Our REC did nothing wrong. We sent another person to Osun to conduct the election to reduce the allegations and counter-allegations. “Ekiti poll was successful because INEC adopted a more-centralised, effective and efficient deployment of materials. We also improved on our consultations and stakeholders’ engagements, which go a long way in establishing trust and confidence.”

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (fourth left); Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prince Felix Awofisayo (fifth left); Chairman, Parents-Teachers Association (PTA), Dr. Ademola Ekundayo (third left) and others, during Aregbesola’s endorsement for second term and inauguration of public school’s PTA executives at the Technical College, Osogbo, the state capital.

APC: we’ve taken steps to ensure free, fair poll

LL Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday it had taken steps to ensure that the candidates in the August 9 Osun State governorship election are provided with a levelplaying field. It added that actions have also been taken to guarantee that the election is free, fair and transparent as well as devoid of harassment and intimidation. APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, spoke in a statement in Abuja yesterday. The statement said APC had challenged in court the powers of the President to deploy troops and that of the Inspector-General of Police to impose a curfew during the election. It also said the party had written to INEC to demand a postponement of the election if the electoral commission cannot guarantee that all registered voters would be given their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before voting day or in the alternative allow all registered members in possession of INEC temporary voter cards to vote. The actions, according to the party, were aimed at

By Bola Olajuwon, Assistant Editor

avoiding a repeat of the massive harassment, intimidation and arrest of opposition politicians witnessed at the Ekiti governorship election. It said the steps would also prevent any illegal lock down of Osun State, which turned out to be a ploy to pigeonhole opposition politicians while allowing PDP members to move around freely. The party said the letter to INEC followed concerns expressed by APC members in Osun that they have so far been denied their PVCs under shady circumstances, a development that could be a ploy to massively disenfranchise APC members and rig the election at source The statement said: “In the first case filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos on July 15, 2014, we are seeking, among others, ‘a declaration that by the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), it is ultra vires for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to deploy members of the armed forces to Osun State for the purpose of the conduct of the guber-

natorial election scheduled for August 9, 2014’. “In the second case, also filed at the same court on July 17, 2014, we are seeking, among other reliefs, ‘a declaration that by the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), and the Curfew Law of Osun State, CAP 36, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2001, it is ultra vires for the Inspector General of Police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to impose curfew on any part of Osun State during the conduct of the gubernatorial election scheduled to hold on Aug. 9th, 2014, or at any time whatsoever in any part of Nigeria’. ‘’The actions have reinforced the credentials of our party as law-abiding and peaceful. Instead of resorting to self help, as many would have done in the face of the many underhand tactics by the PDP-led Federal Government to stifle the opposition and skew the conditions in favour of the ruling party, we decided to embark on a legal challenge of the unlawful actions of the government. ‘’We are not seeking any fa-

vour beyond that all candidates in the election be allowed to have a level-playing field, for all registered voters to be able to cast their votes in an atmosphere devoid of violence, harassment and intimidation, and for the election itself to be conducted in substantial compliance with the law.” APC said popular participation is at the core of democratic governance, hence a development in which registered voters, most of them from the opposition, will not be allowed to vote based on the incompetence of the electoral authorities is anti-democratic. “That is why we have written to INEC to allow duly registered voters to exercise their franchise on August 9, whether or not they have PVCs or temporary voter cards. If this is not possible, INEC should consider postponing the election until such a time that not one voter will be disenfranchised due to the incompetence, collusion or shenanigans of INEC,’’ the party said. It warned that the Osun governorship election must not just be free, fair and transparent, it must been seen to be so by all stakeholders.

HE Osun State All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Omisore Campaign Organisation differed yesterday over plans to deploy military personnel for the August 9 governorship election. Interim Chairman of APC, Elder Adebiyi Adelowo, at a media briefing yesterday at the party’s secretariat, said the election was supposed to be a civil exercise devoid of soldiers. He said at the event, which was also attended by APC State Interim Secretary, Prince Gboyega Famodun and a chieftain, Alhaji Fatai Diekola, that the APC had no evil plan during the election, but want an environment devoid of use of security agents to intimidate the electorate. The APC chieftain said it should be made compulsory that the soldiers and police as well as other security agents to wear name tags and hang their identification cards to prevent infiltration of fake security agents during the poll. He raised the alarm over alleged plans by the PDP to rig the election with the collaboration of the Presidency and security agencies. Adelowo appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to caution the leaders of the party over their alleged desperation to take over power through fraudulent means. According to him, President Jonathan should caution the Ministers of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Oobanikoro and Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, over their alleged desperation to ensure that PDP captures the Southwest. He said: “Information at our disposal shows that the PDP has perfected plans to rig the August 9 governorship election. They want to use various machinery, including the security agencies, especially the soldiers and police. Apart from this, the PDP is planning to use the police to pick some of our members, particularly stalwarts before the poll.” But the Director of Publicity for Omisore Campaign Organisation, Prince Diran Odeyemi, described the APC’s allegations as baseless. He said the PDP would win the election without rigging and without the influence of any individual or group of people. Odeyemi, who said the APC resorted to the allegations having realised that its days are numbered in the state He said the allegations would not make the PDP lose focus on its determination to take over government from the APC.

•Omisore

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Air Force men raid Lagos airport

IR FORCE men stormed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos yesterday, raiding passengers, their escorts, concessionaires and Bureaux De Change operators. The gun-totting officials led by the Airport Commandant, Group Captain Victor Ajiboye, disrupted operations at the departure and arrival halls. The military personnel, it was learnt, acted on a tip-off on alleged security breach at the airport, resulting in the clamp-down. They arrested those moving around the departure and arrival halls without “on duty” identity cards in line with aviation regula-

•FAAN, police, others kick By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

tions. The raid drew the ire of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), whose chief security officer (CSO), as was learnt, was not carried along in the operation. The CSO, other senior officials in the aviation security department of FAAN, and other security agencies including the police, Immigration and Customs expressed shock Officials of other security agencies who craved anonymity condemned the Air Force’s action, describing it as rash and unacceptable. According to them, it is

wrong to mete out such treatment on innocent civilians at the airport without recourse to civil aviation regulations. Passengers were scared to speak to reporters for fear of the Air Force personnel whose plain-cloth officials maintained surveillance at the terminal. Offices of some Bureaux de Change operators including: Sulah Bureaux de Change, Kings Bureaux de Change, Vida Sem, Westgate Pharmacy, Kilimanjaro Eatery, Global Link Mini Market, Eddy Burger Eatery, Famous Link, and Leader Investment Company Limited were shut.

Airport workers said it was wrong for the Air Force to raid offices of concessionaires who pay rent and other charges to FAAN without carrying the airport’s security unit along. Some of the operators, whose offices were shut, it was learnt, may be planning legal action against the military for the onslaught. The affected eatery operators bemoaned their fate as their shops were deserted by passengers and others who had come for their legitimate activities at the airport. A source hinted that the military personnel at the weekend, also raided a sec-

‘

Officials of other security agencies who craved anonymity condemned the Air Force’s action, describing it as rash and unacceptable ... Passengers were scared to speak to reporters for fear of the Air Force personnel...

’

tion of a private terminal at the international wing of the airport. Some persons were said to have been arrested by the Air Force officials at the private terminal.

‘Life has turned a nightmare for me’

IFE has become unbearable for Mrs Oladipupo Muinat Olabisi, a 34-year old petty trader since she was rendered bed-ridden by “bilateral avascular necrosis of the femoral.” The disease has to do with the decaying of her hips. It started with the left hip and is eating into the right hip. Mrs Oladipupo needs N2.5 million to be able to walk again. She has been nursing the pains for over four years. Her husband, Mr Yussuf Hammed, cannot help her because of his meagre income from his printing is

•Woman needs N2.5m for ‘decaying hips’ By Amidu Arije

barely enough to feed the family. Her doctors have advised her family to look for the money to save her life. She is calling on wellmeaning Nigerians to assist her. Mrs Oladipupo has become jittery since doctors told her she might lose both hips if she does not operate the troubled part as soon as possible. She was treated by experts at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)

before she was referred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Yaba, for advanced treatment. “I have been nursing injuries on my hips for the past four years. I was referred from LUTH to the Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, where I am currently receiving treatment; but for me to stay alive, I was told a surgical operation must be carried out on both hips at a total cost of N2.5million,” she said. “I am appealing to wellmeaning Nigerians and

organisations to come to my aid in Allah’s name. Each day and night, I am under serious pains on both hips and most times. I hardly work as life has become a nightmare for me,” she added. The patient said she could be reached on 08029012433, 08161603237 or through her husband’s phone number, 08022666049. She gave her bank details as: First Bank; account number 3008519813 and name: Oladipupo Muinat Olabisi.

•Olabisi

•From left: Leader of the House Hon. Adebola Adetona; Secretary to the local government Owolabi Philip Salu and Bagostowe at the meeting ... yesterday.

Lagos technical colleges’ graduates to get loans for own businesses

HE Lagos State Government has expressed its readiness to provide loans for technical colleges’ graduates who indicate interest in starting up their own businesses. The Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, told students and stakeholders at the second edition of Enterprise Day, held at NECA House, Alausa, Ikeja, that the loans would be interest-free. The event, which was organised by the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB)

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

and chaired by Mr. Olawumi Gasper, was designed to develop a new generation of entrepreneurs. Mrs Orelope-Adefulire explained that the beneficiaries would not provide any collateral. She explained that the loans would be processed through the Lagos State Micro Finance Institution (LASMI), adding that forms will be provided for the students at their various institutions to enable them apply.

Orelope-Adefulire said the Enterprise Day celebration was a programme of the government properly articulated to foster enterprise education among technical college students. She said the programme was geared towards encouraging the students to embrace entrepreneurial activities and develop the right attitude to entrepreneurship and selfemployment. She said: “We have chosen to champion vocational and technical education as it focuses specifically on provid-

ing job-related skills for students, while also preparing them to be better positioned to develop new enterprises. “We have not departed from the position that technical and vocational education presents a complementary approach to general education. Our students are given the right opportunity to explore and identify potential career goals and are provided with the resources needed to achieve goals through technical partnership with industry stakeholders.” Also Commissioner for

HE Executive Director of Media Stead International Limited, Mr Okala Uzochukwu, yesterday disclosed that this year’s Media Stead Women’s Conference and Award would hold at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, on Saturday. Awards’ recipients, he said, would include women in the banking sector, politics, media, oil and gas, business and education. The categories of the awards include: Virtuous Women Award, Nigeria Education Development Award, Special Honorary Recognition Awards and Female Media Personality Award, among others. The guest speaker is a foremost female activist and member of the ongoing National Confab in Abuja, Dr. Joe-Okei Odumakin.

By Uyoatta Eshiet

port of corporate organisations and the whole community as security is not the sole responsibility of government, and to prevail on parents to monitor their children. He said as part of efforts at controlling restiveness and crime in the local government in recent times, he held several meetings with the CDAs, provided vehicles, walkie-talkies and other security gadgets to boost security in the area. Bagostowe emphasised that to ensure security in the area, government alone cannot bear the burden, hence the need to seek the support of corporate organisations and agencies in his domain. A Security Trust Fund Committee was set up to put in place all things necessary in terms of money and other logistics to checkmate crime, insecurity and cultism in the area.

By Jane Chijioke

Building collapse: Bricklayers, block makers trained

Stakeholders move against insecurity, cultism O fight insecurity, cultism and restore sanity in Somolu Local Government Area of Lagos State, its chairman, Hon. Gbolahan Bagostowe convened a maiden security stakeholders meeting yesterday. The meeting which took place at the council’s secretariat was attended by representatives of corporate organisations operating in the area, Community Development Associations (CDAs) and other stakeholders. Bagostowe said his council was taking steps to curb youth restiveness and crimes. He added that security must be addressed with every sense of responsibility “in order to enable us achieve and actualise our dream of a secured Somolu community.” According to the chairman, the essence of the stakeholders’ meeting is to call for sup-

Women’s conference, awards hold

Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, said the first Enterprise Day was aimed at instilling a positive attitude in Lagos youth towards entrepreneurial spirit. Oladunjoye said the government placed emphasis on curriculum re-alignment in the technical colleges, highlighting the importance of entrepreneurship, skills, training, involvement of industries and public private partnership in technical and vocational education for meeting emerging needs of globalised economy.

ORRIED by incessant cases of building collapse in the country, LAFARGE Cement Nigeria plc has organised a training on block making and concrete mixing for bricklayers, block makers in the building industry to curb the ugly trends. The training, which was held at Olugbon Hall, Oyo yesterday, laid much emphasis on “the requirement of quality blocks in building construction”. The regional Manager of the company, Mr Soji Odus, said the major objective of the company is to ensure that the buyers and users of cement get value for their money. “We are not here to teach you how to mould blocks but to give you training on how to mould quality blocks for building houses. The workshop will change the way and method adoptable in concrete mixing and block moulding by players in the building industry.” Odus stated Delivering his lecture, the relationship manager, precast and block making segment of the company, Mr Adesoji Okesina attributed incidence of building collapse in Nigeria to the use of lowquality building materials and unprofessional mixing of cement with sand, gravel, granite and other building materials. Also, the National President of Nigeria Block Makers Association, Alhaji Raji Adebowale commended the recent step taken by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to ensure quality block making in the country.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

NEWS 32,000 motorcycle operators VER 32,412 commerregistered

cial motorcycle operators have been registered in Jigawa State. This was contained in a report by Commercial Motorcycle Operators Identification and Registration Committee, headed by Alhaji Garba Alhassan, which was presented to the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Lawan Abdu. Alhassan said the committee supplied over 16, 000 reflective jackets, which were numbered serially, to the motorcycle operators. The chairman said the com-

From Ahmed Rufa'i, Dutse

mittee was established in 2012, but it was revived last year due to the influx of commercial motorcycle operators from other states. According to him, Dutse, Guri, Gwaram, Jahun, Kafinhausa, Taura and Ringim local governments have enacted a by-law to regulate motorcycle operators’ operations. Abdu said the committee will work to sanitise the operation of commercial motorcycle operators.

Plane catches fire at Kano Airport

TURKISH plane caught fire during fuelling at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. It was gathered that the incident occurred at 11 pm. The Airport authorities were mobilised to the site and the aircraft was towed away. A source said the fuel tanker was partly razed and the aircraft "slightly damaged".

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

The source said: "It was God who saved the aircraft. Men of the Airport Fire Service mobilised to the scene immediately. "The good thing was that the fuelling was through a tanker, which partially caught fire but the fire was promptly put out, if it was underground fuelling, it would have been a disaster."

Church camp

HE Power Park Mission Church International, Holy Ghost Deliverance Ministry, will hold its Holy Ghost Fire Camp on August 17-24 with the theme "Thy Kingdom Come" (Luke 11:2). The programme holds at 32, Oluwakemi Temitayo Street, Off Shangoremi Lane, Powerline Isheri-Berger, Lagos. The chief host, Apostle Dennis Elum, said the programme will uplift people spiritually.

IDPs flood Gombe From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

HE Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has raised the alarm on the influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into the state. The Executive Secretary, Dr. Danlami Arabs Rukujei, said the IDPs are mostly from Damboa in Borno State. He said over 1,000 IDPs had come the state within the last two days and the number still swelling. "Since I took over this responsibility, this has been the largest influx of IDPs and as I speak to you, we have not finished the registration." One of the victims, Mohammed Abdulrahman, said Boko Haram insurgents invaded Damboa last Friday, killing, maiming and destroying properties and because there were no security operatives in Damboa.

Airport fence collapses

AST Monday’s torrential rain in Kano State has led to the collapse of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport fence, rendering the airport vulnerable. The wall leads to Panisau, Kurna Asabe and neighbouring settlements. Some villagers told this reporter that the rain, which lasted for over four hours, submerged the entire area of the airport. The villagers called on the authorities to provide a so-

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

lution to prevent stray animals from invading the runway. It was gathered that the presence of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Managing Director, Mallam Saleh Dumona, must have prompted the deployment of soldiers to the affected areas to strengthen security. Dumona was at the airport to inspect and ascertain the level of the destruction.

The Nation man loses dad

HE remains of the late Samuel Onyegbula Jibueze will be buried on August 16. He died on June 16 after a brief illness, aged 85. He was the father of The Nation's Senior Correspondent, Joseph Jibueze. The funeral will hold at Jibueze's Compound, Ogbuebulle Alala-Oboro, Ikuwano Local Government Area of Abia State by noon. The late Jibueze, born on June 30, 1929, was a former teacher. He later worked briefly in a biscuit company at Apapa, Lagos, before going into photography. He worked in the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), from where he retired in 2000.

On retirement, he returned to farming and remained active till his later years. He was blessed with six children and eight grandchildren. He was one of Jehovah's Witnesses and was busy in the Christian ministry.

•Some ‘protesters’ fighting over money at the Boko Haram Release Our Girls campaign at the Unity Fountain, Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Nasarawa Assembly asks Chief Judge to constitute panel T HE Nasarawa State House of Assembly has asked the Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko, to constitute a sevenman panel to probe ``alleged gross misconduct" against Governor Tanko AlMakura. The lawmakers took the decision during plenary yesterday, which lasted for about 20 minutes. The lawmakers, it was gathered, left Abuja at about 2am, arrived at the Assembly complex at about 5.50am. Some of the lawmakers observed their morning prayers (Subh) before heading to the Assembly Complex. The Majority Leader, Godiya Akwashiki (PDPUdege/Loko) moved the motion for the setting up of the probe panel. He was seconded by Mohammed Baba-

Ibaku (PDP- Udege -Uloko). The Speaker, Musa Ahmed, put the motion to vote and 20 of the 24 members voted in favour; the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers voted against the motion. The Assembly, therefore, directed the Clerk, Ego Maikeffi, to communicate the decision to the Chief Judge, saying that he has one week to constitute the panel. It was gathered that the APC lawmakers attempted to snatch the mace but were prevented by security operatives. But the governor prevailed on the people, some of who had gathered at the Assembly complex, not to attack the lawmakers or take

any action which could desecrate the Legislature Security was strengthened on the road leading to the Assembly, with armed policemen and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) stationed at strategic areas and within the Assembly. The legislature, on July 14, resolved to serve notice of impeachment for "alleged gross misconduct" on the governor. The development led to state-wide protests in major towns in the state, causing tension in Lafia, the state capital. The Assembly published the notice in the media on July 17, after alleged failed attempts by the Clerk to personally serve the governor with the impeachment notice.

‘Taraba govt insensitive to citizens’ plight’

HE Christian community in Taraba State has accused the government of being “insensitive” to the plight of the citizens. It accused the Garba Umar administration of breaching the constitutional provision, which guarantees protection of life and property. This was contained in a communique at the end of 108 CRCN General Church Council (GCC) in Takum, Taraba State. The communique was signed by the CRCN President, Rev. Osheka Caleb Ahima and Vice President Rev. Isaiah Jirapye Magaji. The General Church Coun-

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

cil is the highest decision and policy making body of the Christian Reformed Church in Nigeria. It said the continuous attacks on Christians, in the southern and central districts of Taraba have led to the death of hundreds of people and destruction of property. It said the sustained silence by the government on the killings of Christians, particularly the Tiv, and their forceful relocation to Benue State is “not only politically motivated but a calculated

and coordinated plot to exterminate Christians in Taraba.” It urged the Federal Government to compel security agencies to operate within the law, instead of promoting sectional interest, which often made some people sacred cows and others scapegoats. It said: “The free movement of people claimed to be Fulani herdsmen with sophisticated weapons terrorising innocent villagers in southern and central Taraba under the nose of security operatives be halted immediately in the interest of peace and development.

“The federal and state government should bring back and compensate the Tiv who were forced out of their dwelling places. “The mass exodus of Tiv people from Taraba state, if not addressed, will lead to famine in the state; government’s quest for food security and export of agricultural products to raise foreign exchange earnings for the state and country would be a mirage. “We view the expulsion of Tiv people from Taraba State as a scheme to undo the Christian community because of their numerical strength.”

Niger APC condemns clampdown on journalists

•The late Jibueze

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja and Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, Abdulhamid Kwarra, said Governor AlMakura was yet to be served with the "purported" impeachment notice. He said when he gets the notice, he would respond appropriately. A source said: "The governor has assembled a legal team to study the dawn session of the Assembly and the legality of its resolution when he has not been served an impeachment notice. "So, the battle is shifting to the court any moment from now as soon as the strike action by judicial workers is called off. "What the governor did was to prevail on the people not to take any action to attack the lawmakers or desecrate the Legislature."

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State condemned yesterday the clampdown on journalists in Niger State. The Publicity Secretary, Jonathan Vasta, in a statement in Abuja said the government has blacklisted five journalists. The Nation correspondent, Jide Orintunsin, has been barred from the Government House.

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

Vasta said: “The correspondents of Thisday, Aisha Wakaso, Leadership, Abu Nmodu, Blueprint, Aideloje Ojo, Daily Trust, Aliyu Hamaham have all been blacklisted by the Niger State government. “The government told the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) that it has suspended

its relationship with journalists. “While Niger people are managing to cope with the seven years of mal-administration, seven years of misery, seven years of pains and waste of state resources, the government wants to use its remaining nine months to harass and cage journalists from expressing their freedom. “APC therefore urged the

members of the press not to relent in the pursuit of their professional duties, no matter the amount of intimidation and blackmail. “Journalism is not a crime; freedom of the press is freedom of the people.” The statement said it is only a leader with poor records of performance and human management that will resort to harassing innocent citizens and journalists.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

‘Europe is a good market for gas. Incidentally, Belgium has important terminals such as the Port of Antwerp through which Nigeria hopes to get its gas to the rest of Europe. We’ll start marketing our abundant gas resources to Europe,’ •Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu

Govt to boost domestic trade • Holds town hall meeting with traders

• From left: Head, Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standard Department, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Mr. Vincent Udoye; Executive Director, Captain Ezekiel Agaba; Director, Captain Warriedi Enisuoh and Deputy Director, Public Relations Mr. Isichei Osamgbi, at the Press Conference in Lagos... yesterday.

Nigeria’s economic risks heighten, says Standard & Poor’s N IGERIA’S economic risks have increased in recent months and there are credible concerns to warrant a downgrade of the country’s rating, Standard & Poor’s, has said. In its latest review of subSaharan African economies, titled, ‘Sub-Saharan Africa Sovereign Rating Trends Mid-Year 2014,’ the global rating agency outlined concerns over Nigeria’s heightened political and institutional risks. According to the report, Nigeria still faces major challenge of credit quality in spite of its new status as Africa’s largest economy. It said the downgrade of Nigeria’s rating from stable to negative reflected the agency’s view that risks to the country’s ratings have increased. The report pointed out that tensions within Nigeria’s ruling party have heightened political and institutional risks citing the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) internal crisis. It added that extensive oil theft and installation shutdowns in the Niger Delta have seen oil production fall below levels the government as-

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$117.4/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,396.9/troy Sugar -$163/lb RATES Inflation -8.2% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -3% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $38.4b FOREX CFA -0.2958 EUR -206.9 £ -242.1 $ -156 ¥ -1.9179 SDR -238 RIYAL -40.472

By Taofik Salako,

Capital Market Editor

sumed in its 2013 budget and 2014 budget plan, while fiscal buffers in the excess crude account (ECA) have been drawndown over the last year. “We also believe the possibility of increased political influence on the central bank’s management could hamper progress in banking sector regulation and supervision. In addition to these three main elements, the threat from the terrorist group, Boko Haram, continues to be significant and is extending beyond the northeast, despite military and diplomatic efforts,” the report stated. Standard & Poor’s (S & P) noted that while Nigeria overtook South Africa to become

Africa’s largest economy after it rebased its GDP in April, the rebasing on its own might not improve Nigeria’s credit quality in the near term given the challenges the national economy still faces. Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) rebased the country’s GDP by using new data sources, definitions, and methods, which saw more industries included and gave a higher weighting to certain sectors, especially in services such as finance and telecommunications. Under this new methodology, Nigerian GDP for 2013 increased from about $270 billion to about $510 billion, substantially larger than South Africa’s$351 billion. The report also cited South Africa as another country with higher risks given its

Finance workers protest

CTIVITIES were paralysed at the headquarters of the Ministry of Finance in Abuja yesterday. Angry workers barricaded the entrance to the ministry for the whole day over what they described as their poor welfare conditions foisted on them by the new Permanent Secretary, Mrs Anastasia Nwoabia by denying them some of the benefits that should come to them based on the civil service rules. Defying a downpour, the workers accused Mrs Nwobia of preventing them from accessing their overtime and training allowances which they said they are entitled to. They also accused her of stopping other perks that should be given to them during festivals. The workers restricted Nwaobia’s movement within the building while those who came after the protest had commenced like the minster and minister of state for finance were prevented from entering the ministry.

From Nduka Chiejina (Asst. Editor), Abuja

The convoys of the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala and her counterpart, the Minister of state Ambassador Bashir Yuguda were barred from gaining access into the premises of the ministry after their weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting. Both ministers, however, came down from their vehicles and walked to meet a cheering crowd of workers. The Leader of the workers’ union, Mr Olaniyi Ade, lamented that Nwobia had brought pains to the workers. Responding, Mrs OkonjoIweala assured the workers that “Whatever the issues are, we will sort them out as a family. There has never been a time that I reasoned with you and you let me down and that’s why am proud of you. We are going to have a dialogue and collectively we will find a solution to these problems.”

ongoing lackluster growth against a backdrop of relatively high current account deficits and rising general government debt.

HE Federal Govern ment has re-affirmed its commitment towards facilitating the growth and development of domestic trade across the country. The Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, who stated this at a Townhall Meeting with traders and representatives of market associations from the Southwest geo-political zone, in Lagos, yesterday, said the parley was necessitated by the Federal Government’s recognition of the importance of domestic trade in achieving its inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development in line with President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda. Aganga said: “This is the first ever townhall meeting, and also the first in the series that the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment will be organising as part of our deliberate strategy to develop and grow domestic trade across the country. “As part of our domestic trade strategy, the Federal Government wants to bring policy formulation and implementation down to the grassroots and ensure that traders are carried along.”

By Toba Agboola

He said statistics have shown that domestic trade has a strategic role to play in achieving inclusive and sustainable growth and development in the country. He explained that with the re-basing of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, agriculture now contributes about 22 per cent to the GDP; industrial sector contributes about 26 per cent, while the services sector, accounts for about 52 per cent, adding that when you look at the services sector’s contribution, retail and wholesale trade, account for about one third of that 52 per cent. Aganga said the government will partner traders and other regional organisations to provide the conducive environment for the development of domestic trade. “Nigerians are very enterprising and hardworking people. All they need is the enabling environment. Our job as a government is to provide them with the conducive environment to do their businesses so that they can create jobs and drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS INDUSTRY

industry@thenationaonlineng.net

•Calabar Free Trade zone.

Are the Free Trade Zones (FTZs) doing their job of stimulating industrial activities, encouraging manufacturing of goods for export, facilitating inflow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and creating jobs? To experts and operators, FTZs are handicapped by inadequate funding and government’s failure to fulfil its obligations to them, reports Assist. Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA.

On a bumpy road •FTZs’ many challenges

HEN the Federal Govern ment opted to ride on the back of Free Trade Zones (FTZs) to stimulate industrial activities and encourage the manufacturing of goods for export, the expectation was that Nigeria would soon begin to reap bountifully from the initiative. The FTZs, otherwise known as Export Processing Zones (EPZs) or Special Economic Zones (SEZs), are specially designated industrial and commercial areas within a country where trade barriers, such as tariffs and quotas are eliminated to drive industrial presence in those areas and attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs). Economic activities within the FTZs are mainly geared towards export and such activities are expected to help promote transfer of technology and create jobs. By leveraging the FTZs to strategically improve the investment climate by stimulating export oriented business activities, the ultimate goal of setting up the FTZs was to diversify the nation’s economic base by weaning it of its over-dependence on proceeds from oil and gas. Although, between November 1991 when former military President Ibrahim Babangida led the foundation stone of the first FTZ in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, and now, a period of 13 years, the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), the agency responsible for promoting and facilitating local and international investments into licensed free zones in Nigeria, says it has recorded some modest achievements, such achievements are considered mere drops in the ocean. For instance, at the last count, the NEPZA, according to its Managing Director (MD), Mr. Olugbenga Kuye, has licensed a total of 25 Free Zones across the country. Out of these, 12 are operational and open for business while the rest are at various

stages of development. Kuye said the scheme has generated 3,000 new jobs from the various enterprises in the zones while the new FDI attracted has $664 million of which the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) EPZ topped the highest having invested $83 million for expansion of its aluminium smelter facility. This is followed by LADOL and Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zones, respectively. The NEPZA helmsman also said Nigeria’s Free Zones exported goods and services worth $664 million while local exports, which are local sales into the customs territory realised N29 billion. Kuye, who spoke at the Sixth National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment, also said the agency was putting mechinery in place to increase the volume of investment to about $15 billion in the next five years. He told council members that the agency had received 11 fresh applications for free zone status and that the applications are at various stages for consideration. He said the delay in granting free zone status was because of the inability of most zone promoters to meet relevant requirements, such as the provision of resettlement plan for current dwellers/inhabitants of the proposed free zone. However, experts, operators and stakeholders are far from being impressed by the performance of the FTZs. Some of them, who spoke with The Nation, described the performance of the FTZs as sub-optimal. For instance, Kola Oladipo, former chairman, Export Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), said the FTZs have failed to live up to the objectives of setting them up, blaming their sub-optimal performance on lack of infrastructure and funding, among others. He accused the government of re-

•Akabogu

•Aganga

neging on its obligations to provide the requisite infrastructure for the smooth operations of the FTZs. “Government failed to play its part; there is no government participation. Under the arrangement establishing the FTZs, government is supposed to provide access to land, water, electricity, and security, among others. But the government has failed to provide all of these, leaving operators in the free zones in the lurch,” he said. He said some operators, who could no longer cope with rising cost of providing their own electricity, water and security, have since fled the free zones. Oladipo is not done. He said the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is not helping matters either. According to him, operators within the FTZs are having a raw deal in the hands of Customs. “They (operators) are not supposed to pay duties for raw materials coming into the country to be used for manufacturing activities,” he said, adding that this has not been the case and it is against the original understanding that industrial activities are mainly for export. He said operators are sometimes made to sell manufactured goods to the local market rather than export. According to him, the original concept of FTZs was to develop exportoriented manufacturing in the nonoil sector of the economy. Kuye agrees with him. He explained that no import duty is payable for goods imported into the Free Zone either for consumption, production or capital goods and there is no export charges on goods exported. He noted that in the Free Zone, goods are transferred under customs escort from any ports of entry in Nigeria to Free Zones and there is fast-track of airfreight cargo movement under

customs escort from any airport in Nigeria to the free zones. But Oladipo said customs has been observing these only in the breach, thus creating problems for the operators. He also said those managing NEPZA are mostly civil servants who lack understanding of the workings of the scheme and its operations. This, he said, was why the agency is not doing enough in the area of collaboration with relevant agencies such as MAN and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). “There is need for all the stakeholders to come together and collaborate if the concept of FTZ must work,” he argued, adding that the government must also come in through the Nigeria Export Import (NEXIM) Bank to fund the operations of the FTZs. He said government agencies, which run the FTZs are on budget, thereby making funding difficult. Kuye admitted that budgetary provision in recent years had been on the decline. He however, noted that efforts were on ground to tackle this challenge by seeking alternative sources of funding, such as adopting the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model as well as seeking assistance from international development partners. Noting that FTZs are, indeed, capital intensive, requiring adequate funding, a Lagos-based lawyer, Obiora Akabogu, said apart from poor funding, “The FTZs are suffering from undue politicisation, which is why they are under-performing.” He said the original concept of a free zone is to stimulate economic growth in a designated area that requires industrial presence, but the fact that some states whose geo-

‘Government failed to play its part; there is no government participation. Under the arrangement establishing the FTZs, government is supposed to provide access to land, water, electricity, and security, among others. But the government has failed to provide all of these, leaving operators in the free zones in the lurch’

graphic locations do not support a free zone, are now dabbling into it means that they have lost focus. Akabogu said, for instance, that while the Lagos State Government’s decision to explore the FTZs’ initiative to boost its economic prosperity, which led to the establishment of the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) could be understood given the availability of seaports for ease of export, the decision of the Ogun State Government to go into a FTZ project is difficult to understand. As far as he is concerned, “some of the states that have delved in the project despite not having seaports for ease of export are merely playing to the gallery or jumping into the band wagon.” He said such states should have channelled their lean resources to other deserving projects such as agric. “Cocoa used to be the mainstay of the economy of Western Nigeria, but has been abandoned. Some of the states in Western Nigeria who are dabbling into FTZs could have channeled their resources to agric such as cocoa farming,” he said. Noting that the Federal Government’s FTZ in Calabar has not been working at full capacity, the lawyer wondered how that of Ogun State, for instance, would work. Akabogu is right. The Federal Government’s failure to dredge the Calabar channel is threatening the survival of the CFTZ and Tinapa Free Trade Zone, two of Nigeria’s popular free zones. Terminal operators in the CFTZ, for instance, have been lamenting that the non-dredging of the Calabar channel has been stunting the growth of the CFTZ and Tinapa Free Trade, which are struggling to survive. Here, Oladipo’s accusation that the government failed to carry out its obligations rings a bell, as the concession agreement the terminal operators had when they took over operations stipulated that the dredging of the channel had to be done by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to the advertised draft of 9.4metres. Till date, this has not been done, prompting persistent calls by stakeholders on the Federal Government to ensure that the NPA completed the capital dredging of the Calabar river channel. That is not all. Other challenges identified by the NEPZA include policy reversals and inconsistencies, slow responses to changes in global trend, conflict and overlapping laws and procedures with other relevant government agencies, delay in passing into law the proposed Free Trade Zone Bill, which is before the National Assembly, high cost of borrowing funds and non-availability of long term fund as well as lack of consideration of free zones in policy formulation.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

INDUSTRY

Govt directs ministries, Ondo disburses N80m to SMEs T others on data capturing

HE Federal Government has directed Ministries, Depart ments and Agencies (MDAs) to abide by the guidelines on the alignment of data capture, identification verification and authentication. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim gave the directive at a workshop by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for MDAs in Abuja. Anyim warned MDAs affected by the harmonisation to guide against sabotage. He said: “This workshop is not for you to analyse why the policy cannot work or why more time is needed. It is not for you to justify the need for your MDAs to have its own separate process or database. “Far from all these, the workshop is for you to quickly determine how your MDA can achieve the objective of streamlining activities of MDAs in identity management. “It is for you to optimise the use of scarce government resources and establish a single secure, reliable, accessible and scalable NIMS.’’

Stories by Okwy IroegbuChikezie

Represented by the Special Assistant to the President in the Office of the SGF, Mr. Ferdinand Agu, Anyim said the integration of diverse data capture process and ubiquitous database in the MDAs was overdue. He advised the concerned MDAs to abide by the circular issued on the guidelines on the implementation of the presidential directive. “When President Goodluck Jonathan on October 17, 2013 gave the directive for all eligible Nigerians to be enrolled by December 31, he meant it. I enjoin you all to do all you can to ensure compliance. “In doing so we must also ensure the complete elimination of duplicated processes and further wastage of resources. “The government investment should be consolidated in the most optimal manner by that deadline,’’ he said. He said the deployment and management of a system of identity data

capturing had been a major national challenge. Ayim said until recently, the multiplication of identity databases by different MDAs was a welcome idea since they served the purposes of managing particular demography unique to the agencies. He however said that over time, these databases had become overlapping and burdensome to the government. Anyim said in a changing world, systems evolve daily and Nigeria as a global player had no choice but to use identity management as a reliable tool for accelerating socio-economic development. Earlier, NIMC’s Director-General, Mr Chris Onyemenam, said printing of the national identity cards had been concluded and waiting for lunch by Jonathan. He said the cards would be issued to Nigerians as soon as the formal lunch was conducted. Onyemenam said the harmonisation of the NIMS would reduce the cost of governance, enhance the security of Nigerians as well as enhance government service delivery.

LCCI mentors young entrepreneurs

HE Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has registered 25 mentees for its 2014 mentoring pro gramme. The mentees are young entrepreneurs drawn from various sectors of the economy. Speaking at the opening in Lagos, Vice President/Chairman, Board of Business Education, Services and Training (BEST) Unit of the Chamber, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje described the programme as part of interventions from the Lagos Chamber of Commerce “to truly position our

young entrepreneurs for business success now and in the future”. She recalled that graduates of last year’s maiden edition had improved in their businesses, advising the new intakes to network with their predecessors for enhanced performance. LCCI President, Alhaji Remi Bello, who was represented by Council member, Mrs. Victoria Onafowokan-Obadina, said the programme was aimed at developing youths and making them responsible not only to them-

selves, but also to their families and the nation. While congratulating the mentees, he urged Nigerians to support the initiative so as to guarantee a great future for the country. The six-month programme, organised in conjunction with the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND), according to the DirectorGeneral of the Chamber, Mr. Muda Yusuf, is a means of investing in future business leaders, thereby creating a way out of the lingering unemployment challenges in the nation.

•From left: Chief Executive Officer, Fulpudjon Venture, Miss Olufunke Pedro; Vice President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mrs. Toki Mabogunje; Creative Director, Eyotalo: House of Style, Mr. Olatoye Oladimeji and Partner, Conrock Consultants, Mrs. Teniola Oduntan, during the opening of LCCI mentoring programme in Lagos.

‘How to decongest traffic on Lagos ports’ access roads’ types of goods. And then we can it sits on the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a also employ the rail, just like we

OUNCIL member of the Chartered Institute of Logistic and Transport, Mr. Alban Igwe, has urged the authorities to provide policy frameworks on how decongest traffic on access roads to Lagos ports. He said in Lagos that part of the measures could include the provision of facilities in cities outside Lagos to handle portrelated activities. “Lagos only provides access to the other parts of the country because

major port. We can actually move part of the operations in Lagos outside Lagos because we still have a lot of land in Nigeria. Lagos doesn’t have to be the only route for distribution. “So, if you move it out a little bit, and certain port activities take place in other places, Ogun State, for instance, even Ondo State you can create logistic supply chain centres that will handle different

have bonded warehouses that all the clearance does not have to be done within the port area. “We can create logistic supply trade centres where we can do some of the clearing that we do in the port. “We don’t need all the vehicles right inside the port. As a matter of fact, Lagos is just occupying 0.3 per cent of Nigeria’s land area,” he explained.

HE Ondo State MicroCredit Agency (OSMA) has disbursed N80 million as loans to small scale entrepreneurs in the last six months. Its General Manager, Mr. Dele Ologbese said 1,350 residents of the state benefited from the scheme. He said the loan, which was in different categories, was meant to alleviate poverty among the people. He said: “A total of 1,350 beneficiaries had received N80 million as loans from OSMA from January 2014 till date,” Ologbese disclosed, noting that the loan was given to those who had assured the agency of their eagerness and sincerity to judiciously utilise the fund and pay back in due time.” The helmsman said the beneficiaries, who had viable business plans, were selected through due process. “What we do is to give loans to applicants that we have confidence will pay back promptly because the loans are not free gifts,” he said, adding that prospective applicants for some categories of the loan should form cooperative societies to enable them qualify. He said there were other conditions to meet to qualify for the loans, including collateral such as building, which was required from any applicant that wanted a huge amount. “We encourage them to form groups and there are some conditions attached to the loans such as having a guarantor,” he said.

The GM said that only a civil servant on salary grade level eight and above could guarantee an applicant for a soft loan and that security/ collateral requirement depends on the volume of loan being sought. He said the agency was charging nine per cent interest on the loans with a repayment period of 13 months. Olegbese said the least loan that was given was N50, 000, pointing out that an applicant could be granted a loan running into millions of naira, depending on scope of the business. According to him, granting of huge loans to an applicant is at the discretion of the governor of the state. He rebuffed the rumour that the loans were given to only members of the ruling party, saying that they were meant to better the lives of all the people. “Loans from this agency cuts across all strata of people from all political parties in the state. We are open because there is no party affiliation attached to them. The disbursement is done on bases of needs of the people from different groups and parts of the state,” he clarified. The general manager urged beneficiaries whose loans were due for repayment to pay back so that others could benefit from the scheme. He said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was considering assisting Ondo in some of its economic programmes because of its laudable efforts to boost the people’s economic base.

UNIDO establishes investment promotion office in Nigeria

HE United Nations Indus trial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has set up an investment and technology promotion office (ITPO) in Nigeria to complement the country’s efforts at attracting global investment. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, who stated this in Abuja, said the office would provide support to the country in the adoption and dispersal of industrial technology to drive its development efforts. On the uniqueness of the office, Aganga said UNIDO has eight of such offices in the world, and Nigeria would be hosting the first and the only ITPO in Africa. According to him, it shows that the world continues to acknowledge the efforts of this administration in transforming the structure of our economy as a nation. “This is not the first time, but I think this acknowledgement

and selection sends the right message to Nigerians and to global investors that the transformation in Nigeria is actually the right step and is moving in the right direction,” he said. The minister also said UNIDO had selected and included Nigeria and Ethiopia in its Accelerated Intervention Programme for Industrial Development. According to him, this is in recognition of the potential and industrial development efforts of both countries. On its part, UNIDO acknowledged that Nigeria and Ethiopia are the two countries in Africa that have shown the strongest and the highest potential for industrialisation in Africa. “Through this action, UNIDO has not only associated itself with the unparalleled and rapid transformation taking place in Nigeria, but has clearly endorsed Nigeria’s Industrial Revolution Plan launched by Mr. President in February 2014, Aganga added.

NGO empowers group, others

BENIN-based non-govern ment organisation (NGO), Elamah Foundation, has donated 20 tricycles and 20 grinding machines to youths and women in constituency I of the Etsako-West Local Government Area of Edo. The foundation also gave out N5million to them to enable them start a small or medium-scale business. The Proprietor of the foundation, Mr. Oseni Elamah, said the donation would empower them and help to curb unemployment in the area. “The donation of these items

is to better your lives and that of your families. The NGO is determined to support the state and local governments to reduce poverty in the society,’’ he said. The proprietor said beyond the empowerment materials, the foundation has also trained the youths on ICT. He said that the aim is to eradicate computer illiteracy among the youths and to create a platform for them to be self reliant. Some of the beneficiaries thanked the foundation for the gesture and promised to put the items to proper use.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

ASSBIFI seeks stronger industrial harmony

HE Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) has urged the Federal Government to ensure a stronger industrial harmony for decent working conditions. Its National President, Comrade Sunday Salako who spoke on The needs for objective dialogue that would sustain industrial peace during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said this was only the way growth and economic prosperity could be achieved. He said: “We call on the government of Nigeria to put in place policies that would ensure objective dialogue that would sustain indus-

Stories by Toba Agboola

trial peace as no establishment can survive without a good rapport with its workforce.There should be a symbiotic relationship between employers and employees to ensure harmony of purpose where both parties get what they want.” Salako lamented that some employers of erroneously place more value on the work to be done and profit than on employees. He said: “We urged such employers to always take proactive measures to prevent conflicts between them and workers to degenerate before intervention for better relationship. Unionism is not about pay, but the dignity of labour. We should be the whistle-blowers in our organisations today,” he said.

According to Salako, it is unfortunate that some organisations place less value on their workers who are part of their assets. “Management that often disrespects workers should know that without workers there is no production. Workers are assets, but when most organisations list their assets, they exclude workers who are the most valuable assets of any organisation. “They are highly indispensable because workers are the engine that make organisations function,” he said. He also said labour unions were supposed to make organisations desirous of the unions which served as arteries of growth for both workers and organisations.

NDE chief decries wasteful foreign trips by officials

HE Director-General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Malam Abubakar Mohammed has decried the frequent foreign trips by public officers in the name of seminar or investment drive. Mohammed, who spoke when a delegation of Netherland African Business Council (NABC) led by its President, Mr. Cliff Ogbede paid him a visit in Abuja, said most offshore events do not help the country, adding that any forum that is targeted at growing the economy should be held in the country. He said: “We have interacted and made some observations and I said we have been to a lot of countries, I am asking whether it is not time for us to have a paradigm shift; that is for such a forum to take place in Nigeria. “What I did was to put it in a very simple way as a local man, and I told them that in my place, it is people who go to the market and not the market that comes to the people. So I am saying the market is here and no one should tell me there is no security in Nigeria.

Over 160 million Nigerians are still here and are living, yes we have challenges, every country has it, they should not say they can’t come to Nigeria, I don’t accept that. He said: “If I am going to the forum, I can at most go with two directors but however if it is taking place here, I can bring the entire state coordinators of the NDE and other interested stakeholders can also come and we will be seen in our strength and also our weakness and correct decisions will be made. But going out for a day or two, we might not have the capacity to take everyone along. “So, with our suggestion, we hope to see some changes because there are many of such associations. I am even wondering that all the places we have been to, what is the tangible result we brought or is it just to go and deliver papers?” Earlier, Ogbede informed Mohammed and top NDE management workers that the forum would help small businesses and their Dutch counterparts access a 700 million euro fund provided by Netherland for Africa.

SURE-P rehabilitates skills acquisition centres

• Immediate past president, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Chief Richard Uche (left) and the new president, Mr. Larry Ettah at the 57th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the body in Lagos.

4,000 casual workers get permanent jobs in Chinese firms

O fewer than 4,000 casual workers with some Chinese construction firms have got their appointments regularised. This folowed the 14-day ultimatum, which the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) gave to all the firms the country to regularise their appointments or face industrial action. Its President,Comrade Amechi Asugwuni said the union extracted the commitment of the firms to regularise the appointment of the employees at a meeting. He said: “We are pleased to announced that towards the expiration of our 14-day ultimatum, the union engaged the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) and CGC Nigeria Limited where agreement was reached as follows:- CCECC management and the union agreed that 3,000 casual workers would be converted and have their employment regularised; that 1,200 casual workers would be converted to permanent staff with ap-

By Chikodi Okereocha

pointment letters with immediate effect while 1,800 would have their employment regularised between August 1 and November 30, 2014.” The president said the names, location and state of newly converted workers would be forwarded to the Union Headquarters for verification and record purposes. Also, the group and CGC management agreed that 500 casual workers would be converted to permanent staff while 500 casual workers would be converted to permanent staff with appointment letters next month and November. Both CCECC and CGC also agreed with that they would continue to recognise the rights of workers to be unionism in all their operational sites in the country. The Chinese construction firms also agreed to ensure full compliance with the implementation of the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) agreement, aside agreeing to continuously provide decent vehicle to convey workers to work in their sites.

The workers also got a breather in safety and medical facilities, which formed part of the agitations of the union. Consequently, the management of CCECC and CGC agreed to sustain the standard of safety requirement/policy in all operational sites across the nation, as well as confirm the provision of First Aid Box in all operational sites and agreed to register with standard retainer’s hospital/clinic for the treatment of workers across the federation. It was agreed that both parties would reconvene in the first week of February next year to deliberate on the conversion schedule. Both parties agreed that failure to honour these agreements, the union would not give notice before declaring am strike. It said it would further press home its agitation against anti-labour practices in smaller Chinese construction and furniture industries in the country. It however, said the Central Working Committee of the Union (CWC) has directed that the intended nationwide strike be suspended indefinitely to allow the full implementation of all that was agreed.

HE Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) has completed the rehabilitation of eight Skills Acquisition Centres across the federation to create employment opportunities for unemployed youths. It was done through the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Project of SURE-P. Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, who spoke when he inaugurated the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity Skills Acquisition Centre, Bauchi, and Industrial Training Fund Centre of Excellence, Jos, said the ability of the government to continue to provide adequate and appropriate training for the nation’s youths relied critically on the establishment of

some form of sustainability. Wogu said: “The mandate of the TVET component of SUREP is to reduce unemployment and poverty in Nigeria through skills acquisition as well as investing in technical/vocational training infrastructure to meet the changing technological needs in the production of goods and services. “This will enable our country compete favourably in international trade, thereby creating more employment opportunities for our teeming youths.” Wogu noted that over 5000 youths are benefiting from the TVET sponsored trainings in various vocations, such as ICT, electrical and mechanical engineering for the power sector, building and construction and automotive trades, among others.

‘Investment in youths will enhance productivity’

HE Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani has called on the three tiers of governmentthe federal, states and local governments to target investment in skills development of the youth population as the best option to enhance their productivity in the labour market. He stated this while reviewing how the post-Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) framework would help to focus more local attention on improving the lives of the most vulnerable in the country. His words: “With the United Nations MDGs Acceleration Framework (MAF) focusing on decent work and reducing maternal mortality, targeting investment in skills, development of the youth population will enhance their productivity in the labour market. “There is urgent need of capturing youth education and skills training within a post-2015 agenda. This would be to take a youth unemployment target informed by indicators

such as participation rates in youth vocational training and tertiary education enrolment.” According to him, considering the post-2015 development agenda, and the broad consensus that the current MDGs must not be sidelined, issues of poverty eradication should remain in focus while recognising the new global challenges a decade and a half on from the inception of this original framework. “The augmentation to the current framework would ensure an increased focus on enablers of economic development, but also update current targets such that they are relevant to a post-2015 world. It is more important to target improvements in secondary and tertiary education whilst incorporating practical and vocational skills,” he said. Smart social policies such as programmes that help the unemployed find jobs or systems that provide social security to vulnerable members of our society cannot just be considered a cost, he said, adding that they are investment in the future.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

Polytechnics alive again •But the issues that generated the strikes still stalk the tertiary institutions IFE is gradually returning to polytechnics across the country, following the suspension of the 10 monthlong strike called by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP). The strike, which began in October, last year, was called off by the union on July 12 for three months. This is good news for polytechnic students nationwide, who had apparently become strike-weary as a result of the long duration of the strike. It is also good news for their parents who would now look forward to resumption of studies by their wards to keep them away from anti-social behaviours. Most importantly, however, the suspension of the strike is a major breakthrough for the new Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, who is also former governor of Kano State. ASUP President, Dr. Chibuzor Asomugha, who confirmed the suspension of the strike, said it was in deference to the new minister and the need to allow him settle down to appraise the issues so he could take informed decisions on them. ASUP had gone on strike over a series of grievances, including what it calls the appointment of unqualified persons as rectors and provosts of polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education by some state governments, as well as the failure to implement the approved salary packages and the 65-year retirement age for the teachers. The union also wants the establishment of a National Polytechnics Commission and wants what it perceives as bias in the distribution of budgetary allocation to education sector which gives the universities about N188.4billion

(47 percent) out of the N400billion approved in the 2012 budget redressed. The teachers’ demands include the release of the White Paper on the Visitation Panel to Federal Polytechnics as well as commencement of the polytechnics needs assessment. Only one of these demands concerning the constitution of Governing Councils for the schools has been met That the strike was called off after a meeting between the striking lecturers and the minister is instructive. What it tells us is that the problem might have been resolved a long time ago if the minister of state for education, Chief Nyesom Wike, who had been overseeing the ministry since the exit of the former substantive minister of education, Professor Ruquayat Ahmed Rufa’I, last year had been more committed to his work. Wike did not appear keen on seeing an end to the crisis, as he is more involved with dirty politicking in Rivers State where he is nursing the ambition of succeeding the incumbent Governor Rotimi Amaechi. That such an important ministry as that of education could be left without a substantive minister for this long is a reflection of the importance that the government attaches to education. Indeed, that government could leave the ministry in the hands of an incompetent minister of state who, like Nero, fiddled while Rome burned, is a jigsaw puzzle. For sure, everything must be wrong with a system that allowed the prolonged paralysis that we have witnessed in the education sector in recent time. It does not inspire hope that we are in a hurry to catch up with the rest of the world.

We can only hope the minister would not betray the trust that ASUP reposed in him. Successive governments, including the Goodluck Jonathan administration, have the uncanny habit of reneging on agreements they freely entered into with academics, particularly ASUU. This has been a major source of friction between the government and ASUU. We implore Shekarau to remember his promise to the union that “we cannot afford to ignore the polytechnics… We cannot grow without the manpower being produced by the polytechnics”, just as we also admonish the polytechnic teachers to know that a matter like this requires give-and-take. So, both sides must be ready to imbibe that spirit because the polytechnics are the engine room of our technological growth and development.

‘We can only hope the minister would not betray the trust that ASUP reposed in him. Successive governments, including the Goodluck Jonathan administration, have the uncanny habit of reneging on agreements they freely entered into with academics, particularly ASUU. This has been a major source of friction between the government and ASUU’

Paternity boost! •Governor Fashola’s new maternity and paternity laws brings a human face to family values

LTHOUGH the idea of maternity leave has been with us in Nigeria for decades, that of paternity leave appears novel. Perhaps it is common among some non-governmental organisations, but not in government service or even in the private sector. But the Lagos State government has reworked its guidelines on maternity leave, such that fathers of new-born babies in the civil service are now entitled to 10 working days paternity leave, in relation to and at the time of their spouses’ first two deliveries. Similarly, the government has extended the maternity leave for its female civil servants from the present three months to six months, with full pay. The state head of service, Josephine Williams, who unfolded this at a press

‘We urge the beneficiaries of the new leave regime to utilise it strictly for the use for which it was meant. Parents, particularly mothers, need to devote full attention to their children, especially at such tender age so as to promote emotional bonding between them and the children when it matters most. We look forward to the day that the Federal Government, other state governments as well as the private sector would come up with a similar policy for children who are the country’s future leaders. We need it for a balanced family-work life’

conference at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Lagos, said however that the leave, which would commence at least two weeks before the expected delivery date would apply in the case of a nursing mother’s first two deliveries. “Any third and subsequent deliveries by any employee shall only attract 12 weeks maternity leave for female officers, while the male officer shall not be entitled to paternity leave in that circumstance …” she said. We commend this kind gesture by the Lagos State government which is in line with what obtains in some parts of the world. As the government rightly noted, most nursing mothers abandon their babies to nannies at tender ages under the old leave regime, which is neither beneficial to the babies nor the mothers. While the babies could not get the desired motherly attention, the mothers too would find it difficult to concentrate at their duty posts because their minds would always be on the babies they left in the care of nannies. There would naturally be a situation of divided loyalty; one in which the mother is torn between her love for her job and that for her baby. This is exacerbated by reports of all kinds of abuses to which some of the nannies put the babies. As Williams observed, “However, at six months, a baby is considered strong enough to be left in a decent crèche for proper care, having gone through close affection and nurturing by the mother for those very important and delicate first few months of his or her life”. Since the new leave regime affects only couples having their first two issues,

child-bearing represents a new experience for both father and mother, which they need some time to master. On the father’s part, the paternity leave would enable him to give the needed support to the spouse in the critical moments after child-birth, and, in our social milieu perhaps afford him the time to plan for the naming and recover from its hangover! There are other advantages of the new policy. It is sensitive to the idea of childbearing; it also conforms to the campaign of exclusive breast-feeding for six months for new-born babies. The fact that it is limited to the first two children is also a subtle campaign for family planning. We hope civil servants in the state would appreciate the kind gesture by being dedicated and productive in their various offices. The new policy should bring an end to the hanky-panky that some of them play when nursing babies by coming to sign the attendance register only to return home to take care of their babies. We urge the beneficiaries of the new leave regime to utilise it strictly for the use for which it was meant. Parents, particularly mothers, need to devote full attention to their children, especially at such tender age so as to promote emotional bonding between them and the children when it matters most. We look forward to the day that the Federal Government, other state governments as well as the private sector would come up with a similar policy for children who are the country’s future leaders. We need it for a balanced family-work life.

Missing in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Courageous political leaders on both sides

HERE is a depressing familiarity to the events unfolding in the Middle East. Israel bombs Hamas' rocket launchers and kills some of its senior leaders, just as it did in 2008-09 and again in 2012. Cease-fires come and go. The number of dead climbs each day, but in a lopsided manner. Israelis huddle in bomb shelters and Gazans take refuge with the United Nations or wherever they can. Israel mulls a ground attack, which would be a significant escalation, even as a truce is discussed. Why is this happening? Israeli leaders say — as they did in 2008 and 2012 — that they have no choice but to take on Hamas. Would the United States take no action if rockets from Mexico were dropping on Washington or New York or Los Angeles, they ask? Of course not. And why so many civilian deaths? Because Hamas hides itself in residential neighborhoods. Because Hamas rejects reasonable truce offers. The Palestinians' arguments are also familiar: Israel is using disproportionate force; nine days in, it has killed more than 200 Palestinians, most of them civilians, while only one Israeli has been killed by Hamas. Besides, they say, the assault will ultimately solve nothing because the underlying problem doesn't have to do with the Hamas rockets that are falling, mostly harmlessly, in Israel, but rather with the nearly 50-year-old occupation of Palestinian territory and all that connotes: Israeli security forces and checkpoints in the West Bank, sieges and embargoes in Gaza, restrictions on movement for Palestinians. Hunger. Poverty. Despair. Both sides' arguments have some merit, but they don't move the situation toward a solution. If events proceed as they have in the past, the assault will continue until civilian deaths become so great that Israel has little choice but to halt in the face of world condemnation. Its public image will continue to deteriorate and Palestinian resentment and hopelessness will grow. Hamas, an Islamic militant group that has been responsible over the years for many terrorist operations and which rejects Israel's right to exist, will re-arm and re-emerge. It's easy to grow fatigued and cynical about the impasse between Israel and the more moderate Palestinian factions that have committed themselves to a two-state solution. But it's important that the U.S. not disengage, in part because of the continuing tragedies the conflict brings — such as the recent slayings of three Israeli boys, the revenge killing of a 16-year-old Palestinian and the deaths of four Palestinian cousins ages 9 to 11 in an Israeli strike on a Gaza beach Wednesday — and partly because solving the conflict is a critical element in the creation of a stronger, healthier Middle East. One narrative posits that the Israelis and the Palestinian Authority can't reach a broader peace deal because neither side wants it badly enough. Can that be true? Can it be that the politics of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government or the politics of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' standing in opinion polls are blocking the way to a twostate solution? Many people have by now read the words of Yishai Frenkel, whose nephew was among the slain Israeli boys. After the their deaths and the revenge killing of Mohammed Abu Khdeir, Frenkel said: "There is no difference between those who murdered Mohammed and those who murdered our children. Those are murderers, and these are murderers. And both must be dealt with to the full extent of the law." Those are rational, heartfelt, brave words. Where are the Israeli and Palestinian leaders with comparable courage and empathy to end the cycle and bring both the short-term assault and the longterm conflict to an end? – Los Angeles Times

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: But for the fact that a job had to be done, reading through 'Barrister' Obasesam Eyong unnecessary ‘epistle', 'Money Politics in Cross River?’ in The Nation July 22, is to say the least, a waste of productive man hours. The deepening sense of the wholesome reality is that, Obasesam Eyong and his co- travellers must have been scared silly by the recent political in roads being made by Goddy Jeddy Agba, his political manoeuvres, absorptive capacity and speedy ascendancy in the realm of national statesmanship. This unparalleled feat of the man seems to pose a threat to people like Obasesam and his sponsors. Unknown to them, Agba's political ascendancy in Cross River State is borne out of his faith in God, sheer skills, intelligence and doggedness to extend the frontiers of politics in the state and these appear to have

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Re: Money politics in Cross River? badly impacted on the intellectual psyche of the writer. The piece is eulogized as a sublime example of how not to ‘’maltreat’’ the English language. More worrisome however, are the absurdities and illogicalities our obviously, flustered writer on behalf of his bellicose sponsor(s) so incoherently tried to communicate. Both the flagrancy and magnitude of lies conjured by the said Eyong are a standing testimony of the fear of Goddy Agba’s wind of change. The

letter, given its bland ignorance and journalistic paucity, would not have merited the honour of a rejoinder but for records purpose and for fear of silence being misconstrued for acquiescence. It is noteworthy to state that, we have uncovered plans by these disgruntled, disarmed and detonated politicians who have elevated falsehood to an art to cause massive disaffection among the voting public. Probably sensing an imminent loss and

extinction in Cross River State, Eyong and his sponsor(s) have gone for the worst in recent times. For the avoidance of doubt, Prince Goddy Jeddy Agba is decent and humane. He has lived all his life devoted to these ideals and would not do anything to hurt a fellow human. However, if people think they can through blackmail, take advantage of this good nature and his famed generosity, they sure have missed the point.

Fasehun’s unfortunate outburst

IR: The statement credited to Dr. Fredrick Fasehun that the Fashola administration is exploiting Lagosians is not only ludicrous but also the best advertisement for the politics of the highest bidder which he has been known for. It is a pity that Fasheun is resorting to subterfuge and pretensions for the common man to further the contract he has for PDP. It is a pity that he is still playing okada politics when Lagosians have moved on with the laudable positive impacts okada restriction in some major highways has wrought, in the area of reduction of crime and accidents. Perhaps, Fasheun in his mischief, does not know that whereas, the PDP government he works for outrightly banned okada in Abuja and more than 15 states they control, thereby pushing them to Lagos, the Lagos State government has been accommodating enough to limit them to inner city roads and off major highways. It is apparent that Fasehun’s primary focus these days is to find fault with anything APC to please his paymasters in PDP. We wonder

why Fasheun is not seeing anything wrong with the bizarre depletion of national resources through stealing and looting; why he is not seeing the impunity and wanton aggression being laundered all over Nigeria by the PDP and the Jonathan government. Is his deafness to these borne by his desire to see his master conquer all the available spaces and lease some to people like him to exploit? We wonder why Fasheun sees everything wrong with the APC but never sees anything wrong with the PDP government both in the states and the centre. We wonder why he is not concerned about the level of poverty in Nigeria, which has reached a critical stage, unemployment that has reached a deadly level. We wonder why Fasheun has not weighed in on the concern for insecurity, infrastructural decay that has been the cornerstone of the PDP misrule for the past 15 years. Fasheun cannot see that all federal roads in Lagos are death traps, redeemed only by the intervention of the Fashola government, while he will cry blue murder that the road to his toilet is not being built

by the APC. This is sheer hypocrisy, informed by Fasheun’s self interest, which is today catered for by the rouge PDP government. Lagosians know his antics and those of his paymasters. They will not have anything against him if he comes out in his real colours as one of the footsoldiers of the PDP in its desperate bid to ward off

rustication after 16 years of total wreckage. Lagos has moved on and will never ever regress to the dungeon from where the APC has rescued it in 16 years of result oriented leadership. • Joe Igbokwe. Publicity Secretary, Lagos APC

The name Godwin Jedy Agba strikes a bell; it represents a new order. The name is associated with diligence, hard work, empathy and maturity of the spirit, body and soul. The skyline is no longer 2015; the bridge head is not just a political party or factional issue, but a man of uncanny vision with a track record of transparent political participation and staying power. This is where the likes of Agba come in to bring on board their wealth of human capital exposure in our dear state. We do not begrudge those who want to be governor at age 70; they are free to mourn their woes and depressive dwindling political down turn. They are also entitled to continue to nurse the fantasy of becoming landlords of the Cross River Government House. But it is rather unbecoming of a man who aspires to be governor to prosecute a naked ambition with such reckless abandon. Perhaps they need to be reminded that those who plant cassava should not expect to reap cocoa-yam during harvest! As for Eyong and his ilk, a bitter heart is not capable of charity. So, his latest outing is not different from what he knows how to do most; raking mud and mucks. Cross River will be great! • Emmanuel Asukwo, Calabar

Nigeria shall be free! IR: Crushed by the weight of the evil ones’ greed, Nigeria shall be free! Sinking deeper and deeper in the abyss of misdeeds, Nigeria shall be free! Numbed by pain; they cannot again feel, Nigeria shall be free! Watching the future of the nation felled like trees, Nigeria shall be free! No longer taken serious; now the cause of international gist, Nigeria shall be free! Inside, it’s not safe, but then, neither are the streets, Nigeria shall be free! Stealing public money and ruling with impunity, Nigeria shall be free! Bedevilled with leaders who don’t care how the people feel, Nigeria

shall be free! Travelling round the world with begging bowls; on their knees, Nigeria shall be free! But Nigeria is not poor; we have more than we need, Nigeria shall be free! Justice has become a myth; freedom exists only in dreams, Nigeria shall be free! The newspapers dare not report; journalists must not speak, Nigeria shall be free! The Hallowed chambers have become boxing rings, Nigeria shall be free! Here, it’s jail for the poor; bail for the rich, Nigeria shall be free! Children and students murdered

in their sleep, Nigeria shall be free! Parents crying, friends gnashing their teeth, Nigeria shall be free! Waiting endlessly for a messiah to set us free, Nigeria shall be free! Looking abroad for a salvation that will never be, Nigeria shall be free! Let us look inward at men true and real, For it is only then that Nigeria shall be free! From western domination, Nigeria shall be free! From economic exploitation, Nigeria shall be free! From religious manipulation, Nigeria shall be free! • James Ogunjimi Ogun State Nigeria.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

COMMENTS

Soyinka at 80

WANT to join the chorus of people congratulating Professor Wole Soyinka as he turns 80. I am not a literary critic, my knowledge of English Literature does not go beyond higher school which when today I discuss authors like Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats, Charles Lamb, Jane Austen, John Milton, William Shakespeare, Geoffrey Chaucer, Frank Yerby, Gustave Dore, Dryden, Charles Dickens and others, my students are always amazed about how much English literature I know. These were the serious authors that I went through in high school. There were less serious authors that I read when I was just getting into secondary school. I read books by Ryder Haggard and such other writers who without our knowing it ran Africans down before the conquering British lion and European imperialism. I was in the university when the African authors’ series by Heinemann publishers began to surface. I was also lucky to have been taught in high school by some of the writers in the African series like Nkem Nwankwo, Julie Udezwe (Okonkwo) and Dan AbasiEkong when I was in the sixth form in Ibadan Grammar School. I have read all the books of Chinua Achebe, the master story teller. I must say I wish I could be spared reading the gory, murderous stories of pre-colonial Igbo society which Europeans and other western readers have found very exciting apparently because it confirms their idea of Africans as noble savages. I enjoy reading the latter books about the politics of emergent independent Nigeria and the shenanigans of politicians and the eventual collapse of the first republic. I read the last book by Chinua Achebe which brought a lot of criticism to him but I believe in a free world, everybody has the right to speak his or her mind. The only thing I object to is when a writer condemns a whole race or group through the deeds or activities of their leaders but that is the license that an author has and if one does not agree with him or her, one can also write his or her own books. I have a good library of Soyinka’s books but I cannot say I have read all of them but I definitely have read Ake, The Man Died, You Must Set Forth at Dawn, The Trials of Brother Jero, and of course, several critical essays on politics by Wole Soyinka. There is no doubt in my mind that Wole Soyinka is a great gift to humanity. His mastery of the English Language makes him a veritable wordsmith. It is not my wish to comment on his greatness which I leave to others more competent than me. But I will never forget the adulation for him and adoration of his drama, The King’s Horseman when it was staged at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC sometimes in 1979 or

T times like these we need to sit back and take another look at ourselves and our country. What is really happening with things going topsy-turvy? Is it a sign of the coming to pass of the doomsday prediction that Nigeria will break up in 2015? I fear for our country. The way things are going leave room for nothing to cheer about. Nigeria is in crisis, deep crisis; and the earlier our leaders realise this fact the better for us all. There is no need to paper over the cracks as if all is well. Eventhough I hate to say this, the truth is that all is not well with our dear country. How I wished things were not like this. Instead of looking for solution to the problem, things are being compounded by those at the helm. To President Goodluck Jonathan and his loyalists, everything are fine. But they know that they are living a lie and they want to hoodwink the citizenry to join their club. That certainly, is not possible. To a large extent, the Presidency is part of the problem; so, it cannot be trusted to find the solution. Why are things the way they are? Is it because of the impending elections in which the President is much interested but has yet to declare his intention? I fear for our country because the polity is being needlessly overheated. If they are not taking on the media; they are descending on the opposition or critics. The govern-

101 DAYS AFTER

WHERE ARE THE ABDUCTED CHIBOK GIRLS?

1980. As a member of the audience I enjoyed the encomiums heaped on a fellow Nigerian. I am more interested in his humanity and the few stories I know about him. I admire him for his courage, for his adventurous spirit and for his ability of speaking truth to power and damning the consequences. His takeover of a radio station at gunpoint while it was presenting a speech of the premier of western Nigeria and replacing it with his own diatribes against that regime is a mark of dare devil adventure by a young man acting out his art of drama in reality. He was lucky to have escaped severe punishment and very few people could have done that then or do it now. The fact that he escaped punishment is also a credit to the tolerant environment and independent judiciary which we had in western Nigeria in the 1960s. I am sure the late Justice Kayode Esho who freed Wole Soyinka knew he was guilty. This spirit of adventure also saw Wole Soyinka trying to mediate between his friend, Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and the Nigerian authorities at the beginning of hostilities between Nigeria and Biafra in 1967. On returning to Nigeria from Biafra, he was immediately arrested and put in prison by the government of General Gowon where he languished throughout the years of the Biafra war and during which time he wrote his famous book, The Man Died. The most celebrated quotation from that book is that, the man dies who keeps quiet in the face of tyranny and man’s inhumanity to man calling all of us to speak out when we feel our compatriots are being wronged. Unfortunately, most Nigerians always protect their own skins and many even participate in order to join in looting the national treasury. In other parts of the world, Wole Soyinka could have gotten into serious trouble over his fraternisation with Ojukwu in war time. Those on the Biafran side who tried to reach out to the Nigerian enemy like Colonel Victor Banjo, Colonel Emmanuel Ifeajuna and Samuel Agbam were rounded up by Ojukwu and shot for treason. I suppose this is why Wole Soyinka and General Gowon are today friends. Wole Soyinka’s long-time friend, the late Professor Ulli Beierand Wole Soyinka once visited Bonn during the Abacha tyranny to lobby the German government, I was ambassador in Germany then and I went to visit them in the Maritim Hotel just as I had visited my friend, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi also when he came to Germany. I was walking a political tight rope and I knew the consequences could be dire for me but at the same time these were my academic colleagues and ideological friends. At the same time a Nige-

rian delegation led by the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was with me in Germany. A member of the delegation, an ethnic cohort of mine, to put it in diplomatese, asked me if I knew where Soyinka and Ulli Beier were staying because as he put it, he wanted to beat the hell out of Wole Soyinka if he saw him. Jide I told this thug that I did not know where Osuntokun they were staying even though both parties were staying in the same hotel without knowing it. I called Ulli Beier to find out when he and Wole would be leaving the hotel and to my great relief, they left very early before my bulky Nigerian friend could pounce on them. A night before this incident, Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu and his wife, Bianca had had dinner with me. There was a gala performance for the delegation by resident Nigerian community in Germany. After this show, Ojukwu in his remarks surprised me when he said publicly that when we celebrate culture in Nigeria, Yoruba culture was way ahead of others and was the only culture worth celebrating. He talked about Yoruba talking drums, Yoruba art and cuisine and then zeroed in Wole Soyinka’s great works and their great friendship without knowing a member of his team was planning to give Wole Soyinka an upper cut the following morning. I also remember going all the way to Bayreuth in Bavaria, Germany to rendezvous with Professor Soyinka while on a visit to Ulli Beier’sYoruba Haus in the university. Like all artistes, Professor Soyinka could be temperamental, withdrawn, standoffish, introverted but always genuine in his feelings. He is a great connoisseur of wines and food and he seems to have a passion for western cuisine which may be responsible for how he has kept his trim body all this time. Professor Wole Soyinka’s life has been studied over and over by critics, friends and enemies and it is my considered opinion that the man Wole Soyinka will remain the greatest Nigerian that ever lived. This is not to say the brainiest because if we are talking about the brainiest Nigerian that ever lived, Oluwakayode Osuntokun my brother stands shoulder high amongst others.

Cry, the beloved country ment will not admit it, but there is no way it can exonerate itself from the prevailing crisis. In a democracy, there is bound to be this kind of problem, with people agreeing to disagree. This is the beauty of democracy, but when things start to get out of hand well-meaning people are expected to intervene before the country descends into anarchy. We have seen the way the Presidency has been using the federal might to suppress individuals and institutions for no just cause. Is it wrong to disagree with, or criticise, the President? From the look of things, it seems it has become a sin to be critical of Jonathan or not to belong to the same party with him. Look at the way he has been treating Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Aliyu Wamakko for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Former Adamawa State Governor Muritala Nyako, who defected along with them got the ultimate treatment last week–he was impeached-, with soldiers standing nearby while the panel, which probed him, and the House of Assembly, which carried out the dirty job, sat. The House has the right to impeach him, no doubt, but what is wrong is for the lawmakers to be teleguided in carrying out their constitutional duty. Like governors, the President too is not immune to impeachment. His own fate lies with the National Assembly. So, impeachment is not a tool open to only Houses of Assembly. Those who are gloating over Nyako’s fall need to be reminded of the noise they made when some members of the National Assembly threatened to take similar step against Jonathan some months ago. Or, have they forgotten so soon? Let them rejoice less over Nyako’s

downfall, which will certainly not be the end of his political career. As for Amaechi, there is nothing the Presidency has not done to get him out. Notwithstanding the failure of the plots so far, eternal vigilance remains the price Amaechi has to pay to keep his job until the expiration of his tenure in May, next year. Kwankwaso, especially, has been the butt of vitriolic attacks by the Presidency and he has often paid back in kind to show that he is not afraid of any federal might. Even House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal is not spared. He is viewed with suspicion in the Presidency and as such, he is kept at arm's length. They have also tried all tricks in the book to get him removed as Speaker, but failed. A few weeks ago, they tried to embarrass him by stopping his vehicle for a search in Kaduna. Yet, our President portrays himself as meek; someone who cannot hurt a fly. If things are like this under a so-called meek President, what will they be like under a brutal leader? Even in the Second Republic things were not as bad as these before the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo raised the alarm in a letter to former President Shehu Shagari. ''There'', he wrote, ''is a frightful danger ahead visible for those who care and are patriotic enough to look beyond their narrow self interest. Our ship of state is fast approaching a huge rock, and unless you, as chief helmsman, quickly rise to the occasion and courageously steer the ship away from its present course, it shall hit the rock. And the inescapable consequence will be an inescapable disaster such as is rare in the annals of man''. The Shagari administration ignored the warning to the nation's peril. The Jonathan presidency appears to be treading the same path. The

president has received similar letters from two elderstatesmen, Gen Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Maitama Sule. In his letter, which content he divulged to reporters on Monday, Sule said : ''I wrote to the Chairman of the Northern Governors' Forum and the President, telling them about the prevailing situation. I also pointed out that if President Goodluck Jonathan doesn't stop it, we would have disastrous consequences. The situation in the country is so bad, but I believe what we should do is to get together and tell one another the truth - let us agree to accommodate our differences and put Nigeria above personal interest''. en Buhari's letter drew the President's ire as Awo’s did to Shagari in 1981 because it contained some bitter truths. Just as Awo did 33 years ago, Buhari warned : ''The dangerous clouds are beginning to gather and the vultures are circling. Let no one, whether the leader or the led, the high or the low, a member of the ruling or the opposition, do anything to torpedo the system. Let no one, whether on the altar of personal ambition or pretension to higher patriotic tendencies, do anything that can detonate the keg of gunpowder on which the nation is sitting. Our nation has suffered serious consequences in the past for egregious acts that are not even close to what we are seeing now. It

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

is time to pull the brakes''. The Presidency did not find Buhari's intervention funny and as usual it resorted to name calling and abuses instead of replying him, as lawyers would say, on points of fact and rest its case. The truth is that if the Buhari/Idiagbon regime had succeeded in bringing back the late Umaru Dikko in a crate in 1984, politicians of his hue would have learnt a big lesson, and who knows we may not find ourselves in the mess the Jonathan administration has plunged us into today. May I commend the immortal words of the late American clergyman, James Freeman Clarke, to President Jonathan : ''A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman , of the next generation''. It is left to the President to make his choice - will he be a politician or a statesman?

‘May I commend the immortal words of the late American clergyman, James Freeman Clarke, to President Goodluck Jonathan : 'A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation'. It is left to the President to make his choice - will he be a politician or a statesman?’

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

COMMENTS

XCEPT for the lessons that can be drawn from some of the unwholesome activities of PDP leading lights, the party has never really come out with clear-cut agenda to define its vision of Nigeria. Obasanjo in 1999 talked of ‘a total transformation of Nigeria’ through urban development and privatization, stable power supply, roads and infrastructure and constitutional review, etc, all of which remained mere promises at the end of his presidency. Yar’Adua came up with his own unwieldy eight-point agenda which neither the party nor Jonathan paid attention to after his death. As a candidate, the closest to vision or mission statement by Jonathan was his less than insightful statement about “respect for law and order, sound economy and stabilizing power”. As president, his transformation agenda, a five-year development plan 2011-2015 which “focused on ‘strong, inclusive and non-inflationary growth; employment generation and poverty alleviation and value re-orientation of the citizenry’, all of which to the unemployed youths, citizens of besieged north-east and other aggrieved Nigerians remain mere words. Asked recently about his strategy for his victory and what his agenda would be, Ayodele Fayose told reporters “If I enumerate my agenda, we would be here forever”. As for his strategy for winning without a party manifesto, he said, “Fayemi gave cooked rice, I gave uncooked rice. This is politics and you need everything to entice voters and rice was shared by me, almost two weeks before election. Are we saying that people should remain in hunger perpetually because we are providing infrastructure?” But far more important to him is how to empower his people through awards of contracts which he alleged the defeated governor gave to outsiders. In neighbouring Osun State, challenged to a television debate of his party agenda last week, Iyiola Omisore looked for an escape route. He wanted an assurance from the organizers that he would not be assaulted by a ‘less than ‘literate Governor Aregbesola’, who he said may not be able to control his anger when confronted with facts at his disposal. He did not say what the facts are about. But like Fayose, he also did not forget to tell the reporters he was terribly upset that Aregbesola awarded Osun State contracts “to godfathers, relations and party leaders, especially persons from outside the state”. He was particularly grief-stricken that the internationally acclaimed Osun State Opon Imo ini-

PDP treachery and APC betrayal tiative which according to him was nothing but “an N8.4 billion scam” was allegedly handled by the governor’s siblings. For PDP, power is all about patronage. Close observers of PDP over the years and the pronouncement of some of its leading lights tend to confirm this fact. John Campbell, a former US envoy for instance described PDP during proceedings at a hearing on the topic “Nigeria in Turmoil” in the British House of Commons on March 19, 2010 as ‘an elite cartel at the centre of power in Nigeria, a political party that came together … as essentially a club of elites for sharing of oil rents and political spoils.’ Audu Ogbe, a former PDP chairman gave credence to Capmbell analysis when he said; “When I was chairman of PDP, my son never got involved in oil but two PDP national chairmen after me, their sons pocketed over N400 billion without supplying a tea cup of oil”. Dr Okupe was to later confirm sharing is all that takes place in PDP while admonishing his Yoruba people to join the PDP. According to him: “In things that are not enough, when people sit down to share and take decisions, if there is nobody to speak for you, there is problem’’. Beneficiaries and other key actors have also given credence to this claim. Asari Dokubo, leader of a militant group in the Niger Delta, who along with other repentant Niger Delta militants got mouth-watering multi-billion dollar contracts according to Financial Times of London, for instance later told newspaper reporters that he secured bigger contracts under Obasanjo than he got under Jonathan, his kinsman. Nasir El ‘Rufai, former BPE Director General, also told a House of Representatives probe panel how blue chip companies were sold to privileged PDP members

OLUMES have been written, discussed, rumoured and learnt about the man Akinwunmi Ambode, a passionate public service treasure who, to quite many, came into limelight when he rose to serve meritoriously as Accountant General of Lagos State in 2005. Yet, a lot of people still need some lecture about the actual essence of this iconic figure. Many in his ilk are not easily given to making noise about their achievements, even though such deserve outstanding mention in history books; they prefer to remain literally in the dark and do more in contributing more to making mankind better that they met it. This accounts for why I have kept my lips sealed while many tried to unveil the little they know about Akin – as many are wont to call him. From what many of us knew about him – either in Epe, his Lagos country home, in the city or outside the country – one fact remains indubitable: Describing him is like describing an elephant. Your description depends on the part of the animal you stand, see and observe. Beyond being an astute financial resources manager, Akin is an avid believer in the school of thought that sees the welfare of man as the focal point of every human endeavour. And this is one vital aspect of him that has remained shrouded in secrecy to those who unfortunately, have not had the privilege of getting close to him. Back in his salad days in Epe, young Ambode was obsessed with sharing his meals, however meagre, with friends. Yes, he would not hide and eat alone at a corner in his parents’ confines, thanks to his upbringing by a parentage that was, from foundation, rooted firmly in selflessness. His later father, though a teacher, whose proverbial reward was “in heaven” then, was said to have endeared himself to virtually everyone in the community with his trademark penchant to part with whatever he had – money, shoes and cloths inclusive. Can anybody correctly estimate the number of sons and daughters of needy families that have been enjoying his scholarships and sundry other forms of his philanthropy? I doubt if there is any! A friend once jocularly told me when he was Managing Consultant/CEO of Brandsmiths Consulting Limited, a public finance and management consulting outfit with remarkable marks in public sector administration, he threw his doors ajar for even the wretched of the earth, to the extent that he felt within him that Akin signed a pact with God to spend his life sharing love with the less-privileged. Certainly not for him the ongoing crazy inclination towards acquiring wealth that has continued to threaten human existence

and their sympathisers at give away prices. And as if to confirm there is little governance going in Abuja outside the scramble to award contracts, Obiageli Ezekwesili, a cofounder of Transparency International and former minister of ‘Due Process’, solid minerals and later education, all in Obasanjo’s PDP administration, recently asked the National Assembly to ask the president why it has suddenly become his duty and that of the Federal Executive Council to hold meeting over award of contracts when there are statutory bodies responsible for such duties. But of course the National Assembly cannot ask such questions since as beneficiaries of N250m Constituency project contracts per senator, they cannot dissociate themselves from the Abuja contract scam. Our tragedy is that PDP has consistently demonstrated it doesn’t give a damn about Nigeria. Unlike other societies where those who hold hegemonic power protect their stakes in their nation by ensuring its survival, PDP members are ravaging our land while lying through their teeth declaring all is well. As 2015 approaches, they are spending taxpayer’s money like water on media campaigns to deceive the impoverished taxpayers. As Minister of Power and Energy, the late Olusegun Agagu claimed in 2002, the nation generated 4200MW of electricity. Twelve years later with an injection of between $24 billion and $50 billion into the energy sector, the nation generates less than 4500MW. Yet PDP and the president say they have solved the nation’s energy problems by selling all the generating companies built through the sweat and blood of taxpayers to governmentfavoured private investors that have turned around to appeal to government to buy eq-

uity share in their newly acquired companies. Car accessories such as tyre, battery and break pad manufacturing companies inherited by PDP in 1999 have all collapsed due to energy crisis and stiff competition from substandard imported products brought into the country by companies that enjoy government waivers. Putting the cart before the horse, we celebrate the inauguration of another car assembly plant despite the fact that the country has derived no joy from those inaugurated in Kaduna, Enugu, Ibadan and Lagos, some 40 years ago. With virtual collapse of our iron and steel industry due to bare-faced stealing by NPN buccaneers and its PDP successors, except PDP and its World Bank economists who fraudulently tell our people that growth is synonymous with development, most right-thinking Nigerians know that for or every N3m car assembled in Nigeria, about N2.6m is repatriated. A large chunk of our territory has been made ungovernable by insurgents who ravage villages unchallenged killing innocent Nigerians at will and abducting women and young girls including the latest 300 Chibok girls, the cause of world outrage. In the midst of daily harvest of deaths from the trouble spots in the north of the country, we are daily assaulted with an on-going media campaign claiming President Jonathan ‘has fought insurgency to a halt’. Amidst the entertainment, a nation that fought a three year civil war without external borrowing and which has spent about a trillion dollars, a quarter of her annual budget on defence yearly in the last three years, is seeking $1billion external loan ostensibly to fight insurgency. Just as PDP with its cluster of criminals has continued to demonstrate its lack of faith in our country, with the moles planted in the in APC by PDP now returning back to base, with APC governors behaving like the lords of the Manor, lacking the spirit of compromise, with their party elders behaving like warlords insisting it must be their way or nothing, and with the APC lacking the discipline of a political party to call everyone to other, I think it is time apathetic Nigerians who look up to the current crop of politicians for salvation should start thinking of how to take their county back from politicians of all hue. I honestly don’t know the methodology to achieve this beyond asking them to do what they know how to do best: prayer and more prayer, if only God will listen in view of our transgressions and impunity for which no one has been held accountable since independence.

Ambode … a heart for the poor By Olawale Williams especially in our dear land. Though not a politician in the pedestrian sense of the “title,” Akin, from all available indications, seems to share in the immortal contention of the renowned sage, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo (GCFR), the welfarist lawyer-born politician that “Politicians are born, not made. Anyone who has not the stomach for the railings of the masses but who is only interested in their occasional hosannas has no right into public life.” Another politician of the welfarist fold cum business giant, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of blessed memory, once disclosed why he was head over heels in “blind” love with the poor all his life. He had clarified: “I know the music that plays in the belly of the hungry; it is usually unpleasant.” Akin’s best of friends, as I have seen in the attitude of the accounting czar, are those who would not hesitate to sacrifice an eye to see that the hoi polloi around them are rescued from the morass of want, oppression and exploitation. “What is the essence of somebody amassing all the wealth he can lay his hands on, build countless empty houses with innumerable posh automobiles which, for months, remain useless in garages when millions don’t know where the next meal would come from?” He once asked at a gathering in New York. It was back in the later 90s. It can be truly said that by birth, Akin and I share no relationship; neither did I attend St. Jude’s Primary School, Ebute Metta, Lagos Mainland, Federal Government College, Warri and the University of Lagos with him. But it is a naked truth that he has proved to be the epitome of altruism, which should be an overriding pre-occupation of the well-heeled few amidst us today. It is perhaps understandable that the heavens went jubilant recently when the rumour filtered out that the Epe homeboy would likely throw his hat into the ring for the forthcoming governorship contest in the state. Even since, the thrust of virtually every political discourse on the topic has been hinged on some posers: If the All Progressives Congress (APC), in its wisdom, fields Ambode, who and who are the other parties likely to field against Ambode in the election? Do they have the clout to face him given his “intimidating” credentials, especially as a tested

and trusted public servant? Many keen observers have since been quick to submit with some modicum of reliability that it would not only be foolhardy for any aspirant, however rich, to enter the ring with the quintessential servant, but it would amount to sheer waste of resources and precious time on his part. “The gladiators among ardent lovers of continuity in the ongoing development and all-round prosperity of Lagos State will likely queue behind Ambode for what he represents to discerning minds. He is a man with Spartan self-discipline and legendary penchant for the upliftment of his world, especially his fellowmen. Lagosians are too wise to allow any opportunities to have Ambode serve them with his Godgiven endowments pass them by,” an observer once said. Even to the doubting Thomases, it is crystal clear that in the past 15 years, those who have been steering the ship of the state have placed it steadily on the super highway of unbroken forward match. It will be too calamitous of a risk to allow an amateur driver to swerve the ship to the often congested traffic lane to force that hand the state’s development back. Here, I strongly believe, lies the strength of the inclination of those who tenaciously believe that Akin Ambode is the man who can judiciously wield the baton of sane leadership after incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola in the interest of Lagosians. • Williams writes from Surulere in Lagos

‘In the past 15 years, those who have been steering the ship of the state have placed it steadily on the super highway of unbroken forward march. It will be too calamitous of a risk to allow an amateur driver to swerve the ship to the often congested traffic lane to force that hand the state’s development back’

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

COMMENTS

WEEK ago, hundreds of members of Arewa Youth Development Foundation went on a peaceful protest demonstration in Kano. They took their demonstration to a most eminent Nigerian leader– Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi ll, Emir of Kano. A couple of days later, they took it to one of Nigeria’s most respected elderly statesmen, Alhaji Maitama Sule, former federal minister, former chairman of the National Antiquities Commission, former Nigerian Permanent Representative at the United Nations. These young people are doing a good job of making Nigeria and the world hear their message. They are conducting themselves in the most respectable manner imaginable – in a manner calculated to make Nigeria and the world listen. According to all reports, they have been perfectly peaceful. They do not speak the language of violence, and they do not act in ways that can promote violence. Peaceful and self-respecting, they are nevertheless persistent in pushing their message. They do not look like ones who can be easily discouraged, or who may give up and quit. In this country in which violence is a common mode of venting group discontentment, these youths of the Arewa Youths Development Foundation deserve to be rated as a model of sensible democratic youth action. Finally, these youths are not children; they are not some bleary eyed school kids rioting against their teachers. No. They are responsible young adults. From even the little we can glean about them from the press reports, they are well educated people, university graduates and professionals. The president of their group is a legal practitioner. In short, these are voices that Nigeria and Nigerians must listen to with respect. What then is their message? Principally, they demand that Nigeria should be dissolved. In their group’s prepared speech which they read during their demonstration, they urged all northerners to “rise and support agitation for peaceful dissolution of this union called Nigeria for every region to go its own way.” And they want the dissolution to happen right now. To prepare the ground for the dissolution, they are urging all northerners resident in the South, and all southerners resident in the North, “all artisans, students, public and private sector servants, traders, business holders currently operating, residing or intending to do so in any part of Nigeria” to return to their respective home regions within

N January 4, 1966, the then Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa(1912-1966) commissioned the Onitsha/AsabaBridge popularly called the Niger Bridge. It was his last engagement outside Lagos. The bridge which was built by the British, cost £5millions at that time. The then Prime Minister was accompanied to the commissioning ceremony by the then Federal Minister of Works and Survey, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari (90) and the then Premier of Mid-Western Region, Chief Dennis ChukwudiOsadebeh (1911-1994) a poet and journalist who was also from Asaba. The then Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Dr. Michael Iheonkura Okpara (1920-1984) who was from Umuahia in the present Abia State and who at 39 was the youngest premier at that time, boycotted the ceremony. The ceremonial governor of Eastern Nigeria at that time, Dr. Akanu Ibiam(1906-1995) from Uwanna, Afikpo, in the present day Ebonyi State also boycotted the ceremony. There was a political crisis at that time between NPC and UPGA. The three men, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief Osadebe and other officials paid toll on the bridge. Eleven days later, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was murdered. Now 48 years after the ceremony, the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has flagged off the construction of another second bridge to link Asaba with Onitsha. The second bridge is to cost N200 billion and would be constructed by Julius Berger/AIMS

‘If we are to uphold and endure this democracy then we have to sacrifice the execution of capital projects inclusive of construction of bridges. Our prodigal and spendthrift attitude is killing the economy and hurting our chance of survival’

Don’t ignore Arewa youth voices the next two weeks. What reasons are they giving for their demand that Nigeria should be dissolved? They say that Nigeria is not working; that northerners need to terminate their relationship with Nigeria; that northerners have been suffering “continued intimidation” in the hands of the federal government; that northerners are being insultingly regarded by southerners as economic parasites in Nigeria; that northerners are generally discriminated against in Nigeria and treated like noncitizens in the South. They say “Southerners are not welcome in the North”, and that “Southerners must go”. What should the rest of us, Nigerians, make of all this? First and foremost, if I were a southerner living in the North or a northerner living in the South, I would start packing now. Secondly, these youthful voices represent a very vital part of Northern Nigeria’s elite. They have the credentials to speak authoritatively for the Arewa North. Also, we need to note the kinds of responses they get when they speak directly to the older members of the Arewa elite. After listening to them, the Emir of Kano enjoined them “to imbibe the lesson of peace in their entire endeavour”. The elder statesman, Alhaji Maitama Sule, was more forthcoming. He said, “It is true that we have been suffering a lot in the northern part of the country, humiliation, discrimination and so forth - - - We believe that the best way out of this dilemma in which we have found ourselves is to have a dialogue. - - - And that is why we have been trying to have a dialogue, we believe that we can bring to an end the ugly things that are happening in this country if all of us can come together and tell one another the truth. - - - The world can never be governed by force, never by fear and even, never by power”. One clear picture emerges from both the complaints of the Arewa youth leaders and the responses of their elders. Northern leaders of all generations are seriously disturbed about the way that federal power is now impacting the North. This is something they

have never experienced, something they cannot live with. Rather than continuing to live under these conditions in the country to which they belong, they would prefer that the country should be broken up – “for every region to go its own way”. I am sure that most southerners would find this picture from the North very interesting indeed. All the years since 1962 (the year that the federal government launched an attack on the Western Region), the peoples of Southern Nigeria have suffered increasing “intimidation” and even subjugation by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Because the Northerners controlled the federal government until only recently, they did not see or appreciate our sufferings in those years. Because of the unjust impacts of the federal government on our lives in the South, we the youths of most of the South (Southwest, Southeast and South-south) became radicalized in various ways, most desiring that Nigeria should break up, and that we should have separate little countries of our own. The response of the North in all those years was to make the federal government more and more powerful, better and better equipped with coercive force, more and more ruthless in dealing with “dissidents”. When, at long last, a Southerner (Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo) somehow found his way to the presidency, we thought that change would follow. But we soon found that we were deceiving ourselves – that the builders of the federal behemoth had built it so perfectly (on roots of human frailties) that it would always operate as designed, no matter what part of Nigeria the president comes from. In fact, the presidencies of Obasanjo and Jonathan are final proof that the character of the Nigerian federal establishment is unchangeable. As the system is, anybody who is president will always presume that it is part of his prerogative to handle Nigeria’s vast revenues as personal estate, to rig elections in any part of Nigeria, to discriminate against any region or people, and to bully and subdue the government of any state.

Gbogun gboro Even now that the northern elite have discovered the oppressive side of federal power, they still, strangely, out of habit, want to preserve it – while complaining against it! In the ongoing National Conference, they are still fighting might and mane to preserve the federal status quo. Therefore, there is no other option than to do what the Arewa youth leaders demand – namely, to dissolve Nigeria, “for every region to go its own way”. Alhaji Maitama Sule wants dialogue. Hopefully, the dialogue will be to pave way for our new countries – the Republics of Delta, Biafra, Oduduwa, Arewa, Niger-Benue, and Kanem.The Arewa youths speak for most Nigerians. Alhaji Maitama Sule is right: The world can never be governed by force or by fear.

‘The builders of the federal behemoth had built it so perfectly (on roots of human frailties) that it would always operate as designed, no matter what part of Nigeria the president comes from. In fact, the presidencies of Obasanjo and Jonathan are final proof that the character of the Nigerian federal establishment is unchangeable’

Bridges and cost of democracy By Eric Teniola Consortium under the Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer Model. The design alone cost N325million under the Public Private Partnership Policy. The Niger Bridge has obviously become old with frequent complaints by motorists and experts who believe that regular vehicular traffics and heavy duty trucks amongst others and indeed old age now causes the bridge to become a trap. Most of the nuts and bolts used by the British colonial government cannot be found anywhere in the world because they have become obsolete. That another second bridge is being constructed 48 years after, speaks volumes about our National Planning. Asaba and Onitsha are not just ordinary cities. Onitsha became an important trading port for the Royal Niger Company in the mid-1850s following the abolition of slavery and with the development of the steam engine when Europeans were able to move into the hinterland trade in palm kernels and palm oil which was going on the coast of Bight of Biafra since 12th century was now moved upwards and other cash crops also boomed around this river port in the 19th century. Onitsha has become today a big commercial, educational and religious centre. It ranks with Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Kano as commercial nerve centres of Nigeria. Regrettably Onitsha is a textbook example of the perils of urbanisation without planning for public services. It can boast of a brewery valued at $110 million, a Catholic Cathedral as large as the one in the Vatican in Rome, and an Anglican Church as beautiful as that of my church, Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos. There is a reason for that. The Anglican was the first missionary in Onitsha in 1857. Later came the Catholics in 1884. As of today there is a competition for audience between the Catholics and the Anglican in Onitsha. When General Ibrahim Babangida (73) created Delta State - the BIG HEART on August 27, 1991 and named Asaba the capital, there

were demonstrations in some part of Delta State. He was alleged to be partisan because his wife Maryam Babangida(1948-2009) was from Asaba. Only General Babangida can defend himself on that. But if a wife cannot influence certain decisions of her husband, not all decisions, then that wife is not fit to be a partner in a marriage. Of all the powers in the world none is more powerful than pillow talk, that is, night talk between a wife and a husband. The power of a woman is unlimited. That is the way it has been, and that is the way it will continue to be. And as we all know, General Babangida was a loving husband until his wife died in a Los Angeles hospital, California on December 27, 2009. As for Asaba, it is not just a city. The city has been important long before Maryam Babangida was born. As a matter of fact the naming of Asaba as Delta State capital has today become a big burden to the good and highly industrialised people of Anioma with nine local governments out of 25, in their quest to have their child as governor of Delta State. It is to be hoped that one day Asaba will be accepted by all and sundry in Delta state, as their own state capital. Asaba is strategically located on a hill at the Western edge of the River Niger. The historic River Niger is a trans-African link beginning from western, eastern and northern Nigeria through the River Niger from the north and via the Asaba Niger Bridge, an east-west link and a Nigeria landmark. Asaba lies approximately six degrees north of the equator and about the same distance east of the meridian; about 100 miles north of where the River Niger flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Asaba occupies an area of about 300 square kilometres. It maintains an average tropical temperature of 90 degrees during the dry season and an average fertile rainfall of six inches during the rainy season. Asaba was once the colonial capital of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate. It was founded in 1884. It hosted the Royal Niger Company, which the British authorities set up to stimulate trade and the exportation of goods to England. That company has grown

today into the UAC Nigeria PLC. Its traditional ruler is the Asagba, Dr. Joseph Chike Edozien of American education background. Be that as it is, we have not given special favours to the people of Asaba and Onitsha or indeed the whole of South-east and Southsouth, if we today construct a second bridge to link Onitsha and Asaba. By now there should have been three bridges on that river. Also by now we should have started the construction of a standard bridge to link Agenebode in Edo state to Idah in Kogi State, two towns overlooking each other. Vis-à-vis there should have been four bridges across Lokoja and same to Jebba. If anything happens to the Jebba and Lokoja bridges, the North will be cut off from the South. We can build bridges, construct roads, hospitals and many more if we want to and that is if we reduce the cost of governance. Our own democracy must rank one of the most extravagant and exorbitant democracy in the world. Our economy cannot sustain it any longer. If we are to uphold and endure this democracy then we have to sacrifice the execution of capital projects inclusive of construction of bridges. Our prodigal and spendthrift attitude is killing the economy and hurting our chance of survival. Imagine how much we are spending on the National Assembly, National Conference, Presidential fleet, seminars, oil subsidies, presidential and gubernatorial aides, etc. Apart from insurgency which we can’t find solution to in spite of external help, the greatest danger to our democracy is the high cost of governance. We can’t continue this way any longer. Charles Loius Secondant, the Baron de Montesquieu wrote that “the deterioration of every government begins with the decay of the principles on which it was founded”, while Confucius wrote” In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of”. • Teniola, a former director at the presidency lives in Lagos.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

The Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, is known to many in the sector. He has an impressive resume, rising from being a teacher to a permanent secretary in the Kano State Ministry of Education years before he became governor. With his appointment last week, stakeholders expect him to bring his experience to bear on his new job, report KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE, ADEUGUNLE OLUGBAMILA and KOLADE ADEYEMI.

ALLAM Ibrahim Shekarau is the 45th minister of education. His appointment is coming at a critical time. The Federal Government is about implementing its agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU); negotiating with the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) and the National Association of non-Academic Staff Union of Tertiary and Allied Institutions. Other issues are the abduction of over 200 girls from the Government Secondary School (GSS) in Chibok, Borno State, on April 15; and the number of out-of-school children estimated to be 10.5 million by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The figure is set to be the highest in the world. Following his appointment, stakeholders are expecting changes based on his antecedents as an educationist and achievements as Governor of Kano State between 2003 and 2011. Shekarau had his Qu'ranic, primary and secondary education in Kano before studying Mathematics at the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria , Kaduna State in 1977. After one year as a teacher, he was made a principal in 1979. He served as Deputy Director of Education in the Kano State

•Basic education in dare need of attention. Inset: Shekarau.

Will Shekarau deliver as Education minister? Ministry of Education (1992), Director (1993), and Permanent Secretary (1995). He also headed different departments in the Ministry of Water Resources, Office of the Secretary to the State Government and the Civil

‘

Service Commission. When he became governor in 2003, Shekarau is credited to have removed Kano State from the list of Educationally Less Developed (ELD) states through the provision

We are focusing too much on tertiary education, which is unnecessary. University graduates will not create jobs. Job creation will come from young boys with brilliant ideas

INSIDE

NUC shuts two illegal varsities -Page 27

Career before marriage, students advised -Page 46

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CAMPUS LIFE ‘Hidden fortunes’ in a local mat -Page 29

of instructional materials, infrastructure and manpower to schools and scholarships for 33,000 undergraduates studying in various institutions nationwide. Kano before 2003 had 3,421 primary schools, 20,526 classrooms, 1, 026,300 pupils with 22,084 teachers. After Shekarau came in, enrolment improved by 80 per cent. The Shekarau government also established additional 364 primary and 241 secondary schools. Mallam Musa Salihu, who worked as the • Continued on Page 26

•A 10-page section on campus news, people etc

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

EDUCATION AFED swears in new leaders

Mind Builders graduands ‘prepared’ for the world

By Jane Chijioke

UNDAY'S valedictory service and graduation gave the Primary Six graduands of Mind Builders School, Ikeja, Lagos, the opportunity to recap lessons from their finishing school session with the Education Director, Mrs Bolajoko Falore. The 20 boys and girls, who completed their primary education from the Omole and Central Business Districts (CBD) branches of the school, were reminded of what they learnt about how to sit, stand, criteria for choosing friends, and communication skills. Mrs Falore said it was part of their preparation for the world of secondary education, where they would be expected to manage themselves with greater responsibility than the primary school level. "The future belongs to those who prepare for it. I want you to use your past experiences at Mind Builders to create a beautiful future for yourself. I am sure you will excel among your peers. You must have big dreams. But before you can achieve it, you must work," she said. Plaques and certificates were presented to all the graduands for fully completing their primary education

•Mr Opeyemi (third left), Mr Awe (right) and other teachers with the graduands. By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

up to primary six, unlike many of their peers who left in Primary Five. Photos of the graduands and their families, as well as their bio-data, prefectship post held, and their future ambitions were projected on the backdrop of the stage for all to see. Chairman of the occasion Mr Ailuelohia, who was also the father of the head boy, Oseghale, was one of the proud parents who counseled the pupils.

• Continued from Page 25

Kano State Commissioner for Education during Shekarau's tenure as governor (2007- 2011), said the new minister was aware of the issues in the sector and addressed them squarely. As minister, Salihu said Shekarau needs to address the challenge of teacher quality. He said: "Today in Nigeria, the general problem is how to produce devoted and committed teachers, it is very unfortunate that the old teachers college were scrapped. Those who did it did not know the importance of the programme. Today when you enroll young ones into teaching profession, most of them do not have interest because the foundation was not there. So the new minister has to address how we can have a regular flow of competent and qualified teachers, so that at the end, we can achieve the benefit and to also tackle the issue urgently by taking drastic action." Mallam Musa Salihu also said Shekarau should also intervene with private schools, which, he said, are exploiting parents with high fees. He advocates they should be assessed regularly, while the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) should establish harmonious working environment between the government and the private sector. Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Education, Prof Offiong E. Offiong, said Shekarau should endeavour to carry all states along when implementing policies to ensure success. “There is need to carry all states along in ensuring total and holistic transformation,” he said. Offiong also said Nigeria should settle the out-of-school problem once and for all by conducting its own investigation. “The out-of-Sschool phenomenon should be tackled. Also there is lack of reliable data. For instance 10.6 million Nigerians out of school is speculative. This has been a problem facing the sector. There is need to address this. We need to get the data. This has led to the inability to accommodate all in our efforts to give Nigerian children qualitative education,” he said. Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), Mr Olawumi

He told them that their graduation from primary school represents the end of a phase in their lives and the start of another. "This is my message to all graduating pupils. This phase has prepared you for the next phase. And Mind Builders School has played a principal role in that preparation. It is your responsibility to take the things you learnt and use it for the next phase. Your parents will not be there for you, especially for those going to the

boarding house. You will be responsible for yourself," he said. The school administrator, Mr Olatunde Opeyemi, charged the graduands to believe they can do all things through Christ; while the Head Teacher, Mr Ezekiel Awe, said they should not forget the 12 pillars of character, namely, goal setting, self awareness, value achievement, value others, self control etc. Highpoint of the event was the cutting of the graduation cake.

Will Shekarau deliver? Commissioners welcome Shekarau

HE Commissioners for Education in the country have felicitated with the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekerau, on his appointment. A statement signed by the chairman of the State Commissioners of Education Forum in Nigeria, Prof Offiong Offiong, said the appointment did not come as a surprise having watched his performance as governor of Kano State. Offiong, who is the Cross River Education Commissioner, said the forum has no doubt that his antecedents as a teacher and one time per-

manent secretary in the Ministry of Education informed his appointment. "The States Commissioners of Education Forum therefore assures the minister of maximum cooperation and support towards the development of the nation's education sector as well as Mr President's transformation agenda. The forum will continue to provide a platform for synergy between the federal and states Ministries of Education for the overall development of the sector," he said.

•Offiong

Gasper, urges the minister to spare some thought for Technical and Vocational Education (TVE). He described as erroneous, the present focus on tertiary education and advocates that the education environment be configured to support innovations. However, for TVE to succeed, Gasper said that the Federal Government should strengthen basic education. "We are focusing too much on tertiary education, which is unnecessary. University graduates will not create jobs. Job creation will come from young boys with brilliant ideas. That is why we need to strengthen basic education. Basic education needs attention. That is the bedrock of education. Once we get it right, everything will follow," he said. Regarding the polytechnics, the National ASUP President, Dr Chibuzor Asomugha, said though the union has though suspended its 11-month old strike, members expect Shekarau to address their grievances without delay. The demands of the union that led

to the strike include: an end to the discrimination against polytechnic graduates in the public service and in the labour market; release of the White Paper on the Visitations to Federal Polytechnics; implementation of CONTISS 15 migration for the Lower cadres and its arrears as from 2009; establishment of a National Polytechnics Commission (NPC) as a regulatory body for Polytechnics. Others are: review of the Polytechnic Act; improved funding of the Polytechnic sub-sector and equitable disbursements of TETfund grants among universities, polytechnics and colleges of education; appointments of qualified persons only from the polytechnic sector as rectors and provost of polytechnics, monotechnics and college of technologies, implementation of 65-year retirement age for lecturers in polytechnics, monotechnics and college of technologies, and the re-negotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUP Agreement as agreed. Though Asomugha is not optimistic much can be achieved by Shekarau considering the little time

left before the end of the current administration, nonetheless, Asomugha said ASUP expects him to lay a solid foundation for his successor to build on. He said: "It will be unrealistic to expect too much from the minister considering the brief period that he has before the end of his regime. Factor is also the enormous responsibility he is faced with in the education sector. "It will be reasonable for him to try and lay solid foundations for Nigeria education, a practicable roadmap, devoid of cosmetics of the past, especially with regards to technical and vocational education. So far he has shown satisfactory understanding of the critical importance of technical and vocational education and has pledged to give it requisite attention. It will be necessary for him to involve critical on-ground operators of the system in fashioning out a sustainable platform for raising standards in our polytechnics." The National President College of Education Acacdemic Staff Union (COEASU) said Shekarau's pedigree

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

‘The out of school phenomenon should be tackled. Also there is lack of reliable data. For instance 10.6 million Nigerians out of school is speculative. This has been a problem facing the sector. There is need to address this. We need to get the data’

THE Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED) has inaugurated a 16-member executive committee. They were sworn in at Glory Point International School, Ebute-metta West, Lagos State. Its President, Mrs Ifediola Dada, who is returning for a second term, said the election was an agreement which came out successfully. She noted that the association had been facing continuity problems which she promised to eradicate. She praised the increased standard of education in the state, adding that her administration will be work on improving the curriculum and security in member-schools. Dada advised other newly elected officials to be good ambassadors of the association. "Whichever way you are called for any service, do it according to the will of God. If you are doing it in your own way, searching for your own selfish interest, God has a way of paying you back. "Don't wait for man's compensation, it will only trouble your life. What God has not given, you if man should give you, you will only fall, but when God gives you, it multiplies. That is the reality of life. Let us wait for God,” she said. She encouraged them to have team spirit for the growth of the association. makes him look promising but warned him not to negatively influenced. "He looks promising. From his background, he appears to be having a listening ear, and like the kind who will approach issues without bias. But my fear is if he will not allow himself to be influenced by those bad eggs in the ministry," he said. The Southwest Coordinator, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Dr Adeshola Nasir, said Shekarau should convene an education summit where challenges in the sector would be addressed. "It is not only about understanding the sector, but being able to implement sound education programmes in Nigeria. ASUU has repeatedly said education is declining with respect to poor funding, poor infrastructures and all that, and that government should call education summit involving stakeholders that will harvest opinions that will launch Nigeria among the comity of nations. Government needs not wait any further. The time to act is now and any positions arising there from should be passed by the new minister to government for onward implementation," Nasir said. On his part, the first National VicePresident, All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Mr Abayomi Adegunle, feels Shekarau's designations as a technocrat and former governor would help him ward off any likely challenges from the ministry or any pollutants. He urged Shekarau to see to the passage of the Secondary School Commission bill. He said: "He is a well grounded principal. He was also a former national president of ANCOPSS for four years. So he knows the rudiment of education because he has passed through the stages, Adegunle contended. "However, we expect him to press for the actualisation of the Secondary School Commission bill which is before the National Assembly. He should also ensure that professionalism among teachers in both primary and secondary school nationwide is henceforth more practicaloriented that theoretical. Above all, the he should ensure the implementation of the 27.5 Teachers Salary Scheme."

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

EDUCATION

• Part of Evangel University. Inset: A banner announcing the university’s convocation.

NUC shuts two illegal varsities •Cautions students

WO illegal universities were sealed up by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) in Lagos last week. They are Evangel University of America, Egan, Igando, and Clinton University Study Centre, in Ojokoro, a Lagos suburb. Leader of the NUC team, Prof Adebisi Balogun, said the 'schools' are unapproved private universities. At the time the NUC team and others from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the State Security Service (SSS) got to the colleges last Tuesday, unsuspecting

By Joke Kujenya

students were seated for the day's class sessions. The proprietor and a bursar of one of the schools were arrested. At the Evangel Christian University of America, a four-bedroom flat on 2, Akinola Street, Olufemi Estate, Egan, Igando, the enforcement team arrested Dr. Philip Nnaji, the school's Bursar, a midde-aged man. Nnaji, however, claimed he did not know the institution was operating illegally. He told the officials that to the best of his knowledge, the institution runs as an affiliate campus of the parent university in Illinois, United States. "The Nigerian campus only awards diploma,

degrees and post graduate degrees in Theology," he said. Many of the students were too shocked to speak. A few of them told The Nation that they were told the school was approved by the NUC, giving them the confidence to enrol. Some fell into the trap because they were unable to gain admission into the regular universities. At Clinton University Study Centre, Ojokoro, which operated inside a shopping mall, the proprietor, who called himself Uranta, denied operating a degree "awarding mill". He said he was only running a Management Programme under the name "Clindick Management Acad-

emy" to prepare students for external examinations. Uranta also claimed that he had started seeking approval to establish a university named Clinton University in Afam, Rivers State, which was still in progress. He even claimed that his last correspondence with the NUC was on June 14. "I applied to NUC last year and was invited to their office in Abuja. When I got there, NUC said no. This year, I applied for the proposed Clinton University. We went for the interview and were successful. Then, NUC wrote in June 2014, asking us to come and pick the form to run the university," Uranta said. Uranta's claim was however countered by Prof Balogun, Chairman, NUC Committee on Closure of Illegal Universities in Nigeria. Balogun said it was glaring that Uranta had not he applied to the NUC at all, yet admitted unsuspecting students. Balogun said: "The most important thing that is glaring form this exercise is that Mr Uranta has been operating an illegal outfit to desperate Nigerian students. And this must have been ongoing for some time. Although he has tried to convince us that he is making efforts to comply in terms of having filled the application forms, which is just one of the 14 steps required to open a university, that does not give him the right to start admitting students for Masters degree as we have seen with evidence today. “His so-called university has not been approved or in the least, the process has not started. And even if started, he cannot begin by awarding Masters degree from the outset.” Balogun also said the NUC publishes, in its Monday bulletins, names of these illegal universities. "And this is why the NUC has been sending monitoring teams to inform us of their activities across the

country. We also send them warning messages and notes of caution, telling them that, if they want to run a private university, there are procedures that must be followed. But they won't listen but just go on to establish and start running the 'illegal mills'," he said. During the raid, the officials confiscated several items such as students' projects, receipts, computers, list of admitted students, bank tellers and files containing details about the university management before sealing the place a no-entry barrier. Balogun said the activities of operators of illegal universities in the country would continue as long as parents continue to send their children to such colleges because of desperation to get them admitted to tertiary institutions at all cost. While some of the students expressed hopelessness at the closure of their schools, asking where they would go from that point, Balogun advised parents and the students to do thorough findings on approved universities from the NUC, which is the appropriate authority. He said: "Go through the NUC website where we publish the list of all approved universities in Nigeria every week. We also publish the list of illegal universities and 'degree mills'. There should be no confusion in going to regular universities. However, should a student or his parents be unsure, they should resort to the Commission for clarification. When you ask for information instead of sending your children to these places to waste your hard-earned money and their precious lives, both of you will not be helped. In the long run, it will not help Nigeria. It will all amount to waste and at the end of the day. The degrees earned from these institutions will not be recognised for jobs or even for their career growth in life."

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

EDUCATION FUNAAB FILE

1,400 pupils for athletics meet

Oputu becomes Ambassador THE immediate past Managing Director of the Bank of Industry (BoI), Dr Evelyn Oputu, has been appointed as the Ambassador for Entrepreneurship and Industrial Linkages at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). Communicating the appointment to her during a visit to the university, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole described her as an exemplary woman with great values, integrity and focus, who was committed to building future leaders. The Vice Chancellor said as an ambassador, she is expected to project the mission, vision and objectives of the various colleges, centres and institutes through internationalisation, community engagement and entrepreneurial activities in the drive towards attaining a world-class status. Accepting the offer, Ms. Oputu noted that with the right connection and motivation, the university’s entrepreneurial arm such as the farm and research institutes would become veritable income spinning ventures.

Video-conference makes its debut PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has inaugurated the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), a broadband video-conferencing project, initiated by the National Universities Commission (NUC). Jonathan, who was represented at the inauguration in Abuja by the Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, said the project was aimed at promoting research and educational collaboration, linkages and partnership between universities within and outside the country, research communities and the government. Executive Secretary of NUC Prof Julius Okojie said NgREN would provide more and cheaper bandwidth for member-institutions to leverage on technology to promote innovative teaching and learning. Twenty-nine institutions, including FUNAAB, were selected to pilot the project.

SIWES heads learn supervision TO be more effective, the FUNAAB Vice Chancellor Prof Olusola Oyewole said the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) has to be well supervised by the SIWES directorate, college representatives and departmental coordinators. Making this observation at a “Step-Down Capacity-Building Training for Departmental SIWES Coordinators and College Representatives on Work-Based Learning, Job, Analysis and Career Placement”, Oyewole, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof Felix Salako, called for better supervision and linkage between the university, industries and organisations where students undergo their Industrial Training (IT) so that the ultimate goal of establishing SIWES to produce work-ready graduates would be achieved. He added that the objectives of the scheme, which was applicable to the university include providing avenue for students in the University to acquire industrial skills and experience that are relevant to their courses of study, to provide students with an opportunity to apply acquired theoretical knowledge in real-work situations thereby bridging the gap between knowledge and practice and also to prepare students for the work situation they will be meeting during post-graduation.

VER 1,400 primary and secondary school pupils from 18 local governments in Cross River State have participated in the fifth Cross River State Athletics Championship sponsored by GOtv. The five-day competition saw the young athletes, champions from their local government councils, compete for laurels in various sports at the UJ Esuene stadium, Calabar. They participated in 100 meters, 400 meters and 800 meters races; shot-put, long jump, high jump and triple jump, among other track and field events. Highlight of the opening ceremony was the march past by the athletes in branded GOtv T-shirts, caps, tog bags and other paraphernalia. Speaking at the opening, Governor Liyel Imoke said such competitions allow for healthy rival among children. He thanked GOtv for its sponsorship which enabled state sustain the championship for the fifth year. General Manager GOtv, Mrs Elizabeth Amkpa reiterated that GOtv values its younger audiences being a brand that offers quality entertainment for all members of the family. She expressed satisfaction with the organisation of the championship, congratulating the government and people of Cross River State for providing a secure environment conducive for hosting such an event.

• The dilapidated school on Omololu Street.

School appeals for infrastructure

N appeal has been made to the Lagos State government to rehabilitate structures at the Abina Omololu Primary School, Surulere. Parents and teachers lamented the deplorable state of the infrastructure, which has forced some parents to withdraw their wards from the school. Abina Omololu is a merger of two schools, Abina Primary School and Omololu Primary School. The junior pupils (nursery 1 to primary three) were housed in the structure

By Oluwatosin Olawale and Oluwaseun Akinola

on Abina Street, off Randle Avenue, Surulere. The senior pupils (primary four to six) were housed on Omololu Street. However, following the dilapidation of the facility on Omololu Street, the senior pupils were moved to Abina Street last September. A source at the school said efforts to get the government to intervene in the school did not yield the desired results. "We have written to the govern-

ment many times but got no response. We have been losing pupils because of the unavailability of a modern school structure. We decided to relocate them to Omololu when we saw that many parents were taking their children away. Even the present structure is both small and dilapidated and we record injuries on daily basis while the pupils play," he said. A parent, Mrs Ebolg Ike, appealed to the government to respond to the letters people in charge have written.

Last words for 395 KC graduands

OUNSEL about patriotism was among the lessons the 395 SS3 boys got during the Speech Day and Prize-Giving programme of King’s College, Lagos, penultimate week. The Principal, Otunba Dele Olapeju and guest speaker, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, both touched on the essence of loyalty to the nation in their speeches at the event held at the Assembly Hall of the 105-year old college. Comparing Nigeria to Ghana, Olapeju said the college's biennial exchange programme between King’s College and Achimota School, Ghana provides cogent lessons on patriotism that Nigerians need to learn. He noted that the high level of loyalty of Ghanaians for their country, expressed through their care for public property, should be emulated by King's College boys and other Nigerians. "The average Ghanaian is more patriotic than the average Nigerian. They can die for their country. The same cannot be said of Nigerians. We treat public property with impunity. But they treat public property with respect," he said.

• From right: Mrs Dabiri Erewa; Dr Nwaobiala, Mrs Olapeju, wife of the principal and Otunba Olapeju. By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, who chairs the Diaspora Committee in the House of Representatives, consolidated thoughts in this direction when she admonished the graduating pupils to be compassionate and shun corruption. She attributed the level of corruption to a lack of compassion in governance. "In Nigeria today, there is no

compassion in governance anymore. If there is compassion, you will know that the money you are taking is meant to be used to address one need or another. Corruption has taken over. “We are in a world that has lost its moral values. But you must have pockets full of good things hard work, integrity, vision," she said. Rather than stick to the appellation, leaders of tomorrow, Mrs

Free ICT training for female students, teachers T

HE Computer Geek Girls Collaborative Camp is set to organise a week-long Information Communication Technology (ICT) training camp for secondary schools girls and women teachers in Oyo State. The Coordinator of the group, Dr Yetunde Folajimi told journalists that the training aimed to improve the participation of females in the ICT profession will hold between

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

August 11 and 16, at the Department of Computer Science, University of Ibadan (UI). Folajimi, who is also a computer science expert at UI, explained that the highlights of the training will include, educational and recreational activities, developing

educational video games, making digital movies and music, creating websites and blogs, among others. The mentors expected at the training include, the first female professor of computer science, Prof Adenike Osofisan, President, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, Alhaja Sekinat Yusuf; Director of ICT, University of Benin, Prof Stella Chiemeke, and Dr Virgina Ejiofor.

Dabiri-Erewa urged the teenagers to be ready to serve, as “leadership is all about serving.” In his speech, the Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Macjohn Nwaobiala, congratulated the graduands and their parents for making it this far, urging the parents to continue guiding their wards in the path of success. "May I therefore task you to ensure that the journey to success for these young children does not end here? Endeavour to encourage them to drink further the spring waters of knowledge through more academic pursuits," he said. The programme, chaired by Dr Rafiq Ogunbambi, Federal Commissioner, Executive Board of Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, also featured presentation of prizes to pupils who were outstanding in academics, behavior, sports, music and other areas.

*CAMPUSES

A foreigner’s thought about Nigeria

Theatre of life Page 31

*NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 31

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

•Dolapo (raising the trophy) with her colleagues celebrating the feat

Before business managers and professionals, students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) highlighted the “hidden fortunes” in Eni Iran, a locally-woven mat, which is the craftwork of the Ogotun-Ekiti people. They made the presentation last week at the final of the Enactus National Challenge in Lagos. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

‘Hidden fortunes’ in a local mat

T is just a mat, but through their dexterity, they have turned it into a money spinning venture. Eni Iran, a locally-woven mat, is a dying craftwork of the people of Ogotun-Ekiti, which students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) revived and turned into wealth. Before a group of business executives and professionals, the students explained how they used Eni Iran to produce phone pouches, hand bags, flower vases, laptop carriers and portable folders, among others. By their feat, the students emerged champions of the Entrepreneurship National Challenge organised by Entrepreneurship Action in Us (Enactus), a non-profit organisation. They will represent Nigeria in October at the World Cup Challenge in Beijing, China, where they will present the

•Continued on page 30

•‘Farewell match’ for fallen student-P41

•How to check insurgency, others-P42

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

As the dust settles

S the dust generated by the almost ten months old strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) settles, it is quite appropriate to once again look at the fundamental issues of polytechnic education in the country. By its duration, the strike is one of the longest in Nigerian history. It need to be stressed though that the suspension of the strike - which is for three months - followed the request of the new Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, for time to look into the contentious issues that had stalled all efforts to bring the action to an end. Anyone who truly long to see our country make progress will welcome the suspension of this strike that had kept polytechnic students away from their studies for a whole session. The losses from the strike are indeed unquantifiable. Shekarau should be commended for promptly moving to break the impasse between ASUP and the Federal Government (FG). A few days after the suspension of the strike action, Senate President, David Mark pointed out that the demands of the lectures were not selfish which goes to show that the issues at stake are clear. My humble advice to the new minister is to ensure that all the issues that made it impossible to suspend the strike earlier should be addressed promptly, and with all sincerity, to ensure a permanent end to the strike after the three months suspension. I hope the three months grace period to allow for further negotiation should not be frittered away politicking, but rather to confront the fundamentals head on. It is quite disheartening that strikes have become a permanent feature of our education sector. Recall that a similarly protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was called off only in December last year after university students had been sent home for about six months. The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) also began a strike on December 31, last year, following a 60-day ultimatum issued to the FG on September 16, 2013. The union has also suspended its strike for three months to iron things out with the government. Though it is well known, but it is worth reemphasise that these frequent disruptions of the academic calendars of tertiary institutions in the country are inimical to delivery

Pushing Out

of quality education in the country. It is necessary that all stakeholders – within the education sector and lovers of Nigeria – arrive at a common ground and ensure that all the issues with that informed the strikes in polytechnics and colleges of education are tackled and rested at the same time. As the rump of those of us who still 08116759750 believe in this country battle to save (SMS only) her from the pit she has sunken so •aagboa@gmail.com deep into, it is not lost on me that these strikes are a symptom of organisational failings in our education sector. They indicate an absence of a coherent policy on tertiary educa- tions to Federal Polytechnics, and the comtion. Why would we always have the pen- mencement of the renegotiation of the FGN/ chant of allowing things get messy before they ASUP Agreement. The union also wants the are resolved? payment of the workers’ salary arrears on the I recollect that at a point in the negotiation Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Strucprocess between ASUP and the FG, students ture (CONTISS 15), to the tune of N40 billion. were even called to sit in at crucial meetings Running through these issues, one wonders where key policy decision were discussed why they are such an uphill task for the govbecause some people were bent on gaining ernment to address. Let’s take the issue of cheap political points at the detriment of the governing councils for instance; if governing sector. councils have been beneficial in universities, These flip flops project a failure of adminis- why do we need a strike to get the minister to tration at the higher education level, which set them up in polytechnics? has been forcing thousands of our students to Why also would the government constitute seek education outside the country. It is now a visitation panel and fail to take decisions on the norm to see Nigerians, in large numbers, its findings and releasing the white paper? It throng higher institutions in Ghana, Togo and is quite clear that infrastructures in our polyBenin Republic. Thousands also go to Tur- technics and colleges of education, just like in key, India, the United Kingdom, America and the universities are run down which necessieven Cameroun, just to escape the nightmare tated the NEEDS Assessment Exercise in the that Nigeria’s tertiary education has become. first place. But the big question is why are This is how far we have travelled on the road their findings being delayed? There is already to infamy. an agreement on CONTISS. I gather that the Let me stress what is often “forgotten” by unions are merely aggrieved over the mothe authorities. The universities, polytechnics, dalities and arrears of payment. Why are these colleges of education and technical colleges being delayed? are parts of the whole system and none can From what I also gathered by speaking with truly replace the other. But because of our administrators, there is really no big deal in penchant for “status” and certificates we have setting up a national polytechnic commission. inadvertently relegated some to the back- I was also meant to understand that senior ground as less important. This should not be administrators are capable of handling issues the case as each has its unique place in na- like the tenure of rectors, peculiar and respontional development. sibility allowance, CONTISS migration and For the avoidance of doubt, ASUP wants non-accreditation of programmes. Their conamongst other demands the establishment of cern is that some of these issues have political a National Polytechnics Commission, akin to undertones which often make their implethe National Universities Commission (NUC); mentation “difficult.” the constitution of Governing Councils for In a nutshell, most of these grievances can Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Educa- be tied to wrongful and stereotyped perception; the release of White Paper on the Visita- tion of polytechnic education, poor funding

Agbo Agbo

and relegation of the polytechnics, and technical education to the background. This was evident in the initial insensitivity of the government and the mocking silence of Nigerians to the strike, compared to that of ASUU. Our emphasis on paper qualification or certificate consciousness does not even give room for sober reflection on certain issues. That unreasonable emphasis was what informed calls for the transformation of some polytechnics into universities. But is it enough to change the name of a polytechnic merely because one desires that it awards degree? I don’t think so. In this regard, there is a counterproductive and completely wrong attitude of Nigerians to polytechnic education. Parents, teachers, students and even the general public itself have constantly relayed attitudinal dispositions that disregard polytechnic education. More often than not, polytechnics – as I have written in the past - are seen as the last resort for students who have been frustrated by non-admission into the university after years of frequent attempts at the university matriculation examinations. Parents seem to subscribe to it as the “alternative” tertiary education when all attempts at gaining university admission have failed. “It is better to go to a polytechnic than sit at home,” is the popular saying among parents and students alike. I have no iota of doubt in my mind that polytechnic graduates are as useful to the country as much as university graduates; each have unique roles in the society. For the records, the university and the polytechnic have different objectives based on their utility value to society. While the university aims to produce the cultured, public-spirited and conscientious intellectual that would transform the immediate environment and contribute to global culture and civilisation, the polytechnic is geared towards the production of the enlightened workforce that would advance the instrument of economic production and infrastructural development, and help the society on the path of industrialisation. Can there be credible development without industrialisation? The answer is quite obvious. Finally, are we still dreaming of being among the top 20 developed nations by 2020? The last time I checked, it appears we are. If we are then, where do we start from? If we are serious we must address this issue of technical education.

‘Hidden fortunes’ in a local mat •Continued from page 29 projects. They will be meeting their peers from over 60 countries including the United States (U.S.), Germany and the United Kingdom. The EKSU team beat five other Enactus teams in the final of the yearly entrepreneurship contest held, last week, at the Zinnia Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos. Their projects enthralled the judges, who are top company managers . The judges evaluated the business values of the EKSU students’ projects and declared them the most lucrative. Other institutions that got to the final are the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State; Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State; Niger Delta University (NDU), Bayelsa State; Kaduna State Polytechnic (KADPOLY), and Tai Solarin University (TASUED), Ogun State. The event with the theme: See Possibilities, was sponsored by First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Sahara Group and Verve International. The teams came from over 35 higher institutions and brought quality projects. After the first and second rounds, the six teams that presented the most beneficial projects moved to the final, which was graced by the U.S Consular-General to Nigeria, Mr Jeffery Hawkins. The EKSU team, led by Dolapo Odupele, a 400-Level Banking and Finance student, made a mark with Eni Iran. The students discovered that many jobs could be created if Eni Iran is modernised. The team partnered with Ekiti State Enterprise Development Agency (EEDA) to design fashionable items out of the local mat.

•The KADPOLY team

The market created from selling these products led to the increased production of Eni Iran created income for the craftsmen. The projects also restored the pride of the Ogotun people in mat weaving. The EKSU team also presented Tech 4 Rice project, which is aimed at increasing productivity of farmers in Igbemo Ekiti through the introduction of cheap Moringa Folia Spray as alternative to highly-priced fertilisers. The students also devised pest control process for the farmers to reduce rodents’ sabotage. The team’s last project was on pollution reduction, in which they partnered with Ekiti Waste Management Board (EKWMB) to convert waste nylons into packing materials. This created jobs for youths in the target communities. The KADPOLY and ABU teams emerged first and second runners up. Over 36 orphans, 66 women living with HIV and 107 jobless individuals were reintegrated into the society through Life Skill Approach of the KADPOLY team, which also trained staff of a distressed orphanage to boost its monthly income for the children’s upkeep. The ABU team’s Saving the Planet Project developed a process, where bio-diesel and

cheap fuel could be extracted from Jatropha plant seeds to generate energy for use for domestic cooking. The District head of Bomo Community in Zaria donated 1.7 hectare of land for the project. The Bomo villagers were trained in how to extract the oil and sell for commercial use. The project generated income for several villagers and created job for Bomo youths. The ABU team also empowered widows in Zaria through the production of Moringa Yagi, a cheap seasoning. Months after the training, the widows were able to cater for their daily need by generating N17,000 from the sales of the product. Other finalists also presented projects, which included Making Entrepreneurs and Nourah projects (FUTO), Atelewo (my destiny in my hand) and New Gate (TASUED), Live an Impact for Eternity and Wealth on Water (NDU). The judges praised the students for their “brilliant entrepreneurial skills”. One of them, Ikechukwu Kalu, the group head of FCMB’s Marketing and Communication, said: “The performance of all the teams is fantastic, given that most of them are 100and 200-Level students. For the FCMB, it is

about just sponsoring the contest; we follow up by picking the projects from there and develop it, so that our youths get empowered and their lives get enhanced.” The Country Director of Enactus, Mrs Adesuwa Ifedi, said the students saw possibilities where others saw challenges, stressing that entrepreneurship should not be preached as an isolation concept but as one that would transform people’s lives and the society. She said: “In Enactus, we believe entrepreneurship has the power to change lives. This is why we are challenging our undergraduates because they cannot learn it in the classroom. The only way they can learn is when we challenge them and compete against one another; find challenges and turn it into possibilities, take effective action and enable progress. That is when they will see the power business has to change lives.” Dolapo told reporters that her team was winning for the first time, having got to the final seven times. She said: “We took up the challenge to modernise Eni Iran to turn around the lives of the Ogotun people because we found untapped fortunes in the craftwork.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE Nicholas Rolley, a Ph.D student of the University of California in Berkley, United States(U.S), is in Nigeria to research into West African languages at the University of Ibadan (UI). He shares his views about the country with STANLEY IBEKU.

A foreigner’s thoughts on Nigeria I

T is his second visit to Nigeria – Africa’s most populous nation. Nicholas Rolley, a doctoral research student from the University of California in Berkley, United States (U.S), first visited in 2009 when he came for a research into Ishan Language of Edo State at the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, University of Ibadan (UI). His stay was boring and basically spent on research work. If his first visit was boring, Rolley fell in love with African languages in his second visit. He is undertaking a special research on dialects in West Africa, especially on syntax and phonology. He came at the instance of Prof Francis Egbokhare whose research interest is similar to Nicholas’. Did he just find love in Africa? Nicholas said: “I became very interested in West African languages during my first degree programme at the University of Toronto, where I took a course called Field Methods. It was a course in which all linguistic students basically dissect a language from the basics and study the language without being a native speaker.” Since then, his interest in African languages started to grow. According to him, Nigeria is a linguistic goldmine because of its vast number of different cultures, languages and people. He said negative stories about Nigeria may have prevented foreign researchers from exploring the country’s goldmine. He said: “It is incredible the number of linguistic and cultural wealth that found in Nigeria. There is so much to be done and I think it is the negative stories and perceptions which hold researchers back. In the 1970s, there were so many foreigners who came to Ibadan not just to study but to live here. They also studied there. My supervisor was a vis-

iting scholar to the University of Ibadan. There were people that did their research on Igala, Kalabari, Itsekiri, Hausa and Kanuri. But right now, because of security and power situation, there are fewer people coming here.” Rolley said it won’t be fair to compare Nigeria with the US in terms of the teaching facilities, noting that Nigeria’s status as a developing country should not be an excuse for the poor conditions of the facilities in higher institutions. On what he perceived about Nigeria, he said: “There is lots of news about the country, which are mostly negative. There are amazing people; there are also terrible people just like in America. But there is a thin line between anthropology and stereotyping. Generally, Nigerians are highly social. The country has cultures reflected in the linguistic diversity.” Rolley said his research work is mainly for the academommunity and for the promotion and preservation of Ishan language. Worried by the state of Nigerian universities, the foreign student urged the government to set its priority. “The most important thing in my mind is where the priority should be. Where specific Nigerian interest should be and also what students should pay more attention to. Electricity is still the problem in Nigeria but universities are in the business of developing knowledge and impacting it. It does not create wealth. Because universities are knowledge centres, it is important that we develop knowledge and use it to solve societal challenges,” he said. He wants Nigerians abroad to come back and use their expertise to develop the country while also advocating for more exchange

• The initiates being led to the ‘shrine’

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Some Americans don’t even understand that Nigeria is highly urbanised. They think Africa is a bush. They don’t understand ‘everyday Lagos’. They don’t understand traffic jams which involve 10,000 vehicles. They don’t understand how urban Nigeria is becoming and many other African cities and countries

• Nicholas

programmes. He said: “It is good for Nigerians professionals to go abroad but they must return to their country to set the pace for its development. They must discourage brain drain. We should have ambitious, brilliant and smart Nigerians coming back to the country to help. Despite reports of kidnapping and terrorism, Rolley said he could settle in Nigeria but that has to be subject to his wife’s consent. He quipped: “I don’t know if my wife would want it because of kidnapping, armed

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robbery and Boko Haram challenges. Personally, these problems don’t worry me. My worry is the state of roads. Every time I am on the roads, I always hope to return back to my base alive. Now, I understand why Nigeria is very religious; why people pray to God 10 times a day. The roads are terrible. That, to me, will be one of the things pulling me back; that fear that I will be on the road and may never come back alive is always in the mind.” According to him, Nigeria is a country America should pay attention to. “It has cities bigger than anyone dreamt of. Some Americans don’t even understand that Nigeria is highly urbanised. They think Africa is a bush. They don’t understand ‘everyday Lagos’. They don’t understand traffic jams which involve 10,000 vehicles. They don’t understand how urban Nigeria is becoming and many other African cities and countries,” he said.

• The cleansing seassion

The Theatre Arts Students’ Association (TASA) of the Imo State University (IMSU) has inducted freshers into the department. The exercise was reminiscent of the traditional initiation. CHIDIEBERE ENYIA (400Level English and Literary Studies) and EKENE AHANEKU (200-Level Medicine and Surgery) report.

T was a scene to behold. The girls, in a single file, came out of the renovated Arts Theatre Complex, looking radiant like beautiful brides. They were dressed in white wrappers without tops. The men also adorned white wrappers. All have Nzu (ash) painted on their faces, chests and toes. The procession was led to the shrine by the ‘Chief Priest’, who held an Omu staff and a bottle of gin. A drummer, who trailed them, sounded the beat to herald what would happen. Another played tunes from a traditional flute, in a manner that brought back Igbo tradition. The rite was the inducton of freshers of the Theatre Arts Department. They were led to the sacred places with Omu (palm frond) across their mouths. They were ‘initiated’ one after the other by their senior colleagues. In Igbo tradition, holding palm fronds in the mouth symbolises protection, so to the freshers, it was a sign that they are protected in the department. The initiation took place on three spots: under a mango tree opposite the complex,

Theatre of life the front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office and an open space opposite the Faculty of Humanities building. These places are no-go areas for students, which is why Theatre Arts students consider them as hallowed places. The rite was performed to cleanse the freshers of fear, shame, timidity and fright on stage. After the initiation, the students danced round the campus with masqueraders, entertaining their colleagues in other departments. Members of the university community watched in admiration. At the Faculty of Humanities, the initiates formed a wide circle around a calabash of sacrifice for the ‘gods’ of art and creativity. They sat on the ground and sang praises of the ‘gods’. Their senior colleagues joined to educate them on the rudiments of theatre arts and stage performances. They were told to obey

all instructions in humility, loyalty and endurance. Some freshers, who were not attentive to the rituals, were given slight whips by their senior colleagues, who were narrating Igbo folklores and stage performances. They were marched back into the complex to be taught stage acts, which they would need as they progress in their studies. President of the department Callistus Mbam described the initiation as successful, noting that it marked the inauguration of his tenure as a students’ leader. “I am honoured because today is also our inauguration as the Theatre Arts Department executive. I appreciate the support of my predecessors and my senior colleagues. I am proud to be a thespian,” he said. Eberechukwu Nnamoko, a 300-Level student, said the event offered the freshers an opportunity to learn what theatre was

about. “It is also to encourage them to develop composure while on stage because theatre is all about expressing yourself in a confident way,” he added. Some of the freshers expressed joy over their admission into the department. Abuchi Nwosu said: “I am happy that I have passed the rites of induction, which is traditionally done for every students of Theatre Arts. It is a nice experience for me and I shook off shyness that could prevent from embracing the spirit of art. Sylvester Nwokedi, a Master’s student, who spoke on behalf of the Head of the Department, said: “The significance of the initiation is to make them understand the basics of theatre. Before now, the freshers could not do stage performance. Since they participated in the initiation, they would have picked a few traits that will make them to be bold on stage.” After the ritual, the students gathered at the Commassie Building, where they entertained their colleagues.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE Condoms litter varsity’s hall after freshers’ party

RESHERS admitted into the Kogi State University (KSU) in Ayingba, last Saturday, held their Matriculation Night party in the school auditorium. But the morning after, the venue was littered with used condoms. School cleaners were shocked at the discovery, raising suspicion that party may have been marred with carnal activities. The party, which was organised by the Students’ Union Government (SUG), was said to have started at 9pm on Saturday. The official matriculation was held in the auditorium earlier in the day.

From Johnson Onoja KSU According to a participant, who did not want his name in print, packs of condom were freely distributed to the students by an official of the SUG. The matriculation, which was its 15th edition, was chaired by the ViceChancellor, Prof Alhassan Isah. The oath-taking session was conducted by the Registrar, who admonished the students to obey rule and regulation of the institution. The VC urged the freshers to put their studies above other campus activities.

NIJ observes break • From right: Ifedi, Ms Mojekwu, Obioma and Ms Oremeyi Akah, representative of Verve International, after the press conference

Life after school seminar for students

HE General Secretary of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) Students’ Union Government (SUG), Chukwuemeka Iyom, has held a seminar to enlighten students on life after school. The event with the theme: Leadership and academic enhancement, was held at the university’s International Conference Centre. Speaking on Life after school, the university Bursar, Mr Peter Agi, told participants that life after school could be challenging contrary to students expectation of securing decent jobs with ease. He urged students not to depend on government to provide them with employment, adding that job opportunities for fresh graduates were limited. Agi told the students to set their priorities from school and learn to

From Stanley Uchegbu and Isaac Mensah UNICAL preserve their future by acquiring relevant skills and winning attitudes for success. “While white-collar jobs are limited in the labour market, it is advisable for young graduates to explore other avenues such as self-employment and skills acquisition,” he stated. Other speakers at the seminar included Prof Cyril Ndifon and Prof Austin Angba. Highlights of the event were the presentation of awards to guests, including Mr Anthony Ezeukwu, General Manager, Pan-Ocean Oil Corporation Nigeria Limited; Chief Edwina Egwuanumku, Dr Nkem

Dean seeks private sector-driven accommodation

HE Pro-chancellor and Chairman of Council of the Osun State University, Prof Gabriel Olawoyin (SAN) has expressed the need for the institution to make provision for campus accommodation through private sector participation. Prof Olawoyin made the remark while responding to the requests from the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof A.B. Alhassan, during the Governing Council’s visit to the faculty. Alhassan decried the low level of private sector partnership with the school, urging the management to explore strategies adopted by other institution to woo private investor to build hostels on the campus. He said university hostels was necessary for security of lives and

Tilije, Hon Prince Chinedu, Ogbuefi Lucky Okuji and Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru. Others were Hon. Ubong Etuk, Special Assistant to Akwa Ibom State Governor on Projects; Admiral Medani Charles and Hon David Etuk who awarded scholarship to some students in various institutions of higher learning. Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Chukwuemeka said: “The challenges of life after school are quite enormous, hence we decided to prepare the students as well as open their eyes to various realities as they advance in their career lives.” A participant, John Essien, 500-Level Nursing Science, said: “The seminar was indeed a major eye opener. Before now, I thought life after graduation was going to be a bed of roses but I was mistaken. I have to start planning for my future now. For me, the seminar is timely.”

TUDENTS of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos, have ended the 2013/2014 academic session. The session which began on October, 7, 2013 ended on July 4, 2014, giving the students time to prepare for the next session. A HND II student, Idowu Taibat, said: “I am happy for this break. I

From Samson Uwala am free from the stress I have gone through in the past few months, even though it is tailored a building us up for the challenges of life.” However, the next session has been scheduled to commence on October 13.

Media houses reject IT students

ATIONAL Diploma students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos are bitter over their inability to secure placement for their compulsory Industrial Training (IT). The students were rejected by media houses. The students, who should start their internship penultimate Monday, returned to the campus unhappy. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that some firms rejected students due to lateness, while others said they were not taking students for industrial attachment. A student who, did not give his name, said the school should be blamed for the development.

From Samsom Uwala NIJ

“I believe the management should be blamed for this mess because they ought to have known those media houses that are in need of interns and those who don’t,” he said. An affected student, Israel Adeneye , said: “The media houses should not reject students because of stipdent, since students are sent there to gather practical experience”. The Students’ Affairs Officer of the institute, Patricia Kalesanwo, could not be reached for comments, as she was said to be on leave.

From Abideen Olasupo UNIOSUN conducive learning. The dean also called for the deployment of experienced lecturers to the faculty to handle relevant courses, saying it would help the university in its quest to produce world-class graduates. He charged the management to provide subject-based laboratories on the campus to aid effective teaching. In his response, Prof Olawoyin promised that the requests of the faculty would be considered. Olawoyin in company of council members also visited the palace of the Ajalaye of Ipetu Ijesa, Oba Adekunle Baderin.

Varsity hosts diabetes summit

HE government of Osun State has reiterated its commitment to quality health care delivery for residents. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Temitope Ilori, gave the reassurance at the 2014 Strategies for Improving Diabetes Care in Nigeria (SIDCAIN) Summit with the theme: “Joint action against gestational diabetes mellitus”. The event was held at the auditorium of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) in Osogbo. Ilori said diabetes affected mostly women and children, leading to an increased mortality rate in subSaharan Africa. She said the government had taken measures to address the problem by partnering with stakeholders in the health sector and embarking on a number of programmes to alleviate the problem of diabetes in the state.

From Abideen Olasupo UNIOSUN Ilori said government was ready to collaborate with health care practitioners to improve the living conditions of the citizens. In his address titled: “Effective care for persons with gestational diabetes mellitus: why, what, how?” Dr Ade Kolawole of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital said the purpose of the summit was to fashion out strategies for managing gestational diabetes. He explained that gestational diabetes was the carbohydrate interference of variable severity first recognised during pregnancy, adding hat diabetes was a disease prevalent in city life. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof A.B. Okesina, urged participants to cultivate healthy habits in relation to the food they eat and exercise regularly.

•The students’ leaders with academic staff of the institution after their inauguration

TUDENTS’ leaders of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have been sworn in. The event, which took place at the university auditorium, was attended by principal officers of the institution. The Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof O.A. Omotesho, hailed the outgoing executive for its commitment to the students’ welfare. He said: “The outgoing executive members are one of the finest in the history of the university. The incoming leaders should borrow a leaf from their outgoing one. They are unique because this is the first time we have four ladies in the union’s executive.” The outgoing president, Abiodun

Union leaders take oath From Afis Odeyemi UNILORIN Lawal, said: “Most people might find it difficult giving account of their stewardship at the expiration of their tenure. I thank all my colleagues in the executive for their support and loyalty. I also wish you the best in your future endeavours.” The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, said: “The outgoing union members were in office before I assumed office, but I see them as people I can truly call my own. However, if second term

was permited in the union’s constitution, I personally would have advocated a second term for them.” Afterwards, the executive members took the oath, which was administered by Mr A. Akanbi. The Deputy VC, Prof Isah Fakunle, charged he union leaders to be servant leaders. “One thing you should know is that the university belongs to you and that you are the most important component of the university. Therefore, you must be hardworking, diligent and to always strive to be better,” he said.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

NGOs inspire Anambra grassroots women •PAGE 36

Sambo inaugurates estate in Enugu •PAGE 36

PAGE 33

In Abia, a raid on kidnappers’ den •PAGE 40

T was just as well that on the day retired Commodore Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe was honoured with one of the most significant titles in the Southeast, the region’s leaders were there to witness it. Ukiwe, Chief Chief of General Staff (CGS) in the General Ibrahim Babangida regime, was conferred with the title “Akajiofo Ndigbo” meaning, Igbo symbol of authority. Who bestowed the honour? Traditional rulers from the region led by the king of Nri, Eze Obidiegwu Onyesoh. Nri, in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, where the event took place, is the ancestral home of the Igbo ethnic group. That was fitting enough, for Ukiwe is regarded very highly by his people and also many across the ethnic divide. Illustrious citizens of the region saw every minute of the event. Former governor of Anambra State, Chief Peter Obi was there, as was Senator Chris Ngige representing Anambra Central. Others were Senator Ben Ndi Obi, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh and former Minister of Women Affairs, Chief Mrs. Josephine Anenih, among others. Ukiwe himself came with his wife from his Abiriba home in Abia State, complete with a befitting entourage including the traditional ruler of the town, the Enachioken, Eze Kalu Ogbu. At Nri, the Abiriba war dance entertained the audience while another cultural troupe from Calabar simply called “Mmang” also thrilled. A cultural group from Nri made of women would not be outdone in what appeared like a cultural contest. The podium was colourful, decked with cream and wine hue. In the general background, a stream of praises for the new title holder as well as the Nri monarch erupted intermittently. Also, the prestigious “Otu-Odu” (Iyom) in the community led by Hon. Mrs Uche Ekwunife and Chief Josephine Anenih featured prominently. Ukiwe is the latest prominent Igbo leader to hold the revered symbol of authority. Others who held the position before included the former Nigerian President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Premier of Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara, the late Senate President, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo and the Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, among others. While performing the traditional breaking of kolanut, Eze Onyeso lavished praises on Ukiwe, saying that he embodied undying spirit of Ndigbo during his service to the fatherland.

•Eze Onyesoh of Nri showing Ukiwe the way before the installation. With them are Ngige (second left) and others

Ukiwe’s ‘ title rallies Ndigbo From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

The king maintained that choosing Ukiwe for the significant title was easy and natural because of his manifest contributions to Igbo unity. He said as the custodian of Igbo culture and traditions, Ukiwe had stepped into the shoes of prominent Igbo sons and daughters who had in various areas touched the lives of the people. Furthermore, he said he had in one way or the other contributed immensely to the sustenance of Igbo unity, culture tradition and held sacrosanct to the ethos of Ndigbo. The monarch stated that the Ofo title which he gave to Ebitu Ukiwe was a solemn duty of Eze Nri as the custodian of Igbo culture and civilization. Again, he added that the Ofo in Igbo mythology simply means the conscience of Ndigbo, saying “the

Ukiwe is the latest prominent Igbo leader to hold the revered symbol of authority. Others who held the position before included the former Nigerian President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Premier of Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara, the late Senate President, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo and the Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu holder of Ofo Ndigbo therefore must be a role model from whose hands, the spirits ensure equity and justice in all matters before him. He must be a good listener, make the affairs of Ndigbo his and must handle this great responsibility with wisdom.”

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He stressed the need for the perpetuation of Igbo culture, tradition and language, insisting that despite the fact that westernisation and the mass media were fast eroding Igbo language, the people of Nri ancient kingdom shall stand

tall and hold firm to the culture and tradition of Ndigbo as the custodian and leader of all Igbo. In his response, Commodore Ukiwe thanked Eze Nri for finding him worthy of the prestigious Ofo Ndigbo. Furthermore, he assured him that whatever was the good reason he was chosen he shall continue to do to bring Ndigbo together as one indivisible entity. He said he would never disappoint Ndigbo, who found him worthy of stepping into the big shoes the likes of the great Zik of Africa, M. I. Okpara and Odumegwu Ojukwu wore in different times of the Igbo struggle. Senator Ben Ndi Obi described Ukiwe as a man with great antecedents and a man of few words. He recalled the contributions of Ukiwe towards enthroning democracy in the country even while •Continued on page 35

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Aspirant condemns Nyako’s impeachment

GOVERNORSHIP aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Mr. Nath Ikeocha has berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for its alleged involvement in the impeachment of Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako. Speaking to reporters in Aba, Ikeocha, a lawyer, criticized what he called the “heavy financial inducement” by the PDP hierarchy to lure and railroad members of the state assembly into taking an “unpatriotic decision and grossly abusing the democratic culture”. He equally blamed members of the Adamawa State legislature for allowing themselves to be cheaply used for such undemocratic act. Ikeocha said: “I am shocked over the impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa by the state lawmakers especially when it becomes obvious that such was orchestrated by the PDP. It is unfortunate that democracy which we fought restore is brazenly threatened by a few desperate power mongers for selfish reasons. Besides the fact Nyako’s impeachment represents a clear case of impunity and dictatorship, it also undermines our democratic advancement which no doubt makes mockery of Nigeria in the comity of nations”. He also subscribed entirely to the position of the national leadership of the APC to challenge the impeachment in court, arguing that the exercise would definitely not stand owing to what he described as ‘obvious breach of constitutional

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From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

provisions’. While condemning corruption by public office holders including state governors, the governorship hopeful insisted that Nyako was removed on political grounds by the PDP to reclaim the state from the back door. Ikeocha, however, commended the newly elected national executive of the party expressing optimism that APC under Chief John Oyegun would lead the party to victory in 2015 elections. On the crisis rocking the party in Abia State, Ikeocha appealed to various factions to jettison rancour and bitterness and close ranks in order to build a formidable platform that will end the PDP government in the state. “It is unfortunate that our party members are still disagreeing on quite a number of issues. It is also a known fact that the national leadership of our party has acknowledged that no congress took place in Abia State. “While we expect our leaders to address the problem as quickly as possible, it is expressly binding on us to come together and build a formidable platform bearing in mind the huge task of defeating the ruling PDP. We should not also allow our personal interest to override that of our great party considering the fact that our ultimate goal is to take over governance for the greater benefit of our members and the good people of Abia state,” he said.

Besides the fact Nyako’s impeachment represents a clear case of impunity and dictatorship, it also undermines our democratic advancement which no doubt makes mockery of Nigeria in the comity of nations

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•The author, Vincent

•Continued on page 40 •From left: Peter Obi; Eze Kalu; Eze Onyesoh; Mrs Ukiwe; Mrs Anenih and a guest

Ukiwe’s title rallies Ndigbo •Continued from page 33 still serving in the military. Senator Chris Ngige said Ukiwe as a Military man was a humane gentleman whose Igboness was very conspicuous even during his years of service, and during Nigeria Civil war. He said the outpouring of encomiums on him was a clear testimony that when he had the opportunity to serve, he performed creditably well. Ngige further said his elevation to the height of the great Owelle of Onitsha, M.I. Okpara and Odumegwu Ojukwu was an honour well deserved. He also used the occasion to call on all Igbo sons and daughters to be more united in the country and eschew playing politics of bitterness but work together as a people with common aim. For Hon. Ekwunife, who is also a

member of prestigious Otu-Odu (Iyom) in Nri ancient kingdom, said the Ukiwes have paid their dues towards Nigeria unity and were very well deserving the bestowment of the prestigious Ofo Ndigbo by His Majesty Eze Obidiegwu Onyesoh. Speaking with reporters, former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Peter Obi said the need for Igbo culture and tradition to be held tenaciously was apt especially in the face of challenges facing the Igbo language. He described Ebitu Ukiwe as a refined man whose love for his people was total while his commitment to the unity of the country was unquestionable. He however commended Eze Nri for finding him worthy to be honoured with the prestigious chieftaincy title of Ofo Ndigbo. Chief Joe Ifedobi said Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe was a gift to Igbo nation, adding that without the role he played in Igbo unity, Ndigbo would have been Balkanized. They said he was a man of great vision and courage and a man who stood by the people who were oppressed. He is a man that never supports injustice, he stands by the oppressed irrespective of ethnic differences. He resigned his position at the Supreme Military Council, not on the ground of corruption but

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•Chairman of Rangers Football Club, Chief Festus Oshaba Onuh (left) exchanging pleasantries with the former Chairman, NUJ/SWAN Enugu State Council, Mr. Ossy Ogboso during the burial ceremony of the former’s mother, Mrs. Theresa Oshaba Onuh at Enugu Ezike, Enugu State PHOTO: OBI CLETUS

on the ground that he was disenchanted with high level politics of divide and rule, injustice and other forms of vices” Former Minister for Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih said the honour was deserving and called for celebration. She said Ndigbo had evolved a certain consciousness to not only celebrate a great man at death but celebrating certain individuals while still alive. A freedom fighter, Emma Okocha, told the Nation that Ukiwe stands for the oppressed and suppressed. Okocha, who came all the way from Delta State to grace the event said since Ojukwu died that Ndigbo have been wallowing in the wilderness in search of a leader, adding that with Ukiwe, that has been resurrected. Also, Prof. Obiajulu Okonkwo from the United States of America, described Ukiwe as the only Iroko that can bring Ndigbo together again. Uche Okwukwu, the leader of Congress for liberation of Ikwere people told the Nation that Ukiwe who they refer to as (Ochiaghawarlord) is a gift to the black race. He said it was because of Ukiwe that Ikwere in Rivers state was not balkanised, describing him as a man of great vision clothed with integrity.

Ukiwe said he would never disappoint Ndigbo, who found him worthy of stepping into the big shoes the likes of the great Zik of Africa, M. I. Okpara and Odumegwu Ojukwu wore in different times of the Igbo struggle

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Ebonyi signs clean water pact with U.S. HE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has signed

a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ebonyi State government to establish a collaborative development partnership to modernise the state’s water utility. The agreement cements an ongoing working relationship to strengthen the institutional, legal and regulatory framework of the Ebonyi State water system so that households have increased access to potable

water. Currently, activities underway include establishing a reliable customer database to improve billing and collection efficiency, strengthening the human resource management skills through targeted trainings and developing a tariff policy for cost recovery. The MOU was signed by his Excellency, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi, and the USAID Mission Director, Michael T. Harvey. Mr. Harvey acknowledged

Ebonyi state’s significant investment to expand clean water production and connect its population to an affordable water supply. The state financed the construction of two new water treatment plants and a 52-kilometer trunk water main that connects one of the new water treatment plants to the state capital, Abakaliki. Mr. Harvey said that USAID will work with the Ebonyi State Water Corporation to help it achieve financial independence and, in the end, provide

more, better quality water on a reliable basis. He said, “This partnership is critical because it is about sustainability. It’s about strong political will and a commitment to reform. USAID will enable government officials to move the state towards a brighter future.” USAID’s urban water reform activity — Sustainable Water and Sanitation in Africa (SUWASA) — is a water policy reform activity at the state level that focuses on sustainable urban water supply.

•Governor Elechi

33 Immigration officers promoted in Enugu

HE Nigerian Immigration Service, Enugu State command has decorated 33 newly promoted officers of the command. The comptroller, Enugu State Command, Ibrahim Bashiru Ismail while speaking at the

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From Chris Oji, Enugu

event, said that the 33 officers were among the over 700 officers that were recently promoted nationwide by the Nigerian Immigration Service.

The comptroller of the command praised the Enugu State government for its spirited efforts to encourage officers who work hard by the promotion, advising the promoted officers to justify the promotions by working harder

O fewer than 12 unemployed graduates in Abia State have got N2m from the state government with a view to helping them set up a business of their own. The empowerment programme also witnessed the giving out of 200 cars to other youths from the zone which comprises Ohafia, Bende and Arochukwu, apart from the 2500 cars already given to the youths across the state in the past three years. Speaking while giving out the empowerment items to the youths, Governor Theodore Orji said that the era when the people of the state were empowered with

The comptroller stated that the promotion of these officers was based on merit, effectiveness, loyalty and hardwork. He praised the present administration for its spirited efforts to encourage officers who work hard by the promotion, even as he advised the promoted officers to justify the promotions by working harder. He told the decorated officers that: “to whom much is given, much is expected; now you need to do more as gallant officers”. He went further to advice other officers who were not among the promoted ones to keep working hard and waits for their time, which he said would come at the appointed time. The Enugu State Director of State

Security Mr. Victor Duru who was in attendance congratulated the newly promoted and decorated officers and urged them to give their all to the command. He stated that both the promoted officers and those that were yet to be promoted should ensure they work selflessly to support the Nigerian Immigration and the country especially now that the country has numerous security challenges. The Enugu State Commissioner of Police Mohammed Adamu Abubakar who also spoke at the event, stated that “this occasion is very great, it is something to celebrate. Officers are always encouraged to do more by promotion, and I advice them not to relax, now is when they are ex-

pected to even work harder”. The Commissioner of Police also said that promotion which is based on merit and performance is done cadre by cadre and no officer can be promoted above his seniors or when it’s not yet their turn and therefore urge the yet to be promoted officers to exercise patience keep working hard and wait for their time. One of the newly promoted officers Mrs. Chinenye Emelemmadu, who was promoted from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Immigration to the rank of Assistant Comptroller of Immigration while expressing her joy thanked the immigration service for what she called an honour, and promised to work as hard as her new rank requires.

powerment programme is part of his campaign promises to the people when he was seeking their mandate for the second term, adding that he is determined to touch the lives of the people of the state in a very positive way. He said that the empowerment programme is not mainly to give out money and cars, “But we have gone up to distribution of other items to help them to improve their lives and make them comfortable and help their families.”

Orji noted that various youths from across the state have been trained in different types of vocation and trade, stressing that the aim is to ensure that they have something to fall back upon when they finish learning their trade in the various skill acquisitions centres scattered across the state. The governor said, “Our skill acquisition centres in the state capital under the office of Her Excellency my wife has trained over 800 youths at their six months intensive training in the area of tailoring, fashion and designing, fish farming, photography, GSM operators, interior decoration among others.” Orji said that those who have been trained in the various skills have also been equipped to enable them to be self sufficient, “Like barbing salon and hair dressing salon items with generators to make them work even when there is no electricity in

their areas of operation”. He said that the empowerment programme which he described as a huge success has given the youths of the state voice and has also helped to deepen democracy in the state, “As they are now strong forces to be reckoned with in any political setting in the country”. The governor said, “I am proud to say that this youth empowerment is one legacy project of change that my administration will be leaving for the people of the state, as empowering the youths is a persona dream which has come to be a reality. Those who were criticizing the programme before now have come to realise that the project is part of the means of stemming youth restiveness, as it has made the beneficiaries to become responsible citizens and contributing to the development of the state and sustaining the peace we fought hard to achieve.”

‘ N2m for 12 Abia graduates

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

shovels, head-pans, wheel-barrows and palm seedlings are gone. Orji said that empowerment programme is aimed at the suffering masses of the state to help them in starting something that they could rely upon to fend for themselves and stop being liabilities to their people, friends and state government. The governor said that the em-

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•Governor Rochas Okorocha; the deputy governor, Prince Eze Madumere; GM, Heartland FM, Owerri and Mr Emma Okere during their courtesy visit to Goverment House, Owerri

Our skill acquisition centres in the state capital under the office of Her Excellency my wife has trained over 800 youths at their six months intensive training in the area of tailoring, fashion and designing, fish farming, photography, GSM operators, interior decoration among others

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Sambo inaugurates estate in Enugu ‘

ESS than three months after Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime launched the Maryland Estate, another property has been inaugurated in the state. Vice President, Dr. Namadi Sambo declared the estate open. It was a day President Goodluck Jonathan praised Chime for his developmental efforts. Jonathan represented by his deputy at the flag-off of the estate at Ibagwa Nike, hailed Chime’s commitment and achievements in providing shelter for the state residents.The President noted that the support given by the Enugu State Government to Federal Agencies such as the Federal Mortgage Bank and to private developers in addition to its own initiatives in the sector, has helped to boost housing development in the state. The President also lauded the Federal Ministry of Housing, the National Assembly and the Federal Mortgage Bank for the high level of commitment they have continued to show towards the actualization of government objectives in the sector adding that the achievements so far was the result of their concerted efforts. He emphasized that the Federal Government will continue to accord priority to the housing needs of the people as a way of improving their socio-economic lives and creating employment opportunities. Similarly, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Buka Abba Ibrahim, urged other governors in the country to emulate Governor Chime’s commitment to housing, saying it was the only way that the country could achieve its targets in the sector. He pledged the continued support of the Senate in attainment the government’s goals in the sector. Chime said commissioning the project marked another major milestone in the collaboration between the state government with private estate developers and agencies of the Federal Government towards the provision of affordable houses

T was not about giving rice and stew condiments. Women, especially those at the grassroots in Anambra were encouraged to take their fate in their own hands. N o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l organisations or NGOs preferred to provide inspiration, rather mere food. They told the women to play more roles in governance and take up life-enhancing jobs that will lift their profiles. At the forefront of the drive is Development in Practice (DIP), an NGO, which organised the event. The women came from different communities in the state which took place at Udoka Housing Estate in Awka, the state capital. The programme was entitled, “Coaching Anambra Women Towards Political Participation and Success”. Other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that were present included Voice to the People (V2P) funded by UK aid, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Civil Rights Concern (CRC) and Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), all these centres are at Onitsha, Awka and Nnewi. It drew participants from various political parties in the state, with women leaders turning up from several communities.

Mr Ahamdi Nweke Emmanuel, former governorship aspirant and chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, in this interview with journalists in Aba, bares his mind on why the Ukwa Ngwa zone should produce the state’s next governor. SUNNY NWANKWO, was there. Excerpts:

‘PDP should stop politics 2 of exclusion’

The development of this estate was fraught with considerable challenges, any of which could have undermined or aborted it. However, God led us past it all successfully, for which we are eternally grateful

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From Chris Oji, Enugu

for all Nigerians. The governor disclosed that his administration has so far developed six major housing estates, with all of them already fully occupied and new ones on-going. He added that the State was, as a deliberate policy, always willing to assist and embrace private investors and persons seeking to put up their own homes in Enugu, irrespective of

their origins. The Estate as planned has the following features, 75 3-bedroom detached bungalow, 89 2-bedrom semi detached block of flats, 32 2bedroom terrace and 128 one bedroom terrace(12 flats/block). There is also a perimeter fencing of the entire estate and police post for security, tarred access roads to all the houses, with side drains, dedicated 500 KVA transformer for electricity supply in the estate, water Reticulation connected to the public mains, neighbourhood Cen-

tre with indoor sporting facilities as well as a shopping centre. The managing director of COPEN group, the developers of the estate, Rev. Ugochukwu Chime (not a relation of the governor) described the event as memorable in so many ways in the “lives of many of us, especially the stakeholders of ELIM Estate.” He said: “Our divine commission in Copen Group is to among other things provide affordable housing for all has once more found its visible accomplishment/ expression

in the completion of ELIM Estate., As an organization, Copen Group has been involved in various capacities in the conceptualization, planning, design, financial intermediation, supervision, construction and management of estate development for organizations and governments across the country. To date we have commissioned three FMBN-funded Estates with 405 housing units in Enugu State alone. ELIM Estate with 324 housing units is the fourth. As Project Consultants we facilitated the delivery of

over 2,000 housing units across the country. Our involvement over the years at the highest levels in the activities of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) and Primary Mortgage Banks(PMBs) has impacted very positively on us.” Chime said they considered their success as part of the transformation agenda of Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, “whose government’s interest in affordable housing provision as avenue for shelter, employment and growth is commendable”, adding that “the creation of Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company(NMRC) and the plans for 10,000 housing units in 2014 amongst other policies gives hope that at last the housing sector is about to attain its place of importance in our economy.” According to him: “The development of this estate was fraught with considerable challenges, any of which could have undermined or aborted it. However, God led us past it all successfully, for which we are eternally grateful. Having gone through the process of developing and commissioning Bethel Estate (2008), Goshen Estate(2011), Jubilee Estate(2011) and now ELIM Es-

NGOs inspire Anambra grassroots women

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He encouraged women to build support and good character to enable them make positive challenge in their endeavours as well as wining the hearts of the people even when they are not contesting election

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Beneficiaries of previous sessions of the programme who now hold political offices shared their experiences at the event. Tochukwu Ibe, technical adviser to DIP, said the meeting aims to achieve increased participation and representation by women and adolescent girls in informal and formal decision-making structures in the state. In her paper-presentation, on formal and informal opportunities for women in leadership, the chief Executive Officer of (DIP), Ojobo Atuluku highlighted the opportunities women have both at the formal and informal levels to make governance work better. She pointed out that a leader is not just that woman or man who is placed at the fore front, but that who can convince people to be part of a process. Atuluku further charged the participants to develop the charisma and the ability to stand out in the crowd such that whatever they do will attract the positive attention on on-lookers and the public. Also, Dr. Chris Abakare of the Department of Philosophy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka deliv-

tate(2014), we can now fully understand the severe challenges and issues faced by developers, that can lead to and has led to the spate of abandoned and uncompleted estates projects allover the country. We were able to reach the stage of commissioning in each project because of GOD’s favour and manifest presence. For we acknowledge in tandem with John 3:27 that no man can receive anything except it be given to him from above. And what HE has given, no man can take away. “The cries of our people for affordable housing is still resonating from all parts of the country. The desires are still the same, who can help us become a landlord? God, who put it in your heart to hear their cry and subsequently enshrine it in your Transformation Agenda, will enable you pursue it to a logical conclusion. The issues of subsidy for the low income earners and housing laws reform especially foreclosure laws etc require both a roadmap and the political will to see it through. It is not easy but I know that God Almighty who has upheld your hand in many past battles is willing to use you immensely. Only be strong and very courageous.”

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•Participants at the event ered a paper entitled “the relationship between Governance, Constituency and Candidacy”. He drove them to what makes the good and bad governance as well as drawing examples from Nigeria and other parts of Africa and in-

deed the world. Agada Abah, Programme analyst with DIP in his paper, “Contesting in an election”, pointed out the step by step approach to winning in an election. He encouraged women to build

support and good character to enable them make positive challenge in their endeavours as well as wining the hearts of the people even when they are not contesting election. The women also, were made to

know that they can make a mark only if they are transparent and have performance in their minds. Meanwhile some of the participants told the Nation that they will abide by the rules of the game. Onyinye Okongwu of the All Pro-

gressive Congress, who is the State Woman leader of the party said they would go further to the remote areas in the state to sensitize the rural women. Also, her colleague Chikodi Nnonyelu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) told the Nation that the issue is not participation but implementation. She said she would brief the rural women in the communities of the need for them to be active in politics, adding that they would no longer allow the men to run the political offices. Politician s over-heating the polity with their utterances

015 election is around the corner and Ukwa Ngwa is being touted to take the governorship slot in 2015. What is your take on it? Of course, it is right to cede the governorship position to the Ukwa Ngwa area. That had been the position of the governor ever since; right from the declaration and pronouncement he made in April and openly at the Abia Poly pavilion during the reception by the Abia south politicians. He has been repeatedly on record said that he is an advocate of zoning based on the Abia charter of equity and I believe him when he says that. Is it really the turn of Ukwa Ngwa to produce the next governor? I do not see any contention or confusion whatsoever in the issue of Abia charter of equity or where power should be ceded to at this time. The Abia charter of equity as it stands now for all intents and purposes rotates power between the political blocs which is the Old Umuahia; what we now know as Old Bende and Old Aba zone which now know to be Ukwa Ngwa. There was of course the issue before Afipko, Ohaozara and the rest of them were ceded to the now Ebonyi state, that there could have been some argument. Isiukwuato on its own is only one local government and could not possibly have become a province. So, those who are arguing that I think is part of plot by some people to rewrite what should be done in Abia state and I said that these are people who have no good intention for Abians. Power should be revolved between Old Bende and the Ukwa Ngwa. That is what all have to believed and that is what Abia charter of equity stands for. And of course that is why his Excellency in all his

•Mr. Nweke Emmanuel pronouncements previously has said that power should go to Ukwa Ngwa. Recently, a prominent son of Ngwa within the Abia Central Senatorial zone made a statement which was published in one of the national dailies saying that the governorship position is going to Abia south and not Ukwa Ngwa. By implication Isiala north and south including Osisioma are “excluded” from contesting the guber race if the person’s statement was anything to go by. Do you subscribe to such individual’s position? The pronouncement which you referred to was said to have been made by Elder Adaelu. He has said that he didn’t make those comments and I

believe him because I do not believe that someone like him would come out to say [something that may lead to the] disenfranchise of three major local governments (Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma). In fact, Elder Adaelu has been with us in the fight, indeed in the forefront of our fight for ceding power to the Ukwa Ngwa people. How and when did he suddenly come out to say that it has become Abia south? That would also be disenfranchising himself because his own local government would be one of those local governments that would be excluded. If he did say that and I doubt that he did, what has been promised, why on earth did he say a thing like that? I don’t believe that Elder Adaelu would say anything like that because it would reduce him and his influence within the Ukwa Ngwa area if by any chance he has sold out the very people he is one of the recognized leaders. We learnt that Isiala Ngwa is the head of Ngwa land and by virtue of that, if something is coming to Ngwa land for the first time they are supposed to be the people that would benefit first. But from what was reported to have been said by Elder Adaelu, it’s like trying to give that which belong to the first son to somebody else. How do you see that? Yes! We are talking of the governorship of Abia state. I have heard that argument been proffered because Isiala •Continued on page 40

Seven expectant mothers intercepted

POLICE patrol team has intercepted no fewer than seven expectant mothers on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway. They were on a commercial bus apparently going to Aba, Abia State, from Owerri, the Imo State capital. The police team was from the Aba Area Command, Abia State. Also, a man said to be an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been arrested in the state by policemen from the Delta State command in connection with child trafficking. The women, said to be in their teens or 20s, were, according to sources, intercepted near Osisioma Local Government Area of the state. Curious, the police team on a stop-and-search operation asked the bus driver to park by the roadside and after the girls could not give a clear identity of themselves, the patrol team took them into custody. Police have stormed several baby factories and freed many expectant young mothers across the country, especially in the Southeast. The Nation gathered that the girls nursing various advanced pregnancies were immediately transferred to Umuahia, the state capital, for proper medical attention and investigation. Efforts to reach the Aba Area Commander proved abortive, but the state Commissioner of Police

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

Ibrahim Adamu, on the phone, confirmed the interception and the transfer of the girls to the state command. Adamu said that cases of child trafficking in the command have drastically reduced since his assumption of office. He warned illegal maternity owners and people who still indulge in child trafficking to desist from such acts or face the consequence, adding that his administration does not tolerate them. In a related development, Ogbonna Eliazu an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the Isiala Ngwa Command has been reportedly arrested by detectives from the Delta State police command over alleged child stealing and abduction.

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It was gathered that Eliazu was arrested as a suspect in a case of alleged child abduction being investigated by the Delta State police command. It was learnt that detectives from the Delta State police command visited Abia State last week to arrest the suspect. It was said that when the police team arrived, they were said to have reported at the state headquarters of the NSCDC at Azikiwe Road in Umuahia and then at the state command of the para-military agency before proceeding to Isiala Ngwa to arrest the suspect. When contacted, NSCDC Abia State command Public Relations Officer (PRO), Victor Ogbonna confirmed that the police detectives were at their state command, but however claimed that Eliazu was not an officer of the establishment in the state.

The women, said to be in their teens or 20s, were intercepted near Osisioma Local Government Area of the state. Curious, the police team on a stop-and-search operation asked the bus driver to park by the roadside and after the girls could not give a clear identity of themselves, the patrol team took them into custody

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Abia prays for Chibok girls

HE Abia State government has held a prayer session for the abducted schoolgirls of Chibok, Borno State. The state asked God to intervene and cause the Boko Haram abductors to release the girls forthwith and without any harm. The prayer was organised by the state government in collaboration with the office of the wife of the state governor in collaboration with the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Many clerics attended the session. As the prayer session started in Umuahia, the prayers focused on asking God to destroy the Boko Haram sect. Abia state Chairman of CAN, Bishop Goddy Okafor, said that even with the efforts of the Nigerian military and the foreign assistance that has poured into the country seeking for ways to liberate the school girls, the nation must pray fervently because “if

HANAEZE Youth Council (OYC) has condemned the call by Arewa Youth Development Foundation for dissolution of Nigeria, describing it as a joke taken too far. It “is treasonable enough to warrant prosecution,” the OYC said. The youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo also described as “uncalled for and unconstitutional”, the call by the Arewa youths for Southerners in the North to leave within two weeks and for Northerners in the South to do the same. Briefing reporters in Enugu, the National President, Okechukwu Isiguzoro of OYC said it was shocking that at this time Nigeria was passing through serious security breaches, some misguided youth under sponsorship by fifth columnists could be making divisive calls inimical to their fatherland. Isiguzoro made it clear that Igbo youths were not under any illusion that the misguided Arewa youth were only smoke screen to the real architects of that treasonable call for secession, which the Nigerian state would resist with all its might. “Our concern about the shameful outing in the palace of Emir of Kano is that the youths of the region, who have been notoriously misruled for long by the same people that sent them on the dirty mission should have rather questioned their sponsors on their ignoble roles in bring-

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

we fail to pray now the worst will happen”. Bishop Okafor said, “From what is happening now if we fail to pray; if we fail to stand our ground and call on the name of God nothing will happen we will lose it and the country and its people will be worse off”. The cleric said that people should make themselves available to be used by the Almighty God to accomplish the task of liberating Nigeria from evil forces, by offering prayers without ceasing until the girls are released unconditionally. The Abia CAN chairman described Boko Haram as a religious idolatry caused by people who read and misunderstood the Koran, and assured that the “evil cloud” precipitated by the insurgents would eventually clear through divine intervention.

Some of the clergies praying during the solemn assembly organised by the wife of Abia state governor in Umuahia to seek God’s intervention for the release of the abducted Chibok school children.

Bishop Okafor urged Nigerians to rally around the families of the abducted school girls, saying no one should stand aloof, and urged them, “To put yourself in their situation and feel the same way these families feel in order to understand why everybody should get involved to end the Boko Haram

menace”. Intercessory prayers were said for God to touch the leader of Boko Haram sect to release the children they abducted and for peace, love and tolerance, accommodation and understanding amongst Nigerians as well as divine inspiration for citizens “to

appreciate that security is collective responsibility”. Wife of deputy governor, Lady Nene Ananaba, who represented wife of the governor, Lady Mercy Odochi Orji read the only Bible text taken from Acts 12 vs 1-11 in the event which also feature praise and worship.

Call for Nigeria’s dissolution treasonable - Ohanaeze youths tell Northern counterparts From Chris Oji, Enugu

ing the region and Nigeria to its present situation. “The same people that foisted penury, deprivation and frustration on the innocent talakawas (commoners) of the North are now sending them mischievously on an errand that threatens Nigeria’s unity. Our message to the contemporary youths of the North is to resist the attempt of the fifth columnist and merchants of topsy-turvy politics to herd them into an ill-fated mission” he said. He observed that when some

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people refer to the North, they try to pull wool over the eyes of some gullible people whereas the truth is that majority of Nigerians from the Middle Belt are strong architects of a united Nigeria and have demonstrated unequivocal support to the measures presently being taken to address the insecurity problems and other problems of the nation. Isiguzoro noted that it was only few elements with rabid inordinate ambition that are hiding under the cloak of the North to cause confusion and chaos in the country, saying “we know these few elements

Our concern about the shameful outing in the palace of Emir of Kano is that the youths of the region, who have been notoriously misruled for long by the same people that sent them on the dirty mission should have rather questioned their sponsors on their ignoble roles in bringing the region and Nigeria to its present situation

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•From left: Igwe Chidubem Iweka, Eze Iweka III of Obosi; Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano; former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and his wife, Chief Mrs. Ugoma Ebunola Olubunmi Anyaoku at the commissioning of a school building donated by Chief Anyaoku in Obosi, Anambra State

that pretend to be the conscience of the North and we also know the true conscience of the North.” OYC also made it clear to the Arewa Consultative Forum that there was no threat to any Northerner in the South-East or Igboland. “Our attention has been drawn to a provocative warning against Ndigbo by the Arewa Consultative Forum, threatening to interfere with Igbo businesses in the North. This is also on the heels of the call by the Arewa Youth Development Foundation for Southerners to quit the North within two weeks. “This is a similar approach to the event that culminated to the unfortunate crisis of the middle of late 60’s when undue sentiment, emotional outburst and propaganda was allowed to take the better part of reasoning of some people in the North. Later, millions of innocent Igbos and Easterners were to pay the supreme sacrifice.

“The truth is that there is no single threat to any Northerner in the South East or Igboland. They are here doing their normal businesses and unmolested by anybody. The Governors of the zone as the Chief security officers of their various states only took constitutional measures to safeguard their states against insecurity, especially in view of the recent discoveries and arrests of Boko Haram suspects in the zone. Do the Arewa people want the South-East Governors and people to keep quiet in the face of Boko Haram threat to the zone” OYC stated. But in another development, another group, the World Igbo Youth Congress welcomed the call by Arewa Youth for the dissolution of Nigeria in 2015. In a statement yesterday by its General Coordinator, Dick Izuora the congress while saluting the Arewa youth for their stand, suggested that the dissolution should even be done before 2015.

‘Be fair to all political parties, Okorocha tells NTA

HE Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) has been urged to provide a level-playing ground for all political parties and their candidates to air their views, programmes and vision in the runup to the 2015 general election. Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha made the call when the management team of the station led by the General Manager of NTA Channel 12 Owerri, Mr. Leyi Nwinyode paid him a courtesy visit at the State Government House, Owerri. Okorocha said that the nation has come to a critical moment when those aspiring to rule the country would be judged on what they can offer to the people rather than by the political party they belong. The governor made it clear that his administration has instructed all the political parties to make use of all the government facilities such as the stadium, international conference centre, including the state radio station and its Television to enable them showcase their vision. He said that he has raised the bar of governance in Imo state and re-

minded them that those aspiring to contest for governorship election must have a blueprint on what they have in mind for the masses. He called for a synergy between the Imo state government and NTA and stressed the need for them to embark on investigative journalism and be independent in their reportage. Owelle Okorocha also advised them to always portray the image of the nation with programmes and stories that will tell well of the nation rather than carrying negative stories. The General Manager NTA, Mr. Leyi Nwinyode expressed gratitude for the relationship existing between Imo state government and NTA Owerri, pointing out that it is because of the relationship that made the station to introduce a programme for the state government christened “Rescue Mission in Action” without charging any fund. Mr. Nwinyode appealed to the state government to assist the station with some of the basic amenities especially by stabilizing the power supply and allowing the station to carry the programmes, projects, policies of the present administration.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

In Abia, a raid on kidnappers’ ‘ den

S the soldiers returned to their 144 Battalion base, a house believed to be a kidnappers’ hideout was still burning. Its occupants had fled before the soldiers arrived, but the raid has raised several questions not just on the activities of people who live by abducting people and demanding ransom. The raided compound in Amuzu Ibeku community in Osisioma Local Government Area, Abia State may be isolated but residents of the community know it. Did they know that it was used by kidnappers? Did they know how long such a crime may have been perpetrated there, or were they just as scared to squeal as the kidnappers’ victims? The soldiers saw not just a bungalow; they saw mud houses in the compound in one of which they found a pair of sandals, a lady’s underwear and clothing. Were the kidnappers abducting and raping women before their ransom came? The compound was said to belong to a man named Ejike Uzodinma who lived with his wife Uchechi, two children, all of whom had fled before the military arrived. There were other people who reportedly worked with Uzodinma and may have left the scene with their man. Uzodinma is accused of masterminding the abduction of innocent citizens in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state. Like many other kidnappers, he is said to favour the commando style in seizing his victims, swiftly swooping on them and giving them no room for escape. The story of how Uzodinma and his gang kidnapped and subjected their recent victim to a dehumanising ordeal calls for urgent concern. A victim and businessman in Aba who preferred to speak anony•Continued from page 37 Ngwa north and south are the first born, they should take the plump position before others. That is a very parochial view. That is not the basis upon which I am saying that the rest of Ukwa Ngwa people should be included. We are opening up the con-

I was driving to my house at about 10pm on Saturday after sitting out with my friends when a Toyota Corolla, ash-coloured, double-crossed me and moved me at gunpoint into their vehicle. They blindfolded me inside their vehicle and later took me to a location at about 11am

•Ejike’s house on fire

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From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

mously on his experience, said: “I was driving to my house at about 10pm on Saturday after sitting out with my friends when a Toyota Corolla, ash-coloured, doublecrossed me and moved me at gunpoint into their vehicle. They blindfolded me inside their vehicle and later took me to a location at about 11am. They initially asked me to seat in a plastic chair from where I was taken to another location in a bush around 1am Sunday morning. “Around 5am, they took from the bush into a house where I slept till the following morning. Initially,

•The destroyed kidnappers’ hideout they demanded N20million ransom, but I told them that I can only guarantee N200, 000, a plea that didn’t go down well with them, but I kept begging them. “After I managed to escape from

their camp, I ran into a compound from where I called my brother who then invited the soldiers that later came to pick me up,” the kidnap victim narrated He added that the group that same

night had a female victim in their custody whose whereabouts as at the time of this report remained unknown. The raid on the kidnappers’ camp lasted nearly three hours.

‘PDP should stop politics of exclusion’ test within the entire Ukwa Ngwa land and let the best of our people win. Who are they afraid of? If their competent people from Ukwa East, Aba North and South, Obingwa,

Ugwunagbor, Osisioma, Isiala Ngwa North and South, who is to say that one of them would not emerge? Whose interest is being served by excluding these three local governments

•Abia State Governor Theodore Orji cutting the tape to commission the 200 vehicles procured for the 2014 youth empowerment programme of Arochukwu, Ohafia and Bende. With him, from left, are Hon. Ude Okochukwu, Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Lady Mercy Orji wife of the governor and Lady Nene Ananaba, wife of the deputy governor.

(Isiala north and south and Osisioma)? That is the question one should ask. Elder Adaelu has been one of the advocates of the Ukwa Ngwa governorship whom we fought against the previous administration when we all supported Enyinnaya Abaribe. We all fought including elder Adaelu on the basis of Ukwa Ngwa. When did he suddenly change? Some people are arguing that the governor said that he is a product of rotation and therefore Abia central has gone, as a matter of fact, the governor is not a product of rotation at all. If anything, the governor’s emergence as the governor messed up rotation based on Abia charter of equity. Abia charter of equity rotates power between the old Bende and Ukwa Ngwa. The current tenure of the governor has made it two times to old Bende when Ukwa Ngwa hasn’t had slot at all. When he (Governor Orji) contested, it wasn’t that we are giving it to the Abia central that was never the argument. On what argument did you people allow the governor to run? There was a lot of acrimony within the PDP, Peoples Democratic Party when he came back on his second tenure and that was seen as the way of ensuring that everyone comes back together within the fold and have a sitting governor who wasn’t going to re-contest fresh election coming in to go for the second time. When he went for the first, he wasn’t a PDP governor. The zoning if it was then done was PPA, Progressive Peoples Alliance (his former party). So to argue that PDP was zoning power based on senatorial districts, nothing could be farther from the truth than that. His Excel-

lency, Governor T.A Orji is not a product of PDP or any other party’s rotation of power on senatorial districts. As at the time he was contesting, I contested the very first tenure he went for in 2007 election. everyone one had agreed it was Ukwa Ngwa agitation, everyone had agreed it was going to the Ukwa area as at then but it didn’t stop our brothers including Isiukwuato of course from contesting the election as at that time. At what point did you think that Ngwa people missed producing an Ngwa governor as at then? I know that PDP then as a party actually supported an Ukwa Ngwa candidate even though an Ukwa Ngwa person didn’t emerge. That’s the whole thing about these suggestions that are being made. It is good to make them and follow them through but anything can happen. This is politics, it is an election. As at that time, the PDP supported candidate was Okezie Iheanacho Orji. You will remember that who emerged from the PDP even though that the party as a party had suggested Okezie Iheanacho Orji, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu emerged within the PDP. And that is what we are saying, now that everyone; all the stakeholders including the governor as the leader of the party, it is not for him only to decide where it will go. His view is a persuasive direction and it ends as only a persuasive direction. What will play out in the end will be more of the party; the party chairman and other PDP stakeholders will have a final say in that. He is only giving guidance and we believe him when he said that the guidance was going to go to the Ukwa Ngwa.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

• The late David

• Participants from both departments before the match

‘Farewell match’ for fallen student

E died from unknown ailment during the first semester break, but David Udoetuh, a student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) would not be forgotten by his colleagues. In his remembrance, a “farewell

From Chikezie Mbegbu UNN match” was organised by the departments of Geography and Geology The deceased was a student of

Geography. The students gathered at the Franco pitch to pay their last respect to their departed colleague. It was a moment of sorrow for some of them, who were clad in black attire.

The students said David’s death was shocking, adding that he was full of life two weeks before the school went on break. The match ended 1-0 in favour of Geology. The goal scorer, Chigbo Onu,

said: “I dedicated the goal to David because he meant a lot to us. May God give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.” The remains of the late David were buried at his home state in Akwa Ibom.

Libertarian conference tomorrow

• Sunday (middle) with guests at the event

Student presents book

AMILY, friends and students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti (ADO POLY) gathered at the auditorium of Foursquare Gospel Church in Abesan, Lagos for the unveiling of a book titled: Unleash your potential written by Sunday Abegunde, a a graduating student of the Department of Estate Management of the polytechnic.

From Temitope Yakubu ADO POLY The motivational book was launched by Chief Ogundimu. Speaking on what inspired him to write the book, Sunday said: “I write basically to hone my craft. Sometime if I feel uninspired I will write about a dream I had, a drive I took, or a conversation I had. That’s

what kept me in the mode”. The General Secretary of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Ifeoluwa Filani, described the author as a good writer and a pride of the polytechnic. Dignitaries present at the event included Rev Paul Isijola, Mr Olusola Oludairo and Rev J.A. Adeyemi.

New exco inaugurated

HE National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies (NASELS), Imo State University chapter, has inaugurated new executive to pilot the affairs of the association for the next one year. The event which also witnessed the orienaion for freshers, was held at the Commaise Theatre Art Complex.

From Chidiebere Enyia and Mercy Oparanozie IMSU The Staff Adviser, Mr Solomon Ihedigbo, advised the freshers to face their studies and shun vices, urging the new executive to be committed to their responsibilities. The oath was administered by Casmaire Osuala, Chief Judge of

the faculty, who charged the new executive to abide by the rules of the association. The new executive is led by Agbaegbu Sixtus. In his acceptance speech, Sixtus thanked members for giving him the opportunity to serve, adding that he would deliver his campaign promises to the students.

Graduating students’ day of festivity

HE graduating students of the department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, have held their final year day. It was held after the students finished their final exam last week. The event, which witnessed a large turnout of students, featured a lecture titled: “Life after graduation, the challenges ahead” by Dr Mu’awiya Jibirn, a lecturer in the department. The class representative, Mubarak Ibrahim, thanked God for making their stay on campus successful.

From Mubarak Ibrahim UDUS The students were filled with joy. One of them, Suleiman Abubakar, said “I have waited for four years to witness today. There is no doubt that today marks a turning point in my life”. The students later proceeded on an excursion to the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Zaria. They were led by Prof S.A. Maigandi and Mallam Aliyu Muhammed. The objective of

the trip was to expose the students to the practical aspect of artificial insemination. Their counterparts from the Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, KSUST, Aleiro, also took part in the programme. During the excursion, the students were exposed to the activities of different sections of the institute, including dairy, small and large ruminants and yoghurt processing. Some of the students who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE said the programme was educative.

ARRING last-minute cancellation, the University of Ibadan (UI) will host students from various higher intitutions to participate in the maiden African Students For Liberty (ASFL) conference. The event will hold at the Trenchard Hall of the institution. ASFL African Programs Manager, Olumayowa Okediran, said the conference was borne out of the need to take Africa out of the duldrums through developmental policies. He said: “Africa has been an alms acceptor for too long. The narrative has been that the continent is poor that it cannot by itself break free from the shackles of poverty; it has been about a continent struck with the pestilence of corruption and horrendous economic situations. We are out to change this notion via practical solution.” The group is an offshoot of Students For Liberty (SFL), a non-profit organisation aimed at empowering students to become leaders and change agents in their communities.

•Omojuwa

From Oluwafemi Ogunjobi OAU Resource persons at the event are pro-liberty speakers, including Cofounder of SFL, Alexander McCobin; Director of Global Peace Foundation, Ms Ida Nganga; founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dominion Group of Companies, Calvin Burgess; a social media entrepreneur and popular blogger, Japheth Omojuwa, former lawmaker and writer, Dr Wale Okediran; CAMPUSLIFE Editor, Wale Ajetunmobi and Ayo Sogunro, among others.

Imoke challenges youths on development

HE Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke has urged the management of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) to initiate programmes that would reposition the scheme for national development. Imoke made the call at the 2014 annual management conference with the theme: “Evolving dynamic operation strategies to tackle present challenges in the NYSC,” held at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar. Imoke, represented by his deputy, Mr Efiok Cobham, explained that after forty one years of its existence, it was necessary to ensure that the scheme becomes an effective tool to promote national development. While decrying attacks on corps members, the governor described as painful, a situation where parents would train their children to university level only to be told that their children have been killed on national assignment. The Director-General of the

From Maureen Item NYSC CALABAR scheme, Major-General Johnson Olawumi, said the conference would enable management to appraise all critical areas of operation of the scheme, taking into consideration its mandate and charter. Olawumi said the scheme was faced with a lot of challenges including inadequate orientation camp facilities, non-fulfilment of statutory obligation by some critical stakeholders and security issues. The chairman, NYSC National Government Board, Chief Gordon Bozimo, stated that the board had made great in policy formulation and value re-orientation in the scheme through constructive engagement of state governments for sustainable development of physical infrastructure at the orientation camps.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE The Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta State University (DELSU), has held its maiden induction and oath-taking. Ninety-four graduates, among them those who finished two years ago, were inducted. PHILIP OKORODUDU (Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering) and ESE OKODUWA (300-Level Home Economics) report.

When patience pays

O fewer than 94 graduates of Pharmacy of the Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka were, last Thursday, inducted into the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) by the council’s Registrar, Mr N.A.E Muhammed. The ceremony was held in the 1,000-capacity auditorium on Site III of the institution. It was attended by eminent personalities, including the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Development, Patrick Ferife, who was the guest speaker. The graduates were resplendent in their blue academic gowns. They beamed with smile as they moved into the auditorium with their family members. It was the maiden induction of the Faculty of Pharmacy, but the ceremony was held for two sets of graduates. The Dean, Prof. A.O. Onyekweli, appreciated the guests for honouring the invitation, noting that the journey to graduation was not easy for the inductees. He thanked the graduates for their

•Muhammed at the event

•A cross section of graduands

patience, saying the university had justified the purpose for which the faculty was established. In his lecture entitled: Pharmacy practice: Past, present and the future, Ferife advised the graduands to always listen to their patients’ explanation, noting that it was the best method in drug administration. He also admonished them to visualise the attainment of their desire to fit into the nation’s cha-

otic system in order to thrive and be exceptional in their practice. Muhammed enjoined the inductees to key into the profession as it is full of opportunities that could serve as a perfect enhancement of their dreams. Highlight of the occasion was the administration of oath on the graduands by the registrar. In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof E.A Arubayi, hailed

Governor Emmanuel Udughan for his support during the “trying period” when the faculty was seeking accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and PCN. Some of the graduands expressed joy. Christian Mekwunye said: “I feel elated that my dream to become a pharmacist has now been actualised.” Another graduand, Oghenekomeno

Edo, said: “I am fulfilled and filled with joy for being inducted as a pharmacist. It is time for me to bring all the theory into practice to contribute my own quota to the development of the profession in Nigeria.” The best graduating student, Inifome Oke-Oghene, thanked the management for its effort at making the day a reality for the graduating students and congratulated her colleagues for their patience.

How to check insurgency, others Some university teachers have identified research as a tool the government can use to solve many challenges. They spoke at a seminar organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, the Anambra State capital. MMADUKA ODOGWU (Political Science) reports.

OW can insurgency be addressed? It is, according to some university teachers, through research. This, among others, were the major discussion at a seminar organised by the Faculty of Social Science of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, the Anambra State capital. A United States-based lecturer, Prof Charles Okigbo, and his wife, Prof Carol, spoke at the seminar, which objective is to use practicable research approach to proffer lasting solution to the nation’s problems. They sent a paper, which was read on their behalf by Dr P.J. Eze. The faculty’s Dean, Prof A.N. Nnonyelu, chaired the event.It also had Prof Dung Pam Sha of the Department of Political Science, University of Jos (UNIJOS), Prof Hyacinth Ichoku, Department of Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof Isidore

Obot, Department of Psychology, University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Prof Ogoh Alubo , Department of Sociology, UNIJOS and Prof Ikenna Onyido, Director, Centre for Sustainable Development, UNIZIK in attendance. Prof Okigbo of the Department of Communication, North Dakota State University, said extensive social research methods were key to solving social problems in the country. He spoke on Data gathering in the world of social science. He said: “It is impossible to have understanding of everyday problems facing our nation without continual efforts at discovering new knowledge and applying such to our perplexing situations. Problems such as kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, teenage pregnancy and students’ unrest among others require systematic social science research approaches. Solutions to these problems are often hidden in the value system and

•From left: Dr Makodi Nnabugwu, Head of Political Science Department and Prof Obot after the seminar

beliefs of the people. Giving his scholarly approach, Prof Ichoku, who spoke on Methods of data analysis and interpretation in the social sciences, criticised the empiricists’ view of research method, which he said held no regard for rationalism. He said such thinking was inimical to development of appropriate methods to achieve scientific inquiry and interpretation of societal problems. His words: “The apparent triumph of empiricist epistemology over rationalism in the last two centuries witnessed in the phenomenal growth of the physical sciences in the West led social scientists to believe that there is only one valid approach to seeking truth and interpreting reality – the empirical scientific method. Economics is best social sciences to-

day because it achieved success in using elegant mathematical models to express its concepts and exalt the quantitative methodology.” Speaking on Ethical issues and challenges in social research in Nigeria, Prof Pam rated the country’s ethical attitude towards research low, stressing that it had contributed negatively to the efficient, effective research capable of yielding positive output. He added: “The pre-occupation of this section is to examine how Nigerian universities have conducted researches that are ethically and methodologically sound. There is no claim that this reflection will completely tell the story of the state of research in Nigeria. In Nigeria, many universities do not have research poli-

cies, ethics regulation and institutional review board. A large percentage of social science researchers are not aware of issues around research ethics. For instance, a few researchers know how to handle research on human subjects. A substantial number of universities do not have research policies that specify the need to observe ethical principles in research.” The dons unanimously agreed that if proper research could be conducted on the cause of the problems facing the nation, the solution may not be far away. Prof Nnonyelu said he was satisfied with the quality and status of the speakers, saying their intellectual resourcefulness and scholarly papers would enrich discussion on how the nation could solve its myriad of problems.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

often marvel at the attitudes of some Nigerians to issues of national importance. Many people do not yet feel that this country belongs to them and whatever affects her affects them also. They erroneously believe they can go on with their lives independent of whatever becomes of the country. They,therefore, think that the issues that fill newspapers and the television are the business of the politicians and those in government. When they make comments on national issues using social media, most Nigerians are irrational, reckless and portray a disturbing degree of ignorance concerning very basic issues. One issue that seems to haunt this nation from its very formation is the question of unity. Typical Nigerian behaviour is to look for somewhere to put the blame. It is the fault of the British. It is the fault of the first postindependence government. It is the fault of the military. It is the fault of the elite. It is the fault of the constitution. For the past fifty years, all we have succeeded in doing as a people is to argue over whose fault it is that Nigeria today is not what she ought to be. Pretending to address the nagging issues of mistrust, ethnicity and dangerous competition for political power among the various components of the nation, many people often talk about breaking up Nigeria: let the North and the South each go its way. Probably because we do not realise the full weight of such development or because it benefits some of its loudest proponents, we

Leave Nigeria alone talk about breaking up Nigeria as lightly as if it were nothing important. Each time an election year draws closer, one hears this agitation often. Some politicians have found it a veritable tool constantly harassing the rest of us with the threat of disintegration and making their way to power. They say if they don’t win the election or if somebody from their side of the country does not win, they cannot guarantee the continued existence of Nigeria as a single entity. More recently, the disintegration card has been dangled more dangerously and quite arrogantly at the on-going National Conference. Some delegates – obviously spoilt by the fat allowance paid by the Federal Government and desperate to appear to the people at home as doing something – threaten the unity of the country almost every time an important decision is to be made. If the conference does not accept their view on the matter, they threaten to walk out. Even under the best circumstances, there will still be people across Nigeria who will express absolute dissatisfaction over the unity of the country and call for a break-up. This is to be expected in every country. Even in the United States of America, some people in some states still talk about leaving the union. However, when this agitation is done at such a

high level, it is something to worry about. Recently, a medical consultant in my school asked me, “What is the meaning of the ‘Education for one Nigeria’ that you have inscribed on your laboratory coat?” I answered, “I believe the greatest goal of education in Nigeria is to preserve national unity.” The time has come in this country when we must stand up – everyone of us – and make it clear that we would not sit down and watch some people constantly harass this country left and right with the threat of disintegration. A few questions will drive home the reasons Nigeria has little alternative than to continue as one nation. When people talk about breaking up the country, what will they break her up into? Often they say, let the North break from the South, or the Christians from the Moslems. Then I ask, “Where is the boundary between Moslems and Christians in this country?” Again, you cannot break up a country peacefully and you are never certain of the outcome – how many pieces for instance will result from the break up? I want to submit – and I do on behalf of myself and the citizens who will be my children – that these people talking about breaking up Nigeria should leave her alone. We are a people who do not have the ability to agree on anything. We do not want to spend the next 50

By Msonter Anzaa years arguing, holding conferences, sponsoring insurgencies and killing innocent people over the formula for breaking up, or over where the boundary between the Republic of Northern Nigeria and the resulting Republics of Biafra or Oduduwa should lie. People who have lost ideas on how this beautiful land can go on together in the future should quietly retire from the national scene and pave way for some of us who can see the great future of peace and prosperity beckoning our dear nation. Just leave Nigeria alone. Msonter, 300-Level Medicine, BSU

The effects of rape on our society

APE is a type of sexual assault usually involving having a carnal knowledge, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person’s consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or against a person who is incapable of valid consent, such as one who is unconscious, incapacitated, or below the legal age of consent. The term rape is, sometimes, used interchangeably with the term sexual assault. Internationally, the incidence of rape recorded by the police during 2008 varied between 0.1 in Egypt per 100,000 people and 91.6 per 100,000 people in Lesotho with 4.9 per 100,000 people in Lithuana as the median. According to the American Medical Association (1995), sexual violence, and rape in particular, is considered the most under reported violent crime. The rate of reporting, prosecution and convictions for rape varies considerably in different jurisdictions. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (1999) estimated that 91percent of U.S. rape victims are female and nine per cent are male. Rape by strangers is usually less common than rape by persons the victim knows. Several studies argue that male-male and femalefemale prison rape are quite common and may be the least reported forms of rape. It is most terrifying to note that the frequency of

By Sam Ibok rape incidents today all over the world has doubled or even tripled according to statistics. All over from India to South Africa, Syria and even to Nigeria, the incidences of rape are now so common and it could even be seen in public places. One begins to wonder how this generation has quickly lost its forms of moral and societal values despite the multiplicity of religious centres, schools and even breakthroughs recorded in technology and science. Rape against the female gender seems to be rampant today. There are reported cases of little children less than one year being raped as well as grandmothers of over 70, also being raped. Most petrifying is the fact that some of the rape victims have been killed by the rapists having been assaulted. Some victims have also killed themselves much later due to the pain and stigma associated with the act. It is indeed alarming how this level of wickedness has grown and expanded in our society. The advent of the social media has also not helped matters in this regard. On July22, 2012, Cynthia Osokogwu, a post-graduate student of Nasarawa State University and a clothing retailer, was murdered in Lagos by friends she met on Facebook. The rapists lured her to a hotel in FESTAC Town, drugged and raped

her before she was murdered. Also, the incident when five undergraduates believed to be students of Abia State University conspired and raped a young woman is as well detestable. Despite the pleadings of the young girl, the young men still took turns to satisfy their devilish lusts on her. The videos of that incident shook the nation as investigation was launched into the incident but nothing seems to have come out of it till date. In India, the Delhi gang rape and murder case that occurred on December 16, 2012 in Munrika, a neighbourhood located in the southern part of New Delhi, when a 23-year-old female physiotherapy intern was beaten and gang raped in a private bus in which she was travelling with a male friend. There were six others in the bus, including the driver, all of whom raped the woman. The woman died from her injuries 13 days later while undergoing emergency treatment in Singapore. The incident generated widespread national and international coverage and was widely condemned, both in India and abroad. Subsequently, public protests against the Government of India and the Government of Delhi for not providing adequate security for women took place in New Delhi, where thousands of protesters clashed with security forces. Similar protests took place in major cities throughout the country. These and a whole lot more sum up the level

of decadence bedeviling our society. No one seems safe these days in the hands of rapists. It is up to all of us that make up the society to rise up and root out rape from our midst. As it is, everyone has a role to play in the eradication of this menace from our society. From homes to religious gatherings, schools to events, the gospel of anti-rape should be preached with all forms of seriousness and vehemence. Enough is enough of this monster that has developed into the biggest crime in our society. Stiffer laws should be created for offenders just like kidnappings and murder, because rape has helped to rob our society some of its best hands. From government quarters to private quarters, rape should be given a serious attention before we lose our female population to a group of persons who have lost all forms of dignity. The fight against rape should be total and there should be no sacred cows in the battle against it. All hands must be on deck to ensure that rape is finally expunged from our society. Everyone has a role to play in tackling this societal cancer. Lawmakers must create stiffer laws, the Judiciary must dispatch justice with speed to offenders and we all must also be our brothers’ keeper and also report any case of rape to the relevant authorities. Sam, graduating student of Curriculum and teaching, UNICAL

What you don’t know about playing

By Abibat Awo

S a child, I played a lot without restriction. But as I grew older, my perception changed; I began to see play as children’s pastime. From my environment, I learnt that a growing mind should get involved with activities that are meant for mature minds. I never knew that my perception of playing was absolutely wrong and that I was not being fair to myself until I got this information that I would love to share with you. However, there is a general perception about playing. In psychology, play is a range of voluntary, motivated activities normally associated with recreational pleasure and enjoyment. Play is most commonly associated with children and their juvenile-level activities. Play is what we all see as the business of childhood. They are the times we jumped about when we

were children forgetting who we really were and what the whole world was about. We would usually just lose ourselves in the moment and have great fun with our friends, our dolls and toys or even have mummy and daddy joke around with us, allowing us free rein to experiment with the world around us and the emotional world inside us. We’d usually just assume different roles moving from superhero to daddy and mummy, to police officer with ease, experimenting with diverse identities, and explore a variety of scenarios and outcomes. Growing up has changed us and our perception about play. Children who play are believed to be calm and happy. Playing makes them smarter and open minded, intelligent and gives them the ability to relate better with their environment as they grow older. Play gives your child a sense of control, especially imaginative play as he interprets the dramas of everyday life and practices the rules of social behaviour. But as much as we believe that play is for children, play can also be a useful adult activity. Many of the most prominent researchers in the field of psychology (including Jean Piaget, and Sigmund Freud) have viewed play as endemic to the human species. These psychologists all had strong beliefs on how important play was on human development. Many research methods were performed to prove their theories. Play is often interpreted as frivolous; yet the player can be intently focused on their objective, particularly when play is structured and goal-oriented, as in a game. Play can range from relaxed, free-spirited and spontaneous through frivolous to planned or even compulsive activities.

As frivolous and spontaneous as play can be, play drives some of humanity’s greatest achievements. Washington State University neuro-scientist, Jaak Panksepp, believes that diminishing classroom playtime could be what is responsible for the recent rise of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder which is a type psychiatric disorder in which there is a problem of attention, hyperactivity and acting impulsively in a way that is inappropriate for a person’s age. In the aspect of communication, in 1981 study showed that students in the pre-school level use more complex languages while playing make-believe than during ordinary conversation. Generally speaking, the larger a mammal’s brain, the greater its tendency to play, according to a 2001 Journal of Comparative Psychology study that correlated play with relative brain size, according to Pennsylvania State University anthropologist. Garry Chick, men act playfully to signal non-aggressiveness to a potential mate, while women do it to evoke youthful fertility. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, reported last year in nature that playing NeuroRacer, a video game designed for their study, boosted both long and short term memory in participants as old as 79. In young children, play is frequently associated with cognitive development and socialisation. Play that promotes learning and recreation often incorporates toys, props, tools or other playmates. Play can consist of an amusing and imaginary activity alone or with another. Some forms of play are rehearsals or trials for later life events, such as “play fighting”, pretending social encounters such as par-

ties with dolls, or flirting. Modern findings in neuroscience suggest that play promotes flexibility of mind, including adaptive practices such as discovering multiple ways to achieve a desired result, or creative ways to improve or reorganise a given situation. While playing might look like a child’s thing, it has the potential to serve as an important tool in numerous aspects of daily life for adolescents and adults. Not only does play promote and aid in physical development (such as hand-eye coordination), it also aids in cognitive development and social skills, and can even act as a stepping stone into the world of integration. Researchers have found playing to aid in the aspects of problem solving, skill building, overcoming physical and mental challenges the individual might be facing in his or her life. Play builds the imagination. Playfulness has also been the basis of major scientific discoveries and some of humanity’s greatest achievements. Albert Einstein formulated his special theory of relativity after imagining himself chasing a beam of light. Conclusively, play is not for children alone. It has a lot to do in the lives of every individual ranging from mental and physical development to socialisation. At some points in our daily lives, we all feel the urge to live in the moment and have some fun by getting involved in some sporting activities like chess or just hang out with friends. one should always remember that restricting one’s self is detrimental to the health because playing relieves stress and aid positive thinking. Abibat, 400-Level Mass Comm., UNILORIN

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE Corp member’s scholarship for orphans E

LEVEN orphans and less privileged children in Ugep community in Cross River State have benefitted from a free scholarship award by a serving corps member at Dr Okoi Arikpo Memorial Secondary School Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area, Charity Nwankwo. Charity said the gesture was aimed at reducing mass literacy among orphans and imparting the lives of the less privileged. “After over four months of observation, it came to my knowledge that some of these children roam the streets because nobody could pay their school fees. So I decided to place the burden on myself,” she stated. The award presentation, which held at Government Secondary School Ugep, was witnessed by dignitaries from across the state including State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Engr Nkereke Igbangha; Chairman,

From Maureen Item NYSC CALABAR

Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Ugep chapter, Chief Enang Ibang and administrators of various schools in Ugep. In a remark, the Local Government Inspector of Biase/Akampa, Mr Emmanuel Odoh, advised beneficiaries to work hard and be serious with their studies. He praised the organiser for the gesture, urging other corps members to emulate her action. Ibiang admonished the beneficiaries to utilise the opportunity and stay focused in their academics. Highpoint of the event was the presentation of learning materials, including notebooks, dictionaries, pens, rulers, textbooks, calculators, mathematical sets and uniforms to the pupils.

Promasidor thrills students

TUDENTS of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) were thrilled at the Promasidor show tagged: Swag, held on the campus. The students filed into the Ekpo Convocation Hall of the institution to witness the event, which started at 4pm and anchored by Lorenzo Menakaya, a radio presenter. It featured a raffle draw, where

From Chikezie Mbegbu UNN students won laptops and i-Pads. The show also featured talent hunt and choreographed dance by several groups and motivational talks. A student, Emeka Igboeli, told CAMPUSLIFE: “I am excited because the show relieved us of academic stress.’’

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•Members of the fellowship cutting cake to welcome the freshers

Fellowship welcomes freshers

HE National Fellowship of Christian Pharmacy Students (NFCPS), University of Benin chapter, has held orientation for freshers at the Old Pharmacy Building. Jude Isesele of the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology congratulated the students for their admission into the faculty, urging them to maximise their potential and focus on their studies. While allaying their fears for Pharmacy as a difficult course,

From Ezekiel Efeobhokhan UNIBEN Isesele said: “Pharmacy is a very interesting course to study. It has a very wide area of practice. As young minds you have to spread your thought as wide as possible because where the will power is, there will be solutions to most of the problems faced by pharmacy students.” One of the freshers, Obed Aigbe, said: “I thank God for being able to get admitted into UNIBEN, consid-

ering the competition.” Highlight of the event was bible recitation game, which had John Oselumese as winner. Students were also taught how to accumulate their maximum Cumulative Grade Points Average to proceed to the next class. in order to cross to the next level. In his closing remarks, President of the association, Osawaru Joseph, thanked all freshers present and wished them divine speed in their academic endeavours.

Lecturers eager to return to classroom

EMBERS of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) have expressed readiness to return to the classrooms following the suspension of its strike. Some of the lecturers told CAMPUSLIFE that the striking lecturers said they were concerned about the quality of education being handed over to their students, saying that polytechnics needed to be empowered for global relevance. They explained that, contrary to the view that their demands were only centred on their salary, the welfare of students was paramount. The lecturers stressed that establishing a regulatory body instead of the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) would help to improve the condition of polytechnics in the country. A senior lecturer at the Federal

From Jennifer Umeh OFFA POLY Polytechnic, Offa, Wole Alawode, said: “It is sad that the protracted strike is yet to be called off and I pity the students including the Nigerian populace. Many Nigerians think our demands are about salary alone, but that is not the case. We are talking about the technological advancement of a nation.” He explained that polytechnics were established mainly to promote adequate technical knowledge, adding that polytechnics needed a separate regulatory body. A lecturer from the department of Mass communication, C.J. Ayelabegan, said for the past nine months, none of the lecturers’ demands had been met. Mrs Ayelabegan explained that the de-

mands were about equal recognition for both polytechnic and university graduates and the creation of a polytechnic commission. “I am not aware of any part of the demands that has been met so far. The polytechnic commission will make us independent. Autonomy should be given to polytechnics the same way it was given to Nigerian universities because what is good for the goose is also good for the gander,” she stated. The ASUP Chairman of the polytechnic, Dr Shola Ojeniyi, said the lecturers were willing to allow d strike to be called off if some of their demands were met, saying “we don’t want our students to become rogues. That’s why we are eager to resume work. Suspending the strike is not the best we want. It should be called off in the interest of students.”

Students hail minister on ASUP strike

TUDENTS in polytechnics across the country have commended the efforts of the new Minister of Education, Alhaji Ibrahim Shakarau, for ending the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) strike. They urged the Minister to work with the federal government to avert further industrial action and safeguard the education sector from collapse. When our correspondent visited the Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, last week, students were set to resume lectures on Monday July 28.

From Mark Orgu YABATECH Speaker of the legislative arm of the institution’s Students’ Union Government (SUG), Joshua Akinjayeju, said academic activities would not commence fully until management put all structures in place. “We urge management to avoid interference with the traditional calendar of the school so that students will not have room to demand for extension of examination which had often resulted in protests. We

also advice that lecturers should be monitored so that we will not employ brigandage approach in lectures and administration of continuous assessments,” he stated. The Director of Public Relations, Mr Charles Oni, said management had approved new academic calendar, adding that registration which started July 17 would end 25th. He stated that the Quality Control Unit of the college had been mandated to monitor academic activities, adding that lecturers would not be allowed to administer tests during the free lecture period.

Don’t take part in malpractice, VC urges TUDENTS of Adeleke Dr Tobalase, said the examination students University Ede, Osun State, in the school had always been free

have been urged to avoid all forms of examination malpractice at the 2013/2014 second semester examination. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oluwole Amusan, said exams were to test the knowledge of students, adding that cheating must be

From Mathew Ajakaiye OSOGBO

avoided. The Registrar, Mr Olusegun Ojo, urged student to do their best and remain focused as they write their papers. Coordinator for General Studies,

of malpractice. When CAMPUSLIFE visited the campus, students were seen reading in classrooms and library. Henry Ndidiaha, a 300-Level Economics student, urged his colleagues to show good conduct during the exercise.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

Nigeria, Hungary pact yields 50 scholarships T HE Nigerian and Hungarian governments have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the award of scholarships to 50 Nigerians to study for undergraduate and post graduate degrees in Hungarian universities. The Minister of State for Education, Mr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, signed the MoU on behalf of the Federal Government while Dr Lazlo Palkovics, Hungarian Minister of State for Higher Education in the Ministry of Human Resources, signed for the Hungarian government. A statement signed by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant (Media)

to Wike noted that the MoU, which is between the Federal Ministry of Education and the Hungarian Ministry of Human Resources on Educational Cooperation, will last from 2014 to 2016. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Wike said the Jonathan administration is happy with the new scholarship window provided by the Hungarian government for Nigerian students. He assured that the government would ensure that only students who

are academically sound get the scholarship. "The Federal Ministry of Education is happy for the scholarship which your government has extended to Nigeria and we commend you. For us as Nigerians, we pledge our commitment to the implementation of this MoU," he said. Urging Nigerians to take advantage of the high quality Hungarian educational programme to empower themselves professionally, Dr Palkovics said the MoU would advance educational cooperation to higher levels that would benefit both countries.

• From left: The Guest of Honour and wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola; College Ambassador, Bridge House College, Ikoyi, Lagos, Mr Akinlawon Adeyemi and Chairman of the College, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq, during during the 10th Anniversary lecture and Prize-giving Day of the college at Intercontinental Hotel,Victoria Island Lagos. PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

Uduaghan gives tips on employment

O address graduate unemployment, Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is advocating the inclusion of business studies in the curricula of tertiary institutions. Uduaghan, who spoke at the maiden convocation of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro , stressed that the curriculums of tertiary institutions should be tailored towards producing graduates that would be self-employed. He said graduate unemployment posed a big challenge that the government at the various levels cannot solve. He therefore urged that governments should fashion out programmes and policies aimed at producing graduates that would be self reliant. In Delat State, he said the "Delta beyond Oil" project "is geared towards how we can engage some of these youths as they come out, in this development programme." "We believe in self-employment. The challenge is how do we get you to become self-employed? There is the challenge of educating you not just in your specialty, but also how to manage the business and of course there is also the area of funding if you have to be self employed," he added. He noted that self-employment programmes and initiatives were incomplete without sound knowledge of business management skills. Meanwhile, the governor praised

‘Be true ambassadors’

S they depart for their International Baccalaureate Diploma in some of the United World Colleges scattered across the world, 11 students have been counselled to be good ambassadors of Nigeria. At the orientation for the students who won scholarships to attend the colleges at the St Nicholas House,

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

the Rector of the institution Dr Jacob Oboreh, for deploying the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the school to develop about 30 infrastructural projects within two years. Uduaghan said the feat achieved by Oboreh has reaffirmed his belief that management of higher institutions should be allowed to manage

their IGR without remittance to the state government. Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha, called on institutions of higher learning in the state to key into the Delta beyond Oil programme to produce graduates that would be self- reliant. Eghagaha praised lecturers of the polytechnic for not joining the strike by their counterparts across the country.

Irish envoy joins AUN By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

HE Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland to Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Fay, will be joining the American University of Nigeria (AUN) as a faculty member at the end of his diplomatic service next month. A statement from the university, said Ambassador Fay will use Fall 2014 to prepare for classes and will be in residence starting from the Spring of 2015. Fay will be teaching political science, philosophy, law, and public administration in the undergraduate and graduate programmmes. In her announcement of the appointment, AUN's President, Margee Ensign said: "All of us at AUN are very excited that Ambassador Fay will be joining us during the next academic year. His experience as a diplomat, peacemaker, and scholar complements our mission and activities at AUN. We are honoured that, like former EU Ambassador David Macrae, who joined AUN last year, Ambassador Fay will help to contribute to the education and development mission of AUN, and the further development of Nigeria." Ambassador Fay has a rich educational background that includes a BA/B.Ph. from St. Patrick's College, Maynooth in ethics and political philosophy (1970); an MA in EU Law from the University of Leicester (2001); MSc in economics and /policy studies the University of Dublin (1996), Master of Public Administration from the University College, Dublin (1981); and a PhD in governance from Queen's University, Belfast (2008). He is completing a graduate diploma in diplomatic studies (Leicester University) and intends to undertake an LLM in human rights law (London University). He is working on a post-doctoral degree in critical thinking, an essential component of education at AUN. Of joining AUN, Ambassador Fay said: "I am very happy to be joining AUN to teach and to assist with its mission as a development university.”

LASPOTECH FILE

Two schools take off THE Academic Board of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) has approved the take-off of the Schools of Communication and Liberal Studies and Pure and Applied Science from the second semester of the 2013/2014 academic session. At a meeting, the board also okayed the appointment of deans for the school. Mr. Adebayo Alake, will serve as Dean, School of Communication and Liberal Studies, and Mrs Adefunmilayo Manuwa, Dean, School of Pure and Applied Science. The Rector, Dr. Abdulazeez Lawal, who has congratulated both officers, also wished them a successful tenure in office.

New ASUP leaders THE Academic Staff Union (ASUP), LASPOTECH Chapter, has elected Mrs Abiola Idowu Akinkugbe as chairman for the next four years. Akinkugbe who contested the position with three others Lawal Abiola (21 votes), Ogundiran Ogunkunle (23), Rabiu Taiwo Olugbenga (51), who polled 108 votes last Thursday. Other members of the new executives are: Akinrinola Ibitoye Akinfola, who was unopposed for the position of vice president: Arigbabu Kareem Olayemi (General Secretary); Salami Olugbenga (his assistant); Jaji Saheed Olatunde (Treasurer); Oshin Taiwo Toyin (PRO); Olorunfemi Adewunmi Alfred (Welfare Secretary); while the post of Internal Auditor is vacant.

School holds conference THE local organising committee for the 2014 School of Management and Business Studies (SM&BS) annual conference is calling for research papers for the conference scheduled to hold from August 11 to 13. The theme of the conference is: Sustainability of political, economic and educational system in developing countries.

Football team shines THE LASPOTECH Football team shone like a million stars at the Alaiyeluwa Oba Kabiru K. A. Agbabiaka, Aina-Gbeto (Ilufemiloye) Adeola III, Osolo of Isolo Kingdom, Football Competition which ended penultimate week. The final match between LASPOTECH and Maiyegun FC Football Club at the football field of the Isolo campus, ended 1-0 in favour of LASPOTECH

NASU to host meeting

• From left: of Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko; Speaker, Lawali Zaiyana and Galadima Sokoto, Alhaji Aliyu Altahiru, at a farewell for students of Sokoto indigenes going for studies at University of Uganda in Sokoto.

THE Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), LASPOTECH chapter will host the state executive council meeting of the union on August 7 at the School of Management and Business Studies (SM&BS) Auditorium, Ikorodu Campus of the institution.

dents to shun bad behaviour and ungodly associations that could truncate their ambitions. She lamented that many promising children have lost focus of their dreams in life because they ignore wise counsel from their parents, guardian and mentors. "We all make choices in life but we must always remember that we will all bear the consequences of our choices and actions whether it is a good choice or a bad one," she said. Speaking on the UWC scholarship programe, Mrs Coleman said it is aimed at making education a force to

best universities around the world. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be between 16 and 19; get an endorsement from their principal, write an essay, examination and do an interview. The UWC are in the United States South Africa, Canada, Italy, whales, Scotland, Lesotho, among others. One of the students who got a full scholarship, Marvelous John said: "I promise to be a true ambassador of Nigeria. I will not let Nigeria down but I would ensure that I put Nigeria on the map by showcasing our rich values, culture and tradition."

By Adeola Ogunlade

Lagos Island, the Information and Welfare Officer of the United World Congress, Mrs. Comfort Coleman, told them they could be true ambassadors by showcasing Nigeria’s rich culture. "Although we have our problems, but there are many positive things, stories opportunities and potentials to share about Nigeria to the rest of the world without undermining your academic performance," she said. She, however, cautioned the stu-

unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and sustainable future. "We inspire our alumni to become leaders in social responsibility and achieve change personally, locally, nationally and internationally. We value our strong academic achievement but also work more broadly on developing the knowledge, values and skills that will shape our students as well rounded people," she said. After completing the IB programme, Mrs Coleman said many of the students often get admissions and scholarships into the

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS

UNILORIN FILE

SU inaugurated THE Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali has commended the members of the immediate past executive committee of the Students' Union on the electronic voting initiative with produced their successors recently. Ambali, who gave the commendation during the inauguration of the newly elected SU executive committee, said the immediate past student leaders were the best in the history of the university. “They solve problems rather than bring problems to me. They are better by far," Ambali noted. He described the e-voting, which was the first of its kind in the university's history as 'great achievement'. Ambali urged the new SU to uphold the legacy of their immediate predecessor. Earlier in his address, the Dean, Student Affairs, Prof. Abayomi Omotesho. Noted that there are four females in the central executive council, which he said showed that the students have demonstrated that they are gender- sensitive. In his acceptance speech, the SU President, promised to serve with all his strength to keep the university's flag flying.

Don seeks industrial parks THE Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ilorin, Prof. Y. A. Jimoh, has said provision of industrial parks to engineering students will enhance engineering technical training. Jimoh spoke at the opening of the faculty's eight-week Students Work Experience Programme (SWEP) designed for 200 level students of the faculty. He described an industrial park as a place for engineering technology training where students duplicate so many skill acquisition mechanisms to make their works easy. "It is a place between laboratory workshop and the actual field works of students where latter make better works", he said. On SWEP, Jimoh said the exercise was designed to offer students various trainings on engineering fields as part of the faculty's frantic effort to instill sound training in its students. He advised them to pay attention to the training and afford themselves the golden opportunity offered them by the university authorities so as to enable the Faculty achieve the purpose for which the exercise was organised.

APPROACHING DEADLINES ICTP Master Scholarships in Medical Physics for Developing Countries in Italy, 2015-2016. Applications are invited for master scholarships in Medical Physics. A limited number of partial or full scholarships will be awarded to successful candidates from developing countries. ICTP will also cover, on the basis of a detailed request, travel costs and course fees for a limited number of successful candidates from developing countries who are not awarded the full scholarship. The first year will be spent in Trieste, Italy, while the second year will be dedicated to clinical professional training in a medical physics department of a hospital in the

programme's training network i.e. in Northern Italy and other nearby Countries. Study Subject (s): Scholarships are awarded in the field of Medical Physics. Course Level: Scholarships are available for pursuing masters degree level. Scholarship Provider: The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) and Trieste University (co-sponsored by The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and in collaboration with Trieste Hospitals). Scholarship can be taken at: Italy (The first year will be spent in Trieste, Italy, while the second year will be dedicated to clinical professional training in a medical physics department of a

hospital in the programme's training network i.e. in Northern Italy and other nearby Countries). Eligibility: -The Master's Programme is designed to provide young, promising graduates of physics or related fields (mainly from developing countries) with postgraduate theoretical and clinical training so that candidates may be recognised as clinical medical physicists in their home countries. -The minimum qualification for applicants is a degree equivalent to an M.Sc. in physics or related fields. The selection of candidates will be based on their university performance, research activity and professional experience in the field. Adequate profi-

ciency in English language is required. -The Master's Programme is open to young (generally below 30 years of age) qualified graduates from countries that are members of the United Nations, UNESCO or IAEA. -Candidates who have received their degree outside Italy must obtain the "dichiarazione di valore" from the Italian Embassy in their country, testifying that their curriculum studiorum is equivalent to the Italian "Laurea specialistica" (five years of University studies). Scholarship Open for International Students:...

they should not limit their achievements as a result of gender reasons. "Females are built so strong yet we think we are weak; we have to find that inbuilt energy. Stop pushing women backward, we can do more" Ojulari added. Mrs Benadine Okeke, an empowerment advisor, said there are opportunities in every adversary, which is the reason feminine race have to stand up and create opportunities for others despite that this is a trying times for Nigeria. Sharing her experience, a participant Akuma Ezinne, an Accounting undergraduate of Babcock University Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, said she has learnt that her success is not based on the to push further to achieve greatness irrespective of her background. Emmanuela Peter, an Accounting

undergraduate of Kaduna State Polytechnic, said the conference has taught her that women should not limit themselves to what they can do because they are great leaders who are capable of doing great things, all they have to do is to find that inbuilt energy in them. Mary Faromika , a Biology student of Federal University of Technology, Akure said she had been enlightened to pursue her career and strive to be a better person instead of thinking that her degree ends on the kitchen and cannot be practised. Some of the participating schools include: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Lagos, Lagos, Kogi State University, Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo, and Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State.

To be continued on next edition

Career before marriage, students advised

GENDER advocate, Mrs Kunbi Wuralola, has urged girls to desist from thinking that marriage is the freedom from their financial difficulties. She made the call at this year's Enactus Women Empowerment Conference which held in Lagos. The event drew participants from 25 tertiary institutions nationwide. Its theme was: "See possibilities, take actions and enable progress". She encouraged young women to pursue good career opportunities and advancement, as success from such undertaking, she believes, will attract good suitors. Besides, an outstanding career would also help women become better entrepreneurs and industrialists, transforming them from being liabilities to becoming assets to their generations, family, community and the society at large. She however advised the students to learn different things as everything they picked up while growing will be useful one way or the other in the future. "Marriage should not be the first priority a female child will think of accomplishing immediately after school rather carving a niche for herself in her career will attract the right suitor to her" Wuraola said. Mrs Wuraola praised her contemporaries whom, despite natural challenges they face especially domestic chores, still try to make a difference. "Women have an unfair race, we have to deal with different challenges amongst which are family, career, how we combine them without making one of them lack attention, and yet we still want to come

•The participants at the event. By Mojisola Clement and Akinola Oluwaseun

out successful and be am blessing to our generation" Wuraola said. An accountant and faculty advisor of Kwara State Polytechnic Mrs Omolara Ojulari, also advised the pupils neither to settle for less nor sets limits for their achievements. "At the present age that you all are in, you cannot change but you can manage who you are. You must not limit your achievements. Be the trailblazer, be the opportunity, work towards it and success will be guaranteed," Ojulari said. She added that the challenge of leadership is the perception of weakness among the female folk, which to her is not true because the feminine race is so strong and capable of delivering which is the reason why

Books add values to our lives, says Oyedepo By Medinat Kanabe

•Bishop Oyedepo

HEN potentials in books are fully explored and applied, they bring value to the lives and work of the reader, the Chancellor, Covenant University (CU) Bishop David Oyedepo has said. He spoke at the opening of a threeday conference on “Leadership and innovation: Cutting edge practices for the 21st Century librarian”, organised by the CU's Africa Lead-

ership Development Centre (ALDC) in collaboration with Ifegrace Ventures Ltd. Dr Oyedepo said information is powerful and people must realise they need it for development. He said: "We cannot get transformation without information and any country that has not prepared for knowledge is going down the drain." Library, the cleric said, is very important to help any country get to where she aims, adding that knowledge and information are equally vital element for national development. “This assertion therefore places huge responsibilities on this professional base of librarianship," he further noted. The cleric said libraries are the repositories of books and other information-bearing materials which in turn make them repositories of knowledge and information, therefore making crucial the quality of

‘We cannot get transformation without information and any country that has not prepared for knowledge is going down the drain’ leadership of such platform. "This is made even more vital in our environment with the concerns expressed in various quarters in our nation, with respect to the grind down in reading culture in our schools and among our youths. It appears that we may in some contexts have earned a reputation for our poor disposition and unwillingness to explore the content of books," he said. According to him, the theme of the conference is at the centre of university’s visionary mandate, both as a university and a centre where new generation of leaders are being raised with the primary aim of driving transformation on various platforms. Director of the Centre, Prof Aize

Obayan said the occasion was designed to inspire stakeholders to search for more effective learning and personal development approaches for growth with a clear objective of enhancing the capacity and knowledge base of key players in the professional context of libraries. "Our expectation is that with the pedigree of men and women represented here, the outcome of this conference will provide unparalleled opportunities for delegates to rub minds together to determine directions for change as existing paradigms are reassessed for relevance while consolidating on best practices as we jointly identify new frontiers that we must traverse," she added.

Topics that were discussed included: Leadership and vision building, by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tomrald Consulting Ltd. Lagos, Mrs Gloria Ita Kpeme; Building and Sustaining High Performance Teams in libraries, by the President West Africa Library Association, Dr James Daniel; and Leadership, Information and Change Management by the founder, Leadership Academy, Abeokuta, Biodun Fijabi. Other were: Leadership Imperatives and the Challenges of the Digital Divide, by the President Nigerian Library Association, Dr Rilwanu Abdulsalam; Managing ICT-driven Libraries: Critical Leadership Issues by the CU Director, Centre for Learning Resources, Dr Chris Nikiko; and Leadership Imperatives in Creating and Sustaining Digital Institutional Repositories, by the Head of Department, Computers and Information Science, CU, Dr Nicholas Omeregbe.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

EDUCATION

Pupils train for World Robot Olympiad

UPILS from 24 primary and secondary schools in Rivers State participated in the World Robot Olympiad Pre-tournament workshop in Port Harcourt last week. The workshop, which had in attendance 160 pupils and 30 teachers, gave the pupils the opportunity to work on robots for the first time. Angela Opubo, Managing Director, SciTech Generation Ltd, owners of the Young Star Genius brand and organisers of the World Robot Olympiad (Southsouth), said the event was in line with her company's vision to bring about revolution in applied science and technology education among youngsters at the grassroots. She said there was need for the corporate organisations to help support disadvantaged children to get into the competition. She added that with their sup-

By Adegunle Olugbamila and Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

port more children particularly from public schools, would benefit from the exposure in science and technology. "This exercise is aimed at exposing children to creative applications of science and technology. The pupils should not just cram to pass, they should have handson experience. “They should be able to build things and solve problems; they should know the solutions to these problems without having to cram. This is what the event is all about. "The theme for this year is Robots and space, and teams from each school are expected to design and create robots which will assist humankind in solving different tasks in space and the team that finishes first will be heading to Russia in November," she said.

• Pupils brainstorming at a WRO robot building challenge workshop.

Rivers State Commissioner for Youth Development, Sir Owuwene Wonodi, who was the special guest at the event, said he was impressed that over 10 public schools participated.

AGOS State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladujoye has reiterated the state government's commitment to the provision of quality education to all children in the state irrespective of their financial background, sex, ethnic affiliation or disability. She spoke at this year’s stakeholders’ forum of the Advocacy Committee on Special Education Matters in Lagos. Oladunjoye stressed that the need to accommodate children with special needs informed government's decision to establish inclusive schools, adding that parents should take advantage of the opportunity and not hide their children with disability at home thus depriving them of education. According to her, God has a reason for giving them children with special needs; hence government setting up the aforementioned committee. She assured that government would take advantage of the best practice procedure of inclusive

•Mrs Osifeso unveiling the eyescreening board after the event.

ANY parents came out to testify of how the Lagos State government rescued their wards from sudden blindness at the kick-off of School Eye Health programme in Education District VII which chose Owoseni Primary School, one of the schools in the district as venue. Mr Kehinde Adegbesan, whose daughter, Ireoluwa, developed visual impairment in Primary 5, said but for the alertness of her teacher, his daughter would have been dealing with "serious sight problem", which he said, could lead to blindness. This was one of the testimonies at the event graced by the Commissioner for Health Dr Jide Idris, Dr Tofunmilola Shokunbi, and his counterpart in Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, who was represented by Mr Kazeem Mohammed Muftau. Also in attendance was the District Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Mrs Iyabo Osifeso and officials of the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area. Adegbesan said: "My daughter developed a sight problem during the first term but she never told me and her mother. It was her teacher that discovered and sent for us. This almost stopped her education because she could not see properly again. But the teacher advised us not to panic and gave us a form for free treatment. "We filled the form and took it to the General Hospital in Ikeja. The officials attended to us decorously. They told us the treatment was free. Although, Ireoluwa is yet to get the free glasses from the Lagos State government but we have been assured it would be ready soon." The Lagos School Eye Health

Special children deserve equal status

Lagos school eye screening records results By Wale Ajetunmobi

Programme was established in 2006 under former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to prevent blindness and provide free treatment to pupils with eye defects. The programme was scaled up by his successor Governor Babatunde Fashola with the training of teachers to carry out the eye screening tests every session to discover pupils with sight defects through the installed vision screening kits. After the screening, pupils with eye disorders and defects would meet

eye experts deployed by the government for free correction and treatment. Over 92,000 pupils in Lagos school have benefited from this programmes, Dr Shokunbi said of the lot, she said, 2,882 pupils were discovered to have eye disorders and defects, adding that 549 pupils were given corrective eye glasses free. Shokunbi advised pupils not to hesitate to inform their parents whenever they feel unusual sight. She also urged pupils to read with bright light and not to expose their eyes directly

to sunlight, saying such might result into impaired vision. Osifeso said the eye health programme had lowered the rate of school drop outs. "Instead of straining their eyes for not seeing what teachers are writing on the board, this programme gives them the opportunity to have their sight corrected and remain in school. If their condition warrants giving them corrective glasses, it will be given to them. And if it is drug, it will be made available for them free," she said.

By Jane Chijioke

schools as observed in the United Kingdom, particularly on how to provide the necessary infrastructure and equipment needed by the inclusive Schools. Earlier, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Wahab Alawiye-King, pledged the continued support of the House to education, noting that children with special needs also have the right to quality education. Similarly, the General Manager of the Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA), Dr. Babatunde Awelenje, highlighted the various challenges of children with special needs , saying that 98 million students living with disabilities constitute the group of those who are marginalised in the society. He highlighted some of the benefits of inclusive education as including attitudinal changes, learning to have empathy and not sympathy for the special children and promoting positive socialisation in the society. The forum was a collaboration among the Lagos State Ministry of Education, DFID's Education Sector Support in Nigeria (ESSPIN), State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI) and Golden Pen Media Concept Company. The State Inclusive Schools came into being in 2009 with the aim of bringing into regular school system and the larger society, children with disability as well as encourage parents/guardians to bring their wards/children out to access free Universal Basic Education and foster love, unity and cooperation among regular and special pupils.

• Director, Lead Forte-Gate Schools, Ogudu, Mrs Yemi Lemo (right); Mr Ben Greyling, College Principal (third left), and other members of management staff with graduating pupils of the school.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

EDUCATION EDUTALK Nigerian beneficiaries of Australian scholarships form association Poor

IGERIANS, who have benefited from the scholarship programme of the Australian government in the past, have formed an alumni association. The body, which has as support the Australia Alumni Association of Nigeria as well as the Australian government, hopes to encourage networking and sharing of information and ideas amongst members. The association also encourages productive collaborative alliances locally among members, including internationally maintaining contact with Australian alumni associations in other African countries. The association was officially launched in Southwest by the Australian ambassador to Nigeria, Jonathan Richardson? who announced at the event in Ibadan, that over 200 Nigerians including 86

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

postgraduate have been awarded scholarships between 2010 and 2014. For the 2015, Richardson said 19 Nigerian candidates have been selected for scholarships at Masters level. Said Richardson: "We want to encourage Nigerians interested in studying abroad to consider Australia as an option, given the strong record and high quality of our universities and tertiary institutions.” "Nigeria is fast becoming a significant source country for international students in Australia. A total of 923 Nigerian students were enrolled in Australian universities and vocational education programmes by the end of May 2014, nearly doubling the number in the prvious year,” he added.

The Coordinator of the association, Mrs Eni Ayeni, said the body is open to all Nigerians who have studied in Australia. "All Nigerian alumni of Australian tertiary institutions are encouraged to become members of the association. Membership ensures invitations to attend alumni functions and provides opportunities for active networking with other alumni and current awardees. Australia awards offer long and shortterm study and professional development opportunities to citizens from developing countries around the world," she said. Ayeni said that the alumni aims to provide enhanced leadership, knowledge and technical skills to partner governments, tertiary institutions and strategic organisations that are driving sustainable development.

• Vice Chairman, Shomolu LGA, Lagos, Hon Abiodun Orekoya (representing the Chairman, Gbolahan Bagostowe), presenting a Nov/Dec WASSCE form to one of 250 beneficiaries at the council secretariat when the LGA distributed free forms to indigent students.

School graduates fifth set

ENDER Loving School (TLS), Ikoyi, Lagos, has graduated its fifth set of nursery pupils. The Proprietress, Mrs Olubunmi Egbeyemi, described the event as a milestone. She said it is good news that the pupils were transiting from nursery to primary school, noting that their success was as a result of hard work and diligence. Mrs Egbeyemi encouraged all schools to adopt the English curriculum because it is more of methodology. She said: "The English curriculum does not encourage pupils to cram. If they do not understand how to read, they are able to process so many things. The strength of the British curriculum is very key. We have seen that their approach is dif-

By Olasumbo Otagbo

ferent and that way children learn without stress; and once you understand a concept it is so easy.” Mrs Egbeyemi also advised schools to adapt the British curriculum to the local environment. "What happens in most schools is that they want to adopt the English curriculum with its entire nuances. We don’t want to teach them money in pounds or dollars, we want to teach them the Nigerian currency because at the end of the day this is where they will come back and work in future so we add the background of Nigeria curriculum to it," she said. The TLS began as a pre-school in 2007 has included primary 1 and 2.

Foundation holds sports clinic

HE Big Mike Foundation hosted over 3,000 school children during its yearly sport clinic tagged "The Big Mike Sports Clinic" at the National Stadium, Abuja. Speaking at the event, Chairman of the foundation, Chief Chike Erokwu, said the objective of the clinic was to keep children active and also mentor them to become good leaders through sports. Erokwu said: "Everybody knows that the children hold the future of the nation. They are our tomorrow; but nobody is thinking about them. The foundation believes in sponsoring and supporting the Nigerian children. We are here to

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

empower the children tech them the right values and how to be leaders through sports. "We have Big Mike Football Club which we started last year. The club sponsors and helps talents. If we see someone that has talent but does not have backing, we assist in promoting that talent." The Coordinator of the event, Mr Stephen Osadebay, said the foundation, which is in the partnership with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Ministry of Youth and Affairs, would sponsor talent picked from the event.

NOUN VC, others for award By Medinat Kanabe

HE Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof Vincent Ado Tenebe, is to be presented with the 'Most valuable vice chancellor of the year' award by Accolades International, a publishing company. Tenebe will be joining 20 others for the awards at the Nicon Luxury, Abuja for the Ninth African Icon of our Generation. The award is organised in collaboration with the International Centre for Comparative Leadership for Africans & Blacks in the Diaspora (a Pan African Development Organisation). Chairman of the Awards Committee, Dr Luke Okojie, said the honour is for the beacons and agents of hope, whose zest and zeal for excellence, passion and commitment is for the progress of Nigeria and Africa. "Prof Tenebe will be awarded for prestigious 'Most valuable vice chancellor of the year'. He has proven his mettle everywhere he has served and still serving, which has brought him a lot of accolades nationally and internationally. His purposeful leadership has brought monumental development to NOUN," he said. Others to be awarded are Assistant Director, Project Monitoring and Supervision of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Edo State Office Dr Frederick Ogbeide (Most valuable project manager of the year); as well as the Nigerian Institute of Welding (Most valuable professional institute of year).

with

budget culture

T the graduation of King's College, Lagos, penultimate week, the audience was shocked when the principal, Otunba Dele Olapeju said so far, the Federal Kofoworola Government had released only N3,950,993.00 (representing Belo-Osagie five per cent) of the N75,693,143 Kofosagie@yahoo.com appropriated to the school for 08054503077 (SMS only) this year. He said the school has been able to meet some of its obligations through Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) and support from the PTA, alumni and private endowments. Were King's College to be Loyola Jesuit, he said the N75 million would have represented only the fees of 75 pupils. But at King's College, the money is used to take care of a total of 3,058 pupils - their feeding, accommodation, instructional materials, maintenance, and other educational needs. Last year, the budget appropriated was N70,000,000; but the amount released was N28,888,773. In 2012, N42.9 million was appropriated, N24.36 million was released. In 2011, amount appropriated was N53.04 million, while N35.62 million was released; In 2010, N65.66 million was appropriated, but only N42.51 million was released. Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, a lawmaker in the House of Representatives, who was guest speaker at the event, was surprised that the school was so poorly funded. She said the money had been appropriated by the National Assembly and wondered why it had not been paid to the school. I wonder too. The statistics provided by the principal showed a steady reduction in the percentage of the appropriated budget released since 2011. How can such practice continue yearly? What happens to the balance at the end of the budget year? But of greater concern should be how do the schools cope? How can a school that is supposed to get N75 million for this year be forced to survive on N3.9 million up to the seventh month of the year? The principal said they have been creative in making use of Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR). But how far can their IGR go? How much is it? Is it enough to address the needs of 3,058 pupils? Powering the generators alone runs into millions each month. What about feeding, water supply, instructional materials and other costs? How do they meet such needs? If king's college, one of most highly populated of the 104 unity schools does not get up to half of its budget yearly, what about the others? What about the universities, polytechnic and colleges of education? Like Mrs Dabiri-Erewa rightly concluded that day, our government is toying dangerously with the future of the country by treating education with levity. We know that there are so many loopholes through which funds meant for the general good find their way into private pockets. But if we continue such practice, we only do so to our detriment. The new Education Minister, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, has his work cut out for him. There are many areas of challenge. We know it is one thing to have funds and another to use it judiciously. However, releasing five per cent of the budget is very poor. We should not expect any meaningful progress from such promptly so our education sector can be managed effectively.

Stage by stage Life is in phases. From conception to old age, a human being passes through so many stages. This season of valedictory services and graduation programmes reminds us of the milestones we must achieve and then leave behind as we grow. Many parents are usually nostalgic at such programmes, remembering when the child was born; took the first step, said the first word, and celebrated the first birthday. Each is important because they can influence the later stages for good or otherwise. If the earlier stages are not well managed, the later stages are likely to be fraught with many challenges. When parents look back, some do so with joy, others with regret. Rather than looking back with regret someday, it is worthwhile for parents to make the relevant investment in time and resources to monitor the progress of their wards through the pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary stages of education. It may be painstaking and time-consuming work, but when those milestones are achieved, all the tears and hard work would be well worth it.

Each is important because they can influence the later stages for good or otherwise. If the earlier stages are not well managed, the later stages are likely to be fraught with many challenges. When parents look back, some do so with joy, others with regret

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

THURSDAY JULY 24, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

GOMBE POLITICS The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that there is no vacancy in the Gombe Government House next year. But, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is seriously pushing for power shift. Correspondent VINCENT OHONBAMU writes on the struggle for power in the Northwest state.

2015: APC to challenge PDP in Gombe T

HE stage is set for an epic electoral battle in Gombe State. Ahead of next year’s governorship poll, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are flexing muscles. To the PDP governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dank-wambo, there is no vacancy in the Government House next year. But, in the view of the APC leaders, the state is ripe for power shift. In the ruling party, there are few governorship aspirants warming up for the primaries. But, a source said that the governor will be endorsed by stakeholders for a second term. “We are prepared for the challenges of primaries and we will ensure that there is no crisis after the primaries,” said the source, who is a PDP chieftain. Next year, the governor will complete his first term. There is no face-off between him and the party. Monarchs, community leaders and interest groups have applauded him for his achievements. Dankwambo, they believe, has stimulated economic growth in the Northeast state and restored public confidence in government. But, the opposition does not share this view. The APC has criticised the administration for implementing policies that do not have any bearing on the life of the people. Senator Danjuma Goje, who is the leader of the opposition, has vowed to displace Dankwambo and install an APC governor. But, the main task now is the choice of the flag bearer. APC governorship aspirants include Alhaji Umar Kwiranga, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, Alhaji Murtala Aliyu and Hon. Usman Bayero Nafada. A party source said party leaders are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the best man is chosen for the job. “All the aspirants are good and sellable, but we at the party level are seriously weighing our options to ensure that the best of them emerge because we don’t want to leave anything to chance,” he said. Another source said that Nafada appears to be the towering figure, adding that the odds may favour him. “He is most likely to be considered because the majority believes he would make a good governorship candidate. Above all, he has the wherewithal to boost the chances of the party at the general elections.” he stressed. The former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives is very popular at home. He is the former Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly. He is unassuming and down-to-earth. The former teacher has strong connections with the grassroots because of his largeheartedness and concern for the wellbeing of the ordinary people. A party chieftain described him as the answer in 2015. According to him, the former Deputy Speaker has experience and good records. Also, Nafada believes that the APC has to fulfill its promise to give a sense of belonging to defectors. While in the PDP, his senatorial ambition in the North District was shut down. Also, at the governorship primaries, he was edged out. A chieftain said: “Nafada can be trusted to consolidate on the popularity and achievement of the party leader, Senator Goje, considering that he is a grassroots politician. Most importantly, he could be a better manager of people, judging by his wealth of experience in human management and his concern for others.” However, other aspirants are not relenting in their efforts to get the ticket. The chairman of AshakaCem Plc, Alhaji Umar

• Dankwambo

• Aliyu

Kwairanga, is making serious efforts. According to sources, this green horn is loved by many people because of his openheartedness and willingness to assist the poor. He is honest and always carries people along in all his undertakings. His employees at AshakaCem testify to his managerial ability and sense of purpose. But, his undoing is that he is new in politics. His naivety may cost the party its ambition and the chapter does not want to take chances. Others have said that he is close to many PDP leaders. Thus, they perceive him as a PDP agent with a mandate to get into the mainstream of the party and use his influence to destabilise its agenda.

• Nafada

• Goje

• Kwiranga

APC ASPIRANTS • • • •

Alhaji Umar Kwiranga Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya Alhaji Murtala Aliyu Hon. Usman Nafada

The President of the Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Alhaji Murtala Aliyu, is a serious contender. He is showing interest in the job 11 years after he failed at the governorship primaries. Many have described him as a true democrat. But,

‘Ahead of next year’s governorship poll, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are flexing muscles. To the PDP governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dank-wambo, there is no vacancy in the Government House next year. But, in the view of the APC leaders, the state is ripe for power shift’

like Kwairanga, he is a green, horn. The former Minister of State for Power, who lost the PDP ticket for the 2003 governorship election to Goje, went into oblivion, shortly after his defeat. Many people said that he was frustrated and scared by Goje. That he is back in the same boat with Goje only goes to confirm the saying that there is no permanent foe in politics, but permanent interest. Besides, Murtala’s ‘indigeneship’ of Gombe State and the sincerity of his intention have been doubted by some inddigenes. Their grouse is that, despite his affluence and influence, he does not have any landed property or investment in Gombe State. Moreover, since he declared his interest he has not been visible. Thus, party followers do not take him seriously. But, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya is seen as a serious contender. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he is a shrewd businessman and an investor. In 2011, he contested the PDP primaries. But, he was defeated by Dankwambo. It is believed that his closeness to Goje, under whose administration he served as the Commissioner of Finance for eight years, is an added advantage. Apart from that, his late father contributed to Goje’s campaigns, especially in 2003. Sources said that there was an agreement between the old man and Goje that Inuwa would succeed him in 2011. But, that agreement, if it ever existed, was breached when the ticket for the 2011 race was given to Dank-wambo. When he could not make it in the PDP, he decamped to the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Later, Goje pleaded with him to return to the fold. Yayaya is confident that he will get the ticket. But, his associates fear that history may repeat itself. Those jostling for APC ticket are from Gombe North Senatorial District. Hence, the issue of zoning does not arise. However, some of the aspirants have “Plan B.” Bayero and Inuwa are prepared to accept senatorial ticket, if they fail at the primaries, a source said. If the PDP does not put its house in order, if may become the opposition party next year.

THE NATION THURSDAY JULY 24, 2014

POLITICS Professor Mojeed Alabi is the former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly. The All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain spoke with reporters in Osogbo, the state capital, on factors and issues that will shape the August 9 governorship election.

Why Osun ‘ll not vote PDP, by former Speaker W HAT makes your party, APC a progressive party and different from other political

parties? If you look at the development of party system in Nigeria, you will discover that there have always been difference between those that we regard as the progressives and the others whose interest is primarily in furtherance of business interest or private selfish interest. Unfortunately, for the greater part of post-independent Nigeria, these set of people that we call progressive have not been able to come together, except, perhaps for the very short period of Ibrahim Babangida transition programme when two parties were decreed. And it was that coming together of the Social Democratic Party that actually propelled the election of Chief MKO Abiola as the Presidential candidate, but eventually, the election was annulled. The APC now represents the first major post-independent attempt among the progressive to come together to rescue the governance of the states from the people, who simply have no idea about governance in terms of using the instrumentality of state power to further the interest of the downtrodden masses. So, the APC, in the first history of Nigeria is a major attempt and first major dominant force to have successfully threatened the party in power, the PDP. Although, we have not taken over government, but this is the first time that the party is feeling threatened by an opposition party to ensure the need for a new way of doing things. That is what the APC represents and that is what differentiates it from others. In Osun, will you say the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been able to translate the ideals of progressiveness into concrete development? One must appreciate the efforts of this government in turning around the state. The idea of governance itself is putting social infrastructural in place for people to be able to realise their individual self-development. Development is not about government distributing money to individuals, because there is no way government can embark on such method and be able to satisfy everyone. In civilised society, governance is about putting in place appropriate structural, appropriate infrastructural, social, economic amenities that would enable us as individuals to realise the highest potential of our being and be able to say we can live the way a normal human being should live. That is what the present government of Osun has been able to do. You will see network of roads through which people, who are based here and are involved in the production of things that could be useful in

other states, could easily move their products to those states, while those things that are produced somewhere else and needed by the people of Osun can come easily. That is the law of comparative advantage. For example, we use to talk about Israel, Saudi Arabia as a dry land, but people who go there will tell you that they eat fresh fruit. They are not produced there, but they have the needed infrastructure to make sure they get what they want, even if those things are not produced there. And conversely, where they produce things in excess of what they need, there is also opportunity to transport it to where they are needed so that they can make added income. Again, look at the education in Osun, I realise that this government has discovered that in any society, the development of individual is key to societal development. So, human resource development is also one critical area of development that I have seen in this government and that starts from the root of education. Before you can begin to build a sound mind in a sound body, you have to start from the foundation and that is why this government should be appreciated for putting in place structures, amenities and provisions that would make it attractive to children to want to stay in school. That is why every school that is being built now would have the needed furniture, the needed facilities that would make it attractive, the needed laboratory that would make students to want to grab the nitty-gritty of science for the development of the nation and well equipped library where students can bury their heads to increase their knowledge. Apart from that, we have seen civil servants, especially the junior cadre, who are saying they have never gone on training, but under this government, several of them are going on continuous training. This is part of human development because it is only when humans are developed in terms of intellect that they or can see what is good in government and use his or her training to contribute to the development of the state. What makes people to struggle to travel abroad, in my view, Aregbesola has started doing it and that is development. Look at agriculture under this government and see the way government has gone into massive production of fishery and reviving the concept of farm settlements. This is one of the area where Osun can reap the benefits of comparative advantage because a lot of our people here engage in agriculture. So, when you provide the needed environ-

•Alabi

ment to cultivate that, then, we can have excess. The essence of taking dual carriage way from Akoda to Gbongan and from Gbongan to Ijebu-Igbo is that if we produce at the scale the government want us to produce, there is tendency that we may not be able to consume everything, and the easiest market for us is Lagos. That road is the easiest way to Lagos and since we have good way of transporting what we produce, the production will be higher and the product will not be destroyed. That is what China is doing which is developing their economy. That is the idea I have seen in this government. Also, look at Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme (OYES). Some critics are saying that how can you say a graduate should be sweeping on the road, and I ask, Is it not better to do something than to do nothing? An idle hand is the devil’s workshop. When you have something to do that is earning you money, is it not better? There is one aspect that some people have not seen, the OYES is not for you to just go there and graduate in two years, I have seen some youths in OYES, who have used the opportunity of the scheme to acquire other skills, through which they have become independent earners of income today. In any event, the OYES is not a full time day job, they spend between two to three hours and if you are productive as a beneficiary, you have the opportunity of using the remaining 22 hours to pursue something else. This is a programme that help youths to think on how to spend the

N10,000 they are earning to making something big out of it. In fact, some of them have been employed into the civil service, some have stood on their own and some have gotten offer somewhere else. Look at Agba Osun, some people are complaining that some elders are not getting, but they have forgotten that some elders don’t deserve it because they have children that are taking care of them. For instance my mother is 80 years and if you give her that money, it does not make any sense, because I even give her more than that in a month. There are some of them who don’t have anybody to take care of them. What will you say are the effects of those programmes and policies on the people and economy of the state? Of course, we have seen very fundamental changes in the economy of the state. For example, through OYES, government is sinking N200 million into the economy of the state every month and the money is circulating within the state. Also, the concept of new uniform has attracted an investor into the state, through which many of our youths have also been employed. The fact that we have good road, travellers are passing through the state and they buy things on the roadside and many others. Even for those who are involved in property, there have been increase in their business, because every day, people are relocating to Osun due to the development that we now have. Apart from that, as the roads are being constructed, bricklayers, labourers, people who are selling sand and gravel among others are getting job to do. It is when they get money from working that they also think of paying taxes and doing things for themselves. The issue is that, each individual has seen improvement on his or her living. There have been several rumours, ranging from the fact that Osun owed N350 billion; that Opon Imo project was awarded to the governor’s cronies. Do you see this as merely political talk? On the debt, it is just a distraction and the government has been vindicated when a Federal Government agency, Debt Management Office, said Osun is not owing such debt. It is just political and those who are spreading such rumour have been disappointed and they should stop lying. On the other hand, I am not in the

‘One must appreciate the efforts of this government in turning around the state. The idea of governance itself is putting social infrastructural in place for people to be able to realise their individual self-development. Development is not about government distributing money to individuals’

position to talk about who a contract is awarded and who is benefiting from it, but my own is that I have seen what I want to see. I don’t know who is doing the Opon Imo, but the issue is that I have seen a product, an initiative that is useful for our children. I saw polytechnic students who are saying they feel like going back to secondary school to take the advantage of Opon Imo. I see these lies and rumours as just political gimmick to deceive the people and those that are spreading such falsehood should stop playing on the intelligence of Osun people. For me it does not matter who constructs the road as long as it is solid enough to last for so many years. It does not matter who is in charge of building the market as long as we have functional Ayegbaju International Market where our people have the opportunity of buying and selling. The question is: are we getting value for our money or not? Do you think what Aregbesola has done enough to earn him second term in office? In a normal and civilised society, he needs not campaign at all. In a normal society, not even many candidates would ever want to contest against him, because the issue would be, let us see where this man will end his tenure having started on a good note. I must not be oblivious of the fact that there are other factors we use in this part of the world to choose who governs us, perhaps, because of the level of underdevelopment. As a government, you have a choice of using public fund for the development of the people or you use it for the aggrandizement of the leadership. Aregbesola has not used the resources for the aggrandizement of the leaders and that is why you don’t see business as usual in Osun APC. Leaders of our party are the one that suffered for what the government has been able to do today and as for me, I am proud to be part of that sacrifice. What is important is not what is coming into my pocket, rather what I am able to see in terms of development. Thus, for me, I don’t see anything that will stop the man Aregbesola from winning the election. Of course, there are other things that people are insinuating, like bringing soldiers, police, using photocromic voting equipment, rigging, violence and all that, but I think we have risen beyond that level. Our people in Osun are civilised and the kind of calamity that befell the people of Ekiti would not befall us in Osun by the grace of God. Come August 9, the people of Osun will show to the world that we can see the difference between a person, who want to make a positive impact on us and someone who want to milk us. The issue in this election is development versus ‘chop-make-I-chop. And I know that the people of Osun are much more sophisticated to be able to see and read between the lines and know where their interest lies.

Coalition cautions politicians over anarchy

•Oshiomhole

NON-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa, has blamed the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for

the tension in the polity. The Coalition, in a statement by Mr. John Mayaki, said: “Members of the ruling PDP should not jubilate at the on-going disobedience to the rule of law in the Edo State House of Assembly face-off, the impeachment of opposition party governors, insecurity, cheap political arrogance of winner-take-all mentality and corruption because, we are all losers at the end of the day, without exception. “Today, it’s Governor Oshiomhole. Tomorrow, you could be victim of this conspiracy. Yesterday, it was Governor Fayemi and Nyako. Today, it is Al-Makura, but you never can tell whose turn it would be tomorrow. Governor Rotimi Amaechi has a bitter experience already. Besides, this country belongs to all of us and as such, we are all losers both

individually and politically. “In Edo State, for instance, we see the flagrant disobedience to the rule of law and the constitution. We see legislators who disobey High Court orders and Appeal Court rulings yet, they claim they are seeking redress at the Supreme Court and until then, they are not obliged to obey a valid Court order or ruling, this is particularly worrisome. Mayaki said: “Generally, across the country, the situation we face on a daily basis is worrisome and brings us to a journey that is as illuminating as it is grueling, where the ruling party is more effective in carefully building up hate and thoroughly destroying the heroic foundations of our Dear Nation and State. “The point is simple. That power corrupts and absolute of it corrupts absolutely. We are in a harrowing but sober volume, relentless in scope and

distressing in its intensity but, this unfolding script that could form a heavy book could also be light in reading because of its so unfashionably straight forwardness. He added: “These actors are not strong but for the back up of state apparatus, they become strongmen and monsters. And, dramatic as these tyrants’ tales maybe, they are less revealing and so convincingly shows that it is bad leadership first and foremost, that has held Nigeria and Edo State backward. “Permit me to at this point admonish President Goodluck Jonathan not to be accustomed to a diet of endless praise. “The truth, the President must be told and the truth, though often bitterly unpleasant, he must accept as a leader otherwise, these praise singers, after wearing him out, and when the chips are down, have their

fathers name to bear while bookmakers are won’t to commit him to history. Mayaki urged the President to steer the country from doom. He said: “Mr. President sir, tomorrow is another day; an uncertain pregnant future. Power is transient just as ephemeral. There is nothing without an end just as it’s beginning. Your name is more important Mr. President. Do not allow anyone to hide under the guise of protecting your interest damage your image. “One thing is certain and sure, only a disciplined mass party, centrally directed with national interest is an effective means to overcome tribal and religious divisions, to inspire a sense of nationhood and to mobilize the population for economic development and not a gang of old pals having it good on nice food at the expense of the people.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Natural treatment for typhoid fever T

HERE is a natural cure for every ailment, according to a traditional medicine practitioner, Dr Moses Chigoziri. Nature, he said, has remedies for all diseases, especially typhoid fever. Eating calcium white clay known as calabash chalk, he said, can cure typhoid fever and also detoxify the system. The bacterium that causes typhoid, he said, may be spread through poor hygienic habits, public sanitation conditions, and sometimes by flying insects feeding on faeces. He canvassed prevention, which is better than cure, adding that proper hand wash after defecating and before handling food will help control the spread of the disease. Calcium white clay, he said, can provide support for balancing, cleansing, detoxifying and speed up the healing process of the body. Chigoziri said the calcium white clay called ‘living clays’ belongs to the Smectite family of clays because of their ability to make chemical changes. “They are capable of both adsorption and absorption, demonstrating the highest Cation Exchange Capacity of all Clay families. This Cation Exchange takes place in the adsorption layer of the clay molecule,”he said. He said living clay is a medium that supports healing without dangerous side effects.

Stories by Wale Adepoju

“It is used by naturopaths, chiropractors, dentists, massage therapists, holistic healers, and medical doctors for its amazing healing abilities,” he noted. Clays, he said, have been used by indigenous tribes for healing and drawing out poisons from snake and insect bites, healing wounds, and as an aid to pregnancy. The Holy Bible also makes reference of clay’s ability to heal, he added. He said whether the clay is used internally or externally, its strong negatively charged ions pull, hold, and capture positively charged toxins. “It is used for cleansing the colon of old foecal matter and mucoid plaque. Clay is homeostatic, constantly striving to bring the body into balance,” he said. He warned people never to leave the clay in direct contact with metals for long periods of time. This, he said, is because the clay’s electromagnetic charge will act on the metal severely limiting the clays ability to draw when applied to the skin and will cause the metal to prematurely rust. Apart from curing typhoid, calcium white clay, he said, can also be used to prevent morning sickness in expectant mothers. “In other parts of the world many people use this natural endowment to bath to ward off infections,” Chigoziri said.

•White clay. Inset: Chigoziri

Home remedies for cough

‘Eat bitter fruits, get healthy’

OUGH is one of the most common health problems. When there is a blockage or irritant in your throat or upper air passages, your brain thinks a foreign element is present and tells your body to cough to remove that element. Cough can also be due to a viral infection, common cold, flu, and smoking or health problems. such as asthma, tuberculosis, and lung cancer. Some of the symptoms of a cough are itchy throat, chest pain, and congestion. Instead of using over-thecounter cough syrups, you can try some natural treatments using readily available ingredients in your kitchen. Here are the top 10 home remedies for a cough.

OR longevity and general wellbeing, a naturopath, Dr Lambo Adebisi, has recommended bitter fruits and vegetables. According to him, vegetables, such as bitter leaf (vernonia amygdalina), bitter lemon and bitter gourd are very good in reducing diabetes. He said turmeric and aloe vera, with some dark green leafy vegetables can help put at bay atherosclerosis and high blood pressure (HBP). Other active bitter foods, he said, are walnuts, nettle basil leaves and lettuce. They help to prevent diabetes and heart diseases. The traditional medicine practitioner condemned bad habits, such as adding sugars to any food like yam, corn and rice, among others, because they already contain sugar naturally. “Too much of sugar intake can lead to diseases, such as prostates, atherosclerosis, HBP, among others,” he said. People’s eating habit, he said, can endanger their health, thereby affecting their system. According to him, eating junk food can contribute to organ damage.

•Bitter gourd

By taking bitter vegetables and fruits people will purify their blood. Besides, it helps to balance and increase cell division as well as ensure the growth of the pancreas, thereby aiding the digestive secretions. Adebisi said some food are tasty but get bitter when they go into the stomach. Apple, pear and beans are good examples of such food. Others are legumes and pomegranates. He said it is advisable for people to include these types of food in their daily diet. “Aloe Vera extract or juice is good for everyone but is recommended for those suffering from Pita Imbalance,” he said.

Turmeric

•Adebisi

The herb turmeric has a therapeutic effect on coughs, particularly a dry cough. •You can make a sort of herbal tea by adding one teaspoon of turmeric powder and one teaspoon of carom seeds to a cup of water, and boil it until water reduces to one-half cup. Add some honey and drink this herbal solution two to three times a day. •Another way to use turmeric is to roast turmeric root and grind it into a smooth powder. Mix it with water and honey, and drink it twice a day. •You can also put one tablespoon honey and one teaspoon each of turmeric and black pepper in half a cup of water. You can add cinnamon sticks too. Boil it for two to three minutes. Drink it daily until your cough subsides.

Ginger

Ginger is one of the most popular natural cures for a cough. •Cut fresh ginger into small slices and crush them slightly. Put them in a cup of water and bring to a boil. Drink this herbal solution three to four times a day for relief from sore throat, non-stop coughing and even congestion. •You can also chew fresh raw ginger on and off throughout the day to reduce your cough symptoms.

Lemon

Lemons can be used in a variety of ways for curing coughs. Lemons have properties that reduce inflammation and also provide a dose of infectionfighting vitamin C. •A simple cough syrup can be made by combining two tablespoons of lemon juice and one tablespoon of honey and heating it until warm. Drink this healthy syrup several times a day. •You can also make your favorite tea and add ginger, honey and lemon and drink it as often as you want. •Another way to use lemons is to blend lemon juice with a little honey and a pinch of cayenne pepper and then drink it.

Garlic

Garlic has both antibacterial and antimicrobial components that help treat coughs. •Boil two to three cloves of garlic in a cup of water and add a teaspoon of oregano. Allow it to cool to room temperature, add some honey and drink it. This will help your breathing and alleviate other cough symptoms. •Source: www.top10homeremedies.com

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

NATURAL HEALTH

What about African Black Ant for dinner? T

HE Chinese eat anything. And as Nigerians become more exposed to them, we too may soon being to eat anything, even ants, in the pursuit of health. When I farmed pigs, it was a delight whenever Chinese or other Asian customers turned up at the piggery. They loved piglets! The piglet is the baby pig. How good it tastes, I will never know. For me it is like eating day-old chicks! In an Asian restaurant in London, I must have embarrassed my host who must have thought he had ordered for one treat of a meal. When I was told the fish I was eating was raw and healthy, and asked if I enjoyed it, my face, not my voice, gave him my response. It must have been one of those occasions which prove William Shakespare wrong about unavailability of an art to read the mind’s construction on the face. It was as if worms were crawling up my stomach to the throat. I asked for another meal!

tell.For now, it is reasonable to suspect that they are from the lifespan of this mother ant. For whereas the mosquito lives for 24 hours and many insects do not live longer than one month, the resilient African Black Ant lives for five years and the queen for 20.

Ants for dinner? I see it coming. Mrs. FowosereAdebesin told me this Sunday afternoon (July 20, she had a bottle of Sanbao Oral Liquid before her which she wanted to try against a recalcitrant malaria and typhoid infection. Sanbao Oral Liquid is the name under which the African Black Ant sold in Nigeria. In the United States, the pure ant is sold as sex enhancement pills. In Nigeria, Sanbao is a combination of the ant with ginseng and Caterpillar fungus, garnodermaLycidium, Astragalus root, Matrimony vine and Lily turf root. With the full complement of amino acids, Vitamins, Minerals, trace factors, immunological fractions and other health resources in the African Black Ant and the diverse detoxification and immune boosting arsenal of the other food supplements in Sambao Oral Liquid, this should be a good warehouse of products for health defence and promotion

Black Ant Last month, I learned that a Chinese company was now selling in Lagos a natural plant medicine which contains extracts of the African Black Ant. African black ant medicines are already selling in the United States where it is advertised as a front-line remedy for erectile dysfunction and opposed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as much more powerful than Viagra, the drug of choice of many orthodox doctors for males that are sexually challenged. In its “war” on the African Black Ant, the FDA urges buyers of the products to “throw it away” because of some health hazards which it says its researchers believe the ant can cause. It is yet unclear if this is a market economy tantrum to protect the drug Viagra, or if, indeed, the African Black Ant can cause the troubles pinned on it. The FDA is bothered is two of the chemical substances found in the African Black ant called sildenafil and ladafil. The promoters of African Black Ant pills in America say the pill quickly ‘’elongates, thickens and enlarges’’ the male organ. Researchers at the FDA laboratory say the sexually stimulating chemical substances in the African Black Ant (ABA) are also present in Viagra as active ingredients, but are present three times more in ABA. Perhaps because Viagra has been known to cause death in some users, the researchers are worried ABA may cause more harm. Viagra is said to kill when blood concentrates in the penile shaft to make it turgid and enhance staying power and there is less blood flow to the heart and to the brain. The FDA believes the ‘“offensive” two chemicals in ABA may interact with nitrites in diabetes and high blood pressure pharmaceuticaldrugs to lower blood pressure to the point of killing the user. There is no evidence yet that ABA users in the United States are throwing away the pills, or filing reports online to the FDA on health problems they may have encountered when experiencing the product. In Nigeria, as China where the ABA has been a feature of traditional medicine for more than 1,000 years, the African Black Ant is presented as a King Ant with positive impact not only in the sexual lives of men and women, but also in such health challenges such as Diabetes, side effects of chemotherapy and radiography, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney ailments, debility, premature aging, immunity boosting, energy boosting, in spleen health and much more. I find many things interesting about the African Black Ant. Like other ants it loves sugar. But when exposed to it, the African Black Ant, also calledMother Ant or Polyrhahchchix does not come down with diabetes. This ant bears the extremes of cold and warm weather. When it was exposed to viruses, the African Black Ant disappointed the expectation

Farming Ants of researchers by not becoming infected by them. This is one of the lessons man learns from Mother Nature for his welfare on this earth. Why does the African Black Ant, small as it is, not succumb to environmental hazards man still fall prey to? One of such lessons has just been learned from locusts and incorporated into the newest model of Volvo xc90. Research scientists observed that if a million locusts flying westward from the east meet with another million locust flying eastward from the west, not a single one of them collides with another when they meet at full flight speed. Something in them diverts their courses. When locusts were surgically explored for this ‘something”, it was suspected to be an organ which provided them a sort of “sensor or “antena” which made them avoid collisions. This principle was then incorporated into the Volvo XC90 ..andwaaaooh, and “intelligent” car which avoids collisions has been made. Soon, many automobile may incorporate this principle and road crashes may become consigned to the dust bin of history. Similarly, the African Black Ant may help to expand the frontier of human longevity. Other chemical substance in the African Black Ant not mentioned in the FDA crackdown are said to stimulate the proliferation of immune cells and immune organs. Could these be the sources of its protection against parasites. Time will

‘African black ant medicines are already selling in the United States where it is advertised as a front-line remedy for erectile dysfunction and opposed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as much more powerful than Viagra, the drug of choice of many orthodox doctors for males that are sexually challenged’

A big farm of ants for use in medicine is not a bad idea. When the Asians discovered the African Black Ant, they didn’t go into the wild, demolishing anthills and capturing the ants as, crudely, we still do the honey bee hive to obtain their honey. We are well past the ear of farming for food alone. We are now in the Age of New Uses of Agriculture. That is a clear message of the agriculture development in sustainable development (A – SNAP) fouryear conferences, two of which I was privileged, courtesy of Otunba Olajuwon Okubena in 2002 (Accra) and 2006 (Dakar). There is hardly any young Nigerian boy or girl of my growing-up years, and perhaps even now, who didn’t eat insects. Didn’t we “catch” crickets, at the risk of finding angry snakes or scorpions in the holes we dug to get them? Didn’t we string the crickets in dirty broom sticks and salt up the poor animals, some of which may still be twitching, and then, without removing their bowels and excrement, roast them? Didn’t they serve as beef in the soup pot? Weren’t they eaten as snack? I remember the evening the day after a previous day’s rainfall, some insects gathered around electric bulbs or lanterns or naked light for warmth. We kept all kinds of basins nearby and filled them with water. Some of these insects which the Yorubas call esusunfell into the water. Some fell on the ground after losing their wings. We added them to our haul. Then, we did to them what we did to the crickets. I would not be able to do such things today, because I think health first nowadays. I guess Mr. OyeIgbemo and Mr. Adeniji of Shagamu, Mr. A.A. Iriferi of Abraka, Dr. Alagbe of Oshogbo and Mrs. Veronica Momoh, of Benin, did these things as boys and girls and have quit them. I am not advocating that we return to that crude lifestyle. Like Chinese researchers, our research scientists can study them, and, if they are worthy of places in our cusine, develop a modern farming and processing system to bring them to our dining tables. The Chinese have done just that. In America, the FDA may lose its battle against the African Black Ant and the Asians may swamp the world market with it. I have signed up for this ant. I remember now that my dog picks up ant with its tongue and eats them. Other animals, too, eat ants. But please count me out of earthworms, maggots, cockroaches and lizards. The Chinese eat just about anything they see. I do not wish to have the feeling of worms crawling up my throat from the stomach. Weldone to dinner!

Eating so little but piling up much fat Y

EAR 2002 may be 12 long years ago. But for some people, it is still as fresh as daisy picked this morning. I do not always remember what I did a long, long time ago until someone invites my attention to it, as the reader of this column has done whose cell phone text message I received last Saturday. The message reads: “Hello, God bless you. You will hardly believe it was last night I read your article in The Nation on December 6, 2002. Just stumbled on the newspaper. The article opened my eyes (1) used to argue and vehemently too that you are what you eat. Couldn’t understand how one could get fat eating little (2) you’ve explained my body. My body is generally warm always as my husband tells me. But I didn’t know that (it) had anything to do with the fact I am hardly sick or that I’m not fat. I’m 55 now but people say I still look ok. They actually say that I’m slim, but that’s an exaggeration (laughter) in fact, younger acquaintances ask me what my secret is. Also, I never have malaria symptoms… never. My genotype is AA. Never heard of white or brown fat cells God is great. Thanks. The reader did not indicate the column she refered to. It tried to explain why some people try to starve themselves to lose fat but end up getting fatter instead, and, literally speaking, some people eat the moon and it won’t show on their bodies. That column was inspired by the many cases of people who wished to shed some weight but were finding it difficult to do so. And it sought to explain many possible causes of this challenge such as:

Digestion problems The main diet in this environment is carbohydrate (carb).

The digestion of carb must follow the KREB’s CYCLE, carb is burned to produce energy, carbondioxide and water. Incomplete combustion, as in automobiles, has its problems, such as the formation of sludges (carbon on the plugs) which the body has to accumulate water to dilute, making it heavier or convert to fat, by expanding fat cells or creating new ones to serve as cages for these poisons.

Hypothyroidism A sluggish thyroid gland means sluggish metabolism. Where little food is eaten, it may take longer time to digest than in a speedier body. Chloride, fluorine and bromine, in water or food, slow down the thyroid by obstructing its uptake of iodine to make thyroid hormones. The pituitary gland, somewhere in the brain, may not be given the thyroid gland the right kicks. Sometimes, it is a question of parasites in an acidic body which block thyroid function. Where the thyroid is overworking (hyperthyroidism) the body is overdriven and food is combusted in double quick time. The eyeballs may tend to want to pop out and heart palpitations may occur, and the sufferer may sweat profusely, become hungry so soon after the last meal and be restless.

Hormones Insulin helps carbohydrate metabolism while leptin supports fat conversions. Too much carbonhydrate leads to too much insulin production and insulin weakens.An overworking pancreas, struggling to produce more insulin as insulin

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

quality decreases causes insulin resistance by the cells and consequent accumulation of blood sugar in blood vessels, the foundation of diabetes.Carbs are better digested without all these strains if good amounts of minerals and vitamins, especially the B-complex group, are taken with the carb meal. The better still is it if a sugar burner food supplement is added. There are too many to choose from…. Fenugeek, Chromium, kyolicGarlic, Bitter Melon etc. Leptin is to fat metabolism what insulin is to the burning of blood sugar. Too much fat causes leptin resistance and accumulation of fat in the system. The right kinds of fats should be eaten. (read Dr. Udo Erasmus’s FATS that HEAL and FATS that KILL).There is still much to talk about. Permit that I quickly round off with brown and white fat cells.

Brown cells, white cells Brown cells burn gradually day and night. White cells hardly burn unless under instigation. Such an instigation may be exercise, one hour of which produces enough enzymes to burn fat for 24 hours. In many people, there is a fairly equal amount of brown and white fat cells. In some people, such as the reader of this column in reference, there are more brown fat cells than white. The bodies are warm 24/7 as if they have malaria fever. The temperature makes their bodies inhospitable for germs. This accounts for their not always falling ill.People with more white fat cells may be cold, lethargic, sluggish, obese and may require a metabolic push such as leptin capsules, the African Mango or sea kelp to always regain their balance. Thanks, madam, for reminding me of year 2000.

Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 07025077303

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS e-Business

e-mail: e-business@thenationonlineng.net

A consumer parliament without its soul The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) introduced the Telecoms Consumer Parliament in partial fulfillment of its mandate. But at the parliament’s last sitting in Lagos, NCC changed the rule of the game. It restricted the number of participants to “important stakeholders” in the industry, reports LUCAS AJANAKU.

• From left: Chief Corporate Service Officer, Smile Communications, Lee-Ann Cassie; Dikko and Goodluck during the consumer parliament.

OR regular participants at the monthly Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP), the 75th edition at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos must have come as a shock. For one, the consumers for which the forum was created to provide succour were nowhere to be found. For another, the venue was elitist and would definitely not be attractive to consumers were they invited. Some people explained that the decision of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to hold the event at the venue was to save cost because earlier on, it had launched the Code of Corporate Governance for the Telecommunications Industry. In his opening remarks the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah, said the feedbacks from TCP had enhanced the regulatory activities of the Commission, adding that Enforcement Regulation and Quality of Service (QoS) Regulation of 2012 were some of the gains of the parliament. He said the forum has been repackaged to limit participation to major stakeholders to enhance robust discussion and rich discussion. He lamented that in spite of all that had been done in the industry by the regulator, the vexed issue of poor QoS remained with the industry, adding that issues, such as misleading adverts by operators, poor data services, unsolicited text messages, payment for services not rendered and others were still part of the experience of subscribers. Juwah said the forum would find solutions to all these problems. While all the telecoms operators in the country were adequately represented with the Director-General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Adolphus Joe Ekpe, an important stakeholder, such as Consumer Protection Council (CPC) was not represented at all. Similarly, the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) was not represented. Analysts say the refusal of the NCC to extend invitation to the group’s President, Deolu Ogunbanjo may not be unconnected with the fact that the group has dragged the operators and the regulator to court praying for relieves for the subscribers. Only two self-proclaimed bulwarks of consumer rights movement, Leadership Watch led by Dr Marthins Iwuayanwu and Consumer Empowerment Organisation of Nigeria, led by Adedeji Abiodun were on the occasion to represent the interest of over 130 million subscribers in the country. NCC’s Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Mrs Maryam Bayi said the decision of the regulator was to give a new direction to the idea of the TCP, adding that it has stopped being a forum for consumers to complain about the various fraudulent practices of their service providers. She said such issues will no longer be addressed at the Consumer Parliament but at other fora put in place by the regulator such as Consumer Outreach Programme and Town Hall Meetings. She identified eight items to be addressed by the elite gathering. The items are: unsolicited text messages/telemarketing; disappearance of air time/dropped balance; drop calls; customer care centre monitoring; inaccessibility of customer care

•Juwah

help lines; unlawful deduction of ‘credit’ for value added services (VAS) not subscribed to; poor network service/unavailability of service; and advertisement of unapproved promos. She advised customers who were disenfranchised from the forum to complain to the Bureau, adding that the first step they should take will be to complain and get a ticket then follow it up by reporting to Bureau through its contact centre should they fail to get redress to their problem. According to her, consumers don’t usually get opportunity to opt out of some the VAS once they find themselves engaged either by deception or fraudulently by subscribing them to the service. Bayi lamented that when the consumers even get an opportunity to opt out, they are automatically renewed at the end of the month. “We are all fustrtaed,” she said. Bayi said the network of the operators have become epileptic in some parts of country. according to her, the Bureau received complaints from the Samaru and Congo Campuses of of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria over the poor services of MTN, warning that the industry cannot be sustained without subscribers. She complained that even when operators were called upon to stop running their deceptive and misleading promos, they usually turned deaf ears to the NCC. She drew their attention to the the requirement that they give the regulator seven days notification before running any promo. Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Etisalat, Ibrahim Dikko said spam message form the bulk of unsolicited text messages that run on the networks of the telcos but

agreed that more needed to be done in the area of giving consumers opportunity to opt in an opt out of vexatious VAS. He warned subscribers to be wary subscribing to services on their mobile phones without taking a second look, adding that this is partly responsible for the disappearance of consumers’ air time. Corporate Service Executive at MTN Akinwale Goodluck agreed with Dikko. According to him, a lot of the text messages that broke the sleep of customers were beyond the control of the telcos because they are internet-generated. According to him, gathering peoples’ data has become big time business as merchants pay desk attendants at functions to sell data collated about guests to them. He said this data are therefore used by all manner of people offering all manners of services to send bulk messages to people. He said another frightening dimension to the problem is that people buy bulk short message service (SMS) from Russia, Uzbekistan and others and dump them on the network of the telcos. He said the operators are complying with the strict regulation concerning bulk SMS. Dikko said the problem of drop calls is a combination of several factors. He cited a 15-storey building that suddenly emerged in a neighbourhood very close Etisalat’s BTS. He said the building led to network issues and forced the telco to relocate the BTS so that customers’ experience will not be degraded. He said people stroll with impunity to decommission and seal BTS, preventing access to the sites by people employed to keep it running. Goodluck lamented that artificial constraints were still being put on the way of roll out of infrastructure in the country. According to him, operators were still being prevented from laying optic fibre cables in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. He lamented that, three of the four telcos have the BTS switched off in Enugu State, adding that nobody dared walk into the facility of a power plant and vandalise it willfully yet, telecoms infrastructure is as critical and central to modern economic development as power infrastructure. Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Airtel Osondu Nwokoro said only advocacy can help address the problem. Participants at the even,t however, lamented the absence of consumers at a parliament described as consumers. “It is curious why the regulator decided to shut its doors against the consumers that are direct victims of the inadequacies of the operators. The outreach programme and town hall meetings Mrs Bayi is talking about is not as popular as the TCP. For instance, as educated as I am, I have never attended any of these two programmes. It is not because I don’t want to attend, it is because I have never heard information about when they will be held. I only get to see reports in the newspaper about the programmes after they must have been held. You will have noticed that the event was so dry, stale and colourless. It was so because the aggrieved subscribers that used to bring live into the proceedings were shut out,” one of the participants said.

THE

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

e-Business

Erratic power blamed for poor telecoms services

HINESE telecoms equipment vendor, Huawei Technologies Limited has blamed erratic power supply from the national grid for the poor telecoms services in the country. He argued that as the power situation in the country improves with privatisation of the sector, things will get better. Its Managing Director, Nigeria, Mr Pang Jimin who led senior management team of the firm on a courtesy visit to Vintage Press, publishers of The Nation newspapers and Sporting Life, said as telecoms equipment vendors with network optimisation agreements with all the operators in the country, the recurrent issue of poor quality of service (QoS) has nothing to do with its equipment but more of the challenges the nation is having with the power sector. Jimin dispelled the insinuation that Chinese firms were manufacturing substandard equipment and shipping them to Nigeria and other third world countries, adding that its products are universal in quality and in every ramification. He said: “I think one of the major issues is that you cannot compare this country with China or Europe, is power. In China, there is no power failure. Here there is always power failure and you know when one base transmission station (BTS) goes off, service quality will go down.” According to him, its range of mobile phones and other products are manufactured with no region or continent in mind, insisting that Huawei, as a global brand does not

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

collude with unscrupulous elements to mass-produce substandard products and ship to the local market for gains. Speaking on its footprints in the country, Jimin said it is the only firm that has domiciled its Network Operating Centre (NOC) in the country, adding that others prefer to have theirs offshore. He said: “We have our NOC in this country to give back end support to users of our technology. We are the only technology firm that has NOC in this country; others have in Dubai or Egypt. We believe Nigeria deserves something in-house; something that will be manned by the Nigerian people here. “We have a very big screen in the NOC which helps us to monitor the performance of the network; we have a big demonstration office in Lagos where we come out with many solutions which we allow our customers to see. Others take customers to Europe or America for them to see. We also do software design and invest heavily in research and development. “We are a leading global information and communication technology company solutions provider. Through our dedication to customer-centric innovation and strong partnerships, we have established end-to-end capabilities and strengths across the carriers, enterprises and consumers by providing competitive ICT solutions and services. Our products and solutions have been deployed in over 140 countries, serving more than one third of the world’s population. We

• Jimin

established regional training centre in Nigeria in 2006 where we train about 2000 local manpower every year; established a regional R&D centre, regional NOC, exhibition hall and planning the establishment of business process outsourcing (BPO) centre in Lagos.” He said the firm signed an agreement with the Ministry of Communications Technology to build a basal national ICT infrastructure backbone (NICTIB) for Galaxy Backbone which is aimed at allowing the government to attain higher level of management, accountability and efficiency and move closer to attaining the Vision 20:2020. He added that it was chosen by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to build the national emergency call centre (ECC) which cover all the states and allow people across the country access emergency response via the use of a unified mobile number.

Aregbesola bags ICT Governor award

HE Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesoal has emerged winner of the centennial information communication technology (ICT) Governor of the Year Award at this year’s Titans of Tech Awards organised by Technology Africa. In a statement, the organisers said contest that produced the governor was keenly contest, adding that the report from the Intelligence Unit of Technology Africa signed by its Executive Secretary, Award Board, Don Pedro Aganbi, which resulted to the governor’s nomination indicated that Osun State under Aregbesola has undertaken a major upgrade of the state’s ICT infrastructure, including the setting up of a brand new and modern Government Data Centre, as well as data communications links between all the government offices. The report further showed that Aregbesola is a pioneer with a history of consistency, innovation and passion for the development of ICT in the state he has been leading. He

has demonstrated a peculiar interest in improving ICT literacy in Osun State through the introduction of the OPON IMO – Tablet of Knowledge (e-Learning & Science category). The Governor has also inaugurated the $50m ICT Factory in Osun first of its kind in the state. The awards, which is dedicated to Nigeria Centenary celebration, was chaired by former Director, Computer Centre at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Dr. Sola Afolabi and had in attendance stakeholders from the local ICT industry, top government functionaries, captains of industry and business moguls. Now in its Ninth year, the awards seek to recognise and celebrate organisations, personalities and institutions that blazed the trail and pushed the frontier in the use of ICTs to improve the way of life in our communities. It is an avenue to put on the pedestal men who have etched their footprint on the marble of time for the good of Nigeria and Nigerians.

Vringo services launched

TISALAT is out to excite customers in the telecoms market with a special video ringtone service called ‘Vringo’. The new product allows customers to customise their caller tunes by replacing them with a video clip of their choice, ranging from music, movie, and comedy to football and other sports. Its Head, Digital Media, Adia Sowho explained in a statement that the new product will enable the telco’s customers get as much pleasure as possible from their telephony experience. “We are committed to listening and responding to our customers to ensure that they are at the heart of everything we do. Our customers rely on us to develop innovative products that deliver value to them and ensure that they can derive as much pleasure as possible from our network,” she said.

Shedding more light on the product, Sowho said the Vringo service also enables customers to share video ringtones with friends across multiple platforms. The service is compatible with Android, Java and Symbian devices and is available on WEB, WAP and also available as a mobile application. Customers can opt in via SMS by sending “SUB” to 669 on an etisalat line. To de-activate, all a customer needs to do is text “STOP” to 669. The service is free for the first 30 days, after which customers will be charged a subscription fee of N100 monthly. The application comes preloaded with a wide range of video clips including latest local and international music videos, movie clips, comedy clips, football clips and Etisalat specific content. While some of the content is free, however, premium content is available for downloads for a one off fee of N50 per download.

Chime, Omobola, Juwah, others for conference

• From left: Head, VAS Commercial, Globacom Nagasai Viswanath; Kuyinu Adebanke; Head of Data, Segun Adeyemo; Ogunbamowo and a staff member Ngodo Ijeoma at the launch of Glo Ringa in Lagos.

Glo denies using substandard equipment

IGERIA’s second national operator, Globacom said it does not patronise substandard telecoms equipment vendors, adding that it goes beyond the nod of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and do proper quality checks before buying equipment. Its Head, Business Support Group, Yomi Ogunbamowo, who spoke on the sideline while unveiling Glo Ringa, a product that allows customers to call friends, lovers, business partners and family members at a cheap rate, said the telco has completed its national network equipment upgrade, assuring that the network is now resilient enough to carry any traffic should there be any surge as a result of the launch of the product. He said the telco took its time to launch the product having satisfied

that it will not lead to service quality degradation. “As a responsible and responsive operator, we have been upgrading our network in the last three months. We did this to precede the launch of this product. So degradation of service quality will not arise at all,” he said. He said the Glo Ringa a gesture further to the telco’s desire to ease the life of its customers, adding that it is another way of giving back to them, adding that the new product allows its 23 million subscribers to belong to the club of ‘family & friends’ and enjoy cheap call rates and designed to cushion the effects of spiraling cost-push inflation in the country that has seen the prices of essential goods and services sky-rocket. He said: “Glo Ringa allows all prepaid customers to make calls at

cheap and competitive tariffs. It is designed to help build relationship and businesses. There’s inflation and we realise that prices of goods and services have been going up. So we decided to introduce it to cushion the effects of the inflation. “Like every other innovative products, we pioneered the friends & family. We have taken it to further heights by allowing all our 23 million customers to have an opportunity to benefit from the service by calling at 11kobo per second.” He further said the telco will continue to partner with relevant stakeholders to deliver superior services to its customers. According to him, the service will attract N250 weekly rental which he said is nothing when compared with the opportunity its offers the customers to make cheap calls.

HE Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, Minister, Communications Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Eugene Juwah, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Vice President, Dr Toga Gayewewa Mcintosh are among speakers and guests that will attend this year’s conference of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS). Others are the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Peter Olu Jack; CEO, MainOne Cable Company, Funke Opeke and Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof Benjamin Ozumba. In a statement, the group said the event that began yesterday at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu will end on Friday, stressing that it is not go-

ing to be the usual talk shop but decisions reached will be followed up to the Presidency for implementation. Its President, Prof David Adewumi said Building a Knowledge-Based Economy in Nigeria: The Role of Information Technology will be the theme of this year’s conference. He said: “Critical issues that will be focused on during the conference include Broadband Access for all: Strategies and tactics; Business Process Outsourcing (BPO); eGovernance Solutions; Improving Transparency & Public Sector Service Delivery through Technology; Security Issues in a Knowledge Based Economy; Training and education for the Youths and IT Industry in Nigeria; Manpower Development and Income Generation; and Harnessing Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship: Opportunities for the Youths.”

Firm improves network performance

RICSSON’s Key Event Experience (KEE) solution has been implemented to support Telefonica/ Vivo in the just concluded World Cup, held in Brazil. The solution, used at events that usually lead to a drastic increase in mobile traffic, was used for the first time in Brazil by the operator. It enhances the perceived quality of network operators by improving the user experience during the period of the great events at which it is implemented. According to a statement, with increased use of smart mobile devices in the marketplace, and consequent larger demand for mobile broadband, there is a natural increase in user expectations regarding the quality of networks. These expectations and demands are even bigger when millions of users are concentrated in a specific area, sharing video, photos and tweets and

pushing network capacity to its limit. Ericsson studies conducted during 2010 World Cup in South Africa showed that there was a 40 per cent increase in voice services compared to the beginning of the championship and use of data services was 10 times greater than the standard at the time. This demand, which was even bigger at this year’s event, required good network performance not only in stadia, but also in strategically important locations for the organisation of the cup, such as press centres, airports and official spaces for broadcasting matches. In these areas, Ericsson’s solution was also considered. Speaking on the development, Chief Executive Officer of Telefonica/Vivo, Paulo Cesar Teixeira, said: “Smartphones were the main tool for the people who were in the stadiums to record the matches during the World Cup.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

MONEYLINK

ABCON seeks 40-week timeline for BDCs

HE ASSOCIATION of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has proposed a 40-week time table for bureaux de change (BDC) operators to meet the N35 million new minimum capital requirements set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). On June 23, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), among others, raised the minimum capital requirement of BDCs to N35 million from N10 million. It also raised the mandatory caution deposit to N35 million from $10,000. On July 7, the apex bank extended the deadline from July 15 to July 31, in response to appeals and intervention of ABCON and both chambers of the National Assem-

Stories by Collins Nweze

bly. ABCON President, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe said the proposal had been sent to the CBN Governor for approval. He said though the apex bank has extended the deadline by three weeks to July 31, the time was too short to enable BDCs comply with the statutory and legal requirements of the new policy. The timetable, he said, contains actions needed to be taken to enhance the successful implementation of the CBN policy for the subsector. According to Gwadabe, “The timetable starts with sensitisation seminars to educate members on various options to consider in

meeting the minimum capital requirement. We plan to hold these seminars in each geo-political zone of the federation. Moreover, we would assist members scout for consultants to guide them on issues of valuation of existing companies in order to accommodate new members and or achieve harmonious merger. This is in line with what the CBN did for banks during the recapitalisation exercise of 2004”. He said in addition to the 40week timetable, the Association has also appealed to the CBN to take a critical look at the minimum capital requirement of N35 million and the requirement of N35 mil-

lion as caution deposit, because both requirement implies that the apex bank has raised the minimum capital base of BDCs to N70 million, since the N35 million caution deposit would not be immediately refunded once it is deposited. “Consequently, we have appealed to the CBN Governor to allow the minimum capital base to be at N35 million and the caution deposit at N5 million so as to source the caution deposit from the capital base of the company and the balance of N30 million be used as working capital of the BDCs. “We have also appealed to the CBN to consider paying treasury

•Gwadabe

bills interest rates on caution deposit to the BDCs, and because of volatility of the rate, an annual average rate could be used when crediting the interest due on the caution deposits.

Unity Bank sacks 170

NITY Bank Plc has disengaged over 170 and have recruited over 300 new ones, mostly at entry level. In a statement, the bank said: “The exercise is in a bid to right size its workforce and position the Bank for sustainable quality banking services across its entire branch network.” The development of the bank’s Human Resource, the statement added, is one of the key areas identified as part of the objectives that the bank’s capital raising will address. The Executive Director, Secretariat and Services, Mrs. Aisha Abraham, was quoted to have said: “Our people are our greatest assets; we consistently strive for training and rejuvenation of our workforce – constantly introducing a steady mix of promising young talents and experienced

From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

professionals. Our goal is to be able to offer quality services to our customers through a team of dedicated and resourceful staff at all times.” The quest for this the statement said has led “Unity Bank to carry out structural and personnel realignments with decision making and service delivery processes running along Strategic Business Units, a highly effective model that is business focused, leading to specialisation, better understanding of the market and responsibility accounting.” The right sizing is seen as a deviation from the traditional geographic business unit structure and is one of the changes Unity Bank has adopted to ensure that it has a 360-degree view of the market and proffer solutions that fit its vision.

•From right: New Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Skye Bank Plc, Mr Timothy Oguntayo; former GMD/CEO, Mr Kehinde Durosimi-Etti and Deputy Managing Director, Mrs Amaka Onwughalu at the handing PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI over by Mr Durosinmi-Etti to Mr Oguntayo in Lagos.

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

Offer Price

AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGET FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

168.45 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.39 1,663.89 1,663.89 1,05.92 1,087.30 1.3568 1.3692 1.0300 1.1792

167.01 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.33 1,663.89 1,663.89 119.71 1,087.00 1.3476 1.3692 1.0115 1.1792

GAINERS AS AT 23-07-14

SYMBOL CCNN

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

DATA BANK

Bid Price

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS) Transaction Dates 7/16/2014 7/9/2014 7/7/2014

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

8.2%

Monetary Policy Rate

12.0%

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

154.73

155.73

CHANGE

Foreign Reserves

$38.1bn

US Dollar

$110.44

Pounds Sterling

263.5207

265.2238

208.4523

209.7995

171.484

172.5923

Yen

1.5259

1.5358

CFA

0.299

0.319

237.348

238.8819

24.958

25.1202

Riyal

41.2569

41.5236

SDR

238.0521

239.5906

13.27

0.63

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

AIRSERVICED

2.12

2.22

0.10

Money Supply (M2)

N15.9 trillion.

REDSTAREX

4.94

5.17

0.23

Euro

PHARMDEKO

1.57

1.64

0.07

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N16.76 trillion

Swiss Franc

MCNICHOLS

1.35

1.41

0.06

MANSARD

2.55

2.66

0.11

FIDELITYBK

1.96

2.04

0.08

CAVERTON

6.69

6.85

0.16

CAP

4.89

5.00

0.11

40.10

41.00

0.90

LOSERS AS AT 23-07-14

C/PRICE

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

MOBIL

178.84

169.90

-8.94

PORTPAINT

5.00

4.75

-0.25

SKYESHELT

100.00

95.00

-5.00

TOTAL

195.50

185.73

-9.77

CHANGE

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

Rate (%)

Overnight (O/N)

10.500

12.175

12.101

13.328

13.225

14.296

14.-85

WAUA Yuan/Renminbi

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Rates

T-bills - 91

10.00

T-bills - 182

10.07

T-bills - 364

10.22

Bond - 3yrs

11.37

Bond - 5yrs

11.41

Bond - 7yrs

11.86

FOREX RATES

CHAMPION

10.17

9.67

-0.50

AGLEVENT

1.45

1.38

-0.07

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

RTBRISCOE

1.05

1.00

-0.05

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

31.46

30.00

-1.46

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

VITAFOAM

4.35

4.15

-0.20

ABCTRANS

0.89

0.85

-0.04

ASHAKACEM

Amount Sold in ($) 290.9m 279.08m 342.8m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES July 23, 2014

Inflation: June

12.64

NAHCO

Amount Offered in ($) 300m 300m 350m

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

NEWS Ramadan 27, 1435AH

RAMADAN KAREEM •Akinwunmi Ambode (left) at the Ramadan Tasfir and prayer for the nation organised by the Ummatum Lailaha Ila Allahu of Nigeria at the National Stadium, Lagos. With him is Chief Imam of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mosque, Alhaji AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef.

•Alhaji Abdul Sabur Olawale (second right) assisted by wife, Alhaja Shakirat to receive award from Chairman, United Muslim Council (UMC), Mushin chapter, Alhaji Said Alausa (right) during Annual Tafsir in Mushin. With them is Alhaji Seriki Abdul Lateef

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

Laylatul Qadr

IGHTS are naturally pregnant. They give birth to wonders in the day. In human life, the essence of night is not just to sleep and rest. It is also to plan how the day is to be well spent. Thus, the great things that men do in the day are initiated in the nights. This is confirmed by the Almighty Allah in Qur’an 97:3 thus “The Night of power is better (and more prosperous) than one thousand months.” That Night of power, commonly known to Muslims as LaylatulQadr, is the mother of all nights. It is the night in which the secret of human destiny is conceived. It is the night that combines all three divine features of Ramadan: blessings, forgiveness and emancipation of the faithful from the claw of Satan. It is the night in which Allah’s favour is granted to His obedient servants. If only one night (Laylatul-Qadr) is more prosperous, for Muslims, than 1000 months according to the Qur’an, then meeting that one night once in a life’s time is enough for a true believer to gain entry into Al-Jannah. And, by analogy, it means that the average life span of modern man as determined by Allah is 83 years and four months. That is what 1000 months amount to in calculation of years. Yet, in His mercy, Allah makes that night available to us every year. That makes it an endless opportunity for whoever seeks the favour of his Creator. The exact night of Laylatul-Qadr in the month of Ramadan is not specified. This is to enable the faithful ones make efforts in seeking the favour of Allah, by searching for the night. Even Prophet Muhammad (SAW) could not be specific about identification of that night. When he was asked about Laylatul-Qadr, all he could proffer as solution was for the Muslims to search for it among the odd nights in the last ten days of Ramadan. Those are the odd nights that proceed the odd days in the last ten days of Ramadan. They are the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th of the month. But since one is not sure of which of those nights will actually be Laylatul-Qadr, the best way out is to wake up in all the last ten nights. Each night is spent by observing Nawafil (superogatory Salat), recitation of the Qur’an and the chanting of Allah’s glorification: Tasbih, Tahmid, Istighfar, Tahlil and Salat ala-n- Nabiyyi. The number of rakats to be observed is not specific. It is according to one’s ability. Ditto the chanting. The recitation of the Qur’an can be done in Arabic only by those who understand Arabic and know what they are reciting. Others may recite the Qur’an in their vernacular languages or in English. The essence of reciting the Qur’an is to understand what the book contains to be able to meditate on those contents. It is of no use reciting what you do not understand. Even those who understand Arabic very well do make mistake in the recitation of the Qur’an. After all these, one can then supplicate to Allah in a very sober and humble mood. The best supplications are those already provided in the Qur’an. They are the supplications made by the Prophets who preceded Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and those made by the last prophet himself. Most of those supplications start with Rabbana (our Lord!) And, they contain all that any human being may wish to request from Allah. In the night of power, thousands of Angels are dispatched into our own world (the earth) to say Amin to the prayers being offered by sincere Muslims.

Group hails Lagos maternity leave extension

USLIM Rights Concern (MURIC) has praised Lagos State government as the first state to extend the maternity leave of nursing mothers from three to six months. MURIC had urged the authorities during his last year’s Sallah message to ameliorate the difficulties of nursing mothers by extending the maternity leave to six months.

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

This, the group said, is sequel to the injunction of the Qur’an stipulating two years for breastfeeding. MURIC’s Director Prof Ishaq Akintola, hailed the state government for also granting a 10day paternity leave to fathers. Lagos State government, Akintola said, has demonstrated that it leads while others fol-

low. He said: “In view of the recommendation of medical experts that newly born children should be placed strictly on breast-milk diet only for the first six months, we urge other states to emulate Lagos. “As the father of the nation, MURIC enjoins President Goodluck Jonathan to act in loco parentis on this landmark policy. The three months leave giv-

Pray for unity, group tells Nigerians

OUNDER and President of Fatimah Charity Organisation (FCF), Alhaja Fatimah Bintu Tinubu has urged Nigerians to pray for continuous unity of the country. Alhaja Tinubu, the Iyalode of Lagos, made the appeal at a Ramadan lecture organised by the FCF at Ajegunle. According to her, “when we get home let us not forget to pray for Chibok girls, for God to touch the heart of their abductors to release them from wherever they are that they may be reunited with their parents. “This time last year they were all with their parents but now they are where only God knows and it is not the best ex-

By Oziegbe Okoeki

perience for either them, their parents or even the country; let us pray that God who answers prayers in this month of Ramadan should touch the abductors’ heart to release the girls”, Alhaja Tinubu said. She urged Nigerians to pray against the myriad of problems bedeviling the country, particularly the security challenges. One of the speakers at the event, Imam Sulayman AbdAzeez Al-Gambari, reminded the gathering that God created man with love. Al-Gambari said: “Let us have the fear of God and love our neighbours. Ramadan teaches us to have compassion

and pity on others especially the needy. We deny ourselves of sleep and food during Ramadan out of fear of God; hence, we should love one another. “Once you have the fear of God, you will want to assist and help your neighbours; where there is love; there is peace, success, security and progress. What kills people include hatred for your neighbour.” The second speaker, Sheikh Solihu Husain As-Samadani, warned the gathering to avoid being materialistic. Special prayers were said at the event for, Nigeria, Lagos state, Governor of Osun state, Rauf Aregbesola, Ajeromi Local Government, Fatimah Charity Foundation and the Alalubarika family.

Begging is un-Islamic, says scholar

HE Mudir Markaz, Agege, Lagos, Sheikh Habeebulahi Adam AlIlory, has said that begging is un-Islamic and should be avoided. He said this during the Tafsir programme in Agege. While acknowledging that able-bodied people have taken to begging owing to poverty, Adam said Islam’s position on begging is unambiguous. He identified Zakat as a means of reducing poverty, urging wealthy Muslims not to

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

jettison the third pillar of Islam (Zakat). Islam, he said, preaches welfarism, adding that adherents of the religion need to imbibe the spirit of giving to the needy without necessarily demanding for it. He cautioned Muslims to pay the correct Zakat, saying they should not short-change Allah. He urged those saddled with the responsibility of coordinat-

ing Zakat to do so equitably bearing in mind that they are going to be rewarded accordingly. “Zakat is playing a prominent role in the circulation of wealth within the society. Governments at various levels need be socially-responsible by giving consideration to masses’ welfare so that the ravaging poverty be reduced to the minimum in no distant time,” he said. He prayed for Allah’s guidance on those in political leaders.

en to nursing mothers is grossly inadequate. A father cannot watch his daughters suffering in silence. Mr President should send an executive bill to the National Assembly extending maternity leave to six months. MURIC asserts clearly and unambiguously that the Nigerian girl-child, the Nigerian woman and the Nigerian nursing mother deserve the pride of place in society.”

Cleric carpets Boko Haram From Jeremiah Oke, Abeokuta

HE Chief Imam of Offa, Kwara State Sheikh Muhydeen Salima has chided Boko Haram for causing havoc in the society. He faulted those linking Islam with the insurgent, saying Islam is a religion of peace and it maintained its peace among other religions. Salima who spoke in Ijebu ode at the 30th anniversary and annual Ramadan lecture of the National Council for Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) said it is high time people rise against insurgency regardless of their religion and ethnic background. The clergy who condemned the activities of the insurgents called on Muslims to be united and cooperate with relevant agents of government to overcome the security challenges facing the country. "Boko Haram has nothing to do with Islam because Islam do not teaches people to kill, maim and cause great havoc on the lives of their fellow beings," he said. He enjoined Muslims not to stop seeking for knowledge which he noted is a major instrument of religion and liberation. According to him, "Islam implore us to engage in learning and improve our education status even if our teachers are not Muslim. Education is what we need for our liberation."

RAMADAN DIET Allah Says: “O son of Adam, so long as you call upon me and ask of me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face me, ascribing no partner to me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as It.” (Tirmidhi). ,

SPONSORED BY CHAIRMAN, AGEGE LOCAL GOVT AREA, LAGOS ALHAJI JUBREEL ABDULKAREEM AND WIFE, ALHAJA SHERIFAT

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

NEWS Bank raid: robbers kill policeman, three others By Jude Isiguzo

RMED robbers killed an anti-riot policeman and three other persons yesterday when they raided the Alaba International Market’s branch of Ecobank Plc in Ojo, an outskirts of Lagos. The bandits allegedly made away with over N24 million belonging to one of the bank’s customers, who was in the branch for a transaction. The attack on the bank was the second within two months. A similar incident occurred recently during which about five persons were allegedly shot dead. It was gathered that the bandits allegedly threw some of the money into the air after robbing their victim in order to detract those in the area. Eyewitnesses alleged that the stolen sum was in foreign currency and naira. It was learnt that about five armed gunmen arrived in the branch around 2.40p.m yesterday and shot their way through the security men who were on duty. They later headed straight to the parking area of the bank where one of the customers was trying to park his car. Witnesses alleged that they demanded that the car owner hand over the key to the vehicle. But the robbers changed their minds and blew open the boot of the Toyota Camry car. One of the mobile policemen who tried to confront the gunmen was shot at close range, killing him on the spot.

Vehicle owners get ultimatum

HE Lagos State Police command has warned owners of abandoned vehicles parked at Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) Ikeja to come and remove them or lose them to members of the public through auction two weeks after this publication. The vehicles are: Nissan Pathfinder Unregistered, Toyota Highlander unregistered Toyota Sienna Space Bus unregistered, Mercedes Benz Saloon Car BZ06LSD, Honda Civic Saloon Car unregistered, Toyota Corolla Saloon Car unregistered, Nissan Premierer Saloon Car unregistered, V/Golf Saloon Car unregistered, Honda Accord Saloon Car unregistered, Toyota Camry Saloon Car unregistered, Mitsubishi Diamante DR99EPE, Rover Saloon Car AP775UGH, Peugeot Station Wagon CG173RSH,, Alhambra Space Bus AKD972AP, Hyundai Saloon Car DR448ABC, Honda Accord GD56RBC , Nissan Sunny BG382FST, Nissan sunny EA995GGE, Honda Nissan Micra YNF58XA, V/Wagen Golf MF232AAA, Landrover BE942BDG, Honda Accord KSF785KE, Toyota Camry BDG588BM, M/Benz BS362APP, Nissan Primerier EP499FST, Honda Accord SA726AAA, Mitsubishi Space Bus Unregistered, Honda Accord GZ100AAA, BMW 318TB713KJA, M/Benz Truck XP40ERT, Honda Accord AU471AKR, V/Wagen Golf HR912EKY, DAF Truck XU413AKD, Toyota Camry CX376FST and Honda Accord LND696AV.

Rulers move to save Enugu deputy governor

Ebonyi Assembly crisis deepens

•Marketers threaten strike

RADITIONAL rulers in Nkanu land yesterday attempted to save Enugu State Deputy Governor Sunday Onyebuchi from being impeached. The monarchs visited the Government House, Enugu where they met Governor Sullivan Chime. A source said they interceded on behalf of the embattled deputy governor, begging the governor to inter-

•Onyebuchi gets notice From Chris Oji, Enugu

vene. The source said the royal fathers told the governor that their son had shown remorse and assured him that he would not disobey his directives again. Chime, however, reportedly told the monarchs that he wished he could intervene

in the matter. He said it was beyond his power, as the matter was a legislative issue, saying: “The executive does not interfere in the functions of the legislature.” The deputy governor was served the notice of impeachment yesterday. The Assembly on Tuesday began an impeachment pro-

cess against Onyebuchi, alleging gross misconduct. Moving a motion for the notice, the Leader, S.K.E. Udeh Okoye, representing Awgu North, said they were exercising the power vested by Section 188(1)–(9) of the 1999 Constitution. Allegations of abuse of office and disobedience to the lawful directives of the governor were brought against the deputy governor.

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

THERE was confusion reigned in Ebonyi State yesterday, as rival factions in the crisis rocking the House of Assembly sat at various locations in Abakaliki, the capital. The crisis began on Monday when 18 of the 24 lawmakers impeached the Speaker, Chukwuma Nwazunku and installed Mrs. Helen Nwaobasi as the Speaker. But a faction loyal to Nwazunku disagreed with the action, describing it as illegal. With the police takeover of the Assembly complex on Nkaliki Road to avoid a breakdown of law and order, both factions sat at various locations in the capital.

Burial for Mrs. Lartey

•Lagos State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (second left), with the Iyaloja General, Chief (Mrs.) Folashade Tinubu Ojo (left), and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Ademorin Kuye (third left), addressing market leaders during the meeting with the group on the security alert at markets in Lagos State, at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja on Tuesday.

Industrialist appeals ruling in suit against Senator Obiora T N industrialist, Chief Louis Onwugbenu, has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Lagos against a ruling by Justice Folasade Bankole-Oki of the Lagos State High Court over a property on 6, Okotie-Eboh Street, Ikoyi. The judge, on June 5, vacated an order stopping a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Ikechukwu Obiora, from developing the property. In a notice of appeal, Onwugbenu said the judge erred in law when she dismissed his motion on notice for interlocutory injunction dated August 12, 2013, as lacking in merit.

By Joseph Jibueze

He sought an order setting aside the lower court’s decision, and an order granting his reliefs in the motion on notice. The claimant had prayed the court to restrain the defendants from developing, advertising or selling properties in Ikoyi including Thompson Street; 4, Olumegbon Street; 1 Rumens Street; 3 Rumens Street; 1B Alagbon Close; 35 Lugard Avenue; 6, Olawale Dawoo Street; and 6, Okotie-Eboh, pending the determination of his suit.

Abia demolishes suspected kidnapper’s house From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

BIA State government has demolished a building at Umuariaga Oboro in Ikwuano Local Government. A source alleged that the house belonged to Ogbuonye Ogbonna Daniel, a suspected kidnapper. Speaking to reporters in Umuahia, the Security Adviser to the Abia State Governor/State Task Force Chairman on Environmental and Allied Matters, Capt. Awa Udonsi Agwu (rtd.), said the measure was to act as a deterrent to others. He said government abhorred kidnapping and would stop it. Agwu said government was taking a census of suspected kidnappers’ houses and would demolish them after the exercise. The residents of Umuariaga, who spoke on condition of anonymity, hailed the government for the demolition.

Onwugbenu claimed that sometime in 2009, he gave Senator Obiora N1.4billion to buy the properties. According to him, the senator bought the properties, but has failed to deliver the certificates of occupancy to him or pay back the sum. In his claims, he asked for a return of the properties with the accompanying documents, or a refund of the N1.4billion with interest. He prayed the court to hold that he is the rightful owner of 6, Okotie-Eboh and is entitled to be granted the Certificate of Occupancy. Onwugbenu also prayed

the court to direct the defendants, including Corporate Ideals Properties Limited and A.B.C. Orjiako, to return the original title documents perfected in his name. But Senator Obiora denied owing Onwugbenu any money. He said the claimant gave him money to invest in properties in Abuja, but that he rejected them and demanded for those in Lagos. Obiora said he has repaid what he owes Onwugbenu, adding: “The outstanding amount of N800million has been paid to the claimant upon conclusion of the sale of the property at 6, Okotie-Eboh, Ikoyi.”

Obiano, Wada move to end crisis From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

NAMBRA State Governor Chief Willie Obiano and his counterpart from Kogi State Idris Wada have begun talks on how to end the hostilities in the border communities. On Monday, the indigenes of Echeno, Odeke in Kogi State stormed Aguleri-otu farm in Anambra State and attacked the people over oil wells. Four persons were feared killed and many injured. When Obiano visited some of the victims yesterday at Onitsha hospitals, he said the attacks had nothing to do with oil as being alleged, but an aggression by misguided persons. He said he had met Wada to find a solution to the crisis. Obiano said: “We are working out a comprehensive strategy and modalities to entrench peace and check the excesses of miscreants.” He urged Aguleri people to remain calm and not to take the law into their hands.

Mrs. Juliet Olayinka Olufunke Lartey (nee Watson) will be buried tomorrow at the Covenant Cemetery, Ota, Ogun State. The event will be preceded by a lying-in-state and a funeral service at the Youth Chapel, Canaanland, Ota. A service of songs holds today at 22, Taiwo Adewunmi Crescent, GRA Scheme 1, Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos. She is survived by children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, including, Pastor Olubode Lartey and Deaconess Funmi Ladipo.

•The late Mrs. Lartey

Cleric dies at 84 THE death has occurred of Ven. Samuel Afolabi Adebayo of Osi-Ekiti in Ido-Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State. He died on June 8. He was 84. The deceased was one of the dedicated teachers at Christ School, Ado-Ekiti in the late 70s and early 80s. He worked as a clergyman in Ilesa and as an archdeacon in many Anglican churches, including Ikere, Ise, Ijero– Ekiti, among others before retiring in the late 80s. Ven. Adebayo is survived by many children and great grandchildren, including Mrs. Ayo Sotonwa of the Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation. Funeral programme will be announced later.

PDP is the people’s party, says Metuh

ATIONAL Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has said the party takes the people’s interest as paramount. He said his main objective as the party’s spokesperson is to project the PDP as the only national party with the interest of

By Olukorede Yishau

the people deeply rooted in its philosophy. Speaking in an interview, Metuh said the PDP is committed to deepening democracy and developing Nigeria. Metuh pledged his commitment to objectivity in the dis-

charge of his duties and respect for the sensibilities of Nigerians. His words: “I made a commitment to run a publicity that is driven by objectivity, a publicity that is project driven, showcasing the various projects and achievements of our central and regional governments. We re-

main committed to not engaging the politics of name calling, wild and unjustifiable accusations which is the hallmark of our opposition. The objectivity that we brought to the rules of engagement quickly diminished the opposition and their presence in both social media and other media networks.”

•The late Adebayo

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

NEWS Court orders police to pay N10m to church

N Effurun High Court has ordered the police to pay N10 million as general damages to a church, Truth Ground Prophetic Ministry Incorporated. The claimants, the church and Pastor Joshua Emmanuel Thomas, sued the police, demanding N50 million for general and special damages for the destruction and trespass on a land belonging to the claimants. Justice J.E Ikede ruled that the claimants were the true and bonafide owners of the land on Ogbe Family Layout, behind Police Barracks, DSC Expressway Effurun. The Divisional Police Officer, Ebrumede, Suleman Ukhurebor, the Commissioner of Police, the Inspector General of Police and Police Service Commission were all defendants in the suit. The court also gave an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendant, their agents, servants and privies, from preventing the claimants from gain-

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

ing accesses to the use and enjoyment of the piece of land. “A declaration that the claimants are the persons entitled to a land statutory right of occupancy over all that piece of land measuring approximately 1509.389 square meters lying being and situate at Ogbe Family Lay-out behind Police Barracks, Off DSCNPA Express way Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area. “A declaration that acts of the defendants in entering the claimants said piece or parcel of land without their consent and authority and thereon perpetuated untold damages and destruction is illegal and amount to wanton trespass. “The sum of N10, 000, 000.00 (ten million naira as special and general damages for the destruction and trespass committed by the defendants on the claimants said land and properties,” the judge ruled.

Six held for ‘impersonating’ Naval personnel

T was the end of the road yesterday for six impersonators of naval personnel who were nabbed by men of the Nigerian Nvay Ship (NNS) Wey in Lagos. The suspects, including the son of a policeman; dismissed naval rating and an employee of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) were paraded at the Navy Town, Ojo by NNS WEY’s Commander, Commodore Ignatius Iliya. Aliu Jubril; Usman Shehu; Imily Victor; Mohammed Yahaya; and Anyanwu Chimezie, Iliya explained were caught with military uniforms (including navy’s), identity cards, caps during the raid to flush out fake naval personnel who extort money from unsuspecting members of the public. Iliya said: “Shehu who, is supposed to be a member of staff of NPA had two identity cards; one for NPA and another for Navy. I do not know what he is doing with them. Nemesis caught up with him as he was driving through our gate and identified himself as a Lieutenant and even showed his identify card. “But the eagled-eye operatives spotted him with another identity card bearing NPA and when he was subjected to questioning, he could not give reasonable reply. He was arrested and when his apartment was searched, incriminating documents were recovered. “Imily was arrested in complete Navy uniform at Okokomaiko. During investigation, he mentioned some of his friends that were involved. One of them is Amaechi, who is currently at large. When we got to his house, we found both Naval and Army uniform including other items. “Among the recovered items were pictures of him in complete Navy uniform and where he posed with serving Military personnel, apparently to deceive people. “What he does is to catch in on any occasion organised by serving military personnel and would end up taking shots of himself and them. “Yahaya has been parading himself as Peter, Paul, John and Nasiru. He said he was a Christian but converted to Islam. He was arrested in a Navy pull over and combat trouser, in Navy quarters, inside Navy town.

Pirates, police battle in Bayelsa •Hoodlums feared killed S OME pirates were ‘killed’ yesterday morning in a gun battle with the police in Bayelsa State. Five pirates were said to have attacked the policemen attached to an oil rig in Gbarain, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. Some of the policemen were said to have sustained minor injuries. The hoodlums lost some of their members; others fled with injuries. It was gathered that the pirates stormed the rig operated by Lone Star Drilling Company at 2am. A security source, who pleaded for anonymity, said immediately they got to the area, the pirates opened fire. He said the pirates erroneously thought that the policemen on duty were sleeping. “Their main target was to

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

remove the weapons attached to a gunboat used to protect the rig. They wanted to steal the guns in the boat.” The source said the policemen repelled the attack. “All l can tell you is that some of the pirates must have been hit by the police bullets. “They fell in the river and it is believed that those who were hit must have fallen into the river. It is expected that their bodies would float after two days. “The pirates came to remove the weapons, very sophisticated ones, on the gunboat. “They came with a generator and electric filer which they intended to use to remove the weapons. Unfortunately, they were repelled

by the policemen guarding the rig. “In fact, I was proud of the way the police were able to repel them. I think that will send a signal to others that it is no longer business as usual.” But it was learnt that despite the reported killing of some of the bandits, the hoodlums reinforced and came back at 6am. The policemen, who were said to have remained vigilant, engaged them in another round of gun duel and forced them out of the area. Police Commissioner Hilary Opara said the pirates attacked the rig at Gbarain with the intention of cutting the chain used to secure the gunboat to the rig. He said if they had succeeded, they would have stolen the gunboat and eventually

removed the police guns. The commissioner said the suspected pirates, who came on a speedboat, opened fire first on his men. Opara, however, could not confirm if any of the pirates died. He said: “If such happened, in no distant time, their bodies would surely float on the water. “The pirates came with electric filer and a generator. Their aim was to use the electric filer to severe the chain used for securing the gunboat to the rig. “Unfortunately, the policemen attached to the rig were there. After serious exchange of fire, the pirates abandoned the rig. “The pirates again came back around 6 am, probably thinking our men had gone. When they sighted our men, they ran back and some swam in the river to escape.”

By Precious Igbonwelundu

“He came to visit a rating who we are currently on the look out for. When his phone contact was scrolled, we contacted one Jubril to come and identify him and when he came, he was arrested. During investigation, he was discovered to be a dismissed rating who was teaching Jubril the norms in the Navy. “Chimezie, otherwise known as simplicity, was also arrested in complete Navy uniform. What gave him away was when he paid homage to a subordinate inside our barracks, which is never the case.” The suspects, according to Commodore Iliya, would be handed over to the police for prosecution. But some of the suspects denied being impersonators. They insisted that they are members of the Merchant Navy. Yahaya, whose father is a retired policeman, claimed that he bought navy regalia at Cotonou, Benin Republic for N3, 500. “I admit I am wrong because I am not naval personnel. I only use the uniform whenever I am ridding my motorcycle to avoid being stopped by policemen. I started using it this year and did not consider using police uniform because even policemen who ride motorcycle use military uniforms. Usman, the NPA staff said he also works as a Merchant Navy personnel, adding that he made the navy identity card after listening to a friend’s advice. “I am a staff of NPA and also a Merchant Navy. I was on board a ship when somebody came and suggested that there was need for us to do Navy identity card, that the Navy and NPA work handin-hand. That was how I got the Navy identity card. But I did not know he was lying,” he said. For the dismissed rating, Jubril, he was a victim of circumstance because he was not directly involved. “I got a call from one Biu that my friend, Nasiru was admitted at the Nigerian Navy reference hospital, Navy town. I rushed there only to discover that he was arrested for impersonating a naval rating.

•L-R: Family of Late Bamidele Aturu, daughter, Eri, daughter, Abigai, son, Oluwatobi, wife, Bimpe and son, Lanre, at Bamidele Aturu service of songs, held in his house in Lagos yesterday.

Army chief on why military can’t stop Boko Haram

HE Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen. Kenneth Minimah said yesterday that the military has not been able to stop Boko Haram insurgency because military personnel were not trained to fight unconventional war like Boko Haram. Minimah spoke at the 9 Brigade, Ikeja Cantonment. He was addressing a troop of 280 soldiers as part of his ongoing familiarisation tour. He said that while military personnel were trained to fight known enemies from opposing camps, Boko Haram members are enemies within, whose singular mission is to die, not fight. "Boko Haram terrorists come to die not fight. It is a new warfare which military personnel are not trained in. They carry explosives to blow up anyone around. They load hilux with bombs and run into troops with them. "It is not a conventional war. You do not see nor know the enemy you are fighting. It is an enemy within war in which case a mother is loyal to the government, child to Boko Haram while the father sits on the fence. "But we are on top of the situation and God willing, we will defeat them soon," he said.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

Lt Gen. Minimah said that a mass burial had been approved for soldiers who died in the course of operations in the northeast, just as he urged the troops to call and encourage their colleagues fighting the terrorists. He said that medicare for wounded persons has improved, adding that the materials to be used for the new uniforms and camouflage, which would be ready this year, would be produced in Nigeria to ensure uniformity. "We are making uniform materials in Nigeria because we no longer want a situation whereby your uniforms will have different colours or people wearing different boots. "Also, by doing that, we will be creating employment and

ensuring efficiency," he said. The army chief, who reiterated the need for personnel to respect the rule of law, also directed that seniority especially at the junior leadership cadre must be reignited. On army personnel who do not dress properly in their full military regalia, Minimah said they shall not be spared when caught. "Do not smear army's image. Dress fully in the army uniform. Do not mix military regalia with civilian clothes. There is no hybrid of the two, so that when the need arise, you would be properly identified. "The soldier in Lagos, which led to the BRT issue, was not properly dressed. I know we have a few bad eggs and we would rid ourselves of them.

Try as much as possible to keep off the BRT lanes, if possible, leave your homes early enough. Being a soldier does not put you above the law of the state or federal government." Responding to a request by a soldier that children of army personnel should be given automatic entry into the force and not treated at par with those of civilians, Minimah said the army should not be exclusive preserve of children of service personnel. "We will strive to improve our system. I share in the feeling that our children should be encouraged to come into the force, but there should be equal opportunity with children of civilians who want to serve their fatherland," he said.

Uduaghan: ante-natal free in Delta

ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has warned expectant mothers not to pay for ante-natal services in any state-owned hospital. The governor gave the warning yesterday at the Mother-and-Child Centre of the Central Hospital, Warri. He said: “Ante-natal services are free in government hospitals. You are not to give money to anybody, you should not make any payment, even if it requires operation, it is

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

free and your children who are five years and below have free medical attention. “You must come here and deliver your babies. Do not register for ante-natal and when it is time for delivery, you will go to meet one woman because everybody (nurses) you see here are professionals. “Keep your regular appointments so that you will have safe delivery. You must immunise your children, you must breast feed them.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

NEWS Jonathan, Sanusi meet at Aso Rock

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan last night met with Emir of Kano Sanusi Muhammad 11 at the Presidential Villa in Abuja It was the first meeting between the President and the Emir, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The Kano monarch was was

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

one of the traditional rulers, led by Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, who joined Dr. Jonathan for the breaking of Ramadan fast. The former CBN governor led others in a special prayer for peace during the short

event held at the President’s residence. The President shook hands with all the traditional rulers in attendance. Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers the Sultan condemned the Kaduna explosions, and terror attacks. The Sultan urged the Presi-

dent to find time in the future to meet with them so as to discuss issues of national importance. President Jonathan granted the Sultan’s request. He urged traditional rulers to work with his administration in order to end insurgency.

82 die as suicide bomber hits Buhari’s convoy Continued from page 4

He imposed a 24-hour curfew within the metropolis. In a statement by his spokesman Ahmed Maiyaki, Yero said: “Following the unfortunate situation, a twenty four (24) hours curfew has been imposed on Kaduna metropolis with immediate effect, to enable security agencies restore normalcy. “Enemies of peace have visited us with their ungodly venom of wanton destruction of human lives. “This blast, coming in the Holy Month of Ramadan, is a clear indication that those behind the act have no iota of fear of God as they have none for the sanctity of human life. “The time has come for us to eschew all our differences and confront these brazen attacks

as united people. “Those behind these attacks have no regards for whatever diversity as their victims cut across all ethnic and religious divides. It is a responsibility on all of us to unite against this common enemy,” he said. The governor commiserated with families of victims and directed security agencies to intensify surveillance while they pursue perpetrators of the attacks. The apex Islamic body in Northern Nigeria, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), also condemned the explosions, saying Nigeria was becoming a theatre of bloodshed. In a statement by its Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the JNI said: “We are dazzled over the news of the twin blasts in Kaduna city, which claimed the lives of many innocent Mus-

lims in a Tafseer closing session of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, held at Murtala Muhammad Square, Kaduna and within a short while another blast was said to have rocked Kawo in Kaduna, Kaduna State. “We, therefore, condemn in the strongest term these repeated acts of terror being unleashed on the Muslims, in this blessed month of Ramadan. “JNI equally sympathises with all the affected victims and also consoles the families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident. May Aljannatul Firdaus be the abode of all the deceased, Amin. “As usual, JNI calls on all authorities concerned to be more committed to their responsibilities of protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians as no development can be

achieved in a situation of fear, insecurity and chaos. “All hands must be on deck to stop these perpetual massacres of lives and properties, as Nigeria is becoming a theatre of losts of blood for no just cause, which must be stopped. “Muslims should utilise the remaining days of Ramadan to complain to Allah, The Most Merciful, through vigorous supplications for relief, succour and ease against the evil masterminds of the nagging insecurity bedeviling our country. “May Allah, the All-Mighty, The Compeller, The Supreme, and The All-Knowing, bring an end to this nagging evil, disgrace the perpetrators and grant us lasting peace, security, prosperity and a promising future full of happiness and development, Amin,” the statement read.

It’s a national calamity, says ACF

REWA Consultative Forum (ACF) described the explosions as a national calamity. A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Muhammad Ibrahim, read: “The twin bomb blast that occurred in Kaduna town at Alkali road and Kawo near Kawo Motor park today (23/07/2014) and killed hundred innocent people and injured many is a National calamity, a disservice to humanity and a great shock to the nation especially in this Holy month of Ramadan.

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

“The bomb blast coming after the Islamic cleric Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi had concluded this year’s Tafsir at Murtala Muhammad Square, Kaduna with prayers for peace and harmony to reign in Nigeria was worrisome and a national disaster considering the peace Kaduna had enjoyed in the last two years. “The present insecurity situation in the country especially in the Northern region has placed our people in a state of despair

and helplessness, it has also crippled the socio-economic activities of the region. “The ACF therefore condemns in strong terms the senseless and inhuman act of terrorism being perpetrated by the insurgents and their collaborators against the Nigerian people especially the Kaduna twin-bomb blast where innocent people in pursuit of their legitimate means of livelihood were killed and injured. “The ACF calls on the government to decisively use all legitimate means and security appa-

ratus at its disposal to tackle the insecurity situation that is gradually destroying our nation. The need for synergy between the security agencies and the community for intelligence gathering and utilization is necessary in combating this menace. “Once more, the ACF wishes to appeal to the insurgents and other terrorists to lay down their arms and embrace peace and dialogue as the killing of innocent people and destruction of their property is not a solution to any perceived injustice or grievance.”

Ki-Moon urges international community to stand by girls

•Ki-Moon Continued from page 4

sations, including A World at School and its network of Global Youth Ambassadors and Girls Not Brides leaders, were spreading the campaign’s message. In Abuja, multiple events were organised by the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ group. In New York, at 5:30 p.m., supporters paid tributes to the girls by walking from Nigeria’s UN Mission to the world body’s Headquarters. A World at School also encouraged people to show their support for the initiative by signing a new online petition which calls for the safe return of the girls. The UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, is expected to send the petition to President Goodluck Jonathan. The Chibok girls’

families are also expected to sign the petition and offer their full support for the Safe Schools Initiative. That $23million dollar programme is designed to pilot 500 safe schools in Nigeria, while bringing the country’s Government and business leaders together with the international community to ensure safe education for all children. “Girls’ rights should be taken seriously and they should be at school free of intimidation and violence. We will mark the 100 days by pledging to rebuild their Chibok school, and by calling for international support for safe schools across Nigeria,” stressed Mr. Brown. The UN envoy urged the international community to stand in solidarity with the kidnapped schoolgirls and “never to abandon them”, while “reminding people that we are in the midst of a global civil rights struggle”.

Jonathan orders arrest of perpetrators Continued from page 4

are nothing but blood-thirsty extremists bent on undermining the unity and progress of the nation. “The President assures residents of Kaduna and all other Nigerians that the Federal Government will continue and further intensify its ongoing efforts to effectively curb the menace of terrorism in the

country. “He has specifically directed the Police and other national security agencies to take all necessary actions to apprehend the perpetrators of today’s attacks on Kaduna and urges all residents of the city to give them the fullest possible cooperation and support as they work to bring the terrorists to justice.”

Nigeria leads world in ‘terrorism’ Continued from page 4

due to more frequent attacks, the average death toll per attack has been lower than Nigeria’s, according to Maplecroft. “We will do everything to stop the menace of Boko Haram on Nigerian citizens,”

Major-General Chris Olukolade, defense headquarters spokesman, said yesterday on telephone. The Nigerian army says it is acquiring new military equipment and retraining its soldiers to deal with the insurgency.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

FOREIGN

Dutch pays respect to MH17 victims

HREE teams of international experts have now reached the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines plane that crashed in eastern Ukraine on 17 July. World leaders have called for the investigation to start urgently but there are fears that the crash site may been compromised. Rob Brown and Alison Trowsdale look into what challenges the air crash investigators will face when they start to piece together the final moments of flight MH17. The crash site Could the evidence at the crash site of flight MH17 have been tampered with or contaminated? Footage has shown cranes lifting large sections of the fuselage. A video which emerged on Sunday showed proRussian rebels shortly after the crash searching through wreckage and the personal belongings of those on board. Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have visited the site several times. Their spokesman Michael Bociurkiw told the BBC World Service that major pieces of the aircraft - including the tail fin looked different during their most recent visit from when they first saw them. He said the pieces looked as though they had “been cut into”. Aviation expert David Learmount says the usual procedure is for a crash site to be secured like a crime scene so that evidence is not disturbed until official investigators arrive. Once at the crash site, investigators will want to look at the external marks on the wreckage, says David Gleave, an aviation expert from Loughborough University and a former air crash investigator. “Some pictures I’ve seen look as if various panels of the plane have been hit with a 12-bore shotgun and that shows evidence of something from the outside try-

•Pallbearers carry a coffin out of a military transport plane during a ceremony to mark the return of the first bodies of passengers and crew killed in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, from Ukraine at Eindhoven military air base.AP

ing to get in, rather than a blast inside the aircraft trying to get out.” Douglas Barrie, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) says: “The imagery that has so far been available is certainly in keeping with the kind of damage one would expect from a surface-to-air missile with a fragmentation warhead.” There has been speculation that a Buk or SA-11 missile was responsible - this type of missile is equipped with a proximity fuse which can sense when the target is close and detonate the missile before impact, firing out fragments of shrapnel. The flight data recorder (FDR) is designed to record the operating information from the plane’s systems. Whenever the pilot touches the controls or changes course, the FDR records that action. Meanwhile, in a bedroom in a townhouse near Amsterdam, Miguel Panduwinata reached out for his mother. “Mama, may I hug you?” Samira Calehr wrapped her arms around her 11-year-old son, who’d been oddly agitated for

days, peppering her with questions about death, about his soul, about God. The next morning, she would drop Miguel and his big brother Shaka at the airport so they could catch Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, the first leg of their journey to Bali to visit their grandmother. Her normally cheerful, welltraveled boy should have been excited. His silver suitcase sat in the living room, ready to go. Jetskiing and surfing in paradise awaited. But something was off. A day earlier, while playing soccer, Miguel had burst out: “How would you choose to die? What would happen to my body if I was buried? Would I not feel anything because our souls go back to God?” In May, Grootscholten returned to Bali to celebrate Christine’s birthday and told her he wanted to spend the rest of his life beside her. She drove him to the airport on June 3 and kissed him goodbye. It would be their last kiss. For 29-year-old New Zealander Rob Ayley, Flight 17

marked both the end of a monthlong European trip and the start of a new career. Life hadn’t always been easy for Ayley. Diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome as a teen, he’d struggled to understand others’ emotions. At 16, he dropped out of school and hopped from job to job - fast food, horticulture, cheese-making. He flitted between obsessions, from cars to drumming and eventually, to Rottweilers, after his parents bought him a puppy. Along the way, he fell in love with a woman named Sharlene. They married and had two sons, Seth and Taylor. Fatherhood changed him; he was determined to provide for his family. He enrolled in college to study chemical engineering and decided to turn his Rottweiler fixation into a profit by becoming a breeder. That dream prompted Ayley to book a trip to Europe with his friend Bill Patterson, a kennel owner. Ayley’s goal: to look at Rottweilers and hopefully bring

PUBLIC NOTICE IGWEGBE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS IGWEGBE ESTHER OGUNDU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IGWEGBE OFOEGBU ESTHER OGUNDU. All former documents remain valid. UNTH Enugu and the general public take note.

Abu Musab, told the BBC that she was targeted for her politics and not her music. The BBC’s Mohammed Moalimu in Mogadishu says she is the fourth MP to be killed this year. The al-Qaeda-aligned alShabab group advocates the strict Saudi-inspired Wahhabi version of Islam and is battling the UN-backed government to create an Islamic state. Daring career Ms Warsame rose to fame during the time of former President Siad Barre, who was overthrown in 1991, with her songs which were critical of his rule. She spent much of the civil

war in the US and returned home in 2012 to represent her clan in the new Somali parliament. The car in which Saado Ali Warsame was shot dead, Mogadishu, Somalia - Wednesday 23 July 2014 Saado Ali Warsame’s vehicle was targeted as it travelled along a main road in the capital BBC Somali Service’s Abdullahi Abdi says Ms Warsame will be remembered most for her daring musical career. She was one of the few Somali female musicians to go on stage without covering her head and she sometimes wore trousers, which is highly unu-

back breeding dogs to New Zealand. The duo spent a month driving all over Europe, visiting kennels and grabbing a coffee, beer or meal with the owners. They delighted in speeding along the German autobahns in the small Peugeot they’d rented. Finally, it was time to come home. On Wednesday night, Ayley sent his mother an email: “It’s been a long, long journey. We’ve seen the world’s greatest Rottweilers, we have established contacts, and made life-long friends, but now I’m just ready to come home. I hope all is well, if we don’t talk before hand, I will see you on Saturday. Lots of Love Rob” Flight attendant Sanjid Singh was looking forward to getting home, too. He hadn’t originally been scheduled for Flight 17, but he wanted to get back to Malaysia a day early to visit his parents in northern Penang state. So he asked a colleague to switch shifts.

S judge has ordered Argentina and its creditors to meet “continuously” to avoid the nation defaulting on its debts. District Judge Thomas Griesa told the parties to meet from 10:00 EST (14:00 GMT) on Wednesday to hammer out a deal. Argentina has been in a legal dispute with investors holding debt from the nation’s default in 2001-2002. It has until 30 July to find a solution or possibly default again. Argentina has been reluctant to pay the investors describing them as “vulture funds”. It also fears that a settlement would prompt claims from other investors, who felt shortchanged by the original debt restructuring. ‘Worst thing’ Judge Griesa said that further delays to the case were not necessary and that a settlement is achievable. “If we don’t, there will be a default, and that is the worst thing. That is about the worst thing I can envision. I don’t want that to happen. People will be hurt by that, real hurt. Not vultures being hurt, but real people,” he said. The US court is in a powerful position because it can block US banks from paying the vast majority of bondholders who accepted the original restructuring. Judge Griesa told the two sides to meet a lawyer appointed to oversee the talks on Wednesday and meet “continuously until a settlement is reached”. The lawyer representing Argentina, Jonathan Blackman, said a settlement “simply can’t be done by the end of this month”, even with non-stop talks.

UN human rights body to investigate claims of Israeli violations in Gaza

Somali musician and MP Ali Warsame shot dead OPULAR Somali musician and member of parliament Saado Ali Warsame has been shot dead by Islamist militants. She was killed along with her bodyguard in a drive-by shooting in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. A spokesman for the Islamist al-Shabab group, Abdulaziz

Argentina debt: Judge orders non-stop negotiations

•The late Warsame

sual for women in Somalia, he says. Somalia has been a largely lawless state since the fall of Mr Barre, with warlords, religious groups and clans fighting for control of the country.

HE United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has agreed to launch an international inquiry into violations that may have been committed during Israel’s latest military offensive in Gaza. Navi Pillay, the UN high commissioner for human rights, warned earlier that Israel may have committed war crimes in its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, where hundreds of Palestinian civilians have been killed in the past two weeks. Pillay told an emergency debate at the UNHRC in Geneva that Israel had not done enough to protect civilians. “There seems to be a strong possibility that international law has been violated, in a manner that could amount to war crimes,” Pillay said, citing air strikes and the shelling of homes and hospitals. The killing of civilians in Gaza, including dozens of children, raised concerns over Israel’s precautions and its respect for proportionality, she said. She also condemned Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules Gaza, and other armed Palestinian groups, for their “indiscriminate attacks” on Israel.

Scores killed in Taiwan plane crash

IFTY-one people have been killed after a TransAsia Airways passenger plane crashed while trying to make an emergency landing in tyhoonhit Taiwan. The domestic flight crashed in stormy weather yesterdday at an airport in the city of Magong “It’s chaotic on the scene,” Jean Shen, the director of the civil aviation authorities, told the Reuters news agency. “The fire department was putting out the flames. They will give us the number of casualties very soon. Taiwan’s Central News Agency cited the the Civil Aviation Administration as

saying the flight crashed with 54 passengers and four flight crew and was operated by TransAsia Airway, a Taiwanese airline. Seven people who were seriously injured in the crash have been receiving medical treatment. Typhoon Matmo hit Taiwan on Wednesday with heavy rains and strong winds, shutting financial markets and schools. TransAsia Airways is a Taiwan-based airline with a fleet of 23 mostly Airbus aircraft, flying chiefly on domestic routes, but with some flights to Japan, Thailand and Cambodia among its Asian destinations.

•TransAsia Taiwaneze Jetliner crashed yesterday in a Typhoon-related weather in Taiwan. PHOTO: REUTERS

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

SPORT EXTRA

Queen Elizabeth opens 2014 Commonwealth Games G QUEEN Elizabeth II has opened the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games by reading a message which she wrote al-

most a year ago. Her message was placed in the baton which has been carried by fans in a 10-month relay across the Common-

wealth. Joining her was the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, her eldest son Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of

DRC CLASH

Amuneke warns against complacency

OLDEN Eaglets' Head Coach Emmanuel Amuneke (MON), has warned his wards against any form of complacency even as he craves for a winning mentality in their African championship qualifier against Democratic Republic of Congo. The eagerly awaited match according to Federation Congolaise de Football Association (FECOFA) would take place on Saturday (July 26) after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) graciously shifted it from July 20 due to earlier suspension of the NFF by FIFA. "Now is the moment of truth for us because the serious business of qualification for Niger 2015 would begin for us in Congo (DR),"Amuneke informed the players.

" All what we have done before is now in the past because we would now be judged based on our performance particularly in this match." Speaking to the players during Wednesday's training at the University of Calabar, Amuneke told the players to have nothing but a winning attitude, assuring that the players selected for the encounter are fit and ready to do the country proud yet again. "We must go to Congo with the sole of objective of winning and that is the mental attitude we are must all have," noted the 1994 African Footballer of the Year. " We must be ready to show all what we have been learning in our training and we the coaching crew believe that you have what it takes to win

this match but we must not be over confident

•Amuneke

Iheanacho gets into the ‘big time’

N •Iheanacho

IGERIAN football club powerhouse, Enyimba International Football Club proved why it’s arguably the best club in Nigerian domestic league as the Aba based team spanked hard-fighting Sharks Football Club of Port Harcourt 2-0 to sail through to the semi-finals of the ongoing Federation Cup held at the Goal Project Center of the Abuja National Stadium yesterday.

IGERIA’S hero at the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, Kelechi Iheanacho, has been included in the Manchester City squad for their pre-season tour to the United States. Ihenacho joined Manchester City and has been training at the club’s academy following his splendid performance at the World Cup at the United Arab Emirates. The 18-year-old will have a chance to train and play together with the club’s top tal-

ent like Samir Nasri, Aleksandar Kolarov and Jesus Navas who were also included in the squad by manager, Manuel Pellegrini. On the tour City will face Sporting Kansas City (July 23), Milan (July 27), Liverpool (July 30) and Olympiacos (August 2) and take with them a 23-man squad that sees them without their World Cup participants. Iheanacho will be looking to impress Pellegrini during the tour as he looks to force his way into the first team.

FEDERATION CUP

Ayansi tackles Ogunbote over Enyimba’s victory against Sharks From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja The Gbenga Odubote tutored Sharks bowed 0-2 to the superior fireworks of Enyimba as Sokari Kingsley and Raphael Boumsong scored for Enyimba in the 24th and 35th minutes of the game to seal the semi-final

slot of the Federation Cup for the Aba based side. Referee Ben Odeh, however, gave Emeka Nwana the marching order in the 72nd minute for foul charge on a Sharks player but that was not enough to stop Enyimba from cruising to the last four of the competition.

Cornwall, and her youngest son the Earl of Wessex and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Rod Stewart, John Barrowman, and Susan Boyle were among some of the Scottish entertainers who performed for the sell-out crowd in Glasgow's Celtic Park. The British Prime Minister David Cameron was also in attendance along with 2012 Olympic champions Mo Farah, Christine Ohuruogu, and Greg Rutherford. Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton, will visit the

Games accompanied by Prince William's brother Prince Harry. The British royals will visit on the 28 and 29 July during which there will be swimming, athletics, gymnastics, and shooting for them to choose from. Athletes such as Bradley Wiggins, Nicola Adams, and the Brownlee brothers, all of whom are hoping to win medals at the 2014 Glasgow games also attended the opening ceremony. Over 4,500 sportsmen and women are expected to take part in the 17 games on offer

at the Games, which runs from 23 July until 3 August. Scotland's six-time Olympic and double Commonwealth champion Sir Chris Hoy said of the Games beforehand: "[They will be] the biggest and best Commonwealth Games we've ever seen." Michael Jamison, who won silver in the 2012 Olympics and is hoping for gold at the Commonwealth Games added: "You can already see there's a buzz around the city. It's known as the friendly Games for a reason. It just has such a great feel about it."

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

TODAY IN THE NATION

THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

HALL we call it the Chibok mystery, or the Chibok mysticism? What is this Chiboky fairies that have descended upon the land in the last 100 days? Just a little over a hundred days ago, very few Nigerians had ever heard about Chibok; indeed, most Nigerians would have bet it was a place in Bangkok or Cambodia. Most of us never dreamt that Chibok was right at the northeastern corner of Nigeria until that fateful day on April 15 when the Islamist Boko Haram stole about 270 belles in one fell swoop from a girls school; since then, they also stole our innocence, they stole our acquiescence, our quietude and perhaps our government? In what will pass for a world record human-jacking, the insurgents, as the report went, invaded the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, near

VOL. 8, NO. 2,917

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

ET us forget about them all – for a while. The thoughtless impeachment of former Adamawa Governor Murtala Nyako by a band of lawbreakers and erratic errand boys posing as champions of decency; the buffoonery of replicating the #BringBackOurGirls protest; the buccaneering that is the plot to impeach Nasarawa Governor Tanko Al-Makura, his Rivers, Edo and Borno counterparts Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, Adams Oshiomhole and Kashim Shettima. Let’s close our eyes to them all. It has taken some prompting – tongue lashing, some cheeky fellows insist – from a 17-year-old girl to arouse President Goodluck Jonathan’s sense of empathy. He has eventually met the parents of the abducted girls- not in troubled Chibok , but in the cosy banquet hall at the Villa. As I said, let’s push them all aside today. It is a season of birthdays. Prof. Wole Soyinka is 80. Aremo Segun Osoba is 75. Prince Henry Odukomaiya is 80. Chief Ajibola Ogunsola is 70. Prof. Olatunji Dare is 70. Editorial Notebook is joining the celebration of these giants, whose stories have been told by better tested hands. But, here, dear reader, are just some testimonials. Long before I met him physically, I had encountered Prof. Wole Soyinka. I read his books at school. His photographs would land on my table as a young sub-editor at Rutam House and I would look at them and hail his bravery and strength of character. Then an opportunity came in 2010 for me to see the genius at close range. Kunle Ajibade of The News and I were with him at the African Development Bank’s (AfDB’s )Eminent Persons Lecture Series in Tunis. The Nobel laureate’s lecture, “Caution…Intellectuals at work”, was vintage Soyinka. Those who felt Africa’s intellectuals were not doing enough about the continent’s troubles got an answer. Amid applause, Soyinka enumerated the roles of the intellectual and lambasted dictators, saying there is no benevolent dictatorship. Needless to say, some months after, the Arab Spring hit Tunisia. Zayn al-Abidin Ben Ali, “the benevolent dictator”, who led from November 1989, fled. Prescience. Talk of the writer as a prophet. After the lecture, it was time for lunch and some questions for the distinguished lecturer. Soyinka asked Femi Fatoyinbo, an official of the AfDB who facilitated his acceptance to deliver the lecture free of charge – the professor had never met Femi before then – to fetch some wine. Femi went round the gigantic hotel for some 30 minutes without bringing a bottle. Soyinka was getting impatient. At last, Femi returned with a piece of bad news. The hotel does not serve alcohol. “Let me go somewhere else. I’ll return before lunch,” Soyinka said. Before he could step out, AfDB President Donald Kaberuka and all the other big officials had arrived for lunch. They shook hands with Soyinka, congratulating him for a great job. At lunch, Prof. refused to eat. He would not answer questions. He needed some wine, he told his hosts. The managers of the hotel

Lunch over, it was time for the eminent lecturer to sign the guests’ book. Television cameras were rolling and photographers were struggling for vantage positions. Soyinka bent down and, in a few seconds, he delivered a potentially combustible verdict in Yoruba: “Iru ibi ti o daa bayi, otin to daa loye ka maa mu nibe” (we should be drinking nice wines in a good hotel such as this). Amid laughter, later at his hotel’s reception, after learning that the book he signed actually belonged to the bank, Soyinka asked Femi to fetch it for him to write another comment. The lesson: Soyinka’s sense of freedom is all-embracing. It includes even the right to drink a good wine. And Expresso coffee–his favourite, I suspect. Anywhere. A young restaurateur was so excited at Soyinka’s visit to his place. He said his late father would have been glad to see the life time experience of the Nobel laureate’s presence at the restaurant. He urged Soyinka to accept as a mark of his appreciation, the gift of a 25-year-old gin brewed specially by his family. Prof. was moved. He thanked the young man and accepted to be photographed with him beside his late father’s portrait. I recall vividly that night when the late Mr. Mac Adetoyi Alabi, our Night Editor at The Guardian, had a visitor who stayed unusually long, slowing down the first edition. Baba, as we all called him on account of his old age and long experience, even saw off this visitor. That was unusual. Asked a few minutes after he had settled down again who that visitor was, Baba looked up, his face expressing some incredulity. “You don’t know him?” He shook his head slowly and raised his voice. “That’s the last editor of Daily Times, Henry Odukomaiya.” I left Baba, smiling and wondering… “the last editor of Daily Times. Prince Odukomaiya left Daily Times to midwife the birth of National Concord, which was financed by the late billionaire and politician, Chief M.K.O. Abiola. He was also the man who set up Champion, mentoring many journalists. Prince Odukomaiya deserves all the encomiums being poured on him. He has done well. A friend of mine who was an editor at The Punch told me of how relieved he was when he stopped getting short messages from Chief Ogunsola. He felt the man was being fastidious, pointing out errors that many a reader would overlook and a journalist would ex-

plain away as the “printer’s devil”. I disagreed with my friend. If Ogunsola had not been thorough, perhaps The Punch would not have been as prosperous as it is today. The paper was at a low ebb when he took over as chairman. Now, it is celebrated as a successful business. My former boss, Mr. Lade “Ladbone” Bonuola, once said he needed to have a word with Ogunsola. “I will like to preach God to him,” he said. I don’t know if Mr. Bonuola eventually did. In case he didn’t, somebody should, even as the chief reserves the right to his opinion on any issue, including the existence of the Almighty. Aremo Olusegun Osoba came into journalism by chance. Many do not know that he was a sub-editor, one of those guys who mould the character of a newspaper but who are never seen or heard, unlike reporters who are the glamour boys of the trade. For Osoba, reporting is the soul of newspapering. He excelled in it and became a reference point for editors telling their reporters how to do it. His newspaper days have been well documented by Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe in his biography. If Osoba is the Aremo (the chosen one, the favourite) of reporting in Nigerian journalism, Prof. Olatunji Dare is the Jose Mourinho (the Special One), the master satirist. To him, humour comes naturally. But many do not know that Prof. Dare was a Physics teacher. I have gained immensely from his amazing talent. In fact, to him I owe the name of this column. Dare finds it so easy to write on any subject, making something out of nothing and spicing it all up with a huge dose of humour, forcing you to laugh in a country where there is little to provoke even a smile. Like the late Baba Alabi, Dare detests errors. You dare not second guess him. He will reprimand you severely. But, ironically, he believes a newspaper is a miracle. “Every time a newspaper hits the newsstand, I know a miracle has happened,” says the professor, “because in the course of production, a thousand and one things could have gone wrong.” Many have written about Dare’s resolute stand on the June 12 debacle, how he refused to join The Guardian team that went to burnish the late Gen. Sani Abacha’s ego for him to reopen the newspaper, which he shut down in a senseless show of power, how their week was incomplete without reading Matters Arising and how he quit Rutam House. None has, however, recalled that Dare actually wore a lush beard for months – in protest against all that he went through. It is a tribute to his forgiving spirit that Mrs. Maiden Ibru, the publisher of The Guardian, was at MUSON Centre last Thursday when Dare was being honoured. Mrs. Ibru spoke of how great and influential the newspaper was, ascribing it all to the presence of many, including Dare. That was a remarkable tribute. How I wish we could have more of our greats to celebrate. But will the situation in Nigeria–another bomb went off yesterday, in Kaduna, killing scores–allow us to?

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

•Editor of the Year (NMMA)

Testimonials

•Prof. Soyinka

•Prince Odukomaiya

•????

•Aremo Osoba

•Chief Ogunsola

‘

If Osoba is the Aremo (the chosen one, the favourite) of reporting in Nigerian journalism, Prof. Olatunji Dare is the Jose Mourinho (the Special One), the master satirist •Prof. Dare

’

thought it was a problem they could easily handle. One rushed down to the bar and showed up with a glass full of something that looked like red wine. Soyinka could not be tricked.”My friend, take it back; get me the real thing,” he fired back at the official whose smiling face had melted into some scowl of confusion. In a few minutes, the man walked briskly down the hall, holding a glass of wine, real wine, which he covered with a snow-white handkerchief. Soyinka tasted the stuff, nodded in satisfaction and smiled in triumph. He had forced the hotel to change its policy. We were to learn later that the hotel was built with a grant from Saudi Arabia after it was agreed that alcohol would not be served there for 25 years.

Chibok girls: 100 days of anguish Nigeria’s Northeast borders with the Republic of Cameroon. It was in the dead of night. The school had recessed but the senior girls were writing their certificate exams. The insurgents, dressed in army uniform, had come in pick-up trucks and buses. They reportedly posed as members of the Nigerian military force who had come to rescue the girls and ship them to safety as there was a report of an imminent attack. That was how about 270 nubile young girls, many only in night gowns, were driven away into the night and taken in the direction of the vast Sambisa forest near the Cameroon border. It has been100 days of high drama; 100 days of anguish; 100 days of flailing ineptitude; 100 days of stark, naked reality of how we are governed. The military announced gleefully the day after

the kidnap that they had rescued the girls but they returned two days later to eat their word: “no we have not rescued them,” they whimpered. After this wondrous military faux pas, the Presidency seemed to suggest that the kidnap story is all a ruse after all; a mirage that would soon clear as we journey on this mired macadam. But it won’t go; days lapsed into weeks and … Then the First Lady weighed in (apparently disgusted by government-military foot-dragging). “Anything I step into succeeds,” she boasted. She stopped short of summoning the Security Council. But government officials were fetched before her and they rendered frantic testimonies before live television cameras in Aso Rock Villa. It was in

the course of her intervention that she rendered the now famous tears-evoking drama, titled: Chai! Dere is God o! Let’s say for once, Dame Patience failed in a venture as the Chibok girls remain in mysterious captivity. But since government would not cease initiative, the matter took a life of its own as #bringbackourgirls suddenly went viral on the cyber space about 60 days after the girls had been plucked from their beds. The world woke up to the obscene magnitude of the act and any man or woman who had a voice on this planet spoke up. Protests erupted in Abuja and spread across Nigerian cities and world capitals. Foreign military aid from the US, UK and other countries were allowed to join the fray but all in vain. It was only on Tuesday, the 99th day, that the president met with the girls’ parents. After the 100th day, maybe we should change the hash-tag to: where are the girls?

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