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‘Please, don’t let me die’ •Blast victim seeks overseas treatment

T

HE well-lit room was bright, but around the youth all was dark. A huge bloodsoaked bandage was woven round his head, covering his battered eye.

“Please, don’t let me die,” he kept on crying.

Ahmadu Bala’s right eye was blown off in Wednesday’s bombing in Kaduna.

No fewer than 82 people died in the incident. Officials said 39 died.

“Please, fly me abroad; I don’t want to die,” Bala ,18, cried on his bed at the Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospi-

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

tal in the city.

Bala recalled how he was caught up in the blast after leaving the venue of the Ramadan lecture by Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi.

He said: “I was on my way back from ‘Tafsir’ (Ramadan lecture) at Murtala Square when I heard a loud sound and before I knew what was happening, I found myself on the floor, far away from where I remember standing.

“I felt my head was very Continued on page 4

•Bala on his hospital bed...yesterday

PHOTO: ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE

I felt my head was very heavy...My right eye had been ‘blown off by the bomb and I lost consciousness ’

Kaduna death toll hits 110 as bomber strikes in Kano Five die as bomb hidden in fridge goes off at park From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

A

BOMB went off in Kano yesterday, 24 hours after the Kaduna twin explosions in which former Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and a cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi were targets.

Five persons died in the Kano explosion, which took place at a popular motor park in Sabon Gari. Twelve persons were injured. The police said only one person died.

The death toll in the Kaduna explosions, which have been condemned by the United Nations (UN), former military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and others, has risen to 110.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) called for a comprehensive investigation into the explosions, which it described as “abhorrent and criminal”.

The toll has risen to 110, with more injured

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Continued on page 4

INSIDE

•APC demands probe •UN, NLC condemn attacks as barbaric WHERE ARE •IBB: terror must stop THE CHIBOK •Buhari seeks action GIRLS KIDNAPPED •Kaduna lifts curfew

ON APRIL 15? •AND MORE ON PAGES 2-5

•ANO THER TRA GED Y: The scene of the Kano blast...yesterday.

•ANOTHER TRAGED GEDY

PHOTO: KOLADE ADEYEMI

•ALGERIA PLANE WITH 116 PEOPLE CRASHES P60 •NASARAWA SPEAKER AT VILLA P10

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

2

NEWS

Onaiyekan, T

•From left: Globacom's Miss Muyiwa Alli, Coordinator, Gloworld, Mr. Dimeji Amoo, Chief Commercial Director, Glo 1, Mr. Ajay Mathur, Head, Business Development, Glo Gateway, Mr. Femi Oduntan and Miss Olanma Eke, also of Globacom at the launch of new IDD rates by Globacom in Lagos...yesterday.

•From left: Dr. Edith Nwosu, founder, Empower Nigeria/ CEO, Anabel Group, Nicholas Okoye, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha and member representing Enugu East Constituency, Kingsley Ebenyi at the Empower Nigeria Road Show in Enugu.

•From left: CEO, Marketing Mix, Mr. Akin Adeoya, President, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN),Mr. Ganiyu Koledoye and Mr. Rotimi Adeyeye at the official unification/signing of Memorandum of Understanding between two factions of MNIM in Lagos.

•From left: Mr Kola Aluko, Mrs Teniola Aluko, both Trustees of the Kola Aluko Foundation, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke and a Curator, Mr. Ayo Adeyinka at Nigerian Centenary Photography Exhibition at Bonhams, London.

HE United Nations (UN), All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, have expressed shock over Wednesday’s bomb attacks in Kaduna that targeted Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as well as prominent cleric Dahiru Bauchi.

APC, in a statement in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, sent its condolences to the families of the victims and pray that God would give them the much-needed strength at times like this, while also wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

It said the attempted assassination of Gen. Buhari has changed the narrative about the insurgent group and knocked the bottom off the sinister, irresponsible and partisan colouration given to the insurgency by the Federal Government.

APC said while no one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, the mere fact that it occurred at all is a lose-lose situation for the Jonathan Administration.

“Whether it is Boko Haram or not, one thing remains: This government has failed woefully in its core constitutional duty of protecting the security and welfare of the citizenry. And we mean all the citizens, not just the leaders!

“And contrary to the simplistic and clearly selfish portrayal of the Boko Haram insurgency as a sinister plot to bring down the government of Jonathan, it should now be clear to the FG that has engaged in ceaseless finger-pointing instead of tackling the insurgency headlong that Boko Haram is an enemy of Nigeria and of all of humanity.

“It is a real problem that is capable of consuming this country if immediate and urgent steps are not made now by the FG to move away from its politicisation of the crisis, its decision to use it as a trump card for President Jonathan’s re-election and exploit it as a ticket to international relevance for the President. If anything untoward had happened to Gen. Buhari on Wednesday, the consequences are only better imagined than witnessed!

“If indeed the APC is behind Boko Haram and Gen. Buhari is a sympathiser of the evil group, as the FG wants the world to believe, could it be that the insurgents do not know their leaders or sympathisers, assuming they are behind the attack? If they are not responsible for the attack, doesn’t that support the theory in some circles that Boko Haram has become a franchise, hence there is the Boko Haram of Abubakar Shekau and the political Boko Haram?

“Whatever happens now, the satanic and repulsive theory of the PDP-led FG that the opposition APC is using Boko Haram to truncate the Administration of Jonathan is up in flames. Therefore, it is time for them to change the narrative, see Boko Haram for what it is - an enemy of Nigeria - and rally the citizenry, irrespective of their political, ethnic or religious affiliation, behind the government’s efforts to tackle it decisively,’’ the party said.

It said as a first step, President Jonathan must stop the wasteful contract he signed with the US-based firm Levick to help demonise the APC as the sponsor of Boko Haram, and to demonise any Nigerian who is perceived to be an enemy of the government.

The party said: “It is this kind of demonisation, using pseudo and outof-job analysts, that helped to set the stage for Wednesday’s failed assassination attempt against Gen. Buhari.

“Then the President must address Nigerians to tell them that Boko Haram is not just an enemy of his government, it is an enemy of the

•Gen. Buhari (left) when Yero visited him... yesterday.

•Policemen at the scene of the Kano blast... yesterday.

PHOTO: KOLADE ADEYEMI

From Yusuf Alli and John Ofikhenua, Abuja

opposition, of Christians, of Muslims and of the different ethnic groups.

“Instead of dividing Nigerians along religious, ethnic and political lines, President Jonathan should borrow a leaf from his predecessors.

Obasanjo never said the Niger Delta militancy was aimed at his government or his people, he tackled it headlong. Yar’Adua it was who finally ended the militancy, without saying it was aimed at his government or his people.”

The party reiterated its earlier stand that only a non-partisan approach would galvanise Nigerians against Boko Haram, which is rooted more in the years of bad governance that have resulted in mass unemployment, massive corruption, economic imbalances and made the youth to become hopeless, thus creating an army of willing tools for criminal activities It repeated its offer to work with the Federal Government to battle Boko Haram and its call for a national stakeholders’ conference to help fashion out a comprehensive counterinsurgent blueprint for the nation.

APC said rather than just throwing money at what has now become a bottomless pit, rather than creating the avenue for some unpatriotic citizens to feed fat on the insurgency, the FG should engage in new thinking.

“After almost five years and 14 billion US dollars, Boko Haram is stronger today than ever. Whereas the av-

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25 , 2014

3

UN, APC: time to cage Boko Haram

•A victim on the hospital bed in Kaduna...yesterday.

•Another victim of the Kaduna blast on the hospital bed... yesterday.

•A victim of the Kano blast... yesterday.

erage death toll in the previous years has been 1,500, more than 3,500 people have been killed so far this year!

There is no stronger evidence that what is needed to successfully fight Boko Haram is not just 1 billion dollars, but a comprehensive approach that includes efforts to tackle the social and economic roots of the insurgency,’’ the party said.

Onaiyekan: we mus not push our luck too far Cardinal Onaiyekan said it is time Nigeria tackled Boko Haram menace headlong and avoid pushing its luck too far.

He said Nigeria had been dancing on the brink of chaos for too long except for the grace of God sustaining it.

He said the insurgency is a symptom of a wider disease which must be urgently addressed.

He also warned against sliding the nation’s democracy towards a oneparty state.

He said one-party system had never worked in any part of Africa.

Onaiyekan gave the warning in an extempore address during a courtesy call on him by a delegation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which was led by its National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

He said: “I believe that God has been with Nigeria for so long. We have been dancing on the brink of chaos and somehow He accepts us not to fall over. But we should not push our luck too far.

“Boko Haram, in my view, is a

symptom of a wider disease and I hope we know that. And if we don’t tackle that wider disease, we might finish with Boko Haram and move on to another.

“Meanwhile, we should do our best to rid our country of this menace which, as Chief Oyegun said, has taken over all of us. Every part of Nigeria has been taken over even though the epicenter is in a particular angle.

“I am now 70 years old and I have seen the most important stages in the development of this our country. I was born into the colonial era. I schooled during the transition between the colonial and independent nation.

“And I have seen all the different changes, tumbling and fumbling that we are going through between the 1960 and to date. One thing that has become clear in my mind is whatever anybody is saying something has happened in this country. We do have a country called Nigeria, and I believe that it is a viable project. There are challenges of course no doubt. There are dislocations, no doubt about it.

The fact that there are contradictions, it is very glaring. “ Often, deliberately, they injected the contradictions into the system to cause confusion, but once we believe that we want to live in one country, our efforts should be made towards arriving such a way that our differences can be appreciated, and we do all we can, not to disorganize ourselves.

“Above all, avoid utter chaos. We are looking television to see what

happens when things fall apart. Unfortunately when that happens it is not people like you and I that will suffer most, it is the poor people, who have nowhere to run to and who don’t understand why things are not going well.”

Cardinal Onaiyekan said Nigeria has every cause to have a viable democracy.

He also warned against the danger of rigging elections claiming that such indulgence is worst than military dictatorship.

He added: “Democracy has its ways. It is not the only way for ruling. But it is considered the best way.

We still have some kind of monarchy like in Britain, Netherlands and Spain. We also have modern democracy involving political parties presenting themselves to people with manifestos which constitute programmes for them.

“They defend them at all cost because if it is not well defended, you end up with dictatorship. This is why I say rigged elections are worst than military dictatorship for the simple reason that in the military coups somebody take it with the guns. He doesn’t pretend; I put you there. If you rig election, somebody who rigs election takes over and tells the world that I put him there , adding insult to injury.

“We can and we should be able to achieve a viable democracy in this country if it is our desire to build a country where everybody sees each other as belonging to the same nation.

That is one of the reasons why your

group has organized itself to form a political party different from the party that is in government.”

He said Nigeria cannot afford to be a one-party state because the system had never worked in any part of Africa.

“And I believe that the government should not be surprised that there is another party otherwise we should be told that we are one party state. And one-party system as you know has been thriving in many parts of Africa and we have found it wanting. So, we have to be sincere with ourselves and I keep praying that this sincerity will be carried through.”

Cardinal Onaiyekan said he would continue to talk until things are put right in the country.

He said:” As a religious leader I pray, but I don’t only pray, I think and I do not shy away from expressing my mind as a Nigerian because politics is too important to be left to politicians alone. All of us are interested, we are all involved.

“By the way God has organised and by the rules of my church, I cannot be a member of a political party nor can I be a candidate in any election, my church forbids it for excellent reasons. But I am not indifferent to how my country is ruled. This is why I am very happy to receive the chairman of APC party. I will gladly welcome the chairman of any other party that may think he wants to pay me a courtesy visit.

“I thank you and you political party for coming to my house. Even if you are not a Catholic, I will still pray

for you. I will pray for political leaders so that they will be rightly guided so that they may have the grace to do the right thing because there is a difference between being rightly guided and doing the right thing. It is not quite often that you do the right thing that you are guided to do. But it requires God’s grace to be able to do the right thing. We pray we have the patience, courage to do the right thing.”

UN expresses outrage The UN envoy for West Africa condemned the latest killing of civilians reportedly by the Boko Haram.

Said Djinnit, the head of the UN Office for West Africa (UNOWA), expressed profound outrage at the attacks which occurred over the weekend and yesterday, resulting, according to initial reports, in the death of more than 130 people.

According to a statement released

by UNOWA, the violence also forced some 15,000 people to flee to the Borno state capital of Maiduguri as well as to neighbouring towns of Biu and Goniri.

Mr. Djinnit, who is also the Secretary General's High Representative to Nigeria, expressed condolences to the bereaved families and called on the Nigerian authorities to do all they can to end the carnage and bring the perpetrators to justice.

He also reiterated the UN's support for effective regional efforts to put an end to the terrorism threat and Boko Haram attacks.

4

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

•SOYINKA AT 80: Cast of the ‘Seige’ stage play written by Sam Omatseye in honour of Prof. Wole Soyinka on his 80th birthday during the performance ... last night in Lagos.

PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

Kaduna death toll hits 110 as bomber strikes in Kano Continued from page 1

victims being rushed to hospi-

tal for treatment, a humanitarian aid official said yesterday.

Abubakar Zakari Adamu, a spokesperson for the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), told reporters that 13 of the severely injured victims died in the hospitals.

A Xinhua reporter learnt that hundreds of people travelling through the northcentral state have been stranded following the 24-hour curfew imposed on Kaduna city.

Vehicles from neighbouring Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Jigawa states were blocked from entering the city at the toll gate plaza on Zaria road, forcing hundreds of people to loiter around the area in heavy rain.

Vehicles from the South were also stranded at the toll gate on Abuja-Kaduna Road.

Except for children and a few vehicles and security personnel, roads in the city were completely empty until later in the afternoon after the curfew was lifted.

Kaduna State Commissioner for Information Mr. Ben Bako, said the curfew was lifted after it was reviewed at a State Security Council meeting.

Bako said: “Following the bomb blast that killed scores of persons on Wednesday leading to the imposition of the 24 hours curfew, an emergency Security Council meeting was summoned today (yesterday) and

A

Explosion at Kano motor park kills five, injures 12

BOMB hidden in a refrigerator exploded yesterday at the New Road Luxury Park in Sabon Gari, Kano, killing five people and injuring 12 others.

The police said only one person died in the park where a bomb killed no fewer than 15 last year – also in July. Boko Haram, the insurgent sect, said it was responsible for that incident.

Yesterday’s blast happened at about 2:30pm when the luxury bus owned by Ifeanyichukwu Industry and Commercial Services Limited, arrived the motor park from Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The front of the bus was shattered. Two other buses were damaged by the explosion.

A source at the motor park recounted the explosion. He said: “A luxury bus had just arrived from Port Harcourt. As the bus parked, some passengers were disembarking. We heard a loud bang which devastated the area.

“People started running helter-skelter. We saw five bodies on the ground, and a woman’s head flew off in a different direction. I do not know whether she was a passenger or not.”

A bus conductor, Umar Isah, said he saw a truckpusher with a fridge inside the truck, pushing it the situation was reviewed, subsequently, the curfew has been lifted.

“Citizens are advised to go about their legitimate businesses, remain calm, vigilant and report any suspicious movement of persons or vehicles to relevant security agents.”

When reporters sought clarification on the curfew, death toll and other matters, Bako said: “No questions; no questions.’’

Contrary to eye witness account that no fewer than 82 people died in the explosion, he said:

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

towards the vehicle, “and in a twinkle of an eye, we heard a deafening sound that rocked the whole motor park. The truck-pusher was severely injured in the process.”

Kano State Commissioner of Police Adenrele Shinaba said: “On arrival, we discovered this luxury bus and damage done to these personal property. All we know is that this luxury bus is getting ready to travel to Port Harcourt.

“In the process of loading the vehicle, one of the trucks that were being pushed was carrying a fridge to be loaded inside the vehicle, and it was from the fridge that the bomb went off. It is presumed that there is a prime explosive concealed inside the refrigerator and that is what we are working on for now.

“So far, I want to confirm that one woman is dead; eight others are injured and have been taken to hospitals for treatment. The injuries are not life threatening, and we shall also, in the shortest time, move to the hospital to see the progress they are making.”

Chief Chris Azuka, the President of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo in Kano, condemned the blast, say-

“39 persons were killed in the twin bomb blast all together; 34 persons died instantly while two died in the evening of the blast and another three died this morning (yesterday morning) with 37 persons injured and receiving treatment at various hospitals.”

It was gathered that 37 injured victims were receiving treatment at 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital.

Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and security chiefs visited Continued on page 61

Continued on page 61

•Yero

Buhari: Nigeria can deal with Boko Haram

F

ORMER Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari relived yesterday his near death experience when a suicide bomber attacked his convoy in Kaduna.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) leader said Nigeria is capable of dealing with terrorism because “we dealt with the civil war,

F

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

for 30 months; we fought and we kept Nigeria one and, God willing, we are going to keep Nigeria one.”

To Gen. Buhari Boko Haram’s activities have nothing to do with religion or ethnicity but an act of Continued on page 61

IBB: bloodletting must stop

ORMER Military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida yesterday said the prevalent bloodletting by Boko Haram must stop.

Gen. Babangida, who made his position known in a statement which he personally signed, said the wanton killings

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

and needless bloodletting had been retarding our growth.

The statement said: “The latest attack in Kaduna on Wednesday by yet unknown persons has once again thrown up new dimensions in the poContinued on page 61

‘Please, don’t let me die’ Continued from page 1

heavy. My right eye had been blown off by the bomb and I lost consciousness. I was rushed

to Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital here by a good Samaritan, I was told after I regained consciousness.”

Bala came from Labar, near Jaji, Kaduna State, to attend Sheikh Bauchi’s lecture.

He added: “I am pleading with the Kaduna State government to look into my plight and save my life and the lives of others affected by the bomb.”

The Nation gathered from a source that of the five victims brought to that hospital, Bala’s case is the most serious.

“His right eye is blown off.

When they brought him, we

quickly took him to the operating room, took care of the wound and he is now stable and partially responding to treatment.”

He said Bala needed to be flown abroad for treatment.

“We suggest that the government should as a matter of urgency, fly the young man abroad for proper treatment because his eye as well as part of his skull was affected by the blast and if it is not treated promptly, the wound can get infected and it may have a serious effect on the victim,” he said.

Five victims of the Alkali Road bombing were brought to the hospital, but four of them who had minor injuries were treated and discharged.

APC asks Jonathan to probe assassination attempt on Buhari

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) demanded yesterday a probe of the botched suicide attempt on a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

To the APC, there seems to be more to the suicide mission than meets the eye. There must be a “believable and credible enquiry”, it said.

APC Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun made the demand in a statement and during an interaction with reporters after a visit by the party’s National Executive Committee to the Catholic Bishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan.

He said: “The APC condemns in strongest terms the abominable spate of bomb blast and almost obvious attempt to take the life of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, (rtd). We understand that the unassuming, peaceful and humble General was on his way to his village, Daura, when a vehicle trailed him.

“We are grateful to God that Gen. Buhari’s life was spared.

Three of his aides were, however, injured in the incident and have been discharged after treatment.

“We urgently appeal to his supporters nationwide to please remain calm in the face of what

From Yusuf Alli and John Ofikhenua, Abuja

seems obvious provocation but strongly urge Mr. President to speedily set up a high-powered probe to unravel those behind the suspicious bomb blast.

“This incident must not be treated as one of the usual Boko Haram atrocities as there seems to be more to it than meets the eye.”

The party expressed “heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives in the first bomb blast which claimed scores of lives in Kaduna”.

It said: “We join their families in praying to Almighty God for the repose of the souls of the dead and speedy recovery of the injured.

“We want to reiterate, once again, that because of the innocent lives being lost on daily basis, we committed our great part to full cooperation with the Jonathan administration in seeking solutions to the insurgency.

“But Jonathan is more intent on politicising the issue to the extent of hiring propagandists from as far away as Russia and United States.”

The APC, for the umpteenth time urged President Goodluck Jonathan to take the protection of Nigerian lives more seriously

and to prudently utilise the “huge” amounts budgeted for security to upgrade our security infrastructure.

“In addition his administration should fully cooperate with the international community in order to crush the Boko Haram insurgency.”

Responding to questions from reporters after meeting with Cardinal Onaiyekan, the APC National Chairman said: “What is critical at this time is that we have made a passionate appeal to all the supporters of Buhari to please maintain the peace and not allow this provocation make them do things to the benefit of enemies of this nation.

“Secondly, particularly to you members of the press, you have noticed recently the tendency of the PDP to want to say that the APC is sponsoring Boko Haram.

They have hired people as far away as Russia. Russians have become security experts who can tell what is happening in Nigeria.

Americans have become security experts who can pronounce who is supporting Boko Haram in Nigeria. At least, one member of the British Parliament has also been told to call for an enquiry into this.

“But yesterday because of the desperation of the ruling party, an

attempt was made on one of the key leaders or goal-getters of the APC and it ought to have been clear to all concerned by now that the major states principally affected are APC states.

“Does somebody set fire on his own house to prove any point?

Won’t that be the height of stupidity? And now, the leader of our party is targeted and yet they are still blaming us, telling the world, telling the nation that the APC is a supporter and financier of Boko Haram. Gentlemen, Nigerians are not idiots. Whoever is doing that thinks Nigerians have taken leave of their reasoning ability.

“It is clear that you do not prove bravery by stabbing yourself. So, the APC cannot prove that it does not like Jonathan by setting APC states on fire. Does that make any sense? So I don’t want to say whose hand is in this pie, whatever the apologists think, let them work. They are the ones who control the security forces.

“They have spent over $20 billion in the last few years for supposedly providing infrastructure for the security forces. Yet, today, there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever. We are on top of the struggle against Boko Haram. So whose finger is in this pie? I think it is fairly obvious.

“Well, we have called for an investigation, that is clear. Two things we did - we appealed to his teeming followers and followers of the APC to please maintain the peace. And for peace to reign, we also called on the government of President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately institute a believable and credible enquiry to unearth what is in fact going on.

Why do they want to target Gen. Buhari? And indeed, why Boko Haram?”

Asked if APC believes that the incident was an assassination attempt on Gen. Buhari, said: “We have no doubt in our mind and we thank God. Bini people say if you are not evil, you won’t die an evil death. Gen. Buhari is one of the most upright human beings we have in this country and God, the Allah he serves has not destined an evil death for him, no matter the machinations of people in government today who seem to have taken all leave of rational thought.

“If they can hire propagandists, cheap Russians, cheap Americans to say that APC is not beyond Boko Haram, has there been an investigation? If a child dies in the morning after the witch flies over at night, isn’t there a connection? Or are they going to tell us that they don’t know what is happening in this

country? We are not government; we have the right to think what we think because government is not delivering on its path of the bargain. They are in charge of security and protecting our lives.

Asked of the connection between the peace which APC is suing for and the allegation of assassination attempt on Gen. Buhari’s life by some forces, Odigie-Oyegun said the link was obvious.

He added: “No, I think it is really straightforward. Maintain peace doesn’t mean you do not know what is going on. What they wanted to provoke, we are telling our members not to fall for these dastardly temptation because if our 10 million supporters, particularly in this part of the country go to town in anger, then this nation will be in trouble. So the connection is very clear.”

Some of those on the entourage of the APC delegation were the Deputy National Chairman, Senator Lawal Shuaib, Senator Chris Ngige, National Treasurer, Alhaji Mohammed Bala, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, and others.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

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NEWS KADUNA BOMB BLASTS

Tambuwal urges arrests

H

OUSE of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has said the twin bombings in Kaduna on Wednesday as cruel, barbaric and heinous crime.

He noted that targeting prominent persons, as it happened in the twin blasts, was regrettable and condemnable.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, the Speaker said killing innocent persons cannot be justified under any guise.

He said whoever was behind the Kaduna blasts should be brought to justice.

Tambuwal thanked God that the apparent targets General Muhammadu Buhari and Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi - escaped unhurt.

But the Speaker was sad that many people were killed in the blasts.

“Our sympathy and condolences are with the families of the victims of the blast. Their loved ones did not die in vain,” he said.

The Speaker prayed for the quick recovery of those injured or traumatised in the blasts.

Bombing ‘desecrates Islam’ From Tony Akowe, Abuja

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APC governors: hold Jonathan responsible for attempt on Buhari

A

LL Progressives Congress (APC) governors, under the aegis of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), said yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan should be held responsible for the attempt on the life of one of its national leaders and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari.

The governors, in a statement titled: PGF Condemns Attempt on Buhari, Holds Jonathan Responsible, noted that the incident happened two days after Gen. Buhari urged Jonathan to stop waging war on Nigerians but to devote more time to the war on terrorism.

The governors condemned the attack, adding that “the double bomb explosions in Kaduna, the loss of innocent lives and what was clearly an attempt to assassinate former

S

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

Head of State and leader of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari”, were not coincidences.

The PGF restated General Buhari’s statement to President Jonathan that it is unwise and against the spirit of social democracy that many innocent people were being killed in the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) quest to demobilise the APC and retain power at all cost.

The governors said the Federal Government had failed in its fundamental responsibility of providing security for Nigerians, yet accusing the opposition in order to shift the blame for the low-intensity war going on in parts of the country.

The statement reads: “Particularly worrisome is the

‘the double bomb explosions in Kaduna, the loss of innocent lives and what was clearly an attempt to assassinate former Head of State and leader of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari’ statement credited to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, that soldiers were deserting the Army for fear of Boko Haram. Our question is: what happened to the vast sums of money devoted to security and defence in the last four years of the Jonathan presidency? Is the

Mark, Ekweremadu: bombing won’t solve our problems

ENATE President David Mark yesterday urged those killing innocent Nigerians to stop it.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, the Senate president noted that no matter the disputes among Nigerians, killings should not be seen as the solution.

Also yesterday, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu condemned the bomb attacks.

Mark said violence or killings, rather than solve any problem, aggravated and complicated them.

Mark said the incessant killings and destruction of property would only worsen Nigeria’s economic and socio-political conditions.

He urged the perpetrators to reason and embrace dialogue.

Mark said: “This resort to bestiality without human

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

feeling any more is what cannot be contemplated or tolerated in a descent society.

There are a lot of channels, including the law courts or the National Assembly, for any aggrieved person or group of persons to seek redress.

“Resort to killings is inhuman, barbaric and reprehensible. Let us meet at a common ground to solve this problem. Life is too precious to be wasted. I also know that no religion anywhere in the world preaches violence or killing of people.”

The Senate president urged the security agencies not to be deterred by the development but to work harder in the war against terrorism.

He condoled with the bereaved families and advised Nigerians to be more vigilant.

Ekweremadu described the bombings as a double tragedy aimed at the soul of the nation.

A statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, quoted Ekweremadu to have expressed a deep sense of loss over the mass killing and destruction of property by the perpetrators.

The deputy Senate president also expressed solidarity with former Head of State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, and the Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, over the bombings.

He noted that those behind the attacks were “unrepentant agents of Satan and desperate schemers bent on throwing the nation into chaos and bloodshed”.

Ekweremadu said: “This is

desertion of soldiers linked to the theft of money meant for military equipment?

“We call on the Federal Government to take urgent and radial steps to investigate the assassination attempt and make its finding public. In the meantime, we urge President Jonathan to manage his obsession with power and work for the citizens of this country.

“It is a great shame that Nigeria, under President Jonathan, has become the most dangerous place in the world in terms of deadly terrorist attacks. While we rejoice with General Buhari and others who narrowly escaped death, we commiserate with the families who have lost loved ones in the explosions and other attacks across the country – whether by terrorists or nameless, faceless assassins.”

ORTHERN delegates to the Na•Mark tional Conference another desperation to aghave said Wednesday’s twin gravate and exploit the bomb blasts in Kaduna tarnation’s faulty lines. They geted former Head of State, have attacked churches to set General Muhammadu Christians at war with their Buhari and Islamic scholar Muslim brethren, but withSheik Dahiru Bauchi. out success. They unleashed They said the action vioterror on the mosques to set lated Islam because it hapthe country aflame, but that pened in the holy month of too did not work. Thus, the Ramadan. unsuccessful attacks on maIn a statement yesterday jor opposition and religious by the spokesman of the leaders were yet another heiNorthern Delegates’ Forum, nous plot to get at the soul of Anthony Sani, the delegates this nation.” described the explosion as The deputy Senate presiheinous and condemnable. dent called for caution and The statement dismissed restraint among politicians insinuations that Boko to avoid heating up the polHaram was the formation ity. of some Northern leaders to make the country ungovernable for President Goodluck Jonathan because of his religion and region.

It noted that members of the insurgent group had never hidden their desire to bring the North under its ridiculous brand of Islam and divide the country along religious lines.

The delegates warned that “Nigerians should not make the mistake of allowing insurgency to redefine our togetherness”.

The statement added: “The twin bombs, which exploded in Kaduna during the month of Ramadan yesterday (Wednesday) ostensibly targeted at General Buhari and Sheik Dahiru Bauchi, are heinous and condemnable.

“The bombs are condemnable, not only because of the loss of lives and because of those injured but also (because) the bombs desecrate the religion of Islam, which forbids such actions against sacred inviolability of the individual. Worse •New Corps Marshall, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi (middle) being decorated by his predestill, (it happened) during cessor, now Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka (left) and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius the month of Ramadan.”

Anyim, in Abuja...yesterday PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Canada, Spain condemn bombing From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

THE Canadian and Spanish governments have condemned Wednesday’s bombing in Kaduna.

The opposition party’s candidate in the 2011 presidential election, Gen. Muhammad Buhari, narrowly escaped death as the bombers targeted his convoy.

In separate statements, both countries called for justice against the perpetrators of the bombing.

The Canadian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deepak Obhrai said: “Canada condemns in the strongest terms the two terrorists attacks in Nigeria, Kaduna region, which killed 82 innocent victims.

“These cowardly acts took place on one of the most important nights of Ramadan. Reports are that one of the bombs targeted a former Nigerian leader, General Buhari. They also followed on the heels of Boko Haram’s brutal destruction of Damboa and recent attacks on Chibok, the hometown of the kidnapped girls.”

PDP condemns blasts From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned Wednesday’s twin bomb attacks in Kaduna.

Over 85 persons were killed in the attacks.

The party described the bombings as dastardly and unfortunate.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, PDP mourned the victims of the blasts.

The party also joined other well-meaning Nigerians in thanking God for saving the lives of General Muhammadu Buhari and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, whose convoys were affected in the attacks.

“We sincerely sympathise with General Buhari. Our hearts go out to him and all those affected in these wicked attacks,” it said.

Attacks barbaric, says Tukur FORMER Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Dr Bamanga Tukur, has condemned the Wednesday twin bombings in Kaduna.

The newly appointed Ambassador at Large said such attacks are against the teachings of Islam, the religion of peace.

A statement yesterday by the Senior Assistant in the office of the politician, Jenny Moses, said: “Our prayers are with those that who died, were wounded and saved from the hands of terrorists.

Our country is going through some challenges. We condemn the killing of innocent people and attack on political and religious leaders.

“There is no religion that supports or incites their followers to such barbaric acts.”

THE NATION FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014

6

NEWS

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Fanaticism has taken over Nigeria, says Omatseye

HE Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation, Mr Sam Omatseye, has said the increasing religious fanaticism in the country has led to endless killings.

The award-winning columnist and author spoke last night at the MUSON Centre in Onikan, Lagos, where he staged a play, titled: The Siege. It was in honour of Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka on his 80th birthday.

Omatseye decried the inability of Christians and Muslims to find the right language to communicate because of religious differences.

Addressing reporters on

•Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan (left) greeting Senator Chris Ngige during when National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun (middle) led the party’s executive on a visit to the cleric in Abuja...yesterday PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

By Nneka Nwaneri

the play, he said: “We are beginning to talk in terms of religion rather than in terms of humanity. So, the book seeks to bring into focus the humanity of our differences.

“The book is about a clash of beliefs and the lack of fidelity to country and land, forgetting that beneath all of this, there is a very decent humanity.

“This play is a classic story that lives with us today because we are in a world where we are gradually slipping into fanatical phthisis.”

The play is based on historical events with their tragedy, egotism and the pains of their cruel wisdom, he added.

CAN condemns Kano, Kaduna explosions From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

I

PSC shortlists two DIGs, two AIGs, CP to succeed Abubakar

NSPECTOR-General of Police (IGP) M o h a m m e d Abubakar may not get a tenure extension from President Goodluck Jonathan, it was learnt yesterday.

Already, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has submitted the files of two Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs), two Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) and a Commissioner of Police (CP) to the Presiden to enable him make a choice.

It was learnt that President Jonathan was studying the files and may make a pronouncement any moment.

Abubakar is due for retirement on July 31. He will proceed on retirement on that date and hand over to the most senior officer, if the

C

By Jude Isiguzo

President refuses to extend his tenure before that day.

A source said: “If the President does not announce Abubakar’s tenure extension before July 31, he will proceed on retirement. This is because that is his terminal date in the police. If it happens that a new IGP is not appointed, he will hand over to the most senior officer, that is the DIG ‘A’ Department.

“He (Abubakar) cannot stay a day beyond July 31, unless his tenure is extended.

This is because all his course mates would retire on that day. In fact, about 60 senior officers are retiring this July.”

It was also learnt that if the

President is really interested in the tenure extension of the IGP, he would not have requested fom the PSC the files of those considered qualified for the job.

Among the DIGs being considered, one would be retiring next year, it was learnt. The other, the source said, has about seven years to stay in service.

The DIG has about seven more years to put in service and is from the Northwest.

The other is from Southsouth.

Sources told our reporter that the DIG from the Southsouth may not be favoured because the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, is from that zone. His choice may mess

things up for the President.

He is also said to be a loyalist of a former military leader from the North.

Of the two shortlisted AIGs, one is highly educated and a respected detective, who was a Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to three former IGPs. He is from Edo State, the Southsouth. He is also said to be highly favoured among those shortlisted.

The other AIG, it was learnt, is from Niger State in the Northcentral. He was a Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and was in Lagos State as the supervising CP during 2007 elections.

The sources said the only police commissioner on the list is a former controversial Rivers State police chief.

Strike stalls judgment in Ogbulafor’s trial

OURT workers’ strike stalled yesterday the scheduled judgment in the trial former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Vincent Ogbulafor, and another accused person.

Justice Ishaq Bello of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on June 24, scheduled judgment for yesterday after entertaining the final arguments of the parties.

When our correspondent visited the court yesterday, its gate was locked. The security personnel on duty said the court would remain locked until the strike is called off by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

Ogbulafor and former Secretary of the National Economic Intelligence Committee, Emeka Ebila, are being tried by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 16-count of money laundering and fraud involving about N170 million.

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

The ICPC arraigned the duo on May 10, 2010, alleging that Ogbulafor, while serving as Minister of State for Special Duties in 2001, conspired with the others to float three fictitious companies with which they perpetrated the fraud.

The accused were alleged to have used Henrichiko Nigeria Limited, DHL Consultants and Chekwas Industries to fraudulently obtain N82.6 million, N11.5 million and N6.2 million in 2001.

Ogbulafor was also ac-

cused of using his position as the head of the National Economic Intelligence Committee, set up to verify debts owed local contractors, to okay as genuine, several forged documents.

He was alleged to have relied on the forged documents to certify that the three fake companies successfully executed jobs worth N104 million.

The former PDP chairman was also alleged to have collected N2 million and N28 million kickbacks from Ebilah.

The offences contravene

Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Ogbulafor’s lawyer, John Egwuonwu, while adopting his final written address on June 24, urged the court to discharge and acquit his client on all the counts.

He averred that the prosecution’s case failed to link his client to the crime.

Egwuonwu urged the court to jettison the allegation in Ebila’s “confessional statement” that the sum of N28 million was paid to Ogbulafor with two bank drafts.

First Lady decries delay in Chibok girls’ release

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IGERIA’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has expressed concern about the delay in the release of the abducted Chibok girls by members of the Boko Haram sect.

Mrs Jonathan spoke in Windhoek, Namibia, when she met with the Nigerian community.

She empathised with families of the girls and the entire Chibok community, saying that soon the girls would be released.

“As a mother, I am very worried over the abduction of these girls; I share the pains of the mothers whose children were abducted,” Mrs Jonathan said.

“We women of Nigeria, we have fasted and prayed that wherever they are, they will be

released safely and that God will touch the minds of members of the sect,” she said.

She commended the security agencies for their efforts, adding that the girls would be back home soon.

Mrs Jonathan also praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for their patriotic zeal in fighting terrorism and urban violence, especially in the Northeast.

The First Lady urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to support government and the military in putting an end to the insurgency across the country, especially in the Northeast.

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HE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed sadness over Wednesday’s twin bomb explosions in Kaduna and yesterday’s motor park bombing in Kano.

Over 80 people died in the Kaduna blasts and five confirmed dead in the Kano bomb. Scores of people were injured and property worth several millions were destroyed in the incidents.

The umbrella Christian body said it is regretful that such an incident is happening in our communities at this time especially when all faithful are in search for genuine reconciliation with their God and seek peaceful coexistence with their neighbours.

It prayed God for saving the lives of two prominent Nigerians, former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and an Islamic cleric, Dahiru Bauchi, in the bomb attacks.

Judges, lawyers hold valedictory session for Aturu

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HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held yesterday a special valedictory session in honour of the late lawyer and activist, Mr Bamidele Aturu.

Aturu died on July 9 in Lagos after a brief illness.

The valedictory programme, which held at the Bar Centre, GRA, Ikeja, was attended by senior members of the Bench and Bar and other sympathisers.

NBA Ikeja branch Chairman Yinka Farounbi described the late Aturu as a committed member of the

By Adebisi Onanuga

branch who served in various capacities.

He said the branch would immortalise the late Aturu with an annual programme, adding that his death was a big loss to the legal community.

Farounbi said the event was historic because it was the first for any lawyer.

Also, NBA Lagos branch Chairman Alex Mouka said the late Aturu was never afraid to speak up against any form of injustice.

Fed Govt signs power station MoU

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HE Federal Government and the United States (U.S) governments signed yesterday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 1,500 megawatts (MW) gas/fuel power station and 70MW solar panel station.

The U.S said the 70MW power generating station would be used in rural areas and last for 30-50 years, if properly maintained.

It said the solar power station would consolidate and strengthen the Power sector.

The Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, saigned both pacts for the Federal Government while the U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. James Entwistle, signed for his country.

Nebo said: “With regard to the Power Africa Initiative, when President (Barack) Obama visited Africa last year, he decided that in the first phase, six African countries would be the beneficiaries of the initiative. Nigeria happens to be one of them.

Nigeria and the U.S have had very good relationship in the past.

“Through the USAID, the

From Grace Obike, Abuja

United States government has provided professional advisory works for many areas of our Power sector. Some of the policies that came out are being bestowed...

“The USAID has been in the forefront of policy making, backing up the Nigerian electricity trading company as well as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Together, we can say that the journey so far is a very decent one...”

Entwistle said: “I’m struck that almost every conversation I have with every Nigerian always comes down to the problems in the Power sector, which defines everything in this country and the rest of Africa.

“A good number of people around the world, including Nigeria, do not have access to reliable electricity. Power Africa Initiative is not just about electricity. It is about the power to transform lives. The access to electricity will increase the number and variety of jobs and decrease poverty, better health care, better access to education that will improve the economy...”

THE NATION FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014

7

NEWS ‘My life in danger’

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PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Oyo State, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoenia, has said his life is in danger over the attempted murder on former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Mukaila Lamidi (Auxiliary).

Olopoenia spoke yesterday with reporters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. He said: “I received information this morning that some politicians in this state have submitted my name and 11 other PDP chieftains’ state to some security operatives naming me to be involved with the Auxiliary murder

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

case. Am I a union member or a politician and a businessman? I have received various threat messages on my phone that some people the party want to kill me and I have informed the police about this development last month.

My life is not safe any longer. That was the same way the former NURTW boss, Alhaji Lateef Salako (Elewe Omo), was assassinated too.”

“I believe this accusation is coming from a PDP governorship aspirant who doesn’t want me to support someone whom I believe so much in to transform this state in 2015.”

Investiture for Rotary President

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HE Rotary Club of Festac Town, District 9110 Nigeria will tomorrow hold the investiture ceremony of its 33rd President, Rotarian Gabriel Onyema. The programme will also feature the induction of the 2014-2015 board of directors and the launching of the club’s projects.

The event will take place at the Gold Tulip Festac Hotel, Amuwo Odofin by 12 noon.

A member of the House of Representatives, Asiwaju Jerry Alagbaoso, is the Special Guest of Honour and Dr. Emeka Osuji as a Guest Speaker.

Ogun APC sure of victory in 2015, says chairman

O

GUN State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday assured members and supporters that it will control the state in 2015.

The party said it would allow a level-playing field for all aspirants.

Its Chairman, Chief Roqeeb Adeniji, spoke at a mega rally at Abeokuta, the state capital.

He lauded the APC faithful and supporters for their support and commitment.

Adeniji said: “Irrespective of the propaganda and lies peddled against him (Amosun) by members of the opposition political parties, he will emerge victorious in 2015.

“We are here for three things: first, to thank party loyalists for their support at keeping the machinery of the party functioning till date.

“Since the conduct of the party’s ward, local and state congresses as well as the attendant inauguration, there has never been opportunity

Man petitions IGP over son’s death From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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FATHER, Chief Raheem Badmus, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police(IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, for the alleged killing of his son, Oluwatobi at ‘B’ Division Police Station in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

In the petition by his lawyer, Badmus said his only son died as a result from injuries sustained when in police custody over allegation of stealing a handset.

Badmus said the death of his son rattled him as the boy was hale and hearty.

Badmus urged the IGP to probe the death to bring the perpetrators to book.

The Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO), Wole Ogodo, said the Area Commander in charge had commenced investigation.

Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

for the elected state party executive members to say thank you. But the rally was to publicly present state executive members to party loyalists to enable them properly familiarise with other members of the party.

“Secondly, to reassure party loyalists that Ogun APC has not and will never lose its grip of the state as being championed by the opposition in their propaganda that they will take over Ogun state from APC and Amosun.”

Jonathan’s re-election tears Ogun LP apart

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HE second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan has deepened the crisis in the Ogun State chapter of the Labour Party (LP).

A faction of the party, led

by Mr Bode Simeon, said yesterday that former Governor Gbenga Daniel cannot speak for it.

In a statement, the party said: “Daniel is neither a party executive member in the state nor a national leader and as such, he is unqualified to arrange or midwife an alliance between LP and the Peoples Democratic Par-

•’Daniel can’t speak for us’ From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

ty (PDP) regarding 2015 general elections.”

The faction said the issue of forming any alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to work for President Goodluck Jonathan could only be taken by Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the National Chairman, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu.

Simeon said: “The issues of support for the 2 nd term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 remain

the prerogative of the national political head and the national leadership of labour party.

“Otunba Gbenga Daniel neither has the authorisation of the national leadership nor mine as the chairman, before making the misguided statements.

He is not qualified to speak, arrange, midwife, represent or make pronouncement on issues that are the sacrosanct duties of the national leadership of labour party.

“It is not only criminal but absurd for anyone to parade themselves as officers of Ogun Labour Party. Therefore, the only executive recognised by the constitution of labour party and the national leadership is Comrade Bode Simeon lead executives.

“Since there is still a subsisting court injunction that the status quo be maintained in the dispute that arose over the Labour Party structure, any one parading himself or herself as officers of Ogun Labour Party is an attempt to subvert the constitution of Nigeria.”

Lagos police launch counter-terrorism campaign

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HE police in Lagos have launched a counter–terrorism campaign.

Police spokesperson Ngozi Braide, a deputy superintendent (DSP) at a news conference yesterday, urged citizens to be vigilant.

She said: “You must strive to know not only the person living in your house but in the surrounding environment. Find out their means of livelihood.

Observe what your neighbour normally brings home at night and what he normally leaves with in the morning. ‘’Landlords should conduct background checks on all their prospective tenant. They should meet with their tenants from time to time. Community leaders, working in conjunction with the local police, are encouraged to form neighbourhood associations to appraise the security situation in their areas. Do not

By Jude Isiguzo

keep any object that will aid criminals to have easy access to your premises, like ladder beside the wall.

Owners of uncompleted buildings must clear them of undesirable persons or request the assistance of security agencies to do so where necessary.

“Park owners, garage operators and operators of shopping malls must ensure that they thoroughly scan, search and take stock of all vehicles parked within and around the premises of such public places.

“Hotels and hospitality industries should always screen their guests and lodgers properly and ensure that they obtain accurate details of all guests.

Corporate citizens high0end commercial and residential establishments, institutions mega churches/ mosques and individuals with valuable assets, including hotel an park owners are encouraged to in-

stall Closes Circuit Television (CCTV) and other surveillance systems strategically on their promises to help in monitoring and capturing criminal activities.

“Draw the attention of the police or other security agencies to vehicles parked or abandoned by unknown persons. Empty containers, gas cylinders, dustbins and other receptacles not in use must be properly disposed of or kept away from the reach of unauthorised persons.

“Do not allow unknown persons to drop or abandon bags, boxes, fruit barrows or trolleys, articles of trade, cartons or any wrapped or sealed containers around your premises. Legitimate sellers of chemicals such as fertilizer, ammonium products, acid, etc should be wary of persons they sell such products to. All suspicious orders should be immediately reported to the security agencies.

“Always check your sur-

roundings for suspicious, unexplained and dangerous objects and immediately inform the police where any such object is found.

Never accept to take possession of or watch over any bag or object kept by unknown person or persons. Be vigilant at public places as objects such as bombs can be kept by unscrupulous person in unattended bags, packages, containers, cars. In the unforeseen circumstances of a bomb blast, stay away from the blast scene.

“Avoid the temptation of rushing to the scene (except your work with any of the Security or Emergency Management Agencies).

Remember, terrorist often detonate secondary explosives in order to harm innocent by standers and onlookers. Always report suspicious person or movement with your neighbourhood to the police or other security agencies through available means of communication”.

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THE NATION FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014

NEWS OSUN 2014

LP to voters: be wary of ‘rice-sharing-politicians’

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (left) acknowledging cheers from his admirers and pupils of Nawirudeen (NUD) Middle School, Ikire, during the school’s inauguration.

INSET: Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi LaoyeTomori (left); Aregbesola; Akire of Ikire, Oba Olatunde Falabi; a member of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Ayo Omidiran and others, at the event.

By Sina Fadare and Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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APC alleges plan by Omisore, PDP to cause mayhem O SUN State All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore, are planning to cause mayhem after the August 9 poll.

The party’s spokesperson, Kunle Oyatomi, in a statement yesterday, said the PDP was also planning to set the voting process in disarray before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announces a “pre-determined election result.”

The statement reads: “We understand the PDP is resorting to this vicious alternative because it is not succeeding in changing the people’s support for Rauf Aregbesola and the APC despite the cash and materials it is doling out to

‘It’s not in our character’

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

the citizens.

“One of the PDP’s most ridiculous and mocked attempts to deceive the world that Iyiola Omisore has popular support is the sexed-up photograph being sponsored in the media since last weekend, purporting to show Omisore addressing a so-called huge crowd at a campaign rally in Apomu.

“Osun citizens are laughing their heads out at the folly explicit in that photograph because it is public knowledge here in the state that Omisore was nowhere at

Apomu, in Isokan Local Government Area at the time the picture was said to have been taken. Besides, there was no way Omisore could get that kind of crowd at Apomu.

“Confronted with the faux pas of the loud rejection of the person of its candidate for the August 9 election, the PDP is seized with a rage and determination to wade through the blood of Osun people, if that is the last resort left to win.”

“But we in the APC believe that rage or no rage, war or no war, PDP cannot take Osun with blood and violence and survive.”

But Omisore denied that he and the PDP would cause mayhem after the election.

His Media Director, Prince Diran Odeyemi, said it was not in his character or neither the PDP’s culture to create chaos.

He said rather than addressing their “so-called findings” on the pages of the newspapers, the APC should forward names of the PDP members, who are planning mayhem before, during and after the election, to the police.

Odeyemi said: “We don’t know where they have got their allegation. Rather than concentrate on developmental issues, the APC is only trying to distract us from serious matters.

They have allegation for each day and I know they will provide for each day till the day of election.”

Jonathan advised to allow free, fair poll

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MEMBER of the Aregbesola Campaign Organisation (ACO), Prince Solagbade Amodeni, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to allow free and fair election on August 9.

He observed that the desperation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to capture Osun State at all costs without minding its repercussions would not augur well for the nation’s nascent democracy.

Amodeni, a former Commissioner in Ondo State, said Governor Rauf Aregbesola had used his acumen to transform the state through physical and infrastructural development, stressing that people were ready to show appreciation to him through massive votes.

Besides, he said the governor had surpassed any other past governors in the state by allowing all citizenry to practise their religion to the best of their abilities.

Speaking to The Nation in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Amodeni said the Christian Praying Ground under construction in Osun State is unprecedented in the history of any state in Nigeria.

According to him, “During the burial ceremony of Prophet Timothy Obadare, not only he was there personally, his

HE Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Osun State, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, has warned voters to be wary of politicians, who are distributing rice.

Akinbade said the trend was a cheap way of manipulating the people’s mind, warning that if the voters fall for their “Greek gift,” they could be put in another four agonising years.

The LP candidate, in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Kayode Oladeji, described the development as an insult on the psyche of well-meaning people.

“Were they distributing these rice and kerosene before? It is nothing but a tactical ploy by these politicians to mortgage the future of the public,” he said.

He argued that if the politicians had good intentions and programmes for the people, they would not be distributing the rice.

“Politicians engaging in such an act are only afraid of their shadows. They know too well that with somebody like me in the race, the tide will be in my favour. I have God and the people; so rice or no rice, I will win by the grace of the people and the valued support of our people.”

Akinbade said the deployment of heavy security in the August 9 polls would allow for a peaceful conduct of the exercise.

Besides, he urged the people not to be swayed by the antics of his opponents, particularly the PDP, about their rumoured alliance, insisting that he would never enter into any alliance with the party or its candidate.

According to his media aide, Akinbade spoke at Ile-Ogbo, Ayedire Local Government area, while addressing the people during his campaign tour.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

whole cabinet members were there and the state’s financial contribution to the successful burial of the famous religious leader was unrivalled.

Amodeni recalled that when Aregbesola campaign was launched in Ile-Ife, the opposition said the surging crowd that attended the rally were rented. The blackmail, he said, later stopped when they saw subsequent mega rallies becoming huge by the day.

He said: “There is no way you can compare Ekiti election to that of Osun because the personalities involved are different and its people are different. Ekiti people were caught unaware and APC left the election for Governor Fayemi alone either through omission or

commission.

The former commissioner noted that though Aregbesola and his team could win the election single-handedly in Osun State, but said: “People are not taking things for granted. We are fully prepared for the political abracadabra and antics of PDP during the election.”

“We will do everything possible to ensure that the integrity of the ballot papers shall be tested during the poll and the whole world will know APC members are ready for any eventuality during the election.

Amodeni argued that under free and fair election devoid of any malpractices or using of Federal apparatus, “the PDP candidate, Iyiola Omisore, would not score more than 10 percent,” saying he would

only come in distant third because according to him, his party had no crowd in Osun State.

His words: “We are fully prepared for the contest, if PDP has anything to show, they will not resort to violence and visible destruction of APC’s candidate billboards and posters.”

The politician noted that in his 30 years of active politicking, Aregbesola would be the first candidate that would not “use his personal money to purchase campaign materials like billboards, posters, vests, key holders and even pay for radio and television jingles.”

He disclosed that all materials for Aregbesola’s political campaigns were donated through friends, including himself and numerous political associates.

‘No to military deployment’

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LAGOS-based group, New Lagos Movement, has condemed “plots” by the Federal Government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the Osun State governorship election.

The group also flayed the move to deploy soldiers for the poll.

In a statement by its President, Niyi Akinsiju and Publicity Secretary, Gbenga Fakoya, the group claimed the troops’ deployment was designed to pave the way for the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) candidate, Iyiola Omisore, to win the poll.

It said it was compelled to raise the alarm following events that characterised

the Ekiti State governorship election.

The group alleged that some soldiers harassed All Progressives Congress (APC) members and sympathisers and searched hotels without warrant on the eve of the election.

By so doing, the group said fear was instilled in the electorate and members of APC, thereby resulting in the low turn-out of voters for the election.

The statement added that the Federal Government was deploying troops in Osun to “monitor the election and repeat the same unholy feat by which they secured the Government House in Ekiti for Ayodele Fayose.”

ODA: politicians don’t turn Osun into a theatre of war

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HE Osun Development Association (ODA) has called on politicians, especially those vying in the August 9 governorship election, not to turn the state into a theatre of

war.

The association’s Chairman, Prof. Olu Aina and Secretary, Mr. Ademola Fabunmi, in statement yesterday, noted with dismay what it described as “the disturbing reports of acts of thuggery, threats to life, arms stockpile and vandalism associated with the state’s electioneering,” warning that such activities have the unhealthy tendency to mar next month’s governorship election.

“We are extremely worried that rather than focusing on strategies to win the hearts and minds of the electorate, politicians in Osun are preparing for outright war. The ugly trend is, unfortunately, reinforced by alarming and reckless pronouncements by political leaders boasting that their parties would win the election at all costs. “We therefore, call on all stakeholders, particularly politicians, not to turn Osun State into a theatre of needless conflict, which would disrupt the prevailing peace and harmony of the people of Osun and stifle the state’s development,” the statement stated.

It called on President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Government to live up to their claim of utmost neutrality in elections by ensuring that the Osun poll is credible.

The association warned that the bloated or excessive deployment of security operatives for the election has the potential to intimidate voters.

Don’t trust politicians, SDP candidate tells civil servants

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OCIAL Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Osun State, Mr. Olusegun Akinwusi, has stated that civil servants are better managers of men and resources than professional politicians.

Akinwusi spoke during an interaction with a group of retirees in his campaign office in Osogbo yesterday.

He decried the manner in which politicians had nearly ran the nation aground, saying it would be suicidal for public servants to wholly entrust their lives in the promises of politicians.

The SDP governorship candidate, who served former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the incumbent, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola as

Head of Service (HOS), stated that he had been among politicians and therefore knows what they were up to.

He stated that civil servants are technocrats who ensure stability and continuity of government and have contributed immensely to the development of the nation.

“Public officers are expected to be loyal, anonymous

and impartial to government but that is not saying we must be blind followers of politicians. Now, they are going around making several promises to civil servants in the state but none of them can be trusted.

“It is dangerous to just believe in today’s Nigerian politicians who are unstable in their ways. Yesterday they

were in PDP, today, they are in APC and by tomorrow they jump back to PDP. Can they be trusted? I say no. We cannot take them by their words” “Now, they are prostrating and begging for votes, if by chance they get into office, they become the kings and we become the slaves. They will rule with iron fists as if we are nobody”, he stated.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

9

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Suspected case of Ebola found in Lagos

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LIBERIAN suspected to have the Ebola virus is being kept in a Lagos hospital, the government said yesterday.

The 40-year-old Liberian arrived in Lagos from Monrovia last Sunday, Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adesina told reporters.

The briefing was attended by the Director, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Prof. Abdulsalami Nacidi; Head, Virology Reference

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

Laboratory, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Dr. Sunday Omilabu; Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, and representatives of national and international agencies involved in the prevention and control of the disease.

Dr. Adesina said the victim’s history revealed that he never had contact with a person infected with the virus.

According to her, it was also found that he had no

records of partaking in the funeral of any person who died of Ebola Virus.

Dr. Adesina said: “The patient was admitted and detained on suspicion for possible EBV infections while blood sample collection and testing were initiated, including samples of the Virology Reference Laboratory LUTH, Idi-Araba. Blood samples were also sent to a World Health Organisation (WHO) Reference Laboratory in Dakar Senegal which is actively in process and re-

sults are pending.

“Presently, the patient’s condition is stable and he is recovering. The diarrhoea and vomiting have stopped ... Universal Infection Prevention and Control has been instituted to prevent spread of the disease and guarantee safety of other patient and staff of the health facility.”

Nacidi said the Federal Government was not leaving Lagos State alone in the struggle to prevent the disease from spreading.

Police arrest 12 for alleged visa fraud

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HE Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) has arrested 12 Nigerians at the United States of America (USA) Embassy for their alleged involvement in visa fraud.

The suspects are: Oloni Olufemi Olawale, Olugbenga Akinlade, Motunrayo Adeniyi, Samuel Ojo, Ogundipe Temidayo Emmanuel, Babatunde Oluropo Abiola, Babatunde Alexandra Adenike, Oyewole Emmanuel Tunde, Abelese Eunice Olayinka, Christiana Oweyu Omagu, Donald Omagu and Idrisu Tella Martins.

PSFU spokesperson, Ngozi Isintume-Agu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said they were arrested between July 9 and 17.

She said a petition from the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos alleged that a person, simply identified as Esther, with December 31, 1988 as date of birth, appeared at the embassy for Non-Immigrant Visa Interview with forged Canadian Visa, Turkish Visa, and Angola Visa, with entry and exit stamps, claiming to have visited the said countries.

Investigation revealed that the said visas were purportedly forged by her boyfriend, Olawale, to fraudulently obtain the U.S. visa after paying him N100,000 for all the fake visas.

The US embassy also alleged that Olugbenga with Passport No. A0573775 appeared before it for an immigrant visa interview with fake name, Awoleye Oluwamuyiwa Tope with January 1, 1982 as date of birth.

By Jude Isiguzo

It was also gathered that Adewole Tanwa Fatimah ‘F’ whose real name is Adeniyi Motunrayo appeared at the U.S. Embassy with Adewole Adeyemi Oluwaseun for a diversity visa interview.

Isintume-Agu said: “Also, one Omoyemi Bamikole Olaiya, born on January 22, 1984, whose real name is Samuel Ojo, appeared for a diversity visa lottery. He knowingly and fraudulently appeared at the embassy to steal the identity of the real winner. The U.S. Consulate alleged that Ibenne

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Emmanuel Nkem on July 15, came for U.S. Immigrant Visa with Nigerian e-passport No. A05593775. The suspect’s real name is Ogundipe Temidayo Emmanuel. The suspect’s intention was to defraud the real winner of the DV Lottery.

“Babatunde Oluropo Abiola and Babatunde Alexandra Adenike presented forged bio-data, wedding pictures, marriage certificate and fake result to the embassy. Their real names are Oguntimehin Olanike and Aderoju Olayinka Eunice.

Also one Aderoju Adebayo Qasim and Aderoju Olayinka Eunice presented forged bio-data and fake document to the embassy for immigrant visa. Their real names are Oyewole Emmanuel Tunde and Abelese Eunice Olayinka.

Both suspects fraudulently appeared at the embassy to steal the identity of the real winner of the Diversity Visa Lottery.

She said all the suspects will be charged to court to serve as a deterrent to others after conclusion of investigations.

Alleged robbery: Seven bankers, six OUR cashiers, three se- policemen held matter is now with SARS. It is believed that there is an curity guards and six

policemen have been held in connection with Wednesday’s robbery at the Okokomaiko, Alaba, Lagos branch of the Fidelity Bank.

The suspects were arrested following investigations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) led by Abba Kyarri, a Superintendent of Police (SP).

The robbery occurred barely a month after a similar attack on the bank, in which a riot police officer was killed. The robbers made away with N24 million.

Last Wednesday, robbers stormed the bank and blocked two bullion vans as they drove into its premises.

The robbers were allegedly armed with AK47 rifles and magazines wrapped round their bodies.

The bullion vans were escorted by seven policemen from the heavily armed Bar Beach Police Station on

By Jude Isiguzo

Victoria Island, with two spy policemen and others.

The robbers overwhelmed the police escorts, killing two of the spy policemen.

Eyewitnesses said one died on the spot; the other on the way to the hospital. A police corporal, who was also shot, is critically ill in hospital.

The robbers broke open the first bullion, carting away all the money in it. They riddled the other van with bullets in their attempt to force it open.

When they did not succeed, they disappeared with the loot from the first van.

A police source said: “One of the spy policemen who died was a driver, while the second used to load money into bullion vans. Six policemen have been detained and four cashiers of Fidelity Bank.”

Another source said: “The

insiders’ connection. I heard that investigation has started immediately. The Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko is suspecting a foul play, considering that the bank had only recently been robbed in the same manner.

He asked why it was always Fidelity Bank.”

Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide confirmed the incident, saying: “The incident did not occur at Fidelity Bank, but at the bank’s box office, where the bank officials used to box money before moving it out. Only one spy policeman was killed.

The robbers would have been caught, but because it was in the market, our policemen did not want to shoot. The bullet could hit innocent people. The car attacked was the bank’s bullion van and it came to pick boxed money.

The money taken away was about N24 million.”

Sanitation holds tomorrow

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HE July edition of the monthly environmental sanitation will hold across Lagos State on Saturday between the 7am and 10am, Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello said yesterday.

He urged residents to actively participate in the exercise to complement the state government’s efforts at the statewide cleaning and maintenance of drainage channels as the rainy season reaches its peak.

Residents, he advised, should dispose of filth rightly, as the state’s waste management agency (LAWMA) and other authorised private sector operators.

The commissioner warned residents who still patronise cart pushers to desist from the act.

To ensure full participation as well as total compliance to restriction order dur-

ing the exercise, he warned private/commercial vehicle operators, inter-state bus operators, state transport owners and road transport workers association to comply with the restriction of vehicular movement order.

He warned that any vehicle caught violating the order would be dealt with, while their passengers would face prosecution according to the state’s sanitation laws.

•Bello

Council chiefs, cleric seek peace

By Emmanuel Udodinma

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HE Chairman, Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, Hon. Olumuyiwa Oloro; his Oto-Awori counterpart, Hon. Bolaji Robert and popular Islamic cleric, Alhaji Muyideen Bello, have urged more prayers for the country.

Oloro, who made the call yesterday, said the various troubled besetting the nation call for fervent prayer during the ongoing Ramadan. He added that he had just given some donations to over 300 Muslim faithful in his domain in support of their fasting.

Robert and Bello spoke at the sixth Annual Bibiire Ramadan lecture and special prayer held at Ijankin, a Lagos suburb.

“Today‘s lecture is timely due to the incessant security challenges in the country. We should learn how to dwell peacefully with one another. We should be tolerant of one another’s belief and be a worthy example of responsible citizenry,” Robert said On security, he said the council had stepped up arrangement to protect lives and property, adding that strategic measures were being taken to forestall breakdown of law and order in Oto- Awori LCDA. In his lecture, Bello warned politicians against making statement that could cause mayhem in the society.

“As Muslims, this is the period to devote ourselves to Allah to cleanse the land of the terrorist activities of Boko Haram and other forms of violence perpetrated in the country. We should abstain from sin and worship our creator with our hearts,” he said.

Church holds conference

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OSPEL acts including Mike Aremu, Seun Bankole, KSB, Prince Gozie Okeke, the Akanchawa crooner, Iroko, Precious Okuchukwu, and Frank Edward are performing at the 12th Azusa conference which began yesterday at the Revival Assembly, Ogba, Lagos. It will end on Sunday.

The four-day conference also features international gospel musicians like Emmy Madubuko and Eunice Njeri from Kenya.

However, the spiritual gathering will not be all about music as men of God, led by Victor Mark, O.S.A Aiyemo, will preach during the two sessions that daily hold at the conference.

A statement by its convener and General Overseer, Revival Assembly, Anselm Madubuko, noted that the third day would be dedicated to ministers, while the programme would climax with the Azusa Praise Jamz - a six-hour praise programme.

‘Be conscious of your environment’

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•Senator Gbenga Ashafa’s team donating materials to the physically challenged to mark the senator’s birthday in Lagos ... on Tuesday

OMMUNITY leaders, c o r p o r a t e organisations and residents of the Lagos Mainland Local Government Area have been admonished not to do anything that could erode the sanity of the environment.

The chairman of the council, Hon Oladele Adekanye, who made the call yesterday, told The Nation that it is the responsibility of the residents to cooperate with the government to ensure the preservation of the environment in their interest.

“Look at the efforts that the state government has been putting into lifting the environmental condition of the state; it is the same spirit that is passionately imbibed by all the local government councils and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). The people must join the crusade by sustaining the right attitude to their surroundings for decent living.

By Basirat Braimah

“The annual tree planting that we all participated in last week is part of the efforts aimed at preserving our environment. We are all generally involved. Also, we must be conscious of the way we treat our environment, especially the manner in which we dispose of wastes, our attitude to cleaning our surroundings and drains and how well we teach the young around us the ideal we should give our environments,” Adekanye said.

To complement the council’s various efforts at monitoring the area, the council chief said he had been used to leading some of his aides to monitor his domain occasionally at nights to ensure that residents don’t dump refuse indiscriminately at wrong places.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

10

NEWS Jigawa awards N2b contracts From Ahmed Rufa’I, Dutse

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HE Jigawa State government has awarded contracts worth N2 billion for the building of the senate building and other projects in the State University at Kafin Hausa.

Commissioner for Information Babandi Ibrahim said the decision was taken at the state executive council meeting presided over by Governor Sule Lamido.

Ibrahim said N1.6 billion was earmarked for the senate building, N120 million for the vice chancellor’s lodge and over N143million for compensation to those whose lands were taken.

Commissioner for Education Prof Haruna Wakili said the university will take off in September.

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Jonathan meets Nasarawa Speaker

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with the Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Musa Mohammed, and the Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The Nasarawa House of Assembly dominated by the PDP with 20 members to All Progressives Congress (APC’s) four members have been pushing for the impeachment of Governor Tanko Al-Makura (APC).

There have been street protests by some youths in the state, following the Assembly’s impeachment move.

The lawmakers listed 16 charges of gross abuse of

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

public office against the governor.

Speaking with reporters after the meeting with the President, Speaker Mohammed, who was accompanied by some principal officers of the House, declined to give details of the meeting.

He said: “It is a private visit. I don’t have the mandate of the Assembly to brief the press.

“The Chairman of the Committee on Information has the mandate to speak to the press on anything concerning impeachment.”

Secondus, who emerged from the President’s office, a few minutes later, also declined to give details of the discussion at the meeting.

“It’s consultation. I can’t say whatever now. We are consulting,” he stated.

Governor Al-Makura told his supporters to resist any attempt to remove him from office by the lawmakers.

The governor spoke at the Government House in Lafia, when some protesters visited him.

“The resistance is based on the fact that the present government in the state was democratically put in place by the Nasarawa electorate through a transparent election.

He added: “The APC administration in the state is transparent and adherence to due process.

What happened yesterday at the House of Assembly was a true violation of rule

of law and APC is set to march on them, and when it starts to march on the plot against APC by the frustrated PDPmembers, the world would come to know the true situation.”

APC Chairman in the North Central Zone Zakari Edeh said theAssembly is plotting to impeach the governor because “they are afraid of meeting the governor at the poll during the 2015 governorship race.”

He urged the people to collectively resolve not to allow the assembly ruin the state as according to him, “the arrangement Al-Makura had with Nasarawa electorate was to complete his tenure and add another four years.”

Perm sec designates sanctioned

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DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has sworn in the former Chief Press Secretary to Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, Dan Aigbavbua and 17 others as permanent secretaries.

He, however, declined to swear in two others, who arrived late for the inauguration.

The ‘late-comers’, both of them women, arrived the venue after the oaths had been administered on their colleagues.

One is a Director in the Ministry of Justice ;the other is in the Ministry of Education.

The governor said he wondered what time the directors get to work if they could arrive late for their own swearing-in, saying “your punishment is that you will return to your offices as directors and be sworn-in with the next batch of perm-secs.”

FCT traders protest From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

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RADERS in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) protested yesterday against the service charge ‘imposed’ on them by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).

They said the charge contravenes the transformation agenda of the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.

Chairman, Kaura Modern Market Traders Association, Patrick Akudolu, said their protest was to demand explanation from the AEPB and the market managers on why they were charged several times for the same service.

The traders’ protest ended at the DD 6 venue of the mobile court within the market, where the Senior Magistrate 2, Musa Abdulrazaque Eneye, of Court 3 Magistrate’s Court, Wuse Zone 2, had arrived to commence trial.

The sight of the protesters led to the cancellation of the trial as the magistrate was ferried out in his official car.

Akudolu said they had written to the AEPB. He said instead of answers, shops were sealed and trump up charges filed against the traders.

The Business Development Manager, Berwick Nigeria Limited, Uche Ukaigwe said AEPB was used to enforce the payment of service charges, which the traders did not pay.

Ex-students reiterate support for APC From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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GROUP under the auspices of Council of ExStudent Leaders in Nigeria has declared support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State.

The group urged all Kwarans to vote for the APC to “sustain the current development in the state”.

The state chair of Council of Ex-Student Leaders in Nigeria, Rasheed Oladodo, said: “We appeal to all our members to support the propagation of government policies and programmes of the current administration in the state and double our loyalty to Governor Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Senator Bukola Saraki.

“Today, we have come out in thousands to say thank you with continuity 2015 and beyond message.

“We implore all students and former students to come out en masse in the forthcoming voter registration.

“We have assessed Governor Ahmed and in all he has surpassed other job seekers who will only visit the state every four years to seek power and return to their businesses afterwards.

“Kwara needs a committed and dedicated man who shares the same vision with our leader, Senator Bukola Saraki and today the governor is the man.”

Ex-minister Lukman buried in Zaria From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

•Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole (left) and Chief Imam of Benin and Chairman, League of Imams, Mallam AbdulFattah Enabulele, when the League of Imams visited the governor...yesterday.

NSCDC parades man over N955m employment scam

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HE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) paraded yesterday a suspected job racketeer kingpin for allegedly defrauding job seekers of N955 million.

NSCDC spokesman Emmanuel Okeh, who briefed reporters said: “Michael Ogun (44) was arrested at his home in new Nyanyan, Abuja, where he allegedly perpetrated his nefarious activities.

“The suspect opened a Facebook account in the name of the NSCDC commandant general asking applicants to pay for recruitment.

“He has defrauded appli-

•EFCC to handle case From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

cants seeking for employment into the Corps, Customs, Immigration and other services of N403, 624, 992.”

“Other fraudulent financial transactions amount to $950, 000 and other transaction involving money laundering amount to N552, 371, 901.50” “Therefore, from different fraudulent accounts, N955, 996, 893.50 was said to have passed through his bank accounts.”

According to Okeh, the suspect printed fake employment letters of various

‘It is a set-up, the person who set me up is an NSCDC official’ agencies, including the Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service and Customs and issued same to his victims by urging them to report for documentation.

These job applicants were posted to Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

He said Ogun will be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The NSCDC warned the public that the Commandant General, Dr. Ade Abolurin, nor the Corps has any Facebook account for recruitment.

But Ogun denied the allegation.

He said:“I’m completely demoralised; I did not do those things.

“All these things that were said about me, I am surprised to hear them.

“There is someone behind this; I want the person to come forward. “ It is a set-up, the person who set me up is an NSCDC official.

“The laptop taken from my house,belongs to my managing director.”

Kwankwaso assures non-indigenes week ultimatum given to “Such intention about of safety southerners in Kano to leave driving away people from

•Kwankwaso

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ANO State Governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has said the two-

the state by a non-governmental organisation, Northern Youth Development Foundation, is null and void.

He said: “No one has the authority to sack you from this place. “ Kano is your home and you have come to stay.”

Kwankwaso spoke when the State Non Indigenes Forum visited him at the Government House.

The governor said his government does not support the call as it will result in acri-

mony.

He said the allegation that the Imo State government planned to return northerners to their states is false as Governor Rochas Okorocha is a detribalised Nigerian.

“I am sure Owelle Okorocha’s investments in the North outweigh the investments by northerners in Imo State put together. “ Look at even the Rochas Foundation School he built here and other investments.

his state could not have come from him.

“I have spoken to him and he told me that the there was nothing like that.

“The news is the handiwork of detractors who never wish him well,” Kwankwaso added.

The governor called on the Federal Government to avoid measures aimed at worsening ethnic, sectional and religious discord among Nigerians.

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HE remains of the late former Petroleum Minister, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, were laid to rest yesterday in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The oil technocrat passed away on Monday in Vienna, Austria. He was 76.

The funeral prayers were presided over by the Imam of Zaria Central Mosque, Mohammed Sani Aliyu.

At the funeral were Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, Lamido of Adamawa, Mohammad Barkindo Mustapha, among others.

Speaking shortly after the prayers, Governor Yero said the death of the late elder statesman has created a vacuum.

He described him as a man “who dedicated himself to the service of the country”.

The governor said the passage of the oil magnet was a loss to the people.

Other dignitaries who paid their last respect to the former OPEC Secretary-General described him as a humble and detribalised man who gave his service to the country selflessly.

The late Lukman is survived by his wife and three children.

•The late Lukman

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

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NEWS (SHOWBIZ)

Genevieve unveils winner of Act the Part contest

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IGHTEEN-YEAR-old aspiring actress, Bola Suru, has emerged winner of an online acting competition overseen by star actress Genevieve Nnaji. She beat two other finalists, Michael Akan and Chioma Okoye, to the prize of an exquisite makeover and VIP dinner with Genevieve, courtesy of Amstel Malta.

The competition, Act The Part, is an activation for the Amstel Malta brand, which the actress has been contracted to promote.

The deal had required fans to act any role from a selected movie of their choice in just two minutes and upload on the Amstel Malta website.

Announcing Bola, a university admission-seeker, as winner of the competition, Genevieve said the wannabe exhibited undeniable acting skills which shot her to the frontline in the contest, amidst thousands of contestants who sent in videos reenacting a role from a Nollywood movie of their

choice.

The aspiring actress could not contain her joy when she received the news. “I have practically been praying about this since I emerged one of the three finalists.

My sister actually found out about the competition and encouraged me to be a part of it. I am so excited about this,” she said.

Apart from winning the competition, hanging out with Genevieve is a dream come true for young Bola.

“Genevieve inspires me so much and I really can’t wait to meet her and ask all the many questions I need answers to as it concerns acting as a career,” she said excitedly.

•Bola Suru Bola came tops for re-enacting a role from the movie, Broken Heart. eight, so seeing young talMichael’s re-enactment of his ents very keen on what role from the movie Ije, which they do gives me so much features Genevieve Nnaji, pleasure because I can reearned him the second posilate to that really well. I’m tion, while Chioma came very thankful to Amstel third for her role in Mirror Boy. Malta for this amazing opGoing memory lane, portunity and I look forGenevieve said the passion ward to meeting Bola Suru. displayed by the contestants We are definitely going to reminded her of her days as have a fun day together,” an aspiring actress. “I started she said. off my career at the age of

Calabar audience extols Half of a Yellow Sun

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T was mostly positive reviews as the movie, Half of a Yellow Sun was screened to a sizeable audience at the Film House Cinema, Marina Resort, Calabar, yesterday.

The certification of the movie, which is based on the Nigerian civil war novel of same title by Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie, was initially delayed by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), which advised that some ethnic violence scenes be expunged.

Yielding the advice, the movie has been approved for release in Nigerian cinemas, and the distributors have fixed August 1, as start off date.

After the glamorous premiere in Calabar, it was obvious a good number of the audience loved what they saw. Mr. Zac Almeida, a technical director with EbonyLife TV, described the movie as exceptional.

“It was impeccable. As a TV

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

expert, I can tell you that the integration between the old actual footage and new shootings blended perfectly. The directing was good. The story line was fantastic. I have been in Calabar for over two years and I can tell most of the local places the movie was shot. I was impressed,” Almeida said.

Although another viewer, Nonso Nwanah, believes that the film is not as exciting as the novel, he said the effort of the filmmaker was commendable. “It has good

scripting and editing. Kudos to the director of photography also for a good job.

“It was a story well told. I would say it is not as good as the novel, but it is still excellent. Of course, there’s no way it can be exactly the same. But it was an excellent story and well presented,” Nwanah said.

Branch Manager of Film House Cinema, Glory Okwuoha, said: “I can say the movie is fantastic. It’s a good love story of two sisters caught in the outcome of the Nigerian civil war.

“The quality is good and we expect it to do well. So, we encourage the public to try and see it. It will be open to be shown in all cinemas from August 1.”

Despite having scenes that cut across various cities in the country, the movie was shot on locations in Calabar, Creek Town and the Studio Tinapa.

Naija Street Champ enters grand finale

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HE fate of the four finalists in the ongoing maiden edition of Naija Street Champ, the new music talent challenge, will be known this Saturday, when the reality show resonates with a grand finale at the Eko FM Hall, LTV Studios, Agidingbi, Lagos.

Organisers said the event, which will take the form of a concert, would have the four finalists competing for the grand prize of One Million Naira and a three-year music recording contract, which includes an official album launch, nationwide tour and music collaborations.

Unlike some reality shows, Naija Street Champ is not a winner-takes-all, as the first and second runner-ups also stand a chance of getting a one-year music recording contract each, plus music collaborations with the over-all winner.

Speaking on the selection process of the ultimate winner, the project manager, Oladehinde Fajana, revealed that voting would still be open via SMS and online platforms until the last

•Winner to emerge weekend performance of the finalists at the grand finale.

He disclosed that the contestant with the lowest votes would be evicted on stage, leaving the top three finalists to perform their previously produced tracks.

Fajana further revealed that the winner will, among other criteria, be selected based on the musical growth and potential of the contestants throughout the competition, adding that the partner producers ID Cabasa, D’Tunes and Terry G would

be the jury at the concert.

The four finalists are Sulaimon Idris (Dabreez) representing Surulere zone, Shanuolu Adesola (Sholz) representing Ipaja Zone, Rodney Brown Edemhanria (Rodney) representing Ikeja zone and Abimbola Olugbenga (Raptitude) representing Bariga/Akoka zone.

Fajana encouraged the general public to vote for their favorite finalists via www.naijastreetchamp.com/ votes or by texting Winner and Contestant Name to 33140.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

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NEWS Ramadan 28, 1435AH

RAMADAN KAREEM

Watch out for new moon, says NSCIA

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HE Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has called on Muslims to look out for the new moon.

The moon, if sighted tomorrow evening will terminate this year’s Ramadan and usher in Eidil-Fitr festival.

The umbrella Islamic body felicitates with Muslims all over the world and Nigeria in particular, on the successful attainment of the last part of the blessed month.

The council, in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, apologised

NSCIA wishes to remind all Muslims who know, and notify those who do not, that there is an established structure for moon-sighting in Nigeria.

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

to Nigerian Muslims for the unusual confusion that trailed the commencement of the holy month.

Oloyede said: “Despite efforts made towards avoiding such a confusion, complete success was not attained. The appro-

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

Zakatul Fitr

A

NNUALLY, especially, in the month of Ramadan, Muslims are fond of talking about Zakat. To many of them, Zakat is Zakat. Hardly do they know the difference between Zakatul Fitr and Zakatul Mal. The former is the token flat tax paid by every fasting Muslim to purify his or her fast in the sacred month. The latter is the annual compulsory tax paid, on wealth, by the rich to the poor.

Zakatul Fitr is a flat rate, which makes no difference between the rich and the poor. Its measurement is four ‘Muddu’ of grains. The grains to be given out as Zakatul Fitr include: rice, corn, millet, beans, soya beans and the likes. However, by deduction, some scholars are of the opinion that popular staple foods like ‘gari’ and ‘semolina’ can also be given out as Zakatul Fitr. Besides, the measurement to be given out can be valued in currency and given out as such. The purpose of this is to enable the beneficiary have a choice.

If only grains are given, the beneficiary may not be able to afford the needed amount with which to turn them into edible food. And, the real aim of Zakatul Fitr is to create a festive mood for everybody within the Muslim community. Unlike Zakatul Mal, Zakatul Fitr is to be given out not by fasting Muslims alone but by every other Muslim even if he\she does not fast. It is a Zakat given by both the adult and the minor.

The head of the family is to be responsible for the other members of his family in the payment of Zakatul Fitr. For each member of his family, four ‘Muddu’ or its equivalent in money is to be given out as Zakatul Fitr.

Generally, Zakatul Fitr is given to the poor and the needy who can hardly afford three square meals daily. It may also be given to an Imam for onward distribution to the poor and the needy since he is in a position to know them.

Zakatul Fitr is not meant for the consumption of any Imam, who is also to give out such Zakat. The best time to give out Zakatul Fitr is either the night preceding Eidul Fitr or early morning on Eidul Fitr day. It should not be delayed till after Eidul Fitr.

Zakatul Fitr is a traditional obligation especially for fasting Muslims. Whoever is unable to pay it at the specified time must regard it as a debt which must be settled at a later date.

The fact that one has disbursed Zakatul Fitr does not stop him from giving voluntary charity (sadaqah) to the poor and the needy. Allah is the creator of the givers and the receivers.

If it pleases Him, He can reverse the condition of both.

Some people choose the month of Ramadan to disburse their normal annual Zakatul Mal (annual tax). Under these are other types of Zakah like the Zakat of animals, Zakat of farm products and Zakat of minerals.

It may be discussed at another forum, another day.

priate lessons have, however, been learnt.

“It is in this respect that the NSCIA wishes to remind all Muslims who know, and notify those who do not, that there is an established structure for moon-sighting in Nigeria.

“Due to its significance and technicalities, the council has a National Moonsighting Committee under the leadership of an expert. The committee is equipped with necessary equipment and technological gadgets that are relevant to the discharge of its assignment.”

NSCIA wishes Nigerians a happy festival in advance.

New Eid ground berths in Mushin

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

A

N Islamic organisation, Pure Heart Islamic Foundation (PHIF) has concluded arrangements to observe the Eidil-Fitr prayers at Surulere Girls High School, Empire, Mushin, Lagos.

Residents in Mushin and environs are enjoined to perform the Eid prayers under some erudite scholars.

PHIF Chairman Publicity Committee Dr Abdul Wasiu Badru, said special prayers would be offered for the nation and Lagos after the Eid prayer.

“The increasing cases of insecurity is worrisome; being stakeholders in the project called Nigeria, we cannot afford to allow some disgruntled elements in the society to continue to create instability in the society, hence the need to pray for the nation,” Badru said.

“Our prayer is for Allah not only to curb the ugly incidences but to expose those causing mayhem and heating up the polity,” he added.

Among activities slated for the Sallah, Badru said, include family get together and merrymaking.

He wishes Muslims a successful celebration.

Badru urged them not to forget the lessons learnt during the holy month.

“We must realise that it is Ramadan that is coming to an end but the five daily prayers are still on. Let’s ensure that the trainings we received during Ramadan are put into proper use. By this, we can achieve the desired peaceful society,” Badru stated.

Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria Missioner in Kano Alhaji Muhydeen Ajani Bello (right) being welcome by Chairman, Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area, Kayode Robert to the Sixth Bibiire Ramadan Lecture in Lagos

Eid-il-Fitr: FG declares 28, 29 public holidays

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HE Federal Government has declared Monday July 28 and Tuesday, July 29 public holidays to mark this year’s Eidil-fitri celebration.

A statement issued in Abuja by the Interior Minister, Comrade Abba Moro, enjoined Muslims and Nigerians to extend the spiritual benefits of Ramadan, which he said are love, peace, justice to their daily living to contribute to the development of Nigeria.

Moro urged Nigerians to pray for peace and stability in the country.

National Amir (President) of The Companion, (An association of Muslims in Business and Profession) Alhaji Musi-

From Gbenga Omokhunu and Ibrahim Adam

bau Oyefeso called on Muslims to uphold the tenets of Islam and remain steadfast in their belief in the oneness of Allah.

Oyefeso said the gains and closeness to Allah, which was obtained in Ramadan, should be maintained year round.

“Muslims should continue to love one another and be at peace with their neighbours regardless of religious affiliation. We also use the opportunity of the celebration to remind Muslims to supplicate to Allah for peace, security and tranquility. As we rejoice, we also remember and express our condolences to the victims

of Boko Haram insurgents’ in various parts of the country,” he said.

Oyefeso called on the Federal Government and the Nigeria Medical Council (NMA) to quickly sort out their differences and bring the national strike to an end in the interest of the masses.

“We remind the government that it owes the citizens a duty to provide welfare and ensure affordable medical care which is available relatively at the government owned hospitals. The doctors on the other hand must bear in mind their Hippocratic oath to save lives and provide health care services. We call on the two parties to give mutual concessions and return to work,” he said.

‘21m Chinese Muslims fast in Ramadan’

•Chengwen

A

N estimated 21 million Chinese Muslims observed the fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

They are also allowed under the country’s constitution to freely practise other Islamic rituals, Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Li Chengwen said.

Chengwen told Arab News that Muslims are from 10 ethnic minorities in the country.

China came under heavy criticism for banning Ramadan as part of a security crackdown that has left many Islamic followers frustrated in the country’s northern and western Muslim areas.

Chengwen was speaking to congratulate Muslims on the Eid-il-Fitr celebrations.

“Freedom of faith is the legitimate right of citizens and explicitly protected by the constitution and other laws in China,” Chengwen said.

He said that he understands the importance of Ramadan for Muslims, who fast to empa-

thize with the plight of the poor, and engage in prayers and charitable acts to increase their spirituality.

Chengwen said China is working with Saudi Arabia and other friendly countries to ensure peace and stability, and the welfare of people in the Middle East.

He said China supports the Palestinian people’s cause for an independent state and wants to ensure that there are no further civilian casualties in the current conflict.

“We cannot forget the Palestinian people in Gaza and Muslims who are suffering in other parts of the region,” he said.

RAMADAN DIET Prophet Muhammad said, ‘My Cherisher has ordered me nine things: (1) To reverence Him, externally and internally; (2) to speak true, and with propriety, in prosperity and adversity; (3) moderation in affluence and poverty; (4) to benefit my relations and kindred who do not benefit me; (5) to give alms to him who refuses me; (6) to forgive him who injures me; (7) that my silence should be in attaining knowledge of God; (8) that when I speak, I should mention Him; (9) that when I look on God’s creatures, it should be as an example for them.’ ,

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

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

13

PEOPLE THE NATION

A FIVE -PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

Mr Laitan Onolaja, an engineer, has been presented in Lagos as the District Governor for Lions Club Nigeria. The event was held at the Shell Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan last Saturday. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO reports.

•Mr Sam Ekpuk (right) presenting Onolaja to the gathering. With them is Onalaja’s wife Olatoun

T

HEY all spoke highly of him, touching on his humility and generosity. It was a grand occasion – the presentation of Laitan Onolaja, an engineer, as the district governor of Lions Club Nigeria for 2014/ 2015.

Onolaja was installed the District Governor at the 97th Lions international Convention held between July 4 and 8 in Toronto, Canada.

Onolaja, a member of the Victoria Island Lions Club,last July 19, hosted friends, associates, members of his family and club during his presentation. Other officers were also installed on the occasion at which funds were raised for the club’s projects.

The Shell Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos venue of the event was filled. Guests came in large number. The men were in flowing Agbada and Safari, the women in Iro and buba with head gears.

Looking dapper in a dark suit with his wife, Olatoun, and his family beside him, Onolaja was a cynosure of all eyes as he moved from one table to the other, greeting guests. There was good music by a four-man band. The Onolajas were the perfect hosts; there were various cuisines, drinks and champagne for guests to pick from.

To show their love for Onolaja, people donated generously towards the club’s projects.

Leading the pack was the Onolaja family which donated N10 million.

As the hall erupted with shouts of appreciation, Onolaja rose to acknowledge supports from his people and well-wishers.

Former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria Mr Oluwole Oduyemi, who

Here comes the governor

•Lagos monarch Oba Rilwan Akiolu and Founder, Fatimah Charity Foundation, Hajia Fatimah Tinubu

chaired the event, described Onolaja as a caring and selfless man.

Oduyemi said: “Lions Club has been the light of the blind as far back as 1925. And more than 30 million people have had their vision restored or improved across the globe.

Having a man like Onolaja leading at this time

is commendable. Onolaja is a great visioner who believes passionately in serving humanity. He is a great leader of men whose life is an inspiration to others. He has mentored many young people. I wish him well.”

Prof Ayoade Adesokan, the immediate past council chair of the Council of Governors of

Lions Club in Nigeria, described Onolaja as a fine gentleman, a man of integrity, a man of repute, a man who sees his goal and goes after it without relenting until he achieves it.

“We all believe in him; we know he is largehearted and will serve the less-privileged. The expectation is high and we will give him all the needed support to succeed,” Adesokan said.

Lami Ahmed, the immediate past District Governor, District 404 A2, Nigeria, said Onolaja is a man to be emulated.

“He is a good philanthropist; he is a dedicated and responsible man in and out of Lionism. He is a man who is passionate about the less-privileged. He is simply the best for the job. He has been so well trained; he is committed, passionate and he has read out his plans for his cabinet and the expectation is just for him to succeed,” Ahmed said.

Handing over the baton to his successor, the immediate past District Governor, Olumuyiwa Jegede, praised Onolaja whom he described as a perfectionist.

“I have known him for quite some time now as ‘Mr Perfectionist’. I believe with his wealth of his experience he would steer the affairs of the association well during his tenure by building on existing legacies,” he said.

•More pictures on page 14

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

14

SOCIETY HERE COMES THE GOVERNOR

•Prof Gabriel Onolaja and his wife

•Mrs Iyabode Akindele

•Otunba Olufemi Onolaja and wife, Ini

• From left: Mr Alkuin Landewee; Mr Pieter Hekken and Mr Lawrence Gruis

•Mr Jegede and wife, Kofo

•Mr Wole Abegunde

•Mrs Ahmed (left) and Patricia Udeme

•Prince Alaba Oniru

Trinity House Church on Victoria Island, Lagos has celebrated its fourth anniversary, with praise and thanksgiving, reports NNEKA NWANERI.

Four years in His grace

M

EMBERS of the Trinity House Church, Zion Centre, on Corporation Road, Victoria Island, Lagos had every reason to celebrate and thank God. It has been four years of His grace upon their lives since the church took off.

Mrs Ibidun Ighodalo, wife of the Senior Pastor, Ituah ighodalo, was moved to tears as the congregation sang praises in the expansive church auditorium. Her husband sang and danced too.

The church was filled. Many came to celebrate with the church.

Last Sunday was a day for the church to count its blessings, being the climax of activities to mark the anniversary.

Everyone radiated joy. The church members dressed in their sunday best. The women made a fashion statement. The men were respledent in their English wears and wellstarched and ironed native attires.

They walked on a long red carpet way from the parking lot into the expansive auditorium.

The ushers were in blazers with the emblem of the church on it.

The service was full of fun and in-

• From left: Chief Benson; Princess Fasawe, Pastor Ighodalo, his wife, Ibidun; Mrs Ope Oke; Ven Lanre Ogunmituyi and other members of the church cutting the cake

spiring. There was never a dull moment, with music, drama, dance and comedy.

Earlier in the week, members of the Anniversary Committee visited the Community Primary School at IbaOloja .

Mrs Bolaji Osime, the head of the Renaissance Foundation of the church, talked about its community engagement programmes and how it intends to transform the lives of Nigerians, beginning with the EtiOsa Local Government Area, where

the church is domiciled.

There was a documentary, where members of the church and its host community talked about their likes and dislikes about the church.

A young man, from Eden House, delivered a thought-provoking eulogy, singing praises of God. He was dressed like a Yoruba traditionalist.

Another group, the church’s G316 dance drama troupe also performed.

There were special songs by the Trinity Voices, the church choir, whose women were decked in a yel-

low Ankara gown; the men were in suit. They rendered solo praise songs.

The praise worship session ushered Pastor Ighodalo to the podium.

He gave a sermon titled: “Celebrating our Great God”. The cleric said people look to God for many things but always fail to celebrate him. He gave reasons to celebrate God and urged members to do so to invoke blessings.

Church leaders and executives joined him to cut the anniversary cake after the spelling of “Trinity”.

In attendance were a delegate from the Pastor’s maternal home in Osun State led by a regent Ogunyemi Fasawe; Chief Johnson Akingbogbola; Sisi-Oge of Lagos Chief Opral Benson; Chief Superintendent of Police Mohammed Mohazu led those from the Maroko Police Station; head of the Heritage Homes Orphanage, Mrs Eme Akenzua; Dele Oguniake; Prince Kunle Adekanye; Ven Lanre Ogunlumuyi; Pastor Tunde Adelakun, among others.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIAL

Speaking truth to power •Like Buhari, Sule, more eminent Nigerians should speak up on the state of the nation

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T is a curious coincidence that about 48 hours after Gen. (rtd) Muhammadu Buhari, a former military Head of State, issued a public statement on the combustible state of the nation, clearly targeted at President Goodluck Jonathan, he experienced a still-puzzling suicide bombing that nearly claimed his life.

Shocking twin explosions in Kaduna on July 23, in which 82 people reportedly died, were further proof of the possible accuracy of Buhari’s observation in his statement titled “Pull Nigeria Back from the Brink.”

He said: “Whether or not President Goodluck Jonathan is behind the gale of impeachments or the utilisation of the desperate tactics to suffocate the opposition and turn Nigeria into a one-party state, what cannot be denied is that they are happening under his watch, and he cannot pretend not to know, since that will be akin to hiding behind one finger.”

Of course, he was, among other things, referring to the scandalous, self-serving ejection of Murtala Nyako, the former Adamawa State governor, by apparently teleguided state legislators on the platform of the country’s ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and similar moves to remove the Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura. Added to these are the increasing inappropriate use of the military to carry out politically motivated actions and the expanding culture of official impunity.

It should be said that perhaps only the closed-minded would fail to consider and appreciate the logic of Buhari’s argument, irrespective of his high-profile status in the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is the main opposition party to Jonathan’s PDP. Indeed, as Buhari himself under-

standably emphasised, to accuse him of partisanship without weighing the merit of his view would amount to a tragic misapprehension. He explained: “Yes, there is the tendency for my statement to be misconstrued as that of a politician rather than a statesman. But I owe it as a matter of duty and honour, and in the interest of our nation, to speak out on the dangerous trajectory that our nation is heading.”

It is enlightening that Buhari is evidently not alone in his unease about the course of events in the country and the allegedly frightful signals about its future. Worthy of note is the fact that, within the same period, Alhaji Maitama Sule, a former federal minister who is regarded as an elder statesman, disclosed that he had written to Jonathan, particularly concerning the disturbing security challenges in the North.

Sule told members of the Northern Youth Development Foundation (NYDF) in Kano: “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 act together and tell one another the truth - let us agree to accommodate our differences and put Nigeria above personal interest.”

Considering the stature of Buhari and Sule, it is laudable that they spoke out. Although, it would appear that each of them pursued the matter of the country’s allegedly dangerous trajectory from different perspectives, there is no doubt that they both had the continued existence and advancement of the country as their main objectives.

It is disappointing that the presidency’s reaction to Buhari’s statement was a characteristic stock response that left no room

for the possibility of validity. The counter-statement by presidential adviser Reuben Abati accused Buhari of “unbridled political partisanship,” and described his allegations as “wild and totally unsustainable.” However, the fact that Sule represents an apparently nonpartisan voice suggests that there may be some constructive truth in Buhari’s viewpoint about the bad tendencies of the administration.

The import of these cautionary voices is that they would, hopefully, prompt more influential people to speak up and speak truth to power. But ultimately, the government should be more attentive to alternative views about its performance and avoid knee-jerk defences which, regrettably, only confirm the general impression that it is resistant to positive change.

‘The import of these cautionary voices is that they would, hopefully, prompt more influential people to speak up and speak truth to power. But ultimately, the government should be more attentive to alternative views about its performance and avoid knee-jerk defences which, regrettably, only confirm the general impression that it is resistant to positive change’

Rilwanu Lukman (1938-2014)

•A case of a prophet without honour in his own country; or simply a victim of Nigeria’s shambolic oil sector?

A

LHAJI Rilwanu Lukman, a former petroleum minister who passed away in Vienna, Austria, on July 21, made his mark as a technocrat on the petroleum front. In that sector, he held offices fit only for royals, both locally and internationally.

Yet, when his name comes up for mention, not a few raise their noses, like supercilious camels, with the query: if he was so good, why did he exit leaving behind a sick petroleum sector in the country?

That query is hardly fair, for Nigeria’s eternally ill petroleum sector is no fault of one man. So, using the sick petroleum industry to blight the memory and legacy of a man, at his passage, would appear unfair.

Yet, the query is not totally unfair: Alhaji Lukman was one of the leading lights in that sector. If it had turned out nice, he

‘Alhaji Lukman... may not have bequeathed his country an enviable oil industry, running on squeaky clean accountability. But it is tribute to his own personal integrity that he was generally perceived straight and austere. In a crooked Nigerian system, he tried his best. No, that best was not good enough to change the system. But it should motivate other decent people to have a crack at the problem’

would have taken the glory. Now that it has turned out nasty, shouldn’t he take part of the blame?

At the end of the day, however, the late Lukman was only one man, who tried his best under very challenging circumstances.

There was no doubt about his near-eternal appeal, his durability on the local sphere: Minister of Mines and Power (1984-1985); Minister of Petroleum Resources, and chairman, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC (1986), Minister of Foreign Affairs (January to September 1990) and chairman, Board of Directors, National Electric Power Authority (1993-1994) — all under military rule.

With the return to democracy in 1999, Alhaji Lukman became President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Special Adviser on Petroleum and Energy Matters, with the president himself the oil minister, honorary (unpaid) adviser on Energy and Strategic Matters to President Umaru Yar’Adua (August 2007), Minister of Petroleum Resources (December 2008-2010). He left that office on March 17, 2010, when then Acting President Goodluck Jonathan dissolved the cabinet.

Even if many a cynic could dismiss Alhaji Lukman’s intimidating ministerial log at home, what of his even more intimidating international log, as either Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary-General (1995-2000) or president, serving eight consecutive terms from 1986?

If Alhaji Lukman was a careerist as many a critic would suggest, or his ministerial long life was due to alleged northern domination of the political space, would those two factors also explain his durability at OPEC, where as secretary-general, he emerged as compromise candidate when two candidates, Dr. Subroto of Indonesia and Hossein Kazempour Ardebili of Iran, could

not stand down for each other?

The fact is, despite his perceived faults by those just angry with the Nigerian system, Alhaji Lukman had a few things going for him. For starters, he was a mining engineer, who first trained at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and later at Imperial College, London, before earning a higher degree in Mining Engineering at the University of Mining and Metallurgy, Leoben, Austria. He also earned a degree in Mineral Economics from McGill University, Montreal, Canada. So, he had basic competence in the sector of the economy in which he played.

Then at OPEC, his ability as a team player and compromise builder stood him in good stead. For instance, he was instrumental to striking agreements in oil cuts, between Iran and Saudi Arabia, to implement OPEC’s decision to cut output, to raise crude prices. That was when prices plummeted as a result of oil glut.

Alhaji Lukman, who received an honorary doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Bolgnia, Italy, may not have bequeathed his country an enviable oil industry, running on squeaky clean accountability.

But it is tribute to his own personal integrity that he was generally perceived straight and austere. In a crooked Nigerian system, he tried his best. No, that best was not good enough to change the system. But it should motivate other decent people to have a crack at the problem.

In a degenerate generation, Alhaji Lukman played his role and exited. May Allah grant him rest. May He also console and comfort the family he left behind.

Israel, Hamas and the rockets

•The level of civilian deaths in Gaza is unacceptable

A

“

country’s got to do what a country’s got to do. We have to defend ourselves.” So says Benjamin Netanyahu, in justification of Israel’s land invasion and bombardment of

Gaza.

The Israeli prime minister argues that no country can tolerate its citizens being under sustained rocket fire. He believes that the only way for Israel to stop the rockets is to launch military operations against Hamas, which controls Gaza. The Israelis argue that the inevitable civilian deaths are the sole responsibility of Hamas.

This Israeli argument is simple and clear – but ultimately unconvincing. It has two main flaws. First, it refuses to consider the sheer number of civilian deaths as a relevant consideration. The Israelis detest the use of the word “disproportionate”. But it is hard to think of another word to describe a death toll of more than 600 Palestinians – about 70 per cent of them civilians, according to the UN – in response to rocket fire that to date has killed two Israelis.

The second flaw in the Netanyahu argument is that it screens out the wider political context for the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. Of course, it would be naive to think there is an immediate political settlement available to the Israelis, – if only they would grab it.

In reality, a “final status” agreement to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict remains very elusive – and the fault lies on both sides. But what is true is that the continual expansion of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land, during the Netanyahu years, is making it harder and harder to achieve the two-state solution that the Israeli prime minister claims to be committed to. That cuts the ground away from those Palestinians who argue for an exclusively peaceful approach to the problem.

For the moment, the international backlash against Israel’s actions remains restrained. Israel is benefiting from the changed regional context. The Middle East is so soaked in horrors that it is hard to make the case that the civilian toll in Gaza is uniquely evil. The total death toll in the Syrian conflict could now be more than 170,000 – with more than 50,000 civilian deaths.

In Iraq, the advance of Isis, a brutal Islamist movement, is chilling. Hamas has also been losing its regional supporters from Egypt to Iran. The violent anti-Israeli protests that took place in Cairo when the Muslim Brotherhood was in power have not recurred.

As for the west, the US and even most European governments recognise Israel’s acute security dilemma – and acknowledge that there is truth in the Israeli government’s repeated assertion that no state could tolerate repeated rocket fire on to its territory. There is also a recognition that Israel is itself paying a heavy price in this conflict, with the loss of 27 Israeli soldiers in the ground incursion into Gaza.

Yet while Israel’s case is winning a hearing – that hearing is not uncritical, nor should it be. Voices as restrained and responsible as those of John Kerry, the US secretary of state, and Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, have made it clear they do not accept the level of civilian casualties that Israel is inflicting.

The Israeli argument that all democratic government would react to a terrorist threat with similar violence is also not convincing. Although no two cases are the same, there are many examples of governments choosing a more restrained response to terrorism – from the Indian reaction to the Mumbai atrocities in 2008 to the British response to the IRA campaigns of the 1970s.

Defining a proportionate response to Hamas rockets is close to impossible. But even Mr Netanyahu presumably accepts that there must be some limit to the level of civilian casualties deemed acceptable in the effort to stop the rocket attacks on Israel.

– Financial Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

• Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: I ‘met’ Prof. Wole Soyinka at Queen’s School, Ede, Osun State in 1962.

Our English teacher, Miss Ayanbule (now Mrs. Holloway) had told the class that she had invited a university don to talk to us on African literature. The class had received the news with the indifference that would be expected of any secondary school class. We were in for a number of surprises.

The university don appeared not stuffed in a three piece suit as would have been the order of the day, then. He breezed into the class in his now famous mbari shirt and sandals (years later, many lecturers at several universities tried to copy this look, they could match neither his casualness nor cleanliness!!!).

The second surprise, he spoke to us and not down at us. Finally, he read one of his poems, The Telephone Conversation to the class.

Ever since that day, I have been “hooked” on the professor. I have read nearly all his works, watched most of his plays and have never missed any opportunity to listen to his public lectures.

Between 1966-70, Prof. Soyinka was involved in raising people’s consciousness to the uselessness of Civil War. At the University of Ibadan, he gave a lecture to draw

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG

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Encounters with Wole Soyinka staff and students’ attention to the wastage and carnage in “Biafra”.

At one point during this lecture, the man broke down and wept!

Of course, this was most unusual where his generation must have been taught to keep the stiff upper lip. A Nigerian man, showing so much emotion in public was unheard of.

Then I ‘met’ Prof. Soyinka many times in his autobiographical book Ake: The year of childhood. I have read this book about four times, much more recently this year. No, I am neither a student nor a teacher of English literature.

I am just a compulsive reader. The book has appealed to me on three levels: His power of recall – there is no doubt that the man is a genius. I wonder how many of us can remember so vividly the incidents that occur in our lives at the age of three.

The importance of nature and

Skills: Ogun’s worthy example

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IR: The Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development is really doing a great deal to ensure that out-ofschool youths, unemployed, degree and certificate holders, young ladies and men who are keen in acquiring a trading skill are equipped with relevant skills.

The vocation and skill development training programme put in place by the ministry aimed at making them self-reliant and productive to the society is a noble idea.

Since May 2011, Over 390 young ladies and men have been trained in six different fast-income trade to be self-reliant and productive.

Just recently, another set of 118 trainees have registered for the skill development programme. To this end, I hereby send a passionate appeal to respected individuals, corporate organisations in the society to support the laudable initiative in order to further liberate the youths economically.

• Tosin Balogun, Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta.

environment in the upbringing of a child has been brought to the very forefront in this book. Young Wole Soyinka was a mail-runner between the Egba Women – the onikaba and aroso in their struggle against the oppressive taxation system. Also, his close association with the Ramsome-Kuti was bound to make him politically conscious.

Lastly, on a very personal level, his parents were almost representatives of many parents in that era and area. (My father was also a headmaster and mother ‘kept’ several shops) No wonder, I have had the pleasure of giving the book out as presenst to friends and relations.

In 1989, Tunji Oyelana was celebrating his 50th birthday at his home – Osuntokun Avenue, Bodija, Ibadan. A look into the sitting room, on the same level as the dance floor (not one of these inner sanctuaries) showed the Nobel Laureate, himself, eating eba and bush meat on the floor with a few friends. I almost turned back, I felt I was intruding. No, no I was invited back into the sitting room and the camaraderie and banter that went on can better be seen than imagined. There was so much traffic of people and he just carried on.

My most recent encounter was at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs at the Annual

Obafemi Awolowo lecture this year. Yes. Soyinka, the man had not changed – the fire, enthusiasm, emotions, politics, humaneness, freedom fighting – everything was still intact. Except, I wondered to myself, why did he read his entire lecture. Is the man getting that old? Now that question has been answered. In a subsequent lecture which he gave under the auspices of Oxbridge alumni association, he was so thoroughly misquoted that he had to write a rejoinder in the dailies.

In this town when people’s preoccupation is pull him down) and at these times when there seem so many clouds in the horizon, thank God we have an excuse to celebrate our own W.S. (courtesy Yemi Ogunbiyi).

To those of us who do not belong to the inner caucus who call him kongi, I wish to say ‘Bon Anniversaire’, Prof.

?????????????????

• Aderonke Fetuga Lagos.

Kaduna bombings and conspiracy theories

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IR: Politics destroys everything good. As a people, politics is fast beclouding our sense of value and judgement. As things stand today, it is goodbye to truth, humanity and decency.

Yesterday, we were all dazed by the gory news of the attempts on the lives of Shaykh Dahiru Bauchi and General Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna.

While the two leaders escaped the plots, many innocent lives were lost.

Almost immediately, conspiracy theories were spawned by opposing tendencies. We have heard of Theory 1 and Theory 2.

The theories respectively heighten one plot and downplay the other. Thus, to some of the

partisans, one was the real plot; the other was merely a decoy. Indeed, one partisan social media commentator referred to one of the plots as an ‘arrangee assassination” attempt ostensibly “to cull public sympathy”! This by any means is a very dangerous and sad development. That’s how far our unfolding political reality could go.

Whatever it is, we should care about the dead, the maimed, the traumatized, the impoverished and the disoriented. We should care more about a nation that is fast losing its essence.

With regard to theories and whodunit, we should rather allow those who have the constitutional and legal mandate to investigate and prosecute matters of

this nature do their job in a professional fashion.

Stripped of partisan inclinations, here is the chilling fact: a former Head of State and the Leader of the Opposition as well as the Leader of one of the major Muslim sects in Nigeria narrowly escaped from attempts on their lives. Had the plots succeeded, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

When it comes to matters of security of lives and property as well as the defence of our territorial integrity, Nigeria must, at least for a moment, stand as a ‘one-party’ State. At least we owe one another that duty of care.

• Tajudeen Alabede Lagos

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 16

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COMMENTS

Call to insurgency Email: tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk 08038551123, 08111845040

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S rock hollows, tide after tide, glassily strand the sea, so do our hearts impede our spirited strides. We have grown older and our wisdom has shrunken the size of the Touch-me-not, at twilight.

Like feudal lords over serfs, rapacious compatriots hold sway over us. The same families are still in charge because we let them be in charge; because we have refused to take charge.

Change is still an annoying slogan we chant for the comfort of false hope. Now everybody is a revolutionaire. At sunrise through dusk, we bandy radical intervention in reckless abandon, as if our survival depends on it. I guess you’ve heard of the Rawlings option, the Idiagbon option, the Biafra option, the Niger Delta liberation and much more. Today, we have Boko Haram, a disillusioned military and a ruling class desperate to accelerate our voyage to self-destruct.

Songs of revolution invade our air space from both sides of our mouths

like head hunters from a medieval past. Now there are as many calls for revolution as our vanities. What manner of revolution? Is it the type that makes us wish peace on our tumultuous backyards by colouring our front yards with blood of defiant kin; those who dare to seethe?

Is it the type mooted by deviants of afflicted orders of the past? Is it the type suggested by me in tireless fits of unmated angst? This revolution we incite, shall it spread like wildfire in harmattan to incite the guts of latent spirits? Shall it like past revolts douse the truth in favoured compatriots?

On the bread lines, below our poverty lines, our talk is still of the struggle. Our struggle is still for the good life. Yet I won’t like Marx enthuse the incense of the muse, I won’t espouse his brilliant chapters to illumine the agonies of the working class.

I shan’t like Engels excite the whims of scholarship nor would I espouse the philosophy of the millennium and analyze the workings of materialism, its benevolence to

‘How pleasant our world would be if you and I become truly conscientious. How apt it would be if no magnate is allowed to acquire oil blocs except he can confidently explain, if he were to own a stake of the black gold, what effect it would have upon riverine poetry. Let us begin to contemplate and appreciate the thousandth part of the consequences of our actions’

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F anything, his efforts deserve to be applauded, and if Nigeria must develop quickly, men of ability and substance must never shy away from throwing their hats into the political ring just like what Ogbeni Aregbesola has done” – Quoted in the author’s Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (In the footsteps of Chief Obafemi Awolowo) Page. 105.

It has been said in several quarters that Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola is the greatest positive thing that has happened to the people of Osun State, since he was sworn in as the Governor on November 27, 2010.

This fact above manifested clearly again when I visited the state recently. It has been said correctly too that, no one leader or sitting governor of the State of Osun has won the hearts of the masses overwhelmingly like Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, since Osun State was created out of Oyo State on August 27th, 1991.

Fact is sacred! When Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola invited me to join his campaign team to Ede, perhaps for me to see things for myself, I was excited to make the trip with him. What I saw as we made our way to Ede and when we got to Ede proper exceedingly warmed my hearts. It warmed my hearts because my more than two years research into the activities of Aregbesola which has manifested into a recent book on him, has turned out to be a worthy and well deserved venture.

What I saw in Ede has equally complimented the fact that Aregbesola’s idealism and fiery temperament has given hope to many who have hastily flocked to his train of political redemption. This man is absolutely sincere with power and what he has done and what he still hopes to do is visible for any one that visits Osun State to X-ray.

Indeed, what I saw on our way to Ede clearly displayed that Ogbeni Aregbesola has attracted the attention of the lowly, the humble and the multitudes that have seen hope in his political proclamations. As we made our way to Ede, school children of all grades ran out of their school compound to shout and cheer Ogbeni; on their faces one could see exceeding joy and satisfaction.

After all, Aregbesola is feeding them with hygienic food and clothing them as they go to school every day, using his popular programme of O’MEAL (reserved for pupil of between primary one to four). Women and men of all shades and the elderly people trooped out to dance and sing the praise of Mr. Governor of Osun State and waved

the lucky few, and its malevolence to the underdog.

I am but an ordinary writer, a failed one to be precise, for I am yet to inspire me and you to take charge.

Every day, I manage to shirk my responsibilities as a self-righteous member of the fourth estate lest I incur the wrath of tin gods.

Like Russell, I could still make a case for Socialism. Like Rand, I could still prescribe the virtues of selfishness. Yesterday, I bandied Nietzsche-speak like our salvation depended on it, today I know better; misfortune won’t flee our portals just because we aspire to his gospel of greatness. There should be more to end our grief than the greatness of extraordinary folk.

Apology to Nietzsche.

Guess it’s about time I incite a Soviet-styled uprising and provoke the downtrodden to arms. Like Bolshevik, I could incite the working class to power, united around the mantra, ‘Bread, land, peace.’ Could I? Nothing will happen folks. Let Nietzsche re-emerge from the pages of history, Marx too, Engel, Bolshevik et al. No spent hero could prevail to tame or innate monstrosities and ingrained perversions.

Every epoch with its chaos; every generation with its heroes, villainy and salvation.

The files thicken. I guess you see how our heads confuse with answers more problematic than questions we ask, in the heat of our selfspawned maladies and defeat.

We have put nerve to the claim that the elites and bread lines are incapable of running society by themselves, for themselves. We have become nemesis unto ourselves. Let us blame no other; our lives may not get better. It hasn’t gotten better because we never wanted it to get better.

We who have perfected the art of

double-speak would always know what it is to prey on the good life and never possess it. Shall we always imagine the comfort we seek or jostle for remnants of the excesses we allow the predators that be?

Shall we always remain the slaves who cringe from the gatepost of freedom because freedom demands sweat, and purpose, and courage, and will? It is the will to be free that evades us and if I may more rightly put, it is the will for freedom that we seek to escape, because we have grown to dread freedom.

We started to detest freedom the moment we understood that among other things, it demands that we sweat in order to attain it.

Forget the revolutionary call. Our lives shan’t get better by any masspeasant war; our fortunes shan’t improve in the wake of the Rawlings option. And lest I forget, Boko Haram is simply one of several mutations of the monstrosity we incarnate.

Tell me, after we kill the privileged few breaking our virgin foals roughshod; after we eliminate the cabal pocketing the fortune of over 170 million for their miserly crew, who would take over? Who will guide us to the land of brilliant blossoms? You? Me? Perhaps the children we continue to raise as foetal adults? Are we any worthier than leadership we bemoan?

Shall we become the messiahs of our dreams just because we eliminate the ogres making our lives a recurrent nightmare? The tiniest dark cloud shan’t flee our skies until we learn to become the model citizens that we seek.

I moot a different kind of change.

Call it a revolution if it pleases you.

I speak for the temperament that would make us see the virtue in everything that is good and the vice in every bad thing, movement or

trend.

I speak of a revolution that would make a patriot of the corrupt and hero of the villain. Give us that revolution that makes saints of unrepentant sinners.

I speak of change that would make the jobless walking home at dusk with the evening newspaper think not with erosive irreverence that perhaps he should let his love for the newsprint and his country wane.

I speak of change that imbues courage, and faith, that we may learn to challenge degenerate leaders committed only to takings and discord. Give us that movement that would disregard our ‘liberal democracies’ and ‘vanguards of the free world; the axis we love to think as ‘not evil’ that we may continue to enjoy their glamorous aids with all that the perks that enslaves us.

There is no super palliative anywhere. No ‘super power’ will save us. Only you and I can save us. Let there be attitudinal change. Let every parent desist from buying examination questions for their wards, before the exam. Let the electorate desist from expecting and demanding handouts from the elected representative. Let every public officer truly rise to the actual demands of his job. Let us stop paying lip-service to decency while we amplify villainy and vile far from the prying eyes of all.

How pleasant our world would be if you and I become truly conscientious. How apt it would be if no magnate is allowed to acquire oil blocs except he can confidently explain, if he were to own a stake of the black gold, what effect it would have upon riverine poetry. Let us begin to contemplate and appreciate the thousandth part of the consequences of our actions.

Oftentimes it’s the forgettable details that matter

A ride with Aregbesola

By Igbotako Nowinta the flags and broom of the All Progressive Congress (APC), as the Governor’s convoy drove slowly towards Ede. As we moved closer to Ede, the entire town suddenly rose up to welcome Aregbesola’s campaign train. I will never forget the experience. People were recklessly cheering, dancing and singing on the streets. What awaited us at the palace of Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal was quite unique. The mood at the palace was indeed emotionally irresistible as the orgy of celebration was total. The crowd that had gathered within the palace listened attentively and enthusiastically as Aregbesola addressed them on why they should return him to power on August 9.

The mood at the Seventh Day Adventist High School, Ede, venue of the Ogbeni Aregbesola’s re-election campaign rally was ecstatic, as people of all colours, the aged and the young, poor and the rich danced uncontrollably as Governor Aregbesola rode in .The spontaneous emotional outburst that gripped the venue of the campaign rally reached crescendo as Aregbesola made his way to the podium.

When Aregbesola said “Our administration has treated the various political districts equally without sentiment…What we have done in less than 40 months, surpassed what they did in seven years both in quantity and quality”, he was saying nothing but the truth.

I indeed saw completed township roads in Ede and the inhabitants were happy with Ogbeni. It is clear without any shadow of doubt that Aregbesola came prepared to lead the people of Osun to the glorious next level. Ten kilometre of roads are being constructed in every Local Government Areas of the State of Osun. The crowds in Ede were simply very large. The man is popular!

On Monday July 7, a day before the mega rally at Ede, Aregbesola commissioned the Ayegbaju Modern International Market in Osogbo. I have reliably gathered that a replica of this gigantic market will soon appear in all the senatorial districts of the state. There is something about the Ayegbaju Modern International Market, that I

have not seen anywhere in this country before.

The Ayegbaju market, apart from the massive size of land it occupies in Station road Osogbo, has facilities like Hotels, Medical Centre, Banks, a Mosque, Church, Filling Station, Police Station, and Car Park etc. It will be a miracle of the century if Iyiola Omisore, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Osun 2014 Governorship election wins the race on August 9? The phase two of the market is presently being constructed.

With what I witnessed on Tuesday July 7, in Ede, and what I have seen on the ground in terms of honest pragmatic implementation of formulated policies like Opon Imo (Tablet of knowledge) O’MEAL, O’Schools, O’TOURS, O’AMBULANCE, re-classification of schools, Agba Osun (scheme for the elderly), O’YES (Youth Employment Scheme), O’REAP etc, Aregbesola will clinch the baton of re-election on August 9, in the State of Osun.

Apart from Ede, the tumultuous crowds that normally trooped out to welcome Ogbeni wherever he goes on a campaign tour, is an indication that the man is the tribune of the silent majority in the state of Osun.

• Nowinta, wrote Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (In The Footsteps Of Obafemi Awolowo)

‘What I saw in Ede has equally complimented the fact that Aregbesola’s idealism and fiery temperament has given hope to many who have hastily flocked to his train of political redemption.

This man is absolutely sincere with power and what he has done and what he still hopes to do is visible for any one that visits Osun State to X-ray’

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

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COMMENTS The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country’ ----Franklin D. Roosevelt

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UCIUS Annaeus Seneca was a man of Spanish ancestry who was educated in Rome where he became a globally famous playwright, orator and philosopher.

Today, Seneca, who authored so many plays, is not being remembered by this column simply because of his fame/power or, as a result of having significantly influenced the Shakespearean era through his plays but because of one of his inimitable statements that is quite instructive in the evolving Nigeria’s electioneering politics. He declared: ‘Every reign must submit to a greater reign.’ Hitherto in the country’s politics, those elected by the electorate have always treated the latter as if they have no say in how they govern once they were sworn-in.

This assumption has continuously held sway until the occurrence of two recent events. One was the June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State in which incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi was defeated by politically notorious Ayodele Fayose of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The people proved to be the higher sovereign in their electoral decision. The second event, even though still unravelling, occurred in Nassarawa State when its inhabitants publicly protested, en masse, against the orchestrated move by some members of the state House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against incumbent Governor Tanko Al-Makura. Though the legislators might still be feigning continuation of that impeachment process by surreptitiously sitting at dawn, so as to avoid the wrath of the people, the truth is that they have got the people’s message that such legislative notoriety will not be condoned by the masses that voted for Al-makura. Whoever is goading the legislators must realise, albeit belatedly, that Nassarawa is not Adamawa State where, its obviously compromised legislators, had an easy ride impeaching Murtala Nyako.

The messages from the two scenarios is the wisdom in Seneca’s statement that every ‘reign must submit to a greater reign.’ This is also in tandem with the spirit and purport of the routinely abused provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) that provides that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria through whom the government derives its powers. It was the late Military leader, Gen-

A wise child is talked to in proverbs. Woe to the kingdom whose king is a child – A Twi (Ghana) proverb.

FTER the departure of Malala Yousafzai, my interest is purely academic or if you like proverbial and philosophical. The good children of South Africa fondly called the late iconic Nelson Mandela ‘tata’. Tata means ‘father,’ a worthy tribute to the first non-racial democratically elected President of the Republic of South Africa. Mandela was globally acknowledged as the father of the nation and “a man who always had a great love of young people”.

Very few world leaders had quotable quotes on children as the late Madiba. Out of the scores of Mandela’s sayings on the joy of children, yours truly searched in vain for Mandela’s words on where and when children are cynical tools for inconclusive shuttle diplomacy for good governance or diplomatic noise judging from Malala’s seemingly rancorous recent visit to Nigeria.

By her own account, Malala Yousafzai, who was born on 12 July 1997 was here in Nigeria on her 17th birthday for “a price which is to see that every child goes to school” in Nigeria.

Pray how much price will a 17-year old who barely two years ago, in the Swat District of Pakistan, precisely on Tuesday, October 9, 2012, escaped a gunman’s man bullet in her school bus because of her activism for all inclusive education in Taliban enclave?

On May 9, 2002, Nelson Mandela at a Luncheon hosted by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Anan at the special session of the UN for Children, New York City observed that “History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children.”

As a Nigerian, something tells me that history might not judge us nicely that (obviously for the worse) we made Malala Yousafzai to pay another price by marking her 17th birthday mediating between the chieftains of hashtag #BringBackOurGirls” and officials of Jonathan presidency. The

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Of ‘pepper-soup analyses’ and people’s power

• Al-Makura

Fayemi

eral Ramat Murtala Muhammed, that made that famous statement that ‘Africa has come of age.’ Yours sincerely is seizing this medium to state that ‘Nigerian electorate have come of age.’

All power wielders anywhere must realise that ‘achievements in government’ can largely be determined not by mainly praises in the newspaper but by stakeholders that are directly affected by such ‘achievements.’

Benjamin Disraeli succinctly put it when he said that ‘power has only one duty - to secure the social welfare of the people.’ The provision of physical infrastructure will not mitigate the sacrosanct essence of the need to upgrade people’s welfare at any point in time.

This failure to realise this fact is why Fayemi is yet to get over his loss of the Ekiti poll and start thinking of moving on with life after power by October when he is expected to hand over to the governor-elect.

He sees any objective write-ups that truly dissect his election loss as lacking in ‘intellectual rigour’. In his latest, and perhaps the first interview after the election, he came-up with harsh words to describe some columnists at a point during the interview in his bid to erroneously portray that election as an abracadabra where he said: ‘I have heard and read all sorts of “pepper soup joint” analysis about stomach infrastructure and people voting for rice and all that.’ At another point while trying to justify his reportedly perceived controversial policies, he said: ‘…there were a number of policies that many deemed controversial and as I said, you hear so many pepper soup analysts who go around say-ing…’

Also, he had during the 70th birthday book launch of our respected Professor Olatunji Dare castigated those he termed as ‘arm chair analysts.’ The offence of those under his intolerable categorisation was just because of their not agreeing with his yet-to-be-substantiated position in that interview that the Ekiti election was not free and fair. After reading the interview and listening to him at the launch, one was compelled to ask who these ‘pepper soup joint/arm chair’ analysts were.

For instance, yours sincerely on Friday, June 27 wrote a piece titled: ‘Time for home truth’ and on Friday, July 11, another titled: ‘Hypocrisy against stomach infrastructure,’ all inspired by the aftermath of the Ekiti election. But I disagreed with Fayemi’s position assuming l fall within his contemplation, that my analyses in the two articles were ‘arm chair, beer parlour or pepper soup’ postulations for stating that the election was free and

Between Malala’s diplomacy and child abuse

By Issa Aremu truth is that she was out of school just as the Chibok girls, albeit for different reason and certainly at sharply varying places; Malala doing anything but reading at a double digit star hotel in Abuja and Chibok girls at Allahknows-where. Of course, no solidarity is too much to put pressure of Nigerian government to intensify its efforts to return over 200 Chibok school girls who were abducted on April 14, while writing examination. However a solidarity from Malala who herself ordinarily deserves our solidarity, an additional price such as abandoning her studies in God-knows-where for making a case for some girls to be in schools in Nigeria is one solidarity bordering on child abuse. Nigeria certainly has its fair share of child labour notwithstanding the fact that we have ratified ILO Convention No. 182 which prohibits the worst forms of child labour in 1999.

The recent uncritical exposures of Malala to critical issues of governance such as rescueing abducted girls, discussing budget allocation to education and even resolving disputes between Nigerian government and the civil society activists adds to our child abuse profile. No thanks to Malala’s father who escorts his daughter during the holy month of Ramadan thousands of kilometres away from his ward’s school engaging in a televised diatribe with a Minister of Education over a budget allocation in a country in tropical Africa.

Again the late sage, Mandela reminds us that the “The true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children”. Read-

ing Malala revealing interview that her objective this year as part of her birthday was “....to speak up for my Nigerian sisters about 200 of them who are under the abduction of Boko Haram” and that she “met ...President Goodluck Jonathan for this purpose” amounts to an unfair overload for a 17-year old yet to complete a college. Some fathers do have them! But that is far from being a worthy parenting!

Africa is notorious for child soldiers. Paradoxically out of the some reported approximately 200,000 child soldiers in Africa in 2008, none came from Nigeria. Let nobody import a diplomatic child-soldier to Nigeria!

Ama Ata Aidoo, is a Ghanaian writer who once remarked that: “It’s a sad moment, really, when parents first become a bit frightened of their children.” Certainly President Jonathan as a possible grandfather could not have been said to be afraid of a Malala. But the ease with which we were eager to render account to her beats imagination. I refuse to accept that a mention of Malala is the trigger to an instant Presidential accountability wisdom in a democratic Nigeria that has bicameral parliament yet to be briefed by the President on where the missing girls are. Witness the President to Malala; “We appreciate your efforts to change the world positively through your powerful advocacy for girl-child education,” . And witness the damning remark of a Malala, the daughter and even grand daughter about Nigeria; “My father and I and the entire family want to speak out for those 10.5 million children who are out of school.

They have no access to education because of many problems. And I am hopeful that the international community will take serious

fair and that Ekiti people actually voted against him. Since the twilight of my years at Vanguard in 2007 through my editorship of National Life and now as a columnist in The Nation, yours sincerely had done several gracious articles on Fayemi’s political struggles.

I never heard him describe these or those of others then in derisive epithets. His current outburst is sheer leadership intolerance of right to express opposing views.

The media sometimes over rated some people in power simply because it controls the mind of the masses. This was underscored by Malcolm X when he said: ‘The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power.’

This media presupposition has been rubbished in the case of Ekiti since its demonisation of Fayose failed to diminish Ekiti electorate’s preference for him at the expense of the media’s presentation (including yours sincerely), of Fayemi as high-performing governor.

The fact that not even the PDP has come out to dispute Fayemi’s performance or even controvert the demonisation of Fayose shows that any realistic and dispassionate person must come to terms with the reality that the electorate of Ekiti and the country are indeed coming of age. This clarification has become necessary in view of the fact that Governor Fayemi has gone too far since his election loss by describing journalists/columnists that see that election as free and fair as engaging in ‘pepper soup’ or ‘beer parlour analyses.’

Overall, the lesson from the Nassarawa State people’s revolt and the last Ekiti election is that true power is held by the person who possesses the largest mass appeal. These two incidents have shown that no power wielder, in Nigeria or anywhere, is bigger than what the electorate make of him. It is trite that power is given and sustained only by those who dare to lower themselves, pick it up, and regain their heights in humility.

History has proved that power is dangerous without humility. Power without the people’s genuine confidence, not induced flattering, is nothing because when the time comes, vote, where it truly counts, remains the instrument and symbol of a freeman's power to retrieve what was held in trust for him. Afterall, Franklin D. Roosevelt said: ‘The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President, governors, senators, congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country. This reality is what Nigerian elected officials must learn to live with today and in future.

action because if we think this country is in Africa and is not going to affect other countries, we are really wrong. If we leave 10.5 million children illiterate, these children can become terrorists, they can be violated and they can be deprived of their basic human rights, at the end they will not be able to help their country in developing. So if we want the whole world to be successful, it is important that every child should go to school.

Unfortunately, in Nigeria, only 1.5% of the budget is spent on education which is a small amount compared to Pakistan which has increased its own to 4%. “.

It is debatable if a foreign head of state had talked at Nigeria as Malala did, there would not have been a legitimate diplomatic row.

Former America Seceretary of States, Hillary Clinton in the 1990s popularized the Yoruba proverb according to which “It takes a whole village to raise a child”. The received wisdom of the Yorubas (no less Hillary Clinton”s popularization of it) never for once envisage that we can raise a child ( read; Malala ) the way we have indulged her in recently. Or better put, nobody would have imagined that a Pakistani under-aged girl whose father-aide was born nine years after Nigerian independence and at the 12th birthday of President Goodluck Jonathan would audaciously claim to be unacceptably raising a village (sorry; a Republic called Nigeria).

• Aremu,mni, writes from Kaduna

‘I refuse to accept that a mention of Malala is the trigger to an instant Presidential accountability wisdom in a democratic Nigeria that has bicameral parliament yet to be briefed by the President on where the missing girls are’

Pg. 41

Pg. 41

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net Stories by Taofik Salako

NLNG is one of the biggest success stories in our country. From what I am told, the company has invested $13 billion so far since inception, and has become a pacesetter in terms of revenue generation for the government.

-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

Angola seeks to rival Nigerian oil output

Customs seizes 1, 608 goods

By Muyiwa Lucas

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NI SpA (ENI) crews in Angola, Africa's secondlargest crude oil producer, upgraded a production vessel for new pumping this year as the southwest African country targets output rivaling its bigger competitor, Nigeria.

Eni plans to start production within five months as operator of Block 15-06's West Hub fields, estimated to hold reserves of 200 million barrels, and boost flows to 80,000 barrels a day, documents on the Rome-based company's website show. The block's East Hub development is due to pump about 49,000 barrels a day after starting in 2016, the documents say.

The block, 350 kilometres (217 miles) northwest of Luanda, the capital, is one of eight offshore projects Petroleum Minister Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos is counting on to help raise production to two million barrels a day by next year from 1.66 million last month. That compares with Nigeria's 2.15 million barrels daily.

One of the largest developments, Total SA (FP)'s Clov in Block 17, started last month and targets output of 160,000 barrels a day. Analysts such as Wood Mackenzie Ltd. said the projects will be too late to boost declining flows by 2015.

"We should think about the need to shorten the time between declaration of oil discoveries and the beginning of production," Vasconcelos said at the inauguration of the N'Goma, a floating production, storage and offloading vessel for Eni's West Hub project, the state-run Jornal de Angola stated.

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 MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N11.4 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -8% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -1% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $45b FOREX CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL 40.472

-0.2958 -206.9 -242.1 -156 -1.9179 -238 -

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•From right: Company Secretary/Legal Adviser First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mrs. Funmi Adedibu; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr. Ladi Balogun; President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Otunba 'Debola Osibogun and Managing Director FCMB Group Plc, Mr. Peter Obaseki, during a courtesy visit by CIBN's new executives to the bank .... on Wednesday.

Delay in PIB’s passage hurts $100b investment D ELAY in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) by the National Assembly has put over $100 billion investment in the oil sector in abeyance, Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), Bismarck Rewane, has said.

The PIB seeks to establish a legal, fiscal and regulatory framework for the petroleum industry to rejuvenate the sector.

In a report released yesterday, Rewane said delays in investment are also encouraged by market uncertainties due to the unfriendly business environment.

“Investors in the economy are not new to these uncertainties.

In the petroleum sector about $100 billion worth of investments is being delayed due to the delayed passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) according to the international oil companies (IOCs),” he said.

He described vandalism and theft of telecom infrastructure as sabotage.

It will be recalled that the Nigerian Communications Com-

By Collins Nweze

mission (NCC) earlier indicated that it recorded about 1, 200 fibre cuts in a few months.

Apart from the financial difficulties this may have brought on the operators, Rewane observed that the state of security for telecom infrastructure is not encouraging for any potential investor.

“Every savvy rational investor considers the safety of his assets when making an investment decision. Unknown to most Nigerians, vandalism of telecoms infrastructure is a major problem.

About two to three per cent of Nigeria’s BTS are shut down at any point in time due to vandalism, resulting in a loss of about $50million to $100million every year,” the report said.

He said delays in investment are also encouraged by market uncertainties due to the current antagonistic environment between operators, regulators and the government.

Such uncertainty in the

telecoms sector, he reckons, can have a knock-on effect for the consumer, saying the experience in the United States in the early mid 1970s was a perfect example of what market uncertainties can do.

He lampooned the frequent imposition of fines as sanctions on telecom operators by the industry regulators and government using unregulated tax charges, a measure he maintains does not provide the platform needed for investors to commit more funds to capital expenditure.

He said the story of the telecoms sector will mirror that of the petroleum industry if a proper regulatory and fiscal structure is not designed and enforced by relevant stakeholders.

“Evaluating the dynamics of the telecoms environment, it is clear that there is still a strong need for increased capital investment in the industry. The publicised customer satisfaction levels with telecom operators

serve as enough evidence for the need for improved services. However, until a solution is provided for the operators to deal with issues surrounding its operating costs, security, and uncertainty, Nigeria may not achieve the telecoms investment per capita observed in some of the emerging economies such as South Africa and Brazil,” he said.

“Well-defined and legally backed fiscal and regulatory framework is needed to eliminate uncertainties about the telecom companies’ operations and potential investment. There is need for a uniform tax and levy framework across the nation which has a legal backing.

“This would protect the operators from exploitative charges as well as the creation of unbudgeted new levies/ taxes. Ultimately, a properly designed tax and levy framework will increase the positive perception of due process in the industry. Consequently, investor confidence in the environment will be improved and increase the probability of more capital investment in the industry,” he said.

HE Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Lagos of the Nigerian Customs service (NCS) seized 1,608 various banned goods in the first half of the year.

The goods were worth N612, 513, 600, with a payable duty of N323, 823, 327 and a duty paid value (DPV) of N936, 336, 927.

This figure represents over 50 per cent increase compared with the seizures and proceeds of a corresponding period of last year.

Some of the items mostly included but not limited to the following: rice imported through unapproved routes, foreign frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, used tyres, fridges, compressors, used vehicles, spaghetti/noodles and other general goods. In addition to the above, the Unit also apprehended a total of 111 suspects in connection with the seizures within the period.

The Controller Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Comptroller Nuhu Isa Mahmoud, said the Unit has keyed into the full automation of the NCS procedures and with a robust Assycuda section in the Unit, trade facilitation has been made easier.

The Assycuda ++ (Automated System for Customs Data) enables all Customs Commands to assess information online.

This is targeted at trade facilitation.

“Our full integration and high compliance in this regard accounted for some of the remarkable results which the Unit recorded during the period,” he said, adding that there is high level coordination, synergy and collaboration with the critical stakeholders like the community residents, freight forwarders, traditional institutions, and the media.

The Controller said the Unit can boast of very rugged and fearless officers who will not be intimidated by the hostile tendencies of smugglers. “We will go extra mile to deal with the issue of smuggling in view of its adverse effect on the security and economy of the nation.

“The Unit will continue to justify the confidence which the Federal Government reposed on us. The remaining part of the year will witness a further boost in our anti-smuggling initiative.”

Stakeholders urge Minister to complete airport projects

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TAKEHOLDERS in the aviation sector have set agenda for the new Minister of Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka.

The stakeholders, including the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers ( NAAPE), and Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria ( ATSSSAN), and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), have urged the new minister to set in motion processes that would lead to the completion of all on-going airport projects.

The completion of such projects, the groups noted, would be part implementation of the aviation sector

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

master plan and road map put in place by the immediate past minister of aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.

The implementation of the industry master plan, the groups added, is critical because it would address the challenge of infrastructure decay and obsolete airport and air navigation equipment that has lingered for many decades.

Also, as part of the issues they want the new minister to address is the collection of debts owed government agencies by both foreign and domestic carriers.

Others are the training of

critical air safety personnel, including air traffic controllers, the provision of safety equipment at airports nationwide, as well review of the abolishment of payment of royalties and commercial agreement from foreign carriers.

The groups also want the minister to address the contentious issue of multiple entry points granted foreign carriers flying into the country.

The Public Relations Officer of NAAPE, Mr Bunmi Gindeh said though the association has received the appointment of the minister with mixed feelings, it admonished

Chidoka to remain focused in the execution of projects and policies that would move the sector forward.

He said : "Like most industry stakeholders, NAAPE received with mixed feeling the news of the appointment of Mr. Osita Chidoka as the new Minister of Aviation by President GoodLuck Jonathan.

“While Mr. Chidoka’s youthful, vibrant and forward-looking disposition and antecedent calls for enthusiasm and hope, his apparent lack of aviation experience is clearly a major cause for concern.

“Over the years, NAAPE has consistently called on Mr. Presi-

•Chidoka

dent to give us an experienced aviation professional as Minister. But this call has consistently been unheeded. The result is that the aviation industry has suffered stunted growth.”

26

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS BRANDS & MARKETING

e-mail: adedejiademigbuji@yahoo.com /mobile line: 08131075667

Tobacco business is a money spinner globally. Only the ‘big boys’ play in it. The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) ruffled feathers when it banned tobacco advertising. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) is leading a campaign to get the ban lifted. Will it have its way? ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI reports.

The tobacco war rages • MAN seeks lifting of advert ban • Group insists ban is in order

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O promote what it describes as trade communication, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) is pushing for the lifting of the ban on tobacco advertising. At a public hearing on the Tobacco Control Bill by the House of Representatives Committee on Health. MAN argued that the ban was not good for business. MAN was supported

by Habanera Limited, an affiliate of Japan Tobacco International (JTI), which described the ban as disheartening.

The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) imposed the ban on medical ground.

It said smoking was dangerous to health, adding that the ban would ensure the protection of the environment and non-smokers.

Some groups, such as the National Tobacco Retailers Association (NTRA) and Environmental Right Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) back the ban.

MAN, NTRA, ERA/FoEN and others made their input to the bill during the hearing, which was held with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC).

Over 100 presentations were made by anti- and pro-tobacco groups, including tobacco farmers, distributors. To MAN, the clause on tobacco advertising should be ratified to comply with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) treaty to which Nigeria is a signatory.

Since the ban, the industry, which hitherto was the highest advertising spender, has lost its place to its telecoms and brewery counterparts.

MAN is urging the lawmakers to review some clauses in the bill to ensure that tobacco advertising is regulated and nit banned.

The ban, it noted, has prevented trade communication among manufacturers, distributors and adult consumers.

In its presentation signed by its Director-General, Mr Remi Ogunmefun, MAN urged the committees to ratify Section 15 (1) of the bill, which warns that “no person shall promote tobacco or tobacco products in any form except in manners prescribed by the bill.” MAN suggested that as a legally traded product, a total ban is not realistic.

“As a legally traded product, and if the intention is not a total ban of the product; then this omnibus and absolute ban is not realistic. MAN is of the view that the industry should be allowed what is called trade communication; this is usually businessto-business communication.

This would allow the manufacturer to be able to communicate with the distributor, wholesaler, and retailer and even with the informed adult consumers,” MAN said.

MAN also frowned at Section 24 (1) of the bill, which deals with the proposed ban on sales promotion of tobacco. The section states: “No tobacco manufacturer, distributor or retailer shall offer or provide any consideration, whether directly or indirectly, for the purchase of a tobacco product, including a gift to a purchaser or a third party, bonus, premium, cash rebate or right to participate in a game, lottery or contest.”

The section also bans manufacturers from furnishing a tobacco product without monetary consideration or in consideration of the purchase or service or the performance of a service.

MAN said: “Our view here aligns with the argument in respect of allowing business-to-

business communication. While the provision can apply to consumers to discourage initiation and encourage rescission, it should not apply to the relationship between the manufacturer and his wholesaler or distributor.”

Ogunmefun described the ban as anti-industry, adding that it is capable of stalling the regeneration of the industrialisation of the country. “We collectively make the above request to save the affected manufacturers in the overall interest of the economy and in tandem with the laudable transformation agenda of the Federal Government,” he said.

JTI’s General Manager Mr. Grant Mowat submitted that there is no need for the ban because of “existing restrictions”.

“This ban is rigorously enforced, sufficient and complies with all of Nigeria’s obligation in terms of Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC).

‘As a legally traded product, and if the intention is not a total ban of the product, then this omnibus and absolute ban is not realistic. MAN is of the view that the industry should be allowed what is called trade communication; this is usually business-to-business communication’

Despite this, the Bill proposes new measures. No justification has been presented for why they are needed, in light of the existing restrictions, nor has there been any assessment of whether they will be effective or what the negative consequences might be,” Mowat said.

The WTO described some of the challenges to promotion of tobacco products and investment as trade barriers experienced in some countries. The NTRA, in a jointly signed proposition to the lawmakers, described the ban as laudable, urging the government to ensure that investors and non-smokers are protected.

ERA/FoEN insists that tobacco remains a killer and should not be advertised. In a statement, the group said: “We support a complete ban on smoking in all indoor and designated outdoor public places. We reject the inclusion of designated smoking

areas in the bill since such measure negates the spirit and intent of the bill which is the reduction of smoking.”

To ensure that people are not exposed to the marketing gimmicks of tobacco firms, ERA suggests that tobacco advertising should be banned.

Hajia Mariam Uwaise, an antitobacco advocate, suggested that indirect marketing and advertising methods by tobacco firms should be prohibited.

The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance argued that the right to use of a trademark by tobacco firms be removed. But, the President of Intellectual Property Law Association of Nigeria, Prof Bankole Sodipo, said brand owners should be allowed to distinguish their corporate brands from product brands. He urged the National Assembly to amend the bill in line with the Constitution and international treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.

‘This ban is rigorously enforced, sufficient and complies with all of Nigeria’s obligation... Despite this, the Bill proposes new measures. No justification has been presented for why they are needed, nor has there been any assessment of whether they will be effective or what the negative consequences might be’

27

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Brandnews

‘The deodorant market is huge’ For strategic reasons, manufacturing giant, Unilever has replaced Sure Deodorant with its global brand, Rexona.

In this interview, the Category Manager, Deodorants and Skin Care, Unilever, Mr James Inglesby, tells ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI, why the firm took that decision.

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HY are you replacing Sure with Rexona?

Sure and Rexona are exactly the same thing. The reason we brought Rexona to replace Sure is that Sure is only sold in the United Kingdom (UK). Rexona is a two billion euro global brand while Sure only contributes 13 per cent to the market. So, when you want to launch a new product, you bring the global leader, which is Rexona. By bringing Rexona to Nigeria is of multiple benefits.

First, the product that you get is designed for the UK market and not Nigeria. Also, we’ve looked into what other fragrances that Nigerians want before launching Rexona. The other thing that we have is earning global sponsorship; everybody can see that we sponsored the World Cup. You can only do that with Rexona, you cannot do that with Sure, because it is only a UK thing, while Rexona is a global brand. It also allows us to bring in innovations, bigger innovations, and quicker to Nigerians.

That’s why we brought it. So, what we offer is a superior product that has been improved for Nigeria. So the Sure deodorant that you know is now coming in improved format as Rexona.

What informed the introduction of Rexona Deodorant into Nigeria’s market?

It is because of the huge potential the market holds. About 170 million people live in Nigeria. That means we have 340 million armpits that need deodorant. Besides, what we are also trying to do is to help use Rexona deodorant bring people’s confidence back. Once people start sweating and smelling, they begin to lose confidence. We are here to restore that confidence.

What would this add to Unilever as a company?

For us, it is transformational.

Unilever is 91 years old in this country and we have attained leading position in the traditional categories that we operate in. This is a beginning of the new set of categories that we’ll launch the move-

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A

STUDENT of Psychology of the University of Nigeria (UNN), Somma Phillips has won a 55-inch Hisense 3D Smart TV in the brand’s facebook contest.

According to the Country Director, Hisense, Mr. Jacob George Chacko, the facebook activation tagged “then and now” challenge is designed as a call-to-action for people to ‘move up to a higher sense of reality’, to a life of Hisense.

“For this purpose, we offered one of our premium top of the range products accompanied with two 3D viewing glasses as star prize for the contestant with the highest likes. All the participants

need do was to take a picture of a very old TV set, place it side by side with our state-of-the-art Hisense and invite friends to like the picture,” Chacko said.

Managing Director Dajcom Ltd Mr. David Shafa described Hisense as the most innovative home appliances brand, adding that Hisense believes that for technology to be innovative, consumer needs are not just to be satisfied, their expectations have to be met and exceeded.

“It’s not about what the technology is; it’s about what it does.

How it improves the lives of the consumers.This is the construct that the campaign sought to bring to life,” he said.

First Unity Doll unveiled

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O promote tourism, national unity and girl child education, a firm, Auldon Limited, has unveiled the first Unity Girl Doll in the country. It is a 14-inch tall beautiful doll dressed in indigenous attires of the three major tribes – Aisha (Hausa), Ronke (Yoruba) and Amaka (Igbo).

The firm’s Managing Director Paul Orajiaka said though the organisation trades in toys, the doll project was aimed at boosting values that are of benefit to girls. He said: “The doll, which is wholly Nigerian concept developed to attune children to Nigeria’s rich culture, history and tourist destinations, has unique values, such as instilling community development initiative in the minds of young girls so they can contribute to their families, communities, countries and the world at large.

“It highlights Nigeria’s rich culture, history, historic landmarks, language distribution, states and common Nigerian language and also acculturates young girls because it possesses the power to educate, influence greatly their

• Inglesby

ment of Unilever to another level, in line with the consumer needs.

Why are you so confident about the Nigerian market?

In Nigeria, smell and beauty are closely linked. Looking at all the beautiful ladies, we know that they are actively out there looking for solutions to body odour and great fragrance. And I know as the number one deodorant company, we are the people that deliver that solution. Another thing that gives me confidence is the accessibility of the price. The reason people do not use these things is the inaccessibility of their costs.

How do you intend to cope with counterfeiting?

We have our NAFDAC number. The regulatory body is fully aware of our products. Another thing that we have done is that we only advertise the key variants and we constantly monitor the market. We are very much aware of the fact that counterfeiting very much happens in Nigeria and we are ready to counter that.

The other thing is that consumers in Nigeria know that there are fakes. So, we will make sure Nigerians only pick up our products and not the counterfeits.

SON endorses 30 phone brands HE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has registered about 30 phones.

Some of the mobile phone brands that passed SON’s comprehensive e-product registrations are Gowin, M’horse, Bontel, XGP, Tukaro, Q7, and Soloking.

Others are U-Boss, Oktec, Maxtel, BML, MBO, Teemur, Aus, Miphone, Opsson, and MTK, Admet, H-mobile, DXD, Teenic, Simba, Ucall, Treesky, and Gionee and Kenxinda.

President, Phone and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDA) at Computer Village in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital, Mr. Ikye Onwe, said the registration followed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with SON to rid the market of counter-

Student wins facebook contest

By Adedeji Ademigbuji

feit products.

He said to ensure compliance to standards, the group has provided an office for SON officials for the establishment of a market desk where two staff of SON would be deployed to operate to fight substandard products.

He said to support the agency’s zero tolerance on sub-standard phones, PAPDA facilitated a joint trip for SON’s top management to China where they visited some phone factories and met with over 65 owners of phone factory to ensure that these factories no longer manufacture and import substandard phones into the Nigerian market.

Onwe also explained that the as-

sociation and all importers of mobile phones at the Computer Village market agreed that from July 1 this year, all mobile phones that would be sold in Nigeria would be products that have been duly registered with SON. According to him, passed off mobile phones, such as “Nokia and Samsung products will not be stocked and displayed in stores owned by PAPDA’s members”.

In addition, the group agreed that all mobile phone brands sold in the market need to have a functional service centre which would cater to “after sales services”.

PAPDA has, however, warned that the products that lack these requirements would be confiscated and destroyed by the “joint taskforce of the SON and PAPDA.”.

minds and substantially help them determine what is valuable in and around them.”

He said the objectives of the project are in tandem with the country’s multicultural setting, noting that the white in some foreign toys does not depict the beautiful African skin, look or culture.

“Our model is based on the idea of harnessing the power of buyers who want to do good with their purchases. We want to portray Unity Girl as far more than a doll. It will have a brand identity, a brand that will represent the social concern of the challenges with the girl education and their warfare in Nigeria and the world at large,” he added.

“The Unity Girl,” he explained, “is growing bonds of love among us”, adding that it will promote the spirit of oneness among girls.

On why the firm picked girls, he said about 40 per cent of Nigerian children aged six to 11 are girls do not go to school with problem more rampart in the North, adding that part of proceeds from the project would devoted to promoting girls’ education providing infrastructure in ‘adopted’ schools.

Firm promises prompt service delivery

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ULTICHOICE, owner of DStv, has assured subscribers that it will continue to provide access to premium content and advance broadcast technology to boost its services.

During a MultiChoice Customer forum in Ibadan, Oyo State, DStv Public Relations Manager, Caroline Oghuma, said the objective of the forum is to thank subscribers for their loyalty and listen to their suggestions, advice and complaints as part of efforts to enhance the firm’s effective operation.

“This forum is equally designed to bring customers closer to the DStv brand for our esteemed subscribers to know and meet some of the people behind their pay-TV of choice,” she said.

The Chief Monitoring Officer, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Mrs. Pauline Ehusani lauded MultiChoice for the forum initiative. She advised that the engagement be sustained because it is an important strategy in customer relations.

Issues raised at the forum included how to resolve the challenge of rain-fade, migration from one bouquet to another, payment channels for DStv subscription, introduction of tollfree customer line and pay-perview services.

The MultiChoice’s Regional Sales Manager Southwest, Adekunle Adenuga advised subscribers to engage DStv-accredited installers when setting up their decoders and for other after-sales services.

Trade show holds Sept 2

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HE second packaging, plastics, labelling and printing trade show will hold from September 2 to 4 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Titled: Propak West Africa 2014, the event being organised by Montgomery West Africa, would feature international and local experts and decision makers in the industry.

Managing Director Montgomery West Africa Tori Abiola said the four-day event is being supported by the Institute

of Packaging Nigeria (IOPN), World Packaging Organisation (WPO), Nigeria Export Promotion Councl (NEPC), Small and Medium Enterprises Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) and the National Agency for Food, drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

She said the event would also feature seminars and a launch titled: Digital Print Expo West Africa.

FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

28

THE NATION

BUSINESS SHOPPING

• Market

E-mail: toniaitose@gmail.com

Sms : 07035302326 Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

• Store

Traders, shoppers upbeat over Eid-El –Fitri celebrations As the Muslim fasting draws to a close tomorrow or Sunday, signalling the end of Ramadan and heralding the beginning of Eid-El–Fitri celebrations, traders in major markets and operators of shopping centres across the Lagos metropolis are upbeat over prospects of increased patronage, reports TONIA ‘DIYAN.

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OR the supervisor of a footwear store in one of the upscale shopping malls in Lagos, who identified himself simply as Peter, better days are here.

Having experienced reduced sales because of a lull in customer patronage occasioned by the Ramadan fast, Peter is hopeful of a turnaround in the fortunes of his business following the increased tempo of activities in preparation for Eid-El –Fitri celebrations, which comes at the end of the Muslim fast.

“People generally come to shop on days when they are more relaxed and this period, Eid-El –Fitri is the best time to stock our shops with varieties, so that people would come and patronise us. We are ready to host our customers,” Peter, whose shop specialises in casuals and fashionable foot wears, said.

Apart from dangling cheaper prices for his wears to attract prospective customers, Peter says the car park of the mall where his shop is located, has also been expanded to accommodate more vehicles. Similarly, Femi, a manager at a restaurant located in Palmgrove area of Lagos, says he cannot wait for the Eid-El –Fitri celebrations to give his business a boost, especially after the low sales that hit him while the Muslim fast lasted. According to him, food sales have been cut below half since the Ramadan fasting began; he couldn’t cook the quantity of the food he used to since he does not want any waste.

“In the past three weeks, we have been counting our losses daily,” he lamented, saying that most of his customers eat once a day and they do that at home.

However, like Peter, Femi is optimistic that the end of the Muslim fast, which heralds the Eid-El –Fitri, would breathe fresh air to his business, which is why he has since stocked his restaurant with assorted food stuff to cater for the needs of his customers who would be needing the restaurant to

chill out. He is counting on the usual human traffic that builds up in and around his shop during such celebrations to increase sales and make more profit.

Traders in major markets across the metropolis are also hopeful. For instance, Nkechi who sells soup ingredients at Mile 12 Market told The Nation Shopping that she wants to make up for the low sales she recorded during the Ramadan fast. “I have waited long enough for this period when the Muslims will be celebrating. I have realised that I make more sales when they are celebrating one event or the other. I sell a fast moving item, but since they began their fast a month ago, I haven’t been making sales. This is my breakthrough period, I want to utilise it well and make money,” she declared.

Nkechi expressed optimism that as the Muslim fast comes to an end, with Muslim fateful gearing up to celebrate few days from today, the Eid-El –Fitri celebration would push up sales for her and her colleagues who sell staple food items because such items are most needed for the season. Olufunke, who operates a local canteen, popularly called ‘Mama Put’, also said she hopes to smile again in a few days after a lull induced by the Ramadan fast. “Most of my customers are Hausa people and since the fasting began, they only eat once and that is in the evening. They always break with their family so my business has been greatly affected,” she said, adding that she has made adequate arrangements to take advantage of the Eid-El –Fitri celebration to increase sales.

Indeed, across the metropolis, the usual upsurge in human traffic in major markets and shopping places when the yearly Muslim fast ends, can hardly go unnoticed. Such increased tempo of activities resurface to prepare Muslims for their yearly Eid-El –Fitri celebration, which comes up in three days time. Major markets are becoming busier and traders at these markets say patronage are increasing

• Restaurant

by the day as the end of fasting draws near.

The Nation Shopping also observed that sales are picking up with more crowds and more items on display.

At these markets, traders are pleased with what they call “the Eid-El –Fitri rush” as they get helping hands from their children and relatives so as to cope with the rush. A trader, Mutiat said her daughter helps with packing the items she sells while she bargains and collects money from customers. In some of the malls and markets visited, Muslim kids dressed in their smart mufti wears were seen catching fun and moving around and pointing at what they need; their parents were granting some offers and turning down others.

The mall being a multipurpose place, accommodates people for different motives.

While some go there to shop for their personal items, others usually go there to purchase gift items , they hope to offer to their loved ones. Others visit such malls to unwind.

And there are various sections to chose from: the food section, the clothing section, the shoes section, and the bicycle section, among others.

During Eid-El –Fitri, Muslims are expected to distribute gift items to the needy in line with the Islamic injunction on Zakat ul-fitri, that is gift to the less privileged. This is why major shopping malls and markets are stocking up food and related items in preparation for the

celebration. Findings also show that some traders hoard non-perishable food items for the last week of Ramadan so as to sell at high prices and maximize profit.

According to a market leader in Badagry, Fatai Akojenu, farmers in the North ensure that these non-perishable items are made available in all major markets, bearing in mind that many of them are Muslims and may have low supplies now because of their involvement in the Ramadan fast. An Islamic cleric, Mallam Abubakar Saliu said it is so because Muslims cook a lot after the Ramadan so that they could distribute food to the less privileged, friends and neighbours in line with Muslim injunction.

Saliu said: “This is the time to sell in large quantity as we haven’t sold well in the last three weeks.” He added that at this time, Muslims buy more than they did to prepare for the fast when it was going to start because most of them loose appetite for food after fasting the whole day. He said he hopes to make huge sales from the non-perishable food items he has been keeping all through the fasting period.

Rukayat Eruobodo, a Muslim, who couldn’t stock perishable items before the fast began, said she decided to wait for this last week to buy food items for Eid- El- fitri celebration despite the hike in the prices of these items.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHSOUTH STATES

•Imoke

UNT APPED GOLD UNTAPPED

RIVERS IJ AW IJA

CROSS RIVER State is endowed with so many solid minerals scattered across its 18 local government areas. But, no thanks to the law ceding to the Federal Government the exclusive right on mineral resources, little is being tapped

IN RIVERS STATE, the people have, for a long time, seen themselves as made up of upland and riverine groups. The riverine people are the Ijaw, who believe it is their turn to produce the next governor of the state.

•PAGE 33

•A Kalabari bride

•PAGE 32

FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

PAGE 29

BULLDOZER A BAYELSA government agency renders over 100 jobless after demolishing a popular Yenegoa relaxation centre in an exercise “to rid the state of illegal structures”. But, the owner of the place insists that he has the approval to operate the centre.

•PAGE 34

•Dicskson

Stalemate in Delta •Controversies stall Fed Govt’s $16b Export Processing Zone

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N the beginning, it elicited excitement. It was a piece of good news that got many hopeful of a better tomorrow. Prayers were said for the initiator of what was seen as a marvelous project. But, no thanks to controversies of various hues, the Federal Government’s $16 billion Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Delta State is no longer good news. It has generated bad blood, bred hatred and made many fear blood-letting.

The EPZ project shares home with the multibillion dollar Escravos Gas to Liquid project of Chevron Nigeria Limited. Analysts are concerned about the fate of the project. On one hand, they wonder if the project will

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

ever be allowed to take off; on the other, they wonder if it will be allowed to function optimally and achieve its objectives.

The project was not unconnected with a communal strife among the Itsekiri of the Ugborodo communities, which left several people killed or injured and properties worth millions of naira destroyed. Then the issue was who was going to represent host communities’ interests.

This gave rise to two Itsekiri factions, which received funding from wealthy interested parties for arms and ammunition. The story of that

‘How can the place take off without our demands being met? I am telling you that my grandfather’s grave will be no more. He was buried in Ikpokpo, the seaport into the EPZ, a community which has lost its entire land to this project. How can it takeoff? It’s not possible’ bitter experience lasted several blistering months and the marks of the experience are still wounds, not scarred yet; a heavy cloud of seething resentment and distrust in Ugborodo.

There is, however, a more ugly scenario gathering storm over and around the project, which if not well handled

Wartime against End for Akwa Ibom ‘baby factory’ operators After winning the war against branding of children as witches and wizards, Akwa Ibom State has turned the heat on “baby factory” operators, writes KAZEEM IBRAHYM

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HE battle used to be against pastors, parents and others who branded children witches and wizards. That era, the state earned so much bad press, especially overseas. Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio had no choice but to pass the Child Rights Bill into law in 2008. The events leading to the passage of the law are still fresh in the memories of many. A report on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) detailed the inhuman treatment meted to suspected childwitches by their parents and communities. In the report that went viral, a self-styled cleric, Bishop Sunday William, declared that 2.3 million witches and wizards existed in the state – most of them, according to him, were children.

Williams also claimed that he helped parents kill about 110 “child-

witches” for as much as N400,000 per ‘witch’. The BBC documentary on the activities of his church went viral. It angered Akpabio that a ‘Bishop’ would declare that 2.3 million of the 4 million people in the state are witches and wizards.

As the problem of branding children “witches” and “wizards” is going down in the state, criminals have devised another means of making quick money. They abduct children either from school or church and sell them. Some of them also operate ‘’baby factory’’, using boys between 18 and 25 to impregnate young girls.

In the last three months, the police in Akwa Ibom State have arrested many suspects allegedly involved in “baby factory” business.

•Continued on page 35

and properly dispelled, might consume more than just the multibillion dollar project, but might topple the delicate balance on which the Warri is based. Just as the dust created by the Ugborodo communities’ strife were settling, stakeholders of the Ijaw communities in Warri Southwest started

expressing displeasure over the handling of the project.

The nature of the relationship between the two ethnic groups, Ijaw and Itsekiri, is well known; they are neighbours in more than one local government area of the state. They share a lot in common, but again, they have been involved in a longdrawn strife, which claimed several lives and destroyed multimillion naira properties. The nature of their relationship has left most of the places where they cohabit to remain the all-time read spots of Delta State, where an unprovoked fight can easily break out.

•Continued on Page 30

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The only evidence of robbery before this court was the taking of N700 from the second defendant (Saturday) by men of the Nigeria Police who are usually armed when going on patrols or raiding... in the course of the defendants' incarceration at the police stations, they suffered gunshot wounds and the first defendant was further tortured •Imaobong and James were arrested by the police for attempting to sell their baby (in her arms).

PHOTO: KAZEEM IBRAHYM

• YOU HAVE STORIES FOR US? PLEASE CONTACT US ON 07066954441 OR 08123521990

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

Stalemate in Delta over $16b project •Continued from Page 29

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HE Ijaw said the handlers of the project have skewed the process in favour of their Itsekiri neighbours. During the week, representatives of communities in Gbaramatu-Ijaw kingdom, led by Chief Godspower Gbenekama, the Benemowei of the kingdom, re-echoed the position of the Ijaw groups in Warri Southwest Council Area. The stakeholders, who addressed a news conference in Warri, alleged deliberate exclusion of the Ijaw in the preparation and near take-off of the project.

Gbenekama said outstanding issues must be resolved before the take-off.

Their number one case against the project is the appellation tagged on it; ‘EPZ Ogidigben’. Ogidigben is an Itsekiri community in Ugborodo and is one of the many communities providing the large expanse for the EPZ. Ijaw people’s problem with this name is that it presupposes that the project ‘belongs’ to the Itsekiri.

According to the representatives of Gbaramatu kingdom, including Mr. Godwin Akori, Hon Mathew Diofelo, Mr. Williams Tortor, Dr. Clement Tonfawei, Odudu Edward, Lucky Bebenimibo, Edwin Ayetonghan, Tangbe Andrew and Orubu Emmanuel, this development is both dubious and dangerous. They said it was a similar issue that gave rise to the bitter Ijaw/Itsekiri war of the past. They added that it is dubious because the Ijaw are contributing more of the land being used.

The people, who accused the Delta State government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of playing games capable of reigniting the bitter Ijaw/Itsekiri strife of 1997 to 2004, demanded that the state government must set up two more interface committees for both Gbaramatu and Ogulagha kingdoms, for the sake of equity and peace. According to the group, more than ten communities of

Gbaramatu Kingdom would be losing land to the project.

They said: “It is pertinent to state that the site for the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) is spread across lands and communities belonging to both the Ijaw of Gbaramatu and Ogulagha kingdoms and the Itsekiri of Ugborodo community. In fact, one can safely say that about 70 per cent of the land belongs to the Ijaws, contrary to the impression being bandied about by the Itsekiri and the Delta State government, under Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who is an Itsekiri man.

“While the purpose of this news conference is not to take up the case of the Ogulagha Ijaw, we state without fear of contradiction that the bulk of the land is provided by the Ijaw and over ten Gbaramatu Ijaw communities namely; Ikpokpo, Atanba, Opuede, Opuede Bubor, Tebijor/Okpelama, Okerenkokogbene, Gan-ama, Oporoza community land, New Jerusalem, Joula and several others are hosts to the project “The people of Ikpokpo community, which is the site for the proposed seaport and entry port to the proposed EPZ project, will suffer the most because its entire land will be swallowed up by the project. What this means is that Ikpokpo will cease to exist. The people will become homeless and strangers in other communities, while only the bushes and the peripheries of Ugborodo communities of Madangho, Ajudaibo and Ogidigben, which the project is now named after, will be affected.”

The Itsekiri, on the other hand, have long buttressed their ownership of a large portion of the land, citing several landmark court judgments and documents. An Itsekiri group, Warri Study Group, in an advertorial in a national daily of June 13, further highlighted this. The group described the Ijaw as their customary tenants.

Gbenekama debunked the claim, saying: “Most of these cases referred to by the Warri Study Group are still

End time for Akwa Ibom ‘baby factory’ operators •Continued from Page 29

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being litigated upon while a number of them have been remitted back to the appellate court for trial to commence de novo. One of the court cases is presently before the Court of Appeal in Benin Division.

“If the Gbaramatu Kingdom is their tenants, how much tenement rate have they paid to the Itsekiri of Ugborodo or any other Itsekiri community for that matter? If we are their neighbours, where do these neighbours live? The Ijaw of Gbaramatu are tenants to nobody. These assertions are very provocative and enough to cause a breach of the pace we currently enjoy in the area.”

Gbenekama said while the Ijaw are not claiming sole ownership of the •Uduaghan (right) with Oboroegbeyi shortly after inaugurating the interface committee lands for the EPZ, they want their due to be given them.

“The name of the project must be changed from EPZ Ogidigben to another name that reflects the joint ownership of the Ijaw and Itsekiri in the project. We align with GIBABU, as suggestion by the Gbaramatu Traditional Council of Chiefs. We totally reject the present name because of past experiences and antics of the Itsekiri of Ugborodo in bastardising our communities’ name.

“We demand that two interface committees be set up for the Ijaw of Gbaramatu and those of Ogulagha respectively. We have a 23-man committee in place to negotiate Gbaramatu interest in the EPZ project. The committee’s list and names of members have since been submitted to the • Gbenekama (middle) speaking with reporters. With him are other Gbaramatu leaders Delta State government and the NNPC. “NNPC should change the name as a channel for discussion. Enough is the project. How can it takeoff? It’s not “In the interest of peace and unhin- suggested above and have an MOU enough,” they said. possible. It’s possible for them not to dered operation in the area, the NNPC with the communities of Gbaramatu He added: “How can the place take listen to our demands, it’s not posshould immediately open up channel Kingdom before groundbreaking cer- off without our demands being met? sible.” of discussion with the various Ijaw emony of the project.

I am telling you that my grandfather’s Dates had been set in the past for groups, especially the host communi“We also demand that Julius Berger grave will be no more. He was bur- President Goodluck Jonathan to perties of Gbramatu kingdom. If the Nigeria Limited, henceforth, stop its ied in Ikpokpo, the seaport into the form the groundbreaking ceremony, NNPC has its own secret agenda to wicked divide-and-rule antics in the EPZ, a community which has lost its but it had been shelved because of these sideline the Ijaw and Gbaramatu EPZ project and carry the Ijaw along entire land to this project and they disagreements. And the way things are, people in particular, they should be in whatever they are doing. We have didn’t deem it worthy of being it does not look that the issues can be aware that we are prepared and they written several letters to them on our immortalised by naming the project sorted out anytime soon. So, the stalewill not have an easy ride. position and have so far refused to open after it. Ikpokpo is the entry port into mate stays.

Mandela ressurects in Asaba, as South Africa marks 20th anniversary

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HE South African Consulate in Nigeria marked last week 20 years of the country’s freedom and democracy and the Nelson Mandela International Day. In Asaba, the Delta State capital, a programme was held at the scenic Nelson Mandela Garden of 95 Trees in honour of the late freedom fighter.

The Nelson Mandela Garden of 95 Trees was founded in 2013, a joint initiative of the Delta State government and a civil society organisation, Fight Against Desert Encroachment (F.A.D.E). It is a research, educational and recreational centre.

South African Ambassador to Nigeria Mokgethi Monaisa, at a news conference, said the objective of the celebrations was “to identify with the nations and people that stood fast with South Africans, supporting them in their struggle for freedom”.

He said Nigeria played an important role in the liberation of the majority of the South African people.

Monaisa observed that the global Nelson Mandela International Day highlights the values and ideals that Mandela exemplified, adding that the consulate “has identified Delta State as one of our key friends with which we would like to share this moment.”

His words: “Apartheid has been with us for centuries and we have been free from it and we redress the iniquities of the imbalances that were caused by the apartheid regime. This cannot happen overnight, it becomes a process, but so far we have achieved a lot towards the dream of Nelson Mandela and his peers who at the time early in our struggle, fought very hard to bring us to where we are. Some of them have gone like he himself, but we are carrying on that beacon. If you go to SA today, it is definitely not the SA of 1994.We have addressed a lot of imbalances .

“We have social programmes to bridge the gap between the haves and the have not. We have built a lot of schools for the people, we have social grants to take care of our aged ,the disabled, the needy, especially the abandoned children. We have built more hospitals in the country and electricity. You are aware that SA is highly industrialised and therefore generates power, but even then has built more power plants. Many homes, especially the homes of the

From Okungbowa Aiwerie,Asaba

previously disadvantaged are electrified. A lot of roads have been built especially to areas which used to be for blacks only. In the educational arena SA is now building three new universities in three provinces that did not have universities. Universities used to be concentrated in certain areas such as Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria and Durban. We did not have universities in Northern Cape, Umphumalaga .We are really living Mandela’s dream.”

He said government has tackled crime in SA headlong, noting that the crime situation was perceptive rather than real.

According to him, the media exaggerated the issue of crime in the run-up to2010 World Cup in South Africa.

He said, “We demonstrated to the world that what they read in the newspaper and the perception they had was not true…the World Cup came and went with no major incident. People were so free that many decided to stay longer. Some of them came back to buy property in South Africa”.

Delta Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Festus Okubor, described the late Mandela as an “icon”, adding the state is honoured to host part of the celebrations commemorating South Africa’s 20th anniversary and Nelson Mandela Day. He said this honour by the South African consulate speaks volumes about the “concerted efforts of Delta State government under Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan to open up the State to the outside world”.

The founder of F.A.D.E and renowned environmentalist, Mr. Jibunoh Newton, said he adopted Nelson Mandela as his mentor about 50 year ago. He said his NGO in conjunction with the state government in 2013 built the Nelson Mandela Garden of 95 trees to commemorate the life of sacrifice exemplified by Nelson Mandela.

He said: “All the 95 trees are doing well and some have even started flowering.”

The highpoint of the occasion was a visit by Monaisa and his entourage to

•Monaisa speaking at the news conference. With him is Dr Okubor.

PHOTO: OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE

Madonna School for Children with Needs, Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area. The group donated books, writing materials and Tee-shirts to the over 193 pupils of the school run by the Catholic Mission. Pupils were entertained with soft drinks in a ceremony which lasted over two hours.

N May, a traditional doctor and four others were arrested by the police for the stealing of a threeyear-old baby. Commissioner of Police Umar Gwadabe listed the names of the accused persons as Miss. Imaobong Udoh, mother of the baby, Mrs. Regina James, buyer and Mr. Mfon James, her husband.

Others, according to the police boss, are: Mrs. Comfort Henry, the traditional birth attendant who delivered the baby and Mr. Emmanuel Okon, a homeopathic doctor. The police boss explained that Mrs. James paid N150, 000, to the mother of the baby and N110, 000 to the homeopathic doctor for his transaction.

His words: “On March 3, 2014, a case of child stealing was reported by Mr. Eteobong James, of No. 33 to the police where a three day old baby girl was sold for N260, 000. Based on the report, the suspects were arrested. Mr. Emmanuel Etim Okon,is the one who arranged the infamous deal and personally conveyed the baby from point of delivery at Nna-Enin in Urhan Local Government Area to the buyers at No. 37 Church Road, Uyo.” Gwadabe, who warned criminals, especially those involved in stealing of children, to desist from it as the state would not be conducive for their illicit trade.

To fight this, the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, has taken the violence against the children’s campaign to some churches in the rural areas of the state as a way of sensitising the parents on the dangers in giving their children out to either friends or relatives for training.

Mrs. Akpabio, who is the Chairperson of the Family Life Enhancement Initiative (FLEI), told the parents during her visit to worship at Christ Faith Church, Utu in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, that they should take advantage of the free and compulsory education policy and stop giving their children out for any pecuniary motives.

Mrs. Akpabio described children as the greatest assets of any nation, say-

•Mrs. Akpabio presenting a gift item and cash to a widow at the Christ Faith Church, Utu.

Mrs. James, the alleged buyer of the three-day old baby, speaking with PHOTOSKAZEEM IBRAHYM reporters...With her is her husband.

ing when a child is protected; the future of a nation is also protected.

She said: “On my way to Ukanafun, I noticed that some small children were walking on the streets and that is not good enough. I want to tell you that they have started kidnapping our young children. I don’t want you to take your children to church and leave them outside while you are inside the church. Sometimes they come into the church to kidnap

our children. After the kidnap they sell the children. Don’t give your children out to anybody for training. Take advantage of the state’s government free and compulsory education policy and send your children to school.

“When they kidnap your male child, they sell him between N400, 000 and N450, 000 while the female child goes for N250, 000. Know that our children are worth more that many tubers of yam they will promise you. If you are

suffering, let your children suffer with you. Be careful where you send your child to. Tell the people that your child is not for sale.”

Mrs. Akpabio, who also frowned at the issue of “baby factory business”, said the government would eradicate it.

She said: “They are using the female children for prostitution business.

They get them pregnant and sell the babies. Let any child that is not up to 18 years stay with you. Don’t allow anybody to useless your child. Don’t truncate your child’s education. It is only education that will make your child great.”

The governor’s wife, who later gave out some gift items and cash to widows in the church, also donated N2million for the completion of the church project.

In the entourage of the governor’s wife were Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Glory Edet; Information and Communications Commissioner Mr. Aniekan Umanah; wife of the State Secretary to Government, Martha Emmanuel; and wives of other commissioners.

From Christ Faith Church, she took her campaign to two other churches, Qua Iboe Church of Nigeria in Ikpe Atai, Etim Ekpo Local Government Area and The Apostolic Church, Nigeria, Ikot Akpa Nkuk Area Headquarters, in Ukanafun Local Government Area.

At both churches, Mrs. Akpabio’s messages to the parents were not different. She warned them to resist any attempt by anybody to truncate the future of their children as a result of an instant gratification. She gave a cash donation of N500, 000 and N1million to the two churches.

Mrs Emmanuel commended Akpabio for his holistic approach to the protection of children in Akwa Ibom State, by signing the Child Rights bill into Law. She called on parents to inculcate moral values in their children, so that they can become responsible citizens in their families and communities.

Traders jubilate as govt removes abandoned truck From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

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T was jubilation galore at the Imgbi junction of Amarata Road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Saturday. A day earlier, Niger Delta Report had published a commentary on traders’ anger over an abandoned truck.

The government took the cue and removed the truck, which was abandoned for over two months after ramming into their business premises.

They were also grateful to Niger Delta Report for relentlessly calling on the state government to remove the truck. Beaming with smiles, the traders watched as officials of the state government pulled out the wreckage of the truck.

The articulated vehicle was dangerously suspended on pavements threatening to collapse on them and their shops.

The truck marked XA 419 KTD was involved in a lone accident on May 21.

It was gathered that the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Inuro Wills, ordered the removal of the abandoned truck.

Shortly after pulling out the truck, Wills called this reporter to commend the Niger Delta Report for bringing the matter to his attention.

“I had earlier directed that this truck should be removed. I didn’t know that it was still there until I read it in The

•The vehicle being removed...last Saturday.

Nation on Friday. We have now removed it. Thank you for the report,” he said.

Marshals of the Federal Road

Safety Corps monitored the removal which temporarily obstructed traffic along the busy Amarata Road. They diverted traffic to one side of the dual

carriage road. An earth-moving equipment belonging to the construction giant, Juilus Berger, was used to pull out the abandoned truck.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

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NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Waiting for the fruits of Bayelsa Investment Forum Last weekend, Bayelsa State government hosted an investment forum in Yenegoa. For the citizens, what matters is the fruits of the event, writes MIKE ODIEGWU

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LL roads led to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital last week. For over three days, personalities from different walks of life trooped into the city.

It was not the just-concluded Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) beauty pageant that brought them. They came to attend the first Investment and Economic Forum organised by the Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson.

President Goodluck Jonathan, though was absent, was represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

But the ministers of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke; Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga; former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur were among dignatries that attended the forum. They also delivered goodwill messages.

Also, Chief Timi Alaibe, Mr. Uche Orji, Managing Director of Notore Chemical industries, Miss Ivana Osagie, Regional Manager South-south Operations Bank of industry, Mr Balarabe Musa were among the lead speakers and panelists.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Steve Oru and his counterpart at the state for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, were not left behind. Investors from China, South Africa, Europe and America came to see Bayelsa and her business opportunities.

•Aganga, Sambo, Dickson and his wife Rachael at the forum.

The governor was convinced that the event was strategic. It was designed to bring eminent and foremost industrialists, entrepreneurs, tourists and influential politicians from different parts of the world to the state.

It was put together to showcase the state as untapped rich business virgin that tasty for business suitors.

Dickson believed that the programme would act as a key to unlocking the investment potential of the state and move it to the world map as a preferred destination for foreign investors.

Indeed, one leg of the forum's objective appears to have been achieved. People, locals and foreigners, came. They kept the state busy for three days. Most of the hotels were fully booked and from the world press conference to the cocktails including practical sections, contacts were established and business agreements were signed.

Jonathan was concerned about using the forum as an opportunity to identify other investment possibilities in the state. He wanted the participants to be involved in diversifying the economy. He urged Bayelsa to develop other sectors of its economy instead of depending on oil and gas alone.

Jonathan said: "Bayelsa must diversify its economic base. It should not focus on oil wealth.

It should pay attention to agricultural, coastal landscape for tourism, maritime industry and new housing estate.

"The desire by the state government for development will be supported by the Federal Government."

Dickson was in his best element. In an elaborate statement, Dickson sold Bayelsa to the world and told investors the specific money-doubling opportunities in the state.

He spoke about tourism, agriculture and power generation. He solicited partnership in the areas of road construction, small and medium enterprises development to expand the economy beyond oil and gas.

Keynote Speaker, Mr. Jim O'Neil, Retired Chairman of Gold Sachs Asset Management, was represented by Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Lord Malloch-Brown.

He said the need to build an inclusive political government, create critical infrastructure and institutions to gain the confidence of investors.

In line with the recommendations of O'Neil, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kate Abiri, said the state was ready

to ensure quick dispensation of justice to provide an enabling environment for investment.

Addressing potential investors, she said: "Bayelsa will not allow any corrupt investors in the state. We will do all we can to allow justice and your business must be in line with the much desired economic growth of the state government."

But, Mrs. Madueke said the Federal Government had taken practical steps to deepen its partnership with Bayelsa on a number of projects, including the Brass Liquified Natural Gas (BLNG).

She said the final investment decision (FID) of the BLNG would be reached in the first quarter of next year adding that the Federal Government intended to create more jobs in the state through various programmes, using the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.

She identified the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as a critical element of petroleum development in the country.

The minister insisted that establishing the content board had propelled Nigerians to participate actively in the petroleum industry.

Mrs Allison-Madueke, who

also visited the office of the board in Yenagoa and was received by the Executive Secretary of the board, Mr. Ernest Nwakpa, and other board members, said the Nigerian content had been deployed in other sectors of the economy.

She noted that, work on a pipe mill development project at Polaku in Yenagoa local government area was ongoing in addition to the proposed industrial park at Otuoke.

In his remarks, Dr. Aganga noted that Bayelsa, like Nigeria possesses a viable macroeconomic environment for investments to thrive. He noted that the state accounts for more than 30 per cent of the nation's crude oil production and could do well in agriculture.

Dickson was able to extract commitments from some of the investors. The state government signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with many companies.

With Proton Energy, the government signed an MoU for the construction of 500mgw power plant and with the Bank of Industry, Mainstreet Bank and the Bank of Agriculture entered into an agreement to establishment N25billion SMEs development fund.

Dickson was not done yet.

Imoke’s wife lifts Destiny Children

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Y name is Abigail and I play the violin. I have no one to look after me; so, I roam the streets of Cross River. Perhaps someone out there will help me. If they don't, my destiny will be cut short, my talents wasted and I may never get to play the violin."

But, for the intervention of Obioma Liyel-Imoke, wife of the state governor, Abigail and over 100 street children in Cross River would have had no future.

October 11 2009 marked a transition, an exodus of at least 54 despondent street children, in Calabar, the state's capital, to a much more comfortable environment where they would finally fulfill their purpose in life. Their name was changed from Street Children to Destiny Children.

But, it did not stop there. That same year, a fashion show was organised,

by Obioma, whose name means, "Heart of Gold." The fashion show tagged The Destiny Child Charity (DCC) Fashion show, which combines the best of music, culture, talent and fashion serves as a fundraiser for the upkeep of the Destiny Children. Here the children paraded alongside professional models and artistes. The Destiny Child initiative

was taken to Atlanta, United States where Mrs Liyel-Imoke was the special guest of honour.

"We key into this vision," says Geoffrey Teneilabe, Nigeria's Consul General to Atlanta. "What Obioma Liyel-Imoke is doing is innovative; she's taking the rejected and downtrodden in our society and giving them life again. This is the first of its kind in Nigeria. We will encourage her every step of the way, and the Good Lord will give her the strength.

We also pray for the means to sustain this laudable project."

"Our special guest has tirelessly served women and children in her community over the years. She is ably represented here this evening hoping to mobilise others to rise to the challenge of helping in our individual communities and communities worldwide," said Norma Jean Martin, Founder, A Fashion Affair Inc, organisers of this landmark event.

The wife of the governor, represented by the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Community Development, Patricia Endeley, gave insights into the child abandonment situation in Cross River State and in Nigeria.

"Child abuse is not only on the rise but gradually assuming epidemic

•Mrs Endeley flanked by children from the Destiny Child Centre (DCC) at the fashion show in Atlanta, Georgia

proportions. It has also been described by experts in the field as a hidden epidemic because most cases are largely unaccounted for."

"In Cross River State, two peculiar dimensions that are linked with a high incidence of child abuse are unwanted adolescent/teenage pregnancies and the child-witch phenomenon (a.k.a. the child-witch syndrome)."

Though giant strides have been taken to alleviate this menace, Obioma acknowledges that the obstacles are huge. "We all will agree that running a charity organisation and projects of

this magnitude are not devoid of challenges. Some include highly capital intensive and specialised nature of the residential care services for the DCC housemates; few skills options given to the beneficiaries of DCC due to inadequate funding; inability to purchase equipments/tools for DCC housemates trained on vocational skills to begin their small businesses and thus reduce level of poverty in their families; inadequate/lack of information about families of some DCC kids to enable family integration for existing housemates."

His restoration government entered into pacts with Ostertrade for the establishment of ceramic tiles, glass and tomato paste and beans canning industries.

Dickson further put pen to paper with the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology and four media organisations, comprising Channels Television, Africa Independent Television (AIT), Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and Silverbird. The deal was aimed at promoting effective dissemination and management of information concerning government activities.

The Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. Omobolaji Johnson signed on behalf of the Federal Government, while Secretary to State Government, Professor Edmund Alison Oguru and Information Commissioner, Deacon Markson Fefegha signed for the state.

The governor Described SMEs as a critical aspect of the state's economic plan, especially the diversification from the oil and gas sector. He urged the people of the state to key into the SMEs programme for the creation of wealth and job opportunities. He insisted that the era of dependence on political patronage was no longer sustainable.

He presented some certificates of occupancy (C of Os) to Julius Berger Plc and other individuals and underscored the importance of the land title document in addressing the issue of access to business finance.

Beyond the speeches, Bayelsans are watching. Many of them commended the efforts of the governor. Others are waiting to see the practical transformation of the theme of the forum "Unlocking Bayelsa economic potential: Opportunities and Challenges", into a reality.

In fact, they are looking forward to the establishment of ceramic tiles, glass and tomato paste, including beans canning industries in Bayelsa State.

The DCC initiative is also garnering momentum with other stakeholders in the State of Georgia. Abby Ebodaghe, President of the Nigerian Women's Association of Georgia (NWAG), at an event, said: "We've been in existence since April 2000.

Our purpose is to empower women, youth and children in Atlanta and in Nigeria. We support 10 orphanages in 10 states in Nigeria including the FCT, and hope to extend this to two more, which may include the DCC." The event tagged Afro Caribbean Splendour, which held recently at the prestigious Holiday Inn Dunwoody Atlanta, could be best described as a combination of the finest of Nigerian and Caribbean talent. It featured internationally acclaimed professional models as well as celebrities such as musician and songwriter Kenny Gilkes, jazz artist Andrew Lawrence, Adaeze Eluke, Carnival Calabar Queen 2010 and the current Carnival Calabar Queen Nancy-Olive Aisaghonhi.

"We have faith that because MACA's steps have been ordered to meet the right people here, we will collectively mitigate these challenges with your support, said the Wife of the Governor."

"I am proud to be associated with this event, I remain forever grateful to A Fashion Affair for taking our campaign to the next level and look forward to forging stronger links ahead," she added.

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33

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Rivers Ijaw…Unique people, great culture, endless prospects

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE Worry over Cross River’s untapped goldmines

Cross River State is endowed with so many solid minerals scattered across its 18 local government areas. But, no thanks to the In Rivers State, the people have, for a long time, seen themselves as made up of upland and riverine groups. The riverine people law, little is being tapped, writes NICHOLAS KALU

are the Ijaw, who believe it is their turn to produce the next governor of the state. BISI OLANIYI examines this unique people.

I

JAW, arguably the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria, with fishing as the people's major occupation, have a noticeable presence in six states in the country- Ondo,Edo,Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. Ijaws say the word means "truth" or "justice". Culturally the Ijaws are divided into three blocks following natural river courses. You have Western Ijaws in Ondo, Edo and Delta states;central Ijaw is primarily found in Bayelsa State while Eastern Ijaws are found in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. Rivers Ijaws are seen by others as urbane and highly educated due to early contact with Europeans.

The Rivers Ijaw people are spread across the coastlines in the over ten local government areas of Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Bonny, Okrika, OguBolo, Port Harcourt (South), AsariToru, Degema, Akuku-Toru and Abua-Odual effectively make them more than one third of the state both in population and landmass. The state has 23 local government areas.

The Ijaw have unique culture and they always stand out of the crowd.

The dressing of an Ijaw man will not be complete without the bowler (resource control) hat and a walking stick. It is rare to find an Ijaw man in "agbada,". They have their special top and trousers, which at times is referred to as "chieftaincy".

Married Ijaw women always traditionally tie two wrappers, with matching blouse, while the single lady will tie one wrapper with the blouse. Both men and women like to complement their dressing with expensive coral beads and gold.

Conducting marriage in Ijaw takes three stages of knocking of door, which is referred to as introduction in the Southwest, to be followed by traditional marriage and rounded off with elaborate church marriage.

Burial in Ijaw is always very expensive, with the deceased's house first renovated and repainted. Efforts will quickly be made to build house, in a situation where the loved one could not build house till the death, while the body may be in the morgue for many months.

Ijaw people prefer to bury the dead on Saturday morning, while there will be a Christian wake, popularly called "Obito" on Friday evening, to be followed by social wake till dawn.

The food items, plantain is the most popular ,soup, stew and drinks of the Ijaw people are also unique, in view of their hospitable nature. With different types, shapes and sizes of fish, their visitors always feel at home.

They also spare time for "Owambe" (elaborate partying) with uniforms (aso ebi), especially during chieftaincy celebration, house warming, burial, marriage or child dedication.

In spite of the Rivers Ijawland's richness in crude oil and gas, the people still complain of marginalisation, neglect, pollution and environmental degradation, while calling for increase in the 13 per cent derivation to crude oil and gas producing communities, as well as special attention to be given to the host communities, in terms of development and empowerment of the people.

Upland-riverine dichotomy/ prominent sons Right from inception, the politics of Rivers State has been played around a concept referred to as Upland/ Riverine dichotomy. Riverine actually refers to Ijaws. Nobody re-

•Men, women and a baby in typical Ijaw attires

•A Kalabari Ijaw bride

members the origin of the concept but all Ijaws agree that it predates the popular Willinks Commission that was set up by the British in 1956 to look into the fears of the minorities/ coastal dwellers. This upland / riverine dichotomy reflects in almost all allocation of political offices from 1979 to date. Since 1999, only the upland part of Rivers State has been at the helm of affairs. This is the root of the current agitation by all Ijaws in Rivers State to be given an opportunity to produce the next governor of Rivers State. This agitation no doubt enjoys the support of other ethnic groups in Rivers State. Recently three groups, Ikwerre Alliance , Eleme General Assembly and Etche Peoples Assembly, threw their weight behind the riverine agitation describing it as just and fair.

The Ijaw people in Rivers State, while appealing for understanding and support by their brothers, under the umbrella of the Eastern Delta People's Association (EDPA), through the Chairman of the Steering Committee, Lawrence Jumbo, declared that: "On upland/riverine dichotomy we stand." The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has been vocal on their call for a Governor of Ijaw extraction in Rivers State.

Prominent Rivers Ijaws are distributed in Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressive Congress (APC). APC chieftains include former Deputy Governor Sir Gabriel Toby, Dr Sam Sam Jaja, representative of the Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Rt Hon Otele Amachree, Dawari George, Dr Sokonte Davies,among others.

•Mrs. Jonathan

PDP chieftains include First Lady Dame Patience (Okrika), Prince Tonye Princewill, Alabo Pawariso B J Horsefall, Senator George Sekibo from Okrika, Dumo Lulu Briggs, Prince Uche Secondus ,Nimi Walson-Jack and Alatubo Charles Harry, amongst others.

Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, Prof Tam David-West, Chief A K Horsfall, Prof Nimi Briggs, Chief Rufus Ada George, Ambassador Tari Sekibo, HRH Prof DMJ Fubara, Dr Silas Eneyo, Dr Abiye Sekibo, Senator A M Pepple, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya and Sampson Ngerebara, an engineer, are also Ijaw leaders of note. One thing unique about the ijaw agitation is that all the people are united behind the cause.

Harry appears to be the arrow head of the Ijaw struggle. He once ran for the Presidency of the umbrella body of the Ijaw in Nigeria, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and is the brain behind the Ijaw Republican Assembly (IRA). He is championing the cause of an Ijaw governor after Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

He is the man behind the Rivers Democratic Movement (RDM) and is now better known for a pressure group, Affirmative Bloc for Credible Democracy (ABCD).

In August last year, he authored a piece titled 'Why Ogoni can't succeed Amaechi'. In the piece he made it clear that Ogoni is part of Upland Rivers, which has been ruling the state since 1999. It is now the turn of the riverine part of the state, he said.

He wrote: "Old Rivers State was created on the 27th of May 1967 from the then Eastern Region and further balkanised into Bayelsa and the present day Rivers State in 1996. Made up predominantly of Riverine Ijaw (Kala-

•Dr Jaja

bari, Okrikan, Ibani, Andoni, etc) and the Upland (Ikwerre's, Ogoni's, Ekpeye, Etche, Oyigbo, Ogba's etc). From inception, harmony, brotherhood and cooperation has been sustained through the efficacy and conscientious application and observation of the Upland/Riverine dichotomy principle in the allocation of socio-political and economic gains accruing to the State, as a balancing ideology to promote unity and discourage discord."

He went on: "Some erstwhile leaders who had tried to repudiate the principle had failed spectacularly and the budding revisionism borne of the myopia of inordinate ambition of an unconscionable few today, would fare no better."

Harry believes the Ogoni should in good faith ought to concede the exalted position to their Riverine neighbours. Failure to do this, he said would amount to excluding the riverine component of the state from the power matrix for 24 years.

Last week, Harry wrote another treatise. His focus was to insist on the riverine's right to succeed Amaechi.

He said even with the agitation that only the Rivers South East senatorial district that is yet to produce a Governor, that there are Ijaws in all senatorial districts in Rivers State.

He also advised the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, to forget about running for Rivers State governor. Harry said his ambition was immoral, height of injustice and greed, negates equity and against the public conscience in the state.

He said: "Rivers Ijaws will not sit still and watch idly our posterity and heritage consigned to hewers of wood and fetchers of water in the political matrix of our state."

A Kalabari son, Walson-Jack, is an

•Traditional Ijaw couple

•Dr Peterside

ex-General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Speaking at his 50th birthday recently, he expressed worry about some Rivers people's endorsement of Wike as the governorship candidate of the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Walson-Jack said: "Upland/riverine dichotomy is something that has been on. We respect the sentiment that has held these two together. Everybody who is well-meaning will decide on the right thing to do at the end of the day. Rest assured that the PDP will take a position that Rivers people will be proud of, "We need to have a better society.

We need to have a society that is caring and we need to have a society that will no longer monopolise prosperity. We must have a society that will share prosperity. We are so prosperous. So loved by God, but we have a society that has left more than 90 per cent of its people behind. All of that has to change. We need to have a government that will accommodate everybody.

"Wike has not told anybody he will run and I think at this point we should not be talking about body language, but he has been endorsed by some groups. I have also been endorsed by so many persons, but at the end of the day, we shall do what is the best for Rivers State. The PDP will put its house together and present somebody that will be acceptable to all Rivers people."

Another PDP candidate, Engr Jack, said PDP cannot afford to take Rivers people for granted by presenting an upland candidate. He counseled that APC is the party in Government in Rivers State and is equally blessed with credible candidates, such as Sen-

•Sekibo

ator Magnus Abe, a very articulate politician and Dr. Peterside, who is generally seen as humble, God-fearing and a grassroots politician.

Walson-Jack added: "I am going to run (as Rivers Governor in 2015). A lot of work has been done. My campaign office is ready, but INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) says we cannot start campaign now. So, we have not gone out to begin to campaign. Therefore, we are talking to major stakeholders and so far, I feel that the reception is amazing too and I feel encouraged."

Even non-Ijaw, such as Barisi Benson Nnah, are rooting for Ijaw governor. Speaking through the Centre for Peace and Development in Ogoni, a Rivers State-based non-governmental organisation, of which he is the president, Nnah has faulted the quest by the people of Ogoni in Rivers State to govern the state in 2015.

Nnah said: "The selfish interest of some individuals who want to be governor against collective interest of the Rivers State people made the ongoing National Conference to exclude Bori State or Ogoni State from the list of states being proposed for creation.

"It was due to the failure of the Ogoni leadership to submit a request for state creation to the national conference secretariat that has now made it impossible for us to have our state listed for creation. They are so fixated on how they would manipulate the process to make an Ogoni man a governor in Rivers in 2015 and we all know that it is not possible, because we know it is the turn of the riverine area."

He further blamed the exclusion of Ogoni or Bori State on what he described as "the lucrative business

•Walson-Jack

called Ogoni Governorship-Project 2015 which has now swallowed up the vision of Ogoni and MOSOP (Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People). What has happened is a lifetime opportunity lost."

He added: "It is regrettable that the lessons of the over 20 years of the Ogoni struggle for self-determination seems not yet properly assimilated and a golden opportunity as this will slip away and be sacrificed for a mere governorship ambition of some selfseeking individuals pretending to bear Ogoni interests."

The group urged the Ogoni people to spell out their preferences and pursue the issue of self-determination in the interest of all rather than a selfseeking governorship project disguised as an Ogoni project.

Ijaw in other placesIjaw are also found in Delta states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Ondo, rich in crude oil and gas.

With their specialty in fishing along the coastlines, Ijaw people also settle in Cross River and Lagos states, especially in Ajegunle and other coastal communities.

Bayelsa State, the heart of the Niger Delta, is regarded as the headquarters of the Ijaw nation. Bayelsa is the only homogenous Ijaw state.

There is the Ijaw National Congress (INC), which is the umbrella organisation of the Ijaw people, while the youths have the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).

For administrative convenience, INC and IYC have the western, central and eastern zones. The western zone is made up of Delta, Edo and Ondo states. The central zone is mainly Bayelsa State. The eastern zone consists of Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

I

T is the proverbial land flowing with milk and honey. At the last count, there are 28 solid minerals in parts of the state. But, unfortunately, Cross River has not felt the impact of these minerals on its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

The minerals include gold, uranium, iron ore, tin ore, manganese, titanium, limestone, salt, coal, muscovite, kaoline, crude oil, lead zinc and feldspar.

Others are quartz, barite, diamond, graphite, pyrite, talc schist, rutile, tourmaline, amethyst, spring water, granite, bentonite, clay and iron ore (hermatite).

Of all of these, the only ones exploited are limestone, which is found in Akampka, Odukpnai, Ikom, Obubra, Ogoja and Biase; granite found in Akamkpa, Boki, Obudu, Obubra, Yala and Obanliku; barite found in Yala, Biase, Ikom, Obubra, Yakurr and Obanliku; and sand/gravel, which is all over the state.

Mining of limestone and granite is concentrated in Akamkpa. Bsarite, which is seasonal depending on the rains, is mainly exploited in Obubra.

At the moment, there is only one limestone company, the United Cement Company of Nigeria (UNICEM) in Mfamosing community in Akamkpa which mines the limestone for cement which it sells to customers mainly in the south-south and south east regions of the country.

Also there are 41 granite companies with quarries, especially in Akamkpa, and 22 sand/gravel mining associations.

Information for barite miners could not be ascertained as they just come and go whenever the season favours them.

It was gathered that except for UNICEM, the operations of these other miners are not in the interest of the host communities and the state government.

Governor Liyel Imoke, in an interaction with reporters, said: “If you see what is happening in Akamkpa at the quarry site. You need to go there and see the ecological havoc that quarrying is causing and what is the benefit of quarrying to the people? Nothing.

We don’t know what the exercise is causing. That is a major issue, but you know quarries, when they finish quarrying, they just move to the next site, create valleys, create environmental disaster areas, pollution. Nothing is done. When I write and say address this problem, the Federal Ministry will say it is on the exclusive list, that I have no business addressing environmental problems.

“We have barite, but we have no capacity as a state because the power does not belong to us to even determine the quantity. So, when I listen to people say there is so much barite in Cross River State, I just say, nobody has determined the reserves and private sector will not come unless they know the reserves. And whose responsibility is it to determine those reserves? The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals which is the owner since it is on the exclusive list. So, you find that there can hardly be serious investment in solid minerals in Nigeria, not just in Cross River State.

“You have countries in East Africa making a fortune from tin and copper.

For us as a state we have always insisted that solid minerals be taken of the exclusive list. The reason I argue this is that they are in every state. There is no state in Nigeria that doesn’t have one solid mineral or the other. So, if we are given the opportunity to determine the reserves and determine the quantities and to invite private sector

to make those investments, then we can see another sector of the economy develop. But, until that happens, as far as solid minerals remains in the exclusive list and we are a major oil producing country, we will focus on oil production to their detriment. For us as a state, we have been canvassing a strong argument for solid minerals to be taken off the exclusive list.

“States that exploit solid minerals it can now pay royalties to the Federal Government. That way there will be a veritable source for employment for our people. There will be income and revenue for the people and state from the investors coming in to exploit. Today, anybody that goes to mine limestone does not even pass through any office in Cross River State, not even the Ministry of Lands.

They just have to get to Abuja and get a licence. We don’t know what the quarry companies pay to the Ministry of Solid Minerals, we don’t know what they pay to the Federal Government. Anybody exploiting all kinds of minerals and have gotten an approval from Abuja, while we suffer the environmental degradation, and every other degradation that goes with it, we carry it.

“Some people have always asked why I say the Federal Government should take crude oil and leave solid minerals. And I say crude oil is in only eight or nine states of the federation, whereas solid minerals are available in all the 36 states. So, you can’t treat the two the same and if you treated the two the same, then there will be no Ministry of Solid Minerals. We would just have the Ministry Petroleum and Solid Minerals as one. But because we recognise the difference, we have different ministries. It means there is something different about solid minerals from crude. So, to my mind, it is something that can bring rapid growth and development if we can take it off the exclusive list. It will really create opportunities for us and our people across the country. The economies of the place where you have the solid minerals will just blossom but I have never understood the argument as to why it should be on the exclusive list.”

A representative of UNICEM said, although they have a licence from the Federal Government, it still has to work with the realities of the environment they find themselves.

He said: “We have had a cordial relationship with our communities.

For any areas we want to start exploration, the ministry of lands and housing go in there do assessment and we pay the appropriate compensations before we even go in there for our activities.

“Besides the fact that we get licences from the Federal Government, for every activity we carry out there is what we call Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which we do and is approved by the federal and state ministries of environment and then after that a review bring all stakeholders together to see impact of what we are going to do and address them. It becomes a basis for monitoring for ministries from time. So, if you are not following the recommendations given to you then you are violating.

We don’t want to pose a threat through our actions to the communities or animals within that environment.”

Due to how lucrative business is, the cement company, which is Nigeria’s third largest cement manufacturer, is investing N84 billion in an additional 2.5million metric tons cement line to double its capacity to 5 million metric tons.

•Imoke

Its Managing Director, Mr Olivier Lenoir, said work on the project has started and it is expected to be completed in 2016.

Most of the granite quarrying companies visited would not volunteer any information about their operations, but it was learnt they are doing well for themselves. The granite quarrying companies, it was learnt, have a strong market base in the Southsouth and Southeast .

Barite miners, though inconsistent, sell mostly to oil companies.

Director of Operations in the Department of Mineral Resources in Cross River State, Dr Gabe Akpeke, said although most of these companies have licences to operate in the state legally.

“Mining has been going on in this state for as long as I can remember. As it is, we cannot even question any of them. They say mining is on the exclusive list. It is unfair that somebody is in Abuja giving a licence all the way to this place and harvest and go and even the governor of the state has no hands there.

“There was a case that came from the forestry commission complaining that quarries are inside the Forest reserves, not only devastating the trees, but also scaring endangered species.

Some of them are too close to houses because when they blast it is so strong and some buildings you see them cracking.

“Take, for instance, the way they mine barite in Nyametit in Obubra.

They use pick and shovel method. When they dig to about 10 metres deep, they abandon it and that mineral is wasted forever.

“We have cases of effluent discharges and pollutions. Some of them are abandoned mines and they create situations that make it dangerous to both the humans, plants and animals.”

At Nyamoynong in Obubra, residents complained about the activities of the company that mine barite in the area.

They told this reporter that the excavations, which are mostly abandoned, pose challenges to them and their livestock.

A resident of the community, Richard Owan, said: “when they dig hold like this and abandon them, you realise that when it gets filled up with water, most of our animals and even unsuspecting persons come to get the water for various use, not know the water has been contaminated by the minerals they were digging for and other chemicals too.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

BRIEFLY

Tears, anger as govt demolishes popular Yenagoa relaxation centre A Bayelsa government agency renders over 100 jobless demolishing a popular Yenegoa joint in an exercise meant “to rid the state of illegal structures”, reports MIKE ODIEGWU

W

ICKEDNESS and insensitivity. These were the words used by passersby and fun-seekers to describe the action of the Bayelsa State Capital City Development Authority (CCDA) against Bolex, a popular relaxation joint in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Residents were angry that the CCDA chose no other day but Thursday, a day business experts, tourists and politicians from Nigeria and around the world gathered in Yenagoa for the first Investment and Economic Forum organised by Governor Seriake Dickson to demolish Bolex.

While the governor was dissipating his energy highlighting business potentials in Bayelsa to woo foreign and local investors, officials of CCDA led by the authority's Executive Secretary, Mr. Idaba Eje, moved into the premises of Bolex, believed by many fun seekers to be a success story in local investment, with a bulldozer.

Officials of CCDA heavily protected by a truckload of armed policemen invaded Bolex, put their bulldozer to work and pulverized facilities in the bar. There was panic among customers who trooped to the bar for relaxation and to wash their vehicles.

Bolex is a known brand and a household name located on the Isaac Adaka Boro expressway Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. It has existed in the area for about six years even before a gigantic hotel believed to be owned by Dame Patience, the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan rose close to it. It has a business mix of a car wash, open bar and a night club.

In fact, many residents believe that Bolex is synonymous to nightlife in Yenagoa. But the bubbling Bolex, a business venture that has employed over 150 people, came under attack by officials of the CCDA.

•Bolex after the bulldozer left

In dexterity, the CCDA officials destroyed over six fanciful car ports, perimeter fences, chairs, erected concretised pavements, riser beams and other equipment used for car wash. Nothing was spared, not even the electrical wiring and plumbing line.

When Niger Delta Report visited the scene, Bolex was a shadow of itself.

The Manager, Mr. Preye Boligha, was devastated. He was simply ruminating on the reason behind the action of CCDA. "We really do not understand the reason behind this destruction. Bolex is genuine business. We wash cars, run a snacks bar, club and night bars.

This is a business that has given employment to about 150 jobless people, especially youths.

"What could we have done wrong?"

Boligha kept pondering. "We don't have a problem with the government.

No part of our premises was marked for demolition and no prior notice of the destruction was given to us. We are not owing the government because we pay all our dues and taxes to the government," he said.

The Director and Founder of Bolex, Amos Boligha, was also dumbfounded. He said he lost over N6million to the destruction. The demoralised Boligha wondered why the CCDA came to destroy a business he suffered very hard to build.

"I was not around when it happened.

I was at the airport when I got information that members of CCDA were here with their bulldozer to come and demolish the car wash. This is the

business I have been operating for the past six years here.

"The business is out of the right of way. We have been operating here and we have not got notification from anybody. Nobody has written us to inform us about illegal structures. If the CCDA has any issue with any part of our premises, they should have at least given us a notice," he said.

In fact, the founder of Bolex was not alone in his request for an explanation.

Employees and beneficiaries of the Bolex business were confused and stranded. They wondered why the government was interested in their job, their only source of livelihood.

"When we go to the government for jobs, they close their door behind us and tell us there is no job. But Bolex has given us jobs and the same government has come to take them away. Bolex doesn't owe us.

"There is no worker here that earns below N30,000 monthly. This is where I have been making a living and taking care of my wife and five children," one of the workers lamented.

Also, Mr. Ziki Charles, who hails from Nembe Local Government Area and works as a security man at Bolex said the business made him what he was. "Bolex has made me who l am today. I am surprised at what the CCDA did today," he said.

Ahmed Ismaila, who washes vehicles at Bolex to make a living said the business gave him the money and opportunities to begin and finish his Ordinary National Degree (OND) programme.

"I have worked here for five years. I finished my OND while working here and I want to go for my HND. This man has helped many people in Yenagoa. I feel pained. It was like a dream", he said.

But, Eje, while defending the action of the CCDA on a local radio station, said it was carried out to rid the state of illegal structures.

Rivers hosts Fashion Week From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

THE Rivers State government has said its sponsorship of the "Native and Vogue Port Harcourt International Fashion Week" is to empower the youths and reduce unemployment and youths' redundancy.

Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications Mrs. Ibim Semenitari spoke in Port Harcourt.

The second edition of the fashion week will hold in Port Harcourt between September 19 and 21.

Semenitari added that fashion had all over the world become a key tourism attraction and even contributed to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of many countries, describing it as the language spoken by everybody.

She said: "Native and Vogue Port Harcourt International Fashion Week is not just a fashion week, it is not just about fashion. It is a defining platform to groom young and emerging designers from among us and thus grow our local fashion industry to compete on a global scale.”

She said this year's edition of the fashion show would provide young designers and persons who desire to venture into fashion designing the opportunity of free workshops that would be facilitated by both local and international designers, while admonishing young designers to key into the opportunity.

The news conference also had in attendance the Managing Director of Neo Mantra, Nkiru Oguadinma; her counterpart of Bunor Creazioni, Frank Oshodi, and a resource person, Remi Diagbare, who promised to ensure the success of the fashion show.

Construction giant protects Akwa Ibom kids against malaria

A

S parts of its Corporate Social Responsibility, Julius Berger Plc has donated over 3,000 insecticide-treated bed nets to school children in a bid to fight and win the war against malaria.

The donation was done at St. Saviour Afrian Church School, Uruk Uso, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, where each pupil smiled home with one insecticide treated bed net and a pamphlet on how to use it to prevent mosquito bite and malaria.

Over 1,000 pupils received it while pregnant women and children received one each of the nets at Primary Health Centre, West Itam, Itu local government area and Primary Health Care Centre, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo. Addressing teachers and pupils at St. Saviour African Church Primary School, Uruk Uso, Ikot Ekpene, the Public Affairs Manager of Julius Berger, Clement Iloba, who led the CSR team of the company, said the audience that apart from building roads, bridges and other infrastructure for the development of Akwa Ibom, Julius Berger is also interested in helping to secure the health of the people.

Iloba said this was why the company decided to donate insecticide

From Kazeem Ibrahym,Uyo

treated bed nets to pregnant women and chidlren to protect them from malaria related deaths.

Explaining that malaria kills many children before they reach five years, attacks pregnant women and other individuals, Iloba, however, said with the proper use of the insecticide treated bed nets Mosquito bite could be prevented and lives preserved.

Revealing that Nigeria has a prevalence of malaria leading to 25 per cent childhood mortality rate and 11 per cent maternal mortality, Iloba said the company's intervention through insecticide treated bed nets is to bring down this alarmingfigures and give children the opportunity to grow up and contribute to development.

Demonstrating the use of the net, the Public Affairs Manager said it should be hung over a bed, tightly fited to prevent access to mosquito noting that five persons could sleep under one of the nets, which has a life span of five years.

He said since the company started the malaria prevention campaign, 8000 nets have been distributed to pregnant and nursing women and students in local schools.

•The Liaison Manager, Julius Berger Nigeria, Mrs. Ndifreke Ukochio, distributing the insecticide-treated bed nets to the school children

The CSR team also visited West Itam Secodnary School, to donate fifty footballs as part of its contributions to

sports development. Receiving the items on behalf of the school, the principal, Dr. Patrick Edem, thanked the

company, saying that it has proved to be a responsible corporate citizen in Akwa Ibom State.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

36

NIGER DELTA REPORT COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

S

OMETHING hit him. Something uncommon. Something out of the ordinary.

Until that day, it had never happened that he would fall asleep in his office while sitting on a swivel chair. Was he tired? No. The night before, he did not do anything tiring and since the day broke, he had not done anything serious.

He had a dream during the sleep. In the dream, he saw some people in all white attires.

There was another group in all black dresses.

There was a huge barricade separating them all.

And in between the barricade was a security guard who was preventing the people in black from escaping to the zone of those in white.

Those in white were in comfort. The weather was fantastic. Life, in short, was good and beautiful. And just a barricade away the people in black were going through hell. So, they were doing all possible to cross to the section occupied by those in white.

Mr Will soon found himself discussing with the security man, who was trying to prevent him from entering either side of the divide. His reason for preventing him was that he was not qualified to enter either side. As he was struggling to get in, the security man thundered:”Go back to the world. Correct all the bad things you have done. That way, when it is time for you to come here, you will be able to stay with the people in white. If you return here without amending your ways, there are no two ways around it, you will be with the people in black.

Going by what the Almighty has allowed me to see, you still have another 41 years on earth. Go back and live in accordance with His rules. Don’t play God.” It was at this point that he woke up, sweating and wondering what hit him. In a rush, all the things he had done of recent started coming to him. Only seven days ago he predicted death for people trying to get power through the backdoor. His statement that all those who betrayed him would not get the key to Power House also came to his memory. He also remembered that two months ago, he fired some high-ranking members of his government. Their sin: failure to be part of his plan to anoint a successor.

He was soon clutching his phone to dial Main Man’s number. As he wrestled with the phone, his eyes met with the photo frame of hand power fist on the sparkling white wall. The frame was a gift from an old friend, who was an activist in his lifetime. Putting it here was his way of keeping his memory alive. The friend was a true democrat, who would not support anything dictatorial.

“See me immediately,” he said to Main Man. Few minutes later, Main Man was with Mr Will.

“Good morning, Your Excellency!” Main Man said.

“Good morning,” Mr Will said. “How is the campaign going?”

Main Man looked at him smiling.

OLUKOREDE YISHAU

ABOVE WHISPERS

•A weekly intervention on Southsouth people

olukoredeyishau@gmail.com

Mr Will’s metamorphosis ‘ My brothers, I am sure you are all confused.

There is no need to be. I have come here to tell you all that our party is going to organise free and fair primaries to choose our party’s governorship torch-bearer. I am not going to force anybody on the party or on the people. Let the best man have the job. I will not be party to imposition. If imposition had worked in 2007, I will not be governor today •Hand fist power

“The campaign is going on well. Thank you, Your Excellency. What you did during the sod turning ceremony really did it. It has put fear in them. Who wants to die? They are running helter-skelter now. I am sure they will allow us have our way now. Stupid people. They were daring His Excellency. They seem not to realise

LAST WORD

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

‘

Bayelsa will not allow any corrupt investors in the state.

We will do all we can to allow justice and your business must be in line with the much desired economic growth of the state government __

‘

Bayelsa Chief Judge Justice Kate Abiri

‘

that as far as this Abasi State is concerned, you are God and it is His will that you install me as your successor.”

“Okay. I want you to do something for me. I want a shortlist of people who want to succeed me on the platform of our great Umbrella Peoples

Party (UPP). I want it on my table tomorrow,” Mr Will said.

He added: “Make sure you leave out nobody even the pretenders.”

As the Main Man left, the scene at the sod turning ceremony for the secretariat of the UPP replayed on his mind’s frame.

His voice boomed: “This party of ours is not where anybody can just come and dictate how we do things. Anyone who wants to take power through the back-door will die. Those who betray me will never get to Power House. They will die if they try to and UPP will continue.”

He felt bad hearing himself speak that way, speaking as though he were God with the power to give life and take it.

His attention was soon diverted by Secondin-Command.

“Good morning, Your Excellency!”

“Good morning.”

He offered him a seat.

“What do you think of the way I am running our party?” Mr Will asked.

There was a surprise on Second-inCommand’s face.

“And give me a sincere answer. No boot-licking. Don’t be afraid of being victimised.”

Second-in-Command could not find his voice for a long time and when he eventually did, all he could mutter was: “Your Excellency, you are not doing badly.”

He smiled and said: “That will be all for now.”

Mr Will grabbed his gold-plated android and called Main Man. “I don’t think I have the patience to wait till tomorrow. Meet me at the party’s secretariat in 30 minutes,” Mr Will said.

He put a call through to the party chairman and asked him to call other Exco members.

He was thereafter driven to the secretariat. He insisted no siren must be used. Only one patrol vehicle led the way.

The chairman, Main Man and Exco members were waiting when he got there. Straight they went to the conference hall.

“My brothers, I am sure you are all confused.

There is no need to be. I have come here to tell you all that our party is going to organise free and fair primaries to choose our party’s governorship torch-bearer. I am not going to force anybody on the party or on the people. Let the best man have the job.”

Main Man wanted to voice an objection, but he cut him short: “I will not be party to imposition. If imposition had worked in 2007, I will not be governor today.”

He bade them farewell. He thereafter paid personal visits to everybody he had offended either on account of Mr Main Man or any other matter. He asked for their forgiveness. And he vowed that for the rest of his second term and life, he would live right. He simply carried on as though this life mattered not— working to find a space among the people in white. It was, indeed, an uncommon transformation.

By BOLAJI OGUNDELE

NPDC's questionable hide-and-seek

I

F threats are anything to go by, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) may soon have to close shops. The fate of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Ogoniland may befall it. For some time now, it has run into turbulent waters with many of its host communities in Delta State. Protests now characterise the company's daily dealings with many of its host communities. Things have, indeed, fallen apart and the centre will soon give way.

NPDC, which operates most of the divested oil facilities of the SPDC, is the oil prospecting and exploitation arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

Of recent, not less than three communities in different parts of the state demanded the company's exit over alleged agreement breaches. The people of Otu-Jeremi community, Ughelli South Local Government Area last week threatened to shut down the company's facilities if its management failed to repair a pipeline, which has been leaking gas into the community. They claim many residents have fled to avert sicknesses.

The Otu-Jeremi issue was occasioned by an integrity test on the Abura line from the Utorogun Flow station. The leak has nega-

tively impacted the environment in Iwhrekan, Iyara, Okpare and Agbowhiame, Otu-Jeremi's neighbours, forcing many residents to seek refuge in safer places.

The company is also in trouble in Opuama (Ikpotogbene) community, Warri North. Tuesday last week, it demanded that the company halt its operations in their area, citing the company's failure to follow due process. Addressing reporters in Sapele, members of the community, under the aegis of the Concerned Oloduwa Descendants (COD), alleged that the company entered their "native-land and commenced clearing as well as dredging work without conducting the necessary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)".

They also said the company failed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with them. The community's list of grouses, which was titled "Our Demand", was signed by Mr French O. Ukuto, Chief Samuel Peggy, Chief Stephen Ukulor, Elisha Ukuto, Mrs Alero Ugedi, Ati Reach, Mrs Evelyn Ukulor, DSP (retired) Abel Sule, Ebipade Elisha and Damage-Clark Aboh.

A neighbouring community to Opuama, Polobubo (Tsekelewu) earlier gave a sixday ultimatum to the company to either

enter into what it called a "proper agreement" on how to use its land or wind up its activities. It threatened to deal with it if it did not heed their words.

The company has dodged this reporter's attempts to respond to the allegations against. All official channels explored were frustrated. When this reporter called its Manager (External Relations Department), Ugo Atugbokoh, on phone, he said he was in a meeting and promised to get back. He never did. A repeat call to Atugbokoh was unanswered. He also did not respond to a message sent to persuade him to respond to the growing opposition to his company's interest in the state.

The way things are: the company is dodging its hosts and the media, raising the poser: what does it have to hide? Issues, such as the ones raised against it by the host communities, should be addressed. When gas leaks into the atmosphere, like the communities allege, it has dire consequence on the ozone layer and the people's health. These are things that should not be toyed with. And dodging press enquiries also give the impression that the company has something to hide.

Atugbokoh has done the company a disservice by shunning enquiries.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

37

SHOPPING MY SHOPPING Mr. Tam Tamunokonbia, a lawyer and head of the Lagos Office of the Consumer Protection Council, in this interview with TONIA ‘DIYAN, speaks on the importance of the on-going ‘Check the BB Date’ Campaign.

‘Why we are enforcing expiry date on product labels’

W

E understand that your office is running a campaign. What is it about?

You are correct. The Council has launched a campaign that we call “Check the BB Date” Campaign. It was first launched by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; Dr. Olusegun Aganga on Monday, June 30, 2014. “BB” means “Best Before”. What this implies is that consumers should check the labels of the goods or products they buy to see if the product has expired or is close to its expiry date. Once the “BB” or Expiry Date on a product label has expired, consumers are advised by the Consumer Protection Council to avoid the product.

But is it all products and services that consumers should check for the “BB” date?

Well, the mandate of the CPC covers all products and services, but as you well know services do not carry labels in the first place.

So in most cases, consumers cannot find “BB” dates on services, because they are, to a large extent, intangible. Having said that, it is important to answer your question by saying that by the standard requirements of this country, it is expected that all food products, chemical products, tyres, beverages, foams and most consumables should carry on their labels a “BB” date. It is not only for food, water and drinks that are edible.

Why the campaign?

The campaign is meant to bring the standard of “BB” date into the consciousness of Nigerians on the different categories and the supply and demand chain of product distribution. First, the consumer should beware so that he does not throw his hard earned money away to unscrupulous and heartless manufacturers and sellers of substandard products.

With that consciousness, he gets value for money.

He also exercises his inalienable right to information, choice and satisfaction of basic needs. These rights are not just national rights but international rights. Secondly, the campaign also admonishes the manufacturer, producer and importer of products that he owes the consumer an obligation to inform him of the status of the product he is manufacturing, producing or importing. That way, he creates an impeccable confidence in the consumer over his products. What this further implies is that there will be a conscious compliance with the international best practice of supply and distribution policy of “First InFirst Out” (FIFO). Finally, the distributor, the retailer, the seller and the petty trader are put on notice by this campaign that they cannot continue to accept from the manufacturer, producer or importer any product that does not conform to the “BB” requirement or sell same to the consumer.

Again, by the campaign, this category of the supply chain must henceforth be conscious about their storage procedure. A situation where products are stored in unhygienic and unconducive atmosphere can no longer be tolerated. In most cases, certain products are expected to be stored under particular temperatures and conditions. Products not meant to be kept under the sun or heat will certainly reduce the potency of that product, if it is so stored. At the end of the day, the campaign benefits the consumer, the producer, the wholesale distributor, retailer, the petty trader and the government.

Our citizens will become healthier. Our workforce will be more productive. Our economy will be more robust while investors can easily be attracted to the country. In fact, there is no end to the benefits derivable from a total compliance with this “BB” policy.

So you can understand why the Council and its Director General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki are dead serious with the campaign.

So, how do you intend to enforce this “BB” standard knowing that business men will want business as usual?

We are aware that the change will not come overnight. The campaign calls for change of habits and you know that old habits do not die fast. It is with this understanding that the Director-General of the Council, Mrs. Dupe

Dubai to host largest ‘Mall of the World’

H

IS Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, unveiled Mall of the World, an awe-inspiring project that will position Dubai right on top of international destinations in terms of mega developments and a global leader in terms of retail- and tourism-related megaprojects.

“We announced recently that we plan to transform Dubai into a cultural, tourist and economic hub for the two billion people living in the region around us; and we are determined to achieve our vision,” said Sheikh Mohammed, while unveiling the mega development.

Located along Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, the world’s first temperature-controlled pedestrian city, The Mall of the World, will bundle together a number of world records – it will include the world’s largest mall, largest indoor park, cultural theatres and wellness resorts with a capacity to host more than 180 million visitors every year.

Demonstrating the strength of human creativity and reinforcing Dubai’s belief that impossible is nothing, this extraordinary project will neutralize the effects of the harsh desert climate through its inspired, inventive and ingenious design.

Mall of the World project location

• Tamunokonbia

Atoki has given six months with effect from Tuesday July 1, 2014 to manufacturers and producers of products to comply with the standards or face sanctions.

The Council will enforce the standards to the letter after that date. Our surveillance and enforcement officers will be in our markets, supermarkets, shopping malls, factories, warehouses and storage facilities to ensure that there is compliance. Where we discover massive non-compliance and where our corrective measures are not adhered to, we shall not hesitate to bring the full brunt of the law to bear on such situations, including resorting to prosecution.

Of course non-compliant products will be removed from the shelves, stores and factories and destroyed. Having said so, the Council, through its Lagos Office, will seize every opportunity to enlighten manufacturers and consumers on the need to comply with “BB” standards. To that effect, we are pushing for our “BB” banners to be hoisted in most supermarkets, major eateries, distribution outlets, pharmacies and places where there is huge consumer and human traffic. We are convinced that Nigerians will buy into the campaign.

Already, the Lagos Office launched the campaign with a colourful road show on Thursday, July 10, 2014. Our train kicked off from Alausa, Ikeja and gradually made its way through Allen Avenue, into Opebi and unto Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way through the Opebi Link Road. We, then, went through Maryland, into Anthony and, thereafter, connected to the Third Mainland Bridge.

On the Island, we went through Ikoyi, Falomo, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island and finally, into Lekki. We made brief stops at a number of major supermarkets and stores on our route – where we embarked on consumer education and sharing of our awareness materials to customers we met doing their shopping. Presently, our “BB” banners are hoisted in about thirteen major supermarkets spread over Lagos State. This effort will be a continuous one.

‘The campaign is meant to bring the standard of “BB” date into the consciousness of Nigerians on the different categories and the supply and demand chain of product distribution. First, the consumer should beware so that he does not throw his hard earned money away to unscrupulous and heartless manufacturers and sellers of substandard products’

“The growth in family and retail tourism underpins the need to enhance Dubai’s tourism infrastructure as soon as possible. This project complements our plans to transform Dubai into a cultural, tourist and economic hub for the two billion people living in the region around us; and we are determined to achieve our vision,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

In the presence of Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Chairman of Dubai Holding; Ahmad bin Byat, CEO of Dubai Holding; and Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director-General of Protocol Department, Sheikh Mohammed confirmed the need to work towards achieving Dubai’s ambitious tourism vision.

“The project will be developed in phases in alignment with the gradual growth of family tourism in Dubai,” Al Gergawi said.

Unlike the numerous indoor malls of today, the Mall of the World will be a huge open-air street mall during the winter months, when its glass dome will open for visitors to enjoy the weather in an extended retail street network, strikingly different to the typical shopping mall concept currently available in Dubai or anywhere else in the region.

The emirate already has a disproportionately large number of world records to its name, including the world’s tallest tower, the highest restaurant, the world’s tallest hotel, the tallest residential building, the largest shopping mall, the longest driverless Metro network, most simultaneous fireworks, the most expensive property sold through an e-auction, the biggest and heaviest gold ring, the world’s largest automated car park, the biggest billboard, and many more.

Now, His Highness has launched another game-changer that will further raise Dubai’s profile as a global leader in terms of retail- and tourism-related mega-projects.

Occupying a total area of 48 million sqft, the project will comprise the largest indoor theme park in the world and also house the largest shopping mall in the world with an area of 8 million sqft.

Additional districts within the project will include a wellness dedicated zone catering to medical tourists, a cultural celebration district as well as a wide range of hospitality options comprising 20,000 hotel rooms catering to all types of tourists.

This will be Dubai’s largest celebration centre, accommodating 15,000 revellers in one go.

View from Sheikh Zayed Road Once completed, the city is projected to become a year-round destination, welcoming around 180 million visitors annually.

“Our ambitions are higher than having seasonal tourism. Tourism is key driver of our economy and we aim to make the UAE an attractive destination all year long.

“This is why we will start working on providing pleasant temperature-controlled environments during the summer months. We are confident of our economy’s strength, optimistic about our country’s future and we continue to broaden our vision,” added Sheikh Mohammed.

Integrated Pedestrian City The new project, developed by Dubai Holding, will introduce an innovative concept of an integrated pedestrian city connected to the mall and offering a wide range of leisure, retail, cultural, wellness, recreation and hospitality options under one roof.

Trams within the 7km temperature-controlled retail street network Tourists will be able to enjoy a week-long stay without the need to leave the city or use a car.

The 7km long promenades connecting all facilities will be covered during the summer and open during the winter, ensuring pleasant temperatures throughout the year.

Hospitality District Indoor parks The project will see the world’s largest mall connected to 100 hotels and serviced apartments buildings with 20,000 hotel rooms. This will be a huge addition to Dubai’s hospitality sector, which is expanding rapidly to cope with the surging demand.

World’s largest indoor theme park The project will include designated parking areas with a capacity to host up to 50,000 cars on the ground level.

Dubai Cultural District Dubai Cultural District will be the hub for national and multinational cultural festivities and events in the UAE, and will combine experiences built around New York’s Broadway, The Celebration Walk, similar to the Ramblas Street in Barcelona and shopping streets based on London’s Oxford Street.

A dedicated theatre district with host of venues similar to some of the world’s most renowned landmarks such as London’s West End and New York’s Broadway.

Dubai Cultural District theatres The Celebration Walk, similar to the Ramblas Street in Barcelona will connect the cultural district to the rest of the Mall.

Dubai Cultural District will include a range of conference, wedding and celebration halls with a capacity to host thousands of revellers, befitting the multicultural social fabric of Dubai.

Wellness District Another component of Mall of the World is the Wellness District, which will cover a total area of 3 million sqft dedicated to providing wellness and rejuvenation services. It will offer a holistic experience to medical tourists and their families, ensuring access to quality healthcare, specialised surgical procedures and cosmetic treatments, wellness facilities and high-end hospitality options.

• Source: Google

• From left: Marketing Manager Viju industries, Bill Jin; Managing Director Tom Hod and Mr Ozobia Olisa of National Lottery Commission at the Viju promo in Lagos.

38

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS

AGRICBUSINESS

e-mail: agrobusiness@thenationonlineng.net

To promote agriculture, the Federal Government has established the Staple Crops Processing Zones (SCPZ) to provide the critical infrastructure to boost production, improve market access and attract private sector investment in agribusiness.

But experts are not impressed; they doubt the sincerity of the scheme. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

Can food processing zones do the trick?

Government’s efforts

I

N the past, the Federal Government announced several mega projects, which promised to drive job creation and technology development. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said in designing such projects, the government expects the primary beneficiaries to be the more than 10 million small farmers who make a living growing diverse crops and raising animals. These farmers, he explained, are also believed to be part of the value chain that maintains food production and thousands of jobless youths.

He said while agricultural growth will provide the base for increasing incomes for about 100 million rural persons that live below the poverty line, additional measures are required to make this growth inclusive.

Achieving this has involved many steps, which include tackling infrastructure, which threatens the agribusiness sector. This step is to encourage agricultural development and increase incomes for farmers.

To further boost efforts in that direction, the government has established Staple Crops Processing Zones (SCPZs). SCPZ is a vast zone where there is commercial production of food, which is expected to attract the private sector to set up food processing plant that would process agric products into finished items.

The minister said the SCPZs are designed to boost agricultural productivity, improve farmers’ linkages with agro-processors, and scale up resilience to current and future climate variability. Six staple crop processing zones are established in Kogi, Kano, Rivers, Niger, Enugu and Anambra states.

The sites are designed to be multicrop processing zones, located near high agricultural production areas with cluster of agro-processing activities. The zones would help to process the raw foods produced by farmers into finished foods and other economic products that would benefit the area.

The successful implementation of the SCPZs is estimated to generate revenues of between N660 billion and N1.4 trillion per year to the economy and create estimated 250,000 jobs.

The direct beneficiaries include farmers, workers in the SCPZ processing areas, small and medium businesses.

According to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the first phase of the Staple Crop Processing Zones (SCPZs), will gulp estimated $1,063.1 billion.

In partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, UNIDO has developed master plans for establishing the zones. So far, the zones have already attracted investments totaling $350 million from different financial institutions.

The World Bank has committed over $100 million to develop sustainable institutions and infrastructure in the zones, while the African Development Bank has committed over $152 million to make available low interest loans to the government, specifically for the development of infrastructure within the

•Rice farmers at work.

zones.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development has also pledged $70 million to build capacity of small farmers to ensure inclusiveness and equitable wealth creation in the zones.

UNIDO representative in Nigeria, Dr. Chukwuma Ezedinma, said the funds would cover specialised and support facilities, including external infrastructure, such as road connectivity, highway strengthening, rail connectivity, air and seaport connectivity, power linkages and external water supply linkages.

He said the six staple crop processing zones are estimated to cost $1,063.1 billion. The breakdown is as follows: Niger State ($181.4 million); Kano State ($151.1 million); Anambra State ($186.6 million); Rivers State ($79.6 million); Kogi State ($314.7 million); and Enugu State ($149.7 million).

Already, private sector investors have been secured for the Alape, Badeggi and the Bunkure zones and they are Cargill USA, Nigeria Flour Mills, and Dangote Group.

Of the 14 SCPZs selected for development in the country, six are to take off in the first phase. There are Bunkure in (Kano State) for rice, tomato and sorghum; Agbadu-Alape (Kogi State) for cassava; Badeggi (Niger State) for rice; Ketu (Lagos State) for aquaculture; Omor (Anambra State) and Adani (Enugu State) for rice and Okorolo (Rivers State) for fisheries and aquaculture.

Alape SCPZ in Kogi will focus on the production of starch and sweeteners. It is expected to produce 62,000 tonnes of starch, 5,000 tonnes of sweeteners, 720,000 tonnes of cassava root and create income impact of about 90 million dollars to the economy of Kogi State.

Stakeholders’ view For experts, it is a very good thing the SCPZs are being implemented but they noted that their prospects for success are as great as their chances for massive failure.

Speaking with The Nation, the Programme Coordinator, Farmers Development Union (FADU), Mr. Victor Olowe, said there are fears the projects will go the way of other white elephant projects if the government is not able to create a distinctive conducive ‘localised’ business environment for implementation and management of the SCPZs. While there are high hopes on paper, Olowe’s concern is that most of the zones lack critical services and incentives to help them take off successfully within the scheduled timelines.

He said the critical services that will enable the clusters work effectively include uninterrupted supply of electricity and good roads constructed in zones. This, according to him, would reduce losses of products on transit and reduce cost of transportation faced by farmers supplying the raw materials to the plants. These are almost nonexistent in some of the zones.

Without access to land, key inputs such as fertilizer, seeds and loans, by the vast majority of small scale farmers who own one or two acres on average, serious commercial activity will become virtually impossible.

He lamented that the zones lack basic rural infrastructure to bring produce to towns or to store them, which make trading difficult. Without connecting the rural areas to larger infrastructure and small holders’ produce for better access to input by farmers, attracting large

investment to the zones will be difficult, he added.

While supporting clustering of smallholders and investment in specific value chains, he expressed concern that if basic interventions for small farmers are not prioritized over trade facilitation and large infrastructure, corridors may end up helping mostly large companies.

Like the Growth Enhancement Support (GES), he is concerned farmers within the zones would be deprived of funding to access machinery and parts as well as modern inputs at affordable rates to improve their farming. Such inputs will include fertilizers, insecticides, other pesticides or chemicals, implements/medium term machinery.

The other issue is how the government will implement the SCPZs to be effective and not end up as the farm settlement schemes, industrial estates among others. He raised doubt that the SCPZs will be implemented in such a way to ensure synergy and maximize social and economic benefits with other existing programmes under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda.

In his contribution, World Bank consultant, Prof. Peter Okuneye, said the programme was a good one as it was meant to increase production capacity and reduce post-harvest losses. According to him, the policy would enhance food security, create jobs and stimulate rural agro-industrialisation, only that the poor state of the nation’s infrastructure would not let it work.

He explained that the deteriorating infrastructure for the marketing and movement of produce, such as roads and telecommunications, as well as overall production

‘To make the zones work, there is need to support rural traders, develop and catalyse local supply chains, creating effective demand for the produce of smallholder farmers. The establishment of rural centres and agri-dealers is essential, including input and output markets, production services, and transporters, among others, is vital’

capacity (including lack of fuel, electricity and input manufacturing industries), will lead to high cost of production across the zones.

He said nothing has been done to improve investment on the state’s roads, bridges and multimodal transportation systems let alone supporting public transit systems across the state.

He said one reason the programme may fail is that government may not able to improve the transportation of produce and inputs to and from markets for small-scale rural farmers, particularly in remote areas, as well as major industries.

Currently, Nigeria is characterised by poor post-production and marketing infrastructure, he said. For instance, the nation lacks good commercial grain handling and storage system. He said inadequate storage facilities in rural areas, coupled with poor handling and poor post-harvest technologies, have caused exceptionally high post-harvest losses, particularly for many resource-poor rural farmers. Essential public sector postproduction and marketing infrastructure across the country, he added, has been deteriorating because of lack of public investment.

In addition, the collapse of the rural economy made it unviable for these services to be performed by private sector stakeholders To succeed, the World Bank consultant, said the government will have to address multiple hurdles in the context of limited human resources, corruption, political pressures, shifting priorities, and inadequate infrastructure.

He said the government should therefore make its plans as targeted and explicit as possible. They can concentrate investment on a value chain (all economic activity, from inputs to market associated with a crop), on a “breadbasket” region positioned for large productivity increases, or on an infrastructure corridor.

He said close collaboration between the government and the private sector will enable strong yearon-year growth in an otherwise stagnant agricultural sector.

To carry out an agricultural development strategy, he said government officials must work with farmers and the private sector across departments, from the central ministry to extension workers.

The evidence suggests that agricultural development programmes also require the active engagement of the private sector because they typically have access to capital and organisational know-how.

According to him, several issues are hampering the initiation of a solid positive growth path for agriculture. He said Nigeria needs a structural paradigm shift and transformation towards sustainable agricultural production based on indepth structural and broad policy changes.

To make the zones work, he said there is need to support rural traders, develop and catalyse local supply chains, creating effective demand for the produce of smallholder farmers. The establishment of rural centres and agri-dealers is essential. Including input and output markets, production services, and transporters, among others, is vital.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

39

AGRICBUSINESS

Price hike inimical to food security, Govt boosts ginger production T says consultant I

NCREASED food prices will have negative impact on food security, an expert, Prof Abel Ogunwale has said.

Speaking with The Nation, Ogunwale, a consultant to the World Bank, said the prices of commodities, especially those grown in the North, were experiencing spikes and could remain higher if there were no increase in local production following insecurity.

He said markets are sensitive to price fluctuations and there are impacts on household income and food consumption across the country.

He explained that acute price hike adds to inflationary pressures and that poor consumers could spend even higher share of their limited income on food.

In most cases, households of employees in urban areas are most affected by price increases.

The main income source of paid employees, service sector and industrial livelihood groups is non-agricultural wage, which accounts for over 80 per cent of income.

Apart from paid employees, he noted more low-income households are also affected in both rural and urban areas.

Stories by Daniel Essiet

When floods are taken into account, low-income groups and agricultural income-dependent livelihoods are worst hit, with the highest increase of under-nourishment among sharecroppers.

However, Ogunwale said increasing purchasing power was essential to the undernourished to obtain access to food.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, Ibadan, has raised the alarm over the rising food prices, blaming the loss of 40 per cent of the nation’s total food production on farmers’ lack of storage facility.

At the institute’s monthly seminar series held in Ibadan, Head, Productive Sector Group, Economic Policy Research Department (NISER), Dr. Timothy Oni, who delivered a paper titled: ‘Reducing food crop losses through post-harvest management in Nigeria’, said availability and accessibility of most food crops in Nigeria was being threatened, leading to an astronomical rise in food

prices. He warned that if not quickly checked by the Federal Government, increase in population and dwindling land resources could lead to adverse impact on food security and economic development.

He said: “It is necessary to reduce food crop losses in order to combat hunger, raise income and create employment along food supply chain and thus tame poverty in Nigeria.

“Post-harvest losses due to inefficient harvesting, processing and storage techniques ranged between 20 and 40 per cent of the total food production in Nigeria. Rural areas typically have poor transportation, poor water supply, poor source of energy and poor marketing facilities. All these, coupled with predominance of poor farm implements and rudimentary post-harvest technology, worsen the problem of post-harvest food losses.”

Oni added that despite the Federal Government’s effort in addressing some issues responsible for the loss, post-harvest food losses were still substantial while food imports bills have been rising in order to meet the shortfall in food availability.

HE Federal Government has taken measures to boost the production and export of ginger by providing technical assistance to the growers and the industry.

Provost, Federal College of Produce Mallam Ibrahim said the help is offered to the growers and the industry for planting, replanting, rejuvenation, quality upgradation, value addition and market promotion.

Addressing 60 participants at a training organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) in partnership with the school venue in Kano, Ibrahim said the programme was to promote export of ginger and the emphasis is to ensure standard quality production to enable the country earn much through foreign exchange.

He emphasised on the need for participants take post harvest value addition very serious and that the school is determined to ensure quality through grading is very germane in the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of Mr. President.

He said the gap in this area has resulted to rejection of many ag-

ricultural produce from abroad, apart from 30 per cent grains and 70 per cent vegetable lost to post harvest.

According to the college provost “ despite the training of the produce inspectors by the college, their absence in the export of agricultural produce has led to returning of many produce outside the country. We all know that 30 per cent of grains is Nigeria are lost to post harvest and 70 per cent vegetable to the same challenge”.

He enjoined the participants to utilised the training for the betterment of the crop in the area quality standard through production with best agronomics practice, processing and marketing for higher earning.

The Director, Federal Department Agriculture, Mr. Eniayeju who was represented by the desk officer on ginger, commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the agric minister saying the inclusion of the crop has stimulated production as two bags of fertiliser were given to farmers with training in the value addition for higher pricing locally and internationally.

Don stresses need for soil preservation

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LECTURER in the Dept of Crop and Soil Sciences, College of Agriculture, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Prof . Olusola Omosofe Agbede, has said Nigeria could face food crisis if urgent action is not taken to preserve the soil that has been overstretched.

Speaking during a public lecture titled: Assessment, development and conservation of soil fertility key to national food security, at the university, he said man was created from the soil and from that creation depended on soil for prosperity and survival, that any departure from this divine arrangement usually

incurs unpleasant consequences.

According to him, through man’s carelessness and misuse of soil resources over time, soil productivity has declined. He warned that if soil is not adequately managed, many countries, including Nigeria could face food crisis.

While acknowledging that the government is making efforts at upgrading soil fertility assessment development and conservation to increase food production, Agbede advised that in order not to be caught up in this crisis, the government should arrest the problem early.

IITA donates equipment to varsity • From left: Senior Programme Officer, Quality Assurance & Grants Unit, Strategy and Knowledge Management Department, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Dr Malu Ndavi; Project Leader, Sustainable Weed Management Technique for Cassava System in Nigeria, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Dr Alfred Dixon and Executive Director, National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCIR), Dr Julius Okonkwo at a workshop in Lagos.

Cut use of antibiotics in livestock, expert tells farmers T

HE Dean Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Prof Abiodun Adeloye, has called on farmers to reduce the antibiotics given to their livestock.

The advice follows the practice of giving substandard antibiotics to healthy livestock to force animals to put on weight faster.

Speaking with The Nation, Adeloye said there was need to reduce the use of antibiotics in raising livestock to avoid major outbreaks of food-borne illness with resistance which were reported.

Report also said some people are falling sick from antibiotic-resistant infections, causing some deaths.

He said livestock production is a key incubator of antibiotic resistance and that producers of poultry and livestock should commit them to the judicious use of medicines for the care and well-being of healthy animals.

To this end, he said farmers would need to work with their veterinary

doctors to fashion alternative strategies to keep their animals healthy.

Supporting the global move to phase out the use of some antibiotics in animals to curb the growing their resistance to human disease, Adeloye said drugs contribute to rise of untreatable bacteria in humans – though farmers say production would be ‘impossible’ without them.

He noted that though between human and animal pathogens antibiotic resistance has not been proven, there is a need to take precautionary measures to ensure that antibiotics are only being used on sick animals.

But farmers, who routinely add antibiotics to animal feed and water to avoid illness among livestock and boost growth rates believe that if antibiotics for animals were banned, it would make production

pretty much impossible. But it emerged that health authorities do not know which antibiotics are being used in which animals and where the resistance problems are.

Meanwhile , the United States Food and Drug Administration has asked pharmaceutical firms to relabel their drugs to prevent them from being used in healthy animals.

In the United States food supply, antibiotics are routinely fed to healthy livestock to enable them gain weight faster. As many as 23,000 Americans a year die from antibiotic-resistant infection.

But it is unclear how much of the problem is related to meat. “Because all uses of antimicrobial drugs, in both humans and animals, contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance, it is important to use these drugs only when medically necessary,” the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement.

Ogun gives farmers free cassava stems

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GUN State Government has given free cassava stems to farmers for planting during this rainy season.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun, made this known at the first harvest of cassava at Ibiade, in Ogun Waterside Local Government area.

Represented by the Director, Plan-

ning, Research and Statistic, Rev. Gbile Olugbebi, the commissioner said it was government’s duty to encourage farmers by providing them with farm input which necessitated the giving of 10 bundles of cassava stem each for planting.

She explained that the cassava varieties were the improved ones, noting that they grow faster and

end up good after processing, especially for food produce, such as garri and lafun.

“This cassava variety is called TMS/92/0326 and TME419, they are the improved variety. They were selected because of their specialties and they fit in well for our conventional products like garri, lafun and others,”she said.

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THE International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)-managed project Sustainable Weed Management Technologies for Cassava Systems in Nigeria has donated some equipment to the University of Agriculture, Makurdi to help tackle the menace of weeds in cassava farms.

Among the equipment that were handed over to the university were a Toyota Hilux vehicle, office equipment, a motorcycle, and 20 sprayers.

Principal Investigator to the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project, Prof Friday Ekeleme, described the equipment as necessary tools that would facilitate the research on weeds in cassava and called on the university to carefully use and maintain them.

He said IITA was glad to have the university as a partner in the project, urging it to redouble its efforts towards ensuring that the problem of weeds in cassava is solved.

Responding, Dr Moses Egbe of the University of Agriculture

Makurdi pledged the commitment of the institution in ensuring the judicious use of the equipment to achieve the project objectives.

The University of Agriculture Makurdi is the third beneficiary of assets transfer. The other collaborating institutions that received similar set of equipment are the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike; and the Federal university of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

Launched early this year, the project Sustainable Weed Management Technologies for Cassava Systems in Nigeria aims to find solutions to the labour-intensive weeding that is done by women and children in cassava farms to increase productivity for at least 125,000 farm families.

The project, which is headed by Dr Alfred Dixon, has the potential to serve as a template for livelihood transformation in cassavagrowing areas not just in Nigeria but across Africa.

Varsity to reduce hunger in Africa

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URDUE University researchers will lead a $5 million, five-year effort to help countries in sub-Saharan Africa reduce hunger and poverty fuelled by food waste.

By improving processing and marketing of key crops, those in developing countries can make better use of food that already is being produced but is simply lost through poor storage or processing technologies and management practices.

The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Processing and PostHarvest Handling was announced

by the United States Agency for International Development administrator Rajiv Shah at the Chicago Council’s Global Food Security Symposium.

It is funded by Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative led

by USAID. “This award from Feed the Future will enable Purdue to help smallholder farmers make available not only more food in a region of the world where it is greatly needed but also more nutritious food,” said university President Mitch Daniels.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

BUSINESS

HSBC raises China’s GDP

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ANKING giant HSBC has upgraded its forecast for China’s yearly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to 7.5 per cent from 7.4 per cent, saying recovery has been stronger than expected.

The Chinese economy expanded 7.5 per cent year on year and 2 percent quarter to quarter (seasonally adjusted) in the second quarter. In the first half of the year, China’s economy expanded 7.4 per cent from a year earlier.

GDP growth in the second quarter “surprised on the upside relative to our forecast” owing to stronger-thanexpected government support measures, HSBC Chief China

Economist Qu Hongbin said in a report on Monday.

Activity data suggests that most of the improvement came in June, with monthly fixed asset investment and industrial production growing 17.9 per cent and 9.2 per cent, respectively, compared with 16.9 percent and 8.8 per cent in May. Policy support has been instrumental in helping China’s economy recover more quickly and strongly than expected. Bank lending picked up greatly in June,

and fiscal spending accelerated in May and last month. As a result, infrastructure investment and related manufacturing investment accelerated.

Government policies, particularly fiscal policy, will likely be even more supportive in the second half as it is traditionally the spending season, Qu said. “We expect the cumulative impact of easing measures to continue filtering through and policymakers to maintain their accommodative stance.”

Despite revision of the 2014 GDP forecast, Qu said HSBC’s broad outlook on the Chinese economy remains unchanged.

In the near term, infrastructure investment will remain the policy of choice when it comes to supporting growth. Continued reform measures to expand the municipal bond market, regulate shadow bank lending and restructure state-owned enterprises will help reduce funding risks. Both monetary and fiscal policy will

Firm opens centre at Lagos Airport

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•From left: Mr Okonkwo, Mr Guo and Onuigbo af the event.

Keystone Bank gets PCI-DSS Certification

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EYSTONE Bank has received a Certificate of Compliance on the successful completion of the Phillips Consulting assessment on Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards.

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) is an extensive set of guidelines developed by five of the top global payment card brands and adopted worldwide by card services providers - Card Issuers, Banks, Transaction Switching Companies and Merchants - to better protect customers’ payment card information from compromise and fraud through increased controls around the storage, transmission and processing of card data.

Speaking during the presentation, the Executive Director, Operations and Technology, Mrs. Yvonne Isichei, who stood in for the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Keystone Bank, Mr. Philip Ikeazor, said: “Keystone Bank had engaged the services of PCI-DSS Qualified Security Assessors, Phillips Consulting Ltd, to guide it through the implementation of the standard and conduct the final certification assessment.”

According to Mrs. Isichei, the result of the assessment is that among other things, Keystone Bank achieved the “Creation of a restricted Card Data Environment within our network; the identifica-

tion and sanitisation of card data from the network environment and provision of training for our staff on card data security best practices and general awareness building on the PCI-DSS requirements”.

While presenting the certificate, Mr. Wole Ogundare, Associate Partner, Phillips Consulting had encouraged Keystone Bank to continue to the atmosphere of compliance noting that “Compliance is not a destination but a journey.”

PCIDSS is one of the several globally recognised and accepted standards championed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its IT Standards Roadmap for adoption by the financial industry.

PayPal signs new customers

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AYPAL has signed up “tens of thousand” of Nigerians in its first week of operating in Africa’s biggest economy, with consumers already purchasing items from Britain, China and the United States via its online platform, a company official said.

E-commerce remains in its infancy in most of Africa but is growing exponentially with the advent of online retailers ,such as Jumia, partly owned

by South African phone operator MTN, and a growing middle class with money to spend.

Citizens of Africa’s most populous nation could not buy goods directly from foreign merchants before the launch by PayPal, the payments unit of online auctioneer eBay Inc. “We have seen great uptake by Nigerians ... in terms of coverage,” Malvina Goldfeld, PayPal’s head of business development for sub-Saharan Africa, said in Lagos.

PayPal entered Nigeria and 10 other nations last month, providing online payment alternatives for consumers via mobile phones or PCs in markets often blighted by financial fraud. The new markets bring the number of countries PayPal serves to 203.

Goldfeld said that Paypal secured a few deals with electronics suppliers in China and Dubai ahead of its launch and that it

had partnered with Nigerian lender FirstBank, which has more than 10.5 million customers.

PayPal launched its platform in South Africa four years ago, Kenya last year and now Nigeria, Goldfeld said, giving the company access to shoppers across 40 sub-saharan African countries.

Goldfeld said the biggest interest has been in products from the United States, Britain and China, adding: “People are buying everything ... (but) there’s definitely a

concentration in electronics and fashion.”

Online retailer Jumia told Reuters in April it had 100,000 Nigerian customer accounts and sales were increasing by 15 percent a month. However, worries over internet security and online fraud have held back e-commerce growth in Nigeria, where 63 million people have active internet data subscriptions but only 1 percent of them make online transactions, First Bank said, noting that online purchases are expected to reach $1 billion this year.

remain accommodative to consolidate the recovery, according to the report.

The main downside risk to HSBC’s forecast for China remains the property sector. Although the contraction in sales eased in June, funding and investment growth remained depressed.

However, Chinese policymakers can offset the negative impact given that they have a broad range of policy tools at their disposal, Qu said.

ECHNO Mobile, manufacturers of mobile phones has opened a centre at the Departure Lounge of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Terminal 2 (MM2), Ikeja.

Managing Director, Tecno Mobile International Jack Guo, said this is the company’s latest innovation through its partner Equitoni, to bring more value to customers.

He said Tecno is encouraging its partner to open the shop in such strategic location to reach out to more customers, particularly those who may not have the time to go the normal market place for shopping.

He said: “While waiting for their flight, they will have enough opportunity to get latest mobile phones and apps that provided them the needed comfort for personal and business services” “It is not only for sales only, it is also for services and experience and the first of its kind in Nigerian.”

Deputy General Manager, Techno Nigeria Chidi OKonkwo, said it was a giant step through its partner to ensure that customers have access to more of its products through the airports.

Chief Executive Officer, Equitoni International Limited Anthony Onuigbo said of the MM2 is based on the kind of customers it’s targeting. “They are highflyers customers who ordinarily do not have enough time to shop at the malls or at the streets.

“By the nature of our target cus-

tomers, they are busy people and may not have time to shop for themselves, but being confined here at the departure hall waiting for flight time, there is that ample opportunity to buy mobile phones of their choice from Tecno range of products and much better than what their personal assistants or aids will ordinarily select for them”.

Beyond that, it gives the customer the opportunity to buy at techno recommended prices and having free application down load without charges.

“And customers that doesn’t want to buy could come in here, make enquiries and also download applications, while customers who also bought l Tecno phones from other shops could come here and download applications free as long as it’s original Tecno.

According to him, the choice of MM2 for the pilot project was because of the consideration for heavy traffic among other airports in Lagos because of the presence of many airlines and people travelling. We have the plan to expand to other airports across the country to enable us create value for our customers because they want to have value for their money by purchasing quality products at company recommended prices in friendship centers”

Procurement Academy berths in Lagos N institution Procurement Academy Programme has opened in Ikeja, Lagos. It is b eing operated by Daca Consults Limited, a multi-disciplinary consulting firm.

Its founder, Mr. Adebayo Ayoade, said the idea of the academy arose from his desire to hone the skills of experts and other stakeholders in the industry.

He said because procurement professionals are important in an organisation, there was the need to retrain them, adding that the school will operate in three phases - as a monthly programmes, institute and research centre.

Ayoade said the Federal Government enacted the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007 to ensure transparency in its spending, noting that this was based on a recommendation by the World Bank in the Country Procurement Assessment Report

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(CPAR). So far, he said, states, such as Lagos, Ekiti, Niger, and Rivers have domesticated the Act while others, such as Oyo, and Nasarawa are about to do so.

At institution’s maiden lecture, Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) President, Alhaji Mohammed J. Aliyu, sought professionalism for the “rapid development” of the country. He said until his colleagues were entrusted with strategic government’s acquisitions, we would continue to have cases of corruption, abandoned and inflated projects. He berated professionals who dump ethics for the filthy lucre.

The General Manager, Lagos State Procurement Agency, Akin Onimole, urged procurement officers in the civil service to handle complaints and put in place a review mechanism to handle problems that might arise from tenders.

Tame inflation shows Yellen’s Fed is not ‘behind the curve’

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EVER mind all the overheated talk that Janet Yellen’s Federal Reserve is slipping “behind the curve” in containing inflation. Today’s cool consumer-price reading and the collective wisdom of the bond market are suggesting the Fed is amply ahead of that curve.

One month’s consumer price index can’t tell the whole story of inflation risk, of course. But with June’s headline CPI arriving as forecast at 0.3 per cent – and the core measure (excluding food and energy) registering below expec-

tations at 0.1 per cent – Yellen’s patience in projecting interest-rate increases, and her characterization of an uptick in inflation gauges early this year as “noisy,” are ratified.

“Fed officials characterised the recent pickup in inflation as confirming their projections after nearly two years of weaker-than-forecasted aggregate price growth,” Bank of America Merrill Lynch economist Michael Hanson notes.

After today’s data release, he adds: “The Fed is likely to remain patient in the face of the current modest inflationary trends, and not make a

hawkish rush to the exit.”

This is the kind of low-key observation that gets the conspiracy theorist, policy-skeptic contingent exercised. They like first to scoff at the idea of excluding the bump in gas prices from the inflation debate, as if it “doesn’t matter.” (And the “pain at the pump” angle did drive some headlines following the release Tuesday morning.)

Gas prices matter to ordinary people in everyday life, sure. But the fact is, rising prices in commoditybased necessities act more as a drag on broad consumption than a driver

of widespread cost increases. As this chart shows, periods with wide gaps between headline and core inflation do not tend to precede a general lift in inflation.

Next, the policy dissenters insist the large amounts of bank reserves created by the Fed’s prolonged bond-buying efforts are sure to create some kind of messy inflationary outbreak. But it hasn’t happened yet and shows no real signs of occurring, aside from supporting some unknowable proportion of the ascent in risk-asset prices over the past few years.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

NEWS

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (fifth right) with Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Kenneth Minimah (fifth left), Major General Patrick Akeu, Major Gen. Letam Wiwa, Major Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, Major Gen. Temi Dibi, Col. Solomon Udounwa, Lt. Col AM Inuwa, Lt. Col SM Uba, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba (third right), his Transportation counterpart, Mr. Kayode Opeifa (fourth left), Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Major Tunde Panox (right) and his Central Business District counterpart, Mr. Folorunsho Coker (fourth right) during a courtesy visit to the Governor by the Chief of Army Staff, at the Lagos House, Marina... on Tuesday.

•Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (right) registering for National Identity Card in Ibadan •Anglican Bishop of Amichi, Rt Rev Ephraim Ikeakor (middle), former Governor of Anambra State Mr Peter Obi and his former Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Prof. Stella Okunna (left), who accompanied the former Governor to visit the Bishop in Amichi as part of his programme of assisting the poor through Church-based micro credit scheme.

•From left: Commander, 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig.-gen. Osasogie Uzamere; Commissioner of Police, Rivers, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin and Controller of Prison, Rivers, Mr Patrick Ondoma, during Inter-agency Consultative Committee Meeting on Election Security, Port Harcourt, Rivers State ... on Tuesday

•Akwa Ibom State Governor’s wife Ekette Unoma Akpabio (third right) Deputy Governor Lady Valerie Ebe (second right), Commissioner for Women Affairs Dr. Glory Edet (left); and Bishop Josephine Eggah, Rev. Angela Ashong and wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Martha Udom Emmanuel at a prayer for the release of Chibok girls in Uyo.

•Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Da Buba (left) welcoming Commissioner of Police, Mr Nasiru Oki, to his Palace during his courtesy visit in Jos...on Tuesday

•Deputy Route Commanders (DRC), Chukwudi Okeke (left); Francis Oladele; Olumuyiwa Sodeko; Sola Agbodu and Marshal Inspector I David Okanlawon, during their promotion at PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS. Agbado, Ogun State.

•Patron, Fellowship Christian Minister Nigeria Rev Michael Alaye Ekiran (left); National President, Rt Rev Solomon Olatunde Akinsanya; immediate past first Vice President, Rev. Emmanuel Oduntan and Patron, Bishop Gabriel Omodeinde at a Christian Minister’s Conference PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS. at St Jude’s Cathedral Church, Ebute Metta, Lagos...Tuesday

•From left: Chairman of the occasion, Dr Oyeduni Arulogun; Branch Chairman, Southwest Zone, West African College of Nursing, Mrs Funmi Osobu-popoola and Special Guest, Dr Olukayode Oyetunde, at a symposium to mark the College Week in Ibadan.

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FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

OSUN POLITICS

Mammoth crowd at Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s re-election campaign in Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency held at the Seventh Day Adventist Grammar School, Ede. Insert: Governor Rauf Aregbesola, (second left), his wife, Sherifat, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Deputy Governor Titi Laoye-Tomori and former Oyo State Governor Omololu Olunloyo.

A popularity walk in Ede W

HAT happened at the ancient city of Ede, the hot-bed of Osun politics, on July 8, 2014 has gone a long way to prove, without any iota of doubt, that the APC, is indeed alive and well embraced by the electorate of the town, where Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the first executive governor of Osun State and the Asiwaju of the town still calls the shot and at the commanding height of its politics as a Commander Order of the Niger (CON).

It was the day, the amiable and humble Isiaka Adeleke, proved cynics wrong, by showing, that he is fully in control of political machineries in Edeland and beyond. He manifested the electorate’s trust in him as an everdependable leader, whom they could continue to rely on as a selfless politician, with milk of human kindness flowing in his veins.

July 8, 2014 at Ede, marked a positive turning point for the APC, since 2011 general election fiasco. Party faithfuls in their tens of thousands, spontaneously trooped out to make a point, that their darling party remains the beloved of the grassroot people. They were clad in Ankara print (Egbe Joda), with Mofla, scarfs and fez caps done in APC colours. What a sight to behold.

As early as 7a.m, they massed at both the Ede South and North secretariats of APC at Mosebolatan and Okegada respectively, to partake in what eventually turned out to be a MEGA RALLY. The type, that has not been witnessed in recent times. Give it to the APC faithful, they conducted themselves in orderly manner. Very maturedly. So much, so that, the Policemen deployed to oversee the event, were virtually on holiday.

At both Secretariats of the party, gaily dressed party men and women danced merrily to the melodious songs by different musicians, as they waited eagerly for the arrival of ‘SERUBAWON’ himself, the effervescent and irrepressible Senator Isiaka Adeleke and the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

At the dot of 12 noon, Isiaka Adeleke arrived in a convoy of cars to a tumultuous welcome from the ecstatic members and “hell” was literally let loose. Serubawon was full of ‘infectitous’ smile and appreciation to the cheering crowd. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. O, YES From Mosebolatan APC Ede South Secretariat, Alhaj Isiaka Adeleke and other party leaders, drove through the three-kilometre stretch of Babangida Way, which is the heart of the town, down to Timi’s Palace, into the

By Olumide Lawal

waiting hands of Ede North APC members.

Now you may ask, what really was at stake?

It was a continuation of the State wide campaign rallies organised by the Osun APC chieftains to drum support for Ogbeni Aregbesola second term in office as governor. Most importantly, it was an event to showcase Senator Isiaka Adeleke’s grip of politics in Edeland, contrary to the opinions sold out to the electorate by the opposition.

In the course of the movement through the Babangida Way to the palace, residents irrespective of party affiliations, came out to share in the joy of the moment, chanting and shouting, “Serubawon, Serubawon; Isiaka is our man o”. Vehicular movement was at a standstill.

APC slogans, even from unexpected quarters rent the air. Ede was agog for Isiaka Adeleke and APC. Pessimism went to sleep. Optimism reigned instead. Love and affection for Isiaka Adeleke took over the air. It was reminiscent of January 2, 1992, when Alhaj Isiaka Adeleke rode triumphantly into Ede after he was sworn in as the first executive governor of Osun State and Ede became a ‘Mecca’ of a sort.

The arrival of the Osun State governor , signaled the events to follow. Senator Isiaka Adeleke at this point insisted that all party leaders and supporters should come out of their cars and trek the distance for the rally which is the political carnival of 2014 in Osun State. Pronto, the walk-of-joy started from Oja-Timi to Polytechnic Road, passing through Isiaka Adeleke ancestral home at Bode axis, bursting out at Ojularede Avenue and emerged at Agip area and back to Adventist Grammar School, where the carnival reached a crescendo, with the multitude of people not less than 80,000 in attendance, even though it is a Ramadan period.

Addresses were delivered by party leaders, with encomiums showered on Otunba Isiaka Adeleke as a true leader of the party in Ede, and of course, a politician they look up to, to

bring about greater cohesion in APC in Osun State, going by his splendid performance at the 2011 presidential poll, where he was the only politician, that recorded more than 75 per cent of votes for President Jonathan from his two local government areas.

Senator Adeleke went down the memory lane. He informed the ecstatic crowd, which included the former governor of old Oyo State, Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo, that he came to Ede in 1986 to boost the economic development of his home town, with the establishment of Pacific Farm, which gave employment opportunities to many people. This he said, was followed by his emergence as the first executive governor of Osun State, during which he was able to put many Ede indigenes in Local Government administration, some of whom are today directors in different cadres.

Adeleke was prompt to tell the cheering audience, that though he was not instrumental to the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, the credit of which goes to Alhaja Ramota Adisa, he however facilitated the take off grant of N60 million from Babangida’s administration. To cap it all, Adeleke told the audience, that the first private University to be owned by a dynasty was established by his Adeleke family in Ede. He further said, that work on the permanent site of the university will soon be completed and hundreds of Ede indigenes would be gainfully employed. Cheers of Serubawon rent the air.

From here, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola took over in his charming and disarming manner, eulogising Ede electorate for the fantastic outing he witnessed on that day, affirming that since the rallies started, he has never witnessed such a mammoth crowd, who were so committed and loyal to the cause of APC. Aregbesola said, with what he saw at Ede, he can go and sleep with his two eyes closed with the assurance of more than 90 per cent of Ede vote coming the way of APC. He told the Ede Federal constituency audience, that in the course of his second term in

‘Osun electorate are wiser and they are ready to ensure continuity of the projects already initiated by Aregbesola.

Be it told point blank, that we don’t need “imported” commissioners, special advisers and special assistants in the course of Aregbesola second term. Enough is enough’

office, a 1,000 Agbale Housing Estate will be built in Ede town, while the Akoda to Erinle water work stretch of road would be dualised as well as the revamping of Ede Cocoa Products Industry of which an Ede indigene, Sir Adewale Adeeyo is the chairman. On possibility of initimidation and harassment from any quarters, Aregbesola told his audience to be vigilant, unrelenting and not to exihibit any act of cowardice. Rather they shoul follow all electoral laws so as to be above board and prove that they are patriotic Nigerians, only out to exercise their civic responsibilities.

It should be emphasised however, that some APC chieftains should be cautious in their speeches at rallies, as nothing would be gained from their inciting utterances to the electorate. They should watch their tongues and not heat up the polity for no just cause at this particular time. They should discuss issues rather than provocative language. Also, Ogbeni Aregbesola should ensure, that the silent frosty relationship between Adeleke and some current elected APC members, who see Adeleke defection into APC as a threat to the furtherance of their ambition should be nipped in the bud, if they will not be seeing to be working at cross purposes. This is the home truth and a hidden fact, that those concerned may not want to play up.

Senator Adeleke should continue to extend olive branches to all stakeholders to work with him and APC and make Ede nay Osun State an ELDORADO. He should employ his largeheartedness and magnanimity to reach out to everybody. All eyes are now on him to deploy his magic wands to polish the image of the party and correct certain just and unjust misgivings about Aregbesola from some quarters, which is expected in competitive politics. Osun electorate are wiser and they are ready to ensure continuity of the projects already initiated by Aregbesola. Be it told point blank, that we don’t need “imported” commissioners, special advisers and special assistants in the course of Aregbesola second term. Enough is enough.

His Majesty, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, Laminisa I, the Timi of Edeland should be commended for his fatherly gestures toward all political leaders in Osun, who at one time or the other came visiting to seek his royal blessings. Kabiyesi has proved that he is a father to all. Long live Laminisa I. • Olumide Lawal Contributes this piece from Ede, Osun State.

THE NATION FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014

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POLITICS NATIONAL CONFERENCE The National Conference is expected to reconvene next month to ratify its final report. When the report is submitted, President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to forward it to the National Assembly for deliberation. In this interview with reporters in Lagos, a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the National Conference, Mr. Tony Uranta, submits that the report may not satisfy the peoples’ yearning for change.

‘Conference delegates swept salient issues under carpet’

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HE National Conference is set to write its report. What are your expectations?

The conference would reconvene on August 4, to look at the reports and ascertain that resolutions are reflected in the reports as they were arrived at; without any smuggled items.

I can only be hopeful that, when they reconvene, it shall not be only the reports they shall look into. There shall be issues concerning how to get the National Assembly to do the needful, by amending the constitution speedily, to allow for a referendum as soon as possible and, thus, empower Nigerians to ratify or dismiss the resolutions of the conference.

I also anticipate that the conference delegates will be interested in looking at whatever fallout there might be between now and August 4. And, I think fallouts have already started manifesting.

The Northern youths have come together as Arewa youths and gone to the new Emir of Kano, His Royal Majesty, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to demand that there must be a Northern Republic and that they want to secede from Nigeria. In like manner, we are also aware that the three Southern zones and the Middle Belt zone gave their irreducible minimum position, right from the beginning, that federalism be enshrined properly in the constitution and the regions/ zones should be the federating units.

Since, apparently, the regions did not at the end become the federating units, we are still going to be faced with the fact that the desire of over 50 per cent of Nigerians were opposed vehemently by less than 40 per cent of Nigerians.

This latter group, as the whole world saw, introduced a threat-andnuisance element into proceedings, right from jump. This aberrative stance inadvertently encouraged by the fact that the conference leadership was not firm on equitable discipline.

If, for example, Justice Kutigi had called the Lamido of Adamawa to

order, when the esteemed royal father threatened secession, that would have set a tone in line with Mr. President’s caveat as to the unity of Nigeria being sacrosanct and all delegates would have been more circumspect in allowing divergent positions to be better accommodated.

Now that issues like federalism, regionalism and Confederalism seem to have been temporarily placed on the ice, it may force otherwise nationalistic people, who went in there with these as their minimum, irreducible positions, to seek alternative routes to attaining those positions. Those alternative routes, I believe, will be a dangerous trend because they could lead to mass and diverse separatist calls, such as that by the Northern youths, evolving in Nigeria, with many groups crying out that they want to be free of the putative encumbrance of this contraption called Nigeria.

I personally prefer today’s big and growing Nigeria to any smaller units; but I am a pragmatist. It’s not about what I prefer or what I would like; what I am scared of is what may really happen. And what may happen, going by what we are seeing, is that the nation may be plunged into a crisis of disunity and more insecurity.

What do you think was responsible for the stalemate on the debate on derivation?

Partly, one of the problems about the whole process was the fact that derivation was even brought up at all. Derivation presupposes that the Federal Government still controls resources, and shares out what it wants to share to different sectors/ zones/states, including the sector from which the revenue is derived.

• Uranta

That is not federalism.

Federalism is not about a central government sharing out resources to units. Federalism means each unit/ zone/state owning its resource, and paying an agreed-upon tax to the centre; and we have said repeatedly that the first Nigerian Republic was the last one where everybody felt at ease with one another. Regrettably, that was truncated by the January 1966 coup. It was a Nigeria where every region owned its resources.

By the way, we have heard so much revisionism in the recent past from people that we would have considered very enlightened, especially from the Northern part of Nigeria, claiming that one region sustained the whole of Nigeria. That is an outright lie and a revision of

truth because every region used its own resources to develop itself, and paid 50 per cent of the value of those resources to the Federal Government.

It was autonomy that may have influenced the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, to decide that he would remain as the head of his region and not be bothered about the centre, and decide to send Alhaji Tafawa Balewa to the centre to represent the North as the leader of Nigeria. This is because there wasn’t too much attraction in the centre, and this was based on the reality of what Federalism should be re ownership of resources.

We are of the opinion that delegates should not have even accepted to deliberate on derivation. The focus should have been one one word: federalism! Discussing derivation per se was a departure from the Returnto-Federalism concept we had in mind when we, as the Nigerian National Summit Group, started canvassing for this conference.

NNSG’s desire for federalism is important because, as records show, NNSG was the prime canvasser for this 2014 Conference to hold. We brought people together on different dates and at different fora, and it was agreed that the issue of derivation and “resource control” were not the nation’s problem, and, that the issue was federalism.

What is federalism? We have heard many word definitions that are invariably similar, and have had the slight differences in how, for example, the United States of America and Switzerland practice federalism. The point remains that, with federalism, the federating units are the real control

‘With Federalism we would be able to devolve powers to the extent that we would, for example, now have part-time legislators at the National Assembly, and we won’t be wasting up to 75 per cent of our revenues on recurrent expenditures, much of which are going to the legislators and executive members who really can’t operate without all the trappings of power and authority that they have around them, that have been hangovers of the military era’

centres and not so much the central government. With Federalism we would be able to devolve powers to the extent that we would, for example, now have part-time legislators at the National Assembly, and we won’t be wasting up to 75 per cent of our revenues on recurrent expenditures, much of which are going to the legislators and executive members who really can’t operate without all the trappings of power and authority that they have around them, that have been hangovers of the military era.

So, you have a man that has a large perks list and a retinue of aides that consumes tens of millions naira in a month. If we could have gone properly into the issue of federalism, we would have found out that we had no need to discuss derivation.

Don’t you think the intention of the National Conference has been defeated?

It depends on the perspective you are looking at it from. From the perspective of separatists, they have a reason to urge harder for separation. From the perspective of true nationalists, we were able to bring to the front burner certain truths that were swept under the carpet. We had a Lamido of Adamawa revealing at the start of the conference that he and his people would move over to Cameroun. That is secession. They are not going to move by walking away to Cameroun, they are going to say this landmass of ours has to go to Cameroun, which means they secede from Nigeria and get annexed by Cameroun.

All these things they can achieve through the United Nations selfdetermination principle. So also the people in Enugu who went and criminally shot people dead and attacked the Governmrnt House, that is secession. COSEG, the militant arm of the OPC is strongly advocating Oduduwa self-determination and they have said in statements in the media they won’t accept the resolutions, if they do not give autonomy to regions and allow for holistic devolution of powers.

Achinike Peter is President, Ikwerre Consultative Forum. In this interview, he speaks on the quest by riverrine communities to produce the next governor of Rivers State.

‘Riverine zone should produce next Rivers governor’

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HAT is your view on the zoning of governorship in Rivers State?

We are not different from our brothers and sisters in our zone.

Therefore, the talk about power shift is also going on. We will do what others are doing. Democracy is all about power sharing and power shifting. It is all about zoning and harmonisation. Since 1967, when Rivers State was created, there has existed this Riverine and Upland harmonization. There is understanding among the people. For instance, after Dr. Peter Odili, power should naturally have shifted to the Riverine, but it was given to an Ikwerre man, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and we are grateful for that. But, to contemplate retaining power among the Upland people after 16 uninterrupted years is not only unfair and unjust, it is even criminal. Therefore power must shift to our brothers and sisters in the Riverine. This is the thinking of most people in Rivers State. Our people want our riverine part that has been shut out for 16 uninterrupted years to taste power. It has to go back there.

Why are you passionate about

• Peter

power shift. Are you a riverine person?

I am not a riverine person. I am the President of Ikwerre Consultative Forum. We are upland people.

What is the motivation for this struggle for the Riverine?

I am doing this because of what

will happen tomorrow, I am seeing tomorrow. Today, it is the riverine looking for power and justice from the upland. Tomorrow, the uplanders may be in this situation and they will remember that some people spoke out. So, it is better for us to go back to our usual and normal harmonization as before.

What is your reaction to the ambition of some uplanders, who have shown interest in the contest next year?

I wouldn’t want to discuss parties or ideologies. I am only interested in the fundamentals and that is what I would want to talk about.

Today, we in Rivers State know ourselves. No matter who is voting for power, or anybody for that matter who thinks he has the biggest voting strength and wants to take advantage, this will not happen. It is not possible. It is not good for our democracy and coexistence. Therefore we must stand in support of justice and equity. We must condemn it How influential is Ikwerre Consultative Forum?

Ikwerre Consultative Forum cuts

across the four local governments of Ikwerre. They include Ikwerre Local Government, Emuoha Local Government, Port Harcourt Local Government and Obi-Akpor Local Government. The forum is a formidable group that has always been there. We are not a political party; we are a pan Ikwerre forum.

So, our ideologies are properly rooted and our agitation is to make sure there is a better Rivers State.

We are not just looking at Ikwerre; we are looking at Rivers State as a state that should at all times respect power sharing. Even though we have the highest number of votes, we must be guided by fairness.

What are the qualities you expect from the next governor?

We are considering three things: the personality, a credible person.

I believe the riverine part of the state has such people in abundance.

But aside all these, there are also other considerations. Let me say here that all our senatorial zones have riverine and upland, that is why our harmonization is very thorough. Therefore in all our considerations, we must consider the riverine in all these. It is their

time, and we must give them because they are human beings. Even President Goodluck Jonathan is a product of zoning, so we must encourage it.

There is also the agitation that Rivers Southeast Senatorial District is the only district that is yet to produce a governor...

There are riverine people in all senatorial districts of the state so there is no problem in this regard.

In this instance, let them consider riverine people.

What about the agitation of the Ogonis?

If you observe, no real Ogoni leader from any of the three Ogoni LGA’s is asking for governor.

What you hear is a media creation by some self serving Ogoni politicians. The real Ogoni leaders know it will be unfair to exclude more than one third of the population of the state being riverine people from governance for too long. The thought of it is immoral. The true leaders of Ogoni are saying we want a governor who will develop our place and restore our environment. Where a governor comes from is immaterial to them.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

SOCIETY City Profs Academy Foundation led by its Grand Patron and former Lagos State Military Governor Brig.-Gen. Mobolaji Johnson has laid the foundation for an e-library at the Ayangburen Primary School in Ikorodu. It is the seventh the foundation is building, reports TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

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F you invest in education, you are building a formidable future, so goes a saying. This is exactly what the City Profs Academy Foundation is doing with its e-library initiative. It also aims to leave a worthy legacy and revive the reading culture with the project. Since its inception seven years ago, the foundation has been pursuing its vision to build e-library in the six geo-political zones.

Last Friday, City Profs Academy Community Library Initiative (CPA-CLI) laid the foundation stone for its seventh e-library. CPA Grand Patron and former military governor of Lagos State Brig.-Gen. Mobolaji Johnson, while turning the sod of the project at the Ayangburen Primary School in Ikorodu on the outskirts of Lagos, said the project was started to boost learning.

CPA-CLI is a public-private partnership initiative established to build and equip community libraries and ICT in the public education system. The catchment area is limited to locations within walking distance of different schools, for convenience in visiting the library after school at no additional costs.

Apart from reviving the reading culture among the people, most especially the young ones, the foundation believes that education broadens one’s horizon as nurtured minds will enhance a nation’s development. The foundation has truly kept to its words over the years with spirited individuals who are committed to serving humanity.

Today, the CPA-CLI prototypedmodel e-library which started in Bariga Lagos has spread to other areas, such as Ijebu-Mushin, Kosofe, Surulere, with the latest in Ikorodu. It has also spread its tentacles beyond Lagos as such feat has been replicated in Ago-Iwoye in Ogun State and Ilara-Mokin in Ondo State.

The project is under the supervision and guidance of CPA-CLI led by stalwarts, such as the former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; former Lagos State Military Governor Gen. Mobolaji Johnson; first Nigeria female Vice-Chancellor Prof Grace Alele-Wiliilams; frontline businesswoman Mrs Remi Agbowu and Mrs Essie Kukoyi.

The community library and ICT initiatives of the CPA-CLI are are being reviewed by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, with the aim of adopting same in other countries.

Brig.-Gen Johnson said he was delighted to be part of the epochmaking event, which he said was necessary for our children.

“Education is the bedrock of any nation. This is what helped us while growing up,” he said.

He urged students to make use of the library when completed.

Corroborating Johnson, former Unilever Managing Director Dr Michael Omolayole, who was represented by Mr Oladipo Alla, congratulated Ikorodu for joining the train of progress coming from Lagos.

His words:“It is essentially to inculcate in the students the habit of reading voraciously. It is to promote the reading culture which leads undoubtedly to acquisition of knowledge. We all know that knowledge is power. It is for this reason that the City Profs Academy has adopted the slogan “Vote for the reading culture.”

Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, Sheriff Anipole, praised

Promoting learning

•From left: Mrs Agbowu; Otunba Olukoga; Brig.-Gen. Johnson; Anipole and Mrs Benson turning the sod of the project

•Mrs Kukoyi (left) and Mrs Oluwasolabomi Fatunmbi

the foundation for its thoughtfulness, vision, commitment and selflessness. He hailed its members for their passion for education and knowledge, which is the bed rock of every meaningful development and enduring advancement.

He promised that they would continue to provide every logistics support towards attracting similar projects to the council, and would equally provide the congenial atmosphere for achieving the nine months completion target.

Anipole enjoined other non-governmental organisations, corporate bodies and public spirited organisations to take a cue from the good gesture of CPA and contribute their quota to the society.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Otunba Fatai Olukoga congratulated the students and expressed gratitude to the organisation for such a laudable project. According to him, the project would assist the children greatly.

“Government is doing its best but it cannot do it alone. And that is why private organisations should help. This edifice when completed will not only serve the students alone but the entire community,” he said.

Prof Alele-Williams, chairman, Governing Board of the foundation, who was represented by Seun Fakoya, said the library initiative was beneficial to all because it is the

•From right: Mr Oresanya Ewedemi; his wife and Iyaloja of Ikorodu, Alhaja Taofikat Allison

way of the future.

She said Nigeria had enough primary school but e-library was long overdue. Citing a city like New York with about five bureaus, Alele-Williams said because of the priority placed on education, it has about 9,000 libraries, equipped to broaden their children’s horizons.

“If our children are to compete globally, we have to build a library that will benefit the children most.

We have started at Bariga and Ikorodu is the seventh of its kind.

We have a role to play. In the United States, as far back as 1888, Edward Carnegie started building library. And his fortune worth 400 million dollars was used in building libraries across the globe so that

library can be close to the people. I think more people should emulate the man because when you nurture people’s mind through education, you are developing a nation,” she said.

Chairman, Community Library Initiative, Mrs Agbowu, praised her team for their commitment to humanity.

Mrs Agbowu believed that reaching out to companies to give a helping hand to the initiative won’t be a bad idea.

“Also, there are Ikorodu sons and daughters who are capable so that the project can be completed at the nine month stipulated time,” she said.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

SOCIETY A lawyer, Captain Joseph Emeka Nwosu, of the Nigerian Army, has got married to former Miss Ugochi Asumpta Nwaneri in Lagos.

NNEKA NWANERI was there.

Adapting to your audience and situation

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•The couple Captain Emeka and Ugochi

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N her long white wedding gown, she stood under the scorching sun.

Former Miss Ugochi Asumpta Nwaneri looked straight, as soldiers saluted her and her beau as they walked out of St Charles Luangwa Catholic Church at the Army Cantonment in Ikeja, Lagos, last Saturday.

Asumpta looked charming, beautiful and radiant. She had just exchanged marital vows with Captain Emeka Nwosu, a lawyer with the Nigerian Army.

It was interesting watching soldiers drawing their swords and crossing them.

The couple passed under the crossed swords to join a small group of witnesses comprising their family members and friends, who watched the parade in admiration. Before then, a more subtle show was put up.

The conventional method of keeping the groom waiting at the altar was altered. The

A soldier’s wife bride was led into the church by her father, with the processional hymn: “There Shall be Showers of Blessing”. The priest and altar boy followed.

A band outside sang: “Showers of Blessing” as the groom was ushered into the church in a slow match by soldiers who moved with the rhythm of the band beats. The groom wore a cream-Army suit with three stars on each shoulder and two lapel pins on his breast pocket, representing countries that he has gone for peacekeeping. Others wore green. They moved at the same pace, making their way to the front of the church.

The bride stood alone, beaming with smiles.

The priest, Lt Col Rev Fr Maurice Gerrad Udontong, counselled the couple to always have a syndicated communication.

The cleric noted that Christian marriage is not for every ‘Tom Dick and Harry’, but for matured and responsible beings.

“The sacrament of the Catholic marriage is so significant and proactive. Guard it with all diligence and never allow a third party to come into it.”

The train moved to the Nine Brigade Officers Mess inside the cantonment for the reception.

At the reception, the couple were led by soldiers to their seats in a tent made of white and red fabrics.

The groom presented kolanuts to event’s chairman, Chike Obieli, who broke it and passed it round to guests. It was a small gathering.

Captain Edet Okon of the

BOOK LAUNCH •From left: Mr Joseph Akeju; Author of the book Understanding: Management, Governance and Ethics, Mr Olanrewaju Sharafa; Alhaji Hassan Akeem and Mr James Oguns during a book launch in Lagos.

Mechanical and Electrical Department of the Nigerian Army performed the paramilitary custom of presenting the sword to cut the cake. Presenting Captain Joseph with the sword on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, Captain Okon said: “Though the sword is a symbol of destruction, he is allowed to use it to cut his wedding cake as a mark of honour and thereafter use it to protect his wife.”

The couple cut their fourlayered flowered cake.

Obieli, who is a childhood friend of the groom, proposed the toast. Before he did, he described Captain Joseph as his brother, friend and cousin. He said they both attended St Dominic Seminary Alapu in Umuahia for their secondary education before they went to study Law.

INCE we began our discussions on public speaking and communication generally, we have tried to avoid unforeseen circumstances. We have even tried to plan for situations that are unexpected. For instance, we agreed that impromptu speeches are AMODU LANRE OLAOLU speeches that you are given little or no time to prepare for, (Ph.D) sospeak2lanre@yahoo.com. yet, we still came up with a 07034737394 strategy to beat that. How@lanreamodu ever, can we beat every single situation? Can we come up with strategies for everything?

I’m sure you will agree with me that the answer is no! We can’t always predict or anticipate what we may encounter.

So, what do we do? We must learn to adapt.

Sometime in 2011, I joined a team to organize a vocational training for members of a church in Lagos. Of course, I was to train on public speaking. As should be expected, I wanted to know ahead of time the kind of audience I would be encountering; so, I inquired from the leader of our team. He assured me that the programme was organized by the Youths Association. So, I used the information to prepare for the training.

When we arrived at the venue, I noticed something strangethere were several elderly people there too! Nevertheless, I consoled myself that they probably came to see what the youths were up to and give them moral support. At the opening ceremony, we, the facilitators, were introduced to the participants and vice versa. Guess what I discovered? The Retiree Group decided to collaborate with the youths! In case you don’t understand my dilemma at that time, I will tell you. The age difference was too much! On one hand, I had people who were just starting their lives, with lots of dreams and aspirations, and on the other hand, I had people who had ‘seen it all’ and just needed something to occupy their time.

As I sat there, unconsciously, my mind raced through all the illustrations I intended to use during the training and I discovered that they would not appeal to the older participants. Quickly, I started to think of new ones. The new challenge I was faced with was finding illustrations and a teaching approach that would be effective for both groups. To make matters worse, an old professor walked up to me and greeted me cordially, saying that he taught communication for over fifty years. And he was supposed to attend my training? God help! Thankfully, he didn’t stay the entire period.

If a public speaker is too regimented, he or she may find it difficult to adapt to unforeseen circumstances. As much as it is good to plan your presentation to the minutest detail, it is still very important to be flexible both mentally and ‘stylistically.’ So, what did I do to my mixed class? I did the following: • Asked them for their past experiences: the first thing I needed to do was to find out how much they already knew about the subject. It particularly helped me to find an average of their knowledge so that I could present a balanced training. Once I was able to establish that they all had elementary knowledge of the subject matter, I knew that they could all be taught from the same curriculum.

• Asked them for their expectations: I had attended several trainings myself, so, I knew that participants weren’t always satisfied with what they got from trainings. Hence, by finding out what exactly they expected to gain and what they intended to do with the knowledge, I was able to discover that within the same training session, I could accommodate the two groups. Knowing what they wanted also helped me to tailor the training along their requirements so that it met their individual needs. Having discovered their expectations, it wasn’t too difficult for me to surpass it; I would have run into trouble if I didn’t have that information. It also took off me the pressure of trying to read their expressions to determine if I was reaching them or not.

• Used balanced illustrations: the illustrations used during the training were balanced. Some of them were quite contemporary and applicable to the youths while the others were applicable to the older ones. The main challenge I encountered was building expectations for the course. While the youths could think of several things they could do with public speaking, it wasn’t that easy for the older ones. However, by enlightening them on the positive impact they could have on the youths if they could communicate effectively, they too became motivated.

• Treated them all as students: I worked by a simple logicthe youths wanted to be treated as adults while the elders didn’t want to feel old fashioned; so, I treated them all as equals. While I raised my level of respect for the youths to the level of the elders, I made sure that the elders had as much practical sessions as the youths. For as long as the class lasted, nobody really cared about age. The excitement of standing before the class to present took care of any reservation anyone of them might have had.

Dr. Amodu teaches at the Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University, Ogun State.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

SOCIETY Patron of the Celestial Church of Christ, Covenant Cathedral in Amuwo Odofin, a Lagos suburb, Most Senior Evangelist Soye Oluremi Oniagba has celebrated his 60th birthday. AMIDU ARIJE was there

Hitting 60 in style

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IRTUALLY everybody was in soutane, the white flowing gown made popular by adherents of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC). They danced and sang, savouring the joy of the 60th birthday celebration of the patron of CCC, Covenant Cathedral in Amuwo-Odofin, a Lagos suburb.

The celebrator smiles all day, with eyes on him.

The opening hymn was taken as the celebrator entered the church for the thanksgiving service. The service was led by Senior Evangelist Ernest Adeuti.

Guests knelt and thanked God for His mercies. For the celebrator, it was a day for thanking God. During the service, the celebrator sang and danced to appreciate God for His blessings.

Most Snr Evg Oniagba hails from Idoani in Ondo State. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Rem Bam, a haulage firm. The Political Science graduate of the Lagos State University (LASU) was raised Anglican. His grandfather was the Patron of Anglican Church in Idoani.

In 1980, Oniagba joined the CCC in Igboliki, Akure, the Ondo State.

After the church service, guests moved to the ICAN Centre hall for the reception.

The well-decorated hall was filled to capacity. Guests shone in chosen cream and white uniform attire.

On the stage was the band of One Moleculic led by Mr Staccato.

Young women dressed in cream colour attires ushered guests to their seats.

An itinerant musical group, the Ekebisi Cultural Dance group from Idoani, added colour to the occasion with their beautiful songs. They looked good in their royal dresses with beads on their necks and horse tails in their hands. Many struggled to catch glimpse of the group. Those that could not see them from far turned to the flat screen television placed at strategic places in the hall.

The occasion, anchored by the popular comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka, began on a prayerful note from Pastor Dele Olutoye.

A 10-minute documentary on the life of the celebrator was shown. The celebrator was joined by his wife, Bamidele, daughter, in-laws and other family members to cut the cake.

• The celebrator, Oniagba assisted by his wife Bamidele; daughter Mrs Oduguwa (left) and Mrs Sade Balogun (right) to cut the cake

•Elder Dele Ogunsakin and Mrs Funmi Aladeloba

Adeyinka supervised the cutting which was done after the spelling of God. A Rem Bam staff, Mr Tajudeen Bank-Olemoh, described the celebrator as a leader who always has the interest of the workers and people around him in mind.

His daughter, Mrs Abiola Oduguwa, described him as a man of honour, humble and gentle soul.

The celebrator’s in-law, Dr Victor Oduguwa, described him as a man of impeccable character.

“You are to me more of a father than a father–in-law. You are a true gentle man whose name is integrity and honour. You are a role model who shows men of our time how a man should be,” he said.

The celebrator’s wife, Mrs Bamidele Oniagba, described her

MARRIAGE

•Dr Tunji Sobodu and wife Dr Aderonke

husband as her best friend.

“I am so grateful to have you as my father, brother, my best friend, my lover and everything beautiful in life,” she said.

The celebrator described the day as his happiest.

“It is by God’s grace that I attain this age because it is not by my power; I thank Him and appreciate His mercies on me. His grace is what

PHOTOS: ADEJO DAVID

I am enjoying,” he said.

“I am a fulfilled man; I wish that I am able to replicate whatever people say about me today in hundred folds,” he said.

Giving reasons for his youthful look, Oniagba said: “What most people do I don’t do. I have never taken alcohol in my life and I go for regular medical check-up,” he said.

AWARD •Director, Peacock Group of Companies, United Kingdom, Mr Oluwatosin Shobowale; Mayor of London Borough of Richmond, Jane Boulton; and Manager, Peacock Travel and Tours, United Kingdom, Mr. Keith Lloyd, during the presentation of ‘Sustained Excellence in Corporate Travel 2014’ to Peacock Travels and Tours by UK's Acquisition Magazine in London.

•Former Miss Rukayat Ololade Durojaiye and her beau Olatokunbo Saliu during their wedding

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25 2014

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COMMENTARY

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EAR Ramadan, In the name of the Almighty Allah and with His mercy and blessings, which you brought to us, we salute you. For the past 27 days, you have been our guest. And in the next couple of days you shall remain in our midst serving as the forum through which Allah's compassion is showered on us. With your visit, you have transformed our lives positively and rekindled our hopes spiritually.

Before you first descended on this world about 1435 years ago, what we used to know of hospitality was the entertainment which the host offered his guest. But with your arrival, that tradition was reversed in a revolutionary manner. You became the only known guest in the world, who entertains his host to satisfaction. Yours is a hospitality that cannot be measured in quality or quantity. And, that is why the universal preparation for your arrival, every year is unequalled.

Premium recompense

With your awful and charismatic nature, you arrive in the world every year with a splendour that re-jigs the souls of mankind and reconditions their daily routine.

History is yet to show us a guest like you who engages his hosts days and nights even as he places premium on their recompense. But for your annual visit, who could have dared waking us up from our tactless deep sleep for a whole period of 30 or 29 days and nights? Who could have been recalling us back from our stray into the wilderness of avarice and ostentation?

Not even the day of Arafat in Hajj has any means of competing with you in whatever way. Arafat plays host to only a few millions of pilgrims in a single day. You engage the entire humanity for a whole month, days and nights in their domain except those who reject your offer.

Even the unbelievers are forced to recognise your presence with veneration despite your invisibility. For instance, all the manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, all over the world prepare for your arrival if only to take advantage of your grandiose presence to do brisk business.

Today, the greatest persecutors of Islam in Britain and the US are forced to pretend to be friends of that divine religion by hosting Muslims to Iftar in London and Washington. Yet, each time you come around, most of us receive you reluctantly.

But, when it is time for you to go, we hardly want to part with you again.

And when we are eventually forced to say bye for now according to the law that established our relationship, we do so only in tears.

Timeliness

No other time of the year injects into us, the vivid consciousness of our faith as you do. No other pillar of Islam instils in us the high level of discipline which you take us through for a whole month. We acknowledge the effect of your role in our lives and we pray the Almighty Allah to sustain that effect in us so that the door to AL-JANNAH which you evidently represent may not be locked against us when it is time to take our place in that everlasting home of bliss.

With your coming once a year, we learn that life is never static.

Neither are the things inside it. No man of reason and letters stays put at a particular spot. Human body system gets strong only by shifting positions and moving around. Meeting and parting with fellow human beings from time to time are what make life interesting.

Interacting and intermingling with other elements of nature are the ingredients that fertilise the soil of harmony on our terrestrial planet.

The sun would have been boring, despite its usefulness to mankind, if it does not rise in the east at dawn and set in the west at twilight.

No water spring would have been drinkable if it had remained stagnant on a permanent basis. Had the arrow refused to part with the bow, it would not have been able to hit its target. The regular exchange of baton between days and nights is what makes calendar possible for humanity.

We came into the world as travellers in transit. Our travel from father's port of semen to the confines of mother's womb in form of foetus is a transit. Our transformation from stage to stage inside that

FEMI ABBAS ON femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

Bye for now! womb as vividly described by the Qur'an is a transit. And, following our arrival in this world, we naturally embark on a pilgrimage from the unknown to the unknown. Thus, any stage or condition in which we find ourselves in life at any given time is a transit. Without such transit human life would have been monotonously valueless. Ditto other forces of nature, seen or unseen, animate or inanimate.

Not by Fortuity

Our world, the earth, did not come into existence by fortuity. Our ancestors, Adam and his wife, Hawa'u (Eve) were not created to take charge of the earth by fortuity. The divine law by which this world is governed was not coined to guide us by fortuity. And man's peregrination in it, towards the world hereafter, is not by fortuity.

All these are a ground design of a great revolution through which the meaning of the universe is to be understood. That design is the handiwork of the Supreme Being known to Muslims as ALLAH. The divine signature appended to that design is what came to be known as the Qur'an which you (Ramadan) facilitated through a single night inside you, that Allah described as "more beneficial than 1000 months.

That signature (The Qur'an) is inimitable and unsurpassable not only in the grandeur of its diction and the splendour of its contents but also in its connotation, essence and profundity. Its summary is what is known to humanity as 'REVOLUTION'.

By implication, the Qur'an can be semantically called 'THE GREAT REVOLUTION' that transformed the world from the sphere of obscurity into that of unimaginable sophistication. Yet, it is through the great night inside you, called 'LAYLATUL QADR' that such a great revolution came to Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

If only the Qur'an is what humanity is privileged to access through your motherly belly it would have been enough. And what is more, your contribution to the guidance of mankind transcends the Qur'an alone.

A former American President, John F. Kennedy, did not know that he was describing the Qur'an when he once said: "We live in a hemisphere whose own revolution has given birth to the most powerful force of the modern age- the freedom and fulfilment of man".

Other Pillars of Islam

In your absence, the other four pillars of Islam could presumably be engaged in an imaginary debate each claiming to be the key to paradise. Faith, for instance, might claim that without her, all other pillars could only exist in vain.

To counter her claim, Salat might describe her five daily appearances in the life of a Muslim as the impetus that gives faith a deserved relevance. Zakah, on its own, may recount to the first two that whoever would be faithful enough to observe Salat ought to be married to Zakah either as a giver or as a receiver. And, at that point, Hajj might come in to contend that only a semblance of the 'Hereafter' (Yawmul Qiyamah), which she represents, can authenticate the spiritual visa with which humanity would ushered into paradise through the wagons of other pillars. She might claim that without her as an emancipator of rightly guided humanity from the shackles of Satan, no one would have had the slightest idea of what that Great

Day would be.

When you are around, dear Ramadan, all other pillars fall in line conceding leadership to you without any argument. You are not just the undeniable evidence of faith in man; you are also the most reliable witness of Salat, Zakah and Hajj.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) attested to this through one Hadith-ul-Qudsi when he quoted Allah as saying that "Fasting (in Ramadan) is mine and I am the one to give reward on it".

To fast while you are around, faith must not only be present, it must also be a formidable foundation. Salat must also convincingly increase the tempo of her spiritual vitality. Whoever is not dressed in the toga of faith and feather his hat of Salat will only be wasting his time if he claims to be fasting. And when you are about to return home according to your tradition, Zakah must appear before you to pay homage in the name of 'Sadaqatul Fitr'. Even Hajj which, statutorily, should not meet you, must also send an envoy to pay homage to you in the name of Umrah (Lesser Hajj).

By making this observation, one is not trying to crown you as the king of the pillars of Islam. But with the awful role you play every year, the position of a coordinator may be ascribed to you directly or indirectly.

In the light of the aforementioned, we cannot persuade you to stay with us permanently since going and coming once every year adds to the legendary grandeur that makes us crave for you passionately on your arrival.

We fervently pray the Almighty Allah to grant us further opportunities to benefit in the years ahead, from the unlimited bounties which you are privileged to bring to us every year. With tears flowing through our eyes, we bid you adieu for now hoping we shall meet again by the grace of Allah.

Nostalgia

Prior to your arrival, dear Ramadan, some people dreamt but never lived to realise their dreams. Some looked but never saw. It is only in the imagination of man that age or illness should be the cause of death. We shall all die at our scheduled time. Therefore, whoever was privileged to have passed through your endearing presence successfully this year should endeavour to add spiritual value to his or her life and not diminish in faith after your departure. We shall all account for that value before Allah.

In about two days' time, you will bid us bye by the grace of Allah.

But we shall continue to look back with nostalgia to the good things we have done under your influence while you were around. For instance, we shall remember that in no other month of Hijrah calendar is the role of Muslim women more pronounced than whenever you are around.

Like in other months, they often display the roles of wives, mothers as well as those of their husbands' confidants. But more than in other months, they exhibit their religious dedication to your divine admiration.

During your sacred presence this year, they fasted like their men counterparts.

They prayed five times daily like men did.

They also joined those men in observing Tarawih. Some of them even attended Tafsir and public lectures. Yet they engaged in their daily work just like their men counterparts either in the offices, shops, or farms.

And they never relented in carrying out their matrimonial duties.

Even as they assisted their husbands financially in maintaining the homes, they still took care of those husbands as well as the children and relatives domestically.

At the time of the day when the husbands were knocked out by fatigue arising from fasting, the wives were still busy in the kitchen preparing Iftar for the household.

At the time in the night when some husbands were engaged in Tahajjud, or were snoring in bed, the wives were already up in the kitchen preparing the Sahur for the family.

Some of these women were carrying pregnancy. Some were suckling their children. Some of them were knowledgeable enough to do the Tilawah (recitation of the Qur'an) like their husbands. Some were even rich enough to finance the home fully or partially.

And, in all these activities, they never felt tired. Where and when fatigue seemed to set in, they never showed it. If any month ever depicted the virtues of women and their activities during your visit, it is you Ramadan. Thus, for their activities in Ramadan alone, they deserve tenderness and dignified treatment in the hands of their husbands.

Needs and wants

It is in the month of Ramadan that Muslims reconfirm NEEDS rather than WANTS as the necessities required for the sustenance of their lives.

Muslims, by their faith and orientation, are not, ordinarily, given to WANTS. They are more concerned about NEEDS than WANTS. The reason for this is not far-fetched. With NEEDS come contentment and satisfaction while WANTS are the cause of greed and avarice.

Allah, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, had provided the needs of every living creature even before its creation.

But then, He knew that of all those creatures man alone would go beyond NEEDS into the realm of WANTS. That was perhaps what informed the negative role which Satan assumed in the life of man shortly after the creation of Adam.

By introducing WANTS to man, what Satan did was to create a permanent job for himself in the life of man. Without WANTS the world would not have been what it is today. Blood would not have been shed. Money would not have been deified. Hatred would not have been known to man.

And, man's inhumanity to man would have been totally averted.

The effect of WANTS first became known when Qabil (Cain), the first son of Adam preferred his brother's wife to his.

In the tantrum that ensued from that unfortunate episode, Qabil (Cain) killed his brother Habil (Abel) and combined the latter's wife with his. Thus, greed and avarice became ingredients of man's culture. And WANTS rather than NEEDS became the domineering factor in the life of man. This is one of the vices which you often come to correct in man.

Summary of facts

At no time in the life of man can the true nature of human existence be more manifest than in Ramadan. It is in that sacred month that Muslims reflect mostly on the purpose of their existence on earth.

Some people fasted actively last year but were no more to witness this year. Some put their feet at the door step of Ramadan this year but never entered it. Some felt by the way side along the line. Some fasted with absolute faith in Allah and confidence in making use of the lessons of Ramadan.

Some joined the spiritual train with no idea of their destination in the month. Some sat on the fence with one leg here and the other there. However, none was hidden from Allah.

Now, all is over. But we shall keep remembering those days with indelible nostalgia. We shall recall our anxiety while looking towards sighting the moon that would usher us into the glorious month.

We shall not forget the compensating evenings of Tarawih and the marvellous nights of Thajjud and Sahur. We shall look back to the immaculate days of Tafsir and the exclusiveness of 'Itikaf. Yes our minds will not be off the great expectations embedded in the majesty LAYLATUL QADR as well as the great pleasure in the payment of Zakatul Fitr. All these will surely enable us to take a retrospective look at your grandiose annual presence with nostalgia. Bye for now until we meet again.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

53

BUSINESS EXTRA Govt to spend $823m on rail terminals From Nduka Chiejina,

I

(Asst. Editor)

T will cost the Federal Government $823 mil lion to complete the construction of modern rail terminals running from Lagos through Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.

Addressing journalists during the inspection of the rail project in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. NgoziOkonjo-Iweala said “what we have borrowed was $500million but they (the Chinese Export Import Bank EXIM) had started work before that, paying $152 million before the loan was approved. So the total contract sum is $823 million”.

The finance minister assured that the $500 million China Export-Import Bank (EXIM) loan obtained for the construction of the modern terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt has been well utilized.

Inspecting work at the new airport terminal in Abuja, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala expressed satisfaction on the level of construction work currently going on at the site as well as the rail projects the country had borrowed money from China to execute.

According to her, “there is a lot of skepticism and questioning about if really we are going to see something out of it. We are monitoring how the money is being used; we want Nigerians to see the result. Mr President has said we should keep focusing on it month by month to make sure the money is well utilized.” she said.

The minister, who undertook physical monitoring of the project for the first time yesterday, said she has been monitoring the project from her office by receiving daily progress report as well as looking at the finances to see how much money has been spent.

T

• From right: Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele; Secretary to State Government, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel; Governor, Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan; Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio; Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola; Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Senator Olusola Adeyeye, during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on SME’s in Abuja...yesterday.

N220b MSME fund for disbursement next month

S

MALL businesses got some cheery news yes terday. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will start disbursing the N220 billion Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSME) development fund from next month.

CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele broke the news at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the CBN and governors in Abuja.

The fund will be disbursed to the financially vulnerable groups at the bottom of the social and economic pyramid at a single digit interest rate.

States can only access N2 billion at the initial stage. The CBN will consider the request by states to increase the initial funding capital to between N3.5 billion to N4 billion.

To kick-start the disbursement of the soft loan, which is aimed at stimulating job creation and economic growth, President Goodluck Jonathan is billed to administer the initial loan disbursement next month.

Emefiele said 60 per cent of

• States urge removal of bureaucratic impediments From Nduka Chiejina, (Asst. Editor)

the funds would be given to women as loans.

Among the states whose governors were present for the MOU signing were Senator Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) Godwill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom) and Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta).

Enugu, Zamfara, Borno, Ondo, Benue, Bayelsa, Gombe and Taraba were represented by their deputy governors and Secretary to the State Government.

Emefiele told the governors and their representatives that “in order to ensure the attainment of our goals, the CBN will be committing a considerable human, material and financial resources to monitoring both the disbursements and utilization of this fund in a robust and verifiable manner.”

Participating financial institutions, he said, “will be

Minister receives 248 abandoned power equipment containers

HE Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, yesterday took delivery of the 248 containers of various power equipment, including transmission transformers, lines and conductors abandoned between seven and 11 years ago in different bonded terminals in Lagos and Onne, Rivers State.

Nebo, who was accompanied by top officials of the ministry, inspected some of the abandoned materials in Lagos and promised that the contracts that have been stalled over the years as a result of delay in receipts of these materials, would be restarted shortly.

Some of the projects that were stalled, Nebo said, include the Aboh-Mbaise substation, Kano Hadejia trans-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

mission substations, ObaNnewi substation, Danbata substations, Omotosho, Egbin, Aja lines.

Others are Akwa-Ibom 33kva line, Iganga-Ibora substation, Ikorodu, Odogunya, Shagamu transmission line and Nssuka- Ayangba lines.

These projects will be supplied these equipment according to their respective requirements, he added.

The minister said: “It is a day of joy and gladness as we flag off this very critical event of release of 248 containers of electrical equipments and power installations. This equipment had been abandoned at various bonded terminals in Lagos since 2003 and 2007, which is between 11

and seven years ago.

“We have inspected some of them and we wish to express our most profound gratitude to the Controller-General of Customs and his staff for making it possible for us to see a day like this.”

Nebo said the power equipment is supposed to have been used in many projects in the country to improve efficiency in power supply but had been held for over 11years.

Nebo promised to probe the cause of the abandonment saying the probe becomes imperative following the number of years the equipment have been abandoned, which led to abandonment of several power projects since 2003.

required to survey periodic returns on disbursements on a regular basis and the social impact of this fund on our people.”

The CBN, “will also under take regular on and off site

checks to ascertain the veracity of the report received.”

Governors are “to help CBN achieve these goals by ensuring that these funds are utilized in an efficient and effective man-

ner.”

Emefiele lamented that “MSMEs in Nigeria have never received adequate financing needed to play this pivotal role in development trajectory. The financing gap of the critical sector is about N9.6 trillion as at 2010.”

54

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

55

MONEYLINK Economy: Nigeria may move into world’s top 20

NBET, NSIA sign agreement on $350m Eurobond Funds’ management

T

HE Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) yesterday signed a Funds Management Agreement for the $350million allocated to NBET from the $1billion Eurobond issued by the Federal Government in July, 2013.

The Managing Director/CEO, NBET, Rumundaka Wonodi, said NBET is pleased with the arrange-

ment that “allows a competent fund manager like NSIA, to manage NBET’s Eurobond facility in a manner that yields the required returns, and yet allows the funds to be readily available for any required Bulk Traderinterventions.

“With this arrangement, NBET can focus on developing the electricity market and catalysing the much needed investments in the power

sector.”

Also speaking at the signing ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSIA, Uche Orji, said the Sovereign Wealth Management Agency is pleased to enter into this asset management arrangement with NBET. “It is our aim to bring our proven capabilities in profitable asset management to bear for the benefit

N •Orji

of NBET and the Nigerian power sector in general,” he said.

Keystone Bank to divest from African subsidiaries

K

EYSTONE Bank Limited is planning to divest from its subsidiaries in Uganda, Liberia and Sierra-Leone, its Chief Executive Officer, Philip Ikeazor has revealed.

At an interactive session with journalists yesterday, in Lagos, the Bank’s chief explained that the plan would enhance its financial standing and return the financial institution to profitability when acquired by investors.

In arriving at the decision, Ikeazor said that the Bank considered the volume of bad loans in the subsidiaries and non-availability of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in those countries.

He said the divestment is also in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) requirement that any bank that wants to have a foreign subsidiary must have higher capital base.

Said Ikeazor: “Keystone Bank presently has shareholders investment in excess of N38 billion and felt it is wise to save value, hence

By Ajose Sehindemi

the need to divest from African countries.

The bank’s CEO said AMCON is involved in the diversification process, as Keystone bank will be sold after new owners must have taken over Mainstreet and Enterprise Banks by September.

Ikeazor said the lender also plans to sell insurance and healthcare units, as it is targeting an increase

of about 15 per cent growth in its loan book this year.

He applauded the nationwide cash-less policy of CBN adding that the policy has improved cash handling and reduced high cost of banks’ operations in the country.

He said what is needed now is “more Point of Sales (POS) machines across the country to endure that the cash-less policy achieves its desired objective.

The CBN fired the CEOs of eight of lenders and bailed them out with N620 billion ($3.8 billion) after a debt crisis caused by loans to stock speculators and fuel importers threatened the industry in 2008 and 2009. The government set up AMCON to take over Keystone Bank, Mainstreet Bank, and Enterprise Bank in August 2011 after regulators deemed them unable to meet requirements for banking.

AfDB invests $1.9b in infrastructure

T

HE African Development Bank (AfDB) has invested $1.9 billion (N311.6 billion) in infrastructure development in Nigeria in the last 42 years, according to the Country Director, Dr Ousmane Dore.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, Dore said that the bank had committed a cumulative of $6.4 billion (about N1.05 trillion) to different sectors of the country’s economy as at December 2013.

According to him, the current public sector portfolio of the bank stands at 921.2 million dollars (about N151 billion) of which $701.5 million (about N115 billion) is allocated to infrastructure projects.

Dore said that the bank had been supporting infrastructure development since it commenced lending operations in Nigeria in 1972.

The country director told NAN

that over 70 per cent of the bank’s operations were directed at infrastructure development.

He said that some of the bank’s early support to infrastructure development included the reconstruction of Enugu and Calabar Airports, launched in 1972 and 1974 respectively.

Dore said the bank’s operations had expanded to include several other projects in water and sanitation; road and energy.

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

GAINERS AS AT 24-07-14

SYMBOL CCNN

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

DATA BANK

Bid Price

1.3476 1.3692 1.0115 1.1792

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%

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

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

4.89

5.00

0.11

40.10

41.00

0.90

LOSERS AS AT 24-07-14

CHANGE

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

Rate (%)

Rate (%)

Overnight (O/N)

10.500

10.500

1M

12.175

12.101

3M

13.328

13.225

6M

14.296

14.-85

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

CHAMPION

10.17

9.67

-0.50

AGLEVENT

1.45

1.38

-0.07

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

RTBRISCOE

1.05

1.00

-0.05

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

31.46

30.00

-1.46

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

VITAFOAM

4.35

4.15

-0.20

ABCTRANS

0.89

0.85

-0.04

ASHAKACEM

C/PRICE

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

Currency

13.27

CAP

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

CBN EXCHANGE RATES July 23, 2014

Inflation: June

12.64

NAHCO

IGERIA has the potential to be one of the world’s top 20 economies by 2030 with a consumer base exceeding the current populations of France and Germany, according to McKinsey & Co. Africa’s biggest economy may expand about 7.1 percent a year through 2030, boosting gross domestic product to $1.6 trillion, possibly pushing it above Netherlands, Thailand and Malaysia, the New York-based company said in a report yesterday.

About 60 percent of Nigeria’s estimated population of 273 million by then may live in households earning more than $7,500 a year, fuelling a consumer boom, McKinsey said.

“Nigeria has a very positive outlook,” Acha Leke, co- author of the report, said in an interview with BloombergTV Africa in Johannesburg.

“The most important thing that needs to be done to get it there is execution” of government policies.

As Africa’s largest oil producer with a population of about 170 million, Nigeria has consistently posted annual growth rates in excess of four per cent over the past decade.

That’s spurred foreign investors such as Unilever, Nestle and Shoprite to expand operations despite an upsurge in violence by militants in the north.

Based on McKinsey’s growth estimates for the economy, annual sales in consumer goods could more than triple to $1.4 trillion by 2030 from $388 billion currently, it said.

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

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

56

NEWS Okorocha orders shoot-onsight against cult members

I

•Sets up task force

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday ordered security operatives to shoot cult members He also instructed them to uncover and destroy their hideouts.

Okorocha, who directed the establishment of an anticult task force, as part of measures to stem cultism, decried the killing of six people, who were murdered by cult members in Ohaji Egbema Local Government.

Speaking during a meeting with stakeholders in the local government, the governor ordered the redeployment of Army, Police, State Security Service (SSS) and Imo Security Network to the

S

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerii

troubled communities to forestall loss of lives and property.

He urged the leaders of the communities to cooperate with the security agents in the fight against cult members and other criminals by providing information that would assist the operation.

The President-General of Obiakpu community, Prince Ogwumaru Joseph, said the problem was caused by the clash between two rival cults- Day-Gbam and DayWell.

He said about 21 youths have been killed, adding that they live in fear.

N

IGERIA and three other countries have pledged to speed up the creation of a 2,800-strong regional force to tackle Boko Haram.

Defence ministers of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger said they would each contribute 700 troops to the force.

Niger’s Defence Minister Karidio Mahamadou said they were determined to “eradicate this curse”.

Boko Haram’s insurgency is focused on Nigeria, but it

has carried out some crossborder raids.

It was suspected of blowing up the Ngala bridge, which lies on a key transport link between north-eastern Nigeria and Cameroon, on Wednesday.

Cars and lorries loaded with goods are stranded on the highway, residents told the BBC. The regional defence ministers met in Niger’s capital, Niamey, on Wednesday, to hold further discussions on the growing threat posed by

Boko Haram.

In May, the four countries, whose borders meet at Lake Chad, agreed to share intelligence and coordinate border security.

Efforts to step up regional co-operation gained momentum after Boko Haram caused an international outcry by abducting more than 200 girls from a boarding school in north-eastern Nigeria.

The girls are said to be held in the vast Sambisa forest, along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon.

Kidnapped Ebonyi lawmaker rescued From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

T

HE Majority Leader of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Mr. Sam Nwali, who was kidnapped about 9:30am on Wednesday, was rescued by the State Security Service (SSS) operatives yesterday.

The lawmaker was kidnapped at Nna Street in Abakaliki, the State capital, on his way to a meeting.

Sources told The Nation that Nwali was accosted by four men, who blocked his car, pushed him out, bundled him into their car and sped off.

But the SSS officials rescued him after his colleagues reported the incident.

It was learnt that the victim was rescued near the boundary between Ikwo Local Government and Cross River State and that he was manhandled by his captors.

About 3pm yesterday, Governor Martin Elechi was seen on the premises of the SSS visiting Nwali.

Also at the place were the legislators, who were loyal to Speaker Helen Nwobasi.

At press time, it was gathered that arrangements to transfer the majority leader from the SSS headquarters to a hospital were allegedly thwarted by SSS operatives.

Nwali, representing Ikwo North, was one of the 18 lawmakers who impeached Mr. Chukwuma Nwazunku and installed Mrs. Helen Nwaobasi.

But a faction of the Assembly loyal to Nwazunku disagreed with the action, describing it as illegal.

Nwali’s kidnap followed the attack on Tuesday of another member of the Nwaobasi group, Nnenna Nweme, by suspected thugs.

Efforts to get the lawmaker to speak on the incident were unsuccessful, as the SSS officials drove reporters out of their premises.

A

•Lt.-Gen.Minimah (left) and Maj-Gen. Martins at the inauguration ...yesterday

Army chief unveils tailoring factory

S part of efforts to stop impersonators and reposition the army, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah yesterday unveiled the Nigerian Army (NA) Ordinance tailoring factory, located in Yaba, Lagos.

Minimah, who has been in Lagos for a week-long familiarisation tour of units and formations under the 81 Division, had earlier told army personnel of plans to change

Boko Haram has carried out a spate of abductions in Cameroon - including that of tourists and priests.

Unconfirmed reports say the group has also recruited fighters from Chad and Niger.

On Wednesday, at least 40 people were killed when two bombs exploded in the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna.

Boko Haram has not commented, but it is suspected to have carried out the attacks.

It launched an insurgency in 2009 to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.

Osun free train ride for Saturday

Association holds meeting

T Andrew’s College Old Boys Association (SACOBA) will today hold its quarterly meeting. It will be hosted by the Lagos branch at the All Saints’ Hall, Ikosi, Ketu, Lagos. Time is 11am.

The theme of the meeting is: “Enriching lives: Promoting prostate health awareness”. A urologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Dr. Jeje, will speak on the theme.

Spokesman for the council and the secretary of the Lagos branch, Mr. Tunde Omikunle, said the theme was apt because early detection and preventive habits were the surest way of managing cancer.

He said the event would be presided over by Mr. Ayo Bamgbose.

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Nigeria, Cameroon, others to battle Boko Haram with 2,800 troops

By Precious Igbonwelundu

their uniforms and ensure uniformity before the end of the year.

He charged the NA Ordnance Corps to optimally utilise provided materials and ensure quality production that can facilitate patronage from other military and security services as well as attract commercial interests.

Unveiling the factory, Minimah said it was a product of continuity aimed at ensuring

that troops are kitted with the same type, standard and quality of military wears that will be produced by the factory.

He said efforts are being made towards self reliance by ensuring that local materials would be used in the production of army uniforms, which will in turn boost local contents and create employment.

In his welcome address, the Corps Commander, Maj-Gen Adekunle Martins said the

factory would operate at full capacity and would run three shifts of 200 tailors each per day.

“By so doing, the army would be providing employment for over six hundred persons per day as part of its contribution to reducing unemployment.

“The factory has a computerised cutting machine capable of cutting about two thousand pairs of uniforms in six hours, among other facilities,” he said.

HE Osun State Government has provided free train ride for those wishing to celebrate the Eid el-Fitri in the state.

Commissioner of Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismail Adekunle JayeobaAlagbada said the train ride would convey people from Lagos to Osogbo on Saturday from 10 am.

A return train from Osogbo to Lagos will depart on Tuesday at 11 am.

“This programme takes care of both Islamic and Christian festivities. It is the wish of government that our people from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States would seize this opportunity by the Rauf Aregbesola’s government to visit home and celebrate with their relatives,” the commissioner said.

‘You can’t impeach anybody for operating poultry’ From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

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•General Manager/CEO, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu (middle) speaking at the presentation of financial assistance to rainstorm victims in Surulere at Alausa, Ikeja. With him are representative of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSDPC), Mr Dhikrullah Har-yusuph (left) and Hon Omowunmi Edet.

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

Okorocha to Nzeribe: you can’t determine who governs Imo From Okodili Ndidi, Owerii

•Okorocha

I

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha told Senator Arthur Nzeribe yesterday that no individual can deter-

mine who governs the state .

Nzeribe reportedly vowed to resist the re-election of Okorocha, saying a new governor would be sworn in next year.

But the governor, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said it was unexpected of an experienced poli-

tician like Nzeribe to vow that he would resist his re-election, knowing that in democracy, the electorate decide who governs them.

The statement said: “When we read the report, we delayed responding to it to see whether Senator Nzeribe would deny it, because we never expected it from him, being an experienced politician.

“The truth is that Nzeribe has never supported a winning

governorship candidate in Imo. “In 1999, he was in the All Peoples Party (APP). His candidate, Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, failed.

Chief Achike Udenwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won. Before Udenwa, he supported the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP’s) candidate, Dr. Alex Obi, and he also failed.

Chief Evan Enwerem of the National Republican Convention (NRC) won and he became the governor.

HE former chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Pat Orjiakor, has said it was laughable for anybody to be impeached because he operated a poultry.

He was referring to the impeachment notice by the Enugu State House of Assembly against Deputy Governor Sunday Onyebuchi.

Orjiakor urged the Assembly to take it easy.

Speaking with reporters yesterday in Awka, he said the reasons adduced for the impeachment were not only frivolous, but also laughable and ludicrous.

Orjiakor said impeachment, as a serious constitutional issue, must be anchored on good reasoning and critical thinking.

He said after 15 years of democracy, politicians should grow beyond selfish interests.

Orjiakor enjoined the lawmakers to drop the impeachment move. He said the deputy governor should be hailed for embarking on poultry farming, despite his status, rather than being ridiculed.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

NEWS

Olusoga remains house leader

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EMBERS of Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area legislative arm of government have denied removing the House leader, Princess Veronica Oluso-

ga.

A statement signed by the house clerk Muyiwa Ayeni, said attempt by a member Opeoluwa Adeshoye to move a motion to remove Princess Olusoga was rebuffed immediately by other lawmakers.

In his countermotion, another lawmaker Kunle Raheem from the Federal Ward expressed surprise that the House leader has neither being served with any query or impeachment notice.

Raheem wondered how his colleague could raise impeachment move against the leader. “This led to an uproar and inconclusive of the plenary session, which implies that Hon Olusoga remains the house leader,” Ayeni said.

‘Support Dickson’s re-election’ From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

•From left: Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka; Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole; Inaugural lecturer, Prof. Labode Popoola and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Emilolorun Ayelari, at the University’s inaugural lecture in Ibadan...yesterday.

Agencies indict Agip for toxic waste dump

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HE Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) have indicted the Nigeria Agip Oil Company over alleged toxic waste dumped in some communities in Delta State on June 10, last year.

The toxic waste was allegedly dumped in Ndokwa East Local Government Area by a waste management company, Allman Global Services, which was under Agip’s employment.

The DPR, in its submission presented to the Uche Ekwunife-led House of Representatives’ Committee on Environment yesterday by a Deputy

T

From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

Director, A.A Balogun, , recommended that Agip should “clean up and remediate the impacted sites accordingly and with immediate effect”.

The resumed investigative hearing was on the alleged dumping of 469 tonnes of toxic waste by Agip on Agbor Road in Ndokwa East Local Government Area.

DPR also said Agip should forward to it the details of the contractor to enable it take appropriate sanctions, including charging the contractor to court.

NOSDRA said the allegation of waste dumping has been

confirmed.

“There were conspicuous signs of indiscriminate dumping of materials suspected to be drilling wastes in various locations at Obikwele, UmuelekeOssissa, Ola- Ossissa, Isheagu and Oloh- Ogwashi in Delta State,” DPR said.

It added: “The DPR views the above pieces of circumstantial evidence as strong enough to make Agip and Allman Global Services liable for the dumped wastes.

“The firms have violated DPR regulations. Consequently, the DPR is considering appropriate sanctions to impose on Agip and Allman Global Services Limited.”

NAOC’s lawyer Chidozie Okafor said: “Investigations are

Thugs beat up Edo councillors

HE crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly has ‘spread’ to the legislative arm of Oredo Local Government Area.

Four of the 12 councillors attempted to remove the House Leader, Monday Oboiga.

The fracas that ensued led to the invasion of the council by armed thugs in the meeting and descended on the councillors.

The Chairman, Osaro Obazee, fled when the thugs stormed the secretariat.

It was gathered that trouble started when the councillor representing Ward 10, Dan Ize-Iyamu, moved a motion of impeachment and was supported by the only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) councillor, Monday Okato.

An argument ensued and thugs stormed the meeting and pounced on the councillors after which they took away the mace.

A source said: “I don’t know how to describe what happened here today. It was every man for himself, when the hoodlums came. The council Chairman, Osaro Obaze, also fled the secretariat.

“If you look at what is happening now, the chairman is the actual target. The plan is that if they remove the speaker, they will begin impeachment proceedings against him.

“This crisis still boils down to the recent defection of some All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains to the PDP. Some persons believe

•Assembly crisis enters local govt From Osagie Otabor, Benin

that their loyalists cannot continue to hold sway since they still owe allegiance to their leaders.”

But the chairman denied fleeing the secretariat during

the crisis.

He said: “I just stepped out when some persons came to the legislative chamber, but immediately I got wind of it, I came back. I am an APC member and I am man enough to tell people where I am.”

still on to assess the activities of other companies in the area.

“My company cannot be accused of dumping the toxic waste as there are five other oil companies in the region.”

But NOSDRA’s representative Musa Idris said evidence showed that Agip was responsible for the dumping.

Mrs. Ekwunife said the committee would go back with its submissions to the House, adding: “It is clear, clean and open that we have enough evidence to conclude this investigation.”

According to her, the Delta State Commissioner for Environment, NOSDRA, DPR, and the communities have all made submissions and that the committee’s recommendations would be on the presentations.

She said the people are suffering because of exposure to the toxic waste.

G

ROUP, the Grassroots Connect for Restoration (GrassCore), has reiterated its support for the re-election of Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson in 2016.

The group flayed anti-development forces for trying to destroy the relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and Dickson.

The National Coordinator, Nyenye Kuro, regretted that some anti-Dickson politicians were bent on plunging the state back to the dark days of underdevelopment.

‘APC is committed to citizens welfare’

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From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

HE Caretaker Chairman of Saki West Local Government, Engr. Yunus Gbadamosi has stated that the All Progressives Congress is committed towards improving the livelihood of its citizens. He said this during the distribution of items which includes; Fertilizers, Cassava Stems, Tractors, Motorcycles and food items, among others to Muslims for Ramadan.

“There is need to see to the well being of the people because the meaning of governance is to served the people saying this is why people should believe in the present administration in the state.

He said: “This is the way of the progressive governance is serious business that requires commitment and concern for the well being of the people. This is a landmark in the history of our local government and also of our great party, All Progressive Congress (APC).

“One basic truth is that the Progressive have never failed the people whenever they are in government. It is only when Progressive are in government that remarkable achievements in all facet of the society are recorded. From the Action Group (AG), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to All Progressive Congress (APC), it has always been the usual experience of rapid infrastructural and social development.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

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FOREIGN NEWS

A

A passenger plane carrying 116 people is feared to have crashed on a flight from Burkina Faso to the Algerian capital Algiers.

Contact with the Air Algerie flight was lost over the Sahara as it crossed Mali in bad weather, officials said.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the plane, which has 51 French citizens aboard, “probably crashed”.

French media reported that soldiers had found wreckage in Tilemsi, central Mali, but this was not confirmed.

Contact with Flight AH 5017, chartered from Spanish airline Swiftair, was lost about 50 minutes after take-off from Ouagadougou, Air Algerie said.

The pilot had contacted Niger’s control tower in Niamey to change course because of a sandstorm, officials say.

BBC West Africa correspondent Thomas Fessy says the route is well used by French travellers.

Air Algerie spokesperson Houari Zuhair confirms “contact was lost” Speaking in Paris, Mr Fabius said: “Despite intensive search efforts no trace of the aircraft has yet been found.

The plane probably crashed.”

He said two French Mirage fighter planes were scouring the area.

French President Francois Hollande cancelled a planned visit overseas and said every effort was being made to find the plane.

“The search will take as long as needed,” he told reporters.

Earlier, an Algerian official told Reuters that the plane had crashed, but gave no further

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Fears over crash of Algeria airliner

•A crashed plane

details.

France’s civil aviation body said crisis centres had been set up at airports in Paris and Marseille.

An Air Algerie spokesman quoted by Reuters said the provisional passenger list included 51 French citizens, 24 people from Burkina Faso, eight Lebanese, four Algerians, two from Luxembourg, one Belgian, one Swiss, one

PHOTO: APS

Nigerian, one Cameroonian, one Ukrainian and one Romanian.

A crisis centre has been set up in Charles de Gaulle airport near Paris The passenger plane had taken off from Ouagadougou airport in Burkina Faso Officials in Lebanon, however, said there were at least 10 Lebanese citizens on the flight.

The six crew members are Spanish, according to the Spanish pilots’ union.

UN troops in Mali say they understand the plane came down between Gao and Tessalit, the BBC’s Alex Duval Smith in the Malian capital Bamako reports.

She says the search area is vast, with few roads, and there is rebel activity. Added to that, sandstorms make visibility in

the Sahara poor for at least a day, she adds.

“In keeping with procedures, Air Algerie has launched its emergency plan,” Air Algerie officials, quoted by APS news agency (in French), said. he BBC’s Alex Duval Smith reports on the sandstorms which have been affecting the area where the plane disappeared Algerian Prime Minister

Abdelmalek Sellal reportedly told Algerian radio: “The plane disappeared at Gao (in Mali), 500km (300 miles) from the Algerian border.”

Burkina Faso Transport Minister Jean Bertin Ouedraogo said the plane sent its last message at around 01:30 GMT, asking air traffic controllers in Niger to change its route because of bad weather.

Sudan ‘apostasy’ woman meets Pope

A

Sudanese woman who fled to Italy after being spared a death sentence for renouncing Islam has met the Pope.

Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag flew to Rome with her family after more than a month in the US embassy in Khartoum.

There was global condemnation when she was sentenced to hang for apostasy by a Sudanese court.

Mrs Ibrahim’s father is Muslim so according to Sudan’s version of Islamic law she is also Muslim and canLOSS OF DOCUMENT Notice is hereby given to members of public and LSDPC of the loss of original documents of the property at Flat 5 Block 401 of the Low Cost Housing Scheme, Isolo, Lagos State, belonging to Mrs. Maria A. Laleye. All efforts to trace the said documents prove abortive.

LSDPC and general public take note.

not convert.

She was raised by her Christian mother and says she has never been Muslim.

Welcoming her at the airport, Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said: “Today is a day of celebration.”

Meriam Ibrahim looked relieved as she arrived at Rome airport Mrs Ibrahim met Pope Francis at his Santa Marta residence at the Vatican soon after her arrival.

“The Pope thanked her for her witness to faith,” Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi was quoted as saying.

The meeting, which lasted around half an hour, was intended to show “closeness and solidarity for all those who suffer for their faith,” he added.

The BBC’s Alan Johnston in Rome says there was no prior indication of Italy’s involvement in the case.

Lapo Pistelli, Italy’s viceminister for foreign affairs, accompanied her on the flight from Khartoum and posted a photo of himself with Mrs Ibrahim and her children on his Facebook account as they were about to land in Rome.

A senior Sudanese official told Reuters news agency that

China bus crash leaves 38 dead

A

T least 38 people have been killed when a lorry carrying

flammable liquid collided with a long-distance bus in the southern Chinese province of Hunan.

The official Xinhua news agency said the lorry drove into the back of the bus on a motorway early on Saturday causing a fire and an explosion.

Five vehicles in all were involved in the accident.

Correspondents say the frequency of accidents has caused anger over poor road maintenance and unsafe transport.

The accident on the Hukun motorway happened at about 03:00 local time (19:00 GMT Friday), Xinhua said.

It took firefighters about five hours to put out the fire.

Five people were injured and are now being treated in hospital.

A police investigation is under way.

the government in Khartoum had approved her departure in advance.

Mrs Ibrahim’s lawyer Mohamed Mostafa Nour told BBC Focus on Africa that she travelled on a Sudanese passport she received at the last minute.

“She is unhappy to leave Sudan. She loves Sudan very much. It’s the country she was

born and grew up in,” he said.

“But her life is in danger so she feels she has to leave.

Just two days ago a group called Hamza made a statement that they would kill her and everyone who helps her,” he added.

Mrs Ibrahim’s husband, Daniel Wani, also a Christian, is from South Sudan and has US nationality.

Their daughter Maya was born in prison in May, shortly after Mrs Ibrahim was sentenced to hang for apostasy renouncing one’s faith.

Under intense international pressure, her conviction was quashed and she was freed in June. In June, Meriam spoke to the BBC as she entered the US embassy, as Reeta Chakrabarti reports.

Osun poll: The passion of Ogbeni…

•Continued from Back page

Almost the same treatment was meted out to ex-governors Joshua Dariye (Plateau State); Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo State); Chris Ngige (Anambra State) and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State. Former Governor Abubakar Audu of Kogi State was engaged in a furious auto chase on the highways between Jos and Lokoja by Obasanjo’s federal goons in one of those moments of madness. It was his dexterity that saved him from an ignominious ousting or even a fatal crash. But more notably is that none of those governors accused and ‘impeached’, some in hotel rooms and at night time through Obasanjo’s sleight of hand ever got prosecuted much more convicted. Alams, the only one convicted (through the help of the British judiciary), was recently pardoned and perhaps absolved of the treasury looting he was accused. Fayose was still being ‘tried’ when he was made the candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ekiti governorship election.

From hindsight, Obasanjo will today rue his rascality and bad faith in plotting to rout the governors elected just as he was, and corrupt as he was. If he is capable of some deep thinking, he would worry that he damaged Nigeria’s fledgling democracy by his actions, which were clearly born out of vendetta and megalomania. And finally, because he is equally as culpable as they come, he

too stands to give account (and face a worse fate) as long as he lives; and indeed, even posthumously.

This is why we remind President Jonathan that we all have walked this path of perdition before and it leads only to a dead end. It is folly to deny that the presidency has no hand in the gale of impeachments blowing through the land… Adamawa is ‘downed’, Nasarawa is ‘lined’ and others are in the works. Denial is futile because no state legislature can impeach any governor in the land today; that is the real tragedy of Nigeria’s situation.

LAST MUG: Putin putting the world on fire: What shall we do with Russia’s strong man Vladimir Putin? He seems set finally on miring what is left of this fragile world. The Russian Federation is the largest nation in the world and potentially the richest, but the economy is still weak largely because of poor leadership. There is therefore so much to occupy any Russian leader who craves hero status. But Putin seems only interested in annexing even more empires. Not satisfied with wrenching Crimea from Ukraine recently as the world watches, he has worked up rebels, sons of Belial, to scourge their fatherland Ukraine and vigorously fuel a civil war in which hundreds die daily. And last week, a commercial Malaysian plane MH 17 was downed, perishing 298 poor souls. We ask: shall we hand Putin the entire world to run?

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

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NEWS Kaduna death toll hits 110 as bomber strikes in Kano Continued from page 4

the scenes of the explosions and the hospitals where the survivors were receiving treatment.

Yero cautioned residents to avoid crowded areas, saying terrorists now target such places.

He said the state government would foot the bills of the injured.

Speaking to reporters at the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Yero said: “First of all, I will like to thank God Almighty for what he has done for us in Kaduna. In the last two years, we have not had this kind of problem, but everything has its own time. This thing happened yesterday; it is a very sad incident. And whoever is behind this knows that he has no fear of God. This is very unfor-

tunate; it is not supposed to be.

So, we are totally condemning this act and we are also calling on people to condemn it and make sure people watch out for what is around them.

“Kaduna people have been very vigilant, but, unfortunately, because of the crowded town we had yesterday, this thing happened. But we know that, by the grace of God, this thing will never happen again. We will continue to do our best and we will continue to pray to God Almighty Allah for what he has done for us.

“We also visited the scenes of the blast. The one that is very major is that of Kawo, because in that one, they used a vehicle.

The other is at Alkali Road; it was

a suicide bomber and it was an individual.

“We also visited General Buhari, I spoke with him yesterday.

We at the Security Council meeting decided in the middle of the meeting to go and see him. So, we went to greet him at home. I also called Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi and, as at that time, he was on his way to Saudi Arabia.

“We will continue to do our best to ensure the safety of everyone, but we need the support of the general public. It is no longer business-as-usual.

“If you look at this issue critically, you will discover that people just want to create problem and ensure there is crisis in Kaduna State and Nigeria generally. So, people must rise up and understand that it is no longer

the issue of religion. It is no longer issue of politics. This is an issue of lives and property of people.

The NLC has called for a probe of the attempt on the lives of Gen. Buhari and Sheikh Bauchi.

Acting General Secretary Chris Uyot said in an email that a comprehensive investigation into the attacks was necessary to unravel those behind with a view to preventing similar attacks.

Uyot described the attacks, which resulted in the death of 82 Nigerians, as “criminal and abhorrent”.

The statement said: “Boko Haram, it seems, has become a convenient brand under which all manner of atrocities are committed.”

Boko Haram’s bloodletting must stop, says Babangida Continued from page 4

litical life of our dear country.

This and several other attacks have tended to portray our dear country as a terrorist nation that is grasping with insecurity. To state the least, this bloodletting must stop. This bloodletting has to stop.

“I have sat back in my quiet retirement home in Minna to ponder over what could be the motivation for these several attacks, but I am yet to find any explanation why Nigerians would be killing fellow Nigerians.

“For those of us who fought the civil war, our painful sense of nostalgia still remains deep, as much as our patriotic attitude towards this great country, Nigeria.

“These wanton killings and needless bloodletting have continued to retard our

growth and democratic journey, forcing the system to improvise all manner of mechanisms to arrest this descent to anarchy.

“It is callous and inhuman for anyone to goad this country on the path of perfidy, a path that is laid with landmines and bombs. This is totally unacceptable.”

Gen. Babangida pleaded with Nigerians to rise above partisanship in addressing the insecurity facing the nation.

The statement added: “Even as I sympathise with my colleague, former President, General Muhammadu Buhari, for escaping the bomber’s scalpel, I also wish to condole with the families of those who lost their lives in this attack.

“It is frightening and calls for condemnation by all well meaning people of Nigeria.

We all must rise above partisanship in our condemnation of this state of insecurity, as we all must be united in our clearcut resolve to finding solutions to this hydra-headed situation we find ourselves.

“We must see this state of insecurity as a Nigerian problem and not one that is pigeonholed in any particular region, religion or tribe. Nigerians, by virtue of their nationality, should be free to live anywhere in the country without molestation, harassment and intimidation.

“Let me also condole with Mr. President on this unfortunate incident and the recurring decimal of insecurity and crime against humanity that is fast polluting public morality.

We all must join hands with Mr. President at this critical time of our national history

and democratic journey to proffer solutions to this antidevelopment scenario that is fast enveloping us.

“The President and our governors need our prayers at various stages of their leadership to arrest this ugly trend.”

Gen. Babangida said the nation must continue to move on, in spite of the setbacks of the past few years.

He said: “Nigeria of our dream is one that provides opportunity for all, irrespective of our cultural and political differences; a nation that comprises several nation-states with abundant resources and opportunities for our flourishing population.

“We must, therefore, be resolute in our collective reasoning and determination to trudge on despite these obvious setbacks in order to safely paddle the ship of state to a safe harbor.

Explosion at park kills five, injures 12 Continued from page 4

ing it had become a frequent occurrence.

Chief Jerry Agunbiade, Deputy President, Yoruba Community, Kano, said: “I don’t expect a thing like this, because of the security awareness in the park.

Already, you have security around, they should have been

able to do something and detect the bomb. The government should find what they can do to put more security.”

Chief Tony Lele Peters, President-General of the SouthSouth Community, said: “It is astonishing that this thing is happening again at the same park, despite the security put in place.

Monarch, 15 others killed in Borno

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UNMEN believed to be Boko Haram members yesterday invaded Garubula village, Biu local Government area of Borno State, killing the District Head, Alhaji Ibrahim Dawi, and 11 others.

Two people suspected to be members of vigilante youth a.k.a as civilian JTF, were last night dragged from their houses to a river bank in Gamboru Ngala border town with Cameroon Republic and killed them.

Two people suspected to be a

motorist and a passenger, were ambushed and shot dead along Maiduguri – Gamboru Ngala road.The Maiduguri – Gamboru Ngala road came under attack on Tuesday by terrorists with the blowing of the the bridge linking the town with Cameroon Republic.

Speaking with the BBC Hausa service programme monitored in Maidugurji, Senator Ahmed Zanna (Borno Central) confirmed the killing of the two members of the Civilian JTF.

Buhari: Nigeria can deal with Boko Haram Continued from page 4 terrorism.

The General spoke when he received Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and members of the State Security Council at his home.

The elder statesman said: “When this question of Boko Haram started, I’m sure it was on record that the first statement I made about 18 months ago; I said no religion advocates what is happening. So, basically, it is no case of religion; it is neither ethnic, when they kill children in schools in the Northeast, they kill teachers, they burn churches, they burn mosques, they burn motor parks, they burn markets.

Where is religion there? Where is ethnicity there? This is terrorism and I hope the government will come to grip with it.

“Nigeria is capable of dealing

with this; we dealt with the civil war, for 30 months, we fought and we kept Nigeria one and, God willing, we are going to keep Nigeria one.

“I commiserate with the families of those that died, because this thing was ignited at exactly when my car was almost side-by-side with this thing. I came out, there was blood on my dress. I did not know how it came about because I did not have a scratch myself, but dead bodies all over the place. The security tried to move me to the other side and we just got one of the vehicles passing and they brought me home.

“I hope the law enforcement agencies and the chief executives of the states will succeed in securing the country. May God help us.”

Yero prayed that God would end the insurgency.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

62

NEWS VALEDICTORY SESSION FOR BAMIDELE ATURU BY IKEJA, LAGOS BRANCH OF NBA

•The widow of the late constitutional lawyer, Bamidele Aturu (Adebimpe) (second left) and children at the valedictory session organised by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja, Lagos branch for the deceased at NBA Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday

•Vice Chairman, NBA Ikeja branch, Lateef Abdulsalam (left), members - Oludare Akande, Adekunle Ajasa, Mrs Maimuna Eseigne and Wahab Shitu

•Chairman Governing Council, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu (left) and former president, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Mrs. Ayo Obe

•National Coordinator, Concerned Human Rights, Comrade Declan Ihekaire (left); former Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, a human rights activist, Mr. Richard Akinnola and Treasurer, United Action for Democracy, Comrade Ade Adewunmi

•Justice Joseph Oyewole (left); Rickey Tarfa (SAN) and Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN)

PHOTOS: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

•A lawyer being consoled by his colleagues at the session

PHOTO: NAN

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

63

SPORT EXTRA

2014 COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Nkechi Opara wins Nigeria’s first medal

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KECHI Opara bagged a bronze medal in women`s 48kg weightlifting to open Nigeria`s medal account on the opening day of the competition in the 20th Commonwealth Games, at the Clyde Auditorium on Thursday.

Opara, who won gold in the 48 kg at the London 2012 Olympic qualifiers in Cape Town, South Africa, finished behind India’s duo of Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu and Saikhom Mirabai Chanu who bagged gold and silver, respectively.

Sanjita won with a total lift of 173kg (77+96) while Mirabai grabbed the silver with a cumulative effort of 170 (75+95) in the absence of other strong competitors. Opara

By Akeem Lawal was, however, a distant third with 162 (70+92).

Sanjita`s total of 173kg missed the Games record, held by 2010 CWG gold winner, Nigeria’s Augustina Nkem Nwaokolo (175kg effort) by two kilograms.

Sanjita`s 77kg effort in snatch, however, equaled N w a o k o l o ` s Commonwealth Games record.

The contest was all but over at the halfway snatch stage with 20-year-old Sanjita and 19-year-old Mirabai lifting 77kg and 75kg, while Opara could only come up with 70kg. The Nigerian`s attempt to give a fight to the Indian duo failed

as she could not lift 75kg in her third attempt in snatch.

The clean and jerk contest went on almost similar lines with Sanjita and Mirabai taking the bar and the bell after most of their opponents had exhausted their attempts below the 90kg entry weight of the two Indians.

Sensing that they could be in for top two positions, the Indian duo raised their entry weight to over 90kg and put pressure and physical exertion on their opponents who had to continue their attempts in quick succession.

There was a brief moment of tension in the Indian camp after Opara and Mirabai lifted 92kg, and Sanjita failed to clear the same weight. But Sanjita lifted 92kg in her

second attempt to give a sigh of relief to the Indian camp.

The contest was left to be fought between the two Indians, Mirabai lifted 95kg to put herself in contention, but Sanjita roared back with a 96kg lift to retain the first position.

With the bronze medal, Nigeria now occupies the 9th position on the medals table.

England leads the table with a total of 14 medals which includes five gold, six silver and three bronze. Australia is second with four gold, three silver and seven bronze medals, while host country, Scotland is 3rd with three gold, one silver and two bronze medals.

South Africa (8th) leads African representative with two silver medals.

Triathlete Jodie wins opening gold for England

E

NGLAND'S Jodie Stimpson has won the opening gold of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after her success in the women's triathlon.

Stimpson, who missed out on the London Olympics in 2012, finished ahead of Canada's Kirsten Sweetland and team-mate Vicky Holland to get the Games off to the perfect start for England.

The leading group of six began to splinter towards the end of the penultimate lap of the 10-kilometres run as Stimpson took the lead.

As the contenders fell away,

only Holland and Sweetland could stay with her. Holland dropped off a few hundred metres from the line, leaving Stimpson and Sweetland to fight it out.

•Jodie

Almost within sight of the line, Stimpson made her break and the 25-year-old from the West Midlands pulled away to take victory.

A battle between England and Wales had been highly anticipated, but injuries to world champion Non Stanford and Helen Jenkins ended Welsh medal hopes.

It was still a strong field, though, with seven of the world's top 12 this season in action.

As expected, the England trio pushed the pace on the 1.5-kilometres swim in Strathclyde Loch, with Lucy

Hall coming out of the water first ahead of Holland and Stimpson.

They formed a leading group on the bike with Northern Ireland's Aileen Reid and New Zealand's Nicky Samuels, but before long the chasers caught up to form a group of 10 that included all the main challengers.

It stayed that way until the latter stages of the fourth lap, when Hall made her break, and initially she opened up a decent gap, but by the time they finished the 40km ride they were all back together.

Mo Farah withdraws from Commonwealth Games DOUBLE Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after failing to recover from a recent illness.

Farah, 31, won the 5,000m and 10,000m at London 2012 and was set to run both distances in Scotland.

However, he has decided to stay at his training camp to be fit for August's European Championships in Zurich.

The Team England athlete said it was a "tough decision", adding: "The sickness I had two weeks ago was a big setback."

He added: "Training is getting better but I need another few weeks to get back to the level I was at in 2012 and 2013.

"I really wanted to add the Commonwealth titles to my

Olympic and World Championships, but the event is coming a few weeks too soon for me.

"My body is telling me it's not ready to race yet."

Farah's decision is another setback to the Games after a number of key withdrawals in athletics events.

Miley sets new Commonwealth record

S

COTLAND'S Hannah Miley beat her own Commonwealth record in qualifying for the 400m individual medley final on the opening day of competition in Glasgow.

The 24-year-old clocked four minutes 38.27 seconds in the opening heat to improve on her time of 4:38.83 set in winning the event in Delhi in 2010.

"I was hoping to go in 4:40 so it's a lot quicker than I expected," she told BBC Sport.

"Normally you feel the pressure but I loved every second."

There was also a new Games record set in the men's 200m breaststroke, with Ross Murdoch coming in ahead of gold medal favourite Michael Jamieson

in 2:08.78, with Calum Tait coming in third to make it a Scottish one-two-three ahead of the final at 21:01 BST. Olympic silver medallist Jamieson said: "I was really nervous in the last couple of days and at the start of this week I was getting worse and worse in the water because I was tightening up and letting the nerves get the better of me.

"But I feel a lot better after that. That will flush everything out and I can just chill out now. I have a lot of work to do tonight."

In an exciting men's 400m freestyle heat, Stephen Milne beat fellow Scots Dan Wallace and Robbie Renwick with a personal best time of 3:46.88, with all three qualifying for the final.

TODAY IN THE NATION

FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

I

HAVE a special love for Reggae, and one of the two foremost priests of the genre is Jimmy Cliff. On two occasions in the recent past, I jubilantly and optimistically embraced his lyric of some years ago: “I can see clearly now the rain is gone// I can see all obstacles in my way// Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind// It’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day//.

Oh, yes I can make it now the pain is gone/ /All of the bad feelings have disappeared/ /Here is that rainbow I have been praying for//It’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day.”

I embraced Jimmy Cliff’s lyric, not as a personal affirmation of any new development in my life. I am thankful to God for who I am and what He has made of me. I seek no further affirmation that I have been blessed through His Grace. But like Nehemiah of old, I see the ruin in my Jerusalem. I see the downing of its fence. I see the shattered young lives, the sea of heads that roam aimlessly the streets of our urban centres, the hopeless and hapless ones in rural enclaves that are deceived into finding excitement in dope. I see a future so bleak that nothing but miracle can redeem.

Then as I cried on account of what appeared to be a lost hope, it suddenly appeared that an end was in sight for the pain and gloom to cease. The dark cloud hanging over the future was about to disappear and the rainbow of a new era for dear country was about to emerge.

Such was my optimistic reaction to two national events in the last 12 months. The first was the registration of what appeared to me to be a real opposition party that could at least offer a serious alternative to the party that has held the nation hostage for 15 years or so. I will get to this later. The second was the President’s reversal of his opposition to the convocation of a national conference to deal with the major structural defects of the polity. When some major stakeholders cried foul and canvassed skepticism and cynicism, I declared for the message of hope that I thought the President delivered even when I saw some contradictions in his inaugural address to the conferees.

What now? You may ask. Where is the nation at the end of the conference? And yes, where is the future for a real democratic process as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Leviathan triumphantly rampages the land?

What, indeed, is the chance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a game that

P

RELUDE to the June 21 Ekiti State election, this column waded in on the side of the incumbent Kayode Fayemi because it was the right thing to do, taking cognisance of his antecedent and his performance in office. Also judging by the puny personality of his major contender in terms of integrity quotient, record in office, possession of the requisite gravitas and nobility for high office, this column insists that Fayemi and not Fayose is more deserving of the office even though one cannot help but respect the choice of Ekiti people.

In the same manner and going by the parameters listed above, this column will vote for Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to remain as the governor of Osun State on August 9. The Ogbeni advantage, just as in Fayemi’s, is made seemingly unassailable when ranged against an opponent, Iyiola Omisore, who is weakened and compromised by an odious antecedent. In the days of yore when elders were the spirits of the land and taboos were indeed, abominations to the living and the dead, an Omisore would not deign to be a leader in Yoruba land.

In those days, elders would sit at dawn at the first crow of the cock and speak as one with the gods; pour libation and set the land aright, an Omisore would never have found the face to stand before the people to seek to lead them.

But this is an age that is at once licentious and forgiving; an age that easily changes black in white, using confounding ‘means and machinery’. We are in an age that not only gets away with murder (in a manner of speaking), the more dastardly murderous a man can dare to be, the better he is ‘regarded’ in the society. It

‘How pleasant our world would be if you and I become truly conscientious. How apt it would be if no magnate is allowed to acquire oil blocs except he can confidently explain, if he were to own a stake of the black gold,...’

VOL.9 NO.2,918

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

Misplaced optimism?

•Chairman, National Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi

appears to be violently rigged against it and in which it appears to be a willing contestant? And yes, where is the hope of the nation in the event that both of these seemingly optimism-inspiring initiatives take a back seat and the status quo ante remains? I shiver at the thought of an answer.

Why is the impasse that has come to be the lot of the National Conference so illogical and so painful?

First, it is because everyone knows or at least ought to know that the present system cannot be sustained. Therefore, causing or permitting the failure of a life safer of sort is contrary to the interest of the country and its citizens. In a sense, then, if the delegates were truly committed to making the experiment that is still Nigeria work, they would have patiently and prudently worked to resolve the issues that divided them. This much they owed to the President, assuming, of course, that Mr. President himself held high hopes for the success of the parley, and he didn’t

just cleverly fly a political kite.

Second, conference participants from the six geo-political zones and various interest groups represent the cream of the Nigerian state. Among delegates in the elder statesmen category are individuals who have served the country in various capacities since the First Republic. They have invested precious time and mental resources in the Nigerian project. Younger conferees have been no less committed. Indeed, a good number of participants in this category believe rightly that the future is theirs to fashion. It is therefore not for lack of experience or enthusiasm that the conference failed to resolve the most critical issues.

Thirdly, for anyone who still believes, as I do, that making Nigeria work is still far better because it is far more in the interest of everyone than the alternative, the failure of the conference and the collapse of the hope that its success had promised is extremely disappointing. Now the future is bleak.

Now, plenty of lethal ammunition has been supplied into the arsenal of the enemies of a united federation of equal entities where no one is oppressed. This was the ideal encapsulated in the eternal lines of our first national anthem: a federal structure that respects pre-colonial cultures and structures, but brings them together to build a new nation in which the differences of tribe and tongue do not prevent the unity of purpose of a Black African republic that inspires the Black race throughout the world. Where is that hope now when the status quo ante, with its obvious anomalies, is preserved? And if Nigeria cannot be that inspiration, who can?

Fourthly, I have certainly argued and canvassed for a true federation on the ground of its pragmatic effectiveness for a nation of diverse linguistic and cultural differences.

Of course, I do not believe as some do, that it is divinely ordained. It was the wish and

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

Osun poll: The passion of Ogbeni… is in this kind of weird world that an Omisore would stand a strong contender in a governorship election.

It is not to say that Ogbeni is the quintessence of humanity or a citizen of the celestial realms. It is just that he has a track record and a reference point that even his opponents cannot fault. Ogbeni is also a man of immense passion; burning passion for the people; passion to drive change, to improve and to make good. You may quarrel with his method or even the fiery intensity of his passion, but it is often in the quest for the greatest good for the people.

This column had occasions to prick and jab him on some of his actions, especially his dalliance with religion in his state, but his finer motive it turned out, is to upgrade learning and education in his state. Though Christians may have misconstrued it as antagonism towards their faith, what are we to then make of his government’s move to catalyse the build-

ing of a mega Christian centre, perhaps the largest of its kind in the country, in his state. Of course, Muslims would see this as deploying the state’s machinery for the propagation of the Christian faith, but for the Ogbeni, the nobler motive is to tap into Christianity’s huge economic potentialities to develop his state.

Such is Ogbeni’s passion, which had been manifest right from his days as the commissioner for works in the Bola Tinubu years in Lagos. He is part of the mastermind and architect of some of the great developmental strides that have unfurled under Babatunde Fashola in Lagos. Of course, Ogbeni is not only a master of the grassroots; he is the essential man of the people who eats his roast corn with the people both on and off camera. The people of Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos, his constituency and domain, would testify to this.

If half of the governors are half as passionate about working for the people as Ogbeni, there

OLA T U N J I O LO L A D E AT

determination of Britain through the instrumentality of its colonial agents that an entity named Nigeria must be. It was a creation of force, maintained by force for 46 years and then granted independence. We managed ourselves for seven years and concluded that we must be together. We fought a war of unity and unity won the battle. The victory was, however, illusory because we avoided the needed corrective action. In the circumstance, much hope was placed on this conference to address and come up with a sustainable solution. And then it failed to agree on the most critical issue of structure and power devolution.

Fifthly, I am sure that no one is now counting on either the President or the National Assembly to take up the mantle. The latter has not hidden its resentment of the idea behind the conference in the first place. In anticipation of its unlikely success, feelers had been sent out by the leadership of the Assembly about its reluctance to lend a hand to do the desirable with respect to an enabling legislation. Now, they don’t have to worry about being blackmailed by the nation. On his part, Mr. President can simply wash his hands off. After all, he has done what he was supposed to do. He initiated a National Conference as desired by the people. What can a Technical Committee achieve where the people’s delegates failed?

The most painful aspect of all these, however, is that the conference failed because delegates failed to compromise on the matter of the distribution of revenue accruing to the nation from its natural resources.

Without doing much about revenue generation, delegates bickered over its distribution. Why can’t serious consideration be given to the appalling conditions under which our compatriots in the creek areas of the Niger Delta live, knowing fully that they bear the brunt of the development of oil and gas that fills the coffers of the nation? How can patriots be so obsessed with self-interest that they cannot even think rationally about the overall good of the nation? The news that some delegates rejected the establishment of state police by those states that want it and can afford it is unbelievable. For it remains unclear why, in a federal system, what some states want for the security of their citizens and can afford should be the concern of anyone.

I will get to the matter of opposition politics next week.

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would be less strive in the land and the country would progress in leaps and bounds. In nobler climes, Ogbeni would not have had to campaign to be returned to office. But this column wagers that the Ogbeni passion would carry him through: for a man who is credible both on the streets and in the State House, who has rolled out as much physical infrastructure as the fabled stomach substructure, the people of Osun will be utterly nihilistic not to return him. They need to be vigilant too.

Purchased impeachments

We are back to the desperate days of power-at-all cost once again. Why don’t Nigerian politicians grow up for a change?

Who would think the day would ever break again when elected governors would be hounded like rabbits in this country as we witnessed in the Olusegun Obasanjo era?

Who would imagine that a Goodluck Jonathan presidency would allow itself to journey through such path of perdition once again? Recall that Obasanjo had singled out erstwhile Governor Diepriye Alamieyeseigha for roasting and he had assailed the entire federal might against him.

Obasanjo chased Alams (as he is known) to his political death and near physical death.

Alams was Jonathan’s boss and godfather. It took a Jonathan presidency to pardon and resurrect Alams and return some of the remains of his life to him only recently.

•Continued on page 60 •For comments, send SMS to 08111526725

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