July 26 2013

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Veteran journalist Alade ‘Allah De’ Odunewu dies at 85

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•The late Odunewu

OURNALISM has suffered a big blow, with the death yesterday of veteran Hadj Alade Idowu Odunewu.

The late Odunewu, who wrote with the pen name Allah De, was former Editor of the Daily Times. He died at St Nicholas Hospital, Lagos. He was 85.

His Allah De column was for many years the delight of readers for its wit, simplicity and humour. His remains will be

By Austin Avwode, Seun Akioye and Precious Igbonwenlundu

buried today at the prestigious Vaults and Garden, Ikoyi, Lagos at 3pm. He is survived by three children.

It was widely acknowledged by his contemporaries that few loved journalism like Allah De. He was one of those rare specimens born for a time and a profession.

According to Felix Adenaike,

a former editor of the Tribune, “Alade Odunewu was a great craftsman who lived journalism”.

Former Managing Director of The Guardian Mr. Lade Bonuola said: “Oga was a titan, even in the fast depleting generation of the masters. The other day it was Unuegbu. He was an exceedingly gifted writer who always had very close by his armoury of humour, ranking with Baker of New York Times

and Cameron of Daily Express in humour and Bernard Levin of The Times of London in seriousness and mastery of language.

“Of course, Cassandra of the Daily Mirror of whom he was a proud disciple. A product of Regent Polytechnic, he was one of the early elite that ruled our great Kingdom that the Daily Times was. He was the best allround final student at Regent.

He was a moral compass who

yield, space to none in integrity.

“With the departure of his wife last year, he lost his accustomed ebullient will to live. He was kept going by his wonderful children – Ebun, Akanni and Segun.

When a person like that departs, it is as if a part of you is gone. So is a part of Nigeria’s history.”

The late Odunewu was Continued on page 4

•From left: Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Mrs Shade Tinubu-Ojo; Mrs Olufunsho Amosun; Mrs Bisi Fayemi; Mrs Florence Ajimobi and Alhaja Serifat Aregbesola; during the 40th day prayer for the late PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES Alhaja Abibat Mogaji at Blue Roof, LTV 8 Agidingbi Road, Ikeja...yesterday. SEE ALSO PAGES 9 & 62

Rivers crisis: Jonathan vows to curb political excesses Senate takes over Rivers Assembly Lawmakers: Mbu should go It’s a national problem, says ACN

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HE President broke yesterday his silence on the crisis in Rivers State.

Dr. Goodluck Jonathan vowed to stop political excesses being exhibited in the country, saying the crises are mainly because of the 2015 general election, which, in his view, “is still far off”.

He spoke during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Also yesterday, the Senate intervened in the Rivers crisis, passing

Senate, House pass Budget 2013 Bill From Onyedi Ojiabor, Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

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From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

a resolution that Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu should be redeployed.

Senators also resolved to take over the functions of the House of Assembly, following a stalemate caused by the intransigence of five members who insist on having their way in a 32-member House.

The Senate’s stand alligns with the position taken by the House of Representatives last week.

NBA President Okey Wali (SAN) Continued on page 4

•President Goodluck Jonathan with his mother, Madam Eunice Jonathan (left) welcoming the First Lady, Dame Patience, who cut short her trip to Switzerland after PHOTO: NAN the death of her step mother...on Wednesday. Story on page 58

HE Budget 2013 Amendment Bill sent to the National Assembly by President Goodlcuk Jonathan was passed yesterday by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Following a deadlock on the budget as passed by the National Assembly, the President presented an amendment bill on June 27.

The bill seeks to authorise Continued on page 4

•MY DAUGHTER HELD AGAINST HER WISH , SAYS FATHER OF GIRL IN ETSU NUPE’S PALACE P5

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

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NEWS •Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Akinwumi Adesina (left), discussing with the Vice President of China EXIM Bank Mr. Sun Ping (right), at the headquarters of the Bank in Beijing. With them is an official of the bank.

Emergency...

The Federal Government claims the war on terror is being won with the state of emergency in Yobe, Adama was and Borno states. What happens after emergency? DADA AHMED of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) examines government’s tactics against insurgents.

Remains of slain officers and soldiers who died in Operation Boyona and UNAMID at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja... yesterday.

B • From left: Head of Marketing , Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Mr. Vikram Varma, Director General, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotions (NOTAP) Mr. Umar Buba Bindir, Chief Operating Officer Rahul Takalkar, and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Vishal Kapur, at the inauguration of KFC Store in Abuja... yesterday.

•From left: Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Fidson Plc Dr. Fidelis Ayeba, Chirman Felix O. Ohiwerei and Company Secretary Abayomi Adebanjo during the company’s 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

•Chairman, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje cutting the tape, tO flag-off the third Lagosto-Kano weekly passenger train service in Lagos...yesterday. With him are Managing Director Adeseyi Sijuade (left), chairman, Training Committee Alhaja Atinuke Oyawoye (second right) and Board member Austin Nwachukwu.

PHOTO: ADEOLA SOLOMON

EFORE the Federal Government declared a state of emergency in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states last May 14, many believed the cup of Boko Haram had beconme full, especially because of its activities in Borno.

Observers believe that the killing of people and other attacks of the group are some of the had traumatic effect on the citizenry.

More than 185 people were reportedly killed in Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno on April 16 in a skirmish between the Multinational Joint Task Force and the sect.

In several cases, lives and property worth millions of naira were destroyed in the protracted violence.

In the Baga incident, for instance, apart from those killed, hundreds of people were also wounded, while over 2,000 houses were razed.

Irked by the rising wave of bloodshed, President Good luck Jonathan, in a nationwide broadcast, announced the declaration of a state of emergency in Bornu, Yobe and Adamawa states.

Jonathan said the action became imperative because the insurgency and terrorism had led to “the needless loss of lives and property of many innocent Nigerians; including members of our security forces’’.

Analysts have commended the government for declaring a state of emergency in the troubled states, saying that the measure would aid efforts to check the insurgency and preserve the people’s lives and property.

Mr Bayo Onanuga, a journalist, said that with the declaration, the Federal Government would be able correct some negative impressions about Nigeria with regard to terrorism.

Onanuga noted that the Boko Haram insurgency had advertised Nigeria to the world as a country that was slipping into a state of anarchy, where regard for human life was fading out.

Mr Jaye Gaskia, a commentator, said that the presidency had done the right thing by declaring a state of emergency in the three states, adding that it would aid efforts to protect the people’s lives and property.

He said the exercise might not totally eliminate acts of violence unless a pragmatic approach was adopted to address the root causes of the insurgency.

Gaskia underscored the need for the government to embark on a focused and strategic intervention to address issues relating to the region’s underdevelopment and youth development concerns.

He called for the evolution of civil-

Nigeria winning war on terror, says Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said the country is winning the war against

terror.

He said the State of Emergency rule declared in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states was working.

He spoke through Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja during the burial of gallant officers and soldiers who died in Operation Boyona, who were tackling the Boko Haram insurgents and peacekeeping efforts in Darfur, Sudan.

He said their sacrifices will never military relationship frameworks, involving representatives of the local communities, organisations and elected public officers.

“This, coupled with community policing initiatives, will ensure the monitoring of security operations for effectiveness. It will also aid intelligence gathering, build and restore public trust and confidence; while isolating the insurgents and extremists as well as their supporters,’’ he said.

However, Mr Mohammed Musa, the Chairman of the Lokoja chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said that injustice was part of the factors which caused disaffection and conflicts among the people.

He advised the stakeholders to uphold justice and fairness, saying that the elite and the traditional institutions should be directly involved in efforts to check injustice in the society.

Musa particularly urged the government to ensure the autonomy of the judiciary to enable it to carry out its functions without any fear or favour.

“The constitutional provision of autonomous power granted the judiciary must be allowed to take root, not on paper but in practical terms, so as to boost the fight against corruption and insurgency.

“The declaration of a state of emergency in the states is appropriate in the current efforts to curb insurgency but those who unleashed violence on

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

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NEWS

. end to insurgency in the North?

•Sambo carrying Master Jacob Kantoma, son of the late Trooper Kantoma Daniel....yesterday. With them is Obada.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

‘

•Lt.-Gen. Ihejirika (left), presenting the national flag to the next of kin of one of the slain officers...yesterday. PHOTOS: NAN

still serving, that the country would never forsake them, urging them to “Remember that your loss is also the

nation’s loss. Be comforted that your departed loved ones are resting in the bosom of the Lord.

May the Almighty grant you the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Minister of State for Defence Eleru Olusola Obada, the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, said the soldiers had made Nigeria proud and had laid their lives to ensure peace and unity continue to reign in the country.

They assured that the military would not relent on its efforts to ensure that the peace and unity of the country is not jeopardised.

On behalf of the relations of the dead soldiers, Pastor Iliya Joshua Amuda thanked President Jonathan, the military authorities and Nigerians for their support, as he appealed for an urgent end to

the activities of the insurgents.

Highlight of the event was the laying of wreath by Sambo and other

invited guests and also the presentation of national colours to the deceased next of kin.

others must be made to face justice, as this would serve as deterrent to others,’’ he noted.

Besides, Musa called on the government to make politics and political offices less attractive by slashing the remunerations of political office holders so as to discourage people from seeing politics as a shortcut to amass wealth and power.

He also urged the government to create an enabling environment for investors to set up businesses that could give meaningful employment to many of the jobless youth roaming the streets.

“When youths are gainfully employed, they will not get involved in anti-social activities and the nation will grow,’’ he said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Miss Antonia Alabi, an unemployed university graduate, said that the alarming level of poverty in the society had forced some people to engage in unwholesome activities.

“Human life is one of the priceless gifts of nature which should guarded jealously but in Nigeria, it has become a very cheap commodity because of the poverty level and injustice in the

country,’’ she said.

Nevertheless, Malam Ishaq Ali, a Lokoja-based Muslim cleric, underscored the need for parents to give more attention to their children’s upbringing, adding that they should also instill the fear of God in their children.

He said children who were given sound training in moral and social values would never engage in wicked and anti-social acts.

“We are to serve as light to the youth through our exemplary lifestyles; we owe the society a pa-

triotic duty to give our children good moral education for them to be responsible.

“When we do this, the children will refuse to be used by some unscrupulous politicians who often capitalise on the prevailing unemployment situation to recruit them for ungodly activities.

“Besides, parents need to revisit the cherished family values of the past, where the love for one another formed the bedrock of a stable society. We need to check the type of friends our children keep as well,’’ he

said.

The declaration of a state of emergency in the three states notwithstanding, the U.S. government has consistently advised Nigeria to adopt a socio-economic approach in tackling the menace of terrorism.

In a recent media interview, Deborah MacLean, the Information Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, urged the Federal Government to step up efforts to tackle the root causes of the Boko Haram insurgency and insecurity across the country.

HIGH court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital will today hear the suit by the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, to restrain the police from inviting and arresting him.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar on July 17 invited him and two others to the Force Headquarter in Abuja for interrogation over the July 9 free-for-all at the Assembly.

The representative of Emuoha constituency approached the court last Friday for an order of interim injunction to enforce his fundamental human rights.

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

be in vain, adding: “Indeed, for us all, the loss is a tale of regret but we take solace in the fact that we are winning the war. They shall rest in peace knowing that.”

He urged the military not to be daunted by the loss but to restrategise to urgently end the insurgency.

“As members of the Armed Forces, you must appreciate that the military profession is a hazardous job and in conflicts like this, there are bound to be casualties, including deaths. Rather than despair and lose focus of our objective, it is incumbent on us to respect and honour the dead by giving them a befitting burial while still strategising to defeat the enemy,” he said.

He assured the families of the late military personnel, including those

Indeed, for us all, the loss is a tale of regret but we take solace in the fact that we are winning the war.

They shall rest in peace knowing that

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•A relative of one of the slain officers weeping at their funeral..yesterday. With her are a soldier and a woman consoling her.

PHOTO: NAN

Court to hear Rivers Majority Leader ’s suit today A Justice Esor Teetito declined but ordered that the parties should be put on notice before adjourning the matter for hearing.

Lloyd with his lawyer, Beleolisa Nwaofor (SAN), reported to the IGP for interrogation on Tuesday and was detained.

Nwafor said his client was being unlawfully detained, accusing the IGP of infringing on the fundamental right of his client, and challenged him to charge him to court if he has any charge against him.

At the hearing yesterday, the appellant’s counsel informed the

court that lawyer for the State Security Services (SSS), one of the defendants, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), served on him the response on the motion on notice about 30 minutes before the sitting started and he would require time to go through and respond.

He expressed the readiness to move his motion for the interim order. Counsel for the Police Donald Denwigwe (SAN) and Ukala raised objections, saying that it was impromptu and should be shifted till next week.

The court refused hearing on the motion immediately, insisting that the application on notice

should be heard first.

He adjourned till 1pm today, for hearing on the motions; and ordered that the applicant should file and serve the defence parties before 11:30am today.

He said: “Considering the nature of the application which has to do with the fundamental rights of the applicant, I will adjourn this matter till tomorrow (today), by 1pm for hearing. The applicant should file and serve his process on the parties before 11:30am tomorrow (today).”

Speaking to reporters after the sitting, Nwaofor said: “Chidi Lloyd is a Nigerian like every one of us.

We have fundamental rights, which even an armed robber is entitled to. One of those rights is that if you are arrested, you must have to be taken to court within one day, where there is a court within 40 kilometres radius. Chidi Lloyd went on his own to the IGP; he was not forcefully taken there.

“He went there to say ‘I am not on the run; here I am. I went to court to enforce my fundamental rights and he was detained since Tuesday. He has been kept there.It is not right in a country where we are trying to enthrone democracy and rule of law, governed by our constitution.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

NEWS

•President Goodluck Jonathan (fifth left); with members of the national executive of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and other senior lawyers during their visit to the State House in Abuja...yesterday.

WIth him (from left, front row) are: Labour Minister Emeka Wogu, John Unachukwu, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke (forth left), NBA President Okey Wali (sixth left); former NBA President Priscilla Kuye, another ex-NBA President OCJ Okocha and others

Senate, House pass Budget 2013 Bill Continued from page 1

the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation N4, 987, 220,425,601.

The upper chamber adopted without amendment the report of its Committee on Appropriation that restored all the deductions made by the National Assembly on the original Appropriation Bill.

Apart from the complete restoration of the personnel cost as proposed by the Presidency, the Senate also restored all the deductions made on capital projects.

The reductions restored include Abuja-Lokoja road, reduced by N4b; Kano-Maiduguri road reduced by N3.5b; dualisation of Ibadan-Ilorin section 2 reduced by N5.5b; rehabilitation of Jebba Bridge reduced by N1.25b; rehabilitation of burnt Marine Bridge and Iddo Bridge reduced by N1b and Special Intervention

Fund for emergency roads and bridges cut across the country reduced by N6.28b.

Mark insisted that standing committees of the Senate must take their oversight seriously to ensure that the budget was implemented faithfully.

The House of Representatives passed the new version of the Amendment Bill of N4,987,220,425,601.

The passed bill was, however, short of N161,771,089 from the N4,987,382,196,690 trillion Amendment Bill presented by President Jonathan.

Before the consideration of the report, Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, John Enoh (PDPD, Cross River) explained that the total figure presented in he bill was not different from what the House had earlier passed in the extant Appropriation Act 2013.

He, however, urged his col-

leagues to pass the bill as the Committee had done a thorough job of scrutinising the document and making inputs.

The recommendations of the report were adopted by the House.

In the passed bill, the lawmakers allocated N2,415,745,972,812 for Recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, as against contrary to N2,418,976,391,494 in the bill sent by the President.

About N1,588,578,805,197 was proposed by the President for contribution to development fund for Capital expenditure, the House passed N1,591,657,252,789.

The House also passed N388,053,200,000 for statutory transfers as against N388,063,000,000 proposed by the President; N591,764,000,000 proposed for debt services was left untouched.

Alade Odunewu dies at 85 Continued from page 1

•Mark

The Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) got N273,522,000,000.

Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Affairs Senator Joy Emodi commended the lawmakers for passing the budget, saying it is “the triumph of constructive dialogue”.

also acknowledged as one of the founding fathers of Nigerian journalism who continued to support the industry many years after his retirement from active practice of the profession. He was the chairman of the Nigeria Press Council (NPC) and Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA).

Allah De began his journalism career at the Daily Times as a reporter after his secondary education at the New Bethel College, Onitsha, Anambra State but fate seemed to have a higher calling for him as he secured a Federal Government scholarship to study Journalism at the Regent Street Polytechnic London- now University of Westminster.

He was a star in London, winning the Commonwealth New Statesman Prize for the best allround student and also working for a number of British newspapers- a rare feat at the time and even now- before re-

Rivers crisis: Jonathan vows to curb political excesses Continued from page 1

urged the President to do all within his power to ensure that peace returns to Rivers State.

Dr. Jonathan in response, promised the lawyers, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, at the end of the meeting, to curb political excesses in the country.

He said he had asked for a detailed briefing on the security situation in Rivers State and assured the delegation that actions would be taken to ensure adherence to the rule of law and the maintenance of law and order in the state.

President Jonathan said political excesses are overheating the polity ahead of the 2015 general elections.

He described the rising political tension in the country as uncalled for, saying: “The political tension in the country is mainly built around the 2015 elections, which should not be the case.

It is quite disturbing. The year 2015 is still far off. I expect politicians to focus on the business of governance now.

“We must do what we were elected to do first. We will do our best to curb the overheat-

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turning home.

Between 1950-56, the late Odunewu worked at the Daily Times as a reporter and sub-editor. He left to become the Managing Editor of the African Press Limited Ibadan, publishers of the Nigerian Tribune. That was 1956 and 1957. Odunewu spent four years, between 1960 and 1964, as the Editor-in-Chief of the Allied Newspapers of Nigeria before he left to become the Editor, Sunday Times, in 1964.

He rose through the ranks at the Daily Times before he was appointed editor of the paper, coming after Peter Enahoro who was initially known as “George Sharp” and later as Peter Pan. The late Odunewu’s time as the editor of the most prestigious newspaper at the time has been described with many charitable adjectives by those who worked with him.

While Peter Pan was a “great writer”, Odunewu was adjured to have combined his fine writContinued on page 59

Senate calls for police chief Mbu’s removal

HE Senate is to take over the activities of the crisis-ridden Rivers State House of Assembly, it resolved yesterday.

The upper chamber also adopted the recommendation that Rivers State Police Commissioner Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu be immediately redeployed.

The resolution followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on State and Local Government that investigated the crisis in Rivers State.

The committee was led by Senator Kabiru Gaya (Kano South).

Apart from taking over the activities of the Assembly and redeployment of Mbu, the upper chamber mandated Senate President David Mark to intervene in the crisis.

The Senate said its resolution to take over the Assembly was pursuant to Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), pending the resolution of the crisis and restoration of peace in the state.

Gaya presented a 150-page report, 140

ing of the polity.”

He urged Nigerians to exercise a little more patience, saying his administration is implementing the right policies, programmes and projects towards accelerating economic development and boosting employment.

Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike, who is the

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Abuja

verbatim report and 19 video CDs. The committee observed that the July 9 crisis in the Assembly was as a result of deep-rooted political discontent in the state.

Gaya said the committee did not go to Rivers State to indict anybody but to restore peace.

The Senate held an unusually lengthy closed door session.

A source said that the report of the Gaya Committee was extensively discussed at the session.

The source said the committee made 16 recommendations but the Senate said it should be compressed to three.

The Committee indicted First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan in the crisis. It specifically said in its findings and observations No 10: “The crisis at the Rivers State House of Assembly on the 9th of July, 2013 was the expression of deep rooted political crisis occasioned by the alleged high-handedness of Governor Amaechi

main backer of the faction of the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fighting Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, is believed to be enjoying the President’s tacit support.

The President has hosted the Wike-led group at the Presidential Villa while First Lady Dame Patience, is also

and the perceived undue interference with the political and security structure by the President, his wife and the national hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

But Gaya was said to have been told at the closed-door session to restrict himself to the three recommendations adopted by the Senate.

Before the adoption of the report, Mark noted that the Senate discussed in great details the situation in Rivers State at the meeting.

He said: “We devoted so many hours because we feel it (Rivers crisis) is important that we look at it from the prism of our own committee that went there to find out exactly what happened.

“And we are happy that we sent our own team to go and investigate.

“Our objective was to ensure that peace returned to Rivers State. That was the focus of the discussion we held.

“Our appeal to all the principal actors is

believed to have been supporting the pro-Wike Group of Five lawmakers who insist on removing Speaker Otelemaba Dan Amachree .

The President’s wife attended the wedding of one of the five lawmakers in Port Harcourt. She also last week, while hosting some Bishops, spoke on the crisis, saying

•Dr. Jonathan

ensure that the principles of rule of law are adhered to at all times.

The NBA chief said: “We talked about security. We pointedly talked about Rivers State. We expressed our concern that we were very dis-

Continued on page 59

Continued on page 59

Amaechi refused to take her advice on the Okrika waterfront demolition.

Presidential aides have, however, insisted that Jonathan has no hands in the crisis.

Wali said that apart from making sure law and order prevails in River State, the NBA urged the President to

ADVERT HOTLINES: 08023006969, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

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NEWS

’My daughter was crying when we saw her’

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•Father of girl in Etsu Nupe’s palace relives ordeal

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NTIL she left home in Abuja for the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, Charity Uzoechina could be described as mummy’s and daddy’s girl.

She was barely out of their sight.

Every Sunday, she was an active member of the choir of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Christ Chapel zone in Kwan Kwanshe, Abuja, where her Ogwashi Ukwu, Delta Stateborn father is the pastor-incharge. Her two siblings, a boy and a girl, are still active in the choir, where she has been missed since her departure to study Public Administration.

Her departure from Abuja, where her parents, Pastor and Mrs. Raymond Uzoechina, call home, was the first time she went to Bida, the emirate where Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar is the paramount ruler as the Etsu Nupe.

Charity, which the emirate now identifies as Aisha, has been at the palace of the Etsu Nupe for months. Pastor Uzoechina says she is there a captive and not a freeborn as the palace claims.

He told The Nation yesterday on phone that the emirate’s claim that he would harm her was made up to keep the girl away from her home.

Pastor Uzoechina wondered how those holding his daughter would feel if someone from the South holds their daughter.

He said he was not interested in fighting the Etsu Nupe, but only interested in getting back his daughter so that the joy in his home will return, adding: “I am in the midst of Muslims and if the girl wants to practise Islam as they claim, must it be in his palace? I am not fighting

When I insisted during my first visit to Bida that I wanted to see her, they brought her and I called out to her. I told her ‘Charity, your mother is very sick because of you. Let us go home’. She said: ‘Yes Daddy, let me go and carry my things’. And as she made to free herself, the two captors held her down

By Olukorede Yishau

him. I just want him to release my daughter.”

Said the distraught dad: “When I insisted during my first visit to Bida that I wanted to see her, they brought her and I called out to her. I told her ‘Charity, your mother is very sick because of you. Let us go home’. She said: ‘Yes daddy, let me go and carry my things’. And as she made to free herself, the two captors held her down.”

The pastor said his petitions to the Niger State Chief Judge and police have not been acted on.

An ailing Pastor Uzoechina, who spoke from hospital bed, said this injustice must be reversed.

His words: “My daughter was crying when we saw her.

They never allowed us speak with her. It is not true that the royal father invited me and the girl for talks, with the hope of reconciling us.

On March 2, I came to the palace and was taken before the Etsu Nupe. The Etsu Nupe never asked the girl to go back home with me as claimed.

“When they told me she had embraced Islam, I demanded that I was going home with her. But the man declined, saying only the emir has the power to allow the girl go with me. They took me to the emir but the emir refused my plea, saying I should come back next week.

“The last time we saw her, she was like someone in captive. She was not free. She was even crying. She greeted the mother and was crying when she was being led away. The mother is feeling bad and not happy. You need to come to Bida on August 1 when they will rule on our challenge to the jurisdiction

• Miss Uzoechina

of the Sharia Court for you to appreciate what we are going through.

“They claimed to have served me and I refused to come to the court when all they did was to bring a paper and said ‘sign, sign’, without explaining anything to me until they later said they were from the Sharia Court.

Contrary to the principle of natural justice vis- a-vis fair hearing, I was not served either with the court summons/processes or hearing notice. The case was filed on March 4; the case was heard March 4 and judgment delivered on the same day.

In fact, judgment was also executed on the same date.

The question is: why the urgency?”

•Pastor Uzoechina

“They (Sharia court) have fixed Thursday, August 1 for ruling on our appeal that they don’t have jurisdiction. You can’t judge a Christian in a Muslim court. I am appealing to them to vacate the judgment because they don’t have jurisdiction.

“It is not true that my daughter made the allegation that I would kill her if she returns home. Why should I kill her? We asked them to bring her to the court so that my lawyer can cross-examine her but they refused. If she has converted to Islam, must she practise at the Etsu Nupe’s palace? Is Etsu Nupe the chief security officer now? They should not separate my daughter and me. She has stayed in the palace for

Subsidy fraud: Court restrains EFCC, IGP, AGF from arresting Ubah

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From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

Ubah and his company had argued that it was wrong for EFCC, IGP, AGF and any other agency of the government to want to prosecute them over the same issue on which a Federal High Court in Lagos had exonerated them on February 18.

They also relied on a letter dated February 12 written by the Police Special Fraud Unit, D Department to the Minister of Finance, clearing them of any criminal complicity in the allegation of subsidy fraud made against them.

Justice Abdul-Kafarati declared that the February 18 judgment, the House of Representatives' committee report and the police letter of February 12 “collectively tantamount to a complete and final exoneration of any criminal offence with regard

to application for receipt of subsidy payment under the Federal Government of Nigeria Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) scheme”.

The judge said the threat of detention, arrest and prosecution by the respondents or any other agency of the government, amounted to an infraction of the applicants’ fundamental rights enshrined in Sections 35 (1)(c) and 36(5) of the Constitution.

He said: “The applicants have been cleared of any reasonable suspicion of commission of criminal offence and in respect of which the judgment of the FHC.” A non-governmental organisation, the Centre for the Rule of Law, Equity and Justice (CRULEJ), hailed the judgment, describing it as a “sweet vindication and victory for the rule of law”.

In a statement issued in

sion.

The statement said Miss Uzoechina approached the monarch for protection following her change of faith from Christianity to Islam on February 15.

“The royal father invited the father of the girl for talks, with the hope of reconciling them. On March 2, the father came to the palace and was taken before His Royal Highness. It was at His Royal Highness chamber the father came face to face with his daughter. After discussions with both the girl and her father, the Etsu Nupe asked the girl to go back home with her father to resolve the matter as a family.

“The girl refused to go home with her father.”

No indicted firm got fuel contract, says minister

M

•’It’s victory for the rule of law’

HE Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) from arresting the Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah,over the fuel subsidy regime.

The order of perpetual injunction was made by Justice A. Abdul-Kafarati in his judgment in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed

by Ubah and his company.

The judge upheld the applicants' arguments and granted four of the five prayers raised in the suit, which challenged the decision by the EFCC to re-investigate the complaint that Ubah and his company were involved in the petroleum subsidy fraud.

months. If they say I will harm her, let them release her to the Inspector General of Police, leader of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and ask me to write an undertaking. I will write an undertaking. I can’t kill my daughter. We need her at home. We are missing her.

“This matter is more than meets the eyes. All kinds of big people are threatening us.

Why should I be threatened over my daughter? I trained her to this level and they just want to take her away from me like that. And if it is marraige, marriage has a process.”

The Bida Emirate, in a statement, said the Etsu Nupe should not be blamed for the girl’s alleged voluntary deci-

‘

•Ubah

Lagos by its Executive Director, Comrade Jamiu Agbabiaka, the group said: “The judgment has shown that Ubah is a clean businessman who never soiled his hands. He acquired his wealth by a dint of hard work and the blessings of the almighty God. He did not need to cut corners.”

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

INISTER of Petroleum Resources Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke yesterday denied reports that some companies indicted by the House of Representatives on fuel subsidy scam were given fresh contracts by the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to import fuel into the country.

Mrs Alison-Madueke, while speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, said it was not possible for companies indicted to be patronised again since all successful companies were thoroughly screened before being selected.

She said: “That is not possible. I believe you are referring to the listing of companies by the PPPRA for importation of fuel.

All companies were vetted carefully and only companies that were clearly cleared were put on the list”.

Mrs Alison-Madueke, who attended the meeting between President Jonathan and the Leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said she was invited by the president to attend the meeting because of importance of some of the legal policies in the oil and Gas sector.

On the progress made by the National Assembly on the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), she said the progress was in tandem with the expectations of the executive on the passage of the Bill.

She said: “There will be different views. There will always be different stake holders whose views are brought to bear when there is a document of such critical importance and once it enters the purview of the legislature it is expected that different views will be heard and at the end of the day the expectation is that the document that comes out will represent a fairly win win situation for all stakeholders for the betterment and for the good of the entire economy and the entire polity.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

6

NEWS Court stops PDP’s planned convention From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

A

N Abuja High Court has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from conducting its planned special convention.

Justice Suleiman Belgore, in a ruling yesterday asked the PDP to “allow sanity to reign” and refrain from proceeding with the conduct or convocation of any form of convention “whether special or ordinary,” for the purpose of electing any officer into the office of the PDP pending the determination of a suit filed by some aggrieved members.

The ruling was on an interlocutory application by plaintiffs in the substantive suit. They complained against the decision of the party to appoint some people to act in the place of members of the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), who resigned midway into the case that challenged the process of their election.

Justice Belgore refused the applicants’ prayer for interlocutory injunction nullifying the appointment of acting members of PDP’s NWC and restraining the party’s National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur from performing any of the NWC’s functions pending the determination of the case.

The judge, in refusing both prayers, held that they were not part of the issues placed before the court for determination in the originating summons.

Justice Belgore frowned at the party’s decision of the PDP to take certain steps capable of foisting a state of helplessness on the court. He held that, having submitted itself to the jurisdiction of the court, the PDP was obligated to await the decision of the court in the case.

The judge held that “it is recklessness of some high degree” for the PDP to have taken steps that could affect the case before the court.

“One will expect the PDP to allow sanity to reign and tarry a while to await the outcome of the this case,” the judge said.

Earlier, Justice Belgore refused a preliminary objection by the PDP seeking the dismissal of the case on the ground that events have overtaken it.

The party had argued that the resignation of members of its NWC, whose election the substantive suit was challenging, had rendered the suit worthless.

But the judge held otherwise yesterday. He held that there were still live issues to be determined in the case.

Justice Belgore held that the issues left to be determined included whether the PDP acted legally, in the light of the provision of Article 3 of the party’s constitution, in the appointment of its national officers; and whether the court could nullify the said appointment and compel the party to conduct fresh convention.

The judge held that it was immaterial that the party’s NWC members had resigned, and that the court would still determine the issues since their offices were still in existence.

Flood: We won’t release water from Lagdo Dam, Cameroon tells Nigeria T HE Cameroonian Minister of Water and Energy, Mr. Basie Atangana Kouna, has said his country will not release water from Lagdo Dam–in line with the ongoing talks with Nigeria to avert a reoccurrence of last year’s floods.

He also said a group of experts had been set up by Cameroon and Nigeria to work out the terms of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations.

But the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, assured Nigerians that the two countries have agreed to share information on rainfall and how to manage excess water without leading to flood disasters.

Kouna spoke with reporters after a three-hour session with the Nigerian delegation in Lagdo Dam in the North- Central Province of the Republic of Cameroon.

The Nigerin delegation had specifically demanded a commitment from Cameroon.

He said although last year’s flood was exceptional, both Presidents Paul Biya and Goodluck Jonathan are determined to collaborate to end such disasters.

Kouna explained that more than 40,000

•No cause for alarm, says Minister Ochekpe

From Yusuf Alli, Yaounde, Cameroon

Cameroonians were displaced in 2012 by flood following heavy rainfall and the release of excess water from Lagdo Dam. He said Cameroon did its best to regulate water from the dam but the volume was more than it could manage.

Kouna added that the inflow of water into Lagdo Dam in 2012 was 6, 240km per sec but Cameroon was releasing 3,000km per sec.

He said: “ I can assure you that Cameroon will not release any water from Lagdo Dam. What we had last year was exceptional. That was why the Secretary-General of the North-Central Province was talking of the 2012 flood being exceptional. He was talking of such high water level being a 50-year thing. The meeting with experts ill lead us what to do.

“As part of being proactive, the Cameroonian government has engaged deep measures into the management of the basins, especially Benue Basin. We are happy that Nigeria is also taking a step in the same di-

rection.

“The two countries have inaugurated a group of experts to analyse the situation and suggestions to avert future flood disasters. The experts will come together and forward their report to the government. This will lead to the signing of MoU between the two countries.”

Asked of the timeline for the MoU, Kouna said: “There is no timeline but we will work on it as soon as possible.”

The Secretary- General of Morth-Central Province, Tegni Fidele, said: “I will like to say that the worries of Nigerians are shared by the administrative authority of the Northern region.

What we had last year was just a 50-year thing.

“But since we are dealing with nature, we cannot rule out higher rainfall. We have put in place three steps.

“These three ways are sharing communication and information by the two countries; asking those proned to flood to stay away from submerged area or forcefully ejecting those who do not leave; and the third option is

the partnership. “ If we try to harmonize the administrative efforts We will communicate more with the Nigerian delegation. My hope is that something positive will come out of this synergy.”

The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, said: “Cameroon has agreed to collaborate with us, we are not likely to have the same flood challenge we had last year.

“We have come to Lagdo to seek collaboration with Cameroon because one hand cannot build a house. If Nigeria and Cameroon work together, it will do a lot to improve the sub-region. “ On the Cameroonian side, they have the Lagdo Dam but we shared the same Benue Basin. We have come together in a way and manner that will protect and promote the economic interests of the two countries.

“We are happy with the visit to the site; We are all here to share information because information is power and when it is used for planning it facilitates development. Going forward

after this session, both Cameroon and Nigeria will be guided by information to plan better and take decision for the development of both countries. “ There is a proposed MoU between the two countries and part of what we want to achieve is a joint monitoring of Benue Basin to protect our people and manage the resources that God has given us.

“We will work together to say water is life and a reality, when we plan well there will be life but when we don’t, water can be destructive.

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Cameroon, Hajiya Hadiza Mustapha, said: “I am very happy at this development or understanding between the two countries.

“It is my job to bring the two countries together. It is true that we have diplomatic channel but what we are saying now is to improve on it. We need a contact person in Cameroon to relate with on flood management because sometimes natural challenges are rapid.”

•L-R: Nigerian High Commissioner to the Republic of Cameroon, Hajiya Hadiza Mustapha (left), Mrs. Ochekpe with Dr. Kouna inspecting Lagdo Dam...yesterday.

PHOTO: YUSUF ALLI

T

ACN to Presidency: Rivers crisis is threat to democracy

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has accused the Presidency of being too clever by half with its claim that the ongoing Rivers State crisis is not a threat to the nation’s democracy.

The crisis is not just a threat to democracy but also to the peaceful co-existence of its people, the party said yesterday.

In a statement in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the Rivers crisis looked ‘normal’ to the Presidency because it is the one behind it. ‘’Let us call a spade a spade: What is happening in Rivers State is not normal. What is normal in five members of a 32-strong house seeking to remove the Speaker supported by the remaining

By Precious Igbonwelundu

members? What is normal in the Police Commissioner of a state labelling the state’s Governor a dictator and supporting renegade lawmakers to stir trouble? What is normal in hired thugs stoning visiting Governors from another part of the country? ‘’Should it not be clear to the Presidency what would have happened if any of the four northern Governors had been mortally injured in the attack on them by the hired thugs in Port Harcourt? In any case, is it not common knowledge that most of Nigeria’s political crises have originated from a state or regional crisis?’’ it queried.

ACN also slammed the Presidency for struggling so hard to convince more dis-

cerning Nigerians that the outcome of the last NGF election won by Governor Chibuike Amaechi, at the expense of the presidencybacked puppet candidate, was of no importance to it (Presidency). ‘’If the NGF election indeed meant nothing to the Presidency, as claimed by an ever-so-deceitful presidential aide, why did the President make it a referendum on his presidency? Would the Presidency have described the outcome of the election as inconsequential if its candidate had won? And if the outcome is inconsequential, why is the Presidency still aligning with its puppet candidate and describing him as the Chairman of the NGF, even when it is universally acknowledged that he lost the election?

‘’As we have said many times, no government can govern successfully by deceiving the people, and certainly not in Nigeria where the people are discerning enough to understand the antics of a power-drunk, not-sotruthful Presidency. Here is a Presidency that seeks to distance itself from the Rivers crisis while regularly playing host to the leader of the renegade lawmakers from the state. This Presidency should quit playing the Ostrich over the Rivers crisis!’’ the party said.

It also accused the Presidency of seeking to distort the reason for the visit to Governor Amaechi by the progressive Governors, in an attempt to demonise the four patriotic northern Governors who paid the same visit earlier.

‘’The progressive Governors and the four North Governors are on the same page as far as the Rivers crisis is concerned. Their visits were borne out of patriotic concerns that the crisis could endanger the nation’s democracy.

It is therefore disingenious to accuse the northern Governors of meddling while praising the Progressive Governors. ‘’In his usually easily-excitable disposition, the presidential aide who is always saddled with defending the indefensible failed to see the satire in the advice that Gov. Amaechi should visit President Jonathan over the crisis.

Next time, we advise the presidential aide to contextualise such a statement before rushing to the press to ridicule himself,’’ ACN said.

7

THE NATION FRIDAY JULY 26, 2013

NEWS

Emir: killing of 50 security personnel could have been averted

T

HE Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Isa Mustafa Agwai I, yesterday told the panel probing the killing of over 50 security personnel at Lakyo village in Nasarawa State that it could have been prevented.

Agwai spoke in Lafia, the state capital, when he presented his memorandum to the Judicial Commission of Enquiry probing the carnage and other security breaches in Nasarawa State.

The Justice Fola Gbadeyan-led panel held yesterday’s sitting at the Emir’s palace where it took evidence and cross-examined witnesses.

The monarch said the invitation of Baba Lakyo, the chief priest of the Ombatse cult group, to his palace was to address the cause of the crisis.

According to him, few days before the incident, he heard that the Ombatse Militia Group (OMB) was conscripting and administering oaths of secrecy on innocent people.

He said when he sent the District Head of the area to invite Baba Lakyo to his palace over the matter, the chief priest allegedly said

•Frowns at senator’s visit to Ombatse chief priest From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

he would only come to the palace if he was instructed by the leadership of the Eggon Cultural Development Association (ECDA).

He said the Ombatse chief priest never honoured his invitation, which was to nip the crisis in the bud.

Agwai said: “The role of traditional rulers has always been to assist the government at all levels to maintain peace, security, stability and conflict resolution. These are the necessary conditions for progress and development in every civilised society.

“In the case of the Lafia Emirate Council, apart from the normal Emirate Council meetings - where issues bordering on the progress and development of the entire Emirate are discussed – we meet every Friday with all the districts, villages and ward heads and senior title holders in the Emirate, where reports from various local leaders are received, discussed and solutions proffered.

“It was during one of such inter-

active meetings, on February 19, that we received a report on the activities of Ombatse from the village heads of Ungwar Rere, Akurba and Bakin Rijiya.

“They informed the council of a secret shrine operated by Baba Lakyo at Lakyo village, where people are forced to drink a local concoction (medicine) and swear to an oath.

“On receipt of the reports, I directed the District Head in charge of that area to invite the Village Head of Ungwar Rere village, with the ward head of Lakyo, to my palace.

“The ward head of Lakyo appeared before me on March 26, in the presence of some of his traditional title holders, where the ward head of Lakyo was directed to come along with Baba Lakyo.

“A week after, the ward head reported back to me that Baba Lakyo said he would honour my invitation only when he received an instruction from the Chairman of Eggon Cultural Development Association (ECDA) before he would appear before me.

“The Emirate Council viewed the refusal of Baba Lakyo to honour my invitation as very unusual. It is our belief that if the so-called chief priest, called Baba Lakyo, had honoured my invitation and availed himself with my wise counsel, the incident that happened at Lakyo few days after Baba Lakyo’s refusal to appear before me would have been averted.”

The monarch said he was shocked that Senator Solomon Ewuga, representing Nasarawa South, visited Baba Lakyo few days after the massacre without intimating him (Agwai I).

He added: “As if that was not enough, my council, the public and I watched on television a courtesy visit by Senator Ewuga to the priest at Lakyo, where the senator had an undisclosed meeting with Baba Lakyo.

“The Emirate Council frowned at this visit and considered it a breach of protocol. This is because the Distinguished Senator hails from the Northern Senatorial Zone. But neither the Emirate Council nor the Lafia Local Government Area was

aware of his visit to Lakyo.”

Agwai noted that there was evidence of a breach of traditional protocol, which resulted in rumour mongering and the inability of the district, the village and ward heads to monitor the movements of people in and out of the villages before the unfortunate incident.

He added: “There is also the apparent infiltration of strange elements into our cultural and traditional cohesiveness whereby it is becoming difficult to control the most active and vibrant component of our society - the youths.

“The erosion of the powers of the traditional authorities in enforcing security of lives and properties in their areas is certainly one of the causes of the present predicament we found ourselves in.

“We also observed that the high level of unemployment in all segment of our societies especially the youths, is one of the factors responsible for negative behaviour generally, especially by the youths.

“The activities of our political class where our people, mostly youths, are misused by them is also a very big contributing factor to the high level of insecurity in our society.”

We believe in Nigeria’s unity, says Army

T

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

HE Nigerian Army yesterday said it believed in the nation’s unity, despite the security challenges facing the country.

It said Nigeria could have been worse off, if the challenges had happened under a clueless leader.

The Commander of 4 Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Brig.Gen. Pat Akem, spoke at the inauguration of some projects executed by the 19 Battalion of the Operation Pulo Shield.

The projects, located at Koko village in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, include soldiers’ quarters, a medical clinic and office complex.

Brig.-Gen. Akem said the infrastructural development going on in the army was to create an enabling environment for its officers to operate.

He said: “Despite the security challenges, including Boko Haram, the Army has continued to hold its own. If it were under a leadership that has no clue, it could have been worse.

But under the crop of leadership of the Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army has continued to develop to a level I dare say has never been witnessed since its establishment. In fact, the Army has never had it so good.

“When you look around, you see our personnel under the rain, under the sun, at checkpoints, far away from their families, with support from the police and civil defence. These people stay away from their families and loved ones, all because of the love for the country.”

12 new varsities gets N4.7b each from Fed Govt, says minister

T

HE Minister of Education, Prof Ruqattatu Rufa’I, yesterday said the Federal Government has given each of the 12 new federal universities N4.7 billion as its take-off grant.

Nine of the institutions, the minister said, have started academic activities while the others will begin in 2014.

She said a comprehensive needs assessment has been carried out in other public universities at federal and state levels to identify areas of needs.

The minister explained that following the development, a comprehensive programme of rehabilitation has been approved for public universities.

Prof Rufa’I spoke at the dissemination of World Bank report on Nigeria, titled: Education and Skills Policy Note in Abuja.

She said N109.4 billion has been provided to rehabilitate universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.

Fifty-eight federal and state-owned colleges of edu-

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

cation, the minister said, are benefitting from the construction of micro-teaching laboratories at the cost of N11.6 billion.

She added: “At the tertiary education level, twelve new Federal Universities have been established. Nine of these have started academic activities while the remaining four will commence in 2014. Each of the institutions has been provided with N4.7 billion for initial take-off and development of infrastructure.

“All fifty-one Federal and State Polytechnics are benefitting from the development and rehabilitation of their laboratories to bring them to 21st century standard. This is being done at an initial cost of N15 billion.

Under the High Impact Initiative of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), some N109.4 billion has been provided to Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in five phases.

• From left: Commissioner of Police, Mr Tunde Ogunshakin, of Special Fraud Unit (SFU); Canadian High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Chris Cooter and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, during Cooter’s visit to the SFU office in Lagos...yesterday.

‘Oil firm, others used forged cargo document to claim N963.7m subsidy fund’

A

LAGOS High Court, Ikeja, heard yesterday that an oil company, Rocky Energy Limited, forged the Certificate of Cargo Transfer, allegedly issued by Inspectorate Marine Services Nigeria Limited to claim N963.7 million fuel subsidy fund.

A prosecution witness, Chidi Onyejekwe, was giving evidence on the matter before the court, presided over by Justice Lateefa Okunnu.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Rocky Energy Limited, and Adamu Maula, George Ogbonna, Emmanuel Morah as well as Downstream Energy Resources Limited, with alleged N963.7 million subsidy payment fraud.

Their offences border on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and uttering.

Downstream Energy Resources Limited was given a permit by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to import 10,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) petrol.

The company leased the permit to Rocky Energy Limited to import the products

By Adebisi Onanuga

and was paid N25 million for the transaction.

But the EFCC alleged that the three oil marketers did not import the products for which they received N963.7 million subsidy payments.

Chidi Onyejekwe, the Branch Manager of the Lagos office of the Inspectorate Marine Services Nigeria Limited, told the court that the oil marketers forged various documents on the offshore discharge of petroleum products at Cotonou from a vessel, M T Katrina, to another, MT D Rose Line.

Led in evidence by the counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, the witness said he headed the team which investigated the transaction after the receipt of the EFCC’s letter in August, last year.

According to him, the investigation showed that the haulage report presented by the defendants did not emanate from Inspectorate Marine Services.

Though the organisation’s stamp and signature appeared on the haulage report and the certificate of product quantity, Onyejekwe insisted that the documents did not emanate

from the directorate.

To buttress his submission, the witness explained that any job done by the directorate would have a nomination letter from the suppliers or receivers, an acceptance letter via e-mail, records of exchanges, report of transaction and invoices signifying payment.

He said there was no such record on the transactions that 8,202 metric tonnes of products involving vessels M T Katrina and MT D Rose Line at offshore Cotonou were discharged.

The manager said when the organisation received the EFCC’s letter, it contacted its offices in Netherland and Italy for enquiry and verifications.

He said in all the transactions they confirmed, none had anything to do with M T Katrina and MT D Rose Line at offshore Cotonou.

During cross-examination by the defence, led by Prof Alfred Kasumu (SAN), Onyejekwe said he was not the sole custodian of the company’s stamps and letter.

Answering another question, the witness said he did not bother to contact his former boss, Mr Yemi

Ojeyemi, who resigned in January, last year, because it was not necessary to do so.

According to him, Ojeyemi did not participate in inspection of the vessels at offshore and so could not have signed the document.

He added that every transaction carried out by the company was always documented.

The court admitted as an exhibit a copy of the haulage report tendered by Prof Kasumu, which showed the stamps of the inspectorate, the Petroleum Pricing and Product Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and that of the vessels’ officials.

The document was among those sent to the directorate by the EFCC for verification.

Besides, Justice Okunnu admitted as exhibits the statements of the defendants taken

by Mr Ajele Ogbemudia, a police officer attached to the EFCC, as well as another prosecution witness, who was among those who took the statements of the defendants between July 18 and September 19, last year.

Justice Okunnu adjourned further hearing in the matter till July 29.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

8

NEWS Fashola rewards 128 schools with N256m

Southwest PDP lifts Fayose’s, others’ suspension

E

KITI State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lifted the ONE hundred and twentysuspension placed on former eight public secondary schools Governor Ayo Fayose. in Lagos State yesterday Rising from a meeting of received N2 million each from the Executive Committee of Governor Babatunde Raji the party in the Southwest Fashola as a reward for outzone in Lagos on Wednesstanding performance in the day, the Zonal Exco directed Lagos Eko Secondary Educathat the suspensions antion Project. nounced by the groups in the The governor also recogstate PDP were hereby set nised 24 headteachers and aside and the status quo ante teachers (12 each) and said should be maintained. they would travel abroad for The party said the decision further training for their hard was taken to prevent a situawork in the implementation tion where it would contest of the Eko Project, a World next year’s election as a diBank-assisted initiative provided party. viding direct grants to secondIn a statement yesterday by ary schools for infrastructural the Chairman, Caretaker upgrade and training.

Committee of the party in Speaking about the impact the zone, Chief Ishola Filani, of the initiative at the Goverthe party said it cannot fold nor’s Education Award held at its arms and allow individuthe Havens, Ikeja, Fashola said al interest to destroy it as the performance in the West 2014 governorship poll African Senior School Certifidraws near. cate Examination (WASSCE) Besides Fayose, those to has tripled from 10.4 per cent benefit from the rapprochein 2008 to 38.5 per cent in 2012.

The governor hailed the pupils, who performed during the event, including Temitope Ejide and Omowunmi Shadare, the two comperes; Innocent Momodu, who gave the welcome address, and YO State Governor others. He said they were a Senator Abiola Ajiproof that the government mobi has said his adwas making progress in ministration has no plan to improving education. ban commercial motorcycles.

His words: “If we give them But he said they would a chance; if we guide them gradually be replaced with from the back and steer them tricycles. in the right direction, they Ajimobi spoke during a will not only take care of chat with reporters at the themselves but will also take Government House, Agodi, care of us. The events we have Ibadan. seen today performed by the He said the thinking of his Lagos State public school administration is that compupils represent the face and mercial motorcycling, popuemerging character of Lagos larly called okada, is the sinState public schools.” gle largest source of employment in the country, adding that if okada riders are banned,

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

•Ex-governor, Olubolade trade blames over crisis From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

ment are the state Chairman, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe; Secretary, Dr. T.K. Aluko; Public Relations Officer, Pastor Kola Oluwawole; Woman Leader, Busola Oyebode; Treasurer, Deolu Aluko; Youth Leader, Taye Olatunji and Director-General, Information, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan.

“The raging crisis,” the PDP said, “will not add any value to the party in Ekiti, but will destroy it totally.”

To avert this, the Zonal Exco, “has set up a five-man committee to look into the crisis and come up with a resolution/recommendation within 10 days.”

Filani said as a prelude to the committee’s work, he and two other Ekiti indigenes in the Zonal Exco “will

visit the state to ensure there is peace in PDP.” The five-man committee is headed by Dr. Yomi Finnih.

Mr. Ebenezer Alabi, Chairman, Ondo State chapter of the party, is the Secretary.

Members of the committee are Mrs. Ayoka Lawani, Chief Zaccheaus Oyekunle and Mr. Ayo Olowofoyeku, an architect.

The crisis took a new twist yesterday, as Fayose and Police Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), traded words.

Fayose, who stormed the Abuja national secretariat of the PDP with a petition, alleged that the Makanjuola Ogundipe-led state Exco had been compromised by Olubolade through monetary inducements.

According to the former governor, Capt. Olubolade provided the logistics and

Ajimobi: we’ve no plan to ban commercial motorcycles

O

Council chief for Ona-Ara

funding for the Ogundipe exco to set up an 11-man consensus committee, headed by retired Justice Ojuolape.

“I wish to state here that those who appeared before the national chairman of the party are pro-Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade.

They came to the national secretariat in an official vehicle provided by the minister to further confirm that the state chairman had been compromised,” Fayose said.

Capt. Olubolade dismissed Fayose as a drowning man desperate to drag others down with him.

Speaking through his Ekiti State Liaison Officer, Mr. Alaba Agboola, in Abuja yesterday, the minister urged the leaders and members of the Ekiti PDP not to be distracted in their quest to produce a credible candidate for the party.

•Reinstates sacked broadcasters

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

it may amount to throwing many people into unemployment.

But the governor said his administration would restructure the practice by registering okada riders, thus making it easier for them to get government assistance and stop them from plying certain roads in Ibadan.

Said he: “We will rather restructure okada riders. We are already registering them.

We will group them and

gradually phase them out by replacing them with tricycle operators. It is the largest source of employment today. We will modify their operations. I don’t think we should ban them now.”

The governor ordered the management of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) to reinstate the 26 freelance broadcasters disengaged about one year ago.

His decision followed a plea by the leadership of the Freelance Independent

•Ajimobi

Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN), who attended the media parley.

Ajimobi urged reporters to educate the populace on important issues so they would not be deceived by desperate politicians.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

OYO State House of Assembly has approved the nomination of Mr. Ismaila Oyetunde as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ona-Ara Local Government.

The legislative approval came after lawmakers unanimously adopted the report of its House Committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and State Honours, which screened Oyetunde and told the House to approve his appointment by the state government.

The new chairman, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, had previously served as a vicechairman in 1996 as well as caretaker chairman of the same local government in 2007, and is a member of the state Waste management Board.

•Ekiti State Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi (right), with two of the state-sponsored Engineering Volunteer Corps members, Mr. Adegoke Owolabi (second left) and Mr Omotoso Temitope, on their return from China, during a visit to the Job Creation and Employment Agency (JCEA) camp, ahead of their graduation, in Ise-Ekiti... yesterday.

Insecurity: Lagos to create emergency control centre

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AGOS State is to create an emergency control centre where residents can make telephone calls for prompt response in case of emergencies and disasters.

Speaking at a public hearing on “A bill for a law to establish the Lagos State Emergency Command and Control Centre, regulate the making of telephone calls to the centre and provide for other connected matters”, the

By Oziegbe Okoeki

Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Kolawole Taiwo, said the need to improve on the readiness of the state to tackle emergencies and disasters by getting prompt information is responsible for the creation of the state Emergency Command and Control Centre.

Taiwo, who represented Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji,

was delivering a keynote address at a public hearing on the bill, which took place yesterday at the Assembly complex.

The Deputy Speaker said: “Day-in-day-out we are faced with emergencies and there is need for us to take advantage of a decentralised communication system in the society by creating a command centre as a back-up. It is our duty as a legislature to give

legitimacy to this initiative.”

According to him, the centre would create more consciousness on the need to provide information to aid the security agencies and government in combating emergencies and disasters.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security, Strategy and Publicity, Mr. Segun Olulade, said the centre would focus on improving individual and cor-

porate safety and security in Lagos State and Nigeria.

“The centre is to provide emergency telephone numbers to be called by the public in times of emergency; facilitate quick and efficient response to accidents, emergencies and disasters; educate the public on the use of emergency telephone lines and adopt appropriate measures to prevent the misuse of the centre’s facilities.”

He said: “The Ekiti are sick and tired of the culture of executive violence characterised by assassination and killing of political opponents as witnessed in our state in the past.

“Apparently, this culture of violence contributed to the erosion of the image of the Ekiti PDP at the time.

What do we make of a situation where someone aspiring to govern a state would storm the party secretariat with armed thugs, injuring and chasing party officials out of their duty posts?

“Fayose is being haunted by his past and he should be honest enough to situate the blame for his present predicament within the context of his past deeds and misdeeds.

“Affliction shall not arise for the good people of Ekiti for the second time. PDP truly desires to reclaim Ekiti State, but the party has made it clear that its candidate will not emerge through a process of violence and thuggery.”

In the petition he submitted to the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Fayose said the advice by President Goodluck Jonathan to the effect that the party should explore the possibility of picking a consensus candidate was being capitalised upon

by Ogundipe to impose Capt Olubolade as a consensus candidate of the PDP.

Sacked Arigidi monarch files appeal From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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HE dethroned monarch of ArigidiAkoko in Akoko Northwest of Ondo State, Oba Yisa Olanipekun, yesterday said his appointment as the Zaki still stands, despite the June 19 judgment of the Court of Appeal that sacked him.

He spoke during this year’s Okota festival. The annual event is promoted by the Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, who is an indigene.

The embattled traditional ruler said the court never faulted his selection and appointment as the Zaki-elect by the kingmakers.

He said it was the approval and presentation of the staff of office by the governor on November 5, 2008 after the court injunction of November 3, 2008 that was referred to the state High Court to be handled by another judge besides Justice Sehinde Kumuyi.

According to Oba Olanipekun, Justice Gumel noted that the injunction granted by the lower court did not affect the action taken by the kingmakers on October 28, 2008.

The monarch, offering prayers to Okota deity faithful and other indigenes as well as visitors who came from far and near to worship the river goddess, urged his subjects to support him in the court battle.

Oba Olanipekun debunked a report that he was yet to file a “stay of execution” against the judgment of the Appeal Court sitting in Akure that ordered him to vacate the seat.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

9

NEWS

Trailer kills three in Ibadan

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•Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (third left) in a group photograph with Commissioners for Finance from Southwest states, namely Mr. Dapo Kolawole (Ekiti), Mr. Adedeji Adelabu (Oyo), Mrs. Kemi Adeosun (Ogun), Mr. Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos) and Mr. Wale Bolorunduro (Osun), during their visit to him at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan on Wednesday.

PHOTO: OYO GOVERNMENT HOUSE

ACN rejects Osun PDP’s demand for debt profile T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has urged Governor Rauf Aregbesola to declare the state’s debt profile.

In a communiqué by the party’s Secretary, Maj. Raphael Towobola (rtd), after a meeting of the stakeholders and leaders in Osogbo, PDP said it would check Aregbesola’s alleged excesses.

But the Osun State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) said it was not under any obligation to re-

•’They’ve no moral right to do so’ From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

spond to a party, which appeared not to understand the state economy and the transformational re-engineering of the Aregbesola administration.

It said its decision not to answer PDP was based on the

fact that those, who are requesting explanation on the finances of the state or the socalled debt profile, have no moral, political and social authority to do so.

The party, through its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, a lawyer, in a statement said the same PDP

ACN slams Ondo senator for underage marriage T HE Ondo State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday condemned the action of the Labour Party (LP) lawmaker, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, on underage marriage.

Akinyelure, representing Ondo Central, said he voted in “error to support underage marriage.”

A statement by the ACN Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Agbede, reads: “The senator’s shameful involvement in lending support to the muchcriticised paedophilic amendment being inserted into the constitution, no doubt, has brought an indelible stain and stigma to the name and people of Ondo State.

“More worrisome to the people is a statement credited to him that he voted in ‘error’, as this manifestly showcases the calibre of people and quality of representation offered the people of the state by the

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

LP. “This trend of poor performance is more evident in the below-average performance of the state government under the leadership of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

“It is unfortunate that a state, such as Ondo, known to be a repository of knowledge and high intellectual capacity, could parade the like of Senator Akinyelure in the Senate.”

The party said it is amazed that the best LP can offer the state is a man that does not understand the simplest working of the Senate (voting) and flow of deliberations on the floor of the Senate.

It said this put a question mark on the integrity of the LP. The statement added: “From the foregoing, it is obvious that the lawmaker has not been

contributing meaningfully to debates in the Senate. A man who cannot interpret correctly a motion put to vote, thereby committing an error while voting, cannot comprehend the flow of debates during plenary.”

ACN urged the citizenry to see this development as an eyeopener and take pre-emptive measures during the next round of elections in the state.

It said the electorate should take cognisance of the situation and vote for credible and competent individuals for effective and efficient representation at all levels.

The party noted that electing an individual, who will have committed an “error of judgment”, only to come back and weep like a baby, does not augur well for the state and its indigenes.

Lagos agog for Tinubu’s mum’s 40th day prayer

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HE Blue Roof, Lagos Television in Agidingbi, Ikeja in Lagos yesterday witnessed a carnivallike atmosphere. Politicians, market men and women and other personalities gathered for the 40th day Fidau for the late Alhaja Abibatu Asabi Mogaji, the mother of former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The event, held amid tight security, was attended by dignitaries like the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, wives of Southwest governors- Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola (Osun), Mrs. Bisi Fayemi (Ekiti), Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun (Ogun) and Mrs. Florence Ajimobi (Oyo) and Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Other personalities included the Asoju Oba of Lagos, Chief Molade Okoya Thomas; Mr. Yakub Balogun, a House of Representatives member; the

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Lagos State, Chief Henry Ajomale; local government chairmen in Lagos, among others.

The late Alhaja Mogaji’s huge portrait, which adorned major highways in the state, was hung in strategic points at the venue.

Although her son Asiwaju Tinubu was absent, the venue was filled up with beautifullydressed guests.

Market women added a unique touch to the gathering.

They made a statement with their chocolate head gears on white iro and buba.

The Chief Imam of Nawar– Ul-Deen Society of Nigeria, Abdul Mojeed with other Muslim clerics, urged the Muslim faithful to imbibe the leadership qualities of the late Alhaja Mogaji.

He said although death is an inevitable end for humans, the good deeds of individuals

when they were alive would linger on.

The cleric said Alhaja Mogaji spent her life in the service of Almighty Allah and mankind.

He urged leaders to think about the hereafter, adding that only those, who devote their lives to the service of mankind and Allah will reap the reward of their sojourn on earth.

Mojeed said if the late market leader had devoted her life to acquiring treasures for selfish reasons, she wouldn’t have been loved and missed by those she left behind.

He enjoined Nigerians to shun violence and vices that tend to cause rancour among people, adding that the fear of God remains the best way of preventing the young from growing up to become a problem in the society.

The cleric prayed that Allah should guide those leading the nation, adding that it is only leaders with conscience that would lead the country aright.

brought Osun State to the brink of bankruptcy from where the Aregbesola administration saved it.

ACN said: “If these people are serious and know what it takes to be credible politicians, they should have made their investigations and exposed any impropriety to the public, rather than ask their opponent to tell them what he is presumed to be doing wrongly.

“Those criticising the Aregbesola administration had the opportunity, even unlimited access to the banks and the saboteurs in the ministries to give them whatever details they needed to expose the debt profile of the state. That they do not know how to access these sources of information for facts in the public interest shows how dishonest and intellectually-limited they are.”

TRAILER yesterday crushed a taxi in Ibadan, killing the driver and two passengers.

The vehicle, which was carrying granite, was reportedly coming from the Ojoo end of the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway when it skidded off the road due to a brake failure near the Iwo Road interchange axis of the expressway.

An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, told our reporter that the accident occurred about 1pm. He said the driver, on discovering the brake has failed, tried to use a structure beside the road to stop the vehicle, but he ran into the taxi, whose driver was dropping passenger.

According to the source, the trailer crushed the taxi, killing the driver and two passengers,

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

dragging the cab until it hit a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) parked by the road. The SUV was slightly damaged as it was hit from behind. It tore the taxi into two.

The Nation learnt that on discovering the consequence of his action, the driver and his two assistants bolted to avoid being lynched by sympathisers.

Confirming the accident, Oyo State police spokesperson Mrs. Olabisi Ilobanafor said three people died.

She said policemen visited the scene and towed the taxi and the SUV to a nearby station for further investigation.

According to her, the victims have been taken to the mortuary.

Mrs. Ilobanafor said the trailer driver has been arrested.

Youths support Fayemi’s re-election

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VER 4,000 Ekiti youths, who are participating in the Youth Volunteer Corps programme of the government, have pledged their support for the re-election of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

They said he deserved another term to complete his people-oriented programmes, especially his war against unemployment.

The youths, who are undergoing a workshop at the NYSC Orientation camp in Ise-OrunEmure-Ekiti, as part of the programmes lined up to wrap up their two-year volunteer service, trooped out and sang solidarity songs to welcome Governor Fayemi, who paid an unscheduled visit to the camp about 2:30pm yesterday.

Five thousand youths from the 16 local governments were employed into the Ekiti Youth Volunteer programme in June 2011 and have been receiving a monthly stipend of N10,000 each.

Some of the youths, who spoke to reporters, hailed the governor for his commitment to banishing youth unemployment through the scheme and other related schemes, including the Youth Commercial Agriculture Development (YCAD) programme.

Miss Ade-Ojo Agnes, one of the volunteers, lauded Governor Fayemi’s volunteer initiative, but pleaded that the government should reserve a certain quota of job opportunities for the volunteers during recruitment exercises into sectors of the service of the state.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

10

NEWS (Taraba)

SOLAT TIME (Lagos)

RAMADAN KAREEM

Fajr Zuhr Asr Magrib Ishai

– – – – –

5:20am 12:53pm 4:16pm 7:06 pm 8:18pm

Fajr Zuhr Asr Magrib Ishai

– – – – –

4:49am 12:25pm 3:47pm 6:40pm 7:52pm

(Adamawa) Fajr Zuhr Asr Magrib Ishai

– – – – –

4:39am 12:17pm 3:38pm 6:34pm 7:46pm

Ramadan 15th, 1434AH

(Source: Islamicfinder.org)

Borno presents 1,800 bags of rice to the poor

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ORNO State Government has distributed 1,800 bags of rice and sugar to indigent persons in Borno South Senatorial district.

Commissioner of Religious Affairs and Special Education Alhaji Usman Durkwa, presented the items in Azare, the headquarters of Hawul Local Government Area.

Durkuwa said the items would be distributed to the needy in Hawul, Biu, Chibok, Bayo, Gwoza, Shani, Askira-Uba, Kwaya-Kusar and Damboa local government areas.

He said the gesture would assist the less-privileged to observe fast with ease.

Durkuwa said the items would be distributed through traditional rulers

to ensure effectiveness, adding that cash would also be given to them.

He said the presentation was part of government efforts to ensure the welfare of the people.

“Governor Kashim Shettima will transform the state in the areas of health, housing, agriculture, rural infrastructure, and poverty alleviation, among others. We urge the people to support the administration to get the dividends of democracy and good governance,” he said.

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Chairman in Hawul, Alhaji Abdu Isa, who received the items, thanked the state government for the gesture, adding that the presentation would alleviate the hardship of the people.

RAMADAN GUIDE WITH FEMI ABBAS

e-mail: femabbas@yahoo.com Tel: 08122697498

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Essence of sahur

T is common to hear from some Muslims that waking to eat in the nights of Ramadan in preparation for daily fast is a very difficult task. Such Muslims prefer to eat their Sahur in the evening before going to bed only to wake up in the morning for Salatus-Subh alone. This innovation based on whim is abundantly wrong and in contradiction of the laid down Islamic norm for Ramadan fast.

Sahur is a peculiar condition signifying the divine obligation of Ramadan fast. The word Sahur (meaning awakening) literally connotes the rise from sleep by fasting Muslims in the early hours of the day throughout the month of Ramadan. It is one of the elements of discipline imparted on Muslims for a whole month in a year. Sahur is a traditional obligation for any Muslim who is qualified to fast in the month of Ramadan.

Its essence is not just to eat and drink in preparation for the day's fast. It is also a means of interacting spiritually with Allah either in form of worship ('Ibadah) or that of supplication (Du'au). Sahur confirms that the nights of Ramadan are as important as its days as the fast therein is not about refraining from eating and drinking alone as misconceived by some people. Waking up for Sahur is the main distinction between Islamic fast and other fasts. It emphasizes the fact that the sacred month does not take away the legal life of Muslims away from them. The divine prescription of Ramadan is to fast in the days and not in the night. That prescription has taken into consideration the fact that it is impossible for anybody to genuinely claim to be fasting while spending his or nights sleeping. Whoever deliberately shuns Sahur in the nights of Ramadan is a breaker of a fundamental Islamic norm.

Thus, Sahur provides an ample opportunity for informed Muslims to become closer to their Lord spiritually and temporally. That is why such important segments of Ramadan like Tahajjud and Laylatul Qadr are planted in the deep belly of the nights. Rejecting Sahur, therefore, for the reason of inconvenience is rejecting the discipline embedded in the sacred month of Ramadan with its abundant blessings. Of what benefit will it then be for anybody to just refrain from eating and drinking in the days of Ramadan only to throw away the blessings encapsulated in its nights? Ramadan fast without Sahur is like the days of life without the nights.

•From right: Sheikh Adangba; Ghebreas; Umoh and Alhaja Qudrah Dada

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HE United States Consular General in Lagos on Wednesday hosted the annual Iftar (Breaking of fast) at the American Employees Guest Quarters in Ikoyi.

The Iftar was designed to bring together people from diverse faith to promote peace, religious tolerance, interfaith dialogue, cooperation and foster mutual understanding.

Acting Consul General Dehab Ghebreab said: “This holy month is an opportunity for family and friends to come together and celebrate the principles that bind people of dif-

A

U.S Consulate hosts Iftar

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

ferent faith – a commitment to peace, justice, equality and compassion towards our fellow human beings. These bonds are far stronger than the differences that too often drive us apart…. The United States stands with those who are working to build a world where all people can write their own future and practise their faith freely, without fear of violence.”

Among the speakers at the

event was Sheikh Abdurahman Adangba, the National Missioner of Fatih-ul-Quareeb Society of Nigeria, who delivered a sermon on. “The Meaning and Significance of Ramadan.”

Sheikh Adangba spoke on Ramadan and its role in bridging the dialogue gap among different cultures and religions.

Other speakers include Dr. Bello Adeshina, Reverend Father Michael Umoh and Mrs.

Let Ramadan unite us

MEMBER of the House of Representatives Moruf Akinderu-Fatai has enjoined Nigerians to build on the mutual relationship among them for the continued peace, security and progress of the country.

Akinderu-Fatai, who represents Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency I urged Nigerians, irrespective of religious affiliation to see their neighbours as brethren.

He enjoined Muslims to exploit a component of breaking fast with people of different faith “as an effort to bridge and foster peace” in the nation.

“We need to pray and work together for the peace, unity and progress of our country. We have no other place to call our country. We must therefore do all we can to protect and preserve our common heritage,” he said.

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

He assured Nigerians that the atmosphere that would be created in such an engagement would promote peaceful coexistence, regardless of faith.

“The holy month of Ramadan should be seen as a blessing to our nation at this period; principles of Ramadan fast as they relate to societal cooperation should be imbibed and exploited.

Let us explore this opportunity to renew our commitment to our nation and strengthen the bonds of unity among our people, irrespective of tribe or religion,” he noted.

Akinderu-Fatai cautioned clerics to be wary of their sermons, saying the core of their messages should always centre on love to achieve the desired unity and understanding.

Mustapha-Koiki Adepate, a lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos.

Lawmaker donates food From Kolade Adeyem, Kano

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LAWMAKER representing Shanono/Bagwai constituency Farouk Lawan has donated over 2,000 bags of rice, sugar and maize to the needy in his constituency to cushion the effects of Ramadan.

Lawan, while presenting the foods said the gesture is in the spirit of Ramadan, stressing the need to donate to the needy during this fasting period.

The kind gesture, he said, was part of his transformation agenda to assist the needy during the fasting period, adding that many would benefit from the food items.

“This is the fasting period and we should give to the needy and under-privileged and that is why I deemed it fit to make things easier for them during the fasting period”.

•From left: Baba Adinni of IjebuAiyepe Alhaji Safiriyu Shittu; renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Muhydeen Ajani Bello; Managing Director Staco Insurance Mr Shakiru Oyefeso and Chairman, Ijebu-Aiyepe Muslim Community Alhaji Musibau Oyefeso during Ramadan lecture organised by the Muslim Community at Aiyepe Central Mosque, IjebuAiyepe, Ogun State ...yesterday

RAMADAN DIET "O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination, - of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that you may prosper. Satan's plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: will you not then abstain?

- Qur'an Sponsored by ALHAJI JUBREEL & ALHAJA SHERIFAT ABDULKAREEM, Chairman, Agege Local Govt Area, Lagos

BUSINESS

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

N1.8b lost to smuggled poultry products From Olugbenga Adanikin,

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Abuja

IGERIA lost about N1.8 billion to illegal imports of poultry products in three years, The Nation has learnt.

The imports, which were smuggled into the country through the Republic of Benin, between 2009 and 2011, weighed about 3.05 million metric tons. They include chicken and turkey.

In a document made available to The Nation by Director-General, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Onallo Akpa in Abuja, indicated that out of about 3.2 million metric tons of livestock exported to Benin, 95 per cent of the commodity were smuggled into the country, despite strict measures by men of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

He said this accounted for the astonishing volume of poultry products import into the Republic of Benin between 2009 and 2011. The imports per year include 2009 (843,277mt,), 2010 (1,136,440mt), 2011 (1,237,643mt) summed up to (3,217,360mt), adding that the these volumes represented imports from Europe alone, excluding those from Brazil and the United States.

“If 95 per cent of these exports end up in Nigeria through smuggling, it then translates that three million metric tons of the products are sold in the market, thereby translating to an economic loss of about N1.8 billion to Nigeria,” he stated.

The Federal Government had prohibited importation of poultry products to boost production of local farmers and local consumption of the produce.

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11 At the moment there is an average of about 18 hours per day of constant power supply to different parts of the country. This feat was brought about by the implementation of the integrated power sector reform programme anchored on the power roadmap.

- Minister of Information, Labaran Maku

Reps to probe BoI for N300b intervention funds’ disbursement

HE House of Repre sentatives has resolved to probe the Bank of Industry (BoI) for the disbursement of the N300 billion intervention Funds meant to shore up the power and aviation sectors.

This followed the adoption of the prayers of a motion presented under urgent public importance by a member, Bimbo Daramola.

Subsequently, the House set up an eight-man ad-hoc committee for this purpose.

While presenting the motion, titled: “ Motion on the urgent need to investigate the use of public funds by the Bank of Industry (BoI), under the Power and Airlines Intervention Fund as established by the Central Bank of Nigeria in

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

2013,” the lawmaker said BoI was flouting the provisions of Sections 80 and Section 81 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

“These Sections state that all revenues and money belonging to the Federation must be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation; and withdrawals therefrom can only result from an Act of the National Assembly.”

He said as at September 2012, the Central Bank of Nigeria, had disbursed public funds about N176 billion to various banks, through the Bank of Industry (BOI)

in Nigeria without approval of the National Assembly under the Power and Airlines Intervention Fund (PAIF), as established by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He said there are indications that since September last year, this had continued unabated, arguing that these disbursements were irregularly made by the BoI to 13 Deposit Money Banks, namely: Access Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, GTB Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, FCMB, Diamond Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC, First Bank Plc , Ecobank Plc, UBA Plc, Unity Bank Plc, Mainstreet Bank Limited, and Skye Bank Plc.” Daramola said from reports and preponderance of assessment studies, “the

transactions were not carried out in a manner that is devoid of doubts, and violating due private and public sector lending norms.”

He expressed concern that the practice has generated bad-blood among the commercial banks, the banking public, equity investors and depositors, stressing that the initiative and its execution, if not monitored, is susceptible to widespread impunity, abuse of office, and moral hazards in the entire Nigerian economy.”

While alerting members to the negative effects that the initiative could have on the nation’s rate of inflation, exchange and interest rates, Daramola said the functions of the legislature include,

12 states to benefit from World Bank’s $350m From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

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DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$107/barrel Cocoa-$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N10.6 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -9% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending -22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $48b FOREX CFA -0.2958 EUR -206.9 £ -242.1 $ -156 ¥ -1.9179 SDR -238 RIYAL -40.472

among others, to check waste, fraud and corruption in the use of public funds in all sectors, including the banking system and expenditures. He said that such expenditures “must have approval of the National Assembly.”

He expressed conviction that the practice would be a fore-runner to an imminent wide-spread impunity in the use of public funds, especially through the banking system.

After the vote on the motion was overwhelmingly supported by members, the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, set up an eight-man committee headed by Bimbo Daramola Other members are Debo Oluagbo, Victor Nwokolo, Matthew Omigara, Akeem Oyedun, Jerry Manwe, Sambo Nakudu and Evelyn Oboro.

The mandate of the committee includes the determination of the real amount made available by CBN to BoI for the initiative till date, and the situation surrounding subsequent releases.

• From left: Manager, Public Affairs, Kaduna Refinery and Petrolchemical Company (KRPC), Alhaji Idris Abdullahi; Managing Director, Ejeg Petrol Station, Mr Benjamin Omale and Community Relations Officer, Pipeline Product Marketing Company (PPMC), Mr Audu Bisallah, during the launch of KRPC Community Kerosene in Kaduna ... yesterday.

CBN directs banks to segment public sector funds T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday mandated banks to report seperately, the public sector funds in their monthly and daily bank returns.

In a circular to lenders, CBN Director, Banking Supervision, Benjamin Fakunle said the banks will from August 7, categorise their deposits under the Federal, State and Local Government deposits, with the reports included as additional memorandum items.

He said the policy was fallout of a review of recent development in the economy during the last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

He said the reporting format requires that banks group their deposits under a

•Apex bank extends agents’ contracts

By Collins Nweze

specified code. He said Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and companies’ naira deposits will be reported under Federal Government Demand Deposits.

All Federal Government MDAs and companies’ domiciliary accounts deposits will come under Federal Government Time Deposits while all state government’s MDAs and companies’ naira deposits fall within State Government Demand Deposits.

Also, all state government

MDAs and companies’ domiciliary accounts deposits in naira will fall under State Government time deposits while local government’s MDAs and companies’ naira deposits will be reported under Local Government demand deposits category.

Fakunle said local governments’ MDAs and companies’ domiciliary accounts deposits in naira will fall under local government time deposits.

He said the banking watchdog would closely monitor the implementation of these decisions, while banks were advised to ensure strict compliance with this directive

and render their reports transparently and accurately or be sanctioned.

Meanwhile, the apex bank has extended by one year, contract for pre-shipment inspection agents (PIAs) for oil and gas export under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) from June 7, 2013.

Government had on May 4, appointed three pre-shipment agents namely Globalscan Systems Technology Limited; JBIS Integrated Resources Limited and Robinson International Energy Limited.

Others are Trobel International Nigeria Limited, Candid Oil Services Limited and Gulf Inspection Services Limited.

Also, Messers Arlington Securities Limied and Swede Control Intertek Limited. They were appointed to oversee the PIAs.

WELVE states have been earmarked to benefit from a World Bank’s $350million Water Fund designed to increase access to water supply and sanitation in the country, The states are Lagos, Bauchi, Kano, Gombe, Anambra, Ekiti, Plateau, Benue, Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia and Ondo.

The Head, Water Sector Reform, Benson Ajisegiri, who made this known in Abuja at a workshop organised by the Ministry of Water Resources in collaboration with the World Bank, said two states were selected per geo-political zone based on the performance of the agencies in the states in terms of the quality of water supply.

“We have on-going projects in five states, Lagos, Cross River, Kaduna, Enugu and Ogun with $520million from the World Bank. It has been going on since 2004.

“We are trying to increase the number of states and we have selected 12 states out of which three are the upmost, and we are adding $350 million that we are processing with the World Bank which will become effective by January next year.

He said the criteria for selection was based on the performance of the agencies in the states.

“We looked at the water supply, population, regularity of service, recovery cost, and the quality of water given to the people. It is after the appraisal that we know the specific amount to be given to each states,” he added

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

BUSINESS NEWS

Ogun, BoI create over 4000 SMEs jobs A

BOUT 4,000 direct and indirect jobs have been created in the last two years by the Ogun State Government through loan granted youths and women to establish Small and Scale Medium Enterprises (SMEs), or expand existing ones.

The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, who stated this in Abeokuta yesterday, said the state government did it in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BoI).

He said the Ministry has facilitated the opening of no fewer than 35 industries in the same period, adding that Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s administration remained committed to creating more enabling environment for industries to thrive and more jobs to be created.

He said the state government had just disbursed N81million to 14 cooperative societies across the state, to help members re-capitalise SMEs. He said the money is expected to be of benefit to over 140 individuals from the 14 different cooperative societies, adding that the loan is to alleviate poverty, empower the people, check crimes resulting from idleness and to encourage creation of wealth.

He said the loan, which attracts seven per cent interest rate, would be paid within 30

From Franca Ochigbo, Zilla Alelumhe and Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

months, while the interest would be paid for six months without the principal rate.

Ashiru enjoined the beneficiaries to make use of the loan judiciously for them to be self-employed and be mangers of their own, citing Dangote Plc as a example of a company that started as a small scale venture.

He noted that the government would make more funds available if the N1billion earmarked for such intervention is exhausted.

The Deputy Manager, BoI, Raymond Adenuga, who represented the Managing Director, Ms. Evelyn Oputu, urged the beneficiaries to pay back the credit facility promptly so that others can enjoy same.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Industry (BoI) yesterday advised Nigerians in Diaspora to invest in the manufacturing sector of the country, as it reaffirms its commitment to assist their businesses.

Its Principal Manager, Strategic Planning, Mrs Betty Obaseki, stated this at a workshop for Diaspora Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) at the Sixth Diaspora Week in Abuja.

She said the bank was considering setting up a special

desk in Lagos and Abuja to attend to the need of the Diaspora Nigerians, to enable them to invest in the manufacturing sector.

She said: “We are considering setting up a special desk in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to attend to the need of the Diasporas.

“The same products that are available to the Diasporas are available to other Nigerians. There will be no special consideration because we have a dedicated desk to meet their need, adding that the bank has shifted focus from funding large entrepreneur to Small Medium Entrepreneurs to enhance the growth and development of the economy “The bank was mostly interested in funding equipment and machinery for production and not trading, as trading does not add significant value to the economy, the bank encourages initiatives that transform raw materials to finished products.

“The best way to grow and develop African and Nigerian economy is to add value to natural resources instead of exporting them as raw materials. So to ensure growth in Africa and Nigeria economy we have to strengthen our entrepreneurs to enable them transform from our natural resources to the finished products.

Govt’s revenue did not dip, says House HE report of the House within the same period leavReport Committee on Finance ing a surplus of 389,298 bil-

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yesterday showed that the country is surpassing its revenue projections contrary to the claim by Minister for Finance Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala.

Sequel to the Minister’s claim that the Federal Government may not be able to pay salaries by September and October if the National Assembly does not return the N32 billion removed from the 2013 budget, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal in plenary session on July 17, mandated the house committee on Finance to brief the House on the status of Government revenue generation and collection for Fiscal 2012 and 2013 (January - May).

Presenting the report yesterday, Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Abdumumin Jibrin, said the country surpassed its expected revenue collection by N736.361 billion or 7.96 per

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

cent in 2012.

“Gross federally collectible revenue for Fiscal 2012 was N10. 428.857 billion (N10.428 trillion). The budgeted amount by the Appropriation act revenue framework was N9,692.496 billion (N9.692 trillion) hence the target was surpassed by N736.361 billion or 7.96 per cent,” he said.

According to him, between January and May, the gross revenue collected by the government was N4,071,441 while N4,381,485 was generated in 2012 within the same period.

The country surpassed the target by N310,074 billion or 7.08 per cent.

Oil revenue collections for the same period in 2012 was N3,483,962 billion while N3,085,664 was generated

lion or 11.43 per cent.

Similarly, non-oil revenue collections for the same period under review showed that N926,951 billion was collected in 2013 while in 2012, N824,223 billion was collected.

The difference was 102,728 billion or 12.46 more than 2012 figure.

To back the fact that the Minister’s claims were misleading, he said: “Correspondence from the OAGF have shown that the investigation carried out by the Committee on internally generated revenue of Government owned agencies from November 2012 to March 2013 have increased remittances to the tune of N108. 834 billion,” he added.

He said the report was based on documents generated from the Office of the Accountant General the Federation (OAGF).

MTN launches App Developer Challenge

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TN Nigeria has kicked off a com petition for mobile applications (apps) developers.

Christened MTN App Developer Challenge, it is targeted at the development of the relevant mobile applications relevant to the Nigerian market.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative in Lagos, the Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, Larry Annetts, said: “The MTN App Developer Challenge is a demonstration of our commitment to deliver a bold new digital world to our various stakeholders.

“This initiative represents a tangible and credible platform to make our brand promise a reality as well as

By Lucas Ajanaku

promote the growth and use of locally relevant content, which would help develop the Nigerian ecosystem via partnerships that are beneficial to the ecosystem at large.”

He said mobile applications have become an essential feature for most mobile users, adding that a growing number of Nigerians now rely on their mobile phones as the preferred choice to stay in touch and be developments in society. He said this has made local Nigerian mobile content more relevant and important than ever before.

According to the marketing chief, MTN, in fulfilment of its brand promise and commitment to enriching the lives

of Nigerians, had partnered with neXva, a multi-OS app ecosystem solutions provider to launch a branded version of the App Store called MTN NextApps Store. He said there are 1330 Apps on MTN store, made up of 1213 Free Apps, and117 Premium Apps. He said the collection is growing with a large focus on Nigerian applications.

General Manager Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Kola Oyeyemi, expressed optimism that the Challenge would produce results that are beneficial to the country, especially in the area of development of locally relevant applications that address the needs and aspirations of Nigerians.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

RECOGNITION

Imo community gets king 25 years after Imo

Chime inaugurates N17m project

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Enugu

FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

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HE rain drizzled. At a point, it came down heavily, threatening to abort the epic event. But to the woman, like others, it meant nothing. With her baby firmly strapped on her back, she dashed into the jubilant crowd and exclaimed gleefully: "Four plus four …" And the crowd gave a ready answer: "… is equal to eight!"

The excitement was infectious.

To an average Ekiti State resident, the refrain has bcome an anthem, which is anchored on one conviction: That the state governor, Dr John Kayode Fayemi (JFK), premised on his

FACILITY

CARE

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Obi gets support on N400m cancer centre Anambra

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Page 15

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Self-help initiative excites Ekiti residents

By Dada Aladelokun

meritorious performance so far, will spend another four-year term.

St Augustine's High School OyeEkiti, the rendezvous, was aglow with merriments. Traditional rulers led their subjects, including local government chairmen, to Fayemi's presentation of N300 million grants to 82 communities in aid of their sundry self-initiated projects.

"I'm now more than convinced that our party has a dependable ambassador in this man (Fayemi),"

national chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande, tacitly said.

Two imposing billboards bearing his picture and that of the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, welcomed everyone into the expansive arena, where two one-storey classrooms recently rehabilitated by the Fayemi-led administration, stand.

Assorted banners with headswelling accolades for Fayemi from various groups - competed for space in the sprawling premises. Youths and women espe-

cially, donned JKF-branded Tshirts.

Local drums and traditional songs ruled the air. Masquerades were not left out. The outing was a carnival. Briefly, Fayemi and his affable Chief-of Staff, Yemi Adaramodu, were welcomed by tumultous crowds.

That the people are together with Fayemi in the train of governance, became clearer when the event was kick-started with the state anthem.

Every lip was busy.

Then some veteran actors and acresses stepped out to spice up the

occasion. Chief Jimoh Aliu and Lere Paimo (Eda Onileola) led others including Elesho, Nike Peller and Lanko Omooba Dubai in an enchanting drama presentation that highlighted Fayemi's impressive services.

Dignitaries were held spellbound. Also at the programme Ajose Eyiyato - were: Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; the governor's wife, Erelu Bisi; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale •Continued on Page 50

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VER N1b. More than 250 patrol vans.

That is what the Anambra State government is committing to security in the state.

But that is not all. Communities are getting a total sum of N250m, each taking no less than N1.3m, for the welfare of vigilance groups and maintenance of their vehicles. Markets are among the immediate benficiaries of the security boost.

Some reckon that never in the history of the state has its government paid this much attention to the safety of life and property.

Governor Peter Obi presented the vehicles to the relevant authorities, and also handed out cheques covering the cash meant for the towns and their vigilance groups.

Obi said some towns would receive more because they have more than 10 vigilance people, depending on their population and size, even as he recalled that the presentation was not the first time the state was procuring and giving out security vehicles.

He said his administration has purchased over 300 vehicles for security agencies in the state as well as assisted them in various ways, including building roads in barracks in order to enhance their security operations.

Monarchs hailed the gesture, with the chairman of the state Traditional Rulers Council, Obi Alfred Achebe of Onitsha and Eze-Uzu of Awka, Obi Gibson Nwosu, standing out among the traditional leaders who applauded the governor’s safety initiatives.

They said Obi’s move will boost the performance of vigilance groups in the state recalling that Governor Obi also once donated about 250 vans to the police.

The royal fathers said the security initiative was a step in the right direction in order to crush criminality in the state.

Speaking at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, the state capital, while presenting the vehicles, Obi said the gesture has opened a new vista in crime watch and fight.

The vehicles, fitted with sophisticated security gadgets, were given to vigilance groups in 177 communities and markets.

The governor said that the vehicles going to each town should be

•Governor Peter Obi (middle) presenting the vehicles’ keys to the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe. With them is the President General of PHOTO: ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU Awka, Mr. Peter Nwagwu

Anambra steps up security Over 250 patrol vehicles provided

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha

restricted to the community’s specific security purposes. He also warned against use of the vehicles to provide escort for politicians and other non-security activities.

The state government equally took further to curb crime. Governor Obi announced the ban of commercial sex workers or CSWs, giving them and their criminal associates seven days to quit their locations. It was a typical Obi crackdown on vice.

He directed monarchs to take a census of the people living in their communities and order those with questionable characters to leave the state.

“When we assist federal organisations in the state and partner with churches and organisations working in Anambra for the people of the state, I do so because they work for the benefit of Anambra people. Like the churches, I work with them because with lesser money, they achieve more than we do using regular contractors. I understand contrac-

tors are not happy with this, but let them realise that we are doing what will be ultimately more beneficial to the people,” Obi said.

Speaking further, he called on the people of the state to intensify prayers for the electorate to elect somebody better than himself so that the revolution in the state will be sustained in order not to go back to the inglorious past of bad leadership.

The governor said the decision to buy the vehicles from INNOSON Motor Manufacturing was to encour-

age local industries for the expansion of the industrial base of the state. He said that the new set of his official vehicles had been ordered from INNOSON, as well as 500 buses for all the schools in the state by the end of the year.

In his vote of thanks, the chairman of Traditional Rulers Council, Alfred Achebe said that Obi was a blessing to Anambra State. He commended his development of all sectors of the state and described as “unprecedented”, the measures the governor has taken to raise the standard of the state and its people.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

16

Chime inaugurates N17m project for the elderly

Anambra to provide additional facilities in schools

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•Vice Chairman Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area, Hon. Funmilayo Fiddi(right) being assisted by the representative of Lagos Commissional for Environment

Group plans 3,400 housing units

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BIA State Housing and Allied Products Cooperative Association Ltd is to construct 3,400 housing units in the state, the President, Chief Enwerem Chinyereze, has said.

Chinyereze told journalists in an interview in Umuahia that the project would be realised through the Informal Sector Cooperative Housing Loan Scheme of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).

“Under this project, 200 housing units will be built in each of the 17 local government areas of the state to curb the growing housing deficit,” he said.

Chinyereze said that the housing estates would be developed by the cooperative society in partnership with traditional rulers and local communities.

“There is a window that offers individual cooperative members a mortgage loan to buy a housing unit developed through this scheme.

“Cooperators shall make a down payment of 15 per cent of the approved selling price as their personal stake in the loan, while an in-

Abia dividual cooperator shall enjoy the housing loan at six per cent interest per annum,” he said.

Chinyereze appealed to the state government for support to ensure that the informal sector in the state benefited from the scheme.

“This is a project that is being implemented across the country and it is necessary that the informal sector of our state benefits from it.

“The condition is that traditional rulers will provide empty pieces of land with title of ownership for this project to take off.

“The state government will need to play a central role in ensuring that Certificate of Occupancy of such pieces of land is got with relative ease,” he said.

The Informal Sector Cooperative Housing Loan Scheme is a product of the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme.

It is designed to accommodate non-salaried informal sector Nigerians through cooperative societies to join the NHF.

HE Anambra State government has said it would put additional facilities in schools in the state to enhance their capacity to deliver qualitative learning.

Governor Peter Obi said this during the inauguration of a renovated school hall and access road to Agulu Girls’ Secondary School, Agulu, in Anaocha Local Government Area (LGA).

“The additional intervention would be: provision of buses to all public secondary schools, mission and privately-owned schools in the state.

“Providing more money for erection and equipping of libraries in all primary and secondary schools notwithstanding their owners.

“Providing additional computers to secondary schools in the state as well as giving more money for rebuilding of schools,’’ he said.

He expressed satisfaction that schools in the state were wearing new look through the state partnership with the mission.

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In another development, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, former Governor of the CBN said, “Governor Obi is a man of destiny whose disciplined and God-fearing life has ensured his success in life’’.

Soludo said this during a memorial thanksgiving mass at St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Isuofia in Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State .

He thanked the governor for his achievements noting: “He has laid strong foundation for sustainable development which future administrations can consolidate on.

“The state needs a credible successor to continue the good works embarked on by the present administration and also sustain other gains.’’

He, however, expressed dislike for Governor Obi’s plan to retire from politics, adding that the country needed people like him especially during these trying times.

Oyo constituency to the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The lawmaker who spoke shortly after he received over 3000 decampees in his constituency with the governor in the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, assured the leaders of the ACN in the state that more defectors are still on the way to join the progressive party.

Awoleye, who praised the effort of the governor in giving the state a new look, stated

Rotary to train youths in skills

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OTARY Club of Lagos West has promised to execute projects that will change the lives of youths and other social miscreants through its vocational and skill acquisition programmes scheduled to take place later in the year.

The club’s president, Mrs. Elizabeth Bakara at a dinner with reporters, said the training was aimed at developing the youths and taking them off the streets in view of the challenges they face in securing gainful employment.

She stated that part of the training would include adult literacy class that could further enhance their knowledge of how to manage their talent . “This is in line with Rotary International policy of ensuring growth in communities and that is why we are doing this to those under our areas of operation.”

She noted that the training would make them look inward on how to better their own lives by being independent instead of searching for jobs that are non-existent.

She explained that during the Rotary calendar year under view,the club would sink boreholes, donate medical equipment at Festac

By Musa Odoshimokhe

Health Centre and award scholarship to five indigent students.“We are going to equally empower five outstanding vocational students, the entrepreneurship seminar for youth and undergraduate will assist them not to roam the streets,”she said.

She further stated that the club would visit inmates at the Kirikiri prison, where they would be counseled and told how to live a better life having served their terms of imprisonment.

The club president stressed that in the course of its activities seminars would be organised in tertiary institution of learning and papers would be delivered on peace building and conflict resolution.

“There is the need to embark on community health programme, cervical screening, breast screening, blood pressure check, donation of toiletries and the unveiling of the four way test plaque.”

She maintained that the project would cost the club over N1.5 million but noted that most of the fund would be given by donors and public spirited organisations.

• Members of the Rotary Club of Lagos West during their meeting at Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

• From left: Dr Renny H Cookey, MD/CEO Reneva International Ltd, Mr Bomi Bhote, CEO Ruby Hall Clinic, Dr P K Grant Managing Trustee & Chief Cardiologist Ruby hall Clinic, Dr Sola Olanrewaju, Medical Director, First Rivers Hospital, Mr A. K. Puri, Director, Transmedical Healthcare (P) Ltd, after signing the MoU at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, India.

First Rivers, Indian hospitals sign MoU

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T • Governor Obi In a remark, the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, said the collaboration between Anambra government and the Church had made clear difference which other states should emulate.

Lawmaker urges support for Ajimobi

A member of the House of Representatives, from Ibadan North Federal constituency, Hon. Abiodun Dada Awoleye, has urged the entire residents of Oyo State to continue to pray and support the state government.

He said their prayer and support for the present governor in the state is responsible for the landmark achievement recorded by the present administration in the state.

Awoleye also noted that the achievement is responsible for the massive defection of the people from different political parties in his

N its bid to bring healthcare closer to the people, a renowned medical outfit in Port Harcourt, First Rivers Hospital Ltd, has signed two separate agreements with two of India’s foremost medical centres, Ruby Hall Clinic and Transmedical Healthcare Ltd, all in the city of Pune India. This unique feat which is the first of its kind, was facilitated by Reneva International Ltd, a management and training consultancy firm based in Port Harcourt. The parties in the agreements agreed to upgrade the facilities and healthcare services at First Rivers Hospital to a world class level with the latest technologies in XRays, Sonography, CT Scan/MRI, CathLab, Dialysis Centre, Diagnostic laboratory, Video Conferencing suite, etc. as well as providing online/real time and direct access to Specialist Consultants’ expertise at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, India.

Ruby Hall Clinic is the award winning hospital for the best medical tourism facility in India in 2012, awarded by the Ministry of Tourism Government of India. It is India’s most preferred medical destination with internationally renowned healthcare facility and integrated World Class Healthcare services that blends the 21st Century State-of-the-art Technology with an upscale luxury environment.

With over 700 beds and 150 intensive care beds, over 3,000 staff ( including 300 specialist /super consultants, 750 panel doctors and 1500 paramedical staff), 12 diagnostic centres, four Cathlabs, 20 Operation Theatres, two Lin-

ear Accelerators, PET CT Scanner, 3 Tesla MRI Scanner with broadband facility, 14 MRI machines, six CT Scanners, Ruby Hall Clinic is able to provide superior and diverse medical services to patients from anywhere in the world under one roof at affordable costs.

Ruby Hall Clinic has one of the largest Cardiac Centre and Cancer Unit in India with over 150,000 coronary angiographies, 80,000 angioplasties and 70,000 bypass surgeries to date.

It is widely recognised as a one stop shop for cancer detection and treatment. Ruby Hall Clinic also has the most advanced centre for bone marrow and stem cell transplant in India.

The Dialysis Unit has 20 modern hemodialysis machines performing over 15,000 dialysis sessions per year. With over 1,000 kidney transplantation so far to its credit, Ruby Hall Clinic is not resting on its laurel and is working hard to bring affordable medical care to the door steps of those that need them the most through sustainable partnership agreements.

According to Bomi Bhote, the Chief Executive Officer, Ruby Hall Clinic,” this partnership agreement between First River Hospital and Ruby Hall Clinic will drive our effort to upgrade the facilities at First Rivers Hospital to international standards and provide unlimited access to specialist consultants at Ruby Hall Clinic via video links so as to obtain on-time diagnostics and quality second opinion at your finger tip”.

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that the defectors are from the major and strong political parties in the state such as People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Accord Party (AP) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) but the good work of the governor attracted them to join the progressives in the state.

He said: “The ongoing defection into the ruling ACN in the state is as a result of the positive changes that the state is witnessing since the inception of Governor Ajimobi’s administration. He has transformed the state in the areas of education, infrastructural development, urban renewal, health, agriculture, transportation, women and youth’s empowerment and human development. The dynamic representation by the party’s political office holders in the state is also among the rationale behind the mass defection into the party.

“I want to urge entrants to remain in the party so as to move the state forward. More defectors are on their way to the party in the state, especially in my constituency. The secret behind their defection is because we are still counting our achievements; the more we are counting our feats, the more the people come in to the party. I urge residents of the state to continue in the unalloyed support for the present government.”

The defectors were led by former councillors, supervisory councillors and members of caretaker committees in Ibadan North Local Government from 2003 to 2011 and were received by the state governor, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi, ACN chairman in Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke and Hon. Abiodun Dada Awoleye.

Communities want road repaired

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HE people of Isuaniocha and Mgbakwu in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State have pleaded with the state government to repair the road linking them with neighbouring communities.

Chief Godson Ezenagu, a former Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development in the state, who is also from the area, made the plea in Awka in an interview with journalists Ezenagu expressed regrets that indigenes of the two communities were suffering untold hardship due to the deplorable condition of the road.

According to him, the people are finding it difficult to move their farm produce to major markets in other areas of the state, especially as the rainy season has set in.

He said he and other rural dwellers had spent some amount of money to rehabilitate the road from Nkwo Mgbakwu to Isuaniocha without much success.

Ezenagu said the one-kilometre road linking some vital institutions had been abandoned and was no longer accessible.

The former commissioner noted that many presentations made to the state government to rehabilitate the road had not yielded the expected result.

He appealed to Governor Peter Obi for immediate intervention, saying this would be cherished as a parting gift and legacy of his administration to the communities.

HE wife of the Enugu State governor, Mrs Clara Chime, has inaugurated an elevator built at the cost of N17 million at the Lady of Perpetual Help Home for the Elderly in Enugu.

Inaugurating the project, Chime said the elevator, built on request by the management of the home, was to ease the movement of the elderly in the home.

“The elevator will go a long way in helping the elderly in the home. Most of them are disabled, they have arthritis and many are on wheel chairs and so, using the stairs is cumbersome for them.

“So there will be no restrictions for them from now. It is free movement,’’ she said.

In her speech, the Mother Superior of the home, Rev. Sister Philomena Reilly, praised the government for the project.

Reilly, who disclosed that it cost N1 million monthly to run the home, appealed to the government and philanthropists for as-

Enugu sistance.

“We spend more than N1 million every month to take care of the old people here.

They are 46 in number and we also need a bus to take them to the hospital as required. We want the government to support us,’’ she said.

Some of the elderly who spoke during the occasion commended the wife of the governor for her support, noting that it had encouraged them to live longer.

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The governor’s wife was represented by the Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Women Development, Mrs Ndidi Chukwu.

NGO empowers 150 youths

NON-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Concerned Women and Youth Empowerment in Delta State, said it had so far empowered 150 youths in the state.

The Executive Director of the NGO,Mrs

• Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Kehinde Bamigbetan with other council executives planting a tree in Ailegun area of the council in commemoration of year 2013 tree planting exercise in Lagos State.

HAIRMAN of Yaba Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Olajide Jimoh, has pleaded with the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to give at least two additional wards to Lagos Mainland Local Government Area.

He made the appeal during an interactive forum on delineation of wards and creation of additional polling units organised by LASIEC at the council secretariat.

Jimoh noted that the two councils are like twins, pointing out that since Mainland Local Government Area has higher population and more landmass, the commission should recommend at least additional two wards for Mainland Local Government as it did for his own council, Yaba LCDA. Also speaking at the occasion, the chairman of Mainland Local Government, Oladele Adekanye, expressed happiness that his colleague in Yaba LCDA, shared the feelings of

• Governor Chime

Rivers Tessy Nwaezeapu, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Asaba.

She said the youths who were selected from three local government areas (LGAs) of the state were trained in catering, soap-making and pop corn-making.

Nwaezeapu said the youths were from Agbor in Ika North East, and the Sapele and Isoko South LGAs. “A total of 50 youths each were picked from the local government areas and at the end of the training, some starter-packs were given to them to enable them start their own business,’’ she added.

The executive director said the essence of the training was to reduce unemployment, as well as help check youth restiveness in the state.

She also disclosed that apart from the youth empowerment programmes, the NGO had been organising series of seminars on how to check youth restiveness.

“The NGO has also embarked on an enlightenment campaign on issues relating to women’s health, child protection and capacity-building,’’ the executive director said.

She said further that the organisation had in the last one year been able to empower women in the area of 35 per cent as stipulated by the Women Affirmative Action.

“The essence of empowering the women through the 35 per cent affirmative action was to encourage women in the state to go for elective positions,’’ the executive director said.

Council seeks more wards

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

the people of his council in their demand for additional wards and polling units.

He, however, expressed disappointment that the commission could not recommend any additional ward for his council. He, therefore, declared that his council would submit a memorandum to the commission on the demand of the people for new wards and polling units in the area.

Adekanye reaffirmed that the chairmen of the two councils are like Siamese twins and inseparable, noting that actions that could create unnecessary rivalry between the two councils must be avoided.

Replying on behalf of the chairman of the

commission, Olalekan Mabinuori, a Commissioner in the Commission, assured the people that the commission would do all within its power to meet the demand of the residents.

He added that the commission would be fair and just to all concerned in a bid “to deepen democracy”, stressing that LASIEC is doing what no other State Independent Electoral commission in the Federation has done”.

Mabinuori also allayed the fears of the people on the structural changes that would arise from the ward delineation and Polling Units creation exercise, pointing out that the commission would embark on public enlightenment and sensitisation when the exercise is concluded to educate the people.

Church marks 13th anniversary ACTIVITIES marking the 13th year anniversary of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Rock of Ages Parish, Magodo Area 2 began on July 21 with prophetic ministration auchored

by Pastor Victor Akinwande. The event will continue with praise and power night today at 10.pm.

On Saturday, July 27, the church will be involved in community outreach programme at 2.00pm with the grand finale of the programme on Sunday, July 28 at 9.00am. The venue is Magodo Area 2 LP 21 Magodo GRA, Ikosi/Isheri Local Council Development Area.

Speaking on the programme, the chief host, Pastor Titus Osawe, described this year’s anniversary and thanksgiving celebration as the period to appreciate God for what he has done for members in the past years and months till date.

• From left: Chairman, Yaba Local Council Development Area, Hon. Jide Jimoh, Chairman, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, Justice Abdul-Fatai Adeyinka, Chairman, Mainland Local Government Area, Hon. Oladele Adekanye, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Moshood Oshun and a commissioner in the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, Hon. Olalekan Mabinuori at an interactive forum organised by the commission at Yaba LCDA secretariat in Lagos.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

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AGRO-BUSINESS

Govt urged to prevent outbreak of bird flu T

HE Federal government has been advised to strengthen surveillance at the country’s borders to prevent the outbreak of the strain of avian influenza.

Bird flu strain was first recorded in the country seven years ago in the wake of it outbreak in China where it killed scores.

A livestock expert, Dr Ademola Adeyemo, urged the government to take health and control measures to ensure that the nation is

Stories by Daniel Essiet

bird flu-free.

Adeyemo of the Department of General Administration, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), said the government should monitor migratory birds and backyard poultry, enforce surveillance of animal health at borders.

While responding to the discovery of the A(H7N9) influenza virus in China early this year, the Food and Agriculture Organisa-

Borno spends N15b on agriculture

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HE Borno State government spent more than N15 billion on agriculture “to ensure an aggressive grassroots socioeconomic development,” Governor Kashim Shettima has said.

In an interview in Maiduguri, Shettima said the money was used to purchase agricultural implements to prepare ground for an agricultural “We (government) have invested over N15 billion in agriculture. We have acquired 600 rice mills from Thailand.

“We have also invested in many schemes like the centre pivot irrigation, the sprinkler irrigation, the green house and so on.’’

Shettima said that the action was part of his administration’s effort to address the underlining causes

• Gov Kashim Shettima

of the Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

“For us to address the Boko Haram crisis fully, we have to address the underlining causes which have to do with abject poverty.

“We have to be merchants of hope, we have to create jobs, we have to empower the youths in order to bring the problem to a final conclusion,” he said.

Shettima added: “I belief public works and agriculture will provide veritable platforms for engaging the youths.”

He said the state had great potentials in agriculture because it had the largest land mass in Nigeria.

“We are the largest in the federation in terms of land mass and I belief when properly harnessed, it will produce optimal result in agriculture. “We have a programme that will banish poverty from this part of the world,” Shettima said.

He said: “our major trust in the next two years, and if, God willing, we get another mandate from the people, is anaggressive grassroots socioeconomic empowerment programme with agriculture occupying the centre piece.”

Shettima said that the government was also making efforts to unfold a post conflict management programme to take care of the post-Boko Haram crisis in the state.

tion (FAO) warned Nigeria and other countries to be cautious in the implementation of their biosecurity measures to prevent the new bird flu strain.

FAO said that unlike other influenza strains, including highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, the new virus was hard to detect in poultry because it causes little or no signs of disease in animals.

“Unlike H5N1, where chickens were dying off on a large scale, with this virus we don’t have a red flag that immediately signals an infection. This means farmers may not be aware that the virus is circulating in their flock. Biosecurity and hygiene measures will help people protect themselves from virus cir-

• Adeyemo

• Lubroth

culating in seemingly healthy birds or other animals,” said FAO Chief Veterinary Officer, Juan Lubroth.

“With the virus harder to detect, good biosecurity measures become even more essential to reducing the risk of virus transmis-

sion to humans and animals.

Good biosecurity and hygiene measures implemented by farmers, livestock producers, transporters, market workers and consumers represent the first and most effective way to protect the food chain,” Lubroth said.

Poultry owners demand development fund

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HE Director-General, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Mr Akpa Onallo, has called for the establishment of a Special Poultry Development Fund to revive the industry.

Onallo told reporters in Abuja that the fund would be similar to the aviation development, national automotive and shipping funds.

“If a special fund can be approved for the Cassava Bread Initiative to the tune of N10 billion, we urge government to take another look at the poultry industry and encourage it to develop to compete with the advanced poultry economies of the world,” he said.

He identified high cost of input, dumping of products through smuggling and high bank lending rates as some of the major challenges threatening the survival of the country’s poultry industry.

He said multiple taxation, high electricity tariff and poor infrastructure as well as import duty differential were other key challenges.

“The present high costs of maize

and soya beans, has never been witnessed in the history of both commodities in the country.

“Poultry farmers are operating below installed capacities due to the high cost of the commodities, which constitute about 60 per cent of the plant protein source of inputs for poultry feeds,” he said.

Onallo decried the seeming apathy of commercial banks to lending to poultry farmers, describing it as a major problem hampering the further development of the industry.

“All agriculture lending from the commercial banks are now between 23 and 25 per cent interest rate. This is inimical to production and further growth of the industry,” he said.

He said that the country’s markets remained flooded with smuggled poultry products, in spite of an existing government restriction policy and efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service at tackling the problem.

According to him, an estimated

three million metric tonnes of chickens are smuggled into the country yearly mainly from the Republic of Benin, translating into an economic loss of N1.8 billion to the country.

Onallo called for urgent harmonisation of all taxes in the country, saying “if left unchecked the current multiple taxation system will cripple the industry”.

“The intervention of the Federal Government, through the Joint Tax Board, should urgently be exerted on the various States Boards of Internal Revenue.

“Poultry farming is agriculture, which traditionally should not be taxed arbitrarily as was being witnessed in the various states of the federation,’’ he added.

To remedy the situation, he urged the government to look at policies that would create demands for poultry products in the country.

He specifically called for the inclusion of egg in the government’s school feeding programme under the Universal Basic Education (UBEC).

Farmers seek import policy for soya beans, groundnut

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HE Chairman of Zumunta Farmers Association of Katsina State, Alhaji Tijjani Mamman, has urged the Federal Government to extend its rice importation policy to soya beans and groundnut.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bakori, Mamman expressed optimism that the recently introduced policy of reduction of mass importation of rice would encourage local production.

While he commended the Federal Government on its effort, the farmers’ chairman called on local farmers to use the opportunity to increase investment and to facilitate the establishment of processing centres.

“Extending such policy on soya-beans and groundnut will ensure increased production and will reduce mass importation of processed cooking vegetable oil,’’ Mamman said.

He said allowing easy passage of cooking oil into the country had deprived local farmers from benefiting from their cultivation.

According to him, poor pricing of the commodities have subjected local farmers to losses.

The chairman said that his association had embarked on estab-

lishing contacts with relevant markets and processing companies and directed farmers to sell their harvest at good price.

Mamman further commended a philanthropist, Alhaji Umar Abdullahi-Tata, who distributed 600 bags of fertiliser free to 2,400 small scale farmers in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

He said such efforts would also encourage small scale farmers and urged other wealthy individuals to emulate him.

The chairman pointed out that farmers at the grassroots were facing hardship in accessing government support programmes and advised government at all levels as well as oraginisations to always channel their supports to real farmers.

He explained that AbdullahiTata knew the problems the farmers were facing at the grassroots and provided his resources to assist them.

Mamman, who served as distribution committee chairman, said the beneficiaries were selected from 127 polling units. He said that the committee ensured that real farmers benefited from the gesture, including religious and community leaders.

• From left: President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Dr Kanayo Nwanze; Crop Utilisation Specialist, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Dr Bussie Maziya-Dixon; IITA DirectorGeneral, Dr Nteranya Sanginga; Prof. Lateef Sanni of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; and Project Coordinator, Support for Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops (SARD SC) Dr Chrys Akem, during the 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week in Ghana.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

18

AGRO-BUSINESS

How to fight ‘hidden hunger’ A

FOOD expert, Prof Tola Atinmo, has called for improved efforts to enable Nigerians access biofortified “super foods that will address hidden hunger.”

Hidden hunger is lack of vitamins and minerals that affects one in three people across the world.

Biofortification uses conventional plant breeding methods to enhance the concentration of micronutrients in food crops through a combination of laboratory and agricultural techniques.

Atinmo, Chairman, Federation of African Nutrition Societies (FANUS) and Executive Council Member, International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS), said there was need to combat micronutrient deficiencies, which can cause severe health problems such as anaemia, blindness, impaired immune response and development delays.

According to him, micronutrient malnutrition affects two bil-

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Stories by Daniel Essiet

lion people across the world.

He stressed the need to fortify staple foods, adding that experts are working on increasing iron, zinc and provitamin A content as these nutrients,which are lacking are the cause of hidden hunger.

According to him, biofortification attacks the root of the problem and is scientifically and economically viable.

Though biofortification has been adopted as a matter of national policy,he noted that it was necessary to enforce regulations for the promotion of food security. A diet lacking in iron and zinc can cause anaemia, reduced work capacity, immune system impairments, development delays, and even death. He stressed the need to assess nutritional impact on the population.

Calling for the inauguration of the National Nutrition Council,Atinmo said the Federal Executive Council had approved its constitution since

• Children planting rice at FADAMA Mada in Bauchi

February 2007.

Without the inauguration of the council, the don said it will be difficult to coordinate nutrition development activities across the country.

According to him, improving food and nutrition requires collaboration in creating and recreating ideas; seeking unity and totality of approach toward nutritional adequacy.

The council will formulate national food and nutrition policies and strategies and serve as the policy, coordinating and advisory body of food, nutrition and health concerns.

Consumers to benefit from new UN food standards

HE United Nations (UN) food standards body, Codex Alimentarius, has agreed on new standards to protect the health of consumers worldwide.

These include standards on fruits, vegetables, fish and fishery products and animal feed.

Codex also adopted codes on the prevention and reduction of ochratoxin A, a carcinogenic contaminant, in cocoa, guidance on how

to avoid microbiological contamination of berries.It also included use of claims for food that is labeled “non-addition of sodium salts” including “no added salt” on food packages, to assist consumers in choosing a healthy diet.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission, jointly run by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), sets interna-

tional food safety and quality standards to promote safer and more nutritious food for consumers worldwide. Codex standards serve in many cases as a basis for national legislation, and provide the food safety benchmarks for international food trade.

At its yearly meeting last week, Codex celebrated its 50th anniversary. The session was attended by 620 delegates from 128-member

Akwa Ibom trains 4,500 women in commercial agric

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KWA Ibom State has so far trained about 4,500 women in commercial agriculture under the Women Agro-Empowerment Development Programme, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Godwin Afangideh, has said.

Afangideh said the present administration was committed and determined to develop the agriculture sector.

“We have trained and empowered about 4,500 women with N250,000 each for commercial agriculture under the women agro-empowerment development programme in agriculture.

“This will let us explore, use available opportunities and resources to thrive and develop the agriculture sector of the state and country,” he said.

The commissioner also said 4,000 youths were trained with N500,000 each under the integrated farming scheme across the state.

He said the state government had provided land for people to boost the industrial sector in the state.

Afangideh said the policy thrust of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s administration is to create an enabling environment for industrialisation to provide employment opportunities for the youths in the state.

“The governor is excited and interested in agriculture’s development. But we also have industrial estates in Uyo, Eket, IkotAbasi and Ikot Ekpene local government areas (LGAs), as well as abundant land for those

who want to set up an industry,’’ he said.

The commissioner said when the 191 megawatts Ibom Power Plant (IPP) project is completed, it would help in driving the industrialisation process of the state.

On the development of infrastructure, he said the state government had built four flyover bridges and 28 other bridges in the state in the last six years.

Afangideh said Akwa Ibom has the best road network among states in the South-South part of the country.

He said about 1,600 communities have also been linked to the National Power Grid, adding that about 87 per cent of the communities are connected to electricity in the state.

‘Survey of fish stocks vital for growth’

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DON, Martins Anetekhai, has called for a survey to assess the status of fish stocks.

Anetekhai of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Biology, Lagos State University (LASU) noted that the fish stock was not improving.

He said the sector needs to rebuild their populations.

According to him, harvest trends and fishery conditions put the sector at risk.

As demand and fish prices rise, he said shortfall in fish supplies is likely to affect consumption.

He said the government was coming up with realistic options for developing fisheries which are genuinely sustainable and

economically viable in the long term.

Anetekhai said there was a poor data on fishing stocks. This data, he noted, can be from the government’s research institutes on fish markets and at sea on hundreds of fishing and research vessels.

The data, he explained should consist of measurements of fish: their length, weight, sex, developmental stage, and estimated age.

These data, Anetekhai noted, would be analysed and integrated into a national data on fish stocks.

He emphasised the need for a data to verify existing fishing stocks.

According to him, such surveys

need to be carried out regularly, with appropriate frequency .

Anetekhai called for a national fish disease control surveillance.

This, according to him, will provide information on aquatic animal health .

He said the sector needs a system for notification of the presence of disease and a contingency plan for fish diseases.

Anetekhai supports the crusade to put an end to decades of overfishing and rebuild dwindling stocks as part of a deal to overhaul of fisheries policy.

Across the industry, there is a strong desire now to listen to the scientists, rebuild fish stocks, cut discards, and give the fishing industry a better future.

countries and one member organisation, one observer country and 41 international governmental and non-governmental organisations, including UN agencies.

One of the important work areas for Codex is setting safe limits and giving guidance along the food chain on prevention or reduction of contamination. Food can become contaminated by heavy metals, fungal toxins or bacteria and viruses.

The Commission adopted two important codes: prevention and reduction of ochratoxin A (a carcinogenic contaminant) in cocoa and of hydrocyanic acid in cassava, both important products for developing countries.

Fresh berries can be a healthy part of the diet but are also prone to microbiological contamination and have been associated with several foodborne illness outbreaks caused by viruses (Hepatitis A, Norovirus), bacteria (E.coli) and protozoa. The new Codex text gives advice to producers and consumers on how to prevent this contamination.

The Commission adopted a number of commodity standards that will protect consumers from fraud and ensure fair practices in

the food trade: fresh and processed fruit and vegetables (e.g. avocados, chanterelles, pomegranates, table olives, date paste, and tempe) and fish and fishery products (smoked fish, abalone).

The standards also help buyers and sellers establish contracts based on Codex specifications and make sure that the consumers get from the products what they expect.

The Commission also adopted the nutrient reference values on sodium and saturated fatty acids, which are nutrients associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), to be included in the guidelines on nutrition labelling.

This is part of Codex’s on-going efforts to promote healthy dietary practices and address the increasing public health problem of dietrelated NCDs. The Commission also adopted the revised and updated guidelines on formulated supplementary foods for older infants and young children to ensure the health and nutrition of the vulnerable population group. Furthermore, it adopted hundreds of safe maximum limits for pesticide residues and veterinary drugs and provisions for food additives.

Farmers seek loan from two MfBs

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HE Plateau chapter of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) says it is negotiating with two Jos-based Microfinance Banks (MfBs) toward boosting poultry production in the state.

The Vice Chairman of the bank, Mr Na’anmiap Hyacienth, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) last Thursday in Jos that the step was aimed at securing access to credit facilities to aid members to expand their business outfits.“The measure had become necessary in view of the rising cost of managing poultry farm,’’ he said.

He said discussions had been opened with Highland Micro-finance Bank, Bukuru as well as Dadinkowa Micro-finance Bank located at the Federal Secretariat junction.

According to him, the association will partner with any of them that can offer a comfortable package that suits members’ needs.

“The bank in Dadinkowa has offered us a little above one digit loan package, but we are trying to see if they could give us a one digit package.

“The bank has also requested that we form a cooperative society so as to get a better deal. We are already working on that,’’ he said.

The vice chairmen said that most of the members were small scale farmers, who desire to expand their production capacity, but were crippled by insufficient funds.

“Farmers over the time have expressed their frustration in trying to access loan facilities from commercial banks and we feel we must do something about it.

“You also remember that Microfinance banks were established solely to take care of the financial needs of small scale farmers like us, so we have decided to exploit the opportunity,’’ he added.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

Adult content

Good trip, bad destination •The five governors’ tour to save democracy is good. But it is targeted at wrong persons

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HE tour of the five northern governors, to save democracy in the country, is a very good initiative. For one, in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis in Rivers State, President Goodluck Jonathan is literally setting fire to his own hut – and he does not seem to particularly care.

For another, aside from general insecurity in the country and a declining economy, the Abuja-backed devil-maycare assault on the rule of law, which emboldened five legislators to attempt to remove the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, that resulted in the affray in the hallowed chambers, has generated avoidable tension in the state. This has naturally driven up insecurity and exposed the clear and dangerous disconnect between the political class and society.

These are worrying signs because, from our experience, democracy often stumbled when a reckless centre tried to illegally annex the right of a constituent unit. The resultant repulsion of such evil often led to chaos.

From the benefit of hindsight therefore, the five northern governors: Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto) have acted patriotically in reaching out to personalities they felt are elder statesmen who, in their thinking, have the clout and the wisdom to help save the situation.

They have therefore visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo, General Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, all former military heads of state.

On the face of it, this is a patriotic initia-

tive. There is no doubt that the country is drifting. Even then, the Abuja-backed forces in Rivers State do not seem deterred from launching more assaults. A newspaper has reported an alleged plot, a so-called “final plan” to commit further constitutional crimes in the state, with the report hinting at assured massive security cover from an already suborned Nigeria Police.

If the approached personages can help prevent avoidable disaster therefore, the five northern governors must be praised for their initiative and Nigerians must support their efforts. But can they?

To start with, there is the grand irony of approaching three former soldiers, who ruled as military overlords because democracy was killed, to help save democracy. Though as a general principle that apparent contradiction in terms inspires little faith, it could well be argued the three gentlemen have been exposed to statecraft.

Still, approaching the three comes with serious doubts. Rightly or wrongly, they are perceived as part of the genesis of the problem – not the Rivers crisis per se, but the crisis of democracy in Nigeria.

Gen. Abubakar with Gen. Babangida played a crucial role in Gen. Obasanjo’s emergence as first president of the Fourth Republic, even with his all too obvious gruff temper, hardly suited for a country transiting from decades of military rule.

But for reasons known to them and the eerie power configuration that is always Nigeria’s Achilles heels, Obasanjo was their Hobson’s choice.

Obasanjo himself went on to shape the new republic in his own image and temper, such that whatever constitutional outrage is today being done in Goodluck

Jonathan’s name could well be out of the Obasanjo manual of political rascality. Besides Obasanjo, who never forgets a slight, has a score to settle with his estranged political godson, the president. So, how could he possibly be a part of the solution to Jonathan’s problem?

As laudable as the governors’ initiative should have been, the attempt shows the futility of running to those who are part of the problem to help solve it. That is unlikely to happen. Besides, it is the Nigerian penchant to go around in circles, because there is no political will to solve the problem.

The Rivers crisis, fuelled by a misguided Presidency, is the latest indication that Nigeria’s federalism faces basic dissonance that gives every president the delusion that it could subvert the constitution and get away with it. That can be solved through rigorous political restructuring and not by fleeing to a triumvirate that is part of the problem.

‘As laudable as the governors’ initiative should have been, the attempt shows the futility of running to those who are part of the problem to help solve it.

That is unlikely to happen.

Besides, it is the Nigerian penchant to go around in circles, because there is no political will to solve the problem’

NERC’s tariff hike •Was this commision set up merely to punish Nigerians with incessant charges?

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OR understandable reasons, Nigerians have been united in outrage at the decision by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC to hike the fixed charge on electricity usage from N500 to N700/N800. Coming at a time when supply continues to dip on daily basis, even when things are supposed to be looking up, the anger would seem perfectly justifiable. NERC obviously assumed that Nigerians have become so inured to the warped consumerism under which they are coerced to pay for services neither supplied nor delivered, to the point of losing their capacity to protest their arbitrariness. This time, it appears they were mistaken.

Nobody here suggests that the increase is anything outside of the framework of the Multi-Year-Tariff Order (MYTO) which lays out the framework for such

‘We must insist on making the point that we are not opposed to any tariff review that is reflective of the dynamics of costs. Much as the Nigerian electricity consumer appreciates the need for the investors to recover their costs, what they resist is the extortionate practice of levying them at every turn, all in the name of tariff reviews’

reviews. And, no one disputes the existence of the regulation which allows such periodic reviews. In other words, the issue is not so much about the fixed charge, an in-built cost element charged to recover some of the capital costs for producing and supplying electricity. Rather, the question on the lips of Nigerians is whether it makes sense to persuade frustrated citizens to bear further tariff increases in the circumstances that the government itself admits that very little progress has been made, measured against set targets and against its earlier declared commitments.

NERC may be right to argue that the current N700 fixed charge for R2 customers actually covers only a small fraction of the actual fixed cost of supply.

That is not the issue. What is at issue is the justification of any hike at all given NERC’s admission that “the quality of service has not seen significant improvement, especially in the area of metering and accurate billing of customers”?

The statement by NERC chairman, Sam Amadi, that “the distribution companies have not been very committed to meeting their obligations in the MYTO” comes as particularly instructive here. Shouldn’t Nigerians protest the MYTO that is so clearly skewed against them – a mechanism which seeks to reward non-performance? Shouldn’t there be some form of respite for the power-starved electricity consumers for once? These are the issues.

NERC may in its wisdom consider the increase modest; we say it is untimely

and unjustifiable; and therefore wrong.

We agree with the NERC boss when he says that “Our expectation for significant and sustained improvement in electricity supply and quality service lies in the expected takeover by the privatisation preferred bidders, who have better incentives and commitment, and have made enforceable promises to invest continuously in providing better services to consumers”.

No one argues at this time that this is the way to go. The issue is the apparent lack of seriousness on the part of the Federal Government to make this realisable at the shortest possible time. Today, the issues of severance package for disengaged Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (PHCN) staff remains largely unresolved; we also saw how avoidable controversies and tardiness nearly botched the takeover of the transmission sector by Manitoba Hydroelectric of Canada. Even the government had to change gear on the issue of pre-paid meters; now it is the consumer that is being called upon to pay for meters as against government’s initial plan to supply them free to the consumers.

We must insist on making the point that we are not opposed to any tariff review that is reflective of the dynamics of costs. Much as the Nigerian electricity consumer appreciates the need for the investors to recover their costs, what they resist is the extortionate practice of levying them at every turn, all in the name of tariff reviews.

Moves to restrict web pornography will have little effect

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AVID Cameron is not alone in being concerned about the ease with which pornography can be accessed via the internet. Sexually explicit material that was once concealed behind blackened shopfronts is now so widely viewed as to coarsen the cultural mainstream. Trafficking in illegal images has also gone online, where it is easier to perpetrate and more difficult to police.

Mr Cameron is proposing new measures to shield children from potential harm.

The first concerns the appalling and illegal images of child abuse. Here search engines are being asked to stop providing results for certain blacklisted queries, to help thwart the distribution of such images. In addition, to reduce the likelihood of children viewing legal but adult material, providers of home internet connections have separately agreed to block all pornography, unless customers request unfiltered access.

There would be legitimate misgivings about censoring search results even if this delivered a surgical strike on child pornography. In practice, it is a blunt tool.

In China, which has used similar means to accomplish the less laudable end of suppressing debate, many other websites also fall foul of the blacklists. Even then, online dissidence has merely been confined to discreet corners of the internet akin to those in which child pornographers already lurk. Shutting down servers that contain illegal images – as UK authorities have been doing for years – is far more effective.

The case for filtering out legal pornography is also delicate. Many parents who would have struggled to set up safeguards by themselves will be reassured that their children cannot easily obtain explicit material, even if enterprising teenagers will inevitably find ways. On the other hand, adults who want to switch the filter off may resent having to disclose that preference. The government will in effect determine the extent of this taboo when it decides which content is so salacious that it should be blocked by default.

Mr Cameron has highlighted legitimate public concerns surrounding internet pornography. The availability to children of sexually explicit material is undesirable, and the exchange of sexual images of children over the internet is abhorrent. Proposals that could contribute to eliminating these blights would deservedly command public support. But the measures suggested by the prime minister risk producing unintended consequences, and add little to what is already being done.

– Financial Times

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: The transformation agenda of the Oyo State government especially in the area of infrastructure development (roads, bridges and flyover to be precise) is highly commendable.

However so far urban transportation policy in the state has been confined to turning around core areas of major cities to the detriment of the spatial backwaters. Government needs to regenerate sub-urban neighbourhoods and smaller towns to ensure regional integration.

There is feeling that Ibadan takes the biggest slice and everyone else gets the crumbs. The main road between Ibadan-Eruwa-Lanlate – Maya in Ibarapa East Local government area is mainly single carriage ways. Critics bemoan the successive government failure to make it a priority to upgrade the route to dual carriage-way or motorway standard considering the regional importance of the road especially at the Maya corridor where it links the erstwhile abandoned Badagry Sokoto expressway. This blatant investment imbalance of the past administration in the state fail to

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Dualise Ibadan–Eruwa–Lanlate–Maya road take cognizance of the electoral promises made to the people of the region.

There is the need for revision of the plan (if any) by the by present administration to tackle the serious transportation deficit facing the region. Past transportation plans fall short of the regional transportation strategy’s primary purpose to benefit society, the economy and the environment and to contribute to social inclusion and quality of life improvements.

The bane of our infrastructural development policy in the state is lack of basic plan or framework from where guidelines for implementation of any policy drawn in order to conform to international best practices. Most planning policies and programmes in the state are piece-meal,

disjointed and incrementalist in approach.

In response to the problem of accommodating rapidly growing urban population in inclusive cities, UN-HABITAT in conjunction with European Commission launched a tool for rapid assessment of needs in urban centres for effective planning and management. In 2004, UNHABITAT regional office for African and the Arab states took the initiative to develop the approach for application in over 20 countries. This new corporate approach is known as Rapid Urban Sector Profiling for Sustainability (RUSPS).

It is a participatory methodology for collecting essential data and information rapidly about urban area. The profile offers an overview

of the urban situation through a series of interview with key actors.

This is followed by a city consultation where priorities are agreed.

The idea of RUSPS is no more new in Nigeria. In July last year, Osun State government embarked on development and adoption of structure plans that will guide the growth, development and management of nine participating cities over the next 20 years. The cities, grouped into three clusters of three cities each are Osogbo, Ikirun, Ila-Oragun (cluster 1), Ilesha, Ile-Ife, Ede (cluster 2) and Iwo, Ejigbo and Ikirun (cluster 3).The $100 million structure plan project is funded by the state in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-HABITAT). One

Senate and underage marriage

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IR: The Community Defence Law Foundation, CDLF, a grass-root based civil society organization that works to introduce and achieve education among youth groups in Nigeria condemns unequivocally the contemplation of the senate to retain a part of the 1999 constitution, section 29, (4), (b), marriage of under-aged girls deemed acceptable as adults in our society.

This is indeed shameful, disappointing, and negates all international norms and practices. It is based on this that Senator Sanni Yerima could not consummate the marriage in Egypt where parents of the little girl he calls wife hails

from and resides in. He respected the laws of the City of Pharaoh, knowing the consequences, ran back to Nigeria where he believes he could politicize religion to achieve his selfish desires. Nigeria is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and, African Union Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, all these charters are against the early marriage of the girl-child. CDLF, urges the senate to hearken to the voice of the people by rejecting this clause in our constitution.

Nigerian lawmakers, leaders should concern themselves on

those factors that would help the girl-child acquire education, become professionals and trained in their chosen endeavours like their male counterparts. It is against their fundamental human rights, it is also child abuse, an assault and destruction of the life of the innocent, to force them to early marriage. We must allow the girl to be of sound mind, old enough to take decisions, in this case, deciding when, whom to marry. We must also put into consideration the health implications of exposure to early sex for the girl-child. Medical experts have come forward to prove that the major cause of VVF, RVF and all that kind of diseases,

is early exposure of the girl-child to sex.

Again, if this law is retained in our constitution, our politicians may take advantage of such to recruit young girls for voting during elections, since once married qualifies them to be adults.

We call on all well meaning Nigerians to ensure that this law is expunged from our constitution, to save the lives of our little daughters from our rampaging men who cloak in the name of religion to perpetuate their evil intentions.

• Uzodinma Nwaogbe Abuja

of the greatest challenge facing urban managers and urban governance is lack of information and accurate statistics that could be used when planning development, otherwise the present clarion call to make Ibadan –Eruwa- Lanlate – Maya road a standard motorway might not be necessary since the data on regional importance of Maya market and various large scale agro-allied companies situated in the region would have been known to successive administration in the state. Oyo State government should avail herself with the innovative RUSPS to tackle its socio-economic, physical and environmental challenges in the course of urban planning and management.

• Rasaki Tajudeen Olajiire.

Agasa Estate, Lanlate.

Oyo State.

Kudos to Ogun State government

S

IR: Permit me space to commend the efforts of the Ogun State Government in sanitizing the haulage toll collection system in the state. A pointer to this effort is the recent introduction of branded haulage stickers in parks and garages in the state.

I strongly believe that this move will totally eradicate the nefarious activities of thugs and hooligans who continuously torment and extort truck owners under the guise of haulage toll collection. Similarly, the introduction of these haulage stickers will unify toll collection in the garages thereby reducing the incidence of multiple taxation. Indeed, this innovation is worthy of commendation.

• Agida Temidayo Arepo, Ogun State

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 16

21

COMMENTS

Useful idiots (4)

S

HAME. It’s an embarrassment that no one can see it or ably do something about it: I speak of that keen, thin scent of decay that scorches our psyche and everything; that afflicts with a terrible streak, the inertia, abiding laziness and fraudulence that pervades our hearts.

We have been corrupted by money and sentiment; and sentiment even more dangerous because we still can’t name its price.

A man open to bribe is to be relied upon below a certain figure, gratification or artifact, but sentiment may uncoil in the heart at a name, a platitude…even a smell remembered.

Bet you can feel it now, even as you read; that flagrant, scented stench of putrefaction that announces our innate nature. Feel it now; that you may remember this stench when everybody and everything are shed of trait, in that dreaded epoch when Nigeria gives to rancidness and collapse.

Until then, we shall continue to have “today” everyday. And every day, “today” will continue to be unfortunate – because we choose to

live like we are programmed to self-destruct. Nigeria’s unfortunate situation besides it’s benefaction of a class of desperate, uncultured, emasculated and hopeless breadline, has also foisted upon the nation, an inferior youth population that, in spite of daunting socio-economic realities, are accumulating property and obviously indefensible academic honours.

This human demographic is not nearly as powerful as a fairer socioeconomic system might make it, hence those who survive in spite of the daunting economic realities are handicapped in intellect and character and thus accomplish much less than they deserve to. The fraction of successful youth is usually left to chance and accident, and hardly to any intelligent culling or rational method of selection.

We can only hope then, that in this generation, and not subsequent generations, that the mass of Nigerian youth can be excited to assume that humane and altruistic leadership and citizenship which our current reality so desperately demands. Such culture must be fostered by the youth themselves.

‘Bet you can feel it now, even as you read; that flagrant, scented stench of putrefaction that announces our innate nature. Feel it now; that you may remember this stench when everybody and everything are shed of trait, in that dreaded epoch when Nigeria gives to rancidness and collapse’

O

UR paths crossed. We were friends but our bond was brotherly. He was a senior and ever counselling brother. He was always ready to make the age argument. Hence, it was his entitlement at some point when we shared a room in Fajuyi Hall, OAU, Ife, to sleep below while I slept atop our double bunk bed. We entered the University of Ife together, did all our 101s, 102s and all 100 level courses together. We attended all the great Jingo (Dipo Fasina) lectures, the Dr. Geoff Tangwa lectures, etc. in philosophy. Pius left the university earlier than me, graduating in B.A. Philosophy; I followed shortly with LL.B. We graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, even though we were admitted into the University of Ife by JAMB. Our times together, which continued after Ife, were great and memorable. We were Catholics and did share many other bonds beyond books, politics and academics. He was highly cerebral; articulate, focused, organized. A role model, a great strategist and a futurist. A philosopher indeed and in truth.

We did “practice” and certainly had some stint in Campus journalism as freelancers. We “anchored” at The Bee (a campus newspaper), did our pranks, stung, bugged and buzzed in accordance with the best ethics of campus journalism. This was during the anti-intellectual Buhari-Idiagbon military dictatorship when our teachers were hounded as those who were “teaching what they were not paid to teach”. At that time, even our rival and perhaps more known publication, “The Cobra”, was catapulted into national limelight by the military junta which described it as “a subversive publication” in a nationwide broadcast.

Pius went ahead and won election into the Students Representative Council (SRC) where he distinguished himself as a great debater. He cut his political teeth in the Great Ife tradition. Activism was in his blood; responsible and purposeful activism, that is. He took time to equip himself for service. He obtained a law degree at University of Benin after graduating from Ife while cutting his teeth as an entrepreneur. He made his entrepreneurial debut modestly in the entertainment, catering rental and hospitality services.

Plying his trade in business and services his contacts spread quickly, fuelled by his public spirited disposition to clients and patrons. He lived with his peoples in the Warri axis and got to know them extremely well while serving them.

Whenever he visited me in Little Road, Yaba, Lagos for weekends, he was the same big brother, humble, full of vision and passion for service. We reminisced over our days in Ife. We were most pained and challenged by the injustice of June 12. He admired my occasional newspaper commentaries on the raging subject of June 12. We said “never again” together.

It was hardly surprising that when the opportunity beckoned

For a long while, the Nigerian ruling class have doubted, albeit justifiably, as to whether the country’s youth can develop and produce that humane citizenship and leadership that we profess to want; unfortunately, no one can seriously dispute the incapability of the Nigerian youth to nurture, incorporate and ably exploit a progressive culture and uncommon aptitude of modern civilization for the benefit of present and future generations.

In pursuit of remedy for this evident deterioration in citizenship and thought, we must accept the inferiority and degeneracy of the Nigerian youth as a reality, unpardonable in its intensity, regrettable in consequence, and perilous for the future.

Thus the imperativeness of crucial and practicable steps by the youth to forge our way out of the thickets and tangles of our current situation.

This imposes the essential demand for trained, dependable Nigerian leaders sired from the nation’s youth.

Nigeria ruins for lack of men of aptitude and character, men of ability, sophistication, and industry.

Nigeria needs men that thoroughly understand and treasure modern civilization without being enslaved by it; men capable of assuming leadership of Nigerian communities and improving them by force of precept and example, unfathomable compassion, and the inspiration of common blood and ideals.

But if such men are to be effectual, they must have access to power – they must be bolstered by the best public opinion and be able to wield for their objects and aims, such weaponry as the experience of the world has taught and that are indispensable to human cum national progress.

Of such weapons the greatest, perhaps, in the modern world used to be the power of the ballot; but

ever since the Nigerian populace forsook their right and power to choose the best among our kind to lead us to the future of our dreams; the need for a pervasive and ultimately progressive culture of citizenship and patriotism became more pronounced.

The attitude of the Nigerian mind towards democracy and other political measures of selfdetermination can be traced with unusual accuracy to our prevalent conceptions of government. In pursuit of freedom from our British colonialists, we argued that no social class or race was so good, so true and disinterested to be trusted wholly with the political destiny of its neighbors; that in every state the best arbiters of their own welfare are the persons directly affected; and that it is only by arming every hand with a ballot, with the right to have a voice in the policy and politics of the state, that the greatest good to the greatest number could be attained.

Expectedly, there were objections to these arguments, but we thought we had answered them quite convincingly; if someone complained of the ignorance of voters, we recommended that we educate them. If another complained of their venality, we suggested that we disenfranchise them or cast them in jail. And in response to fears of demagogues and the natural perversity of certain Nigerians, we insisted that time and bitter experience would teach even the most hideous of them.

It’s been five decades since we won our right to self-rule and Nigeria disappointedly remains a perfect study in the human propensity to self-destruct. Having won back our freedom, we have become wholly incapable to protect Nigeria from those of us that do not believe in our freedom and have not yet charted a blueprint for believing in our right to have it.

This explains why we are yet to

use the ballot intelligently and quite effectively. We do not understand how to channel that proverbial power we are believed to possess nor have we been able to discern the possession of a power so great that it could compel the more privileged and politically conscious elements amongst us to educate, enlighten and thus emancipate the less privileged and ignorant to its clever use.

It is no minor impediment that trammels the economic and intellectual development of the Nigerian citizenry. Can we establish a mass of students, laborers, artisans and technocrats who, by law and collective opinion, constitute a great and reckonable voice in shaping the political and economic clime in which they live and toil? Can we evolve and nurture to fruition a system capable of empowering the breadline and the working class to compel respect for their judgment and welfare?

Can this system be evolved in a Nigeria that the youth is voiceless in all three tiers of government and powerless in their own defense?

Today, the Nigerian masses have no say about how much they are taxed, or how those taxes shall be expended. They have no say about the quality of our laws and policies even when they manifest devastatingly to wreck our dear old survival routine and the possibility of achieving our dreams.

Resignedly, we have learnt to look upon law and justice, not as protecting safeguards, but as sources of humiliation and oppression of our class. These laws are perverted by men and women who have little interest in you and me; they are executed by men and women who have absolutely no motive to be civil to you and me; and despite the monstrosity we are forced to endure, we could only endure more; deservedly though.

• To be continued…

Ewherido: A friend’s tribute

By Chidi Oguamanam for him to run for the Delta House of Assembly to represent his native Effurun, no one else stood a better chance. He had warmed himself to his peoples’ hearts. He knew them, they knew him. He was genuine and generous, caring from the heart of service and not out of opportunism. A politician with non-severable bond with his constituents was born. It is rare in Nigeria, but Senator Ewherido demonstrated that such a genuine connection was possible. That was the very secret of his strength as a legendary politician. That was why; he was able to “kill” giants and became a cat with nine lives. But it is a lesson that those who kept courting and who are presently mourning him would not learn.

His infectious personality, charm and charisma had no hiding place in Delta State House of Assembly. Rather, they came to public affirmation from that Chamber, where he served for eight years, and spread across the state. While officially the Deputy Speaker, he was the Acting Speaker for most of his tenure, owing to the ill-health of the substantive speaker and to all the impeachment dramas that marked his tenure. As a speaker, he steered the Delta State House of Assembly into a forum for constructive debate. He did not miss the opportunity to draw from the wisdom of Nigeria’s genuine patriots (even our own Wole Soyinka) whom he occasionally invited to address the House. I had opportunities of personal visits to him in Asaba at the height of his provincial legislative career. As a strategist, pragmatist and confident, he already had a clear vision of his political career after the House of Assembly. I was struck through one of the nights we spent together on how he talked with genuine concern and sympathy about the ill-health of his boss, the then speaker.

After the speaker’s death, he ably survived all the intrigues and banana pills of his office and did not hesitate to play the game of survival whenever that was inevitable. This was the time when James Ibori called the shots in Delta State.

Ewherido was truly a Deltan, a true Urhobo son and lover of Urhobo language, an Isoko grandson, and a worthy Ijaw inlaw; at home with the Itsekiri and a good friend of the Anioma peoples. He was always conscious of his broad support base.

His desire to rule Delta State was motivated less by ambition than by a sense of duty and a commitment to right wrongs; to empower the weak. But such motivation was a wrong one in

the eyes of PDP. A sense of duty, service, merit, justice and competence proved too ideal to thrive in the party Senator Ewherido then belonged. Those were the reason that the PDP could not trust him with the governorship of Delta State.

Having been denied the opportunity to serve from the State House in Asaba, Ewherido bid his time. He was not manifestly bitter and was hardly malicious. He spoke no ill of his adversaries. At the right time, he mobilized his people and got their consent to serve them in Abuja as Senator. But he kept his eyes on the State House. He believed in the power of the executive to make tremendous and lasting impact on the people. Only the unknowing was surprised that even upon defecting to a little known DPP he was able to defeat the PDP and secured his place in Nigeria’s Senate. It is instructive that the PDP did not contest his crystal clear victory at the Tribunal. The record of his short-lived service at the Senate speaks for itself.

Beyond his silent and under-advertised legislative footprints at the Senate, what appears to have captured much of the public’s attention and speculation is the recent political unfolding ahead of 2015; his relationship with the DPP; even with the emergent APC; and his old party, the PDP. There has been no dull moment for this whiz kid of a politician, whose most recent steps, moves and body languages have been a beehive of speculation. Instructively, not very much has been heard from the horse’s mouth through it all before the very tragic unfolding of Thursday June 27 that climaxed in his eventual death on Sunday June 30.

Gogorogo: I wish that your death and the tributes and the sense of desolation and heart break it evokes throughout the land will be a lesson for your political colleagues, to reflect on the meaning of genuine service and love for the people. I wish also that it would be a lesson to all other mortals who operate in the tension soaked murky waters of politics to become conscious of their health, to slow down occasionally and to remain constantly conscious of their mortality. I as well wish that your death will provoke a national sober reflection on the rank and file of Nigerian political class, beginning from President Goodluck Jonathan and his junketing wife downward, enabling them to quit their fixation on 2015 because no one knows who will live to that date. I wish they will see the need to render the best services they can while they can.

• Prof. Oguamanam wrote in from Ottawa, Canada

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

22

COMMENTS ‘Those who refuse to be guided by the radar of history shall eventually be thrown out by the rocks.’’ ——Winston Churchill.

N

IGERIA’S yesterday is haunting her today. The radar of history, apologies to Winston Churchill, is no longer her guide. Events of today are nothing but a reenactment of the sordid experiences of yesteryears. The failures of the past still pervade the seats of power. The children and youths of Nigeria’s independence are the architect of her misfortunes. The youths of her early independence days are still the domineering forces in today’s polity- and without commensurate intensification in wisdom and virtues. For this, Nigeria, the rhetorical giant of Africa is nearly going berserk. And the pregnancies of her independence and subsequent births are the victims.

Nigeria’s current leaders are making ‘gods’ out of former times’ leadership failures. At the current pace, they might succeed in making errant leaders of the past our collective nemesis. What a pay-back time because these past aberrant leaders nurtured the emergence of most of the current leadership. Just last weekend, four northern governors reportedly held close-door meeting with ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo at his Hill-Top residence in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital. The same type of meeting was also subsequently held in Minna, Niger state capital with exdictator, Ibrahim Babangida and co-traveller in military incursions in power, General Abdul-Salami Abubakar. Possibly, those northern governors would have discussed the state of the nation, especially in their summation, the theatre of absurd unfurling in Rivers state House of Assembly. What nonsense!

Besides his voluntary relinquish of power in 1979, Obasanjo has never been a model in leadership studies. As if he regretted his voluntary handover of power as a military ruler, his second coming as a civilian president was marred with his forceful pursuit but eventually aborted Third Term ambition that crashed in the face of his shameful ego. The erstwhile president might even be called a liar because he publicly denied ever nursing that agenda because according to him there was never anything he asked from God that He never did for him. That further exposed his lie for even a dunce knew at that period that he was mendacious. His open-secret desire to rule the nation till eternity was at the time apparent for all to see. The rest is his-

Dear readers, this article was first published here February 17, 2012 and re-run March 30, 2012. I serve it to you a third time as this matter has assumed a global dimension; and embarrassingly so too. The Economist of London in its current edition brands Nigerian lawmakers as the highest paid in the world. There is nothing to add to it than to reiterate the Igbo adage that when a baby sobs and points at a direction, if its mother isn’t there, its father surely must be.

L

EADERS without vision do not care about history. They are too dim and too enamored with the trappings of this fleeting moment to spare a thought for tomorrow. They bury themselves in the inane perquisites of today’s office and position; they deny the reality of tomorrow and ignore the power of history. But surely there will be tomorrow and history will be told as long as there is life on earth. If only leaders in positions would stop awhile and pop the question at themselves: how will history judge me?

How will history judge the current Senate President, David Bonaventure Mark? I have elected to ask this question on this page for many reasons. First it was triggered by the news recently that each Senator will get a N16 million state-of-the-art jeep as official car and second, at the end of this tenure, he would have been in the Senate for a total of 16 years, eight of which would have been at the helm of the National Assembly (NASS) as Senate President. This position makes him the de facto number two man in the land. But most important, providence has hoisted him onto a position to tinker with history, to shape history, to direct history and in deed to make history. So we ask today, what has he done (will he do in the remaining period) with this gavel of history handed to him? But sorry to say that so far, he has bungled his moments in history and here are some reasons why: Poor personal leadership example: As has been mentioned above, the senate presidency is the second most powerful and influential position in the land and Mark would have done eight years by 2015. Under a more perspicacious and insightful personage, that position has the capacity to bring about farreaching changes in Nigeria. By sheer

07011117777

Yesterday in today’s Nigeria

•IBB Babangida tory! Obasanjo as civilian president inflicted as successor, an ailing Umaru YarÁdua on the nation and appointed a seeming apathetical Goodluck Jonathan as his running mate. What Jonathan is unleashing on Rivers state at the moment is a product of what he learnt from Obasanjo, his god-father. It is now laughable to see these northern governors consult Obasanjo on the misnomer of political rigmarole going on in the nation as we approach 2015.

What about Babangida who, through the insane annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election won by MKO Abiola, destroyed the future of genuine democracy in the country? Babangida’s regime devalued the naira, introduced abracadabra economy, and prosecuted the most treacherous transition ever which led to his departure from power unceremoniously- with the polity left behind already in total quandary. He was

instrumental to the second foisting on Nigerians of Obasanjo as president in 1999.

Obasanjo and Babangida with their notorious antecedents in power circles of the country are both symbols of pervasion of ideals, of meaningful aspirations and lofty national dreams. Abdul-Salami Abubakar, in the brief period he spent as Head of State, merely brought to fruition the devilish plot of ensuring that Obasanjo emerged as civilian president in May, 1999. If the acceptable definition of patriots can be viewed from the myopic prisms of these three men masquerading as genuine statesmen, then the nation is far from getting things aright.

The trio are nothing but a true representation of everything bad in the nation’s yesteryear. They typify a period of ignominious decades of military rule; a period when the pump price of petrol was arbitrarily increased; a period where the freest and fairest election was criminally annulled while its winner was ‘murdered’ in a grand international conspiracy; a period where the freedom of the people and that of the press was encumbered; a period when rigging was elevated to a national policy; an epoch when to show dissenting voice was an invitation to exile; a period where lives of credible Nigerians were wasted; a period where the value of our once powerful Naira witnessed unabated depreciation; Indeed, yesterday as typified by the trio represents a period of political anarchy, economic stagnation and social upheaval.

How can they now be good advisers in a democracy they deliberately master-minded its injurious foundation?

What the nation is seeing today in the form of political lawlessness and unprincipled

EXPRESSO STEVE OSUJI

SMS 08111526725, email:steve.osuji@yahoo.com

Re: David Mark in the vortex of history effusion of personal examples from the man at the helm, the legislative arm (down to the State assemblies) would have been the unblinking moral compass of the various governments.

We saw a glimmer of this leadership precept in the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He said he would uphold the rule of law, he showed practical examples at the critical time and soon the judiciary caught on to it and this was reflected in the court rulings of that time. He declared his assets and made it public for the whole world to see; the first time any president would do that in our recent history. Without being prompted, his vice and other governors followed suit. In less than three years, Yar’Adua made more salutary impact on the psyche of Nigerians and had more positive influence on our system than President Olusegun Obasanjo did in eight years. Today, the bonfire billowing in the upper chamber can be seen burning most assuredly in all the houses of assembly across the land. Just like the Senate, they have all become hollow chambers of mercantilism and debauchery.

Lack of probity and transparency: All of a sudden Nigerians can’t tell anymore, how much their legislators earn. All we know now is that being a legislator in Nigeria (at any level) is the best job in the world. It must be the highest paying and most risk-free job

known anywhere. Never a headache from any graft agency as other government officials suffer; in spite of the cries and clamour by the populace the legislature insists on creating a fiscal haven of its own that defies appropriation acts and revenue guidelines.

The hallowed chambers of the National Assembly seem ensconced in the bosom of mammon and held spell bound by its selfawarded boundless perquisites of office.

NASS is certainly the new honey pot of a rotten Republic. Legislators have become so licentious that they would corral banks into granting them billions of naira in loans to share. At what interest rates and costs to the taxpayer? It is on this framework that the current Senators would award themselves a N16 million official car in a time of severe austerity in the land. At a period the populace has been badgered into relinquishing the only ‘subsidy’ they enjoy; at a time that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has determined that 100 million Nigerians are dirt poor earning less the$1 a day. It is doubtful if any other senator anywhere in the world rides such an exotic machine at tax payers’ expense.

Oversight function, oversight extortion: This is the most critical function of the legislature apart from passing bills. But this key instrument of check and balance has been

governance are products of the deliberate mistakes of these trio and it is worse that their current protégés in power around the north and even in the south still erroneously see them as repositories of panaceas to their unravelling machinations. The trio sowed the seeds of democratic upheavals, social insecurity with incessant unrealistic official pronouncements regarding the arrest of such avoidable situation. Their eras began the trend whereby governments think more of selfish political interests than the general wellbeing of the nation that is currently under harsh realities. They and even the current leadership of the country forget the aphorism of that great economist, Adam Smith, in his book: ‘The Wealth of Nations’ when he affirmed. ‘No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable.’ That is the yesterday which Obasanjo and the duo of Babangida and Abdul-salami foisted on and still forcing on the nation through their meddling in goings-on around the country.

Nigeria needs to shed the toga of yesterday’s inimical features from her polity if meaningful progress is seriously desired. A situation where discredited leaders of yesterday remain the precursors of today’s agenda setting leaves nothing to be desired.

The beginning of this democracy on May 29, 1999 was described by revered Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka as a day of ‘patriotic compromise’. That nationalistic compromise would have been wasted if these past leaders with ignoble regimes are allowed to further engulf the polity with more ruling vices and visionlessness. Already, it is beginning to look as if the country had learnt nothing from our recent history.

‘No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable.’ That is the yesterday which Obasanjo and the duo of Babangida and Abdul-salami foisted on and still forcing on the nation through their meddling in goings-on around the country’ bastardised and debased. It has become an instrument for self-aggrandisement and extortion. MDAs across the country are comatose and non-functioning because oversight function on them is weak or nonexistent. If the legislature is compromised by the MDAs where would it find the moral authority to exercise oversight? Any wonder things like turnaround maintenance (TAM) on our refineries are mired, a road project right under the nose of the Senate in Abuja is overpriced to the tune of N38 billion; corruption grows organic and cancerous in the land eating up the entire fabric of the society yet nobody seems to know what to do. What about the probe panels in various legislative assemblies? Mum is the word on this ‘cash cow’.

People alienated and unrepresented: May we urge the Senate President to do an unscheduled tour of the constituency offices of his members and while at it, inspect the constituency projects for which huge funds are allotted to his members. It is a stark fact that most Nigerians do not know their legislators; there is hardly any functional constituency office anywhere, no projects for monies allotted and no town hall meetings.

No country will grow one inch with legislators of this ilk.

In conclusion, the NASS has become very toxic to this country, unbeknown to the members. The onus is on David Mark to resolve to pick his spot in history. Let’s note that history is not about the wealthiest man or the most powerful of his time but about he who brings the most positive change to his people and society. Fortunately he still has a bit of time. Few quick things he can do quietly with his colleagues include fashioning out a simple, workable code of conduct,; making sure that member have standard and functional constituency offices, ensure town hall meetings are held regularly by members, ensure that the auditor-general of the federation does his work and releases his annual report promptly, and ensure probity, accountability and transparency in the finances of the Senate. The Senate can rescue the country from the current slide down the slope if it resolves to have a fresh start.

FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

INSIDE

Pages 25

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

•Navy’s plot • 5,000 jobs from •’Reconcile against oil thieves Delta Disneyland Amaechi, Wike’ •PAGES 26

•PAGES 28

•PAGES 27

Confessions of Edo paedophiles S

EGUN Otaru, 42, was a security guard at a private residence. He is married with two children. His lack of control over his libido, especially with teenage girls, has landed him in trouble. He was caught pants down defiling a 12year-old daughter of his employers.

Otaru was one of the four men paraded by the police for raping teenagers in Edo State. He told reporters that he was teaching the victim, who sat on his laps, how to operate a cell phone when his manhood got the better of him.

He said: “The girl used to use my handset to play games. She did not know how to operate it well; so she said I should teach her. She told her mother she was going to the toilet and she consented that I should make love to her.

“It was the mother who caught us while I was on top. I feel bad and regret my actions.”

Others paraded included 47-year old Pastor Eze Fidelis of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Saturday Cole (35), a commercial bus driver and Eugene Odozor (46).

Pastor Eze admitted violating two primary school pupils at the same time. The two pupils, one of whom is a daughter of his former member, were both 11 years old. He said it was when they came to his house during break that “Satan tempted me and I gave them N50 after the act”.

Cole was arrested after the 11-yearold daughter of a co-tenant disclosed her ordeal in his room.

The cases of the quartet are some of the increasing cases of teenage sexual assaults in Edo State. Commissioner of Police Foluso Adebanjo, who expressed worry over incessant cases of child rape, said it was a disturbing phenomenon in the state.

He said: “We have people who are involved in defilement of the girlchild. This thing in the state now is disturbing.”

A 70-year- old man, Pius Agu, bagged a two-year jail term for sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl, who went into his room to watch television.

For 30-year- old Uche Asuquo, who has the next two years to review his action in a prison cell, his sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl on May 29 was his undoing.

A 74-year-old man, Clement

•Dr. Odubu

Cases of men violating under-aged girls are rising, with the suspects blaming the devil for the crime. OSAGIE OTABOR reports from Benin.

• The four suspects paraded for raping minors in Benin Omorogbe, was given a two-year jail term for raping an 11-year -old girl.

A 60-year-old man was remanded in prison custody for allegedly defiling his 11-year- old daughter, allegedly with his herbalist friend, Sheggy Panama.

Osarodion Omorogbe was given a six-year jail term for defiling a 16year-old girl.

A 12-year-old girl was last month found in a pool of her own blood on Ekpenede Street in Benin City.

•Miss Banner

My experience A queen and with Oshiomhole controversy Page 38

Page 37

‘

She told her mother she was going to the toilet and she consented I should make love to her. It was the mother who caught us while I was on top. I now feel bad and regret my actions

‘

The girl, who spoke faintly, said she was raped inside a primary school by a man, who promised to help her with a housemaid job.

Magistrate Peter Edo-Asemota said the court must take steps to stem the crime which, according to him, sometimes leads to unwanted pregnancies and incurable diseases, such as HIV/AIDS. Deputy Coordinator of the Child Protection Network Sir Nathaniel •Continued on page 27

•Pastor Ita

•Chizoba

•Echeonwu

‘I married my sister’

Etche protests over land

‘My ordeal in kidnappers' den’

Page 26

Page 39

Page 38-39

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

26

NIGER DELTA REPORT The chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Cross River State, Bishop Emmah Isong, gave his daughter out in marriage to Pastor Oku Ita Andrew. NICHOLAS KALU reports that the ceremony brought the sleepy community of Ikot Eneobong to life.

‘I married my sister and d

I

T was an event that drew notable religious leaders, top government functionaries and socialites to the Christian Central Chapel International (CCCI) at Ikot Eneobong in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

They came to witness the wedding of the first daughter of the founder of CCCI, Bishop and Mrs. Emmah Gospel Isong, to her heartthrob, Andrew Oku Ita. Present at the ceremony included Deputy Governor of Cross River State Effiok Cobham, wife of the governor Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke; Speaker House of Assembly Larry Odey; representative of Governor Godswill Akpabio, Sir Adasi Ubulom, who is Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Local

The couple: Pastor & Mrs. Ita Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Calabar, Rt Rev Tunde Adeleye and founder of the Intercessors Bible Mission, Archbishop Archibong Archibong.

In his message tagged: “Sustainable Marriage” Bishop N. E. Moses of the Overcomers Bible Church Lagos, who took his teaching from the book of Genesis

2:18, said for a man to be alone means he is deficient.

“Man alone is deficient, without a woman life has no meaning and cannot be complete. So, God gave him a wife to think deep. And in taking the wife, man needs not be in a haste to avoid mistakes. A man who is careful will get his gift from God. “A man can inherit everything from the father or rela-

Bishop Okafor (left), Bishop Okah (second left), and parents of the bride, Bishop & Mgst. Emmah Isong. tives but a woman is a gift from God and also stands as the bone and flesh of the flesh of her husband.”

Admonishing the couple, he said: “Marriage is not a temporary thing, but a permanent affair made up of bone and flesh of both; a thing that is interwoven and cannot be separated.”

He advised the bride and groom to embrace love and

be transparent to each other as it is the sure way to sustain the marriage.

Bishop Godwin Okafor, who administered the marriage oath, congratulated the couple saying “I appreciate the favour God has given to you to come together as husband and wife as the word of the Lord says if a man find a wife he has found a good thing and obtains favour

from God.” Also, Rev. Nick Eze told the groom, “It is your duty to design every patterns of your marriage life style you want to introduce to your wife, if you do that your marriage would stand the test of time.”

Archbishop Archibong congratulated the couple and prayed for God’s provision of their needs, protection and

Navy, NSCDC, community leaders plot against oil thieves

P

IPELINE vandalism, illegal oil bunkering and other forms of oil theft have become a major source of concern for security agencies operating in the Niger Delta.

They have done everything within their mandates to stop the increasing ugly trend of economic sabotage, but the criminality has continued to be a festering sour.

Many suspects have been arrested and paraded; some are undergoing prosecution.

Vessels have been impounded and people have lost count of illegal refineries destroyed in the region by security operatives. Besides, most times equipment and motor tankers suspected to have been used by oil thieves are destroyed.

But all the efforts of security commanders in the state seem to have yielded no commensurate success as intensity of attacks on pipeline has increased in recent times.

Security agencies are worried that pipeline vandals and operators of illegal refineries are ignorant of the magnitude of damage they are doing not just to the economy but also to the environment.

The security commanders have, therefore, adopted a new approach of dealing with the menace - carrot and stick.

They are now using persuasion and at the same time dealing with persons caught in the act.

The Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy and the Bayelsa State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps recently assembled stakeholders

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

including community leaders and youths in Yenagoa to find lasting solution to oil theft.

While the navy was concerned about identifying and dealing with maritime challenges, the NSCDC held a seminar to create awareness about the dangers of vandalising pipelines and stealing crude oil.

Leaders of community development committees, traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups, representatives of security agencies and government officials trooped to the headquarters of the Yenagoa Local Government Area to participate in the seminar organised by the state Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agwu.

Agwu said the seminar was organised to highlight the economic and environmental dangers of oil theft. To minimise the trend, he said community stakeholders must assist security operatives.

After the forum, he said people should head for their communities to protect their commonwealth. He persuaded traditional rulers to participate fully in the war against pipeline vandals.

He said: “It has become obvious for security operatives to take measures to curb criminality particularly as it concerns oil theft. Security is a collective responsibility.

“We have to work together to fight this crime. We have mapped out modalities to curb the activities of oil thieves and vandals in our society.

The seminar is organised to

sensitise us to go to our communities and protect what belongs to us.

“We have established network of information to monitor areas prone to vandalism.

Traditional rulers, local government chairmen, youths and community leaders must take part in this fight”.

Zonal Commander of the Corps in Zone G comprising Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo States, Mr. Joseph Oragande, described the seminar as a welcome development. He commended Agwu for organising the event. He said everybody must unite to tackle the problem.

Through the seminar, he said the corps had been able to disseminate information about its functions to other stakeholders. He said the presence of all security agencies in the state demonstrates the synergy that exists among them.

He said: “This has helped to create awareness of our functions and mandates in the areas. We can arrest and prosecute. It has brought all the security agencies in the state together. It shows the synergy that exists among the agencies.”

The Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Ruling Council, Chief Godwill Igodo, said traditional rulers would continue to support every effort to stem the tide of oil theft in the country.

He, however, acknowledged that stopping the menace is not a tea party and appealed to security agencies especially operatives of the civil defence to extend their activities to the rural areas.

The Bayelsa State Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agwu (middle); Commander, Operations CNC, Commodore, Emmanuel Enamor and other security officials and community leaders at the meeting.

“We thank the commandant for organising this kind of lecture. We need to be energised.

He has done very well. On the part of the traditional rulers, we have been doing our best.”

Similarly, the Central Naval Command gathered maritime stakeholders operating within its Areas of Responsibility(AoR) to its headquarters in Yenagoa to discuss maritime challenges in including oil theft in the region.

At the end of the meeting which was held behind closed doors, the Flag Officer, Commanding CNC, Rear Admiral Sidi Usman said challenges such as crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, piracy, sea

robberies and illegal bunkering were identified.

He said: “The main objective of the meeting is to identify major challenges confronting them in the pursuit of their legitimate economic activities in Nigeria’s maritime environment.

“Once identified, the meeting formulated appropriate strategies to mitigate such challenges. The meeting identified the harmful effect of the multiplicity of challenges confronting the Command in the maritime environment.

“But the Command has intensified patrols within her AOR to forestall further occurrence of the identified challenges currently. We have

urged members to collaborate more with the Command in the area of information sharing particularly on issues of mutual concern.”

He disclosed that information from people in the community had helped the navy to respond quickly to criminal acts and to arrest perpetrators.

He said: “We urge the people within the region to continue to support and give necessary information that will aid to fight this illegal act as it is a collective responsibility.

“Together we can fight this illegal act to the minimal level to make our waterways safe and create an enabling environment for legitimate activities to thrive.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

27

NIGER DELTA REPORT

d daughter in Christ’

Confessions of Edo paedophiles •Continued from page 25 Iguodala said the group was prosecuting more than 30 cases of child rape and assault across the state.

Nathaniel said cases of teenage defilements were being reported daily.

He said the government has joined in the fight by assembling a team of lawyers to help them prosecute the cases.

According to him, “It is very common with parents who often neglect their children. It is common with parents who bring friends to live in their homes. It is so alarming what we see today.

“The pathologist in the Central Hospital say an average of one victim is brought to the hospital daily.

“The Attorney-General has given us a team of good lawyers to prosecute all cases. It could be curbed by public awareness and enlightenment,” he said.

•Pastor Eze Fidelis

‘

Satan tempted me and I gave them N50 after the act

‘ Ikwerre youths urge Jonathan to reconcile Amaechi, Wike

Mrs. Imoke (left), Cobham (second left), Ode and wife. projection.

Odey advised the couple to evolve their own character in their marriage life by being original and truthful to each other.

Chairman of the occasion and Permanent Secretary in SSG’s office in Akwa Ibom State, Elder George Akpabio, said: “I thank the church leaders for the necessary advise given to our newly wed-

ded couple, I believe this advise would nurture them and make the marriage blossom” he said.

Father of the bride, Emmah Isong said: “The marriage is divine by God and cannot be opposed by man. Pastor Oku has searched and found his bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh.”

The groom said: “It is the peak of my fulfillment; the

joy in my heart is unquantifiable. I am really happy because I married my best friend, sister and my daughter in Christ.”

On why he got interested to marry his overseer daughter, Pastor Oku, who heads CCCI Abuja branch, said: “Hser spirit is exceptional, she is a goal-seller and with that both of them would get through the journey, right to

the peak where God want them to get to.”

The bride said: “I am very happy to God that I found a true husband who has all the qualities needed in a man.”

The ceremony was also attended by Mrs. Nella Andem Rabana (SAN) Bishops E. N. Moses, (OverCommers, Lagos), Godwin Oka (Port Harcourt); Enobong Affia; Apostle Helen Ukpabio; Rev. and Mrs. Aniefiok Akpabio and Rev. Nick Eze, among others.

MTN Foundation treats 2,000 cataract cases in Delta

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HEN the MTN Foundation Eyesight Restoration Intervention Scheme (MTNEyeRIS) berthed in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta Delta State for the first phase of a nationwide campaign to curb preventable blindness, no fewer than 2,000 people were delievred from cataract.

The MTN Foundation partnered with the Eye Foundation Centre for Prevention of Blindness for the three week awareness and treatment exercise which held across the three senatorial districts of the state.

Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, in an address at the flag-off ceremony at the Agbor Central Hospital, said the foundation is joining the global efforts to stop the spread of visual disabilities.

Akinwale, represented by the Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, said millions in Africa, Asia and South America are worst affected by the scourge, adding that statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicate that 90 per cent of all blind people live in developing countries.

Quoting WHO source, he said one million Nigerians are blind, stressing that another 3.1 million live with one form of visual impairment or the other. He said these persons conduct their day-to-day activities with difficulty.

He said 60,000 Nigerians will benefit from the project across the six geo-political zones.

Akinwale lamented that this

•An operation in progress during the medical mission From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

category of persons do not have access to proper treatment or facilities, adding that “under the first phase of the project a minimum of 10,000 patients will screened for cataracts and other eye disease, 2,000 cataract surgeries will be conducted on patients, 200 reading glasses and 2,000 drug packs will also be distributed free of charge to patients for treatment of allergies/infections in each of the six geo-political zones.”

According to him, the intervention will contribute to increasing cataract surgical rate from 0.1 per cent to 0.7 per cent in line with the WHO Vision 2020 Right to sight initiative.

Akinwale said the project endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Health has already been implemented in Osun and Niger States, adding that

Abia, Sokoto and Jigawa States were next.

He said the other projects under the MTN Foundation include MTN Medica Support Project (MSP), the Annual MTN Community Health Screening project and the MTN Sickle Cell project.

Delta Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Otumara noted that Delta State has been “very forceful and committed to the pursuit of the right to sight of all Deltans”.

According to Otumara one of the major thrust of the Free Rural Health scheme is the screening and treatment of eye disease.

He said Delta State in 2005 inaugurated the State Committee for the Prevention of Blindness, adding that a five – year strategic VISION 2020 Eye care plan has been developed.

He praised the MTN Foundation for the “noble initiative

and for partnering with the Delta State Government in our efforts at preventing blindness amongst our people”.

For Margaret Ofoni, 54, a staff of the Office of Delta State Head of Service, her joy was unconfined as the bandages fell from her eyes.

According to Mrs. Ofoni her eye problem started three years ago, but was condemned to a life of darkness after she could not raise N75, 000 for surgery.

Her words, “This eye problem which started three years ago has drained my meager finances, I could not see all.

Now I can see everybody, everywhere is clear .Before now I was blind as a mole. I went to the hospital I was asked to pay N75, 000 for surgery, excluding drugs. I told them I could raise the money so I was given glasses for which I paid N11, 500.I want to thank MTN for making me see”.

Arimiwei Jonathan, 56 years, another beneficiary said he lost his job with the National Identity Card Office after he lost his sight six years ago.

Recounting his ordeal, Arimiwei said: “I am very happy for what MTN Foundation has done for me. I worked under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, under the National Identity Card Office. I was suspended from work, but I was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture during the last inter-ministerial transfers.

Since then the ministry has not paid me my salaries. After my transfer, my diabetes and the eye problem became severe; so they asked me to get medical attention.”

Y

From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

OUTHS from Ikwerre in Rivers State, under the auspices of the Ikwerre Youth Congress (IYC), have appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the crisis rocking the state by inviting the key players to a dialogue.

IYC President General Chinedum Samuel Smith said the meeting should include Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of Education Ezenwo Nyesom Wike.

He said his members would embark on three days of fasting and prayers to call on God for a spiritual solution to all the impasses rocking the state and Nigeria.

Smith, who led leaders of the group to address a news conference, expressed concern over the situation and appealed to both sides to sheathe their swords in the interest of peace and security of the state.

He said: “Our congress had watched the political drama for too long now and chose not to be hasty in taking a decision.

We are a pressure group whose priority and focus is to ensure peace and stability in the polity of our dear Rivers State.

“We sincerely appeal to our father, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to please call our big brothers for dialogue and proper settlement. This is because we do not have another other state. Please do something urgently.”

The IYC also expressed shock at the unwholesome drama on the floor of the assembly, stressing that what the lawmakers did was “a show of shame and weakness”.

Smith reminded the lawmakers that their responsibility was not themselves or any parochial interest but to their people and the state.

He said: “We know our father and brother, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, will rise to the occasion and bring this menace to an end.

“We will also like to use this medium to appeal to both Governor Amaechi and Chief Wike to please sheathe their swords for reasonable dialogue and give peace a chance.”

Edo council boss admits poor implmentation of 2012 budget

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From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

HE Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, Hassan Kadiri, has admitted that the local government’s budget for the last fiscal year was poorly implemented.

He said only 19.9 per cent of the N2.28 billion budget was achieved.

Kadiri spoke while presenting a N3.47 billion budget for the 2013 fiscal year to the legislature.

He said of the N2.82 billion for 2012 fiscal year, only N560 million was expended.

Kadiri attributed this to the dwindling federal statutory allocation and “circumstances beyond human control”.

Giving a breakdown of last year’s budget performance, the council boss said from the N1.03 billion projected for recurrent expenditure, only N448 million, representing 43.36 per cent was utilised.

Only N112 million against the N1.81 billion budgeted for capital expenditure was utilised in 2012, he said.

He attributed the poor performance of the capital expenditure to changes in government policy direction, which necessitated the lull in the execution of projects during the period.

For the 2013 proposed budget of N3.47 billion, which represents an increase of 18.75 per cent of the 2012 budget, Kadiri said a deliberate plan has been mapped out to ensure full implementation of the budget.

The 2013 fiscal proposal of N3.47 billion comprises of capital expenditure of N1.07 billion and recurrent expenditure of N2.

42 billion.

Kadiri promised to ensure speedy development in the health, economy, sports, education and transportation sectors.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

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NIGER DELTA REPORT

‘We are prepared for Delta beyond oil’ Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, in his desire to diversify the state’s economy and wean it from its continued reliance on federal allocation, came up with the concept of ‘Delta Without Oil’. The idea is driven by the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR). The Executive Chairman of the board, Joel-Onowakpor Thomas sits down with our Regional Editor SHOLA O’NEIL.

T

HE revenue profile of Delta State has continued to dwindle in the past years owing to a number of factors ranging from the crisis in the region, the global economic meltdown and recent relocation of oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company from the state.

The Executive Director of the Delta State Internal Revenue Board, Joel-Onowakpor Thomas, said the events of the past year makes it imperative for the state to look elsewhere to achieve its target.

He said: “A critical look at the Nigerian economy will reveal a state of uncertainty, fear and underdevelopment as the funds accruing from federal allocation have not been able to forcefully drive the developmental needs of the populace.

“The economy of the Nigerian state has been placed under perpetual fear as it wobbles whenever there is a shortfall in crude production or downward move in oil price in the international market.”

He said Nigeria cannot continue to rely on oil particularly as it is not renewable and ongoing quests for alternative sources of energy by the developed nations.

“This has placed a huge burden on visionary leaders who do not want their economies caught unawares.”

“In line with these obvious cir-

cumstances, the Delta State government, under Governor Uduaghan, decided to harness other avenues for revenue generation by going into other areas that have been abandoned by successive leaders. To actualise this noble vision apparently means that the state must maximise potentials that abound within it.”

Thomas said the DBIR, saddled with revenue generation through taxation, is doing everything possible towards raising the state’s revenue base to finance critical infrastructures needed for the envisioned overall transformation.

The DBIR top shot recently led a sensitisation visit to the Palace of Uvwie monarch in Effurun. He said the team appreciates the monarch and his subjects’ support for the government and DBIR. He said this support led to an increase in revenue generation and prevailing peace that contributed to the leap from N1.2 billion to N5.74 billion monthly collection.

He said: “Your Majesty, I wish to express His Excellency, Dr. Uduaghan’s appreciation to you for keeping the peace that is sustaining development in this kingdom. Some years ago, Uvwie wasn’t like this with regards to the peace we enjoy today and His Excellency has asked me to thank you for the peace and support you have been giving to this

•Thomas

administration.”

Thomas told Niger Delta Report that it was necessary that the board visited the monarch and his colleagues across the state to solicit their support towards the actualisation of the dream.

A similar sensitisation was taken to the palace of Asagba of Asaba, Obi Chike Edozien, where dozens of other monarchs from the northern district of the state converged.

While conceding that the task is difficult, he assured that the ground has been laid to achieve its set goal.

He said: “When we assumed office, the IGR was N1.2 billion. I can tell you, by January this year, the IGR rose to N5.74 billion.

“That is to say that the IGR will be enough to sustain the activities of the Delta State in case oil dries up.

It is a vision that is achievable and sustainable and a vision that all of us must embrace.”

The Ovie, Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, said: “Delta Beyond Oil is a very

good vision and I think this is one of the areas we left unattended to when oil boom started.

“We neglected agriculture and some of the things we (were) supposed to use for revenue generation.

It is not only in Delta State but all over the country. Delta State Beyond Oil is a welcomed venture, a welcome project and we will all support and make sure that our people benefit.” tHOMAS also took the ‘gospel’ to over 2,000 pastors and Christian ministers, who gathered for a one day seminar at Christ Missionaries (Crusaders) Church International Inc., Warri, in June 10th, 2013.

Delivering a paper entitled, “The Responsibility of the Church to Government,” he said the decision to carry the advocacy campaign to the church was in recognition of the church’s role as a stabilising factor in a troubled world.

“As custodian of the divine law which was laid down for us by Jesus

Christ, the Church as a strategic vehicle for the dissemination of information to the numerous followers of Christ, remains a vehicle through which taxpaying public could be reached.

“Taxation is not different from the levies we pay at our various local unions. Tax could also be likened to our tithes and offerings. If we say we believe in Christ, work for Christ and want to make heaven, it is expected that we pay our tax as Christ commanded us to do when he said we should give to God what belongs to God and to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. Church leaders have the privilege to educate their members that as they pay their tithes, they should also pay their taxes.

“The reason why we are suffering the problems facing the country today is because of lack of visionary leadership in the country. In Delta State, we don’t want to go the way of other non-visionary leaders who have led this country and it is in line with this that Dr. Uduaghan has come up with the vision to build a Delta State Beyond Oil. The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South South Zone, ArchBishop God-dowell Awomakpa, said it was proper that pastors and ministers of God have fair knowledge of happenings around them in order to make the desired impact on their members and society.

He said Jesus spoke about tax at a place called Campannum, adding “the Bible taught us to know the truth as only the truth can set a man free.” While thanking members of the Board for the enlightenment, Avwomakpa charged pastors present to ensure that they lead their members to Christ by teaching them all they need to do to support government and humanity.

The DBIR boss also took his message to the House of Assembly, where he spoke during activities marking the second anniversary of the fifth Assembly. Thomas was a co-discussant of a lecture entitled: “Delta State Beyond Oil: Taxation as a Catalyst for the Socio-economic Development of Delta State”.

He added: “There is no doubt that Delta State is already at the next level as far it has elected to free itself from the petroleum incubus. We must, therefore, identify with the cliché of DBIR that…beyond oil, we can!”

Delta Disneyland’ll create 5,000 jobs, says Uduaghan T HE Delta Leisure and Theme Park under construction in Oleri, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State will provide employment for over 5,000 Deltans when completed, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has said.

A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sunny Ogefere, said Uduaghan made the remark when he was conducted round the site by the Project Supervisor, Princess Abiodun Oyefusi.

He said the park would provide direct employment to over 5,000 persons and more indirect employment through businesses that would spring up from the park’s operations.

He said: “I am very happy that the firm carrying out the execution of the park started earlier than expected; I am impressed with them and we will continue to give them the needed support. I am encouraged by the pace of work so far and I can say that, so far, so good.

“I am praying that this project comes to fruition as it is expected to employ about 5,000 persons directly on completion, aside others who will make money from its operations indirectly.”

Uduaghan, who was also at the Nigerian Gas Company Ltd (NGC), said his visit to the facility was because the park would be gasdriven.

•Uduaghan (third left), Commissioner for Transport Mr. Godwin Abigor (left), Hon. Ben Ibakpa (second left); and Princess Oyefusi when the governor inspected the park From Shola O’Neil

“We are going to discuss with NGC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the possibility of supplying gas to the park because it is

going to be gas driven. We are also going to meet with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on how to use their facilities to ship in equipment needed at the park,” he said.

Ms Oyefusi told the governor that the reclamation of land had

been completed and the first phase of construction would start in September.

She said the first stage of infrastructure would cost about $290 million along with the Wild Life Park at Ogwashi-Uku and assured

of speedy execution of the project.

“We are commencing the first phase of construction in September which will include the construction of catering villa, three-star hotel and the electric fence,” Mrs. Oyefusi said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

29

PEOPLE THE NATION

A FOUR-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

The remains of Senator Pius Ewerhido were interred in his Ewu hometown in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State last Friday. Staff Reporter OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE was there

•Widow of the deceased, Doye with the children

Colleagues, others bid Ewerhido farewell T

HE mood inside the sacred Heart’s Cathedral in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State was pensive last Friday. Many were dressed in black.

As the remains of Senator Pius Ewerhido were brought in, some guests took a deep sigh. The widow and her children sat quietly, listening to the sermon.

Outside the church, members of the community could not control their emotion. To them, a great son is gone. They could not be pacified by the presence of cream of the political class that came to pay their last respects to a Trojan in Delta State politics fondly called “Gogorogo” by his admirers.

Ewerhido died at the National Hospital, Abuja on June 30 after suffering a stroke. He represented Delta Central District in the Senate.

He is survived by wife Doye, six children, aged mother and siblings.

The church service featured hymns, Bible reading, soul-lifting sermon and special prayers In his homily, Reverend Father Anthony Anamali said the late senator was a man that could make the country work.

The clergyman said some salient bills sponsored by the late senator were germane and appealed to his colleagues not to let those dreams die.

Leading the tribute, Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan reminisced on the life of the late Ewerhido, saying they both shared a long political journey.

He recalled meeting the late senator shortly after his electoral victory into the state legislature when the need to elect a deputy speaker for the legislature arose.

He said the late Ewerhido won despite the presence of the caucus for a different candidate in mind.

Uduaghan said, notwithstanding the tumult that followed his emergence as governor in the 2007 elections in which the late Ewerhido was his rival, they both had mutual respect for each other.

His words: “Our political history is very long, a lot happened between us in the last eight years.

In all these, we had great respect for ourselves.

You will not read anywhere where Pius said something negative about me to the media. He never did so; neither did I do it to him. Even in his private discussions, nobody has come to tell me Pius said any ill thing about me.

“So, we have great respect for ourselves. Even while in the Senate in another party, we also have great respect for ourselves. A few days ago somebody asked me ‘Pius was sick and we heard you were there; why did you go to that extent?’

•From left: Senator Mark; Governor Uduaghan and wife Roli

•Senator Ekweremadu

I told him that if the reverse was the case, Pius would also be there for me. He would have done the same thing for me.”

Senate President David Mark said the Senate had lost “a gem” in the late Ewerhido.

He said: “Pius throughout his stay in the Senate demonstrated nationalism and patriotism, the passion with which he expressed himself, the sincerity with which he expressed his wishes of Delta and by extending the wishes of the ordinary Nigerian was beyond reproach.”

Rev Fr Anthony Ewerhido said his brother gave the people of Delta Central Senatorial District vibrant and effective representation, adding that in less than two years, he sponsored four bills and co-sponsored 12 other bills, urging the Senate to help immortalise the late senator by passing one of the bills he sponsored.

Ewerhido’s remains were interred at Ewu in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state at 4:15p.m.

In attendance were Edo and Imo state governors, Adams Oshiomhole and Rochas Okorocha; Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; former governor of Edo State Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Senator Victor NdomaEgba; Senator Gbenga Ashafa; Senator Uche Chukwumerieje; Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Festus Keyamo, a lawyer and Delta House of Assembly Speaker Victor Ochei among others.

•Comrade Oshiomhole flanked by Hon Ochei (right) and Mr Keyamo

•Chief Ogbeh

•Senator Chukwumerieje

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

30

SOCEITY

Farewell to a ‘dutiful mother’

The remains of Mrs Christiana Aderonke Akintelure, mother of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Ondo State deputy governorship candidate Dr Paul Akintelure, have been interred in Igbotako, Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI was there.

I

T will need some searching to find the place in the map. But people found way to Igbotako, a rustic community in Ondo State, penultimate Saturday for the funeral of Mrs Christianah Aderonke Akintelure, mother of Dr Paul Akintelure, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) deputy governorship candidate.

The ceremony was held at St Pius Catholic Church in Igbotako, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Mrs Akintelure died on June 14, in Lagos, at 83, after a brief illness.

Mama’s remains were in a brown casket with golden designs. They were conveyed in a black exotic car - R500 4MATIC. The programme started with a Christian wake on Friday at Akinpapa Compound, Oke-Idebi quarters, Igbotako, Okitipupa. The interment was on Saturday and thanksgiving, Sunday.

The Saturday service began with an opening prayer after which some Bible passages were read. The church choir sang some hymns, and prayers were said for Mama and her family.

In his sermon, Revd Father Akinyose Anthony described Mama as a woman who was dedicated to God and church activities.

“She is always giving godly advice and will be greatly missed. She has written her name with a golden pen in this church; she nursed her children on the right path of life and she was prominent in the church and in the society at large,” the cleric said.

He urged guests to live a good life, saying “one day we all shall go back to our Creator.”

After the funeral service, the pall bearers danced round the church with the casket. Family members, friends and well wishers also joined in the dance. The M.I.C. Brigade played the instrument.

Mama’s remains were interred at the Akintelure’s compound before the guests moved to Otunba compound, Off Ode-Aye road, for the reception.

Some guests were also entertained on the church field.

The reception venues were decorated in white and gold. Chairs were

‘The main difference between my mother and God is that my mother did not create me. She was everything to me. To my fellow citizens, I want them to learn from the good life of this woman, the kind of life my mother lived was a life of good attributes. She trained her children well, she was very good at morals and above all she served God’ set stylishly and there were sparkling lights.

A band was led by Kolayemi Kuti.

Running mate to Olusola Oke in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Saka Lawal said Mama lived a good life worthy of emulation.

He said she brought her children up in a way that showed her good character and value for good name.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ondo State governorship candidate Chief Olusola Oke spoke glowingly of the late Mrs Akintelure.

He said: “From today’s gathering, I am sure Mama must have lived an exemplary life and it shows her good deeds in her life time towards her children and others. It is one that everybody should learn from.”

In a tribute, Akintelure eulogised his mum, saying: “The main difference between my mother and God is that my mother did not create me. She was everything to me. To my fellow citizens, I want them to learn from the good life of this woman, the kind of life my mother lived was a life of good

•From left: Mr Akeredolu; Dr Akinyelure and Dr Akintelure

•Senator Boluwaji

attributes. She trained her children well, she was very good at morals and above all she served God.” Senator Kunlere Boluwaji described her as a mother in a million.

“She lived a life of love to her family members and beyond. She lived a decent life and taught all her family members good morals,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer, AK Media Asiwaju Benson Akinteju described her as a great woman.

•Hon Ifedayo Abegunde (left) and Mr Iji

He said she was a woman that many respected.

Among the dignitaries were, Dr Pius Akinyelure represented ACN National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; former Ondo State Commissioner for Finance and ACN chieftain Chief Tayo Alasoadura; Wale Akinterinwa; Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Bola Ilori; Caretaker Chairman ACN Kwara State Sola Iji; Gov-

MARRIAGE

•The couple Mr and Mrs Omokayode Omotunde flanked by bridal’s train

•Bride’s parents: Deacon J.B.A Oke and his wife

Groom’s parents: Mr John Omotunde and wife

ernorship candidate of ACN in Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN); Mr Akinfeyinwa Awodeji; State Secretary of ACN Adedipe Adegboyega; Mrs Elizabeth Boluwaji; Prince Olu Adegboro; wife of the late former secretary to Ondo State government, Wumi Adegbomire, Bimpe; Members of the National Assembly and local governments were also present.

SHOPPING

31

THE NATION

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

FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

e-mail: toniaitose@yahoo.com

07035302326 Shopping@thenationonlineng.net

In Awka, Lagos, Kwara and other cities, markets are being redeveloped and refurbished. Many have been converted to havens for shoppers, with car lots, steady power, security and other facilities, by the government or the private sector. TONIA ‘DIYAN and ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU write.

‘Dirty’ markets now shoppers’ haven

•The new Oluwole market, in Lagos

I

N years ago, many markets across the country hosted mountains of garbage or were meeting places for criminals. Then, the markets looked more like shanties, unstructured and dirty. But the story of many such markets has changed. Most state and local governments have risen to the challenge of building modern markets with facilities, plazas and malls.

In Awka, Kwara, Lagos and other towns, most markets have been modernised and are now shopping havens.

Previously, markets didn’t have gates, perimeter fencing, carparks and other facilities.

This made them choice places for criminals after the day’s business.

Gradually, the hitherto ‘dirty markets’ are giving way for ultramodern ones. Many open unstructured markets that defacied cities with poor waste management have transformed into organised ones. There are no chaos with shoppers, vehicles and wheel barrow pushers jostling for space. Shoppers at such markets now have where to park their cars without fear.

Some of the markets are refurbished by while others are by the private sector as more governments at various levels

are keying into the private public partnership (PPP) initiatives, especially in the metropolis.

Some of the markets wearing new looks are the Eke Awka Market, the Ilorin Ultra Modern Market; the Sangrouse o Victoria Island, Oluwole on Lagos Island and Gbaja and Adegbite markets in Surulere, Lagos. These markets have one thing in common: They have been refurbished and modernised with adequate security, constant power, gates, perimeter fencing and other facilities.

Their sanitation has improved; traders no longer dispose refuse indiscriminately as they risk paying fines.

The roads leading to the markets are motorable. Shoppers buy and leave without much constraint.

The markets have task forces that maintain order, ensuring the free flow of traffic within the markets.

They also ensure that the markets are free of illegal structures.

At the Eke Awka Market in

Nnewi, especially in the evening and the morning, there is free flow of traffic and order because of the facelift it received.

Before, shoppers and motorists hardly moved freely due to traffic gridlock The market, which was established over 53 years ago, used to be a large rudimentary open-air place with substandard stalls where everything, from foodstuff, clothes, cosmetics and household items and others, were sold. Then, it operated every four days but it has become a daily market serving the needs of Awka people and neighboring communities.

It has an estimated 10,000 lockup shops and stalls on less than 40,000 square metres of land.

Previously, there were no available parking spaces for vehicles; hawkers turned the parking lots to mobile shops, thereby constituting a menace to shoppers who couldn’t find spaces to park their vehicles. They have been driven

off the roads into the shops to free the car parks for shoppers and visitors to the market.

The walkways in the market which were blocked with refuse and wares have now been cleared. The market has been fenced and iron gates fixed so it is locked after the day’s business to deter criminals and others who would want to it for illegal activities. It is home to all manner of budding business and small scale industries.

The Ilorin Ultra Modern Market in Kwara State has been transformed. It is the major in the town housing traders that were hitherto scattered across many small ones under one roof. It boasts of all facilities of a modern market with security and parkin lots.

In Lagos, the Oluwole, Adegbite and Gbaja in Surulere, Sangross Market on Lagos Island and the Tejuosho market, which was razed by fire in 2007, have been

‘Gradually, the hitherto ‘dirty markets’ are giving way for ultra-modern ones. Many open unstructured markets that defacied cities with poor waste management have transformed into organised ones. There are no chaos with shoppers, vehicles and wheel barrow pushers jostling for space. Shoppers at such markets now have where to park their cars without fear’

rebuilt into shopping malls.

Oluwole now wears a new look and is fast becoming a tourist attraction for shoppers who do not reside in Lagos. Some traders travel from other cities to the market to buy in bulk. The market stocks items in bulk. It used to be home to criminals activities, such as international passport racketeering, credit card fraud, drug cartels and various kinds of forgeries.

The new facility comprises four levels with shops as well as traditional market stalls. Stalls are provided for petty traders and hawkers.

There are small and medium line shops for garments and consumer goods on the top floor.

There are also small units for businesses such as insurance, micro finance banks, telecom companies’ customer centres and others.

The new Tejuosho Market, which will replace the old one that got burnt six years ago, is being redeveloped through a publicprivate partnership (PPP) concession by the Lagos State government. The market will be completed soon. It is a huge edifice that houses thousands of shops and stalls. On completion, it will have car parks, constant water and power supply and enough conveniences.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

32

SHOPPING

Lanson to produce 50,000 bottles of champagne in five years Chief Tunde Onakoya, CEO, TED Limited, makers of Lanson Champagne, speaks on the quality of the Champagne and its acceptance in the market

W

HERE will Lanson be in five years?

Lanson is not new in Nigeria. We intend that five years from now, we would have increased the volumes substantially.

We cannot say by how much…maybe about 50,000 bottles in five years.

How old is Lanson Champagne?

It was initiated in 1760, i.e.

253years ago. Three years ago, we celebrated 250years of existence in France. Generally, champagne berthed in France; their imitations are only sparkling wine. They must come from the ‘champagne region’ to be called champagne. Of the entire champagne brand, Lanson is one of the earliest still thriving in the market.

What innovations have you come up with?

There is really no innovation in the consumption of champagne.

But the bottle can wear a differ-

By TONIA ‘DIYAN

ent toga, as far as dressing is concerned. The dressing makes all the difference, the content remains the same. The packaging could be in different forms enhancing the product. We have the Wimbledon jacket for the champagne. It is the T-shirt of Wimbledon depending on the type. It is to honour the queen of England.

Which are the various types?

Champagne comes in different genre called the SKU; it could be the length of maturity, the colour of the product, etc. The brut champagne is the regular type, there is the type with little sugar, which is sweeter than the regular brut, it is also brut but with sugar.

The Millesime is the vintage of the champagne.

How can a vintage wine be identified?

A wine is vintage when all the grapes used in making it is gath-

ered in one year. However any wine or champagne labeled with a particular year e.g 2012 means all the grapes used are gathered in that year. A vintage wine is better produced when there is a bumper harvest to help gather all the grapes in one year.

How have you been able to cope with challenges?

The challenge mostly is in people having money to buy. In terms of plenty, the market is booming.

When the economy is poor there is bound to be very little turn over or sales.

What would you say your achievements are?

Well, we haven’t achieved much. We hope to achieve a lot as time goes on. We first introduced Lauren Perry to the Nigerian market over 10 years ago, unfortunately, we lost the agency. Our achievements, we hope for Lanson will be big. We hope we’ll be able to trace back and make it attain

the level of prominence it had before the ban on champagne. It used to be the leading champagne in Nigeria. Overtime, people that were in that stratum, who were champagne lovers have passed on with the age. For example, if someone starts to drink champagne and it becomes absent for 30 to 40 years, he or she would have gone on in age. What we now intend to do is introduce it to the younger people so that they can grow with it.

Who are our target audience?

Our target audience is the upward mobile Nigerian. Because champagne is the most expensive wine, you must have been able to earn much money that would enable you want to buy one. The brand is very good. One of our expansion techniques is to create more awareness as time goes on.

What attracted you to this line of business?

I used to work for companies that were agents to so many wine

‘We want a car park’

T

HE Iyana Itire auto spare parts traders are asking for a car park for their vehicles. The traders want to be free from daily harassment by some government officials such as KAI and LASTMA who, according to them, tow away their vehicles, demanding cash to release them.

“We are forced to pay some illegal amount for our cars to be released at the end of each market day. If we have a place to park cars, we won’t park in front of our shops and have our cars towed,” said Mr. David Amechi, one of the traders.

“We plead with the govern-

•Chief Onakoya

brands and spirits; Johny walker, Red label, Whisky, Martini. Also with the producers of Bacchus tonic wine and Seaman Schnapps.

I introduced them to the market and brought them to the level where they became well known. I have worked with UTC as a manager. I have been involved in market virtually all my life.

By Taibat Idowu

ment to come to our aid with a standard car park so that LASTMA officials can stop exploiting us and putting us under pressure” Mr Ugo Anamelechi added.

Sources at the market informed The Nation that indiscriminate towing of cars by government agents has been a regular occurrence in the market, with traders having their hearts in their hands, as they continue with their daily transactions.

“Is it is a crime to park cars in front of our shops during market hours,”? the traders inquired.

•Cars parked inside Iyana Itire spare parts market

‘Patronise night markets, not roadside traders’ The leader of Iyana Ipaja market in Lagos State, Hon. Bolatito Balogun wants the state government to officially initiate night trading in the area to stop road-side trading, writes TAIBAT IDOWU

•Night market section at Iyana Ipaja

I

F the Iyaloja of Iyana Ipaja market, Hon. Bolatito Balogun had a mandate to split the market into morning and night shifts, then the Lagos State government’s plan to eradicate roadside traders might well be underway.

With government putting structures such as security, and street lights to illuminate

roads at night, Mrs Balogun suggested day and night markets structure, to accommodate street traders who complain of congestion.

She said: “Some traders are tempted to trade by the roadside because of the issue of congestion. But if these traders can be split into two, having some for the morning section and others in the

evening section, roadside trading would be a thing of the past.”

According to her, night market is most ideal for the working class who would not have time during the day when they are supposedly at work, therefore use the night market for convenience.

Night market, Balogun stressed, also makes items

cheap, noting that, when traders are out in the night cold; they are compelled to sell at give away prices to the advantage of buyers.

However, people who patronise night market are assured of fresh produce as most food items are brought into the market at night to enhance easy transportation and movement of the vehicles conveying food items.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

“Coke and Sprite aren’t the only reasons that more than half of New Yorkers are overweight or obese”.

HERE is an interesting discussion around initiatives to protect and improve the health of residents of New York City that is instructive for us in Nigeria.

Indeed, the three-term tenure of Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been dotted with his desire to use restrictive policies to address health concerns – sometimes earning him the ire of many who say they do not want to live in a ‘nanny state’.

The latest policy he is trying to implement to protect overweight New Yorkers and those, arguably, in danger of becoming overweight is to cap the size of soft drink offers.

Bloomberg wants to ensure that the 32-ounce size becomes illegal and peg offerings at 16 ounces. But so far, a judge has ruled that the city’s Board of Health is not empowered to limit or ban otherwise legal items to control chronic diseases.

In Nigeria, it is anyone’s guess how long it will be before our health care policy advisers decide to turn to the alleged ‘source’ of illnesses the way other countries are doing. Are manufacturers of soft drinks, fast food, and alcohol about to feel increased pressure from regulation similar to the way tobacco does?

There are many reasons international and local manufacturers of alcoholic beverages, such as Guinness and Nigerian Breweries, and soft drink manufacturers, such as the Nigerian Bottling Company should be nervous.

But our Mr Biggs, Tantalizers et al must not feel too safe either as McDonalds – the subject of many documentaries - has also been the target of lawsuits by some consumers.

There are many explanations to the development of regulation and legal jurisprudence around consumer goods, which can only be said to ‘contribute’ to health. The trend makes it important for policy experts in Nigeria and the corporations to start analysing the implications.

For instance, as the New York court has moved to strike out the plans of Mayor Bloomberg to ban super-size soft drink offerings in New York City – is this type of policy regulation the role of the executive or the legislature? Which government arm should be responsible for this type of regulation? The same question would apply in Nigeria and the outcome would depend on the

T

T

A matter of choice independence of the judiciary and the arguments made on each side. Laws can emanate from the executive, but it must be considered and passed into law by the Legislature.

Executives can make regulations to implement law or policy and so the question in Nigeria, in such a case would hinge on how wide existing laws are to provide the executive with the powers to, for example, ban the sale of fast food around schools. It is not an accident that if you visit most of the premier universities in the United States, you will find it near impossible to find a Burger King, McDonald or Kentucky Fried Chicken. The schools probably do not have anything in writing, but just have enough hold on the real estate within and around the school to prevent such franchises from setting up shop.

Next comes the issue of liberty and personal responsibility. The arguments in the case of the ban of the super size cups are fierce on the freedom of choice. One side claims that individuals have the right to make their own decisions and the state should not be allowed to tell them what to do.

If a person wants to eat fast food daily and, subsequently, becomes obese and vulnerable to heart disease and other related diseases, then it is that person’s choice. Others argue that consumers are being subliminally manipulated into buying and eating things, which are not good for them and that they do not have the right information.

And, finally, comes investments, profit and revenue. Corporations are in business to make returns on their investments and make money for shareholders and governments need to raise revenue to provide services.

Where lies the balance between making policy, which directly impacts on the profitability of a company’s operations, and supporting businesses so that they can continue to pay taxes and create employment? It must be tricky and delicate to maintain and it is most unlikely that it happens when one side acts unilaterally.

In the final analysis, the jury is still out on whether Mayor Bloomberg’s policies will actually make a difference to the eating habits of New Yorkers and, ultimately, to reducing the incidence of obesity.

This, and other stated reasons, is instructive for those in Nigeria who make policies and those who observe them – sometimes the means never delivers the desired ‘end’.

Lagos NIPR gets new Exco

HE Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos State Chapter has elected new council members.

This was at its 24th Annual General Meeting (AGM)/PR Week Elections.

Joseph Okonmah emerged as Chairman at the end of a keenly contested election between him and two other candidates, Ken Egbas and Kunle Ogedengbe, the outgoing Vice Chairman.

The following contestants were returned unopposed: Comfort Nwankwo, Vice Chairman; Sheriff Akinpelu, Secretary; Silas Udoh, Treasurer; Abiodun Olatunbosun, Auditor; Prudent Onyejiaka, Assistant Secretary; Fortune Mbamalu, Financial Secretary and Kalu Olekauwa, Public Relations Executive. But the positions of ex-officios are still vacant.

A

33

The election, which was supervised by a representative of the President of the institute, Alhaji Mohammed Adbullahi; Chairman, Body of Fellows, Mr Frank Tamuno Koko; a Council Member and NIPR Coordinator, Southwest, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, and Dr. Alfred Edema, the Zonal Co-ordinator-Southsouth Education Advisory Board,was adjudged free and fair.

Okonmah is the Managing Director of Jasek Communications Limited, Lagos. He holds BSc (Political Science/Public Administration), University of Benin; PGD (Public Relations), Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), M.Sc. (Political Science) and LLB (University of Lagos).

Currently, he is a doctoral student of Public Policy, Department of Political Science, University of Lagos.

Firm opens branches

PAN-AFRICAN movement, Project New Nation, has completed its plan to open 37 branches in the country.

They are in the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to the group’s Chairman, Mr Charles Dukwe, the inauguration of the FCT branch was the last of the branches. He said the firm would develop the country and Africa through innovative business ideas and that its presence nationwide would help to actualise this objective.

Also, the group has launched its empowerment programme. Known as Grey and

Strong, it is a social security protection programme targetted at benefitting the elderly.

Dukwe said the programme had been structured to provide free medical coverage, recreational and fitness centre, elderly care homes, quarterly financial support, free legal aid, funeral expenses, among others.

He said the registration of the Women in Oil (WiO), its empowerment programme, has been completed.

To celebrate the feat, he presented 1,000 bags of rice to members of the group, who attended the ceremony, adding that their faith, trust, patience and prayers were noted.

E

The new LG healthy lifestyle refrigerator

VERYDAY life is demanding.

In the course of carrying out daily tasks people expend energy; and in order to replenish lost energy as well as nourish the body, people need to eat.

Food plays very vital role in maintaining proper health and also helps in prevention and cure of diseases. Good nutritive foods make one healthy. It is not just enough to eat, but rather the challenge is the need to eat right.

Food provides us with important nutrition which is important in the cure of diseases.

Conversely, bad foods are responsible for lowering the body’s immunity system.

Sedentary lifestyles and poor nutritional choices are having a direct effect on our bodies and body shapes. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Along with the rise in obesity rates, there has also been a boom in research on nutrition and food choices. A growing segment of the population is becoming more informed about eating responsibly.

Even better, leading global companies are investing heavily in the quest to realize a healthy global population one of such companies is LG Electronics, offering clever solutions to ensuring that eating fresh, healthy nutritious food is easier and more convenient than ever before.

People understand the need to do a lot of exercise. Yet for many – if not most – people, hectic schedules don’t leave a lot of time for exercise, and accessing fresh, nutritious food is not always easy. At the same time, fast food and junk food have risen in popularity, not only because of price and taste, but also because they are remarkably convenient.

For many, keeping fresh fruits and vegetables in the home has also been challenging.

First, there is the space problem. Items such as

By Jimi David

watermelon and lettuce are bulky and take up a lot of room in the refrigerator. Second, there is the spoilage factor. When one forgotten vegetable in the back of the fridge goes bad, the odor spreads and contaminates the other food items. There is also an organizational issue.

Conventional fridges have poor filtration and air flow systems, so organic food items can only be placed in small, specialized compartments. In short, eating healthy can be a hassle, and it’s a lot easier to just pick up the phone and order a pepperoni pizza.

LG has always believed that technology and innovation could – and should – be used to make life better. So while others saw the household refrigerator as merely a way to keep food cool, LG saw it as an opportunity. A refrigerator, if designed properly, could help users make improvements to their everyday lives.

LG also understand that in today’s busy and fast environment, consumers around the world are finding it more and more difficult to eat fresh, nutritious food and maintain a healthy overall lifestyle.

In Nigeria, due to incessant power outages, food storage and preservation is of major concern to many households. It is extremely difficult to keep food fresh as they easily go bad. For households who are unable to afford high-capacity generating sets which are capable of powering their refrigerators, perishable foods spoil within days.

On a regular basis, most of them have had to throw out food due to spoilage which is not just only wasteful but also expensive. Which brings to the fore the cooling retention, energy efficiency as well as the multiple health benefits.

LG Door-in-Door (DiD) refrigerator

W

ELL-designed – and with a host of innovative features – the LG Doorin-Door refrigerator provides a great example of technology making life better. Its cavernous capacity means that families won’t need to worry about running out of room after grocery shopping. However, offering more space doesn’t solve all of today’s food storage problems. Big capacities need to be organised in an intelligent way. And this is where LG’s refrigerators truly excel. The highly praised Door-in-Door feature offers an immediate organizational advantage.

In most busy households, the refrigerator door is opened between 20 and 50 times daily; during this times cool air escapes and ambient air sneaks in each time the refrigerator door is opened. The LG DID ensures the temperature of the inner compartments holding perishable foods are not in any way disturbed.

It gives family members quick access to frequently used items such as sports drinks, salad dressing and healthy snacks. Certain types of food have been known to go bad due to constant opening of the fridge to get “go-to” foods during the regular quick grab and go visits.

Past the Door-in-Door and inside the main compartments, there are more clever design features. For example, the Slim Space PlusTM Ice System is far less bulky than conventional ice makers, meaning that more of that large capacity is reserved for food items, and extra room is created for door bins.

In addition, the 3-Tier OrganisationTM Freezer System lets users organise their frozen peas and blueberries in a much more logical manner, helping eliminate having to throw out items lost to freezer burn.

Even with intelligent space organisation, consumers are often reluctant to buy large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables because they’re afraid these items will expire before they can all be eaten. This means that consumers will have to make frequent trips to a grocery store or fruit market, always buying small amounts.

LG’s refrigerators take advantage of some impressive innovations to combat this problem.

First, digital sensors are positioned in the fridge at key locations. These sensors closely monitor not only the temperature inside the fridge, but also, crucially, the humidity levels. When

changes are detected, the fridge’s Dual Evaporator system reacts instantly to keep conditions at their optimal levels.

In addition, LG has incorporated its Fresh Air Filter system with the highly effective Multi-Air flow design. Vents are strategically placed around the interior of the fridge, so food stays fresh wherever it’s located, and odors are whisked away even when food is dumped in the back corners.

All of this means that food stays fresh longer, and busy consumers can spend less time at the supermarket buying fresh food.

Hygiene Fresh is one the stand-out features of the LG DID refrigerators. It is a unique air purifying device inside LG DID refrigerators; it keeps air fresh every minute. Hygiene Fresh realises a strong sterilisation and deodorisation performance with four-stage filtering system which is effective in reducing fungi spore and harmful bacteria in the rate of 99.99 per cent and deodorising inside the refrigerator. The hygiene fresh coating which makes life healthier and more hygienic is approved to filter many harmful bacteria.

Another unique feature is LG’s moist balance crisper that works to reduce dry air from creating condensation within the drawer. With a lattice shape lid, the vegetable drawer helps to keep vegetables fresher; and this combined with LG conducted research which found that vegetables are the number one item thrown out by consumers, with salad in third place; the moist balance crisper has proven to be of immense benefit to consumers.

They did refrigerator also come with a vacuum fresh drawer; it is a great way to keep air away from food and keep it fresher for longer. By pressing the button on the drawer, users are able to hear the air being sucked out and the door being sealed shut. The seal is airtight so nothing gets back in.

LG refrigerators help consumers re-invent their food lives. These fridges enable families to organise food in clever, flexible ways that help avoid lost food items and food wastage. They also ensure that items such as fruits and vegetables maximise their shelf lives, and they help family members maximise their intake of healthy, nutritious food. Unique storage bins and food preparation features help save even more time, and the whole package is backed by proven durability.

*Editor - Wale Alabi *Consulting Editors - Rarzack Olaegbe, Sola Fanawopo * Correspondent-Jimi David * Business Development - Kenny Hussain * Legal Adviser - Olasupo Osewa & Co Brandweek is powered by Brandz Republic Consulting and published every Friday in THE NATION newspaper.

All correspondence to the editor - 0808.247.7806, 0805.618.0040, e-mail: korede2000@gmail.com © All rights reserved.

34

COMMENTARY

P

REAMBLE History is an invisible object with two invisible wings jointly flying across generations in time and in space. One of these wings is positive while the other is negative. With history, the present becomes the heritage of the past even as the future awaits the baton of continuity from the present. No living nation or tribe or even individual can dream of a realisable future without a viable present based on a memorable experience of the past. The web of life is like a magnet which no iron element can bypass on its way to ornamental glory.

Against what ought to be her heritage, Nigeria as a country is, today, passing through a fabric of uncertainty as she rolls back the fibres of the future into those of the present and weaves both into the vestiges of the past. Such is a sign of a dead nation anxiously waiting to be interred.

What war is not ravaging Nigeria today in spite of Allah’s abundant bounties? The forces of the present seem to have connived with those of the past to wrestle the future aground thereby depriving the generations yet unborn of any hope of decent existence.

From all indications, Nigerians live in a country that is evidently enslaved to her rulers.

For decades, Nigeria had been forced by her so-called rulers to fight wars ranging from political to economic to social and to tribal without winning any. Now, a religious war is being added. Like a billow vigorously storming around at the instance of an invisible tempest, a melee of religious hullabaloo engendered by a vicious political Pandora has virtually turned Nigeria into a land of curses.

Scourge of Religion To avert any devastating scourge of such a religious melee or reduce its contaminating spread and intensity drastically in the country, the leadership of a well known Muslim Organisation in Nigeria and abroad, Nasrul-Lahi l-Fatih (NASFAT Abuja branch, under the Chairmanship of Barr.

Shewudeen O. Q. Giwa) gave this situation a very deep thought and decided to make that thought the subject of a public lecture particularly during this year’s month of Ramadan. The lecture entitled: ‘RELIGION IN NIGERIA PROJECT: ‘THE MYTH, THE REALITY, THE CAHLLENGES AND THE PROSPECTS’ which came up in form of Ramadan Lecture at the Abuja NASFAT Centre, Utako area, drew such national dignitaries as the wife of the Vice-President, Her Excellency Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo who regaled the occasion as Mother of the Day; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who chaired the occasion and the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives Alhaja Mulikat Adeola Akande who was a Guest of Honour. The trio were personally present. Others were the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola and his Nasarawa State counterpart, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura both of who were ably represented by Personal Assistant on Political Matters, Bisi OyoOsun and Senior Assistant on Religious Affairs, Hon. Imam Rufai respectively.

Yours sincerely was the Guest Lecturer.

At the occasion which was crowded by Muslim men and women of substance from all walks of life, the general impression of Nigerian public about Her Excellency Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo and the Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, (i.e. that of eloquence and embodiment of humility) were confirmed. The former has consistently displayed the figure of an Ambassador plenipotentiary for Islam while the latter has regularly and vividly symbolised Nigeria’s future hope. Through the public appearances, utterances and dispositions of the duo, the Nigerian Muslim Ummah is very proud of them.

Global Perception of Religion By its design and intent, religion is supposed to be not only a panacea for all human psychological ailments but also a soothing balm for any spiritual ache. But ironically, it has been turned into a poison, especially in our society, which seemingly has no provision for any antidote. And through our attitudes, we seem to be bent on swallowing the pill of that poison without minding its consequences.

The factors that culminated in what we now variously call religious militancy, extremism, fanaticism and terrorism emanated only from the yoke of ignorance which bad governance has capitalized

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

FEMI ABBAS ON Femabbas@yahoo.com 08122697498

NASFAT: Religion in Nigeria project upon. And could anything have influenced bad governance as much as ignorance? Yet ignorance would not have had a role to play in our social, religious and political lives if we had demonstrated the will to genuinely follow the tenets of our religions and learn from the lessons of history without banking on mere assumption and rumour. History, as a teacher, always has a lesson to teach those who are ready to learn. But unfortunately, most human beings, especially Nigerians, refuse to learn any lesson from history and the price is what we are paying today.

Between Azikiwe and Ahmadu Bello In 1962, Nigeria’s Governor General, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (who later became Nigeria’s first President), paid a three-day official courtesy visit to the Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, in Kaduna. He was accompanied by his wife, Flora. The host Premier mobilised all the paraphernalia of office in honour of his guests whom he gave an unprecedented, flamboyant hospitality.

The visit enabled their wives to become so familiar with each other that Flora also invited the Bellos to the East on a similar visit.

By the end of the visit, Dr. Azikiwe had become so much impressed that at the point of departure he held Ahmadu Bello’s hands and gently told him to “Let us forget our differences”.

In response to that emotional but infatuating gesture, Sir Ahmadu Bello said in an equally gentle but emotional baritone voice: “No sir! Rather than forgetting our differences, let us understand them. I am a Muslim from the North. You are a Christian from the South. It is only by identifying and understanding those differences that our friendliness can truly endure”.

There and then, Dr. Azikiwe nodded in agreement with his host’s logic and immediately accepted the fact that one could not forget what has not been identified. The lesson to learn from this experience is that of mutual understanding without pretentiously sweeping anything under the carpet. That is the same principle upon which the marriage of political strange fellows who find themselves in the same political party is often based in Nigeria. It is also the principle upon which the partnership of many Nigerian businessmen and women is based despite their cultural and traditional differences. Yet they are able to sail safe through the same voyage to what can be called ‘the cape of good hope’ Religious Dichotomy If it had pleased the Almighty Allah to make all human beings one single race with one colour, one tongue and one religion, He would have done so without receiving any query from anybody. But as the Omnipresent and Omnipotent, His decision to diversify His creatures cannot be faulted as it is from that diversity that all creatures have consistently derived benefits. In the world today, there are different races and tribes of human beings with different colours, languages and cultures each functioning as predestined and yet they all interact positively with one another to the benefit of all and sundry. This is in accordance with the words of Allah in Chapter 49 verse 13 of the Qur’an thus: “Oh mankind! We have created you from a male and a female and classified you into races and tribes that you may interact with one another (and thereby draw from the advantages therein). Verily, the most honourable of you before Allah is the most pious among you. Allah is All-knower and He is most acquainted with all things”.

Analogical parable What is true of human beings here is equally true of other creatures. For instance we can all see that on a single arable plot of land, a variety of plants may grow to form an orchard but each plant with its peculiar foliages and fruits. Some plants may bear sweet fruits, some may produce bitter fruits while the fruits of some others may be sour.

Some plants may be fruitful, some may be fruitless. Some may be trees of gargantuan posture while others may be ordinary legumes. Yet they are all fed by the same soil, watered by the same rain and photosynthesized by the same sun. Their different foliages, sizes, heights and tastes notwithstanding, they all function effectively and advantageously according to the purpose for which they are created.

In the ecosystem, no tree in an orchard will ever accuse another of bearing fruits that are different from its own and no animal will blame another for carrying a different feature or wearing a different fur. Neither will a whale denigrate even a fingerling in the ocean for sharing the same water with it.

Ditto the world of birds and that of insects.

Even as plants, animals, aquatics, birds and insects, these creatures know that for everything Allah does there is a fundamental purpose which may not be known to them as creatures. It is only among human beings that discrimination and segregation exist based on ignorance.

We can also compare the above analogy to a situation inside a football stadium where there is a variety of sections such as State Box for the upper class, State Box Extension for the middle class and popular side for the lower class. At the entrance of the stadium, each person obtains a ticket according to his or her financial ability. And that qualifies him for a seat in any of those sections according to the status of the ticket obtained.

Without prejudice to the categories of the tickets they obtain, all the spectators in the stadium are authorised to watch the match for which they have paid. If at the end of the match however, a spectator who was privileged to sit in the State Box turns round to say that another who sat at the popular side of the stadium did not watch the match others around them will sarcastically conclude that something might have gone wrong with the psyche of the accuser. The positions from which those spectators watched the match might be different but the fact remains that they all watched the same match. That is the parable of religion in the lives of individual human beings. No one has any divine authority to condemn or judge another on the basis of religion. Such judgment is an exclusive prerogative of the Almighty Allah.

Tree of Life A famous German dramatist and critic, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-1781), once made an axiomatic statement about religion in a poetic stanza thus: “There are good men in every land; The tree of life has many branches and roots; Let not the topmost twig presume to think that it alone has sprung from the mother earth; We did not choose our races by ourselves; Jews, Muslims, Christians-all alike are men. Let me hope I have found in you a man”.

In Islam, revealed religions are like an embassy established by a nation in another nation to strengthen her relationship with the host country. The Ambassadors appointed to manage such embassy, may be changed from time to time just like the foreign policy which guides those ambassadors but the embassy remains intact barring any unforeseen circumstances. So is

the case with the Prophets of Allah. They might have come at different times, and from different lands and tribes. They might have brought different books and spoken different languages but their mission was one and the same. Muslims believe that all the Prophets and Messengers who have come into the world to guide mankind were from one and the same God who created the universe.

Thus, Prophets Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail (Ishmael) Ishaq (Isaac), Musa (Moses), Daud (David), Isa (Jesus) and Muhammad (SAW) as well as others who preceded them or came in-between them brought the same message of monotheism through which mankind was counselled to worship one God and be upright in conduct.

Divine Testimony In Qur’an Chapter 2 verse 285, Allah admonishes Muslims against discriminating among His Apostles thus: “The Apostle of Allah, Muhammad, (SAW) believes in what has been revealed to him by his Lord, and so do the (Muslim) faithful. They all believe in Allah and His Angels, His Books as well as His Apostles. We do not discriminate against any of His Apostles. They say ‘We hear and obey. Grant us your forgiveness oh Lord! To you we shall all return”.

As a Muslim, you cannot believe in one of those Apostles and disbelieve in others.

Neither can you believe in one of the revealed Books while disbelieving in others (except where human tampering has taken place). That is why no true adherent of Islam will ever express foul language against the person of Jesus. Though the modalities for worship may differ from faith to faith and from sanctuary to sanctuary this does not change the course of faith in only one God. Thus, the rivalry between Muslims and Christians, especially in Nigeria, over who is spiritually right or wrong is a product of ignorance.

Similarities As taught by Christianity and Islam through their respective revealed Books, the areas of life that need our cooperation are by far more comprehensive than those in which we differ. For instance, both the Bible and the Qur’an counsel humanity to worship one God. They preach good deeds to neighbours and other fellow human beings in public and in private irrespective of religious lineages. They advocate good care of our parents, our children, the aged ones amongst us and the handicapped. They urge kindness to our wives and leniency with our adversaries. They admonish us against cheating and any form of corruption. They forbid theft, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism and above all the killing of fellow human beings extra-judicially for whatever reason. They also warn us against provocation, aggression, exploitation and advertent or inadvertent transgression even as they emphasize the ephemerality of this world and the eventuality of the hereafter. In all these, we have a common affinity to jointly guard. Have we done this?

Dissimilarities The few areas in which we differ are abstract and quite personal. They are not areas in which human beings are given the power to pass judgment. Only the Almighty God can judge on them. Such are the areas which we believe will pave our ways into Paradise. But since paradise is for individuals and not for religious blocks why are we fighting each other? After all, the journey to Paradise or Hell is a matter of choice for every individual. And no one can tell with precision of who will go to Paradise or go to Hell. Such is the prerogative of God which He has not assigned to any human being and which no human being can and should arrogate to him or herself except one who wants to play God. It is in pursuance of the general principle of humanity that an American literary statesman (Senator Daniel Webster 1782-1852) once came up with an instructive poem thus: “If we work marble it will perish; if we work upon brass, time will efface it; if we rear temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds and instil in them just principles, we are then engraving that upon a tablet which no time can efface but will brighten into all eternity”.

Webster’s thoughtful principle contained in the above poem seems to agree fully with the guiding mission of NASFAT thus: “to develop an enlightened Muslim Society nurtured by a true understanding of Islam for the spiritual upliftment and welfare of mankind”. The full story of NASFAT will be told in this column in a foreseeable in sha’Allah.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

35

S OCEITY The funeral of Mrs Winifred Olanike Omonijo, mother of Mr Omobolade Omonijo, member, Editorial Board of The Nation, has been held in Ilesa, Osun State. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI was there

•From left: Deceased’s children: Bolade and his wife, Ayobami; Bolaji and wife Blessing and Mrs Yinka •The widower Pa Omonijo

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O matter how old our loved ones are, we never want them to go. The tears of the children of the late Mrs Winifred Olanike Omonijo whose remains were intered in Ilesa, Osun State on Saturday are yet to dry.

She died on June 25 at 75. She was the mother Mr Omobolade Omonijo, Member, Editorial Board of The Nation.

Those who knew her are still mourning the loss of an outstanding woman. Her widower, Pa Gamaliel Omonijo, cannot imagine life without his jewel.

Mama and her husband were soul mates. On her sick bed, mama defied pains to ask how her husband was coping at home.

Mama’s remains were intered at St. Peters Anglican Church Cemetery, Bolorunduro in Ilesa, after a funeral service in the church at Isona.

The rites of passage began on Friday with a service of songs at her residence. It climaxed with the funeral service the following day.

The church was painted in white.

Its wooden chairs were set in rows. The choir rendered solemn songs, with the congregation standing as the remains of Mrs Omonijo were brought in, in a gold brown casket. There were flowers on the casket.

Smartly dressed women, ushered guests to their seats.

In a sermon, Ven. Akintunde Morakinyo, described mama as a selfless woman.

The late Mrs Omonijo, Venerable Morakinyo said, was a diligent woman.

He urged all to live a life that is pleasing to God. A f t e r t h e se r m o n , s p e c i a l prayer were said for the family, their guests and the nation.

Mama’s remains arrived at the cemetery in a white car; ESCALADE and T.A.C were the pall bearers.

As Mrs Omonijo’s remains were being lowered into the grave, the large number of sympathisers wept.

Reception followed at the United Methodist/Anglican Grammar School Premises, Bolorunduro, Ilesa.

Guests had a nice time, winning and dinning.

Relations and friends took time to dance to music supplied by Sweet Jesus Music Ministries.

Dword Music Institute a.k.a Olagunju Oluwaseyi was the Master of Ceremony while S.Rock Band also entertained. Diverse itinerant drummers were present.

The venue was decorated in gold, pink and blue. Chairs were set round tables.

In his tribute, Pa Omonijo described his wife as a prayer warrior.

‘I can’t believe she’s gone’

•Ambassador Falase and his wife, Nike

•Asiwaju Femi Ajakaye (left) and Mr Deji Aminu

•Mr Kunle Oyatomi (left) and Mr Kola Olabisi

•Prof Falase and his wife, Adelola

•President Isona Youth Christain League Mr Adejuyigbe Popoola and wife

•Mr Adediran

“The place of my late wife will remain unfilled; it is very difficult to reconcile with the fact that she has departed this world, leaving me lonely.

“My wife knew what I should wear, what to eat and ensured that the home was organised the way I loved it. I look forward to joining you too.”

Omobolade, the first son described his mother as a wonderful woman who lived a fulfilled life.

His words: “My mother delights in the joy and development of others, she was a disciplinarian who took good care of all her children and even other people’s children like her own.

“She walked with the Lord, and served God with all her heart, she touched the lives of so many people and she is worthy of honour.

“She never left daddy, she was always with him and also took care of him.”

He urged mothers to ensure that they build their homes, saying that the day to day administration of the home is in the hand of the mothers.

Mama’s daughter-in-law, Mrs Yinka Omonijo said: “Mama was everything to me. She was not only my mother-in-law, she was my mother and my confidant”.

She described mama as generous, kind hearted, and a woman who is ever ready to give herself to everybody.

“Mama accepted me freely to be her daughter-in-law and told me many things about my husband (her son).”

Mrs Omonijo was moved to tears when she said she can never forget mama because she was very caring.

She said: “Mama will always

•Ven Christopher Aiyejoto PHOTOS: SOLOMON ADEOLA

remember our birthdays to greet us.

“I learnt something from her.

•Mr Paul Odili, Communication Director, Delta State

Mama will never borrow rather she will give you more. I will never forget her,” Mrs Omonijo said.

Mama’s second son, Mr Bolaji Omonijo said mama was caring and loving “She brought us up in the way of the Lord and she will never spare the rod to spoil a child,” Bolaji said.

Chairman, Editorial Board, The Punch, Mr Segun Adediran, said mama was a great and good mother.

“She will be missed,” Adediran said.

Present at the event were Ambassador Akinola Falase and his wife, Nike; Prof Ayodele Falase and his wife, Adelola; Asolo of Isolo Ijesha Dr. John Adeyemi, and Oloro of Orogba Ijesha Chief James Ajayi; members of the staff of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation, were there in large number.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

Ijero, headquarters of Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was agog on July 18. It hosted one of its own, Deputy Governor Modupe Adelabu, a professor of Educational Administration, to a civic reception. Prof Adelabu’s media aide BUNMI OGUNMODEDE revisits the ceremony.

COMMUNICATE YOUR IDEAS

S OCIETY

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T was sweet home-coming last Thursday for Ekiti Deputy Governor Prof Modupe Adeola Adelabu at Ijero-Ekiti, headquarters of Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti state.

Prof Adelabu, who is married to an Ijero Prince, was treated to a rousing reception by members of the local chapter of the ruling party in the state – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The reception, held at the Ijero Sports Stadium, drew the whois-who in the politics of the locality. They included royal fathers, top government functionaries, market leaders, youths and school pupils among others.

Prof Adelabu’s guests were received by community leaders and royal fathers from Ipoti, Ara, Epe, Ilukuno, Araromi, Temidire, Iroko and Oke Oro. High Chief Femi Oyebanjo represented the Ajero of Ijero. He presented gifts to the deputy governor on behalf of the communities.

Pupils from CAC Grammar School, Ijero, Ijero High School, Doherty Memorial High School, Ipoti High Schoool and Babatope High School, Ikoro, thrilled the audience with a march past and spectacular displays that drew cheers from the crowd.

An array of jesters and praise singers also found their way into the stadium. They spiced the reception with comic reliefs.

Opening the floodgate of goodwill messages, Mr Jekoyemi Bankole, who is the chairman of the local wing of the ACN, urged members to remain united and always respect the positions taken by their leaders.

Others who took turns to deliver messages included: Mr Biodun Omoleye; ACN Women Leader Mrs Bose Yakubu; and Mrs Dupe Bakare as well as the leader of youths in the area.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Civic Reception Committee, Dr. Adebayo Orire, said the event became necessary for Prof Adelabu’s kinsmen to show their love and appreciation.

His words: “We would like to use this opportunity to formally congratulate this woman of virtue and profound intellect, who has proved her mettle in academics and now doing well in the public arena on her appointment as the deputy governor.

“We wish her resounding success in this new assignment and in all future endeavours. She is an epitome of humility, meekness, perseverance, respect,

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•Chief Oyebanjo presenting a gift to Prof Adelabu

•A cross section of Ijero traditional rulers

A daughter’s homecoming honour, virtue and godliness; no wonder she is inheriting the earth. She is set apart for glory and greatness in all ramifications.

“To the people’s governor, we say a big thank you for this honour and privilege for considering our own worthy of being appointed as the Second-inCommand in our dear state – the Land of Honour. May the good Lord continue to imbue you with the wisdom to pilot this great state to loftier pedestal.”

Dr Orire urged the state government to turn Ijero council area into a pot of cash by developing its vast potentials.

Responding, Prof Adelabu thanked the gathering for the reception.

Apparently thrilled by the turnout of party supporters, well-wishers, the defection of

members of the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the outpouring of encomiums, the deputy governor described the reception as simply amazing.

“I must confess that this reception is amazing,” Prof Adelabu said while responding to the display of love from all the communities that make up the council area.

She preached unity amongst party members, warning them against polarisation and division.

She said the ACN family in the state remained one indivisible, saying members should look beyond returning the Fayemi administration into office next year, but create the enabling environment for continuity after 2018.

The deputy governor, who had earlier inaugurated a rec-

WEDDING

Mr Olutoba Olufemi Isaac and former Miss Vissou Racheal Omobolanle during their wedding ceremony at Iba Registry, Lagos

Entertaining Speech

reation centre built by the local government under the chairmanship of Mr Bode Agbeleye, praised the council chief for replicating the Fayemi administration’s programmes at the grassroots.

Those at the event were: Commisioners Dapo Kolawole (Finance); Mrs Ronke Okusanya (Arts, Culture and Tourism); Dr. Eniola Ajayi (Environment); Mrs. Fola-Richie Adewusi (Women Affairs, Gender Empowerment and Social Development), Special Adviser to the deputy governor, Hon Bamitale Oguntoyinbo; the lawmaker representing Ijero State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Mrs Omowumi Ogunlola; and the Provost of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Prof Francisca Aladejana.

ECENTLY, I watched a TV programme in which a celebrity was interviewed. She was asked several questions, but a particular one caught my attention. She was asked what she wanted in her "man". Well, the question did not interest me as much as her response did. This celebrity mentioned a number of virtues she expected in her man, but she AMODU LANRE OLAOLU kept on emphasizing that he (Ph.D) sospeak2lanre@yahoo.com. must have a very good sense of 07034737394 humour. This got me curious.

What's with a sense of humour anyway? But then, after discussing with several ladies, I discovered that our celebrity was not alone. Most ladies prize a good sense of humour in men.

So, where does that leave some of our boring friends?

The reason they want humour in men is not farfetched; they want someone who can lighten up the seriousness of life on a permanent basis. I'm sure you realise that you "somehow" prefer your friends who make you laugh or give you interesting gist. This crystallizes the importance of entertaining speech, even in our daily lives. I understand the uniqueness of human nature, not everybody is a "joker." Nevertheless, we will learn in this topic over the next few weeks that it can be learnt. Learning to use humour appropriately aids your ability to carry on a good conversation.

Entertaining speech is one that the audience is supposed to listen to without any care in the world. It does not require the listeners to learn or to act; they are simply expected to relax and enjoy themselves. Before going further, it is very important to mention that, more often than not, you have a mixture of the different types of speeches. An informative speech can have elements of entertainment. What determines the type of speech we are dealing with is the percentage of each that goes into the speech. For instance, in an entertaining speech, not less that 85% of the content should be entertainment based.

Entertaining speeches can come in the form of welcome addresses at luncheons, stand-up comic acts, red carpet interviews and toasts at wedding ceremonies, among others. The most important element of this type of speech is the ability to captivate, interest and amuse the audience. Have you ever seen a comedian struggling so hard to impress a crowd and only very few of them are laughing? It can be demoralizing. That tells you how difficult it can be to attempt to entertain people.

Considering all the above, it becomes very important to understand the nature of entertaining speech. Here are some of its characteristics: •Entertaining Speeches are Brief: as far as this type of speech is concerned, moderation is the key. Even if you are extremely funny, you will tire your audience out if you don't know when to stop. That's why you realise that MCs only make short but interesting remarks in-between different programmes, toasts at weddings are brief, and comedians don't take forever to speak.

•Entertaining Speeches are Simple: you cannot be invited to a science exhibition as the key-note speaker and you want to deliver an entertaining speech! You will seem like a joker. Likewise, how can you have just two minutes to toast to the happiness of a new couple and you want to talk on "seven steps to successful marriage?" Whatever you will talk about needs to be simple enough, so that your listeners don't need to try before they understand. Your speech should contain information that they can easily relate to.

3.

Entertaining Speeches Should Reflect the Audience: it is very important that you relate your presentation to your audience. If you are trying to be funny for instance, you should consider the demography of your audience and the nature of the joke. A joke about a bad wife may "fly" among a male dominated audience, but may earn you hostility among women dominated audience. Don't tell stories of somewhere far way that they cannot relate with, rather, localize your stories. Make sure that in your entertainment, you treat your audience with utmost respect. Sometimes you see some comedians walk into the audience and pick on one or two people. You may even see a Best-man mention a few guests while telling the story of how a couple met. All of these are done to make the audience a part of the fun. You should, however, be careful to use this only in a complementary manner.

•Entertaining Speeches are Creative: you don't have any restriction placed on your creativity. If your speech is to entertain, you can sing, dance or even act. Your main aim is to entertain your audience, and that you must do. First evaluate your audience and determine the kind of creativity that will impress them. If you are the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of your organization, and you are expected to make the guests at your company's luncheon feel comfortable, your creativity must be displayed in such a way that your employers will not consider it an embarrassment.

The key to successful delivery of an entertainment speech is deep desire to interest your listeners. If you focus on what you enjoy instead of what they enjoy, you may find yourself laughing at your own joke while they are all looking at you with a straight face. We will continue this topic next week by discussing what you should avoid when presenting an entertainment speech. Don't miss it.

Dr. Amodu teaches at the Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University, Ogun State.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

37

NIGER DELTA REPORT

•Banner

•Dickson (centre), Murray-Bruce (right) and Duke

A queen, her crown, her origin and controversy Last weekend, Miss Bayelsa emerged the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in a contest held in Yenegoa, the capital of her state of origin, brewing controversy, glitz and glamour, writes MIKE ODIEGWU from Yenagoa

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HE 26th edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) held last Saturday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, was high in entertainment and controversy.

It also corrected the misconception many of the visitors had about the host state. President Goodluck Jonathan’s home state was viewed as the hub of militancy, a no-go-area for very important persons and foreign visitors.

But organising a show of the MBGN magnitude, the first of its kind in the state, gave an eloquent testimony to the changing status of Bayelsa. It was heartwarming to behold the array of beauties, the crèmede-la-creme of the entertainment sector, notable politicians and non-indigenes.

The Banquet Hall of the Government House, which was the venue of the event, was turned around by the red carpet. Ladies tried to undo one another with different types of evening wears - some tight and revealing, others flowing.

The hall itself was congested. The seats were not enough; yet the spectators - the rich and the not-so-rich stood up throughout the event without complaints. Myriads of others tried in vain to box their way through

the gate manned by security operatives.

The parking lots could not hold visitors’ cars. Many vehicle owners were forced to park their cars along the road. The organisers might have lost count of the number of persons who attended the event.

But in the hall, all eyes were on the lavishly decorated stage with good lightening effects. Everybody came to see the girls. The opening remarks by Governor Seriake Dickson prepared the stage for the show to begin.

Though some people who gathered for the show did not pay attention to what the governor said, his remarks would later define the outcome of the event.

To the contestants, he said: “Only one winner will emerge tonight. But all of you are winners. Having watched you closely throughout the two weeks you spent in the state, all of you are worthy ambassadors of your states.

“Playing host to these two historic events, the prestigious Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) and MBGN awards within a space of just four months gives credence to the fact that Bayelsa State is fast growing to become the next tourism hub of the country and Africa.”

The speech set the stage for the long-

awaited show. The bevy of 32 charming girls soon occupied the platform for various performances.

They almost bared it all in their swim wears; showcased elegance in their evening outfits; portrayed values attached to their cultural heritage in their traditional costumes and demonstrated their talents through their dance steps.

But the judges reduced their number to 15 with signals that cast doubts in the minds of spectators. Those who watched the event were disappointed that Miss Kwara featured twice on the list. They were also angry that the judges committed fatal error at some point and were in want of due diligence.

If not, they argued, “why would they raise the hope of Miss Abia by including her in the top 15 only to dash it by replacing her with Miss Imo?” “This is wayo. They shouldn’t have made this kind of mistake”, a spectator said.

“But the judges are human; imperfect”, another excited person replied.

The show went on. The audience later realised that Miss Imo (Stephanie Okwu) deserved to be on the list. She made it to the top five along with Miss Bayelsa, Miss Adamawa (Powede Lawrence), Miss

Kaduna(Enoma Agboniko) and Miss Abuja (Melissa Devidal). Then the trouble began. The dreaded IQ test started.

Miss Abuja fumbled. She could not answer her questions. Though Miss Bayelsa showed brilliance, the audience, especially those who are not from her state, saw Miss Imo as the potential winner.

A minor argument ensued from the judges’ table. They consulted one another while everybody, including Dickson waited. The time for the final judgement came.

Miss Adamawa (Powede Lawrence) became the second runner up, Miss Kaduna (Enoma Agboniko) third runner up and Miss Abuja (Melissa Devidal) fourth runner up.

“Who would be the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria between Miss Bayelsa and Miss Imo?” Guy Murray-Bruce of SilverBird Group, organisers of the pageant, asked. While some rooted for Miss Imo, majority in spirits of solidarity subdued the voices of minority.

When Miss Bayelsa, Anna Ebiere Banner, was declared the winner making Stephanie Okwu the first runner up, a floodgate of controversy was opened Some of the spectators openly voiced their disaffections claiming

‘Transformation Agenda the biggest joke’

that the Silverbird family, being Bayelsans, merely acted the script of the governor. They argued that the MBGN had been politicised. Some even said it had become a case of host and win. They argued that Okwu was beautiful, taller and showed more composure than the winner.

But none of the critics argued about the beauty of Banner. She is beautiful and everything worked for her. She enjoyed home support each time she walked the stage. These factors, especially efforts of home fans, must have influenced the decision of the judges.

Yet, the judges were supposed to be unbiased. Other spectators believed that the judges’ choice was right. Despite the feelings of people who disagreed with the result, a Bayelsan has emerged MBGN for the first time.

She received her crown from the outgoing 2012 winner, Miss. Isabella Ayuk in the presence of an excited Dickson, who immediately appointed her as his Special Assistant on Culture and Tourism and made her Culture and Tourism Ambassador of the state.

Minister of Culture Chief Edem Duke said: “If we want to become one of the 20 economies in 2020, we better start doing what Bayelsa is doing right now.”

Still the controversy over who truly deserves the crown remains.

Mr Austine Ibok is the President of the SouthSouth Progressive Youth Organisation. In this interview with NICHOLAS KALU in Calabar, he condemns rotational presidency, stressing that whoever will emerge must do so by merit.

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OUR group is from the Southsouth, yet you seem aversed to power being retained in the region, why is this so?

The crossroads we find ourselves today in this country are not accidental, but a cumulative resultant effect of years of ethnocentric-based politics in all spheres of our national life, both leadership and followership. The resultant effect amongst many others is the multiple birth of ethnic youth groups and elders’ forum/ organisations, militant and otherwise articulating their selfish ethnic cum sectional agendas which is antithetical to the interest of this our Godgiven great country.

It is worthy to note that the pace of our drift must be worrisome to every patriotic Nigerian without prejudice.

The gross disregard for our common

good, corporate existence, justice and equity, is almost making nonsense of the sweat and labour of our heroes past, and making the yearning of the youthful generation more of a myth than reality.

Our earnest desire yesterday for a paradigm shift in the political pendulum has turned out to be a big curse to other SouthSouth ethnic nationalities, except of course the Ijaw nation.

So you don’t think President Jonathan has what it takes to take the country to the level it should be?

Our initial hope and prayers that “Luck” was capable of catapulting us out of our complex problems have turned out to be wishful thinking, because we required a pragmatic approach to get the nation out of this bondage. An individual’s lucky an-

tecedent, cannot be the bedrock upon which our expectations are built.

The transformation agenda baked and served from “Otueke Oven” is the biggest joke of our time, except, that certain selected ethnic warlords and a few cronies, have had themselves purged of high rural content, and if this is the dividend derivable from this whole process, then it is too little and inadequate for our expectations in this whole experiment.

In a nut shell, our present problems in polity is, how do we achieve equilibrium in the power dynamics, to enable us assuage the fears of the allpowerful conservative block and the desperate agitations of the progressives to capture power? How do we ameliorate the sufferings of the average Nigerian, and revive their hope and confidence in the system?

How can we eliminate ethnic suspicion, and build trust and confidence collectively, in our ability to realise our dreams of self fulfillment within the context, one nation, one destiny.

Who can qualify as the right material, and what qualities could possibly qualify him or her? This and possibly more are some of the fundamental questions begging for answers at this critical point in our national life, when skeptics are almost certain that Nigeria will possibly be a failed state by 2015.

There are reactions from some quarters that there would be trouble if Jonathan does not get a second term in office?

I wish to totally disassociate the Southsouth zone from recent vituperations by certain obscure element stating that if the Southsouth does not

•Ibok

retain the presidency, there will be trouble. This is an absolute distraction.

Such persons are under the illusion that we can be used and dumped the second time, but they will fail, because this nation and this zone is too big a fish to be caught with a torn net.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

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NIGER DELTA REPORT

My experience as Oshiomhole’s deputy, b

Edo State Deputy Governor Dr Pius Odubu, in this interview with OSEMWENGIE BEN OGBEMUDIA on the eve of his 56th birthday and 25th wedding anniversary, speaks on working with Governor Adams Oshiomhole, his private life, why he doesn’t drink, smoke or womanise as well as other issues.

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ONGRATS on your birthday and silver wedding anniversary.

How has the journey been?

It’s been a mixed bag; the good, the bad and the ugly. Of course, that is a fact of life. We can only pray that the good times beat the bad times. For me, it has been 99 per cent good times and perhaps one per cent bad times, and for this we give God the glory. He has been very kind to me and my family. Twenty-five years ago, one was still a single young man. I got married at 31, of course that was because I sojourned out of this country in 1977 in pursuit of higher education. It also took me a while to find my missing rib and when I found her, she was just a perfect match. We have four very lovely children, two of whom are in the university now, one in the fourth year and the other one in the first year.

During this period, I have contested elections six times; twice into the council, twice into the House of Representatives and twice now as deputy governor. Four were successful, not because we didn’t win, but because we were rigged out in the other two. And God has used us in these 25 years positively to impact on the lives of our people.

As to whether we have served well, we leave that to the people but, I can imagine that the verdict of the people will be on our side otherwise, we will not have been here this long. I thank God for the way He has used me to touch lives positively.

How did you meet your wife?

Some of my friends will tease me that I am not an adventurist; that I just reached out across my street and married my wife.

My family house is at Osarenmwanta Street. The next street is Ewasede where the family house of my wife is located. The missing rib that I found turned out to be the per-

fect one. She has supported me in everything that I have done.

Overtime, we found out that we were a perfect match, and marriage was just a natural consequence of our relationship. In due course, I proposed and she graciously accepted.

We decided on July first, being my birthday, to get married such that it will be double celebration. It has also given me the opportunity not to forget our anniversary. So it is always easy to remember that you got married on your birthday and it has worked for us But before you met her, how was relationship with women like, did you smoke, drink?

Believe me, I have never tasted alcohol, never smoked and in fact this kola they eat after prayers, I’ve never tasted it. I don’t eat kola, I don’t smoke, I don’t drink and I guess you will say I must have been running around with women. I also didn’t do that. I grew up a very shy person. Up till now, I am a very shy person and that affected my relationship with the opposite sex.

Naturally a shy person will not be one who will be everywhere with girls. I was not really there in the world. My own was that I saw my father and saw everything good in him so I wanted to be like him. My father never smoked, never drank and of course didn’t eat kola. I didn’t play the field and I am too old to start now. I have always lived a modest life with the fear of God in mind.

What motivated you to go into politics?

I was born into a family of politicians. My father, a renowned politician in the NCNC/Otue-Edo days in the Midwest Region, was one of those who fought for the creation of Midwest region. He was a councilor at various times in the council, limited to the council because of his level of education. I am quite sure if he was educated, he would

have gone further than that, but for more than five times, he was a councillor. My mother is of the Osunde family in Ugo, a popular family, very prosperous family and very influential family also into politics. I grew up with my father as a councillor seeing prominent men in the then Midwest Region, coming to see him in the village.

So when I returned home after studies, I went to the law school, after which I participated actively in the zero party election that came up then. As a young lawyer, I also assisted in making it a success and joined forces with others that supported Dr. Roland Ehigiamusoe as the council chairman then. I was the state legal adviser for the Liberal Convention in the then Bendel State. I was just content to support people, but the people said arising from the influence of my father and the role he played, that it was payback time and they all nominated me to go to the council as the council chairman; that was indeed how I ventured into politics. I think it was more-or-less reaping from the good job my father did.

You have been described severally as one of the most loyal deputy governors in the country, how has it been working with a governor who is a workaholic?

It is easy to work with someone whose belief and ideas you share; it is easy to work with someone who, to a large extent, is like you. I have always believed in hard work, I have always lived a disciplined life; I have always harboured this innate conviction of serving the people. I have always wanted to do things that would bring satisfaction to the people; I have always wanted to serve the people. I saw these and perhaps more in Governor Adams Oshiomhole. So it was just easy for me to key into his mission and vision. No two persons can be exactly the same but to a

‘

My happiest moments in government are quite a few.

First, when I was picked by Mr. Governor, then Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as his running mate. Second, when we were able to reclaim our mandate in court, third when I was picked again by him as his running mate,

‘

large extent, perhaps over 90 per cent, we have the same vision and mission, so it has been a seamless working relationship because firstly, people say I am very simple and humble, but I want to tell you that Mr. Governor is the embodiment of simplicity. Don’t mind the very serious mien you see in him.

He is one person who is very simple to work with, easy go-

• Dr. Odubu

ing yet very disciplined and committed to the welfare of the people. So for me, he was simply the right person to work with. The only difference people see in us is that I am an introvert, and he is an extrovert and you know they say opposites attract. I like working behind the scene. I am publicity shy and do not talk much. I just like to do my job and move on.

So for me, working with Oshiomhole has been a very pleasant experience, there has not been a single second of disagreement; not because I am deputy governor and bound to always agree with him, but because issues are tabled, discussed and consensus reached.

In that situation, you can rarely find disagreement. I have had a swell time working with him

My ordeal in kidnappers’ den, by ex-CBN worker

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LITTLE over a year after a retired primary school head teacher, Mr. Eugine Orlu-Orlu, died in a kidnappers’ den, another death was averted in the victim’s family in Ubima Community of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

A retired Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) worker, Sylvester Echeonwu, sibling of the late Orlu-Orlu miraculously regained his freedom after three-hour ordeal in the hands of criminals. His rescue was facilitated by the quick intervention of communities’ youths.

Sources in the town, which is the home of prominent Rivers politicians, including Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Sir Celestine Omehia, said the swift intervention of youths who combed bushes and forests in nearby communities of Ipo, Ozuaha, Omademe and

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

Etche, saved the day.

The retired CBN worker, like most family heads, struggled to provide food for his family before he was abducted by gunmen around 9am in front of his shop at Ubima community last Friday.

Unlike Orlu-Orlu, who died in the kidnappers’ den, Echeonwu returned home last weekend amid singing and dancing by community members who trooped to his residence at Omuowhor village to celebrate with him.

Echeonwu said he was in front of his shop in the community when unknown gunmen accosted him. He said he alerted community members, especially the youths by shouting for help.

“I will tell you that death came, but God did not allow it to happen. I was unhealthy

for over two days. I locked my shop for those days to care of myself in the hospital. After returning from hospital, I decided to reopen my shop.

“While I was there sweeping the floor, two men arrived on a motorbike and ordered me to follow them. I asked where? But they replied by warning me not to question them. A minute after, a vehicle arrived; I was pushed inside the car with a gun pointed and they hurriedly drove away.”

Echeonwu said he was pressed inside the car by the masked gunmen, adding that he could not see where he was being taken until they stopped and dragged him down for a long walk inside the bush.

He said: “They diverted the car to Wilbros Road; that was where we stopped and they ordered me to enter the bush and we started walking. It was a long walk from Wilbros Road to a forest located be-

tween IPO and Omademe communities where they discovered a very deep hole and asked me to jump inside, which I helplessly did.”

Inside the forest, Echeonwu said two gunmen stood close to the hole. He said his vulnerable situation forced him to ask for God’s will to be done in his life.

God answered his prayers when a crowd of youths located him inside the forest.

“I heard serious noise that looked like a group of people and I said to myself ‘this noise cannot be that of kidnappers; it must be people searching for something inside this forest’.

Then I started shouting, ‘I am here; I am the person they kidnapped’. They eventually located me and took me home.

But if they were not making noise they could have arrested them (kidnappers) because it was their noise that made the kidnappers to escape.

“I want to thank the youths of Ubima community, Omademe, Ipo, Etche and others from the neighbouring communities who responded to the rescue calls. I have never seen this kind of response before, the youths really tried. I don’t have money now but as soon as something comes to my pocket I will host them as my own way of saying thank you. Even if the kidnapers succeeded, where would I get the money to pay their ransom? I am struggling like every other man in this community.”

One of the rescuers, Nwachebe Ndudiri, said they were contacted by Ubima community vigilance group to comb the bush and forest in their area.

Ndubiri said: “This is the first time Ikwerre community is working together in a distress call of this nature. I am from Omademe community but all the youths in the

neighbouring communities went inside the bush in search of the man when they heard the news. It is a very good relationship that should be sustained to end security challenges in the area.”

The head of the vigilance group, Mohamed Wobodo, said his men swung into action immediately they heard the news of the abduction.

Wobodo said: “We have new tactics in dealing with the security situation in the community. We thank God that the youths in the various communities responded to our distress calls.”

The victim’s younger brother, Charles Echeonwu, urged government to tackle insecurity.

He said: “We want the government to keep surveillance on communities linking our community with a standby police patrol team. The vigilance group cannot do this

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

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NIGER DELTA REPORT

uty, by Odubu and I promised to do my part to ensure that he is not distracted from giving his best to the good people of Edo State.

But what do we expect from you after the end of your second term?

I am not God; only God knows tomorrow. I am content to serve, partner with Mr. Governor to do our best for the remaining years and months we have in this tenure. We are not eight months in office yet so it is much too early to think about what will happen in the nearest future, but like I told somebody sometimes ago, for me privately, publicly and politically, I have decided to live my life, in all that I do, in the capable and able hands of God. Let Him use me the way He deems fit, let Him write my story and I will act well my part and I think that captures the essence of my tomorrow.

What have been your most tensed situation and happiest moment in government so far?

My happiest moments in government are quite a few.

First, when I was picked by Mr. Governor, then Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as his running mate. Second, when we were able to reclaim our mandate in court, third when I was picked again by him as his running mate, fourth, and perhaps my happiest moment, was the ground breaking ceremony of the construction of EvboegbaeUgo-Urhionigbe road in Orhionmwon Local Government Area. From the beginning of time, that road has been very deplorable. We have always wished for the road to be asphalted, so when Mr. Governor performed the ground breaking ceremony, it became one of my happiest moments in government.

My most difficult time was the re-nomination exercise for our second term. For those of you who were in Edo State and indeed Nigeria, my nomination became the issue. It was as if I was the one contesting for governorship. It was difficult because as a deputy governor, you were not expected to campaign for re-nomination. Ide-

ally, it was the responsibility of the governor in consultation with party leaders and elders to pick his running mate, but mine was so contentious as if one was going to contest election into it and in all of these, I was not supposed to campaign, I was not supposed to do anything. So I was just at the mercy of the people who were throwing all manners of serious rubbish at me from all corners. It was a trying period for me because one was not permitted, allowed or supposed to go out and also state his case and campaign to the people. It would have been very easy for me to do, but we thank God that Mr. Governor saw through it all and stuck by me. I also want to appreciate the good people of Edo State who throughout that period stood by me in their various commentaries. Some took advertorials; some went through the social media in support of my re-nomination exercise. I also want to thank the traditional institution for throwing their weight behind my re-nomination. They spoke in my favour that I have been very diligent and that I have been very capable and able that you don’t change a winning team so that for me was the most trying time in government.

The PDP has always accused this government of corruption and lack of transparency...

The opposition party unfortunately in our system sees nothing good with the ruling party. But if you are asked today to name one governor who is transparent in his activities and honest in his dealings, that man is Oshiomhole. Edo State is one of the few states that have in place the procurement law.

Edo State is one place where due process is the watch word.

The governor embarks on elaborate explanation of government’s activities at all times because he believes that he is accountable to the people; that the people must lead and that he is there as a servant of the people.

‘

Two men arrived on a motorbike and ordered me to follow them. I asked where? But they replied by warning me not to question them. A minute after, a vehicle arrived; I was pushed inside the car with a gun pointed and they hurriedly drove away

‘

alone. Last year one of my elder brothers died in the den of kidnappers and today another member of the family is in the

•Representatives of the aggrieved communities

Communities protest ‘unfair’ land acquisition for ADAMA project

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IGHT communal landlords to the ADAMA project in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State have protested the perceived unfair compensation paid for the acquisition of their land by the state government.

The leaders of Umuanyagu, Okomoko, Egwi, Ulakwo, Akwa, Obibi, Okoragu and Odagwa communities expressed their displeasure at a meeting held at Alakwo Community Secondary School last Sunday.

They lamented that the government agreed to pay a meagre N50,000 per plot, which they said was small compared to what was paid to their counterparts in Ikwerre Local Government, where landlords of the Greater Port Harcourt City smiled to the bank with N350,000 per plot as well as 50 percent equity.

Spokesman of the communities Ibegbulem Chizoba said they have therefore resolved to reject the N50,000

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

per plot compensation.

To this end, he said the aggrieved communities swung into action by appointing a former Etche Local Government Area boss, Hon. Eprim Nwuzi, and an elder statesman in the area, Prince Emma Anyanwu to represent them and convince the government to understand their plight.

Condemning those they described as the betrayers of the community, Chizoba said, “The communities have passed a vote of no confidence on those who have been going behind our backs to tell government that we have accepted the N50,000 for a plot compensation.

“Today we have appointed our two sons, Eprim Nwuzi and Prince Emma Anyanwu, to represent us. We trust them and we are confident that they will deliver our message and negotiate with the government properly.

“One thing we want to state clear here is that we are not going to accept N50,000 per plot of land. Whatever the government gave those at the Greater Port Harcourt City should also be applicable to us. We don’t want to go to war with the government because Amaechi is the governor who Etche people love so much that is why we are confident that he will listen to us.

Nwuzi said: “ I am delighted that after leaving office my people still trust me and said I should represent them. This is an assignment I cannot reject. If my people say they want me who am I to say no?”

He promised to ensure that his people were not given peanut as compensation: adding, “It is a promise that I will represent you well.

What is N50,000? Even at the rate of N100,000, we are not going to accept. We are farmers and government cannot take our land and begin to take us for granted. It cannot

•Chizoba

happen. I know the governor will listen to us.”

Meanwhile, two aged women Mrs Patricia Nwosu (85) and Mrs Anna Njokwu (90) among the protesters urged the state government to respect the wishes of the women and elderly, whose only survival was the planting and harvesting of cassava in the affected plots of land.

“The amount agreed to be paid by government is not in any way near what we would have made on the land in every farming season,” they stated.

Rivers community to Total: give us our dues

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IFTY years after French oil firm, Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (TEPNG) started operating in their area, leaders of Obiozimini have urged management of the firm to include the community in the list of oil and gas producing communities in Egi clan of Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

In a statement by Chairman and Secretary of Oil and Gas Committee, Ajie Uche and Vincent Dibia, as well as the Community Development Committee Chairman,

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

Mbadiwe Ewe, the Obiozimini CDC members lamented that the community, which is located 300 metres to the OML 58 Gas Exploration Site of TEPNG, has been suffering adverse consequences resulting from oil activities of the company.

They “recalled with sadness, the environmental pollution Obiozimini has been suffering”, pointing out that the April 12 -30, last year Egita gas eruption devastated farm-

lands, waterways, swamps, rivers, streams and forests of Egi communities, including their own community.

The gas blow out, they stated “underscores a case of horizontal drilling practice surreptitiously carried out by TEPNG in Egi communities to shut-out most communities from being recognised as oil and gas producing communities.”

To pacify the people for the environmental hazards they have suffered over the years, the community demanded that TEPNG “should accord us due recognition as oil and

gas production community” because repeated past requests have been to no avail.

While calling on the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) to consider the plight of Obiozimini community and prevail on TEPNG to include it in the oil and gas producing communities in Egi land, the people also said they are determined to correct the injustice by taking a legal action against the company as well as presenting their case to the international community.

Anglican Communion urges govt to fight corruption

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•Echeonwu after regaining freedom

history of the rampaging kidnapping saga. Thank God he is alive who knows who will be the next.”

HE Niger Delta Diocese of the Anglican Communion has identified corruption as the bane of Nigeria’s growth.

It advised the Federal Government to tackle the scourge by strengthening the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to tackle corruption in the country The church gave the advice during the recently-concluded second session of its 21st Synod, which was held at St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. .

The communiqué issued at the end of the event stated: “Synod notes that corruption has become a monster and cankerworm as well as a serious and deadly virus that has eaten deep into the national fabric.

“The Federal Government is called upon to fight this menace and rid the country of this ugly scourge. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should be strengthened

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

and given all assistance to fight this cause.”

While commending the effort of the federal government in improving power supply, the synod also noted that more work needs to be done in this area to give constant electricity to the citizens.

The church also appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action in completing the East/ West Road and to open the region to ease the movement of people in the area.

Continuing, the synod commended the Rivers State Government for executing developmental projects and maintenance of peace and security in the state but appealed to it to build landing jetties at the Nembe/Bonny/Bille waterfront in Port Harcourt to ease the problems of water travellers.

This year was declared the year of “evangelism and making disciples everywhere and anywhere one finds himself or herself.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

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NIGER DELTA REPORT

Rivers aims at poverty’s roots For two days last week, the conference hall of the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt was filled with bureaucrats, top government officials, international and national figures, who converged to deliberate on wealth creation and poverty reduction.

SouthSouth Regional Editor SHOLA O’NEIL reports.

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HE Rivers State Wealth Creation and Poverty Reduction seminar was initiated by the state’s arm of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA).

In his welcome address, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, George Feyii, identified some of the ills in the society as by-products of poverty.

He said the government has development programmes that deal with empowering the people to make them self-reliant and useful to the society. He therefore urged Rivers people to take advantage of the opportunities afforded them to make their lives more meaningful.

Setting the tone for the seminar, the Special Adviser to the Governor on NEPAD, Dr. Tex Wariboko, said the state was committed to ensuring better living for the people. He assured that participants at the two-day event would evolve workable strategic framework that would embrace integrated development for wealth creation and poverty reduction.

International wealth creation and poverty alleviation experts, comprising former President of Costa Rica, José María Figueres Olsen and Moshtag Ahmmed, an expert on microfinance and social business spoke extensively on the need for paradigm change in old methods adopted to address poverty in underdeveloped countries.

They called for attention to shift to renewable energy sources, cleaner and cheaper electricity sources like solar and hydro as well as cheaper housing schemes.

In his presentation, Dr. Moshtag Ahmmed, founder of ICMSE - an international platform for Microfinance and SME Development - urged Nigerian leaders

•Amaechi (second right), Mr. José María Figueres Olsen (right)Dr. Mustaq Ahmmed (left); Prof. Kevin Urama (second left); Mr. Tonye Sokubo (third left); and Dr. Tex Wariboko.

to seek alternative housing strategies that would look at affordable sources of building materials to provide housing for the people.

He lamented the cost of epileptic power supply.

Dr. Ahmed said: “It is also time for us to think of what kind of environment we are leaving behind for our children. This summit can come out with plan for renewable energy and cheaper housing schemes for people living in Port Harcourt and Nigeria as a whole.”

Former Costa Rican President José María Figueres Olsen urged the Federal Government to hasten up the process of opening up the electricity sector by allowing governments, private investors and individuals generate and sell electricity.

Olsen said households in Nigeria should be allowed to install solar power panel on their rooftops to generated electricity for their households and also make money by selling the excess energy they generated.

He said: “It is important for the Federal Government to continue to play a role in power generation but it should create space for states or individuals who want to generate power to be able to do so.”

Olsen, who ruled Costa Rica from 1994 to 1998, identified the urge to do a lot within a short span as the problem besetting governments in the country, like their counterparts all over the world. He urged governments to pick few feasible agendas and pursue them vigorously in order to bring much needed development to the

citizenry.

Speaking during the final day of the seminar, Amaechi called for a synergy between business owners and his administration to create an atmosphere that would allow business to thrive to boost productivity, employment and reduce poverty in the state.

While stressing the need to protect the environment, the governor remarked that it is necessary to put food on the table of the poor. To achieve this, he said political officeholders must take the interest of the people as their priority.

“For the poor man, sustainable development is anything that goes into his stomach and keeps him for the day. And because, the poor man does not know how harmful crude oil is to the environment, what he wants to know is the immediate environment to suit the economic crisis that he has. He does not know that in the future, his children will need that environment to be able to drive their own businesses.”

“So, I think that, those of you who are in government, when you have the natural resources, you should manage it in such a way that, you and I can walk the streets freely. Some Nigerian politicians don’t know that, we are representatives of our people”, Amaechi said.

Speaking further, the governor emphasised the need to diversify the nation’s economy for inclusive participation and wealth acquisition to tackle poverty and combat crime in the state.

Honour for a teachers’ teacher

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HE Niger Delta is not just rich in oil and gas. It is also a region of intellectuals, even among the female folks. Some women have really distinguished themselves in their various chosen fields.

Mrs. Wealth Obibi is, no doubt, one of those who are making the region proud in the world of education. Her outstanding contributions in bringing global education to the rural areas in the region were recently recognised.

She was bestowed with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in London by the Abbey Graduate College of Education London and Commonwealth University, Belize. The adorable daughter of the Niger Delta received her award from the University Chancellor, Prof. Michael Addison.

It was not surprising that Obibi who hails from Rumuomoi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State squared up with notable individuals from across the world for the honour. She has been an

•Mrs. Obibi (right) receiving the award from Prof. Addison From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

advocate of best practice in the educational sector.

She established the first British

International School in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with a branch now in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The school, Cedar Court, lays emphasis on foundational education adopting best global practice.

“Some of our politicians don’t even have any development agenda. How many of us know that unskilled labour has the greatest percentage of criminals in our society? When you arrest them, they will tell you ‘it is not that, I want to engage in kidnapping or armed robbery. It is simply because, I don’t have an alternative’. Government must be able to create the alternative”.

Amaechi explained that his administration was focused on poverty alleviation through education, agriculture, power and health.

“We have invested in transportation, we have invested in water, but for me, the next thing to do is to ensure that some of these things are delivered to our people, free of charge because, if you quantify the level of corruption in our society and compare how much things you are going to give free of charge to the people, you will not regret it.

We have free education policy, free health care policy,” Amaechi said.

He disclosed said his administration has put in a place a N5 billion Small and Medium term Enterprises (SME’s) fund that would create avenue for people to own companies, and in so doing, create employment opportunities for the jobless in society.

There were also contributors from the organised private sector and interest groups across the state. They called for domestication of development models copied from Asia and other parts of the world to suit Nigeria’s reality, history and peculiarities to make them succeed.

She bagged a certificate in Global Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Obibi was a panelist and speaker at the first West African Educational Conference on the topic: “Educational Transformation Reengineering the Foundational Years” which was held at the Lagos Business School in July last year.

These and many other accomplishments contributed to her recent award. Dr. Obibi was indeed excited over the recognition.

She said: “I feel very delighted and happy that my contributions to bringing global education to the rural villages of the Niger Delta are noticed by international communities.

“This honour has spurred me to do more for my region and the nation at large. I desire that the Nigerian educational system adopts and emphasises on best practice from pedagogy through to the higher institutions.”

She further advised women in the country not to give up pursuing their dreams.

“Women should be agents of change in their chosen career and should not also neglect their primary role as a wife and a mother. They should always contribute positively to the society in which they live.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

POLITICS

FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

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E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The special national convention of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will take place next month in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN writes on the controversy surrounding the convention.

PDP in battle to avoid rancorous convention

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ILL the special national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) achieve the desired objective? Will the convention committee abide by the guidelines? Is it possible to resolve the internal crises before the convention? To observers, these questions must be addressed, if the PDP plans to conduct a credible convention.

Analysts contend that the proposed convention is a formality because virtually all the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) who resigned their positions last month are likely to return.

This is evident by the statement of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who is the the Convention Committee Secretary. He said the zones and the states where the previous members that resigned came from would fill the slots.

“We are going to keep all the positions within the zones. If there is any strong reason for us to change a particular candidate, that will happen. But for now, we are going to keep all the positions in the zones that keep them presently. We are not changing the zoning formula; we are reopening nominations. This is a new convention. They will pay; it is not the old convention.”

The implication of Ekweremadu’s explanation is that the office of the National Publicity Secretary is retained in Anambra State. Imo State will produce the National Woman Leader. The office of the National Legal Adviser is retained in Plateau State; the National Treasurer will come from Kebbi State, Rivers State will still produce Deputy National Chairman. The National Organising Secretary is retained in Kaduna State while Ebonyi State will still produce the Deputy National Secretary.

Why special convention?

The election of some national officers, which was held in March, last year, was faulted by INEC a year after. INEC clearly stated that the mode of election of some of the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) was not acceptable. INEC, in its report signed by Col M. K. Hammanga (rtd), the team leader to the PDP national convention held on March 24, 2012, at Eagle Square, Abuja, said the the election was faulty.

“The mode of election adopted for single candidates was not in accordance with that stipulated in paragraph 6.5 (i) of the guidelines for the conduct of the 2012 congresses and national convention and therefore, not acceptable to the Commission, the report stated.

Consequently, the elections of the following officers were voided: The Deputy National Chaairman, Dr Sam Sam Jaja; National Organising Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha; National Youth Leader, Alhaji Garba Chiza; Deputy National Youth Leader, Dennis Alonge Niyi; National Auditor, Senator Umar Ibrahim; Deputy National Woman Leader, Hanatu Ulam; National Woman Leader. Kema Chikwe; Deputy National Organising Secretary, Okechukwu Nnadozie; Deputy National Treasurer Claudius Inengas; National Legal Adviser , Victor Kwom; National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Methu and the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Binta Goje.

INEC declared their elections improper despite the fact that these single candidates were duly nominated and their candidature ratified by a majority voice vote at the convention.

The commission also noted that the open secret ballot system was adopted for the election into the offices of the national Chairman , Auditor, Financial Secretary, Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer, in accordance with paragraph 6.5 (I) of the guidelines. It stated that all other positions had single candidates and were affirmed by motions, except for National Chairman, which was put to vote by open secret ballot, despite the fact that only one candidate was in contention.

INEC also pointed out that the elections to the PDP congresses were not properly conducted in some states. A letter signed by INEC Secretary Abdullahi Kaugama, listed the affected states as Sokoto, Adamawa, Taraba, Pla-

•Dr Jonathan

•Tukur

•Gana

‘The President had with both Tukur and Gana was that the Special National Convention will still hold on August 31 and the Southwest congress will also take place on August 24. To appease the angry NWC members, the President, according to the source, directed that the Gana Committee should allow the members of the NWC to chair some of the sub-committees in the convention committee’ teau, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Lagos, Anambra and Katisna.

Special convention guidelines To avoid INEC sledge hammer, the Chairman of the Special Convention Planning Committee, Prof. Jerry Gana, said the election is open to all the qualified members of the party.

According to the new convention guidelines released by the committee, all the delegates that took part in the March 24, 2012 national convention are expected to attend the special convention. The process shall be by secret ballot where the candidate is unopposed by voice vote. In the event of tie, a run- off election shall be immediately conducted between the candidates with the highest equal number of votes.

The guidelines further stated: “Election of zonal officers shall recognise the principles of zoning and spread of the party and public offices. Each candidate seeking election must be nominated by 20 registered members from the two-thirds of the states in the zone. Election shall be by simple majority to produce the officers of the zone.

“Election of national officers shall recognise the principle of zoning and be conducted on the basis of existing zoning formula as amended by the National Executive Committee of the party. Each candidate shall be nominated by at least 20 registered members, five of whom must come from the aspirant’s zone.”

The guideline emphasised that all the members seeking elections into the various offices must be registered members for, at least, two years.

Tukur/Gana feud From all indications, the party is going for the convention as a divided fold. The acrimony that majority of the stakeholders may carry to the convention portends danger. The special convention was heading for the rock last week when the National Working Committee announced the suspension of the convention. Tukur and other members of the NWC directed the Convention Committee headed by Prof. Jerry Gana to suspend all the actions on the convention, which was earlier fixed for August 31.

However, the suspension did not go down well with the committee as its members including the Secretary, Senator Ekweremadu,

were said to have reported the matter to President Goodluck Jonathan . The President invited Tukur for a meeting where convention was discussed. The President’s intervention has led to a ceasefire in the battle of wits between the Tukur-led NWC and the Convention Committee. Already, the President has directed that the convention date as announced by the convention committee be retained.

A presidential source, who was at the meeting, said the deal the President had with both Tukur and Gana was that the Special National Convention will still hold on August 31 and the Southwest congress will also take place on August 24. To appease the angry NWC members, the President, according to the source, directed that the Gana Committee should allow the members of the NWC to chair some of the sub-committees in the convention committee.

The source said the NWC members were not happy that the headship of the sub-committees, including the Publicity, which was supposed be reserved for the National Publicity Secretary, was given to another person by the Gana Committee. The NWC also complained that the National Organising Secretary was not even mentioned as the chairman of any committee, while the Woman Leader, who is the traditional person in charge of welfare, was merely made a member of the Welfare Committee.

Whether the peace brokered between Tukur and Gana by the Presidency will endure or not, time will tell.

Crises tearing PDP apart There is no geo-political zone where the PDP is crisis-free. The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) crisis that has polarised the governors into pro-Amaechi and Jang supporters, an attempt by the Presidency to destabilise Northern Governors Forum and the lingering Rivers crisis that has pitched Governor Rotimi Amaechi against President Jonathan and his wife.

The party is bitterly factionalised in the Southwest. In Ogun State, PDP is divided alongside many factions. There is a faction loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The Buruji Kashamu group is in control of party machinery in the state. The recommendation of the reconciliation committee set up by the national secretariat of the party that the state

executive be shared between the two groups was rejected by the Kashamu group. The Obasajo group has lost out completely in the struggle for the soul of the party. The battle of supremacy consumed Chief Bode Mustapha as the National Auditor of the party. He was replaced by Adeyanju Olawale from Kashamu group.

The Southwest zone held a special congress recently in Ibadan to nominate a replacement for Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the erstwhile national secretary, whose appointment was nullified by the court on the ground that the congress that produced him was illegal. According to a release issued after the meeting, the delegates unanimously approved the nomination of Professor Wale Oladipo as the Acting National Secretary. The position was zoned to Osun State and Oladipo hails from Osun.

Forty eight hours after the announcement, a group, the Osun PDP Concerned forum kicked against Oladipo’s nomination. In an advertorial signed by the representatives from the 30 local governments in the state, the forum stated that the said selection and the mode of the selection did not conform with the constitution of the PDP and does not enjoy the support and goodwill of the majority. Rather than deepen peace and unity the announcement has stirred disunity disenchantment and mutual suspicion, the statement added.

But the Chairman of Ogun State chapter, Chief Bayo Dayo, who attended the zonal congress, told The Nation that the selection of Prof.

Oladipo was open and transparent. According to him, there were two candidates. The other candidate stepped down for Oladipo to emerge as the unanimous candidate.

Stalled reconciliation Ekiti State PDP was embroiled in a fresh crisis last week, following the suspension of the party chairman, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, by a faction loyal to former Governor Ayo Fayose. There was commotion at the party secretariat in Ado-Ekiti when some aggrieved members met and announced the suspension of the chairman. Ogundipe was accused of misappropriation of funds, corruption, and failure to carry along members of the Central Working Committee. He was also accused of constituting unilaterally the screening committee to pick the governorship candidate for the next year governorship election. The Ogundipe group has also suspended Fayose and some officers. Already, the party is balkanised into splinter groups loyal to various chieftains, including the former governor, Mr Segun Oni, Fayose, and the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd). All efforts to reconcile the factions by the national leadership have failed.

A chieftain of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, admitted that there was crisis in the chapter which according to him, is not peculiar to PDP. He told our correspondent that, in a big party like PDP, the likelihood of disagreement on issues is possible. Adeyeye said Ogundipe, is still the chairman. An individual cannot on his volition suspend the chairman. There is a procedure to follow, he added.

Lagos is also not insulated from the crisis as some chieftains of the party have approached the Federal High Court seeking an order to disqualify the former chairman of the party in the Southwest, Chief Bode George, as a member of the Board of Trustees. The plaintiffs, Alhaji Badmus Agboola and Dauda Atomoh, contend that George, having been convicted in 2009, is not qualified to hold office. The suit was filed on the heels of purported reconciliation between George and Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, a PDP chieftain and a challenger to George’s leadership.

Ondo State chapter is also not at peace with itself. The elders of the party are not in good terms with the governorship, candidate in last governorship election, Chief Olusola Oke, who is also the former National Legal Adviser of the party. The elders were alleged to have shifted allegiance to the Labour party, thereby ensuring Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s re-election.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

POLITICS Mr Dipo Famakinwa is the Director-General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission. In this interview with BISI OLADELE and TAYO JOHNSON, the development expert speaks on the evolution, structure priorities and prospects of the commission.

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‘DAWN designed to quicken development’

HAT is the objective of the DAWN Commission?

The DAWN refers to the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission. I had been in the private sector for 20 years before I started getting involved in development issues. And, primarily, I am concerned about the development of Western Nigeria. my development work led me to believe that Western part of Nigeria has very limitless capability for development. I think it is in the process of getting engaged in proving that reality that I got involved with the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) which is the Yoruba group that comprises individuals, professionals, politicians, technocrats from all walks of life with the primary concern for the development of the Yoruba race.

That concern led us to start looking for a frame work whereby the Yoruba people who are more than 50 million worldwide can develop at their own pace. While more than 40 million are living in Nigeria, the rest in other parts of the world, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America. We feel that we need to start harnessing the limitless capability, talents of these people for development. ARG pushed me forward to begin to work along the line of finding the methodology for integrating the states in region, especially integrating their development plans, development programs and finding the mechanism for them to work together, and it is that activity that led us to the preparation of the document that is now called DAWN which we presented to the people of the region at the City Hall in 2012, and since then it has now become a strategic document that everybody has begun to look forward to for development of western Nigeria. All what we have done as a group or individuals, all the governors in southwest feel that the strategic plan put together in that framework will work for the progress of the region.

ARG seems to be the brain behind DAWN. ARG on its own looks like a

group with political affiliation. Is there a way DAWN intends to create a platform for all Yorubas, irrespective of their political lineage, to participate in this group’s effort to develop the region?

ARG played a role in putting this document together. It is actually a document that consolidates what we can describe as the aspiration of the whole Yoruba people. It is not colored in any political or ethnic shade. It is just to fix the language of development, it is just talking about the development of the Yoruba people. It will interest you to know that in 2010, the ARG along with some self determination groups in Yoruba land and the Diaspora, organised what we call the Yoruba Development Summit. at that time the current governors of Osun and Ekiti states were not yet in power, and it was from that summit that the idea of regional integration came in. The aspiration was that whoever came into saddle of governance in the region would have a strategy road map that will speak to the integration of the region, especially integration of our economy and development of infrastructures. So, it was not meant for a political party. It is part of the Yoruba desire to develop their region.

How do you intend to collate ideas across the region to form the basis for accomplishing your agenda?

Let me start by giving you the trajectory of this project. When the desire became very strong, the realization that we need to begin to do thing differently dawned on everybody.

The Afenifere Renewal Group then gave the Yoruba Academy Group a remit to do a study of the feasibility of what we are talking about. Is it possible for us to integrate our economy?

Is it possible for us to integrate our development plan and our development programs? Is it possible for us to integrate our aspirations as a region?

And the Academy did a study of the feasibility of that process and it was proven the group, but we need to put

• Famakinwa

another a dimension into things that can be done and not things that are hanging in the air. A group of Yoruba technocrats and professionals from all walks of life, most of them not politicians but those who have worked in the development sectors, then had a retreat in University of Ibadan and it was from that retreat we came up with DAWN strategic document, and in putting together that strategic document, all views from everywhere, from the street level, policy level, political level, all views were put together to form the basis for preparing the strategic document.

What structure are you developing to achieve your aim?

The governors of the region are very committed in the development of this region and they have expressed this commitment in many areas and dimensions. The first meeting they had regarding the regional integration agenda was held in Ekiti State. All the governors were present except Osun State governor who was represented

by his deputy and they expressed a very strong desire and intent to work together as a region to achieve their development plans and program. It was at that meeting they made their desire to do that. Also follow-up meeting held at Abeokuta, Ogun State. It was at that meeting they agreed that they would put together a technical committee, that each state would send members into a technical committee that would then midwife the process of ensuring that we have an institutional structure and foundation for advancing the development agenda.

In May 2012, the technical committee was inaugurated by the Ekiti State governor in Ado-Ekiti. The technical committee comprise a representative of each state in the region and it was also at that meeting in Abeokuta that they said that there must be a commission to ensure that this is not just an express desire but to move it from the level of desire to actualization. So when the technical committee met, they highlighted the areas that are needed to be focused on to be able to give life to this agenda. They went round all the states of the region, met all the governors and had different technical strategy sessions, and came out with the final implementation document. It is like a light plan for guiding the activities of the commission. All the governors also expressed their desire to have an institutional framework to ensure that this document doesn’t just go off, they decided to put in place a commission which is now called DAWN. If you recall at the presentation of the DAWN strategic documents at the City Hall in Lagos, the governors announced that they have secured a space at 10th floor Cocoa House for the office of the commission and it is very historical for us as a people, that we can even use Cocoa House for our office is very commendable, and we the Yoruba race should be proud that Cocoa House is still standing and it can still continue to function for a dedicated centre for Yoruba development.

Let’s look at the main focus of DAWN. What areas of development are you focusing on; economic, cultural, political?

In putting together our framework of action, we anchored them on what we call some strategic pillars, and part of what informed the construction of those pillars was the realization that we needed to be very focused. We, therefore, sensed that if we get things right in some areas, we can move development forward in Yoruba land.

We have five critical pillars. One of them is economic competitiveness.

We want to compete with the rest of the world. We believe that an economy where you have more than 40 million people , bigger than most countries in Africa and Europe, very vibrant, dedicated people who are forward looking to development, we must build a pillar for economic competitiveness that would enable us to continue to compete with the rest of the world. We must go back to agriculture, which is very crucial, not agriculture in the way that it has been done before. We need to look at the critical value chains in agriculture, look at agriculture as business. How do we find the link to do agriculture business like the rest of the world? How do we find the funding? How do we find the finance? How do we build the institutional and infrastructural support for agriculture? We are looking at Small and Medium Scale Enterprises. The idea is that we must build an economy that employs our people.

We must build an economy where our young ones can explore their talents.

For instance, youths all over the world are doing fantastic things in ICT, we need to look at ways we can leverage ICT, develop our economy and employ our people. We need to look for means to reform our commerce and trading system and critically attain revenue dignity, because we believe as a people it is an insult for us to continue to go to Abuja every month to go and be asking for allocation. How do we generate our own revenue?

Hon. Bimbo Daramola is the Vice Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) has described Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as a man in a wrong bus. PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports. selves as individuals and as Nigeri- Rotimi Amaechi is good.

‘Crisis ‘ll ruin PDP’

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HAT is your assessment of the Jonathan Administration?

The economy is going bad. As a member of the opposition, I am not just in opposition party because it is inherent in the opposition to criticise.

I remember that President Goodluck Jonathan believes in his two year score card that perhaps, he has done well and he asked Nigerians to judge him, that his period in office has been eventful and impactful. But, if you ask me, I see a man struggling to win the trust and confidence of the people again.

He met issues on ground and he assured Nigerians that he would address and deal with the issues and now, he is returning back to Nigerians like saying ‘’go and judge the marking scheme to mark the exam that you set for me’’.

The teacher cannot tell the students to come and mark the exams he set. That, to me is a role reversal. He made those promises that he would deliver, but an average Nigerian knows that his life has not been positively affected with what the government is professing or brandishing as its achievement.

There is also the politics of the majority party. Take, for instance, party saying that, because a governor did not take a phone call from the national

•Daramola

chairman of the party, so, he got suspended. Another governor ran into problem for holding different views with its leadership. So they had to employ the instrumentality of the state to frustrate him. They have alluded so much to growth in terms of figures; they will show you beautiful graphs, the nation’s GDP is growing above our population but you don’t find a corollary to buttress their claim when you look at the people and the major-

ity is still living in abject poverty.

Look, if your car does not have fuel and you say it is still a beautiful car, that beautiful car cannot take you to your destination.

They will give themselves high mark, but the masses are still wallowing in poverty. I am surprised that an Okonjo Iweala, our Finance and Coordinating Minister who would have been the head of the world bank is saying that there is no relationship between the figures being bandied about and job creation. In the two years of Jonathan’s government, we should by now take a stock on how many companies or industries have come back to the system. The industries, sadly enough, are re-locating even to African countries that we should be far ahead of. We are cruising at a very high speed and I hope somebody calls them to caution. What we are having or getting is disappointing, given the our resources that abound.

Can the opposition make the difference?

2015 provides for us the opportunity to critically take stock and say enough is enough. It is a time to say we have played party loyalty for too long, we have played active politics for too long and it’s about time to now ask our-

ans whether we are better off than we were in 2011. Is the country better off as it was in 2011? Do we have better roads now than what we had in 2011?

Do we have more infrastructures now?

Is life better now than what we had in 2011? These are the questions that must bother us. When you vote a government and put that government in power, we expect real impact, real changes. It is amazing that, as individual we do stock taking but as a nation, we refuse to take stock. So, 2015 provides an opportunity for a turn around to be able to ask ourselves, if are better now. No matter how long you have gone on a wrong direction, you will never get to your destination until you make a turn around.

The destination, we are talking about is improved society, improved security, improved social infrastructure, improved life etc, these are the indices that you must look at to begin to assess whether a government is working or not.

Are you saying that the PDP is the problem?

Well, I am not going to sound puritanical and say everybody in PDP is bad. There are pockets of them that are good. For instance Governor

‘They had to employ the instrumentality of the state to frustrate him.

They have alluded so much to growth in terms of figures; they will show you beautiful graphs, the nation’s GDP is growing above our population but you don’t find a corollary to buttress their claim when you look at the people and the majority is still living in abject poverty’

But he is almost an opposition member If you say so. It’s a truism in life. Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are. You cannot be found in the company of armed robbers and you will be leading praise and worship in the church on Sunday. When you lie with dogs, you wake up with flies. If you get into a car going to another place, what do you do? You simply tell the driver you have entered the wrong bus and you come down. People who have chosen to identify with the politics of the opposition must have seen something diametrically different.

Don’t forget that there is the politics of service and of the people and the politics of the stomach. Some politicians can masquerade politics of stomach and you may think that they are for the people. Even in the Bible, the holy book, Jesus said at the last day when the Son of Man shall come, he will condemn some people and those people will come to him and ask Him if He is making a mistake because they will tell him they cast out demons and healed in His name. But he will ask them to go away because they were workers of iniquity.

There are some people in opposition that have no business there. Are there people in opposition who are doing the right thing, yes. Are there people in opposition who are doing the wrong thing, yes. But Nigerians will now come up to a point where we will identify the weed and the chaff. We must identify our destination. We have invested our fortune in the life of somebody for four years.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

Self-help initiative excites Ekiti residents •Continued from Page 15 Omirin; former governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Deputy Speakers of Houses of Assembly in the Southwest; members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly and members of the state Executive Council.

Representatives of the benefiting communities and their traditional rulers filed out excitedly to receive their cheques amid hearty songs.

Led by their chairman, Hon Soji Bamidele, who came with his lieutenants, including Hon. Julius Aruleba (Supervisor for Works) and Hon Femi Ajibare, representatives of Ikere (Municipal) Local Government, were the first to collect their N5 million cheque. Other communities got grants between N2 million and N7.5 million, depending on their proposed projects.

The trio - Bamidele, Aruleba and Ajibare - were agreed that Fayemi, by his style, had given the people the baton to take their destinies into their hands through participatory governance.

Fayemi explained that the grants were meant for the completion of ongoing and abandoned self-help projects, assuring that no community would be left out of the gesture.

A

For the purpose, he said the Ministry of Rural Development and Community Empowerment was created in January, adding: "All stakeholders in the state were involved in the preparation of the year 2013 budget, using a dynamic bottom-up approach."

Ovations rose when the governor assured that besides the grants, his administration was undertaking other rural development and community empowerment projects to the tune of N3.2 billion, spanning rural access roads to farm settlements; another round of fivekilometre roads in each of the 16 local governments areas, ultramodern markets, provision of hand-dug wells and solar-operated boreholes, among others.

Fayemi added that his administration was revamping cooperative development through alliance with the Bank of Agriculture to rev up socio-economic activities at the grassroots. "To this end, the government will shore up the cooperative societies with N300 million, while the Bank of Agriculture will provide another N300 million," he said.

The Alawe of Ilawe, Oba Ajibade Alabi, who told The Nation that his community planned to spend the grant on its Information, Communication Technology (ICT) Centre,

•Fayemi (third right); his wife, Erelu Bisi (right) while presenting a cheque to representatives of Ikere at the event said: "What we are seeing here today is unprecedented in the history of governance in this state. Using bottom-to-top approach approach to governance is a pleasant novelty for which Governor Fayemi deserves robust commendation.”

The representative of Osi, one of the communities, Peter Agbelusi, praised the programme, which he

said, had facilitated the execution of their priority projects "without going around to beg for assistance."

Liquor joints and restaurants around the venue later turned avenues for informal post-event appraisals. At the few visited by The Nation was a popular verdict: Unless the gear of the Fayemi-led administration is put on the reverse -

which is unlikely - he will spent three more terms if the constitution permits. "He is on the right track, but we keep watching," a young man, Comrade Bayo Ademola, who claimed to be a student activist, said, adding, however: "From what happened at St. Augustine today, for now, he appears unstoppable."

Imo community gets king 25 years after

FTER 25 years, a new king has been installed in an Imo State community, thanks to the intervention of the state governor, Rochas Okorocha.

The governor declared Chief Godwin Ehirim Nwebo of Egbelu king of Amaimo Autonomous Community in Ikeduru Local Government Area of the state, ending a bitter tussle between the new monarch and his rival Chief Marcellinus Alaribe of Umueze.

The governor said traditional rulers have a great role to play in the peace and development of the society.

Okorocha spoke at the Ahiajoku Convention Centre where the kingship dispute was resolved.

The governor added that the institution should be manned by those who are versed in knowledge of the cultures and traditions of the people, explaining that it is not meant for people who live outside their communities.

Okorocha said Chief Alaribe lives in Kuwait and could not rule Amaimo from outside the community. He also noted that Chief Alaribe might not be versed in the culture and tradition of Amaimo.

While noting that traditional institution in Igbo land is about upholding of the mores of the land, he said that anyone who aspires to the prime position of a king must be someone who is knowledgeable in the traditions of the people.

He said: “The traditional institution is not for individuals who are bereft of the knowledge of people’s customs and traditions. It is meant for those who reside in the communities and who know the people and can identify with them.

It is not meant for those who live in Kuwait, United States of America, Britain and other foreign lands.”

In the circumstances, Governor Okorocha disqualified Chief Alaribe, the son of the first traditional ruler of Amaimo Ancient Kingdom, the late Eze Jude Alaribe; the Duru Imo 1 of Amaimo who was from Umueze Town.

Prior to his disgraceful disqualification, Chief Alaribe had grandly walked down to the podium where the governor and other members of the panel were and asked that

By Chinaka Okoro

“Amaimo case should be called up because I came back from Kuwait,” adding that “there is flight problem to Kuwait.”

Making his way back to his seat, Governor Okorocha called him back and asked: “You said you came back from Kuwait because of the Amaimo kingship tussle? Are you dragging the stool with anybody?”

Chief Alaribe answered in the affirmative.

It was then that the governor invited Chief Nwebo to the podium.

The crowd expected the governor to examine the case by calling on each claimant to the throne to present documents that would validate their claims. There was no such demand, neither were there questions nor cross-examinations.

Rather, the governor gave a lessthan-three-minutes verdict that surprised everyone.

Addressing Chief Alaribe, Okorocha said: “You said you came back from Kuwait because of this case? You can go back to Kuwait.

This is your king (pointing to the Eze-elect Nwebo). Congratulations, sir.”

People from Egbelu, Amachara, Amuzu and Umueze towns who were in support of the kingship of Chief Nwebo literally rose in thunderous shouts of joy and went home in jubilation.

In a chat with Newsextra, the chairman of Amaimo Ezeship Committee, said that “the towns that make up Amaimo autonomous community came in their large numbers to allow the governor to determine the authentic candidate as king of Amaimo Ancient Kingdom.”

Chief Duru, a one-time secretary-general of Amaimo Improvement Union, disclosed that the tussle for the kingship of Amaimo has been on for 25 years.

He said: “The case has been on since 1988. It has gone to the law court and the same man won twice. It has passed through several panels, the same Godwin Ehirim Nwebo won. He was the person who was properly identified, selected and presented by various investigating panels.

•Amaimo people at settlement venue This other person who had been “Amaimo people regarded that wrongly laying claim to the as an aberration and insult on our throne has never gone through culture and tradition. They preany of these processes of vented that from happening, and selection. He merely used the it never happened.” occasion of the memorial cerCommenting on the governor’s emony of his father to be crowned verdict, Chief Duru stated that by a foreigner; one late Eze “the governor saved the gentleOnuegwunwoko from Ihitteman some problems. The ‘imOratta who had no stake in postor’ was also saved from huge Amaimo kingship tussle. embarrassment.

It was

instructive that he was the one who told the governor that he lives in Kuwait, and the governor wanted to know the business the young man has with kingship matter in Imo State since he lives far away from the people and their traditions. Then he said: ‘You can go back to Kuwait. See your king, respect him.”

Obi gets support on N400m cancer centre

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HE Anambra State government is building a N400m cancer-treatment centre but it is not doing so all alone. The Association of Anambra Women in the United States of America is partnering with the Peter Obi administration on the project.

The Centre will be built to build at the state Teaching Hospital Amaku, Awka, the state capital.

Governor Obi announced this at a ceremony to raise funds for the project during which he received the association’s Choice Award for Excellence in Cancer Prevention.

Presenting the award, the National President of the association, Dr. Mrs. Anthonia Umeh said the honour was in rec-

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha

ognition of the governor’s continued support to the associations’ medical missions on cancer over the years as well as for assisting their cancer-treatment centre in the US. Mrs. Umeh disclosed that The World Health Organisation estimated that by 2020, there will be 16 million new cases of cancer worldwide with 70 per cent of them occurring in developing countries like Nigeria.

She explained that the goal of the cancer centre is to provide a full spectrum of cancer care including creating awareness, education, screening, diagnosis, access to treatment, support serv-

ices and scientific research.

Governor Obi said his administration will continue to support initiatives by individuals, associations and groups out to better the quality of the people’s lives.

He enjoined other stakeholders and privileged individuals to support and encourage the association to actualise the project, while urging other associations and organisations to emulate the bold steps to contribute to the common good of the people.

A former commissioner for Information in the state, Chief Maja Umeh called for collective involvement in the global fight against cancer and commended Governor Obi for his unrelenting commitment in repositioning the health sector.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

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NEWS

•Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (left) congratulating Dr. Emibra Agbeotu after his swearing-in as a member of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission at the Government House Annex, Warri... on Wednesday.

•Senate President David Mark welcoming former Minister of Education Dr. Oby Ezekwesili (left) during a protest by Gender and Constitution Reform Network on Section 29(4b) to the National Assembly... on Wednesday. With them are former Women Affairs Minister Mrs Josephine Anenih (second left) and Senator Chris Anyanwu.

•Commissioners, Rivers Local Government Service Commission, Mr Jonah Tamuno (left) and Idatonye Jaja and Prof. Fab Onah, at a workshop for Directors of Local Government Councils In Rivers... on Wednesday

•Sokoto State Commissioner for Information Malam Danladi Bako (left) with the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, during the Bishop’s visit to the Governor in Sokoto...on Tuesday.

•Chairman, Mubi South Local Government Council of Adamawa State Alhaji Ahmadu Gude (left) presenting a sewing machine to one of the beneficiaries of Senator Bindow Jibrilla Youth Empowerment Programme in Gella Village, Adamawa...on Wednesday.

•General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Public Procument Agency, Mr. Akin Onimole, an engineer (left); repreentative of the Director-General, Bureau of Public Procument, Mr James Akanmu and Special Guest Prof Ayo Ajomo, at the Nigeria Institute of Advance Legal Studies Fourth Diaspora Scholars’ Lecture in lagos... on Wednesday.

PHOTOS: DAYO ADEWUNMI

•Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Mr. James Olotu (right)unveiling the plaque at the inauguration of the 33/11 KVA Power Sub-station in Owode, Iddo Local Government, Ibadan, Oyo State... on Wednesday. With him are the contractor of the project and Chief Executive Officer of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Bolaji Oyesiku (in fez cap)

•Traffic on the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway... on Wednesday.

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

•From left: Regional General Manager, Southwest, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Abubakar Achimugu, General Manager, Business Development Salisu Daura, an engineer, Head of Dept, Electrical Engineering; Managing Director, Mr. George Uriesi; Sir. Wendell Ogunedo, Director, Security Services; Mr. Okpaisi, General Manager, Advert; Dr. Adeniyi Balogun, Director, Commercial; Mr. Subairu, Head of Department, Femi Ogunedo, DME during the FAAN’s Leadership Team (FLT) Inspection of the power house in Lagos.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

53

NEWS PDP’s size cause of conflicts, say Tukur, Dickson

Why I didn’t seek reappointment as ICPC chair, by Akanbi

F

B

AYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson has said that crises in political parties are normal, especially in a big political party like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking at the party’s inauguration of a reconciliation committee which he chairs, Dickson said clashes in the ruling party were about conflict of interests and ambitions.

These, he said, are normal and legitimate in political associations the world over, adding that his committee would fashion out the best approach aimed at bringing together the various factions thrown up by conflicting interests among members.

Dickson, however, expressed concern over what he described as attempts by conflicting interests to denigrate or destroy institutions of the office of the president, the judiciary, the legislature, the military and the security agencies.

The Bayelsa Governor noted that his 31- man committee has a daunting task of reconciling the various aggrieved persons and groups within the party, stressing that reports of past reconciliatory efforts by top party chieftains should be implemented.

He cited the reports of the Alex Ekwueme and Chief Tony Anenih reconciliation committees as documents that should be implemented by the leadership of the party.

He said: “A large platform like the PDP cannot be devoid of several tendencies, conflict of interests and all manners of crisis. But as democrats, we must evolve ways of appreciating them and resolving crisis within the party without stifling people.

“We must play the game within the ambit of national interest and not denigrate or destroy our institutions whether it is the office of the President, judiciary, legisla-

Rivers: IGP urged to probe Jonathan’s wife

A

GROUP, the O’dua Youth Organisation (OYO) has asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate the alleged First Lady Patience Jonathan’s link with the recent fracas in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The group said its request was informed by Mrs Jonathan’s recent admission in national dailies that she was not in good terms with Governor Rotimi Amaechi over the Okrika demolitions four years ago.

The group, in a statement after its emergency meeting in Abuja, condemned the attempt by five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach the Speaker which resulted in a fracas.

It warned against pushing the country into political crisis following the subsequent pelting of four Northern governors in Port Harcourt.

Governors Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Musa Kwankwaso (Kano) were reportedly stoned in Port Harcourt by protesters when they visited Governor Amaechi.

•Dickson From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

ture, military and security services, professional bodies, media, traditional and religious instructions”.

In his remarks during the inauguration, National Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur noted that the size of the party was responsible for its numerous crises.

He challenged the committee to focus attention on the states that are not under the control of the party.

ORMER Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) chair Justice Mustapha Akanbi, yesterday explained wy he didn’t seek reappointment in 2005.

He said he refused to go back to the job because he didn’t want to dent his integrity.

In an interview with The Nation shortly after the ninth yearly lecture of Aelex Law firm at the Muson Centre, Lagos, Justice Akanbi said that funds for the commission were not being released as required, as such, he did not want to fall victim to the pranks of politicians.

He also said he needed time to serve the nation the way he would have loved to by advocating moral change through his NGO, which he

By Precious Igbonwelundu

may not have been able to do if he had accepted the offer.

Justice Akanbi said: “I wanted to do something for the nation. Now, I am running an NGO, a school and I am bringing up the children the way they should be brought up by lecturing them.

“If I had remained in that position, I do not know if I would have been able to achieve that or if I would have been dead by now.

“Secondly, the funding of the ICPC was not going as it should and I did not want to fall foul. The president who appointed me has always spoken well of me so, I did not want to be in a situation where my things could be messy.”

Earlier at the event, Justice Akanbi, who chaired the lec-

ture with the theme: “In God’s name: religion, politics and economic development”, and delivered by a renowned religious scholar, Prof. Timothy Shah, said that politicians were the ones fuelling religious tension across the country.

He maintained that members of the extremist group, Boko Haram were not Muslims adding, “no religion preaches violence.

“Muslims and Christians believe in God. Those who hold unto God are people determined to make the society better. Both religions believe in the basic principles-thou shall not steal and thou shall not kill.

“There is also no compulsion in religion. The duty of governance is a question of the line politicians want to tow and what they want their country to become. If you go into politics to develop your coun-

try, you will not engage in acts that are unhealthy.

“The political terrain in Nigeria today is bad. Most of our politicians claim to be either Christians or Muslims but they do not practice the core values of the religion. I am not saying there are no good ones, a few of them are good.”

Using Egypt as an example, Justice Akanbi said the answer was not to fight but to preach the word of God to the people. Nothing can help them better than the true understanding of what their religion says.

“In Islam, if you kill one, it is assumed you have killed 1, 000. Boko Haram is an evil that has come on us all and we must find a common solution to it. Most of the problems we have are caused by politicians.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 25-07-13

Nestle, Dangote Sugar record N23b first-half profit

N

ESTLE Nigeria and Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR) yesterday released their interim reports for the first half ended June 30, 2013. The results however, failed to halt the downtrend that had pervaded the stock market in recent days.

Nestle Nigeria showed steady modest growths in sales and profit while DSR fell back on cost management to optimise its marginal sales growth into higher profit growth.

However, average return of all equities dropped by 0.71 per cent, pushing yearto-date return downward to 32.79 per cent. Aggregate market value of all equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) dropped by N85 billion from N11.893 trillion to N11.808 trillion, its fourth consecutive decline this week.

The main index at the NSE, the All Share Index (ASI), slipped from 37,554.73 points to 37,286.50 points, reflecting widespread losses, especially within highly capitalised stocks.

Interim report and ac-

•Equities lose N85b

By Taofik Salako

counts of Nestle Nigeria for the six-month period showed that turnover rose by 10 per cent from N56.68 billion in 2012 to N62.44 billion in 2013. Profit before tax increased by 15 per cent to N13.22 billion as against N11.52 billion. Profit after tax rose by 13 per cent from N9.85 billion to N11.17 billion. Earnings per share thus increased to N14.09 in 2013 as against N12.42 recorded in comparable period of 2012.

In the same vein, DSR reported a turnover of N55.03 billion in June 2013 as against N53.61 billion in comparable period of 2012.

This indicated a marginal increase of 2.6 per cent. Profit before tax meanwhile, rose by 21.3 per cent from N8.11 billion to N9.84 billion.

Profit after tax stood at N5.99 billion compared with N5.35 billion in comparable period of 2012.

Both Nestle Nigeria and DSR depreciated yesterday as

investors continued to take profits on stocks. Nestle Nigeria led the losers’ list with a loss of N49 to close at N950.

DSR dropped by 7.0 kobo to close at N12. Total Nigeria lost N8 to close at N152. CAP declined by N4.83 to close at N43.47. Nigerian Breweries lost N1.98 to close at N170.01.

Ashaka Cement declined by 66 kobo to close at N25. Guaranty Trust Bank lost 55 kobo to close at N25.15 while Oando dropped by 50 kobo to N13 per share.

On the upside, Forte Oil led the advancers with a gain of N3.96 to close at N43.56. MRS Oil & Gas added N2.56 to close at N32.86. National Salt Company of Nigeria (Nascon) gained 73 kobo to close at N12.65. Champion Breweries increased by 68 kobo to N11.

Nigerian Aviation Handling Company chalked up 42 kobo to close at N6.80 while IHS added 30 kobo to close at N3.38 per share.

Total turnover stood at 312.06 million shares valued at N2.92 billion in 5,698. Financial services sector accounted for 229.81 million shares valued at N1.28 billion in 2,948 deals. UBA Capital Plc was the most active stock with a turnover of 75.08 million shares worth N85.56 million in 54 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 25-07-13

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

55

MONEY LINK

Banks’ total loans hit N8.55tr, says Rewane

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EPOSIT Money Bank's (DMB's) loans rose to N8.55 trillion at the end of May this year from N8.01 trillion at the same period last year, indicating some 6.66 per cent increase.

Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited, Bismarck Rewane disclosed this in the July bi-monthly economic update. He said the position is evidence of a build-up in excess liquidity in the banking system and the banks’ appetite for government securities.

The expert said the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) hike from 12 to 50 per cent will add N650 billion to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) vault.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) had on Tuesday, introduced a 50 per cent cash re-serve requirement (CRR) on public sector deposits.

By Collins Nweze

Rewane explained in the July bimonthly economic update that the MPC had shocked the market with that decision, even though the status quo on the key monetary policy instruments was maintained.

He said the decision roiled the markets leading the deposit money banks (DMB’s) to cover their short positions in a hurry. He disclosed that Federal Government deposits with the DMBs are estimated at N1.3 trillion. “The quarantined amount is equivalent to one month and two to three weeks of Federal allocations. Imagine a situation where Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations are delayed, interest rates will rise sharply due to the cash shortage,” he said.

He said that the average liquidity ratio was 67.79 per cent in June, compared with the benchmark of 30 per cent; a reflection of the high liquidity prevalent in the inter-bank market. “Since Open Market Operation (OMO) auctions have become costly, raising the CRR on public sector funds by 38 per cent is expected to tighten liquidity, thereby creating a funding gap,” he said.

Rewane said the DMBs’ initial reaction will be to scramble for funds to cover their positions. Consequently, he said the banks will either, repurchase their Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) bonds, sell down on their Net Open Positions (NOPs) or seek for more deposits from the government or private sector.

He said the liquidity gap created at the market is expected to result

in a three to four per cent spike in interest rates.

“We expect the 50 per cent CRR on public deposits to constrict credit growth by two to three per cent. In addition, there would be a re-pricing of loans as assets become more expensive. There has been exchange rate volatility due to rising forex demand by corporates’ and banks.

Also, there was increased de-segmentation across markets,” he said.

Since the last MPC meeting in May, the naira depreciated by 2.11 per cent to N161.8 per dollar at the inter-bank market.

Rewane said that with the 50 per cent CRR on public sector funds, the initial impact on the naira will be a short term appreciation of two to three per cent to N159 to a dollar at the interbank market, while trading flat at the official and parallel

Wema Bank to raise fresh funds

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EMA Bank Plc plans to raise Tier 2 capital in the coming months, following the success of its recent N40billion capital raising exercise.

The bank’s Managing Director/ CEO, Mr. Segun Oloketeyi, who disclosed this yesterday at a media briefing in Lagos, however, did not disclose the value of the fresh funds expected to be raised.

Specifically, he said Wema Bank was not looking to be the biggest but it intends to grow to a respectable size to enable it manage costs efficiently and gain the required recognition in the market. “We will expand relative to capacity, skills and industry requirements,” he said.

The Wema Bank boss said the management was awaiting final regulatory approval from the Securities and

•Returns to profitability

By Ayodele Aminu, Group Business Editor

Exchange Commission (SEC) for the allotment of new shares created by the recently concluded N40billion recapitalisation.

The funds, he said was raised through the support of shareholders and other strategic investors via a private placement involving private and institutional investors.

Oloketuyi, who outlined the bank’s growth strategy, said the transformation of the bank from a regional to a national bank would help it consolidate on the gains of the past three years where the management had been able to strengthen the balance sheet and

equacy Ratio for banks despite the fact that bank was very liquid with liquidity ratio of about 60 per cent.

The Wema Bank boss said that the target of the management was to create the most efficient retail and commercial bank with market share of about five per cent by 2015. He added that the focus of the bank’s operations would still remain the major commercial centres. He however, said that the operation of its national franchise would be determined by business imperatives.

Responding to inquires about when investors would begin to see returns, Oloketuyi explained that dividend will not be paid this year, pointing out that the current set of shareholders had a good understanding with management on expectations.

return to profitability.

He said the 2012 results indicates an 11 per cent rise in total asset from N221.1billion in 2011 to N245.7billion and 18.2 per cent rise in deposits to N174.3billion up from N147.4billion.

Similarly, net interest income grew by 17.5 per cent from N10billion to N11.7billion, while net fees and commission income rose by 63.5 per cent from N2.9billion in 2011 to N4.7billion in 2012.

He said a bigger capital base would enable the bank acquire more risk assets, pointing out that its ability to do business had been limited by its low capital base as it had to keep within the prescribed Capital Ad-

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

NIDF NESF

OBB Rate Call Rate

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 25-07-13

SYMBOL FO IHS COSTAIN MRS NEIMETH CHAMPION NAHCO NASCON FIDSON UTC

O/PRICE 39.60 3.08 1.28 30.30 1.50 10.32 6.38 11.92 1.90 0.81

C/PRICE 43.56 3.38 1.40 32.86 1.61 11.00 6.80 12.65 2.00 0.85

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS)

CHANGE 3.96 0.30 0.12 2.56 0.11 0.68 0.42 0.73 0.10 0.04

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

O/PRICE

CAP CONTINSURE UPL TRANSEXPR NPFMCRFBK IPWA MAYBAKER CORNERST ABCTRANS TOTAL

48.30 1.42 4.85 1.46 0.96 1.08 2.90 0.53 1.13 160.00

C/PRICE 43.47 1.28 4.38 1.32 0.87 1.00 2.70 0.50 1.07 152.00

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

CHANGE 4.83 0.14 0.47 0.14 0.09 0.08 0.20 0.03 0.06 8.00

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 25-07-13

SYMBOL

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has sold N114.89 billion worth of treasury bills of maturities ranging between three-month and one year.

Bloomberg said the yields are slightly higher on 91-day and 364day paper and flat on the sixmonth note.

The CBN sold N32.89 billion worth of 91-day paper at 11.6 per cent, slightly higher than the 11.5 per cent at the previous auction on July 10; N30 billion of 182-day paper at 12.75 per cent, the same rate as the previous action.

Also, the bank sold N52 billion in the one-year bond at 13.33 per cent, more than the 13.21 per cent the same tenor was sold on June 26, the last time the note was on offer at the regular auction.

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

CBN sells N114.9b T-bills

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

markets. “The strengthening of the naira would occur as a result of increased forex in-flows and an approximate $1 to $2 billion increase in hot money,” he said.

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS Tenor

•Rewane

ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE INVE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY • ARM AGGRESSIVE

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 140.65 163.44 0.80 1.16 1.17 100.00 1,000.00 1,831.70 14.73 1.39 1.87 11.386.29

9.08 1.00 140.16 163.29 0.78 1.16 1.18 100.00 1,000.00 1,830.57 14.01 1.33 1.80 11,045.54

• KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUNDARM AGGRESSIVE • OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

56

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

NEWS RIVERS CRISIS

Activists declare Tuesday for peaceful rally •We’re ready to inhale teargas •Falana, Odumakin, Agbakoba, Odinkalu to address rally

A

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

CTIVISTS have given the Presidency till Monday to resolve the lingering political crisis in Rivers State.

The Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition (NDCSC) said it would stage what it described as “the mother of all rallies in Rivers State” on Tuesday.

The group has contacted Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana, Emma Ezeazu, Chidi Odinkalu, Festus Okoye, Dr. Joe Odumakin and other activists to address the rally, if the Presidency fails to make any positive move by Monday.

At a briefing yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, NDCSC President Anyakwee Nsirimovu said impunity had been displayed in the state and tolerated, aided and abetted by the highest political leadership for selfish political reasons.

He said they are embarking on a “One Day of Global Action” in defence of democracy in Rivers.

Nsirimovu said: “Tuesday will be a day of action against impunity and politically-instigated violence against the people. We are declaring a one-day rally which will be the mother of all rallies in the state.

“It is a day of action against a political police commissioner, who must leave so that the state may be secured. It is a civil society super Tuesday of action for the deepening of democracy in Rivers, Niger Delta and Nigeria.”

When asked if he is aware that the police have banned protests and rallies in the state, Nsirimovu said: “Where in the constitution is it that people should not carry out peaceful rally or protests?”

There is still plot to remove Amaechi, says COS

Deputy Speaker flays selective summons

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

T

HE Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has said the “enemies of progress” are still plotting to remove Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

He said the anti-Amaechi forces, within and outside the state, would continue to fail in their plots.

Okocha said Amaechi remained committed to his administration’s people-oriented projects and developmental agenda.

The Chief of Staff spoke yesterday when he accompanied the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Chikordi Dike, on a meet-the-people tour of Ward 16 in the area.

The chief of staff said: “Let them come and tell us why they think Amaechi’s government should be overthrown by a civilian coup. They have failed. What is the punishment for a coup that was aborted?

“How can anybody claim that he is an alpha and omega? Can any man be omniscient and omnipresent? He cannot be everywhere at the same time.

“Your votes are in your pockets, our votes must count. Protect your votes from those who are planning to steal them during the coming elections.

“Governor Amaechi has not only authorised and approved the elevation of the Akpor traditional stool to first class, but has also signed the endorsement of the stool.”

Dike, while also speaking at the palace of the king of Akpor kingdom, Eze Anthony Anele Orlu, said his administration was determined to have an inclusive government.

The caretaker chairman stressed that he decided to embark on the tour, through the ward system, to encourage people’s participation in decision-making process.

D

EPUTY Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Leyii Kwanee has faulted the Force Headquarters’ summon of the House Leader, Chidi Lloyd.

Lloyd is being investigated for the attack on Michael Chinda, the member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, which has landed the lawmaker in a London hospital.

Speaking to reporters in Port Harcourt, the Deputy Speaker, representing Khana II Constituency, said the summon was discriminatory as other lawmakers involved in the brawl were not called.

Group to Jonathan: sack Wike now From Gbenga Omokhunu and Grace Obike, Abuja

A

GROUP, Network for National Stability (NNS), yesterday called for the sack of the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike.

NNS accused Wike of fuelling the political crisis in Rivers State because of his governorship ambition.

The National Coordinator of NNS, who is also a board member of Northern Youths Development Initiative, Muhammed Abubakar, advised President Goodluck Jonathan to either sack Wike or ask him to resign.

He called on Jonathan to urgently resolve the crisis to avert anarchy.

“We believe that all ministers must have their integrity to protect. If the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike is part of the attack in anyway, then we call on the President Goodluck Jonathan to make him resign or sack him...”

Police arrest two for riots

Court clears IYC aspirant of perjury

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

T

HE police in Delta State yesterday said they had arrested two persons allegedly implicated in the destruction of a police station in Ashaka, Ndokwa East Local Government Area.

Police spokesman Lucky Uyabeme said Emeka Ozegbe and other principal suspects were arrested.

A mob, numbering over 200 persons, stormed Ashaka Police Station hurling stones at the policemen on duty.

This led to the destruction of windows in the charge room and the rear windscreens of Ashaka and Aboh patrol vehicles parked on the premises.

It took a combined team of Dragon 24, 25 and 26 patrol teams with military officials from Agip Oil Company to prevent the situation from escalating.

Uyabeme said the mob action was allegedly caused by the death of a boy, who was said to have jumped into the river and drowned, following a police raid on an Indian hemp smoking joint few days earlier.

He advised those who participated in the attack on the police station to surrender themselves to law enforcement agents “as no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that all culprits are brought to book”.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa •Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio presenting a plague to the Consul-General of French Embassy, Francois Sastourne, when the envoy visited the Government House, Uyo...yesterday.

JTF destroys 61 illegal refineries

S

IXTY ONE illegal refineries have been destroyed by the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Delta and Bayelsa states.

The Task Force arrested 29 suspected oil thieves after raids conducted by its various sectors in the creeks of the Niger Delta.

The Media Coordinator, LtCol. Onyema Nwachukwu, said in Yenagoa yesterday that operatives of the outfit uncov-

‘We inherited N133b projects from Ibori’

T

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

HE Delta State Government has said it inherited 418 projects with 372km length of roads and 741km length of drains valued at N133 billion from the James Onanefe Ibori administration.

Commissioner for Works Solomon Funkekeme added that over 60 per cent of the projects had been completed at N43.2 billion.

He said some projects had not been executed because of the difficulties associated with the terrain.

Funkekeme said six zonal offices had been opened to enhance the monitoring of projects embarked upon by the government.

He announced that 367 projects valued at about N240.8billion had been awarded since May 29, 2007, adding that of the roads awarded by the Emmanuel Uduaghan administration, 156.5km had been completed at N15.2 billion.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

ered an illegal crude oil loading point in Rivers State.

He said the illicit point used by oil thieves to siphon products from a pipeline was discovered by the 146 Battalion of JTF’s Sector 2.

Lt-Col. Nwachukwu said the oil thieves connected hoses to a facility belonging to the Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC).

“Anti-illegal oil Bunkering Squad of 146 Battalion of Sector 2 uncovered an illegal crude oil loading point where oil thieves have tapped into a pipeline belonging to the Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) along Greens/Gojiri community near Bonny Island.

T

“Two hoses siphoning oil into two giant open wooden boats (Cotonou boats) have been recovered and the boats impounded by the operatives,” he said.

He said 29 of the illegal refineries were discovered and destroyed by troops of 3 Battalion of Sector 1 of the JTF and NNS Delta, a maritime component of JTF. He noted that 11 open boats, 55 large steel surface tanks, 20 dugout pits, 10 plastic surface tanks filled with stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) were destroyed.

He said the refineries were found in Warri South-West Local Government Area.

Twenty of the illegal refineries were discovered in Olaye Payse near Warri, he said nine of them and seven boats were

uncovered in Abudu, Asugbor, Ogbukoko, Obogungun, Escravos , Agedegben communities.

He said: “In a similar operation in Bayelsa State, troops of 343 Regiment and 5 Battalion of Sector 2 of the JTF patrolling the waterways of Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw local government areas have shut down 32 illegal crude oil distillery camps.

“The sector also scuttled five open wooden boats used by oil thieves in Lagosbene, Sangana, Okigbene, Akamubugo, Forabagbene and Shigogbene communities in the afore mentioned local government areas.

“During the anti-oil theft operation 29 suspects were arrested for oil theft related offences.”

A

PRESIDENTIAL aspirant in the forthcoming election of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Udengs Eradiri, was yesterday cleared of perjury by the Magistrate’s Court 3 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The court ruled that the matter, which had lingered since January 2011, lacked substance.

Eradiri was arraigned on a two-count charge of perjury in a matter between him and the Commissioner of Police. A man, Ifiemi Ikpaikpai, was the complainant.

According to the charge sheet, Eradiri was accused of giving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) information that he attended Agudiama Comprehensive High School from 1989 to 1996 to qualify him as a candidate of the Labour Party for the 2011 National Assembly election.

It also claimed that the information was false and injurious to Ikpaikpai, who was disqualified by INEC. The protracted case was viewed by many people as one of the obstacles to Eradiri’s ambition to contest the forthcoming presidential election of IYC. But the Magistrate, James Lucky, ruled in favour of Eradiri and dismissed the submissions of the prosecution.

While acquitting him on the two-count charge, the court said the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond every reasonable doubt.

NNS Thunder in Calabar for RMAC conference

HE Nigerian Navy Ship, Thunder, arrived in Calabar, the Cross River State, yesterday to take part in the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Conference (RMAC).

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

The Conference is to hold in Calabar from Monday till Wednesday.

The ship was received by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the Eastern Naval

Command, Rear Admiral Joe Aikhomu.

A statement by Lt-Com W.A Olabisi said this was the first time the ship would be visiting Cross River State.

The ship which took part in the 2013 OBANGAME EX-

PRESS in Cameroon in February is berthed at the Nigerian Ports Authority, Calabar Port.

According to the statement, the ship would be opened to visitors on Monday from 10am to 1pm.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

57

NEWS

Presidency: MDGs working in Anambra

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HE Senior Special Assistant to the President on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Precious Gbemeniol, yesterday said the MDGs’ Office has provided N360 million to the Anambra State Government for projects to enhance the living conditions of the people.

Gbemenoil said N70million was provided for the project in 2011, and an additional N360 million this year because Governor Peter Obi managed the programme well.

She spoke at the Women Development Centre, Awka, during the launch of the MDG Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme.

The special adviser said the MDGs office was happy working with Anambra State because of Obi’s commitment to see that the state achieve the MDGs by 2015.

She said the Conditional Cash Transfer was designed to assist the poor by giving each selected household N5,000 monthly and a bulk N100,000 at the end of the year to start a business.

Obi said the state had matched the fund with N460 million. He said to ensure that the exercise continued the money was paid into ECO bank.

NRC flags off 3rd Lagos-KanoLagos route

By Yinka Aderibigbe

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THE third weekly Lagos-Kano-Lagos passenger train service took off yesterday.

At the flagging-off ceremony, which was performed at the Lagos headquarters of the Nigeria Railways Corporation (NRC) at Alagomeji, Yaba, in Lagos, the NRC Board Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, described the event as a major success story of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s determination to transform the rail transportation sector.

The train service, he said, would push the passenger traffic along the route to 5,500, from 3,500 weekly.

The train, which took off at Iddo, the central terminus in Lagos at 11 am, lurched its way to Alagomeji office where Baraje, who led other board members of the nation’s foremost parastatal cut the tape to formally launch its operations at about noon.

He described the occasion as a milestone, coming after operations along the route had been locked down for four years, following rehabilitation of the 1026 km long route.

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•Obi (middle) with Abdulahi Zubairu of the MDGs’ Office ( third left) and Prof. Chinyere Okunna (third right), with somebeneficiaries of the N5,000 monthly stipend at the Women Development Centre, Awka...yesterday.

Youths foil removal of Ebonyi Council chairman

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OUTHS in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State yesterday foiled the removal of the Chairman, Nicholas Eze, by the council’s legislative council.

The alleged removal plot came barely three months after Eze was sworn in.

It was gathered that some youths saved the chairman’s job by taking away the mace.

Eze, who was the former vice chairman, replaced the chairman, Obasi Nwode, who died in a road accident three months

•Steal mace from councillors

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

ago.

Nine of the 15 councillors were said to have been invited to a meeting at a hotel in the state capital, Abakaliki, where they were convinced to remove Eze and suspend two of their colleagues, who hail from the same community as the chairman.

A councillor, who pleaded for anonymity, said the council-

APGA threatens to sue INEC over Imo rerun

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HE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) yesterday threatened to sue the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), if it conducts a fresh rerun election in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, which it insisted it won.

INEC declared the rerun inconclusive, following the cancellation of results in eight polling units.

Speaking to reporters in his office in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the state chairman of APGA, Marshall Anyanwu, observed that contrary to INEC’s reason for the cancellation, “the rerun was the first time in the history of the state that election was conducted freely and fairly and under the watchful eyes of

lors were tired of the chairman’s “stinginess and high-handedness”.

He accused Odefa Obasi, who represents the area in the House of Assembly, of masterminding the removal.

The councillor said part of the plot was to unseat Eze so that the Vice Chairman, Njoku Nwelom, from the same Oshiri village with Odefa would take over.

The councillor pleaded with

10-year thanksgiving for man

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

security operatives.”

He said it would be political suicide for such election to be cancelled. “We will go to court if that happens. But we want the Attahiru Jega-led INEC to leverage on the little creditability it has garnered so far to allow the indigenes of Oguta have a representative in the House of Assembly.

“Assuming that Jega and President Goodluck Jonathan are from Oguta and they don’t have a representative for eight years how will they feel? It will be inhuman to stall the election because of eight units. They must wake up and embrace justice.

“If Jega said he needs assur-

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•Jega

ance of safety before an election will be conducted, then it means no election should be conducted in 2015 in the Northern states, where we have the Boko Haram onslaught.”

Anyanwu appealed to Jega to have a rethink and conduct election in the remaining eight units without delay so that Oguta can enjoy its right in the House.

HE family of the late Folarin Alabi of AdoEkiti, the Ekiti State capital, will hold a 10-year remembrance service for him on July 28.

A statement yesterday by the family said the thanksgiving service will hold at St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Textile Road, Ado-Ekiti.

Alabi died on July 27, 2003.

He was 44.

He is survived by a wife, Janet Bosede; a son, Ayoola, grandsons, son-in-law and daughter-in-daughter.

Obi awaits report on ‘human cargoes’ in Onitsha

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THERE was tension yesterday among security units in Anambra State as they battled to uncover the mystery behind the “human cargoes” at the Onitsha head bridge.

Over 80 people were brought to Onitsha in a truck on Wednesday by armed po-

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha

licemen, allegedly on the orders of the Lagos State Government.

It was gathered that the military, police, State Security Service (SSS), paramilitary organisations and the

local vigilance groups were working to unravel the mystery.

A source said Governor Peter Obi was waiting for security chiefs to brief him on their findings.

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) described the action as not only wick-

Oyo lawmaker warns Yerima

ENATOR Ahmed Yerima of Zamfara State has been warned to halt his support for the controversial underage marriage bill and focus on bills that will bring development to the country.

The warning came yesterday from the lawmaker representing Ibadan North in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Segun Olaleye.

Olaleye spoke when members of the Humanist Association for Peace and Social Tolerance Advance-

the government and stakeholders to wade into the matter to avoid the escalation of the situation, adding that the plotters may still stage another exercise.

But Odefa denied masterminding the removal. He said he is the political leader of the area and his name could be used anywhere. He said he was not aware of any plot to remove the chairman.

“I don’t know of any removal. How many months does he have to stay as chairman?” he said.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

ment (HAPSTA) visited him.

The controversial bill is in the Senate and championed

by Yerima. If passed into law, the marriageable age for girls will be reduced.

Olaleye recalled that it was the same Senator Yerima who introduced sharia law, when he held sway as Zamfara State governor.

The lawmaker said: “Yerima made the headlines for the wrong reasons when he married a 13-year-old Egyp-

tian girl.

“And now, he is about to smuggle this immoral act into the constitution. What young girls need today is qualitative education and not early marriage.”

He also urged the National Assembly to thread the path of honour by thrashing the bill and focus on how it could reduce poverty through development-oriented legislation.

Olaleye said: “Section 29 (4b) of the 1999 Constitution already gives enough protec-

tion to young children and any attempt to go further will encourage people to take advantage of young girls.”

The project Director of HAPSTA, Yemi Ademowo, , called on Olaleye to appeal to lawmakers from the state in the National Assembly not to follow the decision to legalise the bill.

He said the organisation had collected over 5,000 signatures from people who are opposed to the bill at Ibadan North Local Government.

ed but a brazen breach of the constitution.

A statement by the Chairman, Aloysius Attah and Secretary Justus Ijeoma called on the Anambra State Government to address the issue with the Lagos State Government.

Jonathan urged to stop Rivers crisis From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to intervene and stem the tide of political violence in Rivers State.

An Abuja-based group, Concerned Nigerian Youth (CNY) regretted the conduct of the country’s politicians and cautioned that rising cases of violence and intolerance among the leaders could spell doom for the country.

It challenged the nation’s leaders to lead by example; conduct themselves in respectable manner and provide purposeful leadership to serve as guide for the growing generation.

The group’s National Coordinator, Ronnie Dim, who spoke in Abuja was particularly angered by the recent disregard of democratic ethos by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. She urged President Jonathan to call all sides to the dispute to order.

Miss Dim, who called for a concerted effort by all Nigerians, including the youths, to ensure peaceful coexistence among the people, contended that it would be foolhardy for one to think other parts of the country would be spared of the effect of violence from a part of the country.

“We the youths have watched some of our leaders desecrate the mentorship position, willingly given to them by the people of Nigeria, who have been terribly impoverished and left insecure.

Abducted Lebanese released

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From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

LEBANESE attached to Setraco Construction Company, Toni Yosse, who was kidnapped by gunmen three weeks ago in Benin City, the Edo state capital, has been released.

It was gathered that Yosse was found at Obiaruku in Delta State at 1am.

He was abducted on Upper Mission Road after a soldier guarding the expatriate workers was shot dead.

Police spokesman Moses Eguavoen said the expatriate was released with two other victims, including an executive member of the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It was learnt that the construction company has been negotiating with the kidnappers to secure the release of their colleague but Eguavoen said he was not aware that any ransom was paid.

“The release was achieved through a collaboration between the Edo State and Delta State police commands.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY JULY 26, 2013

NEWS Jonathan: we lost a selfless mother

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From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday described his late mother in-law, Mrs. Charity Oba, as a selfless woman, who was always willing to share the little she had with everybody.

The President spoke when Vice President Namadi Sambo led members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to condole with the President and First Lady, Dame Patience, on the death of Mrs. Oba. Jonathan said the family has been in sorrow since the news of her death, adding that his mother-in-law was dear to the family and played vital roles in bringing up the First Lady.

Thanking Sambo and other FEC members for the visit, the President said Mrs. Oba was gone while the family would pull through with the support of friends and family.

He said: “We welcome you for finding time to pay this condolence visit. We appreciate your concern and commitment. Our mother that died is quite dear to us not just today that we are playing politics.

“The First Lady stayed with her till she grew up. This lady never complained and even for me as an in-law I was free with her, she shares what she has. She used her savings from trade to support us. It is very difficult to have somebody with such rare attributes.”

Mrs Jonathan has returned from a three-day trip to Geneva, Switzerland, to mourn her late mother, Mrs Charity Oba. Mrs Jonathan, who returned on Wednesday, was in Geneva to receive an award as the Online Child Protection Champion from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

SSANU leader dies in auto crash

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From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

HE Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (SSANU) at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM), Mr Richard Yina, is dead.

The union leader was involved in an accident on Tuesday on the UAM-North Bank Road, near the College of Advanced and Professional Studies in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

His wife died on the spot.

Yina was reportedly rushed to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi in critical condition. He died at the hospital.

It was learnt that the accident occurred when the driver of a Toyota Serena space wagon attempted to avoid a commercial motorcyclist (Okada rider). The driver was said to have lost control, making the vehicle to somersault three times before crashing.

When our reporter visited the university yesterday, most of the workers were seen discussing the incident in groups.

They all looked sad. Those who spoke in confidence described the late Yina as a gentlemen who was always at home with every worker of the university.

NIPP turbines delivered to Kaduna by road, says FERMA

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HE Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Mr Gabriel Amuchi, has said the last batch of power turbines, generators and sundry equipment for the 215 megawatts (MW) National Independent Power Project (NIPP) were transported by road form Onne Port in Rivers State to Kaduna.

Amuchi, who spoke at the Kudenda Industrial District in Kaduna, noted the agency’s road maintenance efforts were paying off.

A statement by the FERMA’s Head, Communi-

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

cations and Public Relations, Mrs. Maryam Sanusi quoted Amuchi as saying that the Federal Government resolved to transport the equipment by road over about 950 kilometres.

The FERMA chief said Vice President Namadi Sambo, who is supervising the NIPP, constituted a steering committee in which the agency was given clear instructions to fix the road from Onne Port in Rivers State to Kaduna. The bridges and other support structures were included to facilitate the smooth movement of the power equipment.

Yobe to repair Damaturu/Biu Fed highway HE Yobe State Gov-

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ernment has said it will repair the Damaturu/Biu Federal highway.

Governor Ibrahim Gaidam spoke on the development at the Buni Yadi Hospital during his routine checks of health facilities.

The governor was reacting to the people’s pleas that the state government should repair the federal road.

“The government will take over and rehabilitate the road to cushion the hardship faced by motorists and commuters on this important road. We will later ask for refunds of the money expended on the road from the

From Duku Joel, Damaturu

Federal Government,” he said.

Gaidam said his administration, since 2010, had been making provisions for the road in its budget, following Federal Government’s unfilled promises to rehabilitate the road.

The governor said the state government had concluded the feasibility study on the road, adding: “The road will soon be awarded for rehabilitation from Damaturu to our boundary with Borno State.”

•From left: Executive Chairman, Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Sani Abdullahi; his Borno State counterpart, Prof. Abbe Ali; Deputy Executive Secretary (Services), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Prof.

Rashidi Aderinoye and Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’I, at a workshop on Dissemination of World Bank Report on Nigeria in Abuja...yesterday

Gunmen attack Benue Varsity lecturer GUNMEN have shot a lecturer with the Benue State University (BSU), Mr Justus Shima, of the Department of Linguistics.

The incident took place at a popular wine bar, simply called “Jackies”, on the Alhaji Abubarka Atiku Road, few metres from the Govern-

T

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

ment House in Makurdi.

An eyewitness, Paul Omale, told The Nation that the victim went to Jackies to unwind. He rushed out shortly to get his phone from his car, a Honda.

The gunmen, Omale said, had been waiting for Shima.

Makurdi by policemen who arrived at the scene.

Police spokesman, Daniel Ezeala, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the incident.

He said there was an attempt to rob the car but it failed.

Ezeala said the police were on top of the situation.

ASUU: no renegotiation yet with Fed Govt

HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday said no renegotiation would take place, if the Federal Government failed to implement its 2009 agreement with the union.

Unlike many other African countries, which vote a high percentage of their budgets to education, Nigeria votes a small percentage of its budget to the sector, the union said.

It noted that successive governments, however, allowed acts of malfeasance to go unpunished.

ASUU said huge funds were regularly siphoned through phoney projects, adding that this cannot encourage research and development.

Members of the union restated their position yesterday at the Paul Hendricks Hall of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (UI), during a symposium, titled: Education, Research and Development in Ni-

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

geria.

Among the speakers were: ASUU National Treasurer and former Chairman, UI branch, Dr. Ademola Aremu; incumbent Chairman, Dr. Segun Ajiboye; a former Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof Millicent Obajimi; Dr. Abass Abdulsalaam, Dr. Femi Afolabi, among others.

The discussants stressed that their demands for full implementation of the agreement with the Federal Government would not be compromised.

They said several Nigerian leaders wanted to see public education dead, the same reason they established well equipped private universities at the expense of the masses.

Several federal agencies and parastatals, such as the Nigerian Railway Corpora-

Taraba acting governor sacks two advisers

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They shot him through the glass on the passenger’s side as he got into the vehicle.

The bullets hit him in the right hand, the eyewitness said.

The car was reportedly parked near Jackies.

Omale said the lecturer was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in

ARABA State Acting Governor Garba Umar yesterday sacked two Special Advisers: Tonyonga Binga (Education) and Joseph Magaji Tahwa (Rural Development).

It was not clear what led to their sack.

Umar simply said he no longer required their services.

“The services of the affected Special Advisers are no longer required,” he said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kefas Sule.

Binga and Tahwa were appointed by ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai, who is recuperating in a United States hospital from injuries he sus-

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

tained when a plane he piloted crashed near Yola, Adamawa State, last October.

The sack of the two governor’s aides came a few days after the former Secretary to the Government (SSG) Emmanuel Njiwah, five commissioners and two advisers were sacked by the acting governor for allegedly embezzling the N400 million flood funds provided by the Federal Government.

Njiwah and his group have sued the government, seeking a declaration that their sack is null and void.

tion (NRC), the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), among others, had died due to greed and nonchalance of Nigerian leaders, they said.

If care was not be taken, the union leaders stressed, public education would end up the same way.

The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Julius Okojie, was accused of conniving with the Federal Government to further underfund university education.

If no Nigerian university was among the first 3,000 in the world, and UNESCO report had said about 47 per cent of Nigerian children were out of school, the union said its

struggle for improved education standard was imperative.

It added that without knowledge and research, no nation can develop.

ASUU said Nigerian lawmakers earned over N100 million yearly, while university lecturers, including professors, earned less than N3 million. It said Ghana budgeted 31 per cent to education and Uganda 27 per cent, while Nigeria budgeted 8.5 per cent to the same sector. The situation, it said, was appalling.

The union insisted that the ongoing strike would not be called off unless its demands for proper funding of the education sector were fully met. ASUU urged the Federal Government to heed the demands.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE ON STREET NAMING.

I Mr oladapo olukorede oladeji of block 55, flat 1,Lsdpc medium income estate,ijaiyeogba notify the general public that I have applied to the LSDPC for its consent to change ownership of a property at block 55,flat 1 Lsdpc medium income estate ijaiye-ogba which was originally allocated to Mr Vincent chiedozi obi. I have made series of efforts to contact Ambassador Peter Layi Oyedele the assignor from whom I brought the property, but all efforts have proved abortive.

I hereby indemnify the corporation against any future claims that may arise if my application is granted, and undertake to pay cost of any dispute that may arise on same.

LSDPC, Mr Vincent chiedozi obi and The General public, please take note

I,Chief Francis Ugbo Opute wish to inform the general public that I have applied to Isolo Local Council Development Area,that the street lying infront of my house,situated off Nickson Okwara Avenue,Greenfield Estate,Ago Okota,Isolo be named as FRANCIS OPUTE STREET in my favour. This is for the information of Isolo L.C.D.A and general public.

PUBLIC NOTICE

TAI SOLARIN UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION invites all her chapters to her forthcoming congress which is scheduled to hold as follows:Date: Saturday 17th August, 2013 Venue: Block A, University Campus, Ijagun Time: 12noon.

Thank you as you come SIGNED

TAJUDEEN O. UTHMAN National President

ILESANMIAYODELE General Secretary

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

59

NEWS Rivers crisis: Jonathan vows to curb political excesses Continued from page 4

turbed about what is coming out from Rivers State. We appealed to the President to do all that he can lawfully do to ensure that peace returns to Port Harcourt and law and order prevails. And at all times, the principles of the rule of law must be adhered to. We made that clear to the President.”

On punishment to be meted out to NBA members found wanting in the Rivers crisis, Wali said: “I have addressed that issue when I said to you we had inaugurated our judicial processes panel.

And we will deal with matters that arise at all times. If any matter comes to us, regardless of what state it is from, we will deal with it.”

He said the visit to the President has nothing to do with the 2015 elections.

“No; we cannot be talking about that. In fact, our position is that 2015 is still a long way. I know we need to be preparing for 2015. But there has been a clamour, I think since last year. They just got

elected in 2011. We have elected them to deliver the dividends of democracy, good governance; good government.

“We think we should do more of that than politics. So, we didn’t bother to discuss that. It is the other way round.

We think they should do what they are elected to do now and worry less about 2015.”

Wali went on: “We discussed some issues bordering on the security, economy of the country, rule of law and judiciary. We thought we should have audience with the President and express our concerns on some issues and then the president graciously took the issues and addressed them.

“We talked about the issue of the independence and funding for the judiciary. We talked about the rule of law because we believe that that is a strong issue in any civilised society and we talked about the economy. We appreciate the fact that the government is working. We have lots of reports. But our concern is also the impact on the average

Nigerian. It is good enough to have the statistics, but we will like it to be moved to the next level where the average Nigerian gets the impact of what the government is doing.”

On problems in the judiciary, he said: “Justice has its own problems. That is one of the issues we raised with the President. What happens in the court is a cocktail of issues.

It starts from prosecution. It gets up to what happens in court. So, it is not only about a judge that brings about delay.

“If investigation is not properly done, you don’t get a good prosecution before the judges come to judgment because what the judge decides on at the end of the day is the quality of evidence put before him. It is a total justice sector problem. And that was one of the issues we raised.

“If you talked about what the NBA has done with its members, you know the beauty of our justice system is that you have, an appellate system, whereby if you are dissatisfied with what you have you go to the Court of Appeal.

And if you are dissatisfied with that you go to the Supreme Court.”

According to him, a lot of reforms in the right direction are being recorded in the judiciary.

On judiciary’s true independence, Wali said: “I don’t know about that. What I can tell you is that yes, we have some issues with the judiciary, but again there is also a new dawn in the judiciary.

The CJN, you know, is somebody who has been dealing with such misconduct at the Bench.

“And you know how many judges that have been excused from the Bench in the recent past. So, the Bar and the Bench are on it. It is a gradual process, but we will get there.

What is important is the determination and the focus to which the judiciary and the Bar rid themselves of elements which should not be there.” He said.

Dr. Jonathan, he said had accepted to attend the NBA conference next month in Tinapa, Cross River State.

Senate resolves to take over Rivers House of Assembly Continued from page 4

that unless there is peace in Rivers State they cannot ensure development and we want development across the length and breath of this country. We appeal that all those involved sheathe their swords so that peace can reign in Rivers State.

“The committee has not indicted any particular group of people; they have not indicted any section and they did not indict any individual. I think the reason is that they want to ensure that there is peace in the state.

“The Senate as a body wants to be an integral part of the solution of the problem in Rivers State. We remain neutral; we have not taken sides and we are not going to take sides. We stand on facts. When we approve our prayers, the prayers will be based on facts and our neutral position. We hope that all the parties involved will appreciate that all we want is for peace to return in Rivers State.

“The Senate will at all time uphold the Constitution of the

Federal Republic of Nigeria as we individually swore to do at all times and at all cost.

“If there is anybody in doubt that the impunities of the past remained in the past and the past is gone for good. All that is left is for proper lessons to be learnt from the past.

“Minority members of the Rivers State House of Assembly cannot remove and can, therefore, not contemplate the impeachment of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly or any one else for that matter. They should perish the thought if they ever harboured it.

“Our speakers of State must also uphold the Constitution at all times and must not in any way encourage the impression that the impunities of the past are possible today. This National Assembly, for the avoidance of doubt, will resist impunity at all times.

“This is the stand of the Senate and we remain neutral.”

Speaking on the development, Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers South East) said the Senate acted

in a manner consistent with its mandate.

Abe added that what the Senate did was to arrest the unfolding situation in the state.

He said the Senate reaffirmed that “in this country, we will no longer tolerate impunity”.

The implication, he noted, is that Amachree, undoubtedly, remains the Speaker of Rivers House of Assembly.

The action of the Senate, he said, has created a stable ground for all parties to the crisis to work for peace in the interest of

the state.

On the takeover of the Assembly, Abe said what it meant is that “for the time being, the Rivers State House of Assembly is not competent to make law for the state”.

Abe said: “We were in a closed door session for over five hours.

The Senate felt that we should look at issues critically. The Senate acted from an informed position. Today, we dealt with facts brought by our own committee.

This is why it was easy for us to take unanimous decisions.”

Allah De dies at 85 Continued from page 4

ing skill with even a greater talent as an editor of the paper.

Perhaps one of the lasting legacies of the departed journalist is his “ Allah De” column, which has been described by many as one of the best satires ever penned by a Nigerian journalist. The late Nnamdi Azikwe-himself a fine writer- described the late Odunewu as the dean of Nigerian satirical writing.

“Satire is the stuff of his work, master of the well-placed innuendo. Odunewu called attention to the follies and foibles of his era without wounding the vanities of the men and women of the moment,” Journalism teacher and The Nation Editorial Adviser Olatunji Dare once wrote in 2007.

Encomiums were pouring in last night from his contemporaries and those who knew him only through his writings. Henry Odukomaiya, who took over from him as the Editor of the Daily Times said: “ I am shocked, saddened to learn from you about the sudden departure of my great boss, Alade Odunewu whose pseudonym was Allah De which was the name of the column he gave birth to when he was Editor-inchief of the Daily Times.”

Odukomaiya had a flattery reminiscence of the character of the writer. “The Allah De that I knew was one of the most accommodating bosses that anybody could have, I mean every word of what I am saying. He never offended anybody, he did his job to the best of his ability and his ability was quite high. He was very jocular and that reflected in every of his writing. He was elegant too. He didn’t take life too seriously.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have a good matrimonial life.

Adenaike remembered the

late Odunewu as a great mentor to the younger generation of journalists and a great craftsman. “That was the father of journalism. Nigerian journalism has lost one of its founding fathers, and he was a great mentor to the younger ones. He wrote a column Allah De. He was a great humorist and satirist. He was a great craftsman.

He lived journalism; he published two books - Winner takes all which was the compilation of his columns into two volumes.”

Sam Amuka Pemu, publisher of The Vanguard said of the late Allah De: “He was a fine fellow; we will miss him.” Mr. Femi Kusa former Editor of the Guardian, described him as a great columnist who was very careful and diplomatic in his writings.

There were others too who paid glowing tributes to a man who gave his life for journalism. The chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council, Deji Elumoye, said the late Odunewu was a foremost journalist who never did anything else but journalism. “He talked about proper practices of journalism and was always willing to advise the NUJ. We will miss him,” he said.

Former Editor of The Sunday Times Gbolabo Ogunsanwo believed the profession has lost one of its heroes. “Alade Odunewu was the uncrowned dean of newspaper columnists.”

Perhaps, few can be said to have matched the passion and the talents of the late Odunewu, his devotion to the cause of the journalism profession would be a model that the profession may find hard to fill.

And as he is committed to mother earth today, the encomiums may have just begun.

Amaechi: nobody should bring down a state because an ambition exists

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IVERS State Governor Chibuike Amaechi yesterday denied that he was advised by the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to step down for Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang for the chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

He also said he has not spoken about his ambition for 2015, adding that even if there

is an ambition; nobody has a right to bring down a state because of that.

Amaechi spoke on a BBC programme, Hardtalk, aired yesterday. He said the NGF was striving to be independent from external forces.

“Nobody advised me not to run,” the governor said.

Asked if he told President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the leader of the PDP, of his

ambition to re-contest the chairmanship of the NGF, Amaechi said: “There is no law that requires me to tell him that I was going to run.

“I didn’t need to run to the president to say ‘Mr President, I need to run for the chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum’. I didn’t need to do that and I didn’t do that.

“And he in turn did not call

me to say ‘don’t run; I heard you’re going to run’.

“So I ran and I didn’t see the President on the ballot. The person I saw on the ballot was Jonah Jang.”

Amaechi reaffirmed that he defeated Jang 19 to 16 votes in the NGF poll.

On his suspension from the PDP, the governor said nobody has the right to dictate the party he associates with.

SPACE FOR SALE

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

60

FOREIGN NEWS

Driver quizzed after 80 killed in Spain train crash

Togo goes to poll

OLICE put the driver of a Spanish train under investigation yesterday after at least 80 people died when it hit a sharp bend at speed, derailed and caught fire near the pilgrimage center of Santiago de Compostela, in one of Europe’s worst rail disasters.

The crash was caused by excessive speed, an official source with knowledge of the accident investigation told Reuters.

Dramatic video footage from a security camera outside the northwestern city showed the train, with 247 people on board, hurtling

HE tiny country of Togo went to poll yesterday for first time since 2007. Voting, which began at 7 a.m. local time and ends at 4 p.m. is seen as an important next step in the nation’s transition to full democracy. The vote was originally scheduled for last October but was delayed as pro-democracy and civil society groups tried to push further reforms before the poll.

Some 1,200 candidates are competing for 91 seats in the legislature.

In Togo, the Gnassingbé family has been in power for decades. Étienne Gnassingbé Eyadéma ruled from 1967 to his death in 2005. The military then quickly slotted Gnassingbé Eyadéma’s son, Faure Gnassingbé, into the president’s seat where he continues to govern, though is viewed as more moderate and open than his father.

For most of this period, the opposition in Togo has been represented by a businessman and legacy figure in Togo named Gilchrist Olympio, whose own father was the first post-independence president.

Mr. Olympio has survived over nearly four decades of fighting the powers that be in Togo, his native land. He is hoping to make an entrance into the political sphere that he’s long been kept out of by the machinations of Togo’s rulers.

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into a concrete wall at the side of the track as carriages jack-knifed and the engine overturned.

One local official described the aftermath of the crash, on the eve of one of Europe’s biggest Christian festivals in the ancient city, as like a scene from hell, with bodies strewn next to the tracks.

The impact was so huge one carriage flew several meters into the air and landed on the other side of the high concrete barrier.

“We heard a massive noise and we went down the tracks.

I helped get a few injured and bodies out of the train. I went into one of the cars but I’d rather not tell you what I saw there,” Ricardo Martinez, a 47year old baker from Santiago de Compostela, told Reuters.

The train driver was under formal police investigation, a spokeswoman for Galicia’s Supreme Court told Reuters, without naming him. The train had two drivers and one was in hospital, the Galicia government said.

It was not immediately clear which driver was under investigation or in hospital. The train, operated by state-owned

company Renfe, was built by Bombardier and Talgo and was around five years old. It had almost the maximum number of passengers.

Newspaper accounts cited witnesses as saying one driver, Francisco Jose Garzon, who had helped rescue victims, shouted into a phone: “I’ve derailed! What do I do?”.

The 52-year-old had been a train driver for 30 years, a Renfe spokeswoman said.

Many newspapers published excerpts from his Facebook account where he was reported to have boasted of driving trains at high speed.

The page was taken offline on Thursday and the reports could not be verified.

El Pais newspaper said one of the drivers told the railway station by radio after being trapped in his cabin that the train entered the bend at 190 kilometers per hour (120 mph). An official source said the speed limit on that stretch of twin track, laid in 2011, was 80 kmph.

Investigators were trying to urgently establish why the train was going so fast and why failsafe security devices to keep speed within permitted limits had not worked.

South African ‘serial rapist’ found dead

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MAN accused of being one of South Africa’s worst serial rapists, Sifiso Makhubo, has been found dead in his prison cell, officials say.

Sifiso Makhubo, who faced 122 charges, including murder, was found hours before his trial was due to start.

He is also charged with attempted murder over allegations he knowingly infected his victims with HIV - the first such prosecution.

South Africa has one of the highest rates of sexual violence in the world.

Some 64,000 cases were reported to the police last year.

It is also the country with the largest HIV-positive population - some 5.5 million people, or 17% of those aged 15-49.

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Tunisia opposition killed, thousands protest

•The accident scene ... yesterday

Syria: More than 100,000 now killed, says UN Ban

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ORE than 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict in Syria, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said.

The latest estimate of the number killed is 7,000 higher than that issued by the UN only last month.

Mr Ban was speaking at UN headquarters in New York alongside US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Both men stressed the urgency of finding a political solution to the conflict. Mr

Ban appealed for fresh efforts to convene a peace conference.

In the past the UN has said its statistics are an underestimate as it believes many deaths have not been reported.

A further 1.7 million Syrians have been forced to seek shelter in neighbouring countries.

The UN announcement came as reports from the capital, Damascus, said that seven people had been killed in a car bomb attack.

Mexico: 22 dead in clashes with cartel

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T LEAST 20 armed gang members have died in clashes with police in Mexico’s western Michoacan state, officials say.

Two police officers were also killed in shootouts that started after gang members blocked roads with vehicles and ambushed police patrols.

The attacks came a day after members of the Knights Templar drug gang shot dead

five demonstrators protesting against the cartel’s violent tactics.

In many ways, the situation in Michoacan is the biggest security challenge facing President Enrique Pena Nieto, as an explosive mix of rival drug cartels, civilian self-defence groups and security forces threatens to derail any efforts to create stability in the region.

R •Putin

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OHAMED Brahmi, a member of Tunisia’s political opposition, was shot dead in Tunis yesterday.

Brahmi was a member of the secular coalition called the Popular Front, and held a post in an assembly charged with writing the country’s constitution.

French newspaper Le Figaro said that the 58-yearold politician was killed by two men on a motorbike who shot him 11 times as he exited his car.

Party officials said Brahmi was shot in front of his wife and children.

He is the second secular politician to be assassinated in Tunisia in the last six months.

•Brahmi

Putin to visit Iran

USSIAN leader Vladimir Putin will meet Iran’s newly elected president in Tehran next month to discuss restarting talks on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, Russian and Iranian media reports said on Wednesday.

The Russian newspaper Kommersant quoted a source close to the Iranian Foreign Ministry as saying President

Putin would visit on August 12, days after Hassan Rouhani is inaugurated.

Iran’s Mehr news agency said Putin would travel to Iran on August 16, without citing a source.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined comment on the reports.

Putin last visited Iran in 2007 to attend a summit of states bordering the Caspian Sea.

61

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

Teacher 'impersonates' Feshola’s, Fashola’s, Aregbesola’s wives A

TEACHER, Mrs Victoria Abosede Asogbon, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate's Court for allegedly impersonating the wives of Lagos and Osun state governors, Mrs Abimbola Fashola and Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola.

In a 10-count charge filed

by Lagos State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr Ade Ipaye, Asogbon (53), was alleged to have at various times, presented herself as Mrs Fashola and Mrs Aregbesola.

The prosecutor, Mr Babatunde Sunmonu, alleged that Mrs Asogbon, through text messages to some individuals, collected huge sums of money and Ramadan gifts from them

By Adebisi Onanuga

under the guise of being either Mrs Fashola or Mrs Aregbesola.

The defendant, was alleged to have fraudulently collected N100,000 from the Chairman of Agbado/OkeOdo Local Government, Lagos State, after sending him a text that she was sent to collect the money by Mrs Fashola. She was said to have also collected three Blackberry phones worth N105,000 from him under the same guise.

She was also alleged to have sent a similar text to the Education Secretary of Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, Isaac Omoregie.

The woman allegedly secured redeployment from

Experts condemn human trafficking

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HE Dean, Post Graduate Studies, University of Lagos, Mr Chukwu Obinnaya, has said strengthening the borders and preventing illegal migration would reduce human trafficking.

He spoke at a workshop organised by the Centre for Correction and Human Development (CCHD) for pupils in Lagos.

Obinnaya asked international agencies involved in anti-human trafficking to do more evidence-based campaigns to target vulnerable groups, trafficking facilitators and decision makers.

"At the local level, greater efforts are needed to communicate from the perspective of the law, what constitutes trafficking and the consequences of being caught, to individuals and communities, who may come into contact with victims," he said.

He said trafficking was a crime that transcends culture, class and geography, adding:

By Medinat Kanabe "There is a significant level of internal trafficking in persons for prostitution, domestic servitude, forced labour, street begging, and organ harvesting. This scenario is most prevalent in major cities in Nigeria, where teenage girls as young as 12 or 13, are seen around brothels, working for some people."

"Thousands of our youths, especially girls, are lured, abducted, tricked, drugged, beaten, starved, confined or otherwise snared every day, internally and internationally, to profit their handlers."

He listed factors contributing to the menace as lack, unemployment, gender discrimination and violence against women. He described poverty as its major cause in Nigeria.

The group’s Executive Director, Mrs Obioma Agoziem, said the workshop was aimed at creating awareness on the menace among children.

the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) in Alimosho, to the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board through a text purportedly sent to its chairman, Mrs Gbolahan Khadijat Daudu, by Mrs Fashola.

Sunmonu told the court that Mrs Asogbon, a Grade 10 officer, at another time, claimed to be a sister to Mrs Aregbesola through a text in an attempt to defraud another person, simply identified as Mrs Gbolahan.

The prosecution said the offences were contrary to and punishable under Sections 378, 312 and 96 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2011. Mrs Asogbon pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Mrs Eniola Fabanwo granted her bail for N1million, with two sureties in the like sum.

Mrs Asogbon was asked to

Online mall scores first

• Mrs Asogbon in court premises ... yesterday deposit N250,000 with the court as part of the bail con-

ditions. Her trial was adjourned till September 2.

'Arms' importation must be checked'

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GROUP yesterday launched a campaign against what it calls “worrisome proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition” in the country. It was at a media parley organised by members of Champion Youth Development Association of Nigeria (CHYDAN), a nong o v e r n m e n t a l organisation.

The conference with the theme: "Mapping out effort against armed violence in Nigeria," was held at the Nigerian Railway Recreation Garden at Tejuosho, Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

The group urged the Federal Government to establish what it calls Merchant Navy Corps to check illicit importation or smuggling of arms and ammunition into the country through the high seas.

Its president, Umaru Ismail, said the Corps was first established by Lord Lugard in 1914 before it metamorphosed into the Nigerian Navy in 1958

•Chairman, Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Julius Oloro during this year’s tree planting exercise at the council.

By Ebele Boniface from Merchant Navy Corps to combat pirates on the water-ways and the high seas.

He said if the Merchant Navy Corps is revived, it would checkmate the illicit importation or smuggling of arms and ammunition into the country.

He said it would prevent arms from getting into the

wrong hands, thus fueling robbery, militancy and terrorism.

Mr Ikwa Ugom, who chairs CHYDAN's disciplinary committee, said the Corps would checkmate the misuse of youths by politicians during elections. Ms Margerate Kataiko, its National Matron, said it would correct security lapses on the high seas and at sea ports.

KONGA. c o m, Nigeria's Largest Online Mall, has become Africa's first ecommerce company to be verified by the facebook.

Verification of pages was introduced by facebook in May to ensure brand authenticity.

A statement from facebook read: "The verified pages are being rolled out to just a small group of prominent public figures (celebrities, journalists, government officials, popular brands and businesses) with large audiences."

The official page of President Goodluck Jonathan, it said, is the only other page that is currently verified by facebook in Nigeria, adding that Konga.com just joined the elite list.

Shopkonga, the official facebook page of Konga.com currently has over 400,000 'likes' and according to Social Bakers, it has the highest number of Nigerian fans in e-commerce across Africa.

Head of Marketing at K o n g a . c o m , OnyekaAkumah, said: "We are really excited about this recognition by facebook for the service we are rendering to Nigerians online. Being the first ecommerce brand verified in Africa and the first in Nigeria, is a testament of the growing confidence that the international community and Nigerians have in the brand - Konga.com."

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

62

NEWS

40TH DAY FIDAU FOR ALHAJA ABIBATU ASABI MOGAJI IN LAGOS •Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (second right); Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Lagos State Chapter, Chief Henry Ajomale (right); Senator Gbenga Obadara (left); former Lagos State Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Mr Jide Sanwoolu (second left); Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas and Chief Pius Akinyelure at the 40th Fidau for Alhaja Abibatu Asabi Mogaji at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday.

•Chief Imam, Nawair-ud-Deen Shaikh Majeed Ayinla and others praying on the occassion.

•Chief Godson Obasi (left) and Dr Oswald Adiele.

•Chief Ojon Nurudeen Olubiyi Agoro (left); Chief Sasore Waidi Ayeni (middle) and Chief Jakande Ikinle.

•Adedamola Kasumu (left) and Seyi Tinubu.

•Chief Moses Anagbolu Nwanagbogu (left); Chief Anslem Njoku and Mr Oyabanji Oyewunmi.

•Former Lagos State Deputy Governor Princess Sarah Sosan and Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Works, Mr Ganiyu Johnson.

•Senior Special Assistant to Governor Fashola on Local Government Mrs Yinka Babalola (left) and Alhaja Ayisat Alice

•Hon Abiodun Yakubu Balogun •Princess Modinat Akiolu, Princess Abiola Akiolu-Olorunnimbe and the representative of Oba of Lagos.

PHOTOS: OMOSEHIN MOSES

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

63

SPORT EXTRA

Amokachi persuades Echiejile to join Besiktas N

Gumel tips Nigeria for World Volleyball Championship

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ESIKTAS have contacted assistant coach of the Super Eagles, Daniel Amokachi to convince Uwa Elderson Echiejile to sign for the Istanbul side this summer, according to Turkish sports daily Fanatik.

The 25 - year - old’s contract with Sporting Braga expires at the end of next season, specifically June 2014, and the Portuguese side would be willing to trade him if his valuation of three million euros is met by any suitor.

Amokachi, a one time Besiktas player , has given

positive recommendations to the Besiktas brass , and most importantly has advised Echiejile to consider the proposal from the club.

Sporting Braga have rejected several offers for Echiejile because the bids were below his three million euros valuation.

Norwich (England) and Stuttgart (Germany) are believed to be in the running for the signature of Elderson Echiejile.

Konyaspor targets Akpala

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CCORDING to reporting by fanatik.com.tr, Turkish Super League club Konyaspor are exploring ways to sign Super Eagles’ attacker Joseph Akpala.

The 26 - year - old’s progress at Bundesliga side Werder Bremen has been blighted by injuries since he arrived Germany from Club Brugge in the summer of 2012.

The Nigeria international showed his wares at the Fifa Confederations Cup, playing in games against Uruguay and Spain.

This season ends with the showpiece event in FIFA’s football calender, the World Cup and the ex Bendel Insurance star might be keen to try his luck elsewhere in order to get match time.

Joseph Akpala has been goalking in two different continents - the domestic championship as well as Belgium Pro League.

A ENYIMBA VS 3SC FEDERATION CUP MATCH

Abuja fans thrill Maigari

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IGERIA Football Federation President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari has told NationSport that the Abuja venue of the round of 16 of the ongoing Federation Cup makes him happy and full of hopes that the good old days of

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From Andrew Abah, Abuja turned the other way, we have no option than to give glory to God and go back home to reassess ourselves for a better performance next time. I wish Enyimba well, they are a good team, and I believe they have all it takes to win the trophy” he concluded.

Gbolahan Salami scored the only goal for 3SC in that epic encounter at the Area 3 playing pitch Abuja which ended 3-1 in favour of the Aba Elephants.

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja Nigerian league are gradually coming back.

Maigari who made a surprise appearance at the Area 3 Goal Project, Abuja venue of the Federation Cup round of 16 match between Enyimba International and Shooting Stars on Wednesday said he was amazed with the large crowd that thronged the mini-stadium for the match.

He said that with what he had seen at the venue, then the good old days of Nigerian football at the local level is fast returning.

Maigari breezed into the stadium before the end of the first half and watched till the end of the match.

“Nigerian people are now beginning to say look we are accepting our league and we will as well do it together. Not just for the officials and the players but spectators as well has

role to play.

So I am very impressed with the large turnout of fans at the Area 3 Goal Project here today (Wednesday). That is to tell you that things are getting better He also said the 3-1 score line recorded in favour of the winner Enyimba is part of the game and such score line could be recorded in any match involving strong club sides with great tradition like Shooting Stars Football Club and Enyimba Football Club. According to him, “that is what makes a game of football very interesting.

He also commended the two clubs for playing a good match and gave the crowd at least something to cheer and encouragement to come back another day to watch such matches. Enyimba trounced shooting Stars 3-1 in Abuja on Wednesday to move to the quarter-finals of the ongoing Federation Cup.

BONUS ROW: Panel didn’t drill me—Keshi

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UPER Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi has denied the reports going round that he was drilled by the Segun Adeniyi-led Panel that has been assigned the duty to unravel the major causes of the bonus row witnessed shortly after 2014 World Cup qualifier in Windhoek, Namibia before finally departing for Brazil for the FIFA Confederation Cup last month.

“I was not drilled precisely.

The panel only asked questions on how we can move the team forward. There was nothing like drilling. You guys (sports journalists) use words wrongly sometimes in this country; do I look like somebody drilled”, Keshi asked the sports

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja reporters that gathered for the mid-week parley with the Eagles on Wednesday.

Keshi also dismissed the suggestions that since the Captain of the team was not invited for the match it was a major gap in the team because the team lacked a leader that could have curtailed the resentment of the players to the reduction of the match bonus that was slashed from $10,000 to $5,000 which the players kicked against then and even refused to board the plane to Brazil for the last FIFA Confederation Cup. Keshi argued that Yobo was

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja Championship.

“Nigeria team has really worked hard and also trained hard for this play-off and I am confident that by the end of the tournament here in Abuja and the final round involving the four qualified teams, Nigeria will get the ticket to represent Africa in the world Championship”, Engeneer Gumel told NationSport.

As at the time of filing this report Nigeria was slugging it out with Togo. A victory against Togo will push Nigeria to the final play off for the world fiesta having won the first match 3-2 against resilient Niger Republic who levelled up from 2-0 before Nigeria rally to put one more to win the first match on Tuesday.

The Nigerian team is stronger than Togo and it is expected that the host team will get the needed victory in yesterday’s match to sail through to the final play-off.

Lagos unveils athletics’

•Echiejile

Salami lauds 3SC management ORMER Junior International Gbolahan Salami has commended the efforts of the management of the Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan to return the club to prominence again in the country’s football.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday after his team lost out of the 2013 Federation Cup, the former Enyimba of Aba winger said “first, I will have to acknowledge the efforts of the Oyo State government in ensuring that the team is well funded. I also wish to commend the management of the team, because they always ensure that we lack nothing. They cater for all our needs, before the need arises. I thank them very much. I think that what remains now is for them to make further efforts to fortify the team with more experience players to enable us contend with other teams in the league. I am not saying that the players we have now are not good, but we need more experienced ones to compliment the work of each other”.

On the inability of his team to progress further in the 2013 Federation cup, the superbrat of the local league said “we are disappointed. We never bargained for that, we expected a better result, but since it

IGERIA Volleyball Federation (NVF) President, Engineer Abu Gumel has tipped Nigeria to qualify for the FIVB World Championship holding next year.

The ever confident Engineer told NationSport yesterday, “The staging of the competition here I would say has been so far so good. I want to assure Nigerians that our team will qualify. This competition is World Championship qualifier.

“The West Africa was divided into two zones and the first zone are here and in Abuja and they are we the host nation Nigeria, Niger Republic, Benin Republic and Togo. But Benin has not been able to come.

“The other four countries in the other zone are the host country Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ghana. Two countries will qualify each from the two zones and the four will be involved in the final round to produce the final two countries for the world

contacted and was in support of his teammates’ action on that day.

“If Yobo was not there in Namibia or not, wasn’t the situation. Yobo was contacted by his teammates (on the issue).

The thing we should discuss is that how did this thing started?

That is what you guys need to find out. Was it properly channeled? That’s what you guys need to find out. There was no problem about it. It has happened before in the national team and if it is not well taken care of it is going to happen again. So it is not about if Yobo was there or not there it wouldn’t have happened. If it is not properly done there would be crisis.

s part of its efforts to acquaint its athletes with global standard, the Lagos State Government through the ministry of youth, sports and social development yesterday unveiled the latest track and field timing device.

According to the Commissioner for Youth, Sports And Social Development, Wahid Oshodi, the equipment would indeed help the state to acquaint its athletes with what obtains globally.

“It is very important that we get our athletes acquaint with the latest in track and field and for us in Lagos, this device will help to ascertain the performance level of our athletes compare to what obtains at global level. We are very pleased with the enormous support we are getting from His Excellency, Governor Babatunde Fashola, at ensuring that our athletes are at par with their foreign counterpart. This is a state-of-the-art facility that is used all over the world,” Oshodi said.

For the chairman, Lagos State Athletics Association, Tunde Makanjuola, the facility would indeed reduce human errors.

“With this equipment, we are going to rely on hand timing as we will now have

timing device

•To host World Championships qualifiers accurate timing for all our athletes. This will also help us to assess the performance of our athletes in line with what obtains at global level as it will tell us automatically the result without any error,” he said.

Makanjuola added that it would also reduce the number of officials require to officiate at any event, while it would help the association to safe money, which is expected to be spent on officials.

Meanwhile, athletes within and outside the country that are still hoping to make it to the 2013 IAAF World Championships holding in Russian next month will burn the track on Thursday at the Lagos Open Championship/ Eko Grand Prix.

The two-day tournament is being organised by the Lagos State Athletics Association will hold at the University of Lagos Sports Complex with athletes expected from Ghana and other neighbouring countries.

NBF to revive sports in Nigeria

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HE Nigeria B a d m i n t o n Federation (NBF) has taken a giant step in revamping the sport.

The Vice President of the federation, Francis Orbih, led a delegation from the Southwest zone to visit the Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Fayemi who is also an active Badminton player agreed with the delegation that there was need for the rebirth of badminton in the Southwest.

The governor promised to organise an age grade tournament soon in the state.

He also assured that work

will be completed soon on the multipurpose indoor sports hall that is currently undergoing construction in the state so as to provide a conducive environment for badminton players.

Meanwhile, the governor hinted that arrangements are in top gear to stage a badminton tournament in October in the state.

This he said will be part of activities to mark his thrid year anniversary in office.

The delegation also had former badminton champion, Samson Egbeyemi, Oby Solaja an ex badminton Africa champion.

TODAY IN THE NATION

FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

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HE language of rights makes an interesting if not incongruous rendering of the relationship that the individual has or is expected to have to the community in typical African climes. The language of responsibility would appear to capture that relationship more appropriately. Still, we cannot pretend that the contemporary practice of rights has no bearing on the traditional expectation of responsibility. Indeed, it is now not uncommon for the most sacred of traditional institutions—the monarchy— to be embroiled in disputes that only get resolved by appeal to the language of rights— in the court of law.

With an acknowledgement of the force of rights in contemporary societies then, we may address a few issues of significance to the social relations that subsist the African world, To focus the discussion, I would like to make an arbitrary distinction between tradition and contemporary iterations of some of the conditions that afflict the African world, including the social, political, economic, and cultural situations.

Traditionally, the social condition of Africa cannot be described in paradisical terms.

But it was also not as hellish as some may want us to believe. It was simple and rustic, orderly and peaceful before the era of greed and ego-driven ambitions set in. Individuals had a sense of place and a sense of their responsibilities within the community of interrelated persons.

Everywhere now, the ideal of community is being rediscovered; but it was Africa that gave the idea to the world and it is to Africa that the world is looking for clues concerning the meaning and requirements of community. Unfortunately, Africa has moved on to other not-so-flattering ideals of life, including those that prioritise the good of individual accumulation and acquisition over the good of communal life. From “ajooje o dun benikan o ni, we moved to bamu bamu ni mo yo, emi o mo pebi n pomo enikookan. From the sweetness of cooperative living, we move to the worshipping of the self and contempt for the other.

We have not been able to deal with this disastrous move effectively because the sanctions are no longer there.

Contemporary political conditions ensure that traditional sanctions against egoistic acquisition are rendered illegal and illegitimate. And we keep getting better at institutionalizing corruption even when we make insincere noise about its unacceptability.

Family name and community integrity used to be guided zealously. Thus a father would disown a son who brought shame to the family name through corrupt practices. And a whole community would distance itself from a member that brought it into disrepute. To-

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

at very tender ages.

An effective response to the conditions that militate against the progressive development of the African world is not just one that focuses on the youth. Indeed, from my submission above, the elders need a reorientation away from practices and institutions that damage the sense and spirit of gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net community that has always been the strength of Africa and its Diaspora. It is for instance a thing of shame that the spiritual realm of contemporary Africa cannot be guaranteed as a solution to the challenge of crass materialism because the spiritual realm itself has become a theater of the absurd with cutthroat competition for sinful souls not because they need salvation but because it is their kind that the preacher needs for a fat bank account.

There is a need to integrate spirit and matter. Surely the youth need a spiritual anchor that enables them to start firm and rooted in the face of the winds of change blowing across the African world. I submit however, that for that foundation to be strong, it has to be built on a solid material formation. We must prioritise institutions that cater to the material needs of the youth so as to give them the strength for spiritual renewal. It is not a coincidence that our people say that ebi kii wo nu ki oran mii woo. A hungry person is a potential prey or victim of spiritual swindlers.

The community needs to guard its own from the vultures of religious zealotry. The poor are being promised virgins upon successful suicide mission and they easily buy it because of their condition. Assume that the nation has invested in the education of those young ones and has ensured that they had •Map of Africa gainful employment upon completion of day, a father would pressure a son to bring as and cannot be accorded respect. Tradition- their studies; can anyone imagine that they much “dividends of democracy” to the famally, we know that “agba ti o lajeku yoo ru gba e would fall prey to the sugar-coated mouths ily even if it means stealing billions and trildoko. What is happening to our youths is a of wicked mullahs?

African peoples need a break from poverty, lions of public funds. And there are tradireflection of the poverty of the elderly efviolence, political instability, and generalised tional rulers who not only aid and abet “sons forts to provide for them. of the soil” known to be neck deep in corrupThis may be why we are also not in a posi- social malaise. Africa has made some substantion, but who themselves are active particition to preach the gospel of culture. What tial contributions to the world culturally and pants in the rush for contracts that are not to culture? Orisa boo le gbe mi, fi mi sile boo ti ba mi. spiritually. Now Africa and its people need to be executed because deals had been made.

If our culture has been so bankrupted by the focus attention on building economic instituWe now acquire political power with a diselders that the youth see no value in their tions that serve the purpose of cultural and tinct purpose of enriching the self as opposed immersion into it, we are doomed as a peo- spiritual renewal—institutions that prioritise to benefitting the people and the community. ple. For culture identifies and while the phe- the good of the community which ultimately Yet we do it in the name of the people—my nomenon of cultural borrowing is still real, translates into the good of individuals. If we people need my service—and my service is without our own identity, we are just going bring together the collective efforts of the peoto benefit no one but myself and my family. to become beggars in the land of other cul- ple to harness the collective resources of the On account of our political conditions, our tures. We are seeing this already. 70% of our people, there has to be bountiful results. Coeconomy is matching forward in one step and elites don’t allow their children to speak operatives and collectives have featured in our backwards in four. I do not need to bore you Yoruba language in the house. This is even traditions with good results. We need to rewith what you know. Indeed, young men and when both parents are Yoruba. The vogue is vive that spirit for the sake of the young ones women are the major victims with unemto have kids speak English as their mother who are fast losing hope in our collective huployment as high as 40%. If four out of 10 tongue. Yet there is a large amount of good manity. youth members in a community are unable research on the benefits of the mother tongue to get a decent job even after they do what for learning. Not only this, there is also plenty •Prepared for presentation at the Orisa Tradition we ask them to do—get a good education— of good evidence that children are capable of Conference the elders have shacked their responsibility learning and speaking multiple languages •For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

SEGUN GBADEGESIN

Youth rights, elder rights, and generational integration•

‘Now Africa and its people need to focus attention on building economic institutions that serve the purpose of cultural and spiritual renewal—institutions that prioritise the good of the community which ultimately translates into the good of individuals’

RIPPLES IT PAYS TO BE CORRUPT IN NIGERIA –Ex-Governor

Yes, definitely...you WON’T go to JAIL

VOL.8 NO.2,558

‘Feel it now; that you may remember this stench when everybody and everything are shed of trait, in that dreaded epoch when Nigeria gives to rancidness and collapse’’ OLA TUNJI OL OLADE OLATUNJI OLOLADE

HARDBALL

I

T’S thumbs up to NFF (Nigeria Football Federation) for tackling promptly, what for want of another description, Hardball calls harlotry on the open field of play. Consider the image: 22 players, four officials on a football pitch, with state FA (Football Association) officials, club owners and spectators watching. They were watching amorous football, they were watching deleterious football. They were watching a football match that had been sold and bought; a make-believe game being reenacted by pimps, hoboes and journeymen.

It was farcical football raised to power two as somewhere in the same state and on another arena a similar ribald drama was being staged.

Of course, we speak about the two out-ofthe-world promotion playoff matches in Plateau State recently in which Plateau United Feeders drowned Akurba FC 79 goals to nil and Police Machine FC shelled Bubayaro FC by 67 goals to nil. The games, a type never before witnessed in the history of modern football, were an admixture of impunity and knavery. In the 79-goal match, the first half score was 7- 0. Apparently monitoring proceedings in the other match, 72 goals were pumped in by the Po-

NFF: An end to harlotry lice Machine in the second half as if they were rocket propelled grenades (RPGs). But they were not RPGs; what was at play was incestuous football in which the captain of the losing team scored a hat-trick – against his club! This must be world record!

Faced with such a scandal, the NFF set up a committee whose report it has adopted and implemented with a promptitude that is alien to this clime. It has pronounced a life ban on all the players, the officials of the two teams that produced the 146 – 0 score cracker; their personal details, names and photographs will be published to ensured that they do not circumvent the sanction. NFF vice president, Mike Umeh who announced the sanctions, drilled in the point noting that, “While the winners were desperate to win, the losers were too willing to lose. Although the committee could not establish any exchange of money or material inducement, circumstantial evidence was overwhelm-

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above ingly high and points to only one conclusion – that of match fixing of unprecedented nature – which has brought global embarrassment to Nigeria Football Federation in particular, and the nation in general,” NFF is to be commended for its prompt response to this taint on Nigeria’s football but nothing was said about the owners of the club; is it possible that they were ignorant of the desperate bid for promotion by their clubs? The sanctions need to go all the way; if nothing else let the owners be named. Beyond this episode, football is big business and grows bigger by the day. We cannot continue to pretend that it is still a play thing. Now that big sponsors, like Globacom and Guinness are shelling out direct sponsorship funds, now that there is a League Management Company (LMC) bringing some order to league administration and now that we have a coach we can be proud of, NFF must raise its game too.

For instance, we need to have an impeccable database of all clubs and players to be updated daily if need be. Every match, no matter the tier, must be properly video-recorded and documented. In short, NFF must begin to benchmark our football along the line of the English FA otherwise, harlotry will only beget harlotry.

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