The Nation July 28, 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

Five students shot dead in protests

Boko Haram: Five soldiers for trial

NEWS

NEWS

Page 4

Page 5

•Sect ‘ll fizzle out, says minister

•Violence at Solarin Varsity, Nekede Poly

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VOL. 6, NO. 1835 THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Osun, Ekiti: Oyinlola, Oni lose at NJC Panel T

HE five-man panel of the National Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday cleared Court of Appeal President Isa Ayo Salami of engaging in nocturnal telephone calls with some counsel to influence the court’s decisions in the Ekiti and Osun governorship disputes.

It also declined to entertain petitions to review the Court of Appeal verdicts, which gave Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) victory in the 2007 governorship elections.

Call logs declared fake CJN didn’t influence as Salami is cleared Sokoto judgment

‘

The panel finds that the call logs relied on by the petitioners lack authenticity and therefore have no evidential value.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

’

On the controversial Sokoto Governorship Appeal Petitions, the panel held that there was no leakage of the judgment of the Court of Ap-

‘

In view of the surrounding circumstances, the Panel finds that the CJN was motivated by an apparent urge to protect the administration of justice and avoid breach of peace.

peal.

It, however, absolved Chief Justice of Nigeria Aloysius Katsina-Alu of any attempt to influence the judgment of the appellate court through Jus-

tice Salami.

The panel said under the 1999 Constitution, neither the NJC nor the CJN has any power to interfere in any judicial proceedings as Justice

’

Katsina-Alu did in the Sokoto Governorship Election Petitions before the Court of Appeal.

The positions of the panel were contained in a 151-page

report presented to the NJC yesterday in Abuja.

Members of the five-man panel are: Justice Umaru Abdullahi(Chairman); Justice Emmanuel Ayoola; Justice D.O. Edozie; Justice M.E. Akpiroroh; and Mrs. Rakiya Sarki Ibrahim.

The fact-finding panel was set up at an emergency meeting of the NJC on March 2, 2011 to look into the petitions against Justice Katsina-Alu and Justice salami.

Although the panel was Continued on page 2

PDP rejects Obasanjo’s bid to force Speaker out

F •Obasanjo

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo’s bid to get Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and others to step down in 2013 has failed.

The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday night overruled Obasanjo.

Besides, they decided that Obasanjo’s proposal should not be part of the meeting’s resolution.

Parties say no to one term •ACN: it’s fraudulent From Augustine Ehikioya, Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja and Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

P

OLITICAL parties and rights groups yesterday dismissed President Goodluck Jonathan’s single-term proposal for president and governors.

But some Senators and Representatives endorsed the plan.

Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati on Tuesday announced that the President was set to forward a bill to the National Assembly, seeking a single term of office for the President and Governors, beginning from 2015.

Although the statement said the President will not benefit from the proposal, if it is

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Although they rejected Obasanjo’s proposal, the trustees set up a seven-man panel to look into zoning and party discipline.

Some BOT members asked Obasanjo to put the PDP in the Southwest in order before making any demand for a higher stake for the zone.

It was gathered that Presi-

dent Goodluck Jonathan, who spoke briefly at the meeting, backed the decision of the majority.

Most BOT members were shocked by the address of the ex-President, which they felt could ignite a deeper crisis in PDP, it was learnt.

Sources at the meeting said Obasanjo had hardly ended his controversial address when some BOT members began to protest.

“All those who spoke condemned the speech, which they described as unexpected.

“They asked Obasanjo to exercise caution in making inflammatory remarks that could affect the rapprochement policy of President Jonathan.”

A BOT member from the Northeast was quoted as saying: “The ex-President should not have made such

a statement because the party cannot dictate to the House of Representatives what it should do.

“What does Obasanjo want to achieve by setting the South against the North again when the party is already trying to resolve the stalemate?”

Another BOT member from the Northwest said: Continued on page 2

•Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Oluseyin Petinrin addressing members of the Joint Task Force.

On operation restore Order in Maiduguri … yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Continued on page 2

•POLITICS P17•SPORTS P23 •EDUCATION P25 •E-BUSINESS P43

2

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

NEWS Continued from page 1

•Abia State Governor Theodore Orji with The MD J& J Technology Nig. Ltd. Engr. Anthony Jamhour (right) during an inspection of the New Abia State Workers Secretariat in Umuahia Continued from page 1

endorsed by the legislature, the ACN thinks otherwise, according to a statement by the its National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed.

“This is nothing but tenure elongation by subterfuge, and it is worse than the third term misadventure of his (Jonathan’s) Godfather. All it takes for the proviso to be knocked off is for anyone to seek a declarative court ruling that President Jonathan is indeed qualified to seek another term. After all, he did not go that far to disown his party’s zoning principle, which he signed on to,’’ the party said.

The AC N described the plan as “patently fraudulent, deceptively self- serving and a terrible misadventure” The ACN said the project is self-serving because “despite the deceptive proviso that President Jonathan will not benefit from it, there is nothing in the constitution that bars him from seeking another term of office in 2015.”

It also expressed concern that “the ill-conceived project could prove to be a divisive issue, further threatening the country’s fragile unity, which took some beating by the President’s volte-face on the zoning issue.”

“Much as most Nigerians

“For some of us who stood for change during the April general elections and voted for Jonathan, the people of the North have ganged up against us.

“For us to decide here and ask Tambuwal and others to step down will lead to fresh anger against the administration of Jonathan. We should not go back again.”

A member from the Southeast said: “We asked Obasanjo whether it is the fault of anybody that the PDP lost completely in the Southwest during the last election.

“Our position is that the exPresident should go back to the drawing board in the Southwest and put PDP in good shape to be able to win at the poll.

“The electoral loss of the PDP in the Southwest may take the next 20 years to recover. So, instead of concen-

PDP rejects Obasanjo’s bid trating on recovery, he is asking some principal officers of the House of Representatives to step down.”

An official of the BOT said: “At the end, members overruled Obasanjo and even decided that the recommendation of the ex-President should not be part of the resolutions of the session.

“I can tell you that 99 per cent of members of the BOT rejected Obasanjo’s recommendation.”

Asked of the disposition of the President, the official said: “Jonathan accepted the wish of the majority.”

It was also gathered that while some BOT members supported November for the National Convention of the party, the National Working Committee members wanted March.

An NWC member said: “We

Parties, activists reject single term are shocked by President Jonathan’s plan, we are sure it did not come to them as a total surprise, because it is in line with his style since assuming office. After the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua and his (President Jonathan’s) ascension to office, he cannot be remembered for anything beyond stoking the fire of zoning or no zoning, which burned brightly until he was elected President.

“Now, three months after he promised Nigerians heaven and earth in his inauguration speech but delivered nothing, while Nigerians are daily being subjected to hellish living, all he has come up with is a bill to amend the Constitution so the President and governors can serve only one term.

How is this issue more important than taking measures to grow our moribund economy; or to ensure that millions of our jobless youths are gainfully employed?

“How does this check the widespread insecurity of lives and property in the land, especially in areas under the stranglehold of Boko Haram? How are the socalled merits of the plan, which its promoters said include checking the acrimony that accompanies re-election

campaign, more important than making kerosene, diesel and Jet-A1 abundantly available to slash the rising costs?

How does this project turn around the appalling state of our infrastructure? And how does it check the spiralling exchange rate of the Naira to the major currencies, with its bandwagon effects?

The All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Emma Eneukwu said: “Our great Party has taken notice of the reported intention of Mr. President to forward a Bill to the National Assembly proposing the amendment of the Constitution to limit the tenure of office of the President and Governors to a single term. We have also taken cognisance of the effective date of the year 2015 for the amendment, if passed and assented to, to become effective.

“However, we wish to urge Mr. President and the National Assembly to put the interest of the nation above every other consideration in the process.

“The experience of the recent past in similar efforts in this regard should remind all true patriots that Nigerians will resist any attempt to ma-

nipulate the constitutional amendment process to further any hidden agenda.

The CNPP National Publicity Secretary Osita Okechukwu said: “Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) joins the league of Nigerian patriotic democrats to condemn in no uncertain terms the reckless move by President Goodluck Jonathan and his ‘Food is Ready politicians’ to not only divert the attention of Nigerians from the looting going on in the land under his watch, railroad Nigerians into forum shopping; but to elongate his tenure through the back door.

Some senators yesterday threw their weight behind the proposal.

Senators Helen Esuene (PDP, Akwa Ibom South), Joshua Dariye (Labour Party, Plateau Central) and Matthew Nwagwu (PDP, Imo North) described the proposal as welcome.

Senator Esuene said: “I wholeheartedly support it because it will eliminate wastage. It will reduce waste of funds and overheating the polity” “During the constitutional conference, one of the recommendations was six year single term for President and

Governors,” she said.

Senator Nwagwu said with a single term of six years, all the six-geopolitical zones would have occupied office of the President within 36 years.

The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has described the proposal as a euphemism for “third term”.

TMG vowed to resist it.

TMG Chairman Comrade Moshood Erubami spoke yesterday in Ilorin. He said civil society groups would meet soon to harmonise their reaction and ensure the failure of the proposal.

Erubami said the only condition for allowing the proposal will be if it is subjected to a national referendum such that it becomes a ratification of the general will of the people.

Erubami said: “But we are looking at that idea as very, very suspicious. That is why it is a hidden agenda. That was how third term started and before we knew it, it assumed a larger than life posture and now this one too.

Unfortunately, this is coming from another of us that we should believe, except that we cannot say that because he said he will not be a beneficiary. What happens, if he has interest in 2015?”

may table the guidelines for our National Convention before the National Executive Committee on Thursday (today). We initially thought that the ward congresses should start on September 3 but we have shifted that to February 2012.

“But the National Convention has been tentatively scheduled for March 2012.

“It is left to NEC to ratify the convention guidelines.”

Former Vice -President Atiku Abubakar yesterday said exPresident Olusegun Obasanjo’s warning on the demise of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if zoning is not revisited is sheer display of hypocrisy.

Abubakar took a swipe at Obasanjo in a statement in Abuja against the backdrop of the ex-President’s call on Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and his Deputy Emeka Ihedioha to resign as a precondition for reviving zoning.

The former Vice-President described the call as an insult on the intelligence of Nigerians.

Abubakar recalled that Obasanjo was the biggest beneficiary of zoning and rotation of power, which made him to occupy the presidential seat for eight years.

Abubakar said: “It is surprising that former President Obasanjo is now posturing as the apostle of zoning when indeed, he was the one who did everything to destroy that equitable means of power sharing among all sections of Nigerian.

“Obasanjo’s arbitrariness and despotism were largely responsible for the destruction of the noble objectives of zoning,” Abubakar said rather than taking responsibility for ruining the party in the Southwest, the former President is now deceiving Nigerians on the issue.

“It is on record that Obasanjo has no respect for the PDP constitution. He remains the problem in the PDP and governance in the country by trying to control every President he deems to have installed in power: something he could not have tolerated from others while he was in power.

“Obasanjo has no power to determine the fate of the Speaker and his Deputy, which is absolutely the responsibility of the House members who voted them freely into office.”

Osun, Ekiti: Oyinlola, Oni lose at NJC Panel Continued from page 1

given two months to complete its assignment, it added another month, following what it described as “numerous witnesses and requests by parties for adjournments”.

The panel is expected to determine seven issues. They are: •treatment of Sokoto Governorship Appeal Petition; •allegation of Salami that the CJN attempted to influence the judgment; •Senator Umaru Dahiru’s evidence against the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) on the purported leakage of the judgment of Sokoto Governorship Appeal Panel; •the propriety of the Sokoto Governorship Appeal Panel holding conference in Abuja and also seeking the view of PCA; •the attitude and conduct of the justices who sat on Sokoto Appeal.

•petitions against the PCA by ex-Governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun) and Segun

Oni (Ekiti) and Sunday OjoWilliams over alleged phone calls by some counsel with Justice Salami; and •the veracity of the MTN call logs tendered before the NJC committee by Oyinlola, Oni and Williams.

The MTN call logs attracted much attention because of the prolonged election legal battles in Ekiti and Osun.

But, in its report, the Panel absolved Justice Salami of engaging in any shady calls.

The report said: “Upon the totality of the evidence and the material placed before the panel, it finds: (i) that the call logs relied on by the petitioners lack authenticity and therefore have no evidential value; (ii) that there is no sufficient evidence to establish the alleged unethical communication and to make finding of fact that there was such communication; (iii) that there is nothing to show that the statement credited to Hon. Justice Salami, that he makes use of judges trusted is indicative of an ad-

verse connotation. (iv)the Panel took exception to the hard and insulting language used by the Justices against the principal petitioners, namely Chief Segun Oni and Prince Oyinlola in their replies. Judges are not known to allow emotions to take charge of their action even at the face of provocation.

“Furthermore, in the Osun PDP matter, there is no reasonable ground to draw an inference that any unethical communication or any communication occurred between Tunji Ijaya and the Justices on the panel or even that the PCA exerted any influence on the justices on the panel.

“Ijaya was described in Chief Segun Oni’s petition dated 14 February 2011 as Justice Salami’s ‘known agent and gobetween ACN leaders and the lawyers of the ACN in the unholy business of miscarriage of justice. However, there is no evidence of facts in support of that bare assertion, boldly made, but unsupported by any fact.”

The panel said there was no way it could review the judgments of the Court of Appeal on Ekiti and Osun Governorship Election Petitions.

It specifically listed a petition by former Chief of Staff to exGovernor Oni, Mr. Segun Ilori and co on Ido-Osi Local Government as one of those that could not be treated.

It said such petitions were not treated because they were outside its mandate.

It added: “This panel went through the lists of the petitions and discovered that some of them were clearly outside the mandate of the panel. There are also others that were merely lifted from the petitions of others and had nothing original to offer.

“The petitions the Panel considered outside the mandate were those that attempted to involve the Panel in a futile exercise of reviewing the proceedings and judgments, particularly of the Court of Appeal.”

On the controversial Sokoto Governorship Appeal Peti-

tions, the panel held that there was no leakage of the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

It also claimed that Justice Katsina-Alu did not attempt to influence the judgment of the appellate court through Justice Salami.

The report added: “From all the circumstances, there is available evidence that the CJN did not give instructions to the PCA to direct the Panel to dismiss the appeal.

“The Panel is of the view that the issue of leakage of the judgment for now remains like an early morning fog that never endured after the rising of the sun.

“The Panel finds no evidence that the CJN wittingly or unwittingly brought the judiciary into disrepute.

“The Panel finds the allegation that the CJN had taken over the running of the Court of appeal in an unprecedented manner as unfounded.”

“The Panel believes that somewhere along the line, there is clear breakdown of communi-

cation between the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President of the Court of Appeal.”

The panel said the NJC or the CJN has no power to interfere in any judicial proceedings as Katsina-Alu did on the Sokoto governorship dispute.

The report said: “Be that as it may, the Panel had no difficulty in holding the view that under the Constitution and the laws of the land, no apparent power has been bestowed on the NJC of which the CJN is the chairman to interfere in any proceedings of the legally constituted Court.

“The Panel however finds no semblance of ill-motive, selfishness of an individual or sectional interest being used to subvert the Constitution in the steps taken by the CJN, Chairman of NJC. “In view of the surrounding circumstances, the Panel finds that the CJN was motivated by an apparent urge to protect the administration of justice and avoid breach of peace.

The Panel finds that the CJN acted in good faith to have taken the steps he took.”

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3

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

NEWS

Four policemen held for robbery

NBA panel indicts Katsina-Alu, two lawyers over Sokoto verdict

By Jude Isiguzo

•CJN ‘wrong to have arrested judgment’

T

HERE is no proof but the verdict in the Sokoto governorship dispute leaked, a Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) panel has said.

The committee probing the faceoff between the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloysius Katsina-Alu and the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami said the allegation of leakage by two lawyers – Alfred Agu and Mahmood Yahaya – was wrong.

The committee was chaired by a former NBA President, Thompson Okpoko (SAN).

Other members of the committee which has Mr. Ebenezer Obeya as its secretary are a former NBA President, Mr. O.C.J. Okocha (SAN), a former General Secretary, Mr. Idowu Sofola (SAN), Chief Bamidele Aiku (SAN), Dr. S.S. Ameh (SAN), Mr. E.J. Toro (SAN), Chief Assam Assam (SAN), Prof. G.O. Olawoyin (SAN), Mr. Marcus Yarkasuwa Saleh (SAN) and Mr. Obi Ulasi (SAN).

The CJN, through a letter, stopped the Appeal Court from delivering its judgement in an appeal filed by Alhaji Muhammadu Dingyadi of the Democratic People Party [DPP] against the 2007 election victory of Governor Aliyu Magatarkarda Wamakko of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

His action followed petitions he received from Agu and Mahmood alleging leakage of judgment.

Justice Salami alleged that Justice Katsina-Alu had earlier asked him to compromise the Court of Appeal’s verdict on the protracted Sokoto governorship legal tussle by either disbanding the original panel, which he [Katsina-Alu] believed was about to give a verdict against the governor or directing the panel to give judgment in the governor’s favour.

But the NBA committee indicated that the CJN did not investigate the issues raised by Agu and Mahmood before he arrested the judgment which led to the face-off between him and Justice Salami.

The face-off blew open when the CJN through the National Judicial Council (NJC), attempted to “promote” Justice Salami to the Supreme Court.

The committee said: “When Justice Salami, who came into office and set up the panel to hear the appeal, refused to interfere with the proceedings of the Sokoto

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

Election Appeal Panel, Messrs Agu and Mahmood took the matter to the CJN who readily acceded to their request and, without considering what the petitioners were alleging as misconduct, promptly directed that further proceedings on the appeal be put on hold.

“By these petitions, both counsel played material part in the action taken by the CJN which brought about the crisis in the judiciary which resulted in the CJN/Salami standoff.

“In the final analysis, the committee affirms the petitions of Agu and Mahmood were all tailored to achieve one purpose. That purpose was to delay the hearing and determination of the election appeal filed by Alhaji Muhammadu Dingyadi and his party, the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).”

The panel said: “The petition of Mahmood, who was among the 30 lawyers conferred with SAN award recently, led the CJN into writing letters dated February 18 and 19, 2010, by which he asked Salami to put on hold the delivery of judgment on the Sokoto governorship election appeal.

“The visits by Mahmooud to Salami with a view to influence him to disband the Sokoto Governorship Election Panel set up by him on basis of personal relationship when other counsel in the appeal were not present constitutes a breach of Rule 31(4) of the Rules of Professional Conduct of Legal Practitioners.”

The committee also held that the petition addressed by Mahmood to the CJN with intent that Katsina-Alu might influence Salami in the performance of his judicial duties constituted a breach of Rule 30 of the Rules of Profesional Conduct for Legal Practitioners.

The committee said contrary to allegations that the judgment of the Sokoto election appeal panel was leaked, it insisted that it “did not find any proceedings showing a judgment of the Sokoto Court of Appeal in which such judgment or order was made”.

The panel said: “If what is referred to as ‘decision sub silento’ arose from the word hearing notice of March 10, 2010, slating the judgment for March 16, 2010, that would appear to be an adminis-

trative matter which admits of no right of appeal.”

A five-man Reconciliation Committee set up by the National Judicial Council (NJC) to broker peace between the duo has also submitted its report.

The committee, which had Supreme Court, retired Justices; B.O. Babalakin, A.B. Wali, Anthony Iguh and Emmanuel Ayoola as well as a former Appeal Court President, Mustapha Akanbi, cleared Justice Salami of any wrongdoing in the allegations against him.

The Reconciliation Committee concluded that the CJN has no power to interfere with any proceedings in any court as was done in the Sokoto State Governorship Election Petition Appeal.

The Chairman of the panel, Justice Babalakin, tendered its findings while testifying before the five-man probe panel set up by the council to investigate the allegations and counter allegations of the feuding heads of courts yesterday.

The probe panel headed by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umar Abdullahi, has the former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, Hon. Justice D. O. Edozie, CON, Justice M. E. Akpiroroh and Hajiya Rakiya S. Ibrahim, MON as members.

The probe panel also submitted its report to the council at its meeting presided over Justice Dahiru Musdapaher yesterday.

A copy of the conclusions of the Bab a l a k i n chaired Committee obtained by our Correspondents reads: “There is no case of misconduct made against the Hon. President of the Court of Appeal in the petitions.

“The Committee finds that the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria as the Chairman of the National

LUTH records second kidney transplant

N

IGERIA has recorded a major medical breakthrough by performing another successful kidney transplantation, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) The feat was achieved by a team of surgeons of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos.

It was the second successful kidney transplantation in Nigeria, by Nigerians An official source at LUTH told NAN that the four-hour operation “went very well”, adding that the kidney recipient “is responding positively” at the hospital.

It was learnt that LUTH authorities would make a formal announcement of the medical breakthrough at a news conference today.

Nigeria’s first kidney transplant was conducted on 31-year-old Suleiman Usman in September last year by the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH)— in collaboration with the Bayero University Teaching Hospital, Kano and the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The kidney was donated by his brother, Abubakar Usman at the university’s Kidney

Centre.

“With the successful transplant, there would be no more need to send kidney patients for transplant in foreign countries,” UMTH said then.

Kidney transplantation or renal transplantation is the organ transplant of a kidney into a patient with end-stage renal disease.

The first kidney transplantation in the United States was performed on June 17, 1950, on a 44-year-old woman, Ruth Tucker, at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, Illinois.

The donated kidney was, however, rejected 10 months later because no immunosuppressive therapy was available at the time.

Bill Thompson is the longest-surviving American kidney recipient, having received his kidney in 1966 at age 15; it has survived over 40 years.

Also, Denice Lombard of Washington, D.C., received her father’s kidney on August 30, 1967, at age 13 and is still alive and healthy 40 years later.

More than half of the over 27,000 kidney transplantations so far undertaken across the world were carried out in the US.

•Daudu

Judicial Council has no power to interfere with any proceedings in any Court as was done in this case.

“That the Hon. President of the Court of Appeal put many matters in his reply to the petitions and since such matters are not complaints falling under the petitions, we do not see the need to deal with them.

“In regard to the petition dated 22/2/2009 which should read 22/ 2/2010 against the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria by Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), the Committee finds that on the face of it there is no misconduct established against his Lordship.”

FOUR mobile policemen have been arrested by detectives attached to Ipaja Police Station, Lagos, for alleged armed robbery.

The suspects are currently being detained by the Special Anti robbery Squad (SARS), at the State Command.

They were arrested on their way from a robbery operation by police detectives who were on patrol.

The suspects who were attached to different companies including banks are alleged to be responsible for the robbery at the Ikorodu branch of Skye Bank in January.

The leader of the gang, Eboma Onyeka, a Sergeant was attached to a private company in Apapa. He was recently promoted to the rank of inspector.

According to preliminary investigation, Onyeka has over N20million in one of his bank accounts.

It was also gathered that the policemen on patrol stopped their vehicle and discovered firearms and ammunition inside.

When they were interrogated, they said they were policemen returnning from their offices.

However, the policemen who were not convinced drove them to their squadron where it was confirmed that the firearms were obtained illegally from the armourer.

They were not signed for.

They were there and then arrested and handed over to SARS for proper interrogation and investigation.

It was in the course of interrogation that police operatives discovered that it was the same gang that has been terrorising banks in the metropolis.

The Command Police boss, Mr Yakubu Alkali and his Public Relations Officer, Mr Samuel Jinadu, declined to comment on it.

4

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

NEWS

Customs men crush pupil to death

Boko Haram: Five soldiers for trial over killings

F

IVE soldiers who are members of the peaceenforcing Joint Task book,” he said.

From Abiodun Joseph, IT was a horrifying sight at Force (JTF) in Maiduguri are Faulting the call for withMaiduguri and Tony Akowe, Olohuntele village in to face trial for violating the drawal of troops, the CDS Kaduna Imeko,Imeko-Afon Local rules of engagement in the said: “While people are callGovernment Area of Ogun discharge of their duties, blast at Budum, behind the ing for the withdrawal I am State when officers of the Chief of Defence Staff Air Shehu of Borno palace in busy strengthening the JTF to Nigeria Customs Service Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin said which three soldiers were in(NCS)traveling in a seized make it easy for us to attain jured, there were allegations yesterday.

MAZDA 626 car, overran our goal of securing peace.”

He spoke to reporters in the that soldiers randomly killed siblings.

He added: “The people in people. besieged city yesterday.

One of them, a three-yearthe GRA can afford to call for Amnesty International said Air Marshal Petinrin old pupil died on the spot the withdrawal of soldiers warned that any other soldier more than 20 people were while the other two were because no bomb explosion killed by soldiers in retaliafound to violate the code of critically injured. has been recorded in the area. conduct would be similarly tion.

But the NCS blamed the “But the people living in “The Defence Headquarters put on trial. victims for their fate. densely populated areas have does not take the issue of misAlso yesterday, Defence The victims, who are of the been cooperating with the JTF Minister Haliru Bello Mo- conduct lightly when it comes same family were hit while because there have seen lots to any serving officer because hammed said the governreturning home from school of security improvements ment has its plan to combat we abide by rules of engageby the officials who were since our men took over. the Boko Haram menace. He ments in all our operations. driving at top speed shortly “The issue of terrorism is “In line with this, the comafter impounding the car from did not disclose the plans, but new in Nigeria and when he said the Boko haram men- mander of the JTF has initiatan alleged smuggler. things are new it takes time ed the process of trial of five ace would fizzle out.

Parents, teachers and passfor people to get to the botAir Marshal Petinrin said officers suspected to have ers–by, rained curses on the tom. the JTF would remain in committed acts of misconduct Customs men, who they “Now we are gradually getMaiduguri, despite calls by while carrying out operations accused of always driving ting to its root and soon we recklessly while chasing some Borno elders and some in Maiduguri,” he said. will get over it and pull our “Any officer found to have smugglers in the area. northern religious leaders for soldiers back to their base,” The three-year-old girl, gone against our rules of enthe troops to be withdrawn. he said.

Islamiyat Babatunde, died on Last Saturday, after a bomb gagement will be brought to the spot, while Babatunde Alilat [5],Babatunde Faisat [12]were feared maimed.

The Customs Public Relations Officer (PRO), in the Gateway State, Mr. Chike Ngige, who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, said the kids crossed the road without watching out

By Nneka Nwaneri for vehicles, adding the incident could happen to ORMER Managing Director of anybody.

Concord Newspaper Dr. Doyin He said: “Customs had Abiola yesterday charged made a seizure on their way newspaper proprietors to see the to Abeokuta in the early business as life-changing. hours of Tuesday when the She said they should not go into accident happened; you know publishing just for the fun of it, but how pupils cross the road treat it as something capable of without looking. One of affecting the people’s lives and coming them, who is two years plus generations. died after the incident, the Abiola spoke yesterday at The Nation two others who sustained Editorial Board meeting at the injuries had been discharged. newspaper headquarters in Lagos. She “It was an accident. It can attended the meeting as an invited happen to anybody. It happened after our men have guest. made a seizure and all of a She lauded the board and urged sudden, the pupils, they members to remain steadfast. were even more than three She said: “The strength and just crossed the road.” consistency of your argument should be constant. Your writings should be based on facts. Data is fundamental.

“The Nation should take the lead because in my view, it is a political paper.

“The spirit behind the newspaper and OYO State Governor Abiola the action should mean that if there is Ajimobi has suspended going to be salvation in the land, it principal officers of the should start one at a time, newspaper Ladoke Akintola University by newspaper.” of Technology (LAUTECH).

She hailed the Freedom of Ajimobi, who is the Information Act, saying it would work visitor to the university, for itself. took the action after consul“Now the question is when we get it, tations with Osun State what do we do and how does it work?”

Governor Rauf Aregbesola. she asked.

Ajimobi directed the Mrs Abiola urged journalists to see suspension of principal their profession as a calling. “It’s in the officers of the university, •Dr. Abiola...yesterday blood,” she said. until the determination of the case in court. Prof. Niyi Gbadegesin has been appointed as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the universibefore taking position on its From Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu, OVERNORS who ty. non-removal.

Zaria can’t pay the N18,000 The affected officers have He said the financial probminimum wage were been directed to hand over law by not paying the yesterday advised to resign. lems before the governors the affairs and properties of N18,000, but that it has a jokThe Nigeria Labour Conare ernomous and beyond the university to the most er for such governors. gress (NLC) gave the advice what an ordinary eye can senior officers in their The congress Acting Genin Zaria, Kaduna State. see. respective departments. eral-Secretary; Comrade It said governance is not Yero said: “You cannot Also, the appointment of Owei Lakemfa, who repreby force. the Chief Medical Director give what you don’t have.” sented the NLC President It was at the national delof the Ladoke Akintola He added that every leader, said governance in Nigeria University of Technology egates conference of the Sewhether political or otheris not by force, and that any (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, nior Staff Association of Niwise have passed through governor who can not pay Prof. Kola Obisesan has geria Universities (SSANU) one labour association or the the stipulated wage should been terminated. taking place at the Ahmadu other. When they were on resign because they were not In a statement signed by Bello Univeristy, Zaria. the other side, they felt govbegged to serve in the first the Secretary to the Oyo State But Kaduna State Goverernment had so much, but place.

Government, Alhaji Akin nor Patrick Yakowa said Lawhen they crossed to the othYakowa, who was repreOlajide, said the owner state bour should encourage the er side (Governance), the resented by his Deputy, Dr Ragovernments of Oyo and governors to pay the new ality dawned on them. malan Yero, said Labour Osun decided to suspend the wage instead of threat.

“Those of us in the private should try to find out some principal officers of the The NLC said it knows sector, saw the public sector university until the determifundamental things conthat some governors will differently. They felt both of nation of the case in court. cerning the petrol subsidy disobey the minimum wage them are not the same, and Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

•Menace‘ll fizzle out, says Defence Minister Air Marshal Petinrin, who noted that the JTF operation in the state was targeted only at uprooting the Boko Haram militants, said the military was not executing a religious war.

“Let me state clearly that the government did not send us here to deal with any religious or tribal group.

“We are here to stamp out those shooting people and throwing explosives in market places. We are not here to fight a religious war.”

Speaking with reporters after inspecting facilities at the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, Defence Minister Mohammad said the government has its own way of handling the issue, even though Nigerians have suggested dialogue.

Mohammed said: “People can suggest dialogue or whatever they want to suggest about Boko Haram. We have

‘How fraudsters dared police chief’

Doyin Abiola at The Nation

By Joseph Jibueze

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F

Oyo suspends LAUTECH officers, sacks CMD

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

NLC to governors: resign if you can’t pay N18,000

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our method of operation.”

The activities of the group will soon fizzle out, just like the activities of militants in the Niger Delta.”

According to the minister, insecurity has become a global phenomenon and it is giving the government concern.

He said the government would modify its security plan to counter any crisis that could disrupt the nation’s peace and unity.

The minister said: “The government is handling the issue of Boko Haram in Maiduguri, and very soon, it will be a thing of the past. But, we are worried for Nigeria and Nigerians who become victims of the various incidents.

“People can suggest dialogue or what they want to suggest about Boko Haram.

We have our method of operation. Even before the Boko Haram, the police and the military had their modus operandi. They have their operational order, and we have security plan for this country.

there are so many reasons why they are not the same.

That is why Labour is agitating for more wage.

“Obviously, it is true that the Nigerian worker does not earn what will take care of him and his family. But just like the Vice Chancellor (Of Ahmadu Bello University), said, you can not give what you don’t have.”

Reacting to NLC’s threat that Labour will do everything to resist fuel subsidy removal, the governor said: “This challenge, of not being able to pay the minimum wage is everywhere. Even in our homes, we are faced with such challenges. And in such situation, you cannot still give what you don’t have.”

CHIEF Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Ikeja, yesterday heard how dare-devil conmen led by one Timothy Moses, 36, attempted to defraud former Lagos Police Commissioner, Mr Marvel Akpoyibo, of N1.7 million.

Testifying during Moses’ trial before Magistrate Olufemi Isaac, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Jasper Ireaku, said the accused contacted the police chief on phone and asked him to finance a deal that promised huge returns.

Akpoyibo played along and Moses, who allegedly connived with others in the attempted scam, was arrested in Umuahia, Abia State capital on September 29, last year while attempting to make a withdrawal from the bank.

The ‘deal’ involved the supply of 100 packets of oil rigs worth N850, 000 each. According to Ireku, the accused claimed the rigs would be supplied to a Port Harcourt based company at N1 million per packet.

They told Akpoyibo that the N150, 000 profit from each rig would be shared with him 60-40", Ireaku said. He was asked to provide the finance for the purchase.

Ireaku, who told the accused he was acting for Akpoyibo, said he was asked to pay N1.7 million for two rigs at first.

He paid the cash into a Fidelity Bank account given to him by the accused.

“I paid the N1.7 million into the account at Fidelity Bank in Ikeja but alerted the bank that anybody that comes to withdraw money from the account should be arrested,” he said.

The police in Abia State were also put on alert. “On September 29 last year, the police arrested Moses in Umuahia as he tried to withdraw the money. He was brought to Lagos to face trial.

Moses, who was arraigned on October 10, 2011 denied knowing his accused collaborators, who are still at large.

5

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

NEWS

Five dead in TASUED, Nekede Polytechnic riots

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T was a sad day yesterday for students at the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, near Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State and the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, Imo State.

Five students were feared dead in the crises that rocked the two institutions.

Three students of the Federal Polytechnic were allegedly killed when a riot broke out within the school premises. The riot followed a protest by students over hike in school fees. Two others were allegedly shot by policemen on the trail of suspected cultists at TASUED. Several students were injured in the two incidents At about 6:30am yesterday, the students, numbering about 10,000, went on the rampage, alleging increase in fees by the school authorities.

They blocked the major roads in Owerri, the state capital. Chanting war songs, they demanded the immediate removal of the Rector, Dr. Celestine Njoku.

The major roads barricaded included: Owerri-Aba Expressway,

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta and Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

Douglas, Bank Road, Assumpta Avenue, leading to Imo Government House, thereby paralysing vehicular movement for more than five hours.

When The Nation visited the institution at about 8:00am, the main gate was shut and there were no securitymen in sight. Some cars belonging to lecturers were damaged by the rampaging students.

Also damaged were the Rector’s Office, the Students’ Union Government (SUG) Secretariat, forcing the academic staff to flee the campus.

Reacting to the development, the institution’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Nze Obinna Okafor, denied any increase in fees. He attributed the unrest to the SUG election, the result of which, he said, angered some of the students.

Okafor noted that the riot did not start within the campus, but planned elsewhere in the village and later extended to the school premises.

On the damage done to the school property and the killing of some stu-

dents, Okafor denied any knowledge of such.

The management of the institution immediately ordered the students to vacate the campus till further notice. The directive was signed by the Registrar Mr. I. M. Aligbe.

When contacted, the police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Linus Nwaiwu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), stated that the police got wind of the riot on the campus and dispatched officers to restore normalcy. He, however, could not confirm if there were casualties.

At Ijagun, two students were feared dead while over eight others were injured when policemen from Ijebu Police Area Command, Ijebu Ode, opened fire on them at the campus, killing two, including Mr Olawale Lasisi.

The Ijebu-Ore stretch of the expressway, where the Ijebu Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has its headquarters, was beseiged by thousands of students, who were protesting the killing of Olawale and the shooting of their colleagues.

The protest, which turned wild,

triggered a more repressive action against the students.

In a telephone interview, TASUED’s Vice Chancellor Prof.

Segun Awonusi, said he was already meeting with stakeholders and the students’ representatives to douse tension within the campus and host community.

The Dean of Students Affairs, Dr Segun Ayrinde, told The Nation that the killing occurred outside the campus, while policemen from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) were on the trail of suspected cultists, who had raped two female students in a gross act of cruelty.

He said: “Two female students were abducted by suspected cultists and the girls were gang-raped, stripped naked and humiliated. The photographs taken during the acts were being circulated on facebook, shared on phones with blue tooth and the internet. The parents of one of the victims reported the matter to police.

“The police brought the girl to the school because she said she could identify the suspects and it was while trying to arrest the suspects who were trying to escape that stray

Senate urges Fed Govt to tackle unemployment

New number plates out next month ETERMINED to harmonise and streamline all existing modes of vehicle licensing nationwide, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has concluded plans to roll out new number plates next month.

The FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Osita Chidoka told reporters at a news conference in Abuja yesterday that the number plates form part of the Corps’ strategies to restore order and instil sanity in the nation’s Motor Vehicle Administration Scheme, adding that under the new arrangement, number plates allocated to vehicle owners will have identification tags bearing the number plate, affixed to the windscreen for easy security checks.

On the features of the number plate, Chidoka disclosed that aside from the improved security features, the number plates will come with bolder embossed character and the commemorative logo of Nigeria’s 50th anniversary.

According to him, other measures which have been put in place to ensure a hitch-free introduction of the number plates include: an upgrade of the FRSC production plant in Lagos, especially in information and communication technology, the establishment of two plants in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Awka in Anambra State, clean up and updating of central database on motor vehicles.

He listed other measures as; the design and implementation of a health, safety environment policy and process for the production plants, implementation of a quality management system and total overhaul of the national vehicle identification scheme which will require vehicle owners to exchange their present number plates for new ones.

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From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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HE Senate yesterday gave a wake up call to relevant government agencies on the alarming rate of unemployment in the country, urging them to stem the trend.

The upper legislative chamber’s resolution on the matter, followed a motion sponsored by Senator Hope Uzodimma and 43 others Moving the motion, Uzodinma noted that the high rate of unemployment in the country is becoming worrisome He also prayed the Senate to prevail on the Federal Government to create job centers in the 36 states and 774 local government areas.

Uzodinma, in the motion, also urged the Senate to quickly prevail on the Ministry of Labour and Productivity to create and maintain a data base for the generation of relevant demographic indicators for job creation.

The Senate, however, rejected the two prayers but approved an additional prayer from Senator Kabiru Marafa, who urged the National Assembly to prevail on relevant agencies to urgently rise to their responsibilities and come up with emergency steps to arrest the monster of unemployment ravaging the nation.

Senators, who spoke on the motion bemoaned the high rate of unemployment.

Many of them attributed the alarming rate to the poor implementation of employment-related policies of government.

George Sekibo said: “What we need now in this country is to diversify our economy. When we do that, it will revamp the system and provide more employment opportunities.”

Senate President, David Mark said: “The rising rate of unemployment in Nigeria is worrisome. Something has to be done and urgently too.”

Also yesterday, a bill seeking to ensure safety of employees in work places passed second reading in the Sen•Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero (left) being seen off by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade ate.

Sijuwade, at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Chris Anyanwu, if PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE passed, will compel employers of labour to put in place

responsible safety measures, which would ensure a high safety and health standards within their premises It will also compel every employer to develop emergency plan for workers as well as to massively educate employees on the possible hazards in workplaces.

Leading the debate on the bill, Senator Anyanwu described the bill as a “tough law” which has been laced with provisions to ensure compliance by stakeholders.

The bill was referred to the yet to be constituted committees on Labour, Productivity and Establishment.

bullets, hit the victim (Olawale Lasisi).”

Lasisi (aka Zigima), was allegedly shot at close range by the police while fleeing with other students in an atmosphere of pandemonium when gunshots boomed at the TASUED campus last Tuesday.

The deceased, a 200 level student in the Department of History and Diplomatic Studies, The Nation learnt, was shot along with two others at about 3:30pm. He died on the spot while two of his colleagues, who were captured, merely sustained minor injuries.

His aunt Mrs Soyemi Bamidele, who spoke with The Nation on telephone amid sobs, said the remains of Olawale had been deposited at the morgue of the state hospital, Ijebu–Ode. She expressed regret that neither the police nor the varsity authority had told the family the circumstances that led to the killing of their son.

Police PRO Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, a Deputy Superintended of Police (DSP) said he was on his way to Ijebu-Ode for a first-hand information on the development.

Fashola adopts austerity measures to pay minimum wage

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has cut government expenditure to

free cash for the payment of the N18,000 minimum wage.

According to an Executive order (No. EO/BRF/002 of 2011) he signed and forwarded to the office of the Head of Service Adeseye Ogunlewe, overseas trips have been cut.

The Governor said the measure is a response to the need to provide a reasonable wage for pub-

By Miriam Ndikanwu

lic officers in the service of the state.

The government also cut expenditure on television set, TV decoders and subsidy on petroleum products. Also cut off is money spent on frills and jamborees T-shirts, caps, food and car maintenance.

The governor said it was expedient for the state government to strictly monitor the way money is spent on governance as the im-

pact of the minimum wage would no longer permit excessive spending by the government.

He said: “The increased wages have an impact on the quantum of government contributions under the contributory pension scheme.

“The overall impact is that government spending on wages and emoluments has increased by about N2 billion monthly with the implications that government is deprived of financial resources that were hitherto deployed to the

funding of social services, such as school water supply, waste management security and such other amenities which help to improve the lives of citizens.”

To this end, the governor has also scrapped the grants for the support of private or individual problems and sponsorships, except for very deserving educational and medical causes.

He explained that the austerity measure will not affect bursary and scholarships to deserving students.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

NEWS LASUTH introduces cheap IVF services

Alleged certificate forgery: Judge berates police counsel for inaction

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USTICE Salihu Yahuza of the Federal High Court, Minna, yesterday berated a Police prosecutor, Anayo Igwe, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), for his inability to cite legal authorities in the case of alleged tax certificate forgery against Senator Ibrahim Musa.

Igwe had told the court at the resumed sitting of the case that the second accused person, Ibrahim Noma, was on the run and that efforts to locate him had failed.

He prayed the court to issue a warrant of arrest on the accused.

Igwe, who heads the Legal Department of Niger State Police Command, said Noma was the head of a forgery syndicate that operated in the state’s Board of Internal Revenue, adding that he had had similar tax certificate forgery charges preferred against him.

But when Justice Yahuza, asked the Police counsel to back his request with relevant sections of the law, Igwe was unable

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha

THERE is now a low cost InVitro Fertilisation (IVF) services at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos. It is a public private initiative (PPI) between the hospital and the Bridge Clinic.

The service is called The Institute of Fertility Medicine (IFM) under the teaching hospital’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Commissioner of Health Dr Jide Idris said the initiative will allow hitherto, infertile couples to access IVF services, at cheap cost, compared with what obtains in the private sector.

Rep condemns call for transfer of NDDC to ministry

THE call for the transfer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs for supervision is uncalled, a member of the House of Representatives said yesterday.

The lawmaker, Daniel Reyeniju, was reacting to the statement credited to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsdey Orubebe, who was quoted as calling on President Jonathan to transfer the supervisory role of the NDDC from the Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government, to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs Reyeniju, who represents Warri Federal Constituency, described such call as unfortunate.

He said the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, as presently constituted, has completely displayed such principle of ‘winner-takesall’, which has precipitated the alienation of most oil producing ethnic groups in the region.

Cleric cautions on Boko Haram, Islamic banking, others THE pastor in charge of the First Baptist Church, Isensi, Ijebu-Ife, Ogun State, the Rev. Joseph Akintola, has cautioned Nigerians on the approach for tackling the Boko Haram sect, the controversial Islamic banking and the N18,000 minimum wage.

The cleric noted that if the issues are not handled with care, they could cause divisions and make Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of nations.

Akintola addressed reporters at the funeral of a Lagos-based religious leader and community leader, Prince Olanrewaju Olutunfese.

He urged the masses to support labour and government in the quest for the payment of the new workers’ pay, saying both sides need to explore dialogue to arrive at a peaceful solution.

EMBERS of the House of Representative were yesterday divided over whether to adopt the open-secret ballot or secret ballot system in the election of the presiding officers of the House.

A heated debate ensued as some member opposed what they described as wholesale adoption of the secret voting system.

The hard-line posture of the opposing groups followed the amendment of the House Rules, which was considered by the Committee of Whole.

There was the perusal of the report of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of the Standing Order of the House.

The contention was whether to retain the open-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

secret ballot or to delete “open” so that the House could conduct the election of its presiding officers through secret ballot.

Order 3 (f) on the House Rules on the election of Speaker provides that the election would be (i) by electronic voting or (ii) voting by open-secret ballot, which shall be conducted by the Clerks-at-Table, using the list of the memberselect of the House, who shall each be given a ballot paper to cast his vote.”

The heated debate lasted

over an hour.

Members opposed to secret ballot argued that if the House adopted secret voting, the public would be given the impression that the House was using double standard, having been voted in through the open-secret ballot system under the electoral law.

But some others argued that the House had a right to adopt any voting pattern it desired.

Members opposed to secret ballot accused those behind it of a hidden agenda.

Amadi said Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over the plenary, should have thrown more light on the issue before putting it to vote.

•Says not all unionists qualify for compensation

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HE hazard allowance which the University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapters of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) of Universities and Allied Institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) are agitating for will not be paid to all members.

The university warned that it would not pay those unqualified for the allowance.

Reacting to the ongoing seven-day strike by the unions and the demonstration by members on the Akoka campus on Monday, UNILAG, through a statement by its Deputy Registrar (Information), Mr Seth Adebisi Dare said only qualified members under the SSANU/NASU/FGN 2009

CPC rejects Sokoto council poll results

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HE Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) yesterday rejected the results of Saturday local government election conducted by the state Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).

It called for a fresh election that would be credible, free and fair and supervised by a neutral body.

The party alleged that the SIEC connived with security agents to rig for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adding that the election was fraught with irregularities.

•Calls for fresh elections From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

CPC named Gwadabawa, Shagari, Binji, Sabon Birnio, Goronyo, Gada, Wurno and Yabo as the areas where rigging took place.

In a statement by the party’s Sole Administrator, Alhaji Kasimu Aliyu G. Kanawa, the CPC said ballot boxes were stuffed with thumbprinted ballot papers.

The statement reads: “Some of our agents were unnecessarily arrested by se-

curity agents in order to pave the way for the smooth rigging to take effect.

“It is not a surprise for the state owned electoral body to be found dancing to the tunes of the state government but unfortunate for security agents expected to protect the lives and property of the as well as the integrity of the citizens to be caught in the act of supporting a political party.”

The Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and the Action congress of Nigeria (ACN) are yet to comment or take any line of

action on the polls.

The CPC said its supporters were beaten up and others manhandled by security agents “in their attempt to protect their votes, which further resulted in the death of one of the Returning Officers”.

The party said elections did not hold in some polling units, adding that “results from same polling units were still announced and many thumb-printed ballot papers were also apprehended by some of our supporters and handed to security agents”.

Board refunds N61m to Kwara pilgrims

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HE Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board yesterday began the refund of N61,454,050 royalties to 5,138 pilgrims from the state during the 2009/2010 Hajj.

Its Executive Secretary, Alhaja Fatimat Abolore Jimoh told reporters in Ilorin, that the payment followed the

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

approval by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

She said each of the 2009 pilgrims would receive N10,219 royalty. The payment was scheduled to begin yesterday.

The 2010 batch would re-

ceive N14,545 each.

Alhaja Jimoh said the refund made to the 2010 batch included royalties (N10,215.40); feeding (N2,527.40); and security deposit (N1802.20).

She said the fund was returned to National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCOM) by the Saudi

to do so.

This made the judge to criticise Igwe.

Justice Yahuza said: “If you want to do this job, you should endeavour to read.

You cannot even cite relevant sections of the law. It is better I allow you to go and put your house in order.”

The judge adjourned the matter to October 26.

Counsel to Musa, Mohammed Sani, had told the court that his client was not in court because he was not served with criminal summons.

The lawyer said he was representing the lawmaker because of “the respect we have for the court and rule of law”.

The Police had taken the lawmaker to the court, accusing him of presenting a forged tax certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enable him contest the April National Assembly elections.

UNILAG decries strike over hazard allowance

•Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, speaking when he received Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu at the CBN headquarters in Abuja...yesterday.

Reps divided over secret ballot method M

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

Arabian government, adding that NAHCOM disbursed it to state pilgrim boards.

Alhaja Jimoh was happy about the orderly conduct of the beneficiaries, saying the board was making arrangements to ensure the success of the exercise.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie and Mfon Bassey

agreement would be paid.

The statement said this is because only such members face hazards in their duties.

Quoting some sections of the NASU/SSANU agreements, UNILAG said the names of eligible workers have been forwarded to the Governing Council.

The statement reads: “For purpose of clarification and putting facts in their correct perspective, the hazard allowance being agitated for is not for every member of staff.

“NASU agreement states: ‘It was agreed that senior nonteaching staff, who are regularly and routinely exposed to hazard in the farm/workshop/studio/clinics, shall be paid N360,000 per annum’.”

Bauchi to get new airport From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

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AUCHI State Governor Isa Yuguda yesterday said the proposed Bauchi International Airport will be completed within 18 months from the date the contract is awarded.

The National Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said it would assist the state in making the project a reality.

Yuguda spoke in Bauchi, the state capital, when he received members of NCAA management.

He said his administration was committed to the completion of the project, adding: “By the grace of God, the state intending pilgrims for the 2013 Hajj will be airlifted from the new international airport.”

The governor noted that when completed, the airport would boost the state’s tourism potential and increase the revenue generation of the state and the Federal Governments, because “many tourists will come to the state in a more relaxed manner.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

7

NEWS

Lagos gives tanker drivers 48hrs to vacate Oshodi/Apapa Road

Relief for Lagos flood victims

By Miriam Ndikanwu

V

ICTIMS of the July 10 flood in Lagos yesterday got relief materials courtesy of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The materials include: 1,200 bags of cement; 600 bags of rice; 2,500 blankets; 2,500 towels; 1,000 nylon mats; 2,000 pieces of ankara.

Others were: two bales of used cloths; 500 mattresses; 70 kegs of vegetable oil; 150 kegs of palm oil; 150 cartons of detergent and 20 cartons of toilet soaps and 100 cartons of coffee.

NEMA Director Muhammed Sani Sidi, who was represented by the Director of Finance, Akeem Akinbola, said the materials are not to compensate for the loss of lives and properties but to complement government’s efforts.

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HE Lagos State Government yesterday issued a 48-hour ultimatum to owners of tankers and heavy duty vehicles parked on the Oshodi/Apapa Expressway to remove them or risk their being confiscated.

Commissioner for Transportation Kayode Opeifa issued the ultimatum at the first stakeholders summit by the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA).

He said government plans to introduce,next month, a remote device known as auto inspector for verification of vehicle licenses and permits.

Opeifa said clearing the tankers will allow for smooth take off of the repair work expected to commence soon.

The commissioner said ma-

•Begins digital vehicle inspection

By Miriam Ndikanwu

jor stakeholders including NUPENG, Nigerian Ports Authority, Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMARTO) and Department of Petroleum Resources have been notified.

“We have met with the unions; we have met with NUPENG, Port Managers, and Federal Comptroller of Works.

“The rehabilitation contract has been awarded but the contractors cannot go to site, the drainage is blocked that is why the place is flooded.

“The port manager has said

they have no business there and we agree with them.”

He called on oil marketers and independent marketers to move their vehicles from the expressway and service lanes as well as the drainage channels. “ Everybody is moving to that road and the exercise is going to last throughout tomorrow,” he warned.

On the auto inspection for verification of vehicle licenses and permits, Permanent Secretary (MVAA)Akin Hanson described the device as first of its type in Nigeria.

He said it would officially be unveiled next month by Governor Babatunde

Fashola (SAN).

According to Hanson, the hand-held auto-inspector would determine the status of a vehicle’s documents by remotely downloading information about the vehicle from a central server once its registration number is fed into it.

He said the device would facilitate easy checking of vehicle papers without disrupting free flow of traffic as only the violators of vehicle documents regulations will be stopped and booked.

Hanson warned MVAA Station Managers and Client service Representatives to shun all forms of misconducts.

Court rules in monarch’s favour From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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N Akure High Court yesterday dismissed a suit challenging the recognition of the Owa-Ale of Ikare-Akoko, Oba Samuel Adegbite Adedoyin, as a traditional ruler.

The Olukare, Oba Akadiri Momoh, and four others had asked the court to restrain Oba Adedoyin from parading himself as a monarch in Ikare community.

They joined the commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the commissioner for Justice and Attorney General as well as Adedoyin as defendants.

Justice D. I Kolawole ruled that the suit was statute barred, considering the number of years the Owa-Ale chieftaincy title had been recognised as an Oba by the government.

Justice Kolawole said it was an abuse of court process by the plaintiffs to file a case which had been struck out by another court in 2009.

The court held that under the 1976 Chieftaincy Law and the 1999 White Paper on the report of Justice Adeloye Commission, the “Owa-Ale” title was listed among recognised obas in the state.

He ruled that the Owa-Ale had power under the law to appoint chiefs and directed the plaintiffs to pay N5,000 to Adedoyin.

Aregbesola advises judiciary

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has advised the judiciary to adopt substantial justice rather than legal technicalities in deciding election petitions.

The governor lauded the state judiciary for producing some of the finest legal minds in the country.

Aregbesola spoke yesterday in Osogbo at the opening of a two-day Capacity Building Workshop organised by the state Council of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

The judiciary, he said, is the last hope of the common man, adding that a better judiciary in the 21st Century is one that would interpret the law speedily with courage.

Lagos, Ogun get commissioners LAGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has sworn in Taofiq Tijani as the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources.

Tijani, who had first been sworn in as Special Adviser to the governor on Mineral Resources, is a member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers and the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

In Ogun State, Governor Ibikunle Amosun swore in Gbenga Otenuga as Commissioner for Youths and Sports.

Amosun said: “I wish to restate that this administration will always insist on doing the right thing.

“We won’t compromise the rule of law and due process, and if in the process, we step on toes, it is not because we want to do so but to simply ensure that the regime of impunity end.

“Those of us in government, including civil servants, are less than one percent and if we do anything we should remember that it would affect the remaining 99 per cent.”

‘Pay us our money’ From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

•From left: Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council, Osun State University, Prof Peter Okebukola; Secretary to the Lagos State Government Mrs Oluranti Adebule; Commissioner for Information and Strategy Aderemi Ibirogba and Dean, Faculty of Education, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof Nwabuno Nwaboku at a reception organised by the faculty for Mrs Adebule in LASU, Ojo… yesterday.

PHOTO: TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

Protest in Ondo over power outage VER 500 youths at Oke-Agba, Akure, Ondo State, took to the streets yesterday to protest the epileptic power supply in the area.

They barricaded the popular Adesida-Oyemekun-Ilesa Garage road, thereby disrupting free flow of traffic.

Motorists and other road users, particularly civil servants, had to use alternative routes to their destinations They asked the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to connect the new transformer erected in the area several months ago.

The 300KV transformer was supplied by an ex-law-

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•Govt: ACN is behind it media power to disrupt •’It’s not true’ and peace in the state.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

maker, Kunle Agunbiade, as his constituency project, but it was not connected to the national grid.

But the government accused the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) of sponsoring the protest to make the state ungovernable for Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

Briefing reporters in Akure yesterday, the Commissioner for Information, Ranti Akerele said: “The leadership of ACN is using connection

“Election is still late next year, but ACN and its leaders are already creating tension in the state because of their struggle for power.

“People should be vigilant because ACN wants to heat up the polity. The party sponsored a programme on “Adaba FM” to incite people during the workers’ industrial action and when people turned into criminality that is no politics.”

But, the ACN Director of Media and Publicity, Gben-

ga Akinmoyo, faulted the allegation against the party.

He said: “This is the most irresponsible thing we have heard this year from the Labour Party (LP) government, but ACN is not surprised since it came from an administration that has totally lost focus.

“We all witnessed the LP use of thugs, weapons and money during the last general election which resulted into its undeserved victory.”

The ACN spokesman said the LP administration was threatened by the defection of its supporters to ACN in the 18 local government areas.

36 miscreants arrested in Oshodi FFICIALS of the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Environment Offences Enforcement unit yesterday arrested 36 hoodlums at Oshodi and Mafoluku.

This followed complaints by residents on increasing cases of robbery and rape in the areas.

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By Miriam Ndikanwu

The residents sent a Save our Soul (SOS) message to the Chairman of the Task Force, Bayor Suleiman.

They said the incidents usually take place close to the Makinde police station Oshodi, when residents are going or returning from work.

A resident, Kolawole

Gboye, said the situation is worrisome because the crimes are usually committed close to a police station.

Gboye, who was arrested by the Task Force, was later released when he showed his identification card.

Suleiman said the arrest was as a result of public outcry. He assured residents that the team will do all it

can to make Oshodi retain its glory.

“We got several SMSs from residents complaining about attacks, especially at Oja bus stop. We observed the situation based on the information and yesterday we arrested some miscreants.”

He warned motorists against one way driving.

A GROUP, Old Contractors Association in Ondo State, yesterday urged the government to pay the outstanding fees for projects executed by its members.

The contractors said they were mobilised to construct boreholes in rural areas in 2008 during the administration of Dr. Olusegun Agagu.

They noted that the past administration paid some members N1.5million, which was 30 per cent mobilisation fee.

Others were not given any money but still went ahead with the execution of the projects.

The group said the projects have being completed and are been used by the various communities.

It appealed to Governor Olusegun Mimiko to order the Water Corporation Board to pay the money.

The Chairman of the Board, Pius Oguntimehin, declined to comment.

Fayemi, others for OAU lecture EKITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi will today deliver the annual lecture of the Ekiti Development Network (EDN), Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe, Osun State.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, Fayemi would examine regional integration in the lecture, “Socio-Economic Development in Western Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects.”

The lecture, which holds by noon at the Oduduwa Hall, has Osun State Governor Rauf Aregebsola as Special Guest of Honour and would be chaired by the Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Bamitale Omole.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

8

NEWS Why we’re using soldiers, by Amaechi

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IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has assured residents of Port Harcourt that military personnel working with officials of the Rivers State Traffic Management Agency (TIMARIV) would be withdrawn from the streets as soon as the roads are rid of illegal trading and hoodlums.

Amaechi spoke during a radio phone-in programme in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

He urged the people to be responsible and law abiding.

“Before we called for soldiers, we had used the police, we got reports that people were beating up the policemen and the TIMARIV officials, chasing them with machete and guns.”

Ajimobi hails Faleti at 80

“As the state’s Chief Security Officer, I’m responsible enough to know that this is a democratic state and that the soldiers should not molest anybody, but you too must be responsible.

“When TIMARIV was setup, we said civilians should enforce law and order. Instead of obeying them, they were being beaten and every time we had to take TIMARIV workers to the hospitals.”

If thepolice try to make you understand and you don’t, then the soldiers will.”

“It won’t last for too long, we only need six months.

Once we clear the roads and junctions, the soldiers will return to their barracks.”

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Imoke inspects flooded areas From Kunle Johnson, Calabar

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ROSS River State Governor Liyel Imoke has directed relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to inspect flood prone areas in Calabar to enable government undertake remedial measures to tackle the menace.

Imoke’s Special Assistant (Media)/Chief Press Secretary Omini Oden spoke to reporters after the governor inspected areas devastated by last Saturday’s flood.

According to Oden, the governor has directed the Ministries of Environment and Works as well as the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to address the problem.

He assured that the collapsed walls of the water channel and the affected roads will be repaired to enable residents go about their businesses.

Imoke was accompained by the Commissioner for Environment Eddy Ogon; Commissioner for Works Venatius Ikem and the Director-General of SEMA Vincent Aqua.

They inspected Target/Goldie Junction, Ebito Street, and Nelson Mandela Avenue as well as the damaged portions of channel one, among others.

Assembly summons three PHCN managers HE Osun State House of

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Assembly has summoned three business managers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) over epileptic power supply.

There has been poor supply of electricity in the state, forcing many small businesses to close down.

The House questioned Victor Okoligue, James Oshunkoya and Taiye Awoniyi in charge of Osogbo, Ede and Ife districts, about customers’ complaints, bordering on “crazy” billing among others.

It condemned the situation where many communities would not have light for many months.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

The Deputy Speaker, Akintunde Adegboye, frowned at the allegations of ‘crazy’ bills, non availability of pre-paid meters and billing for power not consumed.

Okoligue said obsolete equipment and inadequate power generation were responsible for the poor power supply in the state.

Not convinced by the explanation, the lawmakers agreed that the management of Ibadan Zone, which controls the three districts, should be invited for explanation.

Edo teachers to remain at home

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ESPITE the no-workno-pay- rule invoked by the Edo State Government against striking primary and secondary school teachers, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has ordered teachers to remain at home, until their demands are met.

Primary and secondary school teachers last week embarked on an indefinite strike to protest their non-inclusion in the new minimum wage package.

The government on Monday invoked the no-work-nopay rule and threatened to

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

sack any teacher who failed to report for work by Friday.

NUT in a statement yesterday by its Chairman, Patrick Ikosimi, said it was disappointed at government’s announcement.

The statement said: “The union wishes to advise all teachers to remain at home until our demands are met. “ Strike is a lawful instrument in industrial relations.

“The union appreciates the concern of the NLC, TUC and JNC in their solidarity with teachers’ legitimate demand.”

•Amaechi (left) answering questions...yesterday. With him is Wazobia FM presenter Jeta

Fed Govt to begin clean-up of Ogoni land T

HE clean-up of oil spills in Ogoni in Rivers State will soon begin, it was learnt yesterday.

Oil companies whose exploration and exploitation activities cause oil spill will be sanctioned.

The Federal Government has activated the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP) to enable the country and oil industry stakeholders respond swiftly and effectively to oil spill.

The Director-General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Sir Peter Idabor, spoke in Abuja yesterday during the activation of NOSCP. According to him, the evaluation in Ogoni has been concluded.

“What has been done so far

•Activates oil spill contingency plan From Dele Anofi, Abuja

in Ogoni land was evaluating the spill and we have reached the stage where we move to the next level of trying to do the clean-up and that would be very soon”.

He said the agency was not looking at spills caused by the upstream sector but down stream.

“We are not looking at Ogoni land alone, rather the

whole of Niger Delta and tank farms in other parts of the country where oil spill would be cleaned up as well”.

Idabor said though the country has recorded less oil spills in the last couple of years, the agency would sanction oil companies involved .

He said: “The Amnesty programme of the Federal Government has led to a drastic reduction in oil spill but

what we are doing now is to see how we can tackle and discourage people who set up small refineries along the coast.

“We are also looking at creating alternative means of livelihood for those set of people to discourage them from engaging in the illicit act”.

Minister of Environment Mrs. Hadiza Mailafia said the contingency plan prescribes the necessary procedures and practices for prevention, control and response to Tier-3 level oil spill in the country.

She said it would ascertain the institutional capability of relevant stakeholders involved in response to oil spill disaster.

‘Naval officer’ remanded for alleged fraud

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50-YEAR-old man, Mike Umurama, who claimed to be a Navy Captain, has been remanded in prison custody by an Ogbeson Chief Magistrate’s Court in Edo State for alleged fraud and impersonation.

Umurama was alleged to have, on November 20, last year, in Benin collected N60,000 from Esther Asemota in a bid to assist her relative, Sunny Ihaza, into the Navy.

The prosecution alleged that the accused collected the

•Man gets five years for stealing N40m jewellery From Osagie Otabor, Benin

money in two installments of N30,000 each.

Umurama pleaded not guilty to the charges of stealing, false representation and felony.

The Chief Magistrate, Patricia Igho-Braimoh, said bail would be considered in the course of trial.

The case was adjourned till August 8.

Also, an Oredo Magistrate’s Court yesterday sen-

tenced 27-year-old Amos Ekem to five years in prison without an option of fine for stealing jewellery worth over N40million.

The Chief Magistrate, Special Grade, Peter Edo-Asemota said the accused’s plea of guilt and confessional statements made at Ugbor Police Division and the Criminal Investigation Department were enough to send him to jail.

He also held that the accused, on April 9, broke into the home of Lydia Arigbe

through her maid, identified as Joy, and stole gold and coral beads.

The court said Ekem and two others, now at large, subsequently proceeded to Lagos and sold the items.

The accused admitted spending N500,000, being his share of the loot.

The second accused , Musa Adamu (52), who pleaded not guilty to the charge, was granted bail by the court in the sum of N500,000 and two sureties in like sum.

PDP candidate fails to testify at tribunal

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EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ovia Federal Constituency in Edo State Charity Amayanevbo yesterday failed to testify before the Assembly Election 1,000 Osun Muslim pilgrims screened National Petitions Tribunal sitting in From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo Benin.

Amayanevbo is challengOSUN State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board on Tuesday concluded screening for about 1,000 intending pilgrims ing the election of the Action Congress of Nigeria for this year’s hajj.

(ACN) candidate, Isaac OsThe board’s Secretary, Abdulkareem Ibrahim, said the screen- ahon. ing was done in three batches.

His counsel, Ferdinand He said the pilgrims were divided into over 300 participants Orbih, tendered a medical per batch.

“The 30 local governments are segmented into three batches certificate to the tribunal, claiming that the petitionof ten council areas per batch. er could not appear due to “The exercise started last Saturday. The reason for the screen- ill health. ing was to authenticate the medical reports brought to us by Orbih applied for further the intending pilgrims.

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has congratulated literary icon Alagba Adebayo Faleti on his 80th birthday.

In a congratulatory message signed by his Senior Special Assistant (Public Communication), Dr. Festus Adedayo, the governor hailed Faleti for his role as a literary giant, broadcaster and an elder statesman.

Ajimobi said Faleti is an insignia of pride for every Yoruba man.

The governor noted that Faleti has taken the Yoruba race to a height of substance through his rich, informative writings, impeccable projection of the culture, language and morphology of the Yoruba man.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

adjournment.

The Tribunal Chairman, Paul Elechi, dismissed the application and ruled that the petitioner has closed its case since the first petitioner failed to testify after two adjournments.

“This application for adjournment is coming up for the third time. The petitioner has vehemently opposed to come and testify since hearing commenced.

“Time is of the essence in election petition. No reasonable tribunal will grant this request. Justices are also here for the respondents.

The petitioner is therefore asked to come and close this case”.

Orbih said the ruling has closed their case.

The respondents will open their defence today.

The University of Jos yesterday confirmed that Majority Leader of the State Assembly Philip Shuaibu graduated from the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The university’s Registrar, Jilli-Dadan Danjuma, who appeared before the tribunal, tendered documents to support the claim.

Documents tendered included convocation booklet of the university, a list of

graduates of the Faculty of Social Sciences from 2001 to 2003, who went for service and a photocopy of the certificate issued to Shuaibu.

Labour Party candidate in Estako West Constituency II Philip Osomah Sede said Shuaibu never graduated from the University of Jos. Sede said Shuaibu was not qualified to contest the election because he did not possess a genuine secondary school certificate and did not serve the one year national service.

The tribunal accepted the documents tendered as exhibit and adjourned the case till today.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

9

NEWS

Health workers give 24-hr ultimatum

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GROUP, the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) on health yesterday issued a 24hour ultimatum to President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the National Health Bill.

At a briefing yesterday in Abuja, the Country Director of Johns Hopkins Programme for International Education in Gynaecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO), Prof. Emmanuel Otolorin said the bill would address health issues, particularly maternal mortality and death of under five children in the country.

Otolorin said: “Everyone knows that Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest burden of maternal mortality and mortality of under five children. In actual fact, Nigeria is second to India in the number of women who die every year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Nigeria is also the leader in Africa on the number of children under five who die annually.

“All that is required now is for Mr. President to sign this bill into law for implementation to commence. Now, the implication of not signing the bill in the next two days is that it will probably have to go back to the seventh National Assembly and we don’t know when this bill will come out again.”

He said the bill allocates two per cent of the national

• Write Jonathan to sign Health Bill From Dele Anofi and Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

budget to primary health care and 50 per cent for capacity building, health insurance and drugs.

Otolorin said: “The bill provides for two per cent of the national budget to primary health care. Primary health care is the bedrock of health in any country and it’s been shown or planned in the bill

that 50 per cent of this fund will be used to provide health insurance through the national health insurance scheme to provide access to the majority of Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable, women and children, to access primary health care.

“Some of these funds will also be used to buy drugs and equipment that are critical to primary health care in

Nigeria. Funds from these allocations will also be used for human resource development because we have a shortage of nurses, midwives, physicians at the primary health care level.”

The Executive Director of Advocacy Nigeria, Hajiya Bilikisu Yusuf urged President Jonathan to sign the bill in the interest of Nigerian women and children, particularly the

poor who cannot afford good health care.

“We all made a pledge at the global level that we will have universal access to health and six of the goals in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are about life giving, they focus on health. Goal Four is about infant mortality, checking it and reducing it.

Goal Five is about reduction of maternal mortality. Goal Six is about reducing HIV AIDS, tuberculosis and other diseases,” she said.

Ex-council member urges fresh probe of Kaduna Poly

•Mark

MEMBER of the Kaduna Polytechnic Council, Chief Ben Ezeibe, has called for a fresh visitation panel to reopen investigation into happenings in the institution between 2004 and 2010.

Addressing reporters in Enugu, Ezeibe accused the Federal Ministry of Education

A

of bias and complicity in dissolving the council without granting a fair hearing to the stakeholders.

He said the panel failed to establish the complicity or otherwise of the members, who allegedly mismanaged funds without establishing what they had done wrongly.

Ezeibe said he had sent a petition to the Senate, through its president, Sen. David Mark, demanding, among other things, that if he had not done anything wrong, his name should be cleared.

He wondered why the panel claimed that N200 million and N50 million loans were obtained by the council but did not confirm

that the money was used to settle unbudgeted allowances of striking teachers.

Ezeibe said the panel’s report should be withdrawn because it did not establish any wrongdoing.

This, he noted, was because the purported “viable ventures” in the panel’s report were drain pipes through which the school’s treasury was looted, as revealed by the audited cash flow submerged by the panel.

Ezeibe said: “I want to formally ask that I be exculpated of any wrong doing, as the panel failed to disclose any areas of my failures or indictment.”

He said he deserved to be reappointed into another

board as chairman to prove his capabilities.

But a former director of the polytechnic, Dr Yuwanna Mivanyi, said the allegation of “complicity” in the panel’s report was vague.

He said: “The panel ought to have been categorical in its conclusions by apportioning blames, where appropriate.

This was not done, especially in a matter where financial misappropriation was alleged.”

Mr Patrick Kigbu, a former Secretary of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) at the polytechnic, said the recommendations of the panel had not spoken well of a system that the panel envisaged would continue.

Fire guts petrol station in Bauchi From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

A PETROL station belonging to A A Rano Nigeria Limited was on Tuesday evening razed by fire in Bauchi.

An attendant at the petrol station, Mallam Iliyasu Nasiru, told The Nation that the fire occurred in the evening, when a fuel tanker was discharging its consignment.

He said: “Our fuel tanker, with registration number (Yobe) AA 692 GDM, was making its second discharge for the day when a spark occurred. It bursted into flames.

“We were with the manager in his office when we heard some people shouting fire!!! Fire!!! We ran out and got fire extinguishers to put out the fire. But we were unable to put it out. So, we called the fire service.”

It was gathered that when the fire fighters could not extinguish the inferno, youths in the area mobilised. They reportedly defied the shooting by riot policemen and eventually put out the fire at 8.47pm.

Our correspondent, who visited the scene yesterday, found fresh dispensed shells of bullets.

The Police Command spokesman, Mohammed Barau, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was not available for comments.

10

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

NEWS

Tribunal: Kwara PDP accuses ACN of delay T HE ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State yesterday accused the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) of delaying the Governorship and Senatorial Election Petitions Tribunal.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Isiaka Danmairomo, the party said ACN “has continued to foot drag in the matter by perpetually but illogically asking for extension of time insisting that it does not have the capacity to honour existing voluntary agreement reached with other parties to make available copies of scanned materials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

But ACN Chairman Kayode Olawepo insisted that “first and foremost we are the

•Party: PDP frustrating case

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

petitioners, and it is therefore ridiculous for anybody to say we are delaying our own case.

It runs afoul of logic”.

Reacting to the PDP allegation, Olawepo said: “Yes it is true that we voluntarily agreed to make copies for INEC. No court order asked us to do so, because we felt that would hasten the process in the face of the hurdles being put on our ways.

“But we have since discovered that they are hell-bent on frustrating the whole process.

We, therefore, reserve the right to withhold the favour

we were doing to them. If INEC wants a copy of the documents, as the custodian of the same document we are inspecting and scanning, let it get it.

“The inspection process should have been concluded about two weeks ago but it has not because of their delay tactics. In any event the matter is before the tribunal. Why don’t the PDP allow the tribunal to decide rather than falsely reporting court proceedings?”

The PDP statement reads: “After 100 days out of the 180 days during which judgment should have been entered,

ACN on Tuesday asked for another one month extension of pre-hearing session in the matter of the election petition for the Kwara Central Senatorial District.

“By the time the tribunal spends about 130 days for prehearing out of the mandatory 180 days, we wonder what time would be left for the proper hearing session.

“The PDP, therefore, advises ACN to get down to business, if it has any tangible evidence to prosecute its cases, rather than chase shadow and play to the gallery at the detriment of the unsuspecting masses.

“The PDP government in the state remains irreversibly committed to good governance, employment generation, rural transformation, infrastructural development, among others.”

Two corps members die in road accident in Kogi

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WO National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and an NYSC driver, Mr. Rufai Ahmed, were yesterday confirmed dead in a road accident on Kabba/Okene Expressway, Kogi State.

The Batch “B” corps members were travelling to their areas of primary assignment after their orientation at Asaya Camp in Kabba Local Government Area.

The accident, according to an eyewitness, occurred when the driver of the Hon-

From Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja

da Accord in which the corps members were travelling in an attempt to overtake another vehicle, collided with a truck, which was also on high speed.

“Ahmed hurriedly overtook three cars and a bus conveying another set of corps members to Lokoja. Like a nightmare, he was suddenly face-to-face with a trailer and collided with it,” the eyewitness said.

The car, The Nation learnt, was badly damaged as bodies of the occupants could hardly be identified.

The state NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Frank Akponubi, confirmed the accident.

He noted that the nation had lost some of its future leaders again.

Akponubi said of the six occupants in the vehicle, only two corps members died in the accident.

He said the driver died on the spot, adding that two other occupants, who sus-

tained injuries, had been taken to the hospital for treatment.

Akponubi said one of the deceased corps members was at the camp to visit a friend.

The Commandant of the Federal Road Safety Commission (EFSC), Kogi Sector Command, Mr. Sunday Maku, confirmed the incident on phone.

He said the remains of the corps members were deposited at the Okene General Hospital mortuary.

Jang to appeal tribunal’s ruling From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

•Jang

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OUNSEL to Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, his deputy and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Israel Olorundare (SAN), has said he would appeal the Monday ruling at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which dismissed his application, urging the tribunal to strike out the petition of Mrs Pauline Tallen of the Labour Party (LP).

Justice Joseph Jella had ruled against Jang’s application, which prayed the tribunal to dismiss Mrs Tallen’s application on the grounds that it did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act. Justice Jella said Jang’s application of June 15 was dead and “we are striking it out.”

Reacting to the ruling, Olorundare said the counsel to the petitioner cannot con-

solidate without any application.

“We are the ones that asked him to withdraw when it is not on your record that we ask him to with draw and he withdrew, I think they only made case for themselves, so we want to test this one on appeal,” he said.

According to him, “the law says in Paragraph 18, Sub-paragraph (1) of the Electoral Act that the petitioner should apply within seven days after being served by the respondent, saying we served and he did not apply.”

He added that under Paragraph 18 (3) and 18(4), “if we did not apply that the matter should be dismissed, the tribunal was obliged by that paragraph to dismiss the petition.

“Even the Supreme Court said that it may be very hash, but that is the position of the law.

“We are appealing the ruling even though the petition will be going on at the tribunal.,” Olorundare said.

But counsel to the petitioner Ibrahim Jam Jam said the ruling was in order.

He added that they were ready to proceed with their case before the tribunal.

11

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

BUSINESS

An inclusive and robust economic growth will only be achieved if the youths are adequately empowered. This is the only path to sustainable economic development for the country.

-Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, CBN Governor

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Naira weakens as CBN fails to meet demand

T

HE naira weakened against the US dollar on the interbank market yesterday after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) failed to meet bank’s demand for foreign currency at its bi-weekly auction, traders said.

The local currency traded at N152.95 per dollar on the interbank market, compared with N152.52 Tuesday’s closed and weaker than the N152.30 to the dollar on Monday.

At the bi-weekly foreign exchange auction, the naira lost some ground as the banking watchdog sold $400 million at N150.46 to the dollar, short of the $518 million demanded and compared to $400 million sold at N150.26 on Monday.

“The naira depreciated after the apex bank announced the result of its forex auction with unmet demand of about $118 million,” one dealer said. “The market simply took its cue from the depreciation at the official window.”

Traders had expected the naira to regain some strength yesterday in anticipation of dollar inflows from oil majors, but none of the energy firms sold dollars which created a supply gap in the market.

Most of the oil companies operating in Africa’s top energy producer sell dollars to some lenders on a monthly basis to obtain naira for their local obligations.

“We are expecting Exxon Mobil and other oil majors to sell part of their dollars before the end of the week and this could provide some support for the naira,” another dealer said.

The banking watchdog on Tuesday hiked its benchmark interest rate by 75 basis points to 8.75 per cent as part of a move to tighten money supply and curb excess demand for the foreign currency by exporters and other end-users.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$119.8/barrel Cocoa - $2,856/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢78.07.pound Gold -$1,161/troy ounce Rubber - ¢146.37/pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N7.82 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -10.2% Treasury Bills -2.64% Normal lending -24% Prime lending -18% Savings rate -3% 91-day NTB -6.99% Time Deposit - 6% MPR -8% Foreign Reserve -$34.4bn FOREX CFA 0.281 • 210 £ 241.00 $ 150.00 ¥ 1.5652 SDR 241.5 RIYAL 39.3

Hard times hit airlines as aviation fuel price rises Y

Bonds flat after surprise interest rate hike

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ISING prices of avia tion fuel (JET A1) has sent domestic airline operators to the drawing board to device new ways of keeping their businesses afloat.

With the price of the product climbing to as high as over N200 per litre in some parts of the country, the airlines are now compelled to adjust air fares to balance operational costs.

To overcome the challenge, airlines have resorted to adjusting fares to match the number of available travelers, as well as combining flights rather than fly an empty aircraft.

Many passengers who streamed to either the new or old domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, expressed worry that the sharp fares’ increase from about N17,000 last year for a one hour flight to the over N30,000 rate at present, is a

• Passenger traffic drops

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor, Aviation Correspondent

pointer to the fact that something has gone seriously wrong.

The development has forced many passengers to seek leverage elsewhere by patronising other modes of transportation.

The development has cut passenger traffic by close to 30 per cent, operators said.

From a humble N22 per litre for aviation fuel in 1999 , the price has risen through the years to its current N190- N200 per litre, even as domestic airlines struggle to raise funds to pay for the product that is both expensive and scarce.

The Nation’s investigations revealed that domestic airlines, including Aero Airlines, Air Nigeria, Arik Air and DANA Air, which operate online booking

and reservation system, are using their portals to reach out for passengers for cheaper air fares on major routes, including Lagos-Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Kaduna to block some seats, while the remaining seats are sold at the counter.

Investigations further revealed that while air fares sourced at the counter cost between N27,000 and over N30,000, air fares sourced online through the booking and reservation system, at least 48 hours before the flight, costs between N20,650 and N24,000.

Experts in the industry explained that hike in air fares is largely due to the skyrocketing cost of aviation fuel, which has been on the increase in the past few years.

Speaking on the matter, Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria ( AON), Dr Steve

Mahonwu, said: “As far as aviation fuel price continues to increase, air fares will naturally be on the increase.”

Already, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has indicated that there is considerable drop in the traffic volumes for domestic flights in the first six months of this year.

The statistics showed that a total of 5,178,296 passengers travelled through the airports last year, but the number has since dropped by 1,288,625 in the same period this year, as only 2,889,671 passengers have passed through the airports.

Meanwhile ,Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Adaeze OduahOgiemwonyi, has described, as unacceptable the rising price of aviation fuel and the scarcity of the product, which she said is giving government serious concern, as it is threatening the survival of the airline industry and pushing the service out of the reach of the common man.

• President/Chairman, Nigerian Institute for Training and Development (NITD), Mr Kayode Ogungbuyi (right), Oluwagbenga Abudiore, member of the institute (left) and former President, Femi Kolajo, during the 6th induction of the institute in Lagos.

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

C

Interest rate hike to boost foreign reserves, says Sanusi

ENTRAL Bank of Nige ria (CBN) Governor Lamido Sanusi said Tuesday’s increase in the benchmark interest rate to 8.75 per cent is aimed at attracting more capital into the country and lifting foreign currency reserves.

Nigeria needs to guard against a drop in the price of oil, its main export, as the United States and European debt crisis deepens, Sanusi advised in an interview yesterday on CNBC Africa television.

“Higher rates will help us attract inflows to reduce pressure on our foreign reserves,” he said.

Africa’s top oil producer depends on exports of the commodity for more than 95 per cent of foreign exchange income and more than 80 per cent of government revenue, according to the Finance Ministry. The 2011 budget of N4.5 trillion ($29.5 billion) is based on a crude oil price of $75 a

By Akinola Ajibade with agency report

barrel.

“Revenue projections are not being met”and the government is at the risk of a structural deficit, Sanusi said.

Yesterday’s three-quarter-

point rate increase was the fourth this year. The banking watchdog cited higher energy costs from the planned removal of a fuel subsidy and increased spending to meet the new minimum wage of N18,000 a month.

The CBN has been using

foreign-currency reserves to keep the naira within a three percentage-point band above or below N150 per at its twiceweekly auctions.

Gross foreign currency reserves were $33.36 billion on July 25, compared with $34.21 billion the week earlier and $32.31 billion the month earlier. Reserves peaked at $63 billion in 2008.

‘PHCN owes N319b’

T

HE Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has a debt burden of over N319 billion.

Managing Director of Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO), Dr. Sam Agbogun, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos yesterday.

Agbogun, whose company manages the debts, said that

the company owed N72.6 billion in unpaid power purchase agreements with many private power generating outfits.

He said a further breakdown of the debts showed that PHCN owed local financial institutions N48 billion, while its foreign counterparts owed N2 billion.

The PHCN owed N37 billion in legacy debts.

He said some engineering companies were owed N39 billion, while N40 billion and N15

billion were loans from some foreign governments and Federal Government.

Agbogun said PHCN Superannuation Fund was being owed N13 billion, while the PHCN owed N36 billion to the PHCN’s Pensioners provisional Buy-out.

He said other debts included the N18 billion PHCN pensioners’ monthly pension, adding that the total debts were rising by an average of N8 billion every other month.

IELDS on government bonds traded flat yes terday after the effect of a bigger-than-expected interest rate hike was offset by a boost in financial liquidity, dealers and fund managers said.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) raised its benchmark interest rate by a largerthan-expected 75 basis points to 8.75 per cent on Tuesday, its fourth increase this year, in an effort to curb inflation and encourage external investment.

Investors expected a rise in bond yields in sub-Saharan Africa’s second-biggest economy following a hike in interest rates. But a record N1.3 trillion was distributed from the Federation account to the three tiers of government in June, more than double the previous month, boosting liquidity in the system.

The most liquid three-year and five-year papers traded flat at 10.6 per cent and 11.1 per cent each, while the benchmark 20-year paper stood still at 12.1 per cent after the hike.

“Although the Central Bank hiked rates more than the market had been expecting, there is still a lot of liquidity in the system ... explaining why bonds have not sold off,” said Alan Cameron, Londonbased economist at Nigeria Stockbroker, CSL. Analysts said the surprise hike to mop up liquidity will further dampen equities and trigger a move towards bonds, but excess liquidity means that yields are already depressed.

Africa’s third biggest index is down 2.88 per cent so far this year, compared to a 19.67 per cent return achieved last year.

One fund manager said a rate hike meant little to yields because of the level of liquidity and unsustainable inflation expectations in the country.

Consumer inflation dipped to 10.2 per cent year-on-year in June from 12.4 per cent in May, but CBN Governor Lamido Sanusi has said he expects core inflation to rise in the second half of the year.

First Bank plans $500m Eurobond

F

IRST Bank of Nigeria Plc will issue a $500 million Eurobond at the end of the year to refinance its maturing paper, the bank’s chief finance officer, Bayo Adelabu, told Reuters yesterday.

He said the bank was finalising arrangements with its bookrunners on the deal, which he expected to be concluded by the last quarter of 2011.

Adelabu said First Bank, which is Nigeria’s oldest, will commence an African expansion strategy from next year to rival pan-African players like UBA and Ecobank.

12

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

BUSINESS NEWS Investors apply for SacOil plant in S’Africa

Flight Schedule MONDAY - FRIDAY LAGOS – ABUJA Departure Arrival 1. Aero 06.50 08.10 2. Associated 07.00 09.30 3. Air Nigeria 07.00 08.20 4. IRS 07.00 08.20 5. Dana 07.02 08.22 6. Arik 07.15 08.15 7. Chanchangi 07.15 8. Air Nigeria 08.15 09.35 9. Dana 08.10 09.20 10. Aero 08.45 10.05 11. Arik 09.15 10.15 12. Chanchangi 10.00 11.00 13. IRS 11.15 12.35 14. Dana 12.06 12.26 15. Aero 12.20 13.30 16. Air Nigeria 13.25 14.45 17. Chanchangi 13.30 14.30 18. Arik 13.45 14.45 19. IRS 14.00 15.20 20. Aero 14.10 15.30 21. Air Nigeria 14.50 16.10 22. Dana 15.30 16.50 23. Chanchangi 15.30 16.30 24. Arik 15.50 16.50 25. Aero 16.00 17.20 26. IRS 16.30 17.50 27. Arik 16.50 17.50 28. Dana 17.10 18.30 29. Chanchangi 17.30 18.30 30. Air Nigeria 17.35 18.55 31. Air Nigeria (T/TH) 18.30 19.50 32. Arik 18.45 19.45 33. Aero 19.20 20.40 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

LAGOS – BENIN Arik 07.30 Associated 08.30 Aero 10.50 Arik 11.45 Associated 13.00 Aero 14.25 Arik 15.30 Associated 16.00

1.

2.

3.

4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1.

2.

3.

4.

LAGOS – CALABAR 07.30 11.20 12.50 16.00 LAGOS – JOS 10.55 11.15

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40 08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20 12.15 12.45 09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

LAGOS – PORT HARCOURT (CIVIL) 1. Aero 07.15 08.35 2. Arik 07.15 08.35 3. Arik 09.00 10.20 4. Dana 09.27 10.40 5. Aero 10.50 12.30 6. Arik 11.40 13.00 7. Air Nigeria 12.00 13.10 8. IRS 13.30 15.00 9. Arik 14.00 15.20 10. Dana 15.03 16.20 11. Air Nigeria 16.00 17.10 12. Arik 16.10 17.30 13. Aero 16.15 17.30 14. Arik 17.10 18.30 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

LAGOS – OWERRI Aero 07.30 Arik 07.30 Air Nigeria 13.40 Arik 14.00 Arik 16.30

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

1.

2.

3.

4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

09.1 12.50 12.55 15.55

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

LAGOS – KANO Air Nigeria 07.10 IRS 08.00 Dana 08.10 Arik 12.20 IRS 14.00 IRS 18.15

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik 1. Dana 1. IRS 2. Arik

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 11.15 13.15 15.50 18.00

LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

08.00 18.00

LAGOS – ABUJA SAT/SUN Arik 7.15; 10.20; 2.20; 5.20pm – 7.30; 9.15; 10.20; 2.20; 4.50; 6.45 Aero 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 – 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 Air Nigeria 08.15; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30 – 08.15; 13.30; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30

A

• From left: Senator Lyel Imoke, Governor of Cross River State and Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum Resources when the Governor paid a courtesy visit to her office in Abuja.

Oando shelves plan to build refinery in Lagos O

ANDO Plc has discarded plan to build a 240,000 bar rels per day (bpd) Greenfield Refinery at the Lekki Free Zone as a result of harsh operating environment.

But the company is investing $500 million in the various gas projects being carried out in different parts of the country.

The Group Chief Executive of the company, Mr Wale Tinubu, disclosed these yesterday in Lagos at briefing on the activities and roadmap of the company.

Tinubu said the company decided to take that decision because it would be counter-productive to invest in a capital intensive project that the government regulates price of the finished product.

The Oando chief noted that until the government fully deregulates the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, it would be impossible to see the entry of the private sector into the industry.

He said: “The refinery project is stalled. We cannot put money in a project government doesn’t encourage investors. We have paid for the land at the free zone and there is nothing we can do until government deregulates the down-

• Invests $500m in gas projects

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

stream.

“We are not talking of refinery now. It is off our radar scale. I don’t see how we can raise $4-5 billion in loans and go to government every week to beg for payment of subsidy.

It is the same reason the country’s refineries don’t work because they are not self-sufficient. “If the refineries recoup 100 per cent of their expenditure every time they sell, they will be viable businesses. Until the problem is sorted out, everything we talk about refineries will be irrelevant. You cannot build a downstream industry without being deregulated.

Oando had planned to build a 240,000 barrels per day Greenfield Refinery and a 210,000 metric tonne capacity product reception terminal in the Lekki Free Trade Zone located in Lagos State.

On the gas projects, Tinubu said the company has designed the phase four

gas pipeline and supply project, which will take gas to the Lagos Island through Ijora. The Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola had at the inauguration of the Island Power Plant, promised to take gas to the Lagos Business Central District and other parts of the Island through underwater pipeline which would be passed through the lagoon via Ijora.

Tinubu also said its gas pipeline project in southsouth and southeast are on course and would come on stream next year.

He also said in the petroleum marketing, Oando controls 20 per cent of the market share making it the market leader. In the upstream, Tinubu noted that company would raise its rigs to five next year from three this year and plans to build the largest liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) plant in the country, which will have 8,000 metric tonne production capacity and would be sited at Apapa in Lagos. It will also increase its LPG filling plants from seven to 15 by next year.

NNPC, partners inspect Koko petrochemical plant site Nagarjuna will construct three HE Federal Government’s fertiliser plants each with capacgas revolution seems to be

T

taking shape with the visit of experts in the petrochemical industry and investors from Xenel of Saudi Arabia and Nagarjuna of India, to inspect the planned site of the multi-billion dollar petrochemical plant in Koko in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The experts, who arrived at the site on Tuesday were led by the Group Executive Director, Gas and Power of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. David Ige, who was also accompanied by experts from Chevron Nigeria Limited, Sahara Energy, Nigerian Ports Plc and offi-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

cials of the Delta State Government.

The petrochemical plant is one of the projects to be built in the government’s Gas Revolution agenda, which was launched in the first quarter of this year.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke, said the project is projected to generate up to $16 billion investment and would entail the construction of 1.3million tonne per annum polypropylene and polyethylene plant, which would be undertaken by Xenel, NNPC and other investors.

ity of 1.3 million tonnes per annum all to be located within the Koko Free Trade Zone. The India leading agro processing company will also build blending plants across the country including Delta State to ensure the blending of fertilisers to align with the soil requirements across the various agro zones in Nigeria.

It is envisaged that the approach would lead to improved yield, which in turn will galvanise numerous agro and food processing industries around the locality of the blending plants, which also see industrialisation of rural areas.

FRICA-FOCUSED oil firm SacOil has received interests from investors for its noncore manganese plant in South Africa that the company is planning to sell to focus on oil production, its chief executive officer said yesterday.

SacOil manufactures manganese, sulphate powder, manganese sulphate solution and manganese oxide at its Greenhills plant in South Africa’s northeastern Mpumalanga province.

“We have had significant interest in the plant. We are evaluating those interests at the moment and will make an announcement in due course,” Chief Executive Officer Robin Vela told Reuters on the sidelines of a media breakfast meeting.

He did not give further details on the investors and the selling price.

SacOil’s main oil assets are its shares in two licences in Nigeria, which it holds alongside indigenous Nigerian company Energy Equity Resources (EER), and a stake in an exploration block in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The firm plans to start production in Nigeria in 2013.

SacOil expects to spend $53 million on capital expenditure in Nigeria over the next three years.

Vela also told journalists that the company has received interest from international investors who want to partner with it to gain entry into the African oil industry.

But the company was not involved in any talks at the moment, he said.

America-based e-commerce site launched

By Adline Atili

A

United States-based online store that allows users to purchase items directly from the United States and have them shipped straight to Nigeria has been launched.

The Website, www.mallforafrica.com, introduces a new shopping experience to Nigeria and to Africa, providing a secure environment to purchase the best products available to the rest of the world not readily available in most African markets.

Chief Executive Officer of MallforAfrica, Mr Rotimi Folayan, said the service, which is offered in partnership with Skye Bank, allows users of the site to shop for personal and business products and make payments using the company’s prepaid Webcard for local transactions and MailforAfrica Skye Bank Visa card for transactions beyond the shores of Nigeria.

He explained that consumers can have the products delivered to their homes or pick them up at one of its pick up centres in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

He said: “MallforAfrica provides Nigerians with an unprecedented array of items to buy online, making us the largest e-commerce company in Nigeria.

BDC operators decry circulation of fake dollars at airport

B

UREAU de Change (BDC) operators at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos have condemned the circulation of fake foreign currencies, especially dollars in the country.

Speaking on the arrest of two ladies caught with over fake 2,000 dollars at the Hajj camp of the Bureau de Change office, the Chairman of Hajj Camp Forex Exchange Market, Arewa Complex, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, said the

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

trend has become worrisome to them.

According to him, the ladies in their late 20s, were apprehended while trying to exchange fake dollars for naira.

He said members of the association have lost millions of naira to fraudsters as a result of fake foreign currencies, warning that anyone caught will be handed over to the law enforcement agents for

prosecution.

He said the trend has become worrisome because monthly, about 12 suspects were apprehended for similar offences.

Usman recalled how some of their members were killed by fraudsters after inviting them to hotels to exchange money and vowed that none of his members would do any transaction in hotels, eateries and other public places.

He lamented that some military

personnel were in the habit of defending some of these fraudsters when they were arrested, adding that it took the intervention of men of Operation MESA to get one of the suspects arrested and taken to the police station.

When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Hajj Camp Police Station was not readily available for comment, but a senior police officer confirmed the arrest of the two suspects.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

13

INDUSTRY

Fed Govt votes N75b credit facility for SMEs T

HE Federal Government is to release N75 billion to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to strengthen their capacity for job creation.

Trade and Investment Minister Dr Olusegun Aganga has said.

Aganga spoke at a workshop in Abuja on how to attract investments into the country. He said the money would be disbursed to SMEs through the Bank of Industry (BoI).

Aganga said the government would give priority to the development of SMEs in the next four years by providing the necessary incentives for them to thrive.

He said: “One of the major areas of concern for the government is the growth and development of the SMEs. We have identified lack of access to credit as one of the major factors inhibiting the growth of SMEs .

“Very soon, the government will begin the disbursement of $500 million credit facility to SMEs through the BoI and the Nigerian Import Export Bank at a single digit interest rate.

“The government is determined

Stories by Toba Agboola

to restructure and reform the economy by creating the necessary macro-economic and regulatory environment, as a way of attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and encouraging ideas that can lead to the realisation of the full potential of our national resources.”

Aganga said as part of efforts aimed at building a credible financial system, the government has signed the Financial Reporting Council Bill into law, adding that the new legislation would guarantee credible financial reporting in the private and public sectors.

“The legislation is meant, not only to create the enabling environment for the implementation of the International Financial Reporting Standards and to guarantee credible financial reporting regime in both public and private sectors but also wealth creation and economic transformation,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Minister has called for greater collaboration between the United Nations Indus-

trial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the ministry. This, he said, would promote and accelerate sustainable industrial development in the country.

The Minister, who made the call when the UNIDO Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Patrick Kormawa visited him in Abuja, sought greater collaboration from UNIDO in the area of investment promotions, trade facilitation, industrial clusters, poverty reduction, textile, skills development and SMEs. Aganga pointed out that UNIDO has been a major development partner to the country and has contributed immensely to the nation’s

industrial development, as well as improved the living standards of the people through its numerous programmes and projects across the country. He said the Ministry was very critical to the success of the transformation agenda of this government.

The Minister said the change of name has conferred wider mandate and repositioned the Ministry to play a more active role in actualising the new reform agenda of the government. He, therefore, called for more active collaboration between UNIDO and the Ministry to achieve the goals.

Unfolding the vision and the

‘The government is determined to restructure and reform the economy by creating the necessary macro-economic and regulatory environment, as a way of attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDI)and encouraging ideas that can lead to the realisation of the full potential of our national resource’

mission of the new administration in the area of trade and investment , Dr. Aganga pointed out that the country has under invested over the years and stressed the need to invest in every sector of the economy to bring about the much needed economic transformation.

Aganga said one area he hoped UNIDO and the Ministry could work together was the establishment of investment promotion unit in the Ministry so as to integrate into the UNIDO worldwide network of investment as well as technology promotion so that we would have direct link and facilitate all that we are doing in trade and investment.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has signed into law the Financial Reporting Council Bill 2011.

The implementation of this law would put Nigeria on the part of adopting the best organised approach to regulation of financial reporting as it is practiced in the United Kingdom, Australia, Malaysia and the United States.

Nigeria gets N195b trade aid

N

IGERIA received about $1.3 billion (N195 billion) in aid for trade between 2009 and last year, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has said.

In a report launched by the Director-General, Pascal Lamy, the body explained that the aid was part of the official development assistance to developing countries.

He said among the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, and Senegal, shared on average, 68.7 per cent of the regional aid for trade commitments between 2002 and 2009.

He said the aid for trade task force recommendations, identified broad categories of businesses to reflect the diverse trade-related needs and constraints that developing countries face. At the same time, such categories are thought to be clear enough to establish a sound boundary between aid for trade and other development assistance of which trade is a part.

Lamy said although Nigeria is one of the most populous economies in Africa accounts for 52.7 per cent of total ECOWAS population, its sub-regional aid for trade share was just 16.3 per cent.

The report said between 2009 and last year, Uganda received $1 billion, Kenya $962 million, Ethiopia $884 million and Tanzania $881 million. Equatorial Guinea ranked last with $1.1 million, followed by Seychelles $2.3 million, Botswana $4.7 million, Libya $8.2 million and Algeria $13 million.

It said, when compared to commitments, more or less the same group of countries appears in the top and bottom recipients of aid for trade disbursements in 2009.

“The share of the top 10 recipients amounts to 56 per cent of the total aid for trade disbursements to Africa, while the bottom 10 recipients altogether accounts for a

N

IGERIA’S total trade investment with China stands at $8.2 billion, compared to last year’s $7.7 billion, the Economic and Commercial Counsellor of China, Rong Yason, has said.

Rong spoke when he visited the minister/deputy chairman, National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, in Abuja.

little over one per cent during 2006 to 2009”, it added.

According to the report, Ghana received about $450 million per year, followed by Nigeria’s $430 million and Mali’s $360 million over the period 2002 to 2009.

The report stated: “Ghana accounts for 8.2 per cent of total population in the sub-region accounted for 17.7 per cent of ECOWAS aid for trade during the period 2002-09. Relative to the baseline period, the share of Mali and Nigeria in the regional ‘aid for trade’ increased by about five and six percentage points during 200609, respectively. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are the ECOWAS landlocked countries and together received, on average, ‘Aid for Trade’ commitments of $840 million per year during 2002-09, representing a regional share of about 30 per cent with a population share of 15 per cent.

“Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, and Zimbabwe constitute the bottom 10 recipients in terms of Aid for Trade commitments per capita during the baseline period. The same group of countries was also among the bottom 10 recipients of Aid for Trade per capita both in terms of commitment and disbursements during 2006-09.

“Libya stood last in ‘Aid for Trade’ disbursements per capita both in 2009 and during the period 2006-09 with $0.5 and $0.6, respectively. In terms of Aid for Trade commitments per capita, Equatorial Guinea was at the end of the bottom recipients with $0.8 during 2006-09 while it was Liberia $0.3during the baseline period.

With $0.4 Aid for Trade commitments per capita, Algeria stood at the bottom end of recipients in 2009.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim (right), and President, Forum of Southsouth Chambers of Commerce,Industry, Mines and Agriculture (FOSSCCIMA), Prince Billy Harry, when the group visited the SGF in Abuja

•From left: Business Development Manager, W.A, d.light Design,Emeka Nkpa; Managing Director, Mr Anil Hemnani and the CEO, ‘d.light design, Mr Donn Tice, during the media launch of the new product in Lagos.

Nigeria, China trade hits $8.2b He said the Chinese government had executed development projects in Nigeria among which includes offering of 16 training courses to Nigerian officials, engaging about 15,000 Nigerian workforce in China, construction of a comprehensive hospital in Abuja, estimated to cost $12million and construction of a Cul-

tural Friendship Centre, which is facing land dispute.

He assured the minister of the completion of the hospital project by the end of the year.

The minister, while expressing delight at the statistics of the trade volume between both countries, said efforts would be made to see that the land dispute which was frustrating the work at the site of

the Cultural Friendship Centre was resolved with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure that work on the project resumed.

Nigeria has become the fourth largest trade partner and the second largest export market of China in Africa.

In 1993, the China-Nigerian trade volume surpassed $100

million for the first time, and since the 90s the bilateral trade between the two countries has been developing by leaps and bounds.

China and Nigeria enjoy longstanding trade relations and since early as 1953, well before the establishment of formal diplomatic relations, the two countries had started trade contact with each other.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

14

INDUSTRY

Institute urges states to resuscitate industrial clusters

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HE 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are advised to revamp the moribund industrial areas and enterprise zones in the country.

Executive Director of African Institute for Applied Economics (AIAE), Prof Eric Eboh said this is necessary to address unemployment and poverty.

Speaking at the public private dialogue/stakeholders forum on Southeast business environment, in Enugu, Eboh said many industrial areas that were designated for industrial and enterprise production are dilapidated.

He said: “State governments should revamp the industrial areas and enterprise zones by providing critical infrastructure and services through various forms of financing including public-private partnerships(PPP).

“Common facilities such as water, sewage, access roads and electricity are critically imperative for such industrial areas to activate their idle and wasting economic potentials.”

Eboh said state governments should be sincere about the PPP, saying, state governments pronounce their intention to promote and utilise the economic benefits

Stories by Toba Agboola

of PPP, but they do not have the policy and institutional frameworks that will make this happen.

According to him, credible and sound policy and institutional (legislative) frameworks for PPP in the infrastructure and services will promote investor confidence, increase transparency and boost the business environment for job creation and wealth accumulation.

He added that state governments should, therefore, design and im-

‘State governments should revamp the industrial areas and enterprise zones by providing critical infrastructure and services through various forms of financing including public-private partnerships(PPP)’

plement policy frameworks, key legislations and organisational structures that will promote public-private partnerships.

The University don charged the state governments to establish what he called ‘investor information gateways’ to promote access to investor information, as a way to improve the business environment.

He added that many states do not have up-to-date information portals on investment information including investment opportunities, guidelines and procedures for investment, social and economic databases.

“Consequently, there is lack of up-to-date information about what investment opportunities exist in the state, how such opportunities can be accessed and what the State government is willing to do (that is incentives) in promoting the utilisation of such opportunities. State governments should, therefore, set up investment information gateways through web-based platforms and printed investor manuals.

“The ministries of Commerce and Industry and the State Planning Commissions should anchor the production and publication of such investment information portals”, he noted.

FIRS wants entrepreneurs to meet tax obligations

T

HE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has called on Small and Medium-Scale Entrepreneurs (SMSE) to meet their tax obligations in order to boost the economy.

Tax Controller in the Garki Integrated Tax Office of the FIRS, Ebi Rima, made the call in Abuja at a workshop organised by the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA)’s and Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW).

Rima said it was not ideal to compel entrepreneurs to pay tax, stressing that entrepreneurial pursuits must be done within the ambit of extant laws.

He said compliance with tax laws was not an issue the FIRS would be aggressive about, noting that it only “requires persuasion.”

“If you are able to pay the necessary taxes, your businesses will grow.

“Because taxes help you to know what actually you have, the amount spent, the profit you make and what

you give to government.”

Also speaking, Chairperson of NNEW, Dr. Mary-Ann Ndukwe, urged women entrepreneurs to pay their taxes promptly.

She urged them to acquire the necessary knowledge about how to pay their taxes and perform their civic responsibilities.

Ndukwe added: “Like the personal income tax, company tax and employees, among others. There is a lot to achieve from this; you need to know how to pay your tax when you are doing your business.”

“Ignorance is no excuse and that is what we hope to achieve at the end of this meeting, every business woman will know how to pay their taxes.”

Ndukwe said the NNEW was poised to assist its members to access funds from financial institutions.

“As part of plans to achieve this, NNEW is currently in the process of registering its own cooperative, which will serve as a means of providing credit to its members,” she said.

Firm launches solar lanterns

P

RIMLAKS Group of companies has restated its commit ment to provide affordable products to Nigerians. This was disclosed during the launch of a new product, ‘d.light solar lanterns’, held in Lagos.

Managing Director, Primlaks Group, Mr Anil Hemnani, said the high percentage of Nigerians with little or no access to electricity , gave the group a reason to partner with d.light design, manufacturers of d.light solar lights.

He said Primlaks Group has for over 40 years provided families with affordable shelter and food in the form of roofing sheets and fish respectively to which it has added safe and affordable solar lights as well.

He said the company aims at enabling households without reliable electricity to attain the same quality of life as those with electricity.

“We will begin by replacing

every kerosene lantern with clean, safe and bright lights and we are really glad to be launching in Nigeria which we see as one of our most important markets,’ he said.

The CEO of ‘d.light design’, Mr Donn Tice, said, ‘d.light has impacted the lives of over three million people in over 40 countries across the world through our solar products’.

He stated that the company aims at enabling households without reliable electricity to attain the same quality of life as those with electricity.

‘The product has come to stay and we do everything to make it affordable to every households,” he said.

Primlaks Group will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on trade with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and corporate organisations to ensure the availability of the product.

Farmers’ Expo holds in Ekiti

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From right: Dr. Idris, Mrs. Chidinma luncheon in Abuja.

and Nigerian Ambassador to Austria , Jerry Ugokwe, during a press

‘Private sector’s support necessary to stimulate ‘One of greatest growth’ E problems facing Ni-

XPERIENCE has shown that government alone cannot solve the problem of the economy, hence , the need for private sector support to stimulate growth.

One of the ways of achieving this is through job creation.

The Chief Executive Officer of XCell Centre, Mrs Chidinma Uwajumogu, has said . She spoke at the launch of a new product, Xcell Energy Drink in Abuja.

“One of greatest problems facing Nigeria today is the issue of unemployment which often leads to various forms of vices by the youths.

The problem of unemployment is an issue that successive governments have found difficult to tackle, especially because most of the youths depend on white collar jobs which are difficult to come by.

Towards this , there is need for the government to partner with the private sector,” Mrs Chidinma said.

On the new energy drink , Mrs Chidinma said, it has free sell certificate ,which means it can be sold in Europe and other parts of the world, adding that her decision to introduce the product to Nigeria, was borne out of a desire to create jobs and stimulate the economy in line with the transformation

agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

She promised to intensify her efforts aimed at attracting more business to Nigeria, adding that it is her dream that the drink be produced in Nigeria soon.

Mrs Chidinma revealed that the product is available in major cities of Nigeria , adding that it will soon get to the nooks and crannies of the country.

The CEO also revealed that many companies across West Africa have indicated their interest to market the product in their countries because of its unique taste and quality.

Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Omede Idris, also commended the initiative.

He urged other entrepreneurs to emulate the company, adding that this is the major way they can contribute towards achieving government’s Vision 2020:20.

He said the initiative would lead to job creation . He disclosed further that the quality is also unique.

The NMA Chairman commended

geria today is the issue of unemployment which often leads to various forms of vices by the youths’ the Xcell Plus Centre for ensuring the can carries a warning which he described as a good culture.

In his remarks, Nigerian Ambassador to Austria, Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe gave kudos to Chidinma for bringing the drink to Nigeria. He disclosed that she worked hard before succeeding in the business.

The Envoy said what Chidinma has done is a big challenge to Nigerian businessmen and women.

“When I was in Austria, I discovered that most of the energy drinks that are being produced there were controlled by the Lebanese, therefore I was exceedingly happy when Chidinma indicated her interest to bring the product to Nigeria.

“With hard work and determination, she has succeeded in introducing a fine drink to Nigeria. The formula is not harmful, it is a fine drink,” he said.

OISED to revolutionise agriculture and guarantee food security in line with new government policy direction to boost food production, the Ekiti Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, in collaboration with an agric firm, Chubbies and Fields Nig Ltd, will be holding a trade fair on farming.

The fair, which will be open to farmers and stakeholders in the agricultural sector, is aimed at revitalising and diversifying the Ekiti State economy on one hand and development of the nations agriculture and agro based industry as well as non oil export opportunities.

According to the Marketing Director , Chubbies and Fields Nig Ltd, Mr Victor Fatunla, the expo will lay special emphasis on crop production and seed multiplication, irrigation, storage and processing of agricultural produce.

Fatunla said attention will be given to livestock, fishing, primary food preservation, food beverages and new products.

He said farmers from the 16 local government councils of Ekiti State would be participating at the fair and award would be given to them in recognition to their outstanding contribution toward the development of the agriculture sector in the state.

Fatunla said focus will be made on the agriculture input subsidy programme initiated by the Government to enable stakeholders tap on the opportunity provided by the scheme.

The fair, which comes up this October, will also create awareness on projects facilitated by Ekiti State agricultural development agencies in training of farmers in mechanised agriculture, and provision of land to promote accelerated development of agricultural activities.

AU, rice centre sign MoU on increased production

T

HE African Union Commission and the Africa Rice Center have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) toward sustainable food security in the continent.

The African Union in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos said the joint effort was aimed at leveraging the continent’s rice sector through research, development

policies and capacity building.

It also saidthat the joint effort on improved rice production was in recognition of the increase of the commodity in Africa and another means of poverty reduction.

The statement quotes Africa Rice Director- General, Dr Papa Abdoulaye Seck, as saying that the MoU would assist in creating an enabling political will to boost Africa’s rice sub-sector.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

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POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The Delta State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, upheld Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s victory in the January 6 rerun election, after a hectic 24-day hearing. OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE recounts how it all went.

How Uduaghan, Ogboru fought rerun petition war

D

ESPITE the fact that the amended 1999 Constitu tion stipulates that tribunals would sit for 180 days from when a petition is filed, the Delta State Elections Petition Tribunal only started its works after 156 days.

So, when the three-member panel led by Justice Doris Uzoamaka Ogwurike commenced sitting, many heaved a sigh of relief.

All through the hearing, there were fireworks as counsel to petitioners and defendants fought over every application. No one knew whether the pendulum would swing until verdict was delivered.

At the inaugural sitting, Justice Ogwurike attributed the belay in commencement of hearing to renovation work at the venue of the tribunal. Ogwurike therefore warned counsel to refrain from frivolous applications and urged them to keep abreast of the rules guiding election petitions.

Real work started on July 4 with joint inspection of electoral materials by the parties. During the inspection, there were accusations and counter-accusations by both parties. Justice Ogwurike ordered the joint inspection following a motion by Mogbeyi Sagay (SAN), counsel to Chief Great Ogboru of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) praying the tribunal to order an inspection of ballot materials.

Sagay urged the tribunal to order the 3rd respondent (INEC) to produce the materials, including ballot papers, to be inspected at Asaba, INEC’s Delta State headquarters.

But counsel to Uduaghan, Mr. Ken Mozia (SAN) opposed the application. In her ruling, chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ogwurike granted the prayers of the petitioner and counsel to Uduaghan on joint inspection.

Earlier Justice Ogwurike had thrown out an application by Uduaghan, challenging the “competence and validity of the mode of initiation of the pre-hearing session”, urging the tribunal to dismiss the petitioner’s case.

After much bickering by counsels, proceedings inched forward when Justice Ogwurike formulated key issues for determination in the suit. This followed the streamlining of issues for determination. Uduaghan is the 1 st respondent, PDP 2nd, and INEC the 3rd.

According to Justice Ogwurike, the issues common to all parties are whether or not the petition is competent with regards to the Electoral Act and the Constitution and whether or not the petitioner or 1st respondent scored the highest number of valid votes cast in the rerun election as required by the Electoral Act and the Constitution.

Counsel to the 1st respondent, Mozia had earlier informed the tribunal that he had filed three applications, arguing that the law

• Uduagham

•Ogboru

‘But more drama was to unfold when the DPP commenced its defence as incessant bickering between counsel almost marred the sitting. Trouble started when Sagay suggested that INEC should tender subpoenaed election materials before the tribunal. But Uduaghan’s lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), objected, insisting that they ought to have a pre-trial report’ permits such application as the tribunal was at pre-hearing stage.

Mozia’s application wanted the tribunal to grant subpoenas ad Testifcandum and Duces Tecum on the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Gabriel Ada. He also sought the dismissal of the petition of DPP governorship candidate Chief Great Ogboru on the grounds that the petition “had become academic, spent, stale, hypothetic and of no value.” Mozia further demanded an extension of time.

But DPP counsel Sagay challenged the application: “This is a case of extreme abuse and it is aimed at frustrating the court from reaching a verdict. You cannot overrule yourselves, my lordships; I ask that the application be dismissed.

Justice Ogwurike, in her ruling, struck out the application, but upheld the application for subpoena by the 1strespondent on the REC. She also dismissed the application urging the tribunal for extension of time But more drama was to unfold when the DPP commenced its defence as incessant bickering between counsel almost marred the sitting. Trouble started when Sagay suggested that INEC should tender subpoenaed election materials before the tribunal.

But Uduaghan’s lead Counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) objected, insisting that they ought

to have a pre-trial report.

Justice Ogwurike agreed with Olanipekun but stressed that Paragraph 18 (10) of the Electoral Act did not say the 1strespondent must have a copy of the report.

Ogwurike insisted she had earlier read the report in the open court.

Sagay argued that since the election materials were “jumbled up”, the tribunal should commence cross-examination of his witnesses to save time.

But INEC Counsel, Mr. Ahmed Raji, said based on the request of the petitioner, the body was prepared to provide necessary documents.

Sagay said they wanted Forms EC8A, EC8B and EC8C tendered in respect of eight LGA’s including Warri North,Warri SouthWest, Isoko South, Bomadi, Ethiope West, Patani, Ika NorthEast and parts of Warri South L.Gs. Ogboru called a total of 18 witnesses, including two forensic experts who examined some of the ballot papers used in the election in eight local government areas.

The expert witness, Mr. David Goodwin, a forensic expert, had barely mounted the witness box when Olanipekun objected to the evidence on the witness, stressing that the witness “is not listed in the petition.”

He also argued that “no application has been brought by the pe-

titioner before your lordships”. He therefore urged the tribunal to turn down the application.

Sagay objected, contending: “The application made by Uduaghan, PDP and INEC, 1 st, 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively are not only misconceived but not worthy of consideration.”

But Justice Ogwurike overruled Uduaghan’s objection.

Olanipekun argued that the expert witness’ statement on oath and analysis were detached, contending it also had the signature of unknown persons on every page different from the ones in possession of all the counsels.

Justice Ogwurike ruled that the forensic expert be turned down.

But the evidence of Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, NPF, Alagbon and Nat Cole were admitted despite strenuous protestation by Olanipekun.

Then, Uduaghan began his defence. The contested local government areas are parts of Warri South, Warri South/West, Warri North, Patani, Isoko South, Bomadi, Ethiope West, and Ika North/East Uduaghan told the tribunal that the election held in the six coastal L.G.As and two others, contrary to Ogboru’s claim in his petition and evidence-in-chief.

However, all the nine witnesses called in by the first respondent through his counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), refuted the claim that elections did not take place in

their wards.

Both Ama Agbajor, PDP Chairman, Warri South LGA and Mrs. Hellen Idjerhe, a voter from Ethiope West LGA, debunked the petitioner’s claim, maintaining that it was free, fair and credible.

Dr Vincent Okaa, Commissioner of Police and Head, Forensic Department, Force Headquarters, Alagbon, Lagos disowned the DPP’s expert witness, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim (ASP).

Okaa was subpoenaed by the tribunal to testify on the January 6.

According to Okaa, Ahmed had retired from the Nigeria Police Force, was not in his department and did not receive his authority to inspect, sign or co-sign elections materials in Delta State.

The reliability of fingerprint analysis pitched Prof Patrick Igbegbi, a fingerprints analyst, who was also on subpoena, against other analysts at the tribunal. Sagay, though overruled, contested the adoption of the witnesses by the tribunal as they were not listed.

Counsel to Uduaghan, Izinyon, called in 15 witnesses and tendered documented evidences on the eight contested local government areas in the state before closing his defense. The witnesses who admitted that elections took place in all the contested wards and units said it was free and fair.

After adoption of written addresses by counsel to the parties, Olanipekun urged the tribunal to dismiss Ogboru’s petition, adding that Ogboru did not have locus standi to present his petition Counsel to PDP (2nd respondent) Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN) argued that “Justice Buba’s judgment has resolved the issue,” urging the tribunal to dismiss Ogboru’s petition because “the petitioner failed to discharge the burden of proof”.

INEC’s Counsel, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) argued that the petitioner’s allegation that INEC did not conduct election “is not correct”. Sagay argued that the tribunal could not take its decision based on Justice Buba’s judgment, contending that proceedings of the Asaba Federal High Court “were not pleaded”, urging the tribunal to allow his petition.

Justice Ogwurike fixed Monday July 25 to give judgment. And on that day, she eventually dismissed Ogboru’s petition Justice Ogwurike held that the 1st petitioner “failed to substantiate any of the allegations and consequently failed to prove their case”.

She held that INEC conducted the election in compliance with the Electoral Act. Is the matter now finally settled?

Not quite. Ogboru has given indication that he would file an appeal.

Meanwhile, after the rerun, another governorship election held in April is still a subject of litigation. It can therefore be said that the struggle continues.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

POLITICS

Lagos ACN set to release local govt polls guidelines

L

AGOS State Action Con gress of Nigeria (ACN) is expected to release its guidelines on the proposed local government elections across the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas.

In anticipation of the release, chairmanship and councillorship aspirants declared their ambitions at party meetings and rallies at the weekend. Among chairmanship aspirants who declared their aspiration were the son of Second Republic Governor Lateef Jakande, Seyi, chairman of Ijede LCDA, Hassan Adefarasin, former vice chairman of Alimoso Council Shamsudeen Olaleye, Chairman of Yaba Council, Olajide Jimoh, and his Badagry West local government Joseph Bamgbose.

ACN chairman, Otunba Oladele Ajomale, The Nation that the party was prepared for the grassroots elections, adding that its victory in the exercise would affirm the popularity of the platform with Lagosians.

He said the aspirants would be subjected to party screening based on certain criteria to be set by the party, but was reluctant to disclose the conditions. However, reliable sources confided that basic minimum education, experience, good character, performance in office and contribution to the growth of the party would not be ignored.

Ajomale did not rule out primaries. But he said there may be no need for shadow poll in councils and wards where aspirants voluntarily step down for ‘consensus candidates.

Fierce contest is expected in some councils where the incumbent chairmen are completing their second term in office. Gender factor may also shape the exercise as the ACN has often reiterated its determination to broaden the horizon of participation for women. In Surulere, no fewer than 40 people are fighting slugging it out with the chairman, Dr Sodiq Folami.

Jakande, who is vying for the chairmanship of Odi-Olowo/ Ojuwoye LCDA, told reporters at the weekend that he declared his ambition, following wide consultations with party leaders, members and people of the council.

He said: “Coming from this political background, I have the challenge to perform, if elected.

It is a legacy my father bequeathed to the state. I will continue to build on it and pray for the grace to supersede my it”.

The aspirant said that thanked the ACN National Leader and former governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, whose administration created the LCDA. He said the former governor’s decision was influenced by the need to spread dividends of democracy to the grassroots.

“By the grace of God, I will aggressively pursue developmental programmes and replicate the achievements of our party at the state level in our council. We needs drainages, good roads, schools and security in OdiOlowo/Ojuwoye. We want an end to armed robberies, attacks and fear and panic due to insecurity of lives and property.

These are my priorities”, Jakande added.

In the April polls, the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in Yobe State clinched all the three senatorial seats, six of the seven House of Representatives seats and all the 24 seats in the House of Assembly. Despite the victory, the new Speaker of the House, Hon. Adamu Dala Dogo, in this interview with DUKU JOEL, says it has been tough managing the success. Excerpts:

Our mission, by Yobe Speaker

W

• Ajomale

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

Olaleye, who is the Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture and Rural Development, said that he is fit to run the affairs of the local government.

“I started politics in school.

During my undergraduate days, I was a leader of the student union. In the Third Republic, I was a staunch member of the National Republican Convention (NRC), served at the grassroots as ex-officio member at ward level in Mushin council, local government secretary at OshodiIsolo council, ward chairman, secretary of All Peoples Party (APP) and House of Representatives candidate at Oshodi-Isolo, Alliance for Democracy (AD) Assistant Secretary, constituency secretary, vice chairman of Alimoso Council, Supervisory Councillor for health and Secertary to the Local Government”, he added.

Olaleye hailed the contributions of past council chairmen, promising to build on good legacies. He also promised never to let the local government down, if elected as chairman, by pursuing novel developmental programmes.

He said: “I have lived in Isolo for 37 years and I know our problems.

I have served without blemish. I have the experience and qualification. I thank people who have stepped down for me. They are eminently qualified. Together, we shall serve our local government and give happiness to our people”.

Bamgbose frowned at media report that he may not vie, contest that it is callous and mischievous.

“I am still the preferred candidate in Badagry West because I have performed as chairman. The records are there. It is wrong to insinuate that I will not run. Indeed, I will run”, he told our correspondent on phone.

Ijede LCDA boss, Adefarasin, said: “I am not tired rendering diligent service to my people. I will submit myself to voters again”.

His Itire-Ikate counterpart, Hakeem Bamgbola, is expected to declare his second term ambition next week. He told our correspondent that “It is the wish of our good people here that I should forge ahead in the spirit of continuity.”

The campaign is getting more interesting as the election draws nearer.

HAT is your impression about the April poll through which you emerged as the fifth speaker of the Yobe State House of Assembly?

My election as the speaker of this House was without any problem because all the members of the House are from the same family, the ANPP. Also, I was once a deputy speaker of the House; so, everybody knows everything about me from my habit to attitude and leadership quality. So, I think this also contribute to the smooth elections that we had. All the 24 members sat and agreed that I would be voted as the speaker of the House unopposed. The same applied to the deputy speaker who has been a medical doctor of repute and everybody in the House also knows Dr. Ibrahim Kurmi. I think it is high time people knew that the House of Assembly is not a place to make money but a place where you would contribute your quota and wealth of experience to the development of your state and the electorate.

As the immediate past deputy speaker of this House, a former vice chairman of a local government council among other offices you have held how do you hope to bring your wealth of experience to bear on your current role?

Leadership of the State House of Assembly is not about your personal experience but the experiences of all the members. In our case here, we have to sit down with all members and bring all the experiences of everyone together. It will be difficult if you want to work with only your experience as a leader and succeed. All the members have their different experiences because we all have our different constituencies and you have to understand everybody’s problems to really move ahead as a leader.

What is the vision of this House?

By the grace of Allah, this time we are going to produce the best legislations that the state has had.

How do you hope to bridge the gap between the legislative and the executive arms of the government for the development of the state?

In 2007, I am proud to tell you that I was one of those who coordinated the peaceful relationship between the legislature and the executive in the last assembly when I was the Deputy Speaker. Now, I am the speaker of the same House with all the 24 members in the same party with the governor. So, all our ideas and interests are the same. Thus, our relationship with the executive will be better now than ever because we are all from the same family. His budgets will be critically studied and we shall ensure that people’s interests are protected. Even when the budget is passed, we will continue to exercise our oversight functions to ensure strict implementation of the budgets for the development of our dear state. By assisting the governor, I am sure we would take Yobe to greater heights.

There are fears that, as a oneparty House, the legislature here may be a rubber stamp. How do you intend to forestall this?

That we belong to one political party is a sign of good things for the state. We are all from the same family, same party, and same interests and since the people of Yobe have voted overwhelmingly for the ANPP, I am bold to say that the train is full, but there are still passengers on the ground. We need to carry everybody along. If any of the House members has a problem, it is the problem of everyone of us. I have asked all the members to be more serious with their work and liaise with their constituencies so that we carry everybody along. Therefore, by 2015, there will be no candidate in any other party in Yobe State as a whole. We have buried the PDP in the state completely; no APGA, no CPC; nothing. With what Gov. Gaidam has done in the last few years, we shall help him to do more for the state.

How did Zone ‘C’ produce the speaker despite the intrigues that trailed the zoning issue in the position of the speaker?

For the records, in 2007, the position of the speaker was zoned to zone C but due to the problem of Usman Albishir and Mamman Ali

• Dogo

at that time zone B had to produce the speaker. During that time, only seven of us belong to Mamman Ali’s camp. All the other members were in Usman Albishir camp. We sat down and nominated Engr.

Surajo Wakil as our speaker but because of what I told you, we started having problem and we were not achieving anything, so we put Surajo aside an approached Usman Albisir camp and divided them into two. Our calculation was that if we take Usman Adamu as the speaker, he would bring most of their loyalists and many others will also follow and that was exactly what happened. So it is naturally to take back the seat of the speaker to Zone C . As you know, the governor is from zone A, the deputy from zone B and the number three person should come from zone C As someone who started his career as a class teacher, what elicited your interest in politics?

It is the drive to always be with my people. I want to always be with my people, discuss with them and know their problems and pursue their interests. This is basically what brought me to politics.

•From left: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Goodswill Akpabio and Special Adviser to the President on Research and Strategies Oronto Duglass when the governor visited State House, Abuja on Tuesday.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Again, the structure question •Restructuring is no ideological luxury. It is a tool to fix Nigeria’s development challenge

O

LAWALE Oshun, a member of the House of Representatives in the aborted Third Republic and chairman of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), has again stoked the debate: what developmental model is best and most effective for Federal Nigeria: one based on dependency on the centre; or one based on each locality taking full charge of its own development?

Speaking in Ibadan, Oyo State, at a retreat the Yoruba Academy (YA) organised, Oshun said after eight years of mainstream politics and politicking in the Yoruba South West, what the region, hitherto the developmental pace-setter for the country, had to show was stagnation, if not outright retrogression. He therefore called on the present rulers to evolve a region-driven developmental agenda, such that the region could regain and even surpass its old glory.

Oshun also told the present rulers in the area to take a cue from two predecessors: the progressives, epitomised by the iconic

‘With the present state of things, there is very little choice than to restructure and pass the idle resources that fund so much corruption at the centre to where they can fund development and prosperity. Restructuring therefore is no ideological luxury.

It is a troubled country’s survivalist imperative’

Chief Obafemi Awolowo, under whose charge the region witnessed unprecedented progress; and the conservatives, under whose tenure, as in the last eight years, the region experienced unprecedented retrogression. He said good performance by the present rulers was imperative, if the region must, in future, escape the swing from short spells of growth under progressive regimes, to very long spells of retrogression under manipulative ones.

Also speaking at the event, Dipo Famakinwa, secretary of the YA Governing Board, added that now that the progressives were in power in the South West, intellectuals should think through the current challenges to drive development and make life better for the people. The way Mr. Famakinwa spoke, it would appear he thought intellect-fordevelopment was easier under progressive rule than it was under conservative governments.

That might well be, as indeed the political history of the South West shows.

In comparing the region to Nigeria as a whole, always under the rule of conservative elements, it is clear the West has enjoyed more development, under the opposing progressive forces. Even when a comparison is made between periods of progressive and conservative rules in the region, it is clear it tends to make more progress under the progressives, even with a hostile central government. Clear examples were the Western Region in the First Republic, the Western states in the Second Republic and Lagos State in the current dispensa-

tion.

Still, when the subject is structured poverty and underdevelopment, the key to unlocking the misery is restructuring, not ideological colouration, even though progressive elements are likelier to be upbeat about restructuring than conservative elements, who benefit most from the present rot.

So, while both Oshun and Famakinwa are spot on in their call for better performance from the current South West rulers, and they are even more spot-on on their call for regional-driven development, they tone down the potency of their advocacy by suggesting restructuring Nigeria along developmental regional lines must necessarily have a “progressive” hue.

With the present state of things, there is very little choice than to restructure and pass the idle resources that fund so much corruption at the centre to where they can fund development and prosperity. Restructuring therefore is no ideological luxury. It is a troubled country’s survivalist imperative. That is why “political mainstreaming” would continue to be laughable to any development-minded person.

The Yoruba Academy should therefore push restructuring, not as an ideological totem, but as a sellable and effective developmental agenda a Nigeria that appears structured to fail sorely needs. Whichever ideology rules Nigeria or the South West would find restructuring along development lines a potent tool for banishing poverty and driving prosperity.

N46b (mis)spent • It is not the amount spent but the value added

M

OHAMMED Santuraki, the managing director of Bank of Agriculture (BoA) has made it known that N46 billion was disbursed to Nigerian farmers in 10 years, since the year 2000. This was a ‘disclosure’ from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and picked up by some national newspapers.

While giving account of stewardship is desirable and germane for the proper functioning of any government agency, BoA’s report seems, on the face of it, as flawed as the entire agriculture sector in Nigeria. Telling Nigerians that N46 billion has been disbursed over a 10year period has not added any iota of value to the chain.

The statement serves little analytical purpose for assessing either the bank or its activities over the years. It cannot be said that the sum is too big or paltry because there is no inkling as to how it was disbursed.

For a report of this nature to be worth the while of the people it is meant for, some more details are required. For instance what are the priority agricultural products, if any?

What percentage do we assign to subsistence farmers, small holders and commercial farmers? What is the funding structure for the primary, secondary and tertiary subsectors?

What region got the highest cut?

What about food crops versus export

crops? There are so many questions begging for answers in that review of the activities of the BoA. This exactly signposts the problem with our agriculture. It also gives us a clue why our agriculture has been trapped in back-breaking subsistency till today and our agricultural outputs always tossed in seasonal flip flop.

The import of this is that we have over abundance during the seasons, heading towards excessive waste while off-season prices of the same foodstuff hit the ceiling.

BoA is a key institution in the agricultural sector and we hope that it has a more detailed and counprehensive 10-year report to help the banks, the sector and farmers make indulgent input in the value chain and grow the sector better than it is today.

The sum of N46 billion is quite paltry for a vast nation like Nigeria to be disbursed as loan in 10 years.

On the other hand, it is quite huge if judiciously loaned to subsistence and small holder farmers who are basically food farmers who do little processing.

We cannot over-emphasise the importance of agriculture in a country like Nigeria with a large population.

We need no one to tell us because we benefited immensely from agriculture before the discovery of crude oil in

the country. As a mater of fact, it was Nigeria’s mainstay.

Unfortunately, we abandoned the farms immediately the petro-dollars began to come in and things are now terribly bad that we spent billions importing all manner of food items, including the ones in which we have comparative advantage.

Unfortunately too, the crude oil that we rely on for survival is usually affected by the vagaries of the international market. Until we take agriculture very seriously as we did in the past, we will continue to be weighed down by our food and other agro-based imports. The BoA has a great role to play in helping us to retrieve our lost glory in agriculture.

‘Unfortunately too, the crude oil that we rely on for survival is usually affected by the vagaries of the international market. Until we take agriculture very seriously as we did in the past, we will continue to be weighed down by our food and other agrobased imports. The BoA has a great role to play in helping us to retrieve our lost glory in agriculture’

Enabling China

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ISCO Systems and others are working on a government project in the city of Chongqing, for example, that includes creati0ng the biggest police surveillance system in the world. A year and a half after Google pulled its search engine out of China to avoid censorship, Microsoft’s Bing still censors searches in China. Earlier this month, it agreed to provide search results in English for Baidu, China’s leading — and heavily censored — engine.

The United States needs enforceable standards of ethical behavior when American companies work with authoritarian governments.

In May, Chinese practitioners of Falun Gong sued Cisco, accusing it of helping the Chinese government design and maintain the so-called Golden Shield system used to track and target dissidents online, including Falun Gong followers who were apprehended and tortured.

Cisco denies the accusation. It says it does not customize equipment to help any government censor content, intercept communications or track users. It says it only sells the Chinese government standard-issue equipment and that it is not selling cameras or image-management software in Chongqing, only general network equipment.

Nevertheless, Cisco’s experience confirms that we need uniform principles to guide corporate behavior.

After Yahoo handed over data five years ago about a Chinese journalist who was condemned to 10 years in jail, Yahoo, Microsoft and Google joined in the Global Network Initiative to set principles that include protecting “the freedom of expression rights of their users when confronted with government demands, laws and regulations to suppress freedom of expression.” Voluntary guidelines are insufficient. Just as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act establishes that companies cannot bribe foreign officials, legislation is needed in this area.

Internet companies should not keep user data inside countries where courts convict people for what they write, speak or think.

They should warn users about their risks, and they should never censor content. American firms were barred from selling crime-control products to China after the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989. The list must be broadened and kept up to date. Firms could be barred from selling technology to eavesdrop on VoIP communications or powerful antispam systems that could be used to target political speech. Technology companies should be barred from tailoring goods to a repressive end.

An article this month about the Chongqing project in The Wall Street Journal quoted an executive at Hewlett-Packard, which is planning to bid on the project. “It’s not my job to really understand what they’re going to use it for,” he said. That’s not nearly good enough.

– New York Times

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

S

IR: Some of us could not watch the Senate’s screening of current ministers, particularly that of Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, on television but merely relied on news reports in the newspapers. I read that Dr. OkonjoIweala noted that Nigeria had spent billions on refineries “without tangible results”, and asked “the National Assembly to strengthen its oversight function” to unravel what went wrong with the refineries. She was quoted further as saying that Nigeria obviously needed new refineries, and that there was no reason why the country should not be able to achieve the goal.

Fine talk indeed! But I am disappointed that the Legislature did not ask Dr. Okonjo-Iweala what should be the responsibility of the President who signed the checks for the refineries without result. The senate should have asked her whether she thinks the government is capable of running refineries successfully in a country where government property is stolen and no one is bothered because public property is nobody’s property. She reportedly said on the question regarding whether privatization is a sine qua non for development: “We should privatize sectors that are job creating and try to see how we can invest in them.” Did the National Assembly ask her to outline such sectors? And if yes, what was her response? I hope she was not as slippery as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund experts are wont to be? What did she say?

Another area is where Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was quoted as alerting that the 2011 budget of Nigeria is inimical to development because the recurrent expenditure is about 74 percent of the total budget. My

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Still on Okonjo-Iweala question is: What will Dr. OkonjoIweala do about it, as a Finance Minister? Remember that the first person to impress Nigerians and the international community with that kind of revelation was the current Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. But that was where it ended; it did not translate into change. Are we not into another meaningless eureka?

I would fault Dr. Okonjo-Iweala

for being quoted as saying that “the present regime of fuel subsidy is not reaching the poor”. I believe she betrayed lack of knowledge of the level of poverty in Nigeria. She needs to be told that only the rulers and others who are in privileged positions that have access to the common wealth that don’t need the subsidy. The big collaborators of the multinational corporations, such as the contractors, oil companies, mobile phone providers, etc.

that exploit the people don’t need it either. But the overwhelming majority of Nigerians need it. Based on her submission, I believe Dr. Okonjo-Iweala will try in a subtle way to introduce the odious Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) that is a product of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Even though Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said that Nigeria’s economy was better managed under the former

Gov. Obi and Igbo language

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IR: While the controversial industrial action by staff of south-east state universities for salary parity with federal universities lasted in the latter part of 2010, an interesting thing happened. At a meeting in Enugu between south-east political leaders and the universities union officials, Anambra State Governor Peter Obi who naturally chaired the meeting as the Chairman of South-east Governors Forum, opened proceedings in Igbo. A newspaper columnist who did not see why states which earn less than one-tenth of the federal government’s share of the national revenue should not pay the same salary as federal universities, wrote that Obi’s decision to conduct the parley in Igbo was a trick to

shut out national officers of the unions from the discussion! Perhaps, such misrepresentations are to be borne as one of the hazards of leadership in a sometimes cynical society. The refreshing news however, is the recent presentation of the 2010 Igbo Person of the Year award to Governor Obi for his sustained efforts toward the promotion of Igbo language and culture.

To appreciate the courage Governor Obi has demonstrated as well as the enormity of the task at hand, it is necessary to underscore some background information. Sometime in 2004 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) identified Igbo, supposedly one of Nigeria’s three main language groups, as un-

From time immemorial, the youths have always been regarded as tomorrow’s leaders, but when they make themselves tools in the hands of evil men and also perpetrators of various acts of gross misconducts, it becomes worrisome to all that are conscious of the future.

The future of any country is in the hands of the youths. Their proper education, aspiration, attitudinal refinement, technological inclination, honesty and general seriousness dictate the heights a nation’s development can reach.

The tendency of a great future is slim in a nation that is rife with youths without great minds. This is

made manifest in the greatness of the known advanced nations of the world that, as a matter of priority, invested so much in developing their youths. What they sow in the aspect of adequate youth development they reap in the calibre of leadership that is produced out of them. And through this investment, they remain great nations.

The hardship we are experiencing in Nigeria today is pretty due to the piles of wrong attitudes and policies created by the youths of yesteryears who, inevitably, have grown up to become leaders of today. Their poor leadership is a product of the rot in their immediate and extended society. But I believe the present generation of youths and leaders can be

der ‘threat of extinction.’ The UNESCO’s finding on the diminishing fortunes of Igbo as an active language was consistent with the increasing illiteracy in the language to which the educated and semieducated Igbo have sunk in recent times.

For instance, it appears to be the trend that majority of educated Igbo prefer listening to radio and television news in English rather than Igbo which could pose problems of deep nuances of expression.

The fortunes of the Igbo language have been further eroded by the political disadvantage faced by the 40 million Igbo nationality. Presidential power which has eluded the Igbo since 1966 produces ripple effects in national life. Fluency in the

The youths cannot afford to disappoint

S

The world has witnessed global unrest: From the North Pole down to the South Pole;

from the east through the west, there have been reported instances of armed robbery, corrupt practices, terrorism, militancy, political violence, drug abuse, and gun running among other despicable acts. We have been so much overwhelmed by this uneasy news to such an extent that we are already becoming uncomfortable with how unsafe the globe is fast becoming.

Each time the sad happenings breaks into the news, it is always noticeable the youths are the perpetrators. And this is the worrisome development.

President Olusegun Obasanjo, with her as Finance Minister, why was it that the regime performed woefully on infrastructure? She spoke on employment without mentioning electricity. Can there be robust industries without electricity? What happened to the huge sums of money that was claimed to have been injected into that sector under President Obasanjo?

Now that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has been employed against some protests, we wait to see how she will bailout our economy from the doldrums. That way, we can have a just and equitable society, and she might have justified her eagerness to become our Finance Minister.

• Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D is of the University of Ilorin.

different if only we can avoid subscribing to every immoral and/or evil dictate of our minds, or rather those intended to be forced on us.

We have enough potential to make things better. And not until we invoke such spirit within our inner hearts, and then improve ourselves greatly into excelling, we might continue to wallow within the sphere of a failed nation.

Arise Nigerian youths! Let us all answer this clarion call that we may make Nigeria the country of our dreams.

Together we can make it happen.

• Alimi Olukola Fatai, Osogbo, Osun State.

language of the ruling ethnic group may admit into the banquet hall.

While some Igbo embrace the language of the ruling group which harms the mother tongue.

Thus, the single greatest threat underlining the grave threat to Igbo as a functional language is the unwillingness of the Igbo sub-nation to come to terms with its split personality. Consider the odd spectacle of religious worships in Igbo land where some choirs are to be found singing non-Igbo hymns to an all-Igbo congregation. And lest we forget, this is an age in which mainstream Christianity has laid emphasis on enculturation of the faith.

Governor Obi’s leadership gains come into focus and better perspective. For these reasons, one cannot but agree with the choice of Obi as the outstanding Igbo leader of the time. As he continues to project the enterprising spirit of the Igbo, all hands should be on deck to sustain the Igbo identity.

Top on the priority should be the compilation of a standard Igbo dictionary. The absence of such a definitive reference book has adversely affected the use of the language. Practitioners in the home movie industry should be encouraged to veer into production of films in Igbo. Not the least in the bargain, the state and local governments can give the language a boost by making it the alternative official language at legislative and executive council sessions.

Ifeanyi Afuba wrote in from Nimo, Anambra State.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Relevance of Humanities to national development -2

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ELATED to theatre is music. Many parts of Nigeria have music which is uniquely characteristic of the various cultures of Nigeria. Apart from the various drums, Nigeria is well known for the symphonic mass drumming of the Yoruba Gangan or Dundun. The same symphonic mass drumming tradition is found throughout Northern Nigeria particularly among the Nupe, Hausa, Kanuri, Kerekere and Bolewa people. Even though different types of drums are used by the Igbo, the Ibiobio and the Ekoi, the same ingenuity is found among them, in the way they are able to mesh into a symphony several different sounds produced from usually carved-out wooden drums. African music, particularly the ways the songs are delivered, through the system of lead vocalist and a chorus of other singers has left an indelible mark on popular music in the Western world.

The influence of African music on the broad spectrum of Western music from pop to jazz needs no belabouring here.

African music has remained the greatest musical experience of the 20th century.

All that one has pointed out above developed through the ages and had remained as part of what every African child should know about which he may not have known until scholars in the humanities began to write about them. It is this renaissance of African civilization in the emergent African Universities before, during and after the period of

The inability to remember details sometimes led to forfeiture of their lives. Just as kingdoms and dynasties had their historians, lineages and families had theirs.

Most of these were the old people in the societies who handed over these stories from generation to generation. Oral tradition was of course handled with care to avoid distortion or the possibility of its being used to serve selfish or particularistic interests.

E

VEN before the statement, the media was already awash with the story. It is all about President Goodluck Jonathan’s plan to send a bill to the National Assembly on the tenure of the president and governors. Under the extant Constitution, the president and governors are entitled to four years each of two terms. By this arrangement, the president is entitled to a second term if he so wishes. But because of the circumstances that surrounded his emergence as the presidential standard-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the April elections, he promised to spend only one term.

If he keeps his word it means that the president will step aside in 2015 for another candidate probably from the Southeast to contest on the PDP platform. That is if there are no pressures on him, the Nigerian style, to go for a second term. The president’s planned bill will seek to make the tenure of the president and governors only one term(the number of years is not stated). But we are not fooled. It is likely to be for six years. Even before the bill leaves the legal draftsmen’s office, it is already steeped in controversy.

The fear of many is that it may be a tenure elongation agenda by the president. Their fear cannot be dismissed by a wave of hand.

The president’s reason for the amendment of the Constitution to reflect his plan is because of the ‘’acrimony’’ usually associ-

independence can that they can be proud of. In Nigeria, the Ibadan School of History has been at the fore-front of the effort to establish an authentic Nigerian historiography. With twenty-one titles published between 1965 and 1979 on various topics ranging from Christian missionary enterprise in Nigeria to the Islamic revolutions of 19th century Sokoto, the Ibadan History Series has demonstrated the rich African historical tradition which, in spite of colonialism, still exists in traditional societies. Most of these books were based not only on written materials, whether Arabic, French, Portuguese, Dutch, German, English, Spanish, and Italian but also on oral tradition.

In largely non-literate societies the effort to preserve a knowledge of the past was assigned to professional historians who either lived in the palaces of rulers or were maintained at public expense and whose duty it was to memorise the entire history of given communities to be recited at the appropriate times. The inability to remember details sometimes led to forfeiture of their lives. Just as kingdoms and dynasties had their historians, lineages and families had theirs. Most of these were the old people in the societies who handed over these stories from generation to generation.

Oral tradition was of course handled with care to avoid distortion or the possibility of its being used to serve selfish or particularistic interests.

Where there was written documentation such as in the Islamic areas of Nigeria (particularly the northern part and sometimes the south-western areas) such sources were used to substantiate or disprove details contained in the stories of the oral tradition. Since the idea of history known to western civilization was history written from documents, the Ibadan history school has not only been able to compete with Western historians in their own game, they have in fact been able to beat them since they were able to use a source which western historians were largely incapable of using. It is now generally recognized all over the world that oral history is an available option for historical reconstruction.

This last point raises the whole question of a multidisciplinary approach to unraveling the past of Africa. African historians have not only had to master their own trade, they have also had to master the rudiments of archaeology, anthropology, sociology, linguistics, ethno-botany, serology and ethno-zoology, in order to be able to arrive at scientific conclusions about what happened in the past. It is fair to say that Nigerian historians have made great contributions to place Nigeria within the vortex of world civilization.

Literature in English has also been an outlet for Nigerians

to manifest the essential unity of all humanity. The works of several Nigerian authors published by the various British publishing houses particularly works of such literati as Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, John Pepper Clark and others have drawn attention Jide to the literary genius Osuntokun of several Nigerian writers. Works of people like Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka have not only been acclaimed in the Englishspeaking World, they have also been translated into several foreign languages. Serious commentators have asserted that Nigeria has produced playwrights and authors not seen in Britain since the time of Shakespeare. Some of these encomiums may be exaggerations but the fact remains that Nigerian artists are beginning to hold their own against the best all over the world.

Apart from translation of works written in African languages to English or French, African literati have mostly been using indigenous themes and folklores as the basis of what is essentially African literature in English or French.

Nobody can read most of the plays and even novels of Wole Soyinka, the novels of Chinua Achebe, and plays of John Pepper Clark without being introduced to what is essentially African culture in fiction.

Through the spheres of our numerous men of letters whether authors or critics such as Biola Irele, the world of literature has been enriched. African literature has ceased being African but has in fact become world literature. In essence, literature has been a potent cultural agent by which African culture is permeating the world. The life style of Africans is becoming better known and appreciated; it is because of this that Africans of the diaspora are taking pride in the culture of the old continent. It is now a common thing for Afro-Americans to be seen wearing African clothes and bearing African names. Perhaps, it is in the Universality of African traditions and mores that one can really say that Africans are on the world stage contributing their own to world civilization through the arts.

Waiting for Jonathan’s bill ated with the second term bid of the sitting president and governors. Is it really because he wants to avoid such ‘’acrimony’’that he is making this suggestion? The answer is blowing in the wind until events unfold themselves,which sooner than later they will do. From all indications, the tenure of office bill has been well rehearsed by the president and his men and a section of the media also used to test the waters.

It was obvious that the authorities were up to some mischief when Daily Sun broke the story of the planned bill in its lead story of July 18 and since then I have not stopped wondering whether Jonathan wants to end up as another Obasanjo. Remember Obasanjo and his failed third term bid? We were told then that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was not interested in third term but only wanted an amendment of the Constitution in respect of the president’s and governors’ tenure to ensure a stable polity. The argument then was that two terms of eight years were too short to enable the sitting president and governors to conclude implementation of their fanciful programmes of improving our lot.

Pray if eight years are not enough, is it six that will do the magic? This is a poser for proponents of the single tenure of six

‘If politicians wish to kill themselves over power, they are free to do so as long as they don’t pull the country down in the process. Whether four, six, eight or 12 years, politicians will always resort to violence during elections because of what they can get out of office’

years to ponder. The argument in support of the six-year tenure is neither here nor there. As political animals the temptation will always be there for those fortunate to find themselves in power to remain there perpetually except if they have the fear of God like former South Africa President Nelson Mandela, who only spent a term in office despite spending 27 years in prison before mounting the presidential saddle.

How many years did Obasanjo spend in gaol that he never wanted to leave the presidential mansion in 2003? So, the six-year tenure may not enjoy popular support except from those that will benefit from it like our lawmakers who despite having a limitless tenure still go to any length to return to the National Assembly. Can the problem then be attributed to that of tenureship? The answer is no. It has got nothing to do with tenure but a lot to do with man’s inordinate desire to appropriate power. Those already hailing the proposed bill before it is out have their self serving reasons for doing so. But I do not buy the idea that it is the answer to the ’’acrimony’’ associated with second term bid.

Tuesday’s statement by presidential spokesman Reuben Abati which confirmed Daily Sun’s July 18 story portrayed his boss as another leader who after tasting power appears not ready to go when his time comes.

Jonathan seems to have forgotten how he got to power. But he will be reminded when the time comes. The problem with Nigeria has nothing to do with tenureship, but more to do with those we elect to govern us. Is it

tenureship that will solve the Boko Haram problem? Is it what will address poverty and unemployment? Will it redress the power crisis? The answers are no; no and no.

If politicians wish to kill themselves over power, they are free to do so as long as they don’t pull the country down in the process. Whether four, six, eight or 12 years, politicians will always resort to violence during elections because of what they can get out of office. Many of them go for political office not because they want to serve but because they see it as an avenue to make easy money. Again, what has tenure got to do with that? Nothing, absolutely nothing. This was why I smiled inwardly when I read the reason(s) given by Abati for the president’s planned bill.

He wrote: ‘’President Jonathan’s commitment to a single term for the president and governors is borne out of a patriotic zeal, after a painstaking study of and belief that the constitutionally guaranteed two terms for the president and governors is not helping the focus of governance and institutionalisation of democracy at this stage of our development...President Jonathan is concerned about the acrimony which the issue of reelection, every four years , generates both at the federal and state levels...The proposed amendment bill is necessary to consolidate our democracy and allow elected executives to concentrate on governance and service delivery for their full term, instead of running governments with reelection as their primary focus. ’’...The president makes it clear that his push for a single tenure

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net

for the office of the president and that of the governors is not borne out of any personal interest. The proposed amendment will not have anything to do with him as a person; what he owes Nigerians is good governance , and he is singularly committed to this. Besides, it is trite law that the envisaged amendment cannot have a retroactive effect. This means that whatever single - term tenure that is enacted into law by the National Assembly will take effect from 2015...’’

It is easier said than done.

Eventhough the president has since promised that he won’t run in 2015, we all know that 2015 is still four years away from now and anything can happen between now and then. Jonathan’s promise not to run in 2015 is not cast in stone. He did not sign any legally binding paper to that effect. So, if he decides to run we can only make some noise, but cannot stop him from exercising his right. It is even likely that those voting for the six-year project will be the ones to goad him to run. When that happens, remember that I said it here. God bless Nigeria.

SMS ONLY: 08056504763

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

A

LTHOUGH the Boko Haram attacks had been on, even before the run-up to the last general elections, it intensified after, becoming more incessant and deadlier than ever. To many, this did not come as a surprise, only the magnitude was astonishing. They interpret the new twist as the actualization of the threat of some politicians who contested against Jonathan.

They had threatened that they would make the country ungovernable should he stand for and win the election. One of them had specifically instructed his followers to lynch anybody who might stand in the way of his own success.

The main grouse against the president was that he refused to respect the People’s Democratic Party’s zoning arrangement. So, the perpetrators of the current insecurity in the land, had long ago, planned and arranged how to thoroughly harass President Goodluck Jonathan and scare him off his pants, if he eventually mounts the saddle.

Though we have myriad of other security challenges like armed robbery, mugging, cultism, kidnapping and political assassination, the Boko Haram brouhaha stands out because of the seeming facelessness of the perpetrators and the mystery surrounding their real agenda. “I doubt if we understand what Boko Haram is all about”, says the former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa. Speaking in The Guardian newspaper of Thursday, July 7, 2011, the Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) opined that Nigerians should first be convinced about the identity of those called Boko Haram.

While many believe that it is a religious sect which frowns against Western Education since Boko Haram means, “Western Education is a sin”, Musa interjects that, it is not. Rather, he asserts; “it is a reaction to a negative state of the nation. We are not talking about Western Education. Western Education is just education… and even Moslems recognize it.” According to him, Moslems are not opposed to Western Education or any form of education. “What they are opposed to is exploitative Western Civilization and Culture”.

Whatever Boko Haram may be, one fact

The politics on Boko Haram

By Godwin Igharo sticks out, there are basically two distinct groups involved: Those who naively hold the belief that they are engaged in a Jihad (Holy War); and those exploiting the ignorance of the supposed Jihadists. The latter is highly suspected to be largely made up of selfcentred politicians who lost out in the last general elections.

To resolve the Boko Haram crisis, many concerned citizens have volunteered divergent opinions. Some are urging the Federal Government to adopt the amnesty option by inviting those who feel aggrieved to the roundtable, with the ultimate aim of pacifying such individuals. But others disagree and asked the government to pick up the stick and whip sense into the heads of the perpetrators instead. In a burst of anger, the former Director General of the Centre for Democratic Studies, Professor Omo Omoruyi had said, “let there be a referendum and give them their own country.” But Governor Fashola of Lagos State prefers “a careful diagnosis” and warns about the “consequences of wrong conclusions”. (Tell magazine, July 2011).

Many are of the opinion that the issue of Boko Haram could be tackled if government shows willingness and honesty. But this depends on varieties of steps: the Federal Government must first establish contact with the Boko Haram people in order to open up dialogue with them, especially the innocent ones being used by the mischievous politicians. There is need to locate their actual grievances in order to know what the group actually wants. And as Governor Fashola advises, “If it is something that can be accommodated, then there is no reason for violence.” This is to win back their confidence and reintegrate them into the mainstream of the society. They should be made to realize

that they will be better off on the side of the government than aligning themselves with disgruntled politicians who are only out to use them. As the cliché goes: “To Jaw-Jaw is better than to War-War”, any day. Meanwhile, individuals who are hiding under Boko Haram to foment trouble should be fished out and ruthlessly dealt with.

Government should therefore make efforts to create jobs for the many unemployed youths roaming all about. If the quality of life amongst the masses is improved, it will be difficult for anybody to set them against the government. Skill acquisition and training centres should be established for the youths in order to take them away from the streets, thereby making them useful to themselves and the society. More schools should also be built in order to reduce the level of illiteracy and ignorance.

Borno and Bauchi States are hotbeds of Boko Haram largely because many of the youths are not in school. Hence they are easily available for recruitment by evil politicians.

For instance, the Nigeria’s Education Data Survey (2006-2010) conducted by the Federal Ministry of Education in conjunction with the National Population Commission revealed that states in the North West and the North East geo-political zones have the lowest literacy rate in Nigeria. The report stated that non-attendance is highest among states in these two zones-”72 percent of children between 6-16 years never attended schools in Borno State!” Also, Yobe State has 58 percent and Bauchi State 58 percent illiteracy.

According to the recommendation of the World Education Forum held in Dakar in 2000, “we must expand and improve comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable

and disadvantaged children … ensuring access to complete, free and compulsory primary education of good quality”. We need to check our current population growth. Let us enact laws that will compel parents to take care of their children. A situation where children are left to cater for themselves should be discouraged.

Peace is very crucial to the survival of any nation. But it we desire peace, there must be equal rights and justice. What binds one citizen must bind the other. We must take the necessary steps to rekindle patriotism and moral values. Corruption must be seriously and honestly tackled. One other indisputable thing is the urgent need to overhaul our security system. The Federal Government must find a way to withdraw small arms in circulation and also check the influx of arms into the country.

Grabbing the sore matter of religion point blank while speaking to journalists in Lagos in 1992, Alhaji Umaru Shikanfi said, “I think it is important now to dampen the pitch of significance attached to the major religious organizations and it might help to return religion to the modest personal affair of the individual that it should be.”

• Igharo is of the Federal Ministry of Information and Communications, Abuja.

‘The main grouse against the president was that he refused to respect the People’s Democratic Party’s zoning arrangement.

So, the perpetrators of the current insecurity in the land, had long ago, planned and arranged how to thoroughly harass President Goodluck Jonathan and scare him off his pants, if he eventually mounts the saddle’ • Jide Oluwajuyitan will return next week

VIEW FROM THE FOREIGN PRESS

S

EISMIC risk mitigation is the greatest urban policy challenge the world confronts today. If you consider that too strong a claim, try to imagine another way in which bad urban policy could kill a million people in 30 seconds. Yet the politics of earthquakes are rarely discussed and, when discussed, widely misunderstood.

Take Japan’s Sendai earthquake on March 11, which released 600 million times the energy of the Hiroshima bomb. The ensuing partial meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant prompted international hysteria about nuclear power, but few seemed to realize that a far deadlier threat had been averted. As seismologist Roger Bilham aptly put it, houses in seismically active zones are the world’s unrecognized weapons of mass destruction — and Japan’s WMD didn’t go off. Its buildings — at least those that weren’t swept away by the accompanying tsunami, a force of nature against which we are still largely helpless — remained standing, and the people inside survived.

That so few buildings collapsed in the earthquake was a human triumph of the first order. But cities around the world seem happy to ignore the earthquake threat — one that is only growing as the cities themselves get bigger and bigger.

The Japan quake was not the catastrophe it could have been because the country learned from experience. In the wake of the 1995 Kobe quake, in which 200,000 buildings collapsed, Japanese engineers took extensive measures to reinforce buildings and infrastructure.

They installed rubber blocks under bridges.

They spaced buildings farther apart to prevent domino-style tumbling. They introduced extra bracing, base isolation pads, hydraulic shock absorbers. A minute before the March earthquake, seismic monitoring systems sent warnings to Japanese cellphones.

Elevators glided obediently to the nearest floor and opened. Surgeries were halted.

Videos from Tokyo show skyscrapers swaying gracefully, like cornstalks in the wind. Not one collapsed.

But many of the world’s biggest cities are at massive seismic risk, built more like Portau-Prince, Haiti, which was devastated by an

The politics of earthquakes

By Claire Berlinski

earthquake in 2010, than like Kobe. Eight of the world’s 10 biggest cities are built on fault lines, and they are growing larger every day.

The urbanization trend is continuing upward, as is the trend of housing migrant populations in death traps. As a result, it’s likely that before long we’ll see a headline announcing, “1 Millon Dead in Massive Earthquake.”

Yet, just as we know how to build airplanes that don’t crash, we know how to construct buildings that don’t collapse. We also know which cities are most at risk: Bogota, Cairo, Caracas, Dhaka, Islamabad, Istanbul, Jakarta, Karachi, Katmandu, Lima, Manila, Mexico City, New Delhi, Quito and Tehran. Los Angeles and Tokyo are prime candidates for a major quake, but they will probably survive because they are well-built — though Los Angeles could do better.

It’s tempting to think that people in certain countries are cavalier about the risk because they’re poor. The argument goes like this: Safe houses cost more to build than cheap ones. Cement watered down with sand stretches further. People in poor cities don’t have the money to build safe houses, or if they do, they have decided to use it to mitigate more immediate risks such as hunger.

If wealth was all there was to it, the solution would be, if not simple, at least obvious: To prepare for an earthquake, promote economic development and cross your fingers. When a country becomes wealthy enough, the problem will solve itself.

This theory has been voiced in Istanbul, where I live. Mustafa Erdik, chairman of the Department of Earthquake Engineering at Bogazici University, has suggested that Turkey’s best

hope is rapid economic growth. If growth happens fast enough, he says, property owners will be able to replace the worst housing stock before the ground starts shaking. If we look at it this way, we see seismic risk reduction as a paradox: The best way to reduce the risk is to ignore it.The idea is tempting and elegant. But it’s wrong.

Wealth in and of itself is not enough to get people to take earthquakes seriously. Here is the evidence. On Feb. 27, 2010, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck near the city of Concepcion, Chile. Though the epicenter was not at the heart of the city, this quake was 100 times bigger than the one that leveled Port-au-Prince. It was so massive that it shortened the length of the day by 1.26 microseconds and moved the Earth on its axis by eight centimeters. When it was over, the entire city of Concepcion had been moved three yards to the west.

The death toll from this monster was 521.

Each death was its own disaster, of course, but the number was nevertheless astoundingly small for an earthquake that, by all rights, should have destroyed Chile as a whole. Chile did so well because it has some of the strictest and most advanced building codes in the world, and because the codes do not merely exist on paper — they are enforced.

Now consider Turkey. Like Chile, Turkey is no stranger to earthquakes. In 1509, an earthquake killed between 5% and 10% of Constantinople’s population. The Ottomans called it Kiyamet-i Sugra, the Minor Judgment Day. Since then, the city has suffered serious quake damage 11 times, most recently at the end of the 19th century.

There is not a geologist alive who doubts that a major earthquake is likely to hit

Istanbul soon. In 2000, the U.S. Geological Survey put the odds of it happening within 30 years at 62%. Erdik has estimated that it will kill 200,000 to 300,000 people. The cost of the cleanup — $50 billion would be an optimistic estimate — will surely set Turkey’s economy back decades. It will be a political cataclysm, with massive ramifications for the entire region.

Every day I walk past buildings in Istanbul that are clearly unsound. I see ground floors, for example, with walls or columns removed to make way for store displays, violating one of the most important principles of earthquake-resistant construction. There are vast neighborhoods filled with illegal, flimsy structures called gecekondu, “landed overnight.” Gecekondu aren’t built by engineers. They tend to be built on bad soil.

They are packed with children.

Even buildings approved by engineers, warned a recent study by the Turkish Chamber of Civil Engineers, are largely not built to code. The group also warned that 86% of the city’s hospitals were at high risk of collapse.

– Los Angeles Times

It’s tempting to think that people in certain countries are cavalier about the risk because they’re poor. The argument goes like this: Safe houses cost more to build than cheap ones.

Cement watered down with sand stretches further.

People in poor cities don’t have the money to build safe houses, or if they do, they have decided to use it to mitigate more immediate risks such as hunger.

FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP

I’ve called up the best players —Coach Adamu

Pg. 24

Obagoal: ‘I want Italy return’ Pg. 41

Nation Thursday, July 28, 2011

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PAGE 23

FIFA/COCA-COLA WORLD RANKING

Eagles drops to 43rd spot Pg. 24

•Vincent Enyeama

24

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP

Heartland slaps NFF I’ve called up the best with N2.2m bill players –Coach Adamu T T

HE management of Heartland is demanding the sum of N2.2 million from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as a precondition for honouring the rescheduled week 31 game against Ocean Boys in Yenagoa.

The amount covered cost the team incurred when it heeded to Nigeria Premier League directive that the game be played in Abuja.

Recall that NPL banished Ocean Boys to Abuja for its home matches after week 21 game in Yenagoa against Enyimba in which the referees were allegedly beaten by the host team's fans.

However, before Ocean Boys would play its first game in Abuja against Heartland, the NFF Disciplinary Committee rescinded the decision but failed to tell Heartland not to proceed to Abuja for the game.

It was equally alleged that Ocean Boys did not show up in Abuja for the game.

Heartland's Spokesman, Cajetan Nkwopara informed SuperSport.com of his management's position adding that the club insisted on compensation before they will honour the week 31 game against Ocean Boys in Yenagoa.

"The management of Heartland is demanding the sum of N2.2 million from the NFF as cost it incurred on

transporting the entire team and officials to Abuja for the aborted game, accommodation, feeding, and other miscellaneous expenses.

"Heartland area government owned team, money for the game was given out by the government and there is no way the management will go back to the same government to ask for another money to prosecute a game originally paid for.

"The management has made their position known to the NPL as it concerns the week 31 game in Yenagoa.

"NFF offered to pay N500, 000 for us to go and play the game but we said no because it was a far cry from what we spent on the aborted game in Abuja.

"So it is either they pay us the N2.2 million and we honour the game in Yenagoa or the NFF Disciplinary Committee furnishes us with the document of their decision so that we can make our own appeal on that decision," he said.

SuperSport.com contacted the acting executive secretary of the NPL, Tunji Babalola on the issue and he said the matter is that of the NFF who rescinded Ocean Boys banishment to Abuja.

"It is the NFF that should react to the issue, they took the decision, there is nothing we can do except to appeal to Heartland," he said.

CAF CONFEDERATIONS CUP

Kaduna Utd faults kick off time •Expect away win in Tunis

K

ADUNA UNITED FC have pointed accusing fingers at their opponent, Club Africain of Tunisia over the timing of their Day 2 CAF Confederations Cup tie slated for Tunis on Sunday.

Speaking with NationSport from Kaduna the leading scorer of the club this season with over 16 goals in all competitions, Jude Aneke said that the 10.00pm kick off time would not be in

•Fidelis Saviour

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri their interest judging by the weather in North Africa as at that time of the day.

He stated that even though Kaduna United would be travelling to Tunis with their mind set on the three points the underhand tactics employed by their host could make their dreams of getting a positive result turn a mirage.

Aneke with 13 goals in the league and further three in the African second tier club competition opined that the match in Tunis would be used to put a halt to their back to back home draws in the last two weeks and get the three points at stake.

“We are ready for them and by Wednesday when we jet out, expectations are high that we are going to get a positive result. But I am not too pleased with the timing with the present condition in North African countries. They put the match at 10.00pm and by that time the weather will be too cold for the game to be played. We are aware of their tactics and we shall be ready for them.

“We are not making any excuses at all.

We shall try everything within our reach to get a good result in Tunis,” Aneke added.

•Lists 22 for camp

HE coach of Nigeria’s Beach Soccer team, Adamu Audu has expressed confidence in the 22 players called up to camp in Badagry ahead of the of the 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup holding in Ravenna, Italy, from September 1- 11th.

The list which includes 10 old players with 12 new players selected from local clusides in the country will be in Badagry camp for two weeks, while 16 players will be selected for the team training tour in Portugal while only 10 players will make the final squad to the World Cup in Italy.

In a chat with NationSport, Adamu said he has been able to invite players who will be given the opportunity to fight for shirt as he hopes to assemble a team that will do the country proud in Italy.

“I invited four players from Owibesebe FC in Ojoo. We used to play friendly matches against the team whenever we are in camp in Badagry and they have always proved to be a good opposition.

That was why I invited four players from that team.

“Most of the players have been coming for screening, like Oladipo Olalekan, Badmus Babatunde and Ramon Dekina have been in the team for so long. They are tested players and have been in the terrain for about four years now. Since 2007 we’ve been playing friendly matches against them and I have been calling the boys to camp. Now that they have matured I have to give them the opportunity.

Nigeria lost failed to lift this year’s edition of the Africa Beach Soccer Championship after losing to Senegal in the final and Adamu believes he has been able to note where the team is lacking.

“When you look at the game now, you need to have tall people in the front and in the defence. So I have corrected that area by bringing in players like Ikechukwu Akabogwu from Ocean Boys, James Owuosa from Rangers and Abutu Aadofu from Dragon Football Club, a local team in the country. He is taller than the Senegalese players and I think they have the ball sence, the energy that is needed to maintain that position,” he said.

Eagles drops to 43rd spot •Now Africa's 5th best

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IGERIA's Super Eagles have dropped two places in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking released for the month of July on Wednesday.

The Samson Siasia tutored-side slipped from 41st position to 43rd ahead of next month's international friendly against rivals Ghana's Black Stars in London.

A further breakdown of the rankings show that the two-time African champions are now rated number five on the continent behind Ivory Coast (14th), Egypt (34th),

T

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri meritoriously served while still active, asserting that the NFF intended action on Muda Lawal and some host of other ones shows that the incumbent NFF would be quite a departure from the old past that paid lip service to them.

“I think it is great. This is the second time I will be coming here (Owerri).I was here when Uche Okafor was buried not too long ago. The statue of Sam Okwaraji is also at the outside of the stadium (Dan Anyiam Stadium). We shouldn’t forget about Muda Lawal. As a midfielder when I was young everyone wanted to be like Muda Lawal, but I think it is just sad that it took about two decades to remember this fallen hero.

“I think a lot of credit should go to the current leadership of the NFF for deeming it fit to remember him. I think other former members of NFF could have done that before now but it is still not too late. I believe it is the right time the kids (Muda Lawal’s kids) can acknowledge what their

Ghana (36th) and Burkina Faso (39th).

A total of 88 matches were taken into account for this month’s edition, almost a third of which were part of this year’s Copa America, which therefore had a considerable impact on this month’s positions.

Following their 3-0 final win over Paraguay, champions Uruguay (5th, up 13) not only moved back into the top ten but also achieved their bestever position.

Finalists Paraguay also moved up

•Eucharia

LONDON OLYMPICS

Eucharia Uche invites 32 for Cameroon C OACH of the Senior National Women’s Team, Super Falcons, Eucharia Uche has invited 32 players to camp for next month’s London 2012 Olympic Games qualifying fixture against Cameroon.

There are six foreign-based players and 26 home-based in the invited group that is expected to make camp at the Millennium Hotel, Abuja from the first day of August.

Five of the six foreign-based players were part of the squad that finished in ninth place at the recently-concluded 6th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Germany.

Veteran forward Perpetua Nkwocha scored Nigeria’s only goal of the tournament in the 1-0 win over Canada in Dresden while defenders Faith Ikidi, Onome Ebi and Helen Ukaonu posted creditable performances. Midfielder Rita Chikwelu and forward Emueje Ogbiagbevba are the others.

Ogbiagbevba scored a brace against Namibia in the earlier round of the Olympic Games qualifying race but was dropped for the global finals in Germany.

The home-based contingent is led by goalkeeper and skipper Precious Dede, and also includes goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, defenders Osinachi Ohale, Rebecca Kalu, Joy Jegede, Josephine Chukwunonye and Gloria Ofuegbu, midfielders Glory Iroka, Francesca Ordega and Amarachi Okoronkwo, and forwards Ebere Orji, Desire Oparanozie, Stella Mbachu, Esther Sunday, Amenze Aighewi and Vera Okolo.

The Falcons will take on the Lionesses of Cameroon in the first leg of the fixture in Nigeria on Sunday, August 28, with the return leg in Cameroon two weeks later.

THE FULL LIST FOREIGN-BASED: Perpetua Nkwocha (Sweden), Emueje Ogbigbevba (Russia), Rita Chikwelu (Sweden), Onome Ebi (Turkey), Helen Ukaonu (Sweden), Faith Ikidi (Sweden) HOME-BASED: Precious Dede (Rivers Angels), Tochukwu Oluehi (Sunshine Queens), Ebubeleye White (Rivers Angels), Evelyn Nwabuoku (Rivers Angels), Osinachi Ohale (Delta Queens), Ebere Orji (Rivers Angels), Stella Mbachu (Rivers Angels), Glory Iroka (Rivers Angels), Desire Oparanozie (Delta Queens), Francesca Ordega (Bayelsa Queens), Rebecca Kalu (Rivers Angels), Esther Sunday (Sunshine Queens), Tawa Ishola (Sunshine Queens), Blessing Edoho (Rivers Angels), Josephine Chukwunonye (Rivers Angels), Amenze Aighewi (Rivers Angels), Joy Jegede (Delta Queens), Gloria Ofoegbu (Rivers Angels), Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons), Asisat Ishola (FC Robo, Lagos), Vera Okolo (Delta Queens), Edith Eduviere (Sunshine Queens), Chima Nwosu (Bayelsa Queens), Andy Lucky (Akwa Ibom State), Josephine Mathias (Rivers State), Nkiruka Ozoemena (Ebonyi State)

IGERIA international Obafemi Martins has declared himself fit after several months at the sidelines as a result of a shin injury while on loan at English Premier League club Birmingham City.

The striker they fondly call ‘Obagoal’ tells MTNFootball.com in this exclusive interview he will head back to his Russian club Rubin Kazan, but that his heart is really in Italy, where he got his first big break with Inter Milan...

HOW are you doing now Oba? Obafemi Martins: I’m very fine now and I’m delighted to be back from injury. It’s great to be back playing again and I wish to express my appreciation to everyone who supported me while I was out injured.

Now that you are fit again, where are you heading to?

I am going back to Rubin Kazan, of course. I still have two more years on my contract and so I’m going back to the club.

But you are here in Nigeria now...?

I came back to process my work permit.

However, lately you were linked with a return to Italy with Palermo rumoured to be leading the chase for you.

I would very much want to return to Italy so as to revive my career, but I still got a contract with Kazan and so I’m heading back there now.

How much did you miss the game while you were out injured?

Very much...I miss football because that is what I eat, that is where I earn a living, so I’m really happy I’m back and can’t wait to start hitting the back of the net.

Just recently, coach Samson Siasia named a 21-man squad for the friendly against Ghana in London next month.

You were again overlooked.

I’m okay by that decision as I’m just back from injury. What I want to do now is to settle down at my club and

thereafter target a return to the Eagles.

I miss not being part of the team, but throughout the time I was injured Siasia, who is like a big brother to me, was in touch. I believe once I’m back scoring goals for my club, I will be recalled to the national team.

But there is now a stiffer competition among the strikers when you consider the likes of Osaze Odemwingie, Ikechukwu Uche, Ahmed Musa, Peter Utaka, Emmanuel Emenike and Brown Ideye.

I will give it my best shot if I’m recalled. To be sincere, these players you mentioned are all good strikers and I respect them. I hope to return and work together with them. The most important thing is the team.

Finally, would you put your money on the Eagles to qualify for next year’s African Nations Cup as they are now four points behind group leaders Guinea with two rounds of matches to be played?

Yes of course the Eagles will qualify.

With team work, dedication and prayers we will be at the Nations Cup. Please disregard the FIFA rankings because we are one of the best teams in Africa.

We have quality in players like Yobo and Kalu.We all know the match in Madagascar won’t be easy because it’s away from home. We will win before focusing on our last game at home to Guinea.

Amokachi tips Eagles to triumph •Says Osaze is 'crazy'

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X- SUPER Eagles forward, Daniel Amokachi has favoured Nigeria to win the August 9 friendly against Ghana slated for England.

Responding to questions at the Media pearly organised by Supersports in Lagos yesterday, Amokachi said though the rivalry between both sides have been stiff over the years, Nigeria has quality players that can outwit the Ghanaians if the right approach is maintained.

"My obsevation is that since Siasia came on board it is as if he has been trying players. This match is not a match to try players but field quality that will give the right result.

"The Ghanaians have shown more commitments in the past and that is why we have been struggling" he said.

On the recent rift between the Eagles'

PLAYERS INVITED Abdul Isa – Plateau United Oladipo Olalekan – Owonisebe FC Okechukwu Ezimma – Sharks FC Isiaka Olawale –Kwara United Okemiri Ogbonaya – Kwara United

dad did when he was playing for the Super (Green) Eagles. I think it is a good deed by the NFF,” Ikpeba noted.

Ikpeba also pointed that it is a not a pleasant sight to behold that some of these heroes who are still alive have been abandoned and are currently living in abject poverty.

Citing the example of the Nigeria national team first goalkeeper, Sam Ibiam who is finding it hard to make ends meet in Ebonyi State where he presently resides, Ikpeba said, “It is sad and I think it is pathetic and it should not be forgotten that when some of these players played the game in the past there was no money in football. It is very sad when I hear stories like this. There are lots of stories going around, of players who are struggling to have daily meals.

I just hope that with all the problems we are going through presently in Nigerian Football we should not forget about the past ,and to see someone that has given so much to the country in the past being neglected is not good.”

By Uchenna Ajah

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six places to 26th, while defeated semifinalists Peru (25th, up 24) and Venezuela (40th, up 29) were the biggest movers in the top 100.

World champions, Spain are still ranked number one in the world.

AHEAD NIGERIA/GHANA FRIENDLY

Honour for Muda Lawal: Ikpeba pats NFF on the back HOUGH it has taken more than two decades for late Green Eagles midfield maestro, Mudashiru Lawal to be remembered by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the current leadership of the NFF headed by Alhaji Aminu Maigari has been commended for deeming it fit to recall the exploits of the departed player despite consistent snub from successive administrators of football before now.

Former Super Eagles player, Victor Nosakhare Ikpeba made this known to journalists in an interview recently at Owerri stating that it was really a great innovation and well thought of by the Maigari led NFF, adding that remembering our heroes who are no longer in active service would no doubt spur the current crop of players to attain greatness knowing fully well that they would be noticed later on.

He regretted the appalling situation of some former players who have been neglected and allowed to wallow in abject poverty for the country they

Obagoal: 'I want Italy return'

FIFA/COCA-COLA WORLD RANKING

By Akeem Lawal

Bartholomew Ebenegbu Victor Tale – Lokoja FC Abu Azeez – Bridge Boys Shehu Maijama’a – Wkki Emmanuel Zabi–Adamawa United Nelson Onyekachi– Warri Wolves Musa Najere – Rangers Abutu Aadofu – Dragon FC Dekina Ramon – Owonisebe FC Jibrin Adams – Apa United Otukpo Okechukwu AkabogwuOcean Boys Badmus Babatunde –Owonisebe FC Emma Nwachi – Dolphins Emeka Atuloma – Dolphins Atu Irumekhai – Un attached Joseph Enaholo – Un attached James Owuosa - Rangers Coach - Adamu Audu

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•Amokachi

•Isiaka Olawale of Nigeria (r) vies with Benjamin (l) of Brazil during their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup match in Dubai

By Innocent Amomoh gaffer Samson Siasia and West Bromwich Albion forward, Osaze Odemwingie, Amokachi expressed happiness that the issue has been resolved, but stated that Osaze should be crazy, as only crazy players can turn out to be good players.

"It is good that Siasia and Osaze have settled their differences. The coach should understand that at times players can be crazy. As a player you must be a little crazy up there to be a good player, but the coach must find a way to manage the situation when it arises" Amokachi said.

He however called on Siasia to start rounding up his re-building process and come up with a standing national team that will represent the country subsequently.

•Obafemi Martins

YSFON MOCK CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Real Madrid , Milan, AS Roma through to semi-final HE trio of Real Madrid, AC Milan and AS Roma are the first three clubs to book a passage to the semi-final of the ongoing Cowbell sponsored YSFON MOCK Champions League holding at the Township Primary School, Owerri while the last will be decided this morning.

To qualify for the last four Real Madrid underlined their credentials as the team to beat with maximum 12 points from 4 matches.

The team from Spain defeated AC Milan, Manchester United and Chelsea all by a lone goal before they also added Inter

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri Milan to their victims with 2-0 comfortable lead before we went to press.

On the other hand, AC Milan also progressed to the semi final after getting 7 points from four matches.

Though started on a shaky note with a loss to Real Madrid, AC Milan recovered to beat the duo of Chelsea and Manchester United also by 1-0 each to add to a 1-1 draw with Inter Milan.

While the third entrant to the last four is Roma. Roma got 8 points from 4 matches with two wins over Arsenal (1-0) and

Barcelona (1-0) before drab draws against Liverpool and Marseille cemented their place among the qualifiers.

The last qualifier from the other half of the group will be determined this morning when Liverpool still smarting from their 3-1 win over Olympique Marseille lock horns with Barcelona in a winner takes all tie.

The two semi final matches also hold this afternoon at the Township Primary School, Owerri The final takes place on Friday and it is being supervised by the Ndubuisi Opara led Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), Imo chapter.

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THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

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

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

Many Nigerians will jump at the opportunity of studying abroad, especially in the United States. However, Samuel Babatunde Ero-Phillips left the U.S. to study for his Ph.D at the University of Lagos. He tells KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE what informed his decision.

•Ibogun children alight from their ‘school bus’. Inset: Ero-Phillips (right) with his friend, Eniola

The dream of an American scholar

V

ERY soon, structures for a primary school will go up in Ibogun Village, Ogun State. They will be no ordinary structures but the result of a research on the use of bamboo and mud bricks as alternative building materials.

They will form part of a case study for the doctoral thesis of Samuel Babatunde Ero-Phillips, a Fulbright scholar who is researching on “Sustainable architecture with focus on climate-specific materials” – in this case bamboo and mud bricks.

He is doing his Ph.D at the University of Lagos – with Dr A. Adebamawo, Head of the Architecture Department and Prof – Olusanya acting as his advisers.

It would not have raised any eyebrows if Tunde had spent all his life in Nigeria. However, the reverse is the case. The 28-yearold son of a Nigerian father and an American mother has lived most of his life in the United States, where he had his elementary, high school and university education. He studied Studio Arts and Architecture for his first degree at the University of Minnesota, and topped it up with a Masters in Sustainable

•Seeks to build schools with bamboo, mud bricks Architecture from the University of Illinois. However, he told this reporter in an interview that he chose Nigeria for his Ph.D because he wanted to do something “really practical”.

He also expressed confidence in getting qualitative supervision from his advisers.

Ero-Phillips said his interest in researching alternate construction materials is fuelled by the desire to provide affordable housing materials. He said the cost of using concrete for housing is high, while the material does not meet environmental and comfort needs because of the highly humid

weather in Nigeria. While concrete has replaced mud bricks as the preferred building material since its introduction by colonial masters, Ero-Phillips is advocating that Nigerians should go back to using mud bricks that have been technologically enhanced, while seeking a situation where bamboo will be a popular choice – like it is in India, China and other Asian countries – especially as the bamboo plant grows in abundance in the southern part of the country.

“I came to Nigeria in September 2010. I came here as a Fulbright scholar to do research.This is a

very good university. I am actually excited to do my research here. I have really been enjoying my time as a Fulbright scholar.

“I am looking at what is the most appropriate type of material to use in this environment. We in Nigeria have a hot, humid climate so, I am looking at what materials would perform the best in terms of promoting natural ventilation and also reducing cost so it won’t be too expensive and people can afford them. The goal for my Ph.D is I want to finish the (primary) school and use that as a case study to show people what is possible; how to build with

I am doing the school project because the need exists. My village has 35 houses. Many of the families are mostly farmers who come to the village to farm. They have two, three wives with many children. Parents spend N100 every day transporting their kids to school, which they cannot afford

bamboo. I also want to design affordable housing here in Lagos and find ways of making the best use of wetlands that we have in cultivating bamboo.

“The research goals that I have are very ambitious. I believe it will work. I am willing to put in the hard work and I believe it will make a big difference. I am really grateful that the US government provided me with funds to pursue the research.”

Ero-Phillips, who prefers being informally addressed as Tunde, is optimistic about his research and hopes that, by the time the school is completed, and he helps his father build a house in the village, as well as construct an office space in Lagos using bamboo and mud bricks, Nigerians will be convinced enough to patronise the project.

Already, a library that will serve the school to be named after his great great grandfather, Ilabode, has been raised up to roofing level – with reinforced mud bricks – a product of his research. The library, which will serve the school and the community, sits on •Continued on Page 26

•EKITI DEFENDS VARSITIES’ MERGER - Page 28 •’ MY FATHER SHOULD DISOWN ME IF I DID NOT MAKE A FIRST CLASS’- Page 40

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

26

EDUCATION

The dream of an American scholar •Continued from Page 25

a portion of a six-plot land donated by the village for the school.

When completed, the school willbe the first in the community.

Beyond his research, Ero-Phillips’ interest in building a school is borne out of the fact that schoolaged children in the village, who, he said, are in their hundreds, are forced to walk more than three miles to attend schools in the neighbouring village on days their parents cannot afford the N100 bike fare for transport to and fro.

“I am doing the school project because the need exists. My village has 35 houses. Many of the families are mostly farmers who come to the village to farm. They have two, three wives with many children. Parents spend N100 every day transporting their kids to school, which they cannot afford. When there is no money, the children trek three miles. People may say they trekked to school as children but it is not good.

Sometimes, on my way to the village, I see small children trekking. I grab two and put them on the bike and take them with me”, he said.

However, Ero-Phillips needs more funds to complete the school.

Work is stalled on the library because the N1.5 million from his grant has been exhausted on the

project. Despite this set back, the architect is optimistic that he would get money to finish the project – though he expressed disappointment that people who praised him when they saw how far he had gone with the library are yet to fulfill their pledges to support the work. He is also sad that, despite boasting of prominent sons and daughters at home and abroad, none has thought of providing the village with a school.

“I have received so many pledges. I got pledges up to N500,000 but I have collected less than N100,000. Igbogu has many prominent people. I am just 28, a small boy, yet nobody has thought about these children. I know I will get funds to complete the project.

But I want Nigerians to contribute to it,” he said.

When the school is completed, he hopes to teach art there, as well as mount literacy programmes for adults.

“My main focus is the children. I want to teach art classes. Once I am done, I want to come with paint, art materials and pencils and teach them how to draw”, he said.

Since last year, he said he has been teaching architecture students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye how to use autocad – a software architects cannot do without in the 21st century. He is doing it in unofficial capacity. He has also involved some of them in

•Ero-Phillips (10th from left) and members of his extended family in the uncompleted library

the building project, an experience he said has exposed them to the practical aspects of their discipline.

“I have taught students of Architecture at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU). They did not know anything about Information Technology. They still do their drawings manually; but this is 2011, not 1911. I taught them to use autocad so they can work on the computer. Some of the students followed me to site but they

could not earn any marks for their participation because I am not allowed to award marks,” he said.

He also hopes to get a job at UNILAG. “I look forward to teaching the students here and I think I will learn a lot from them and they will learn from me”, he said.

He has already started learning from them. He has made friends with Enioluwa Aiyejusunle, a 200 Level architecture student who wowed him with his level of IT knowledge.

“I sat next to him during a lecture and I saw him doing all sorts

on his laptop. He was using IT software that we use in the United States. I was surprised when he told me he was a 200-Level student, and immediately, I told him he had to be my friend”, he said.

If all his plans work out, Ilabode Primary School, Ibogun will be functional before he completes his Ph.D which he started last September.

He will be teaching architecture at the UNILAG and OOU; and, his architectural business will be promoting the use of bamboo and mud bricks in 10 years.

•Floor plan of the school

•Oluwatoni Omowole, Maureen Wowo, Olaedo Emezi, Gbeke Oyemakinde, Tochukwu Onunkwo, Chidera Orizu, and Ezinwa Ekene during the Cultural Day of Deo Gratias Schools, Garki 2, Abuja

NUC okays LAUTECH MBA programmes

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HE National Universities Commission (NUC) has lauded the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) MBA programmes.

The acting leader of the NUC MBA curriculum team, Prof Solomon Oladapo Olaniyan, gave the commendation after an accreditation of the MBA courses in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Specifically, the NUC team expressed satisfaction on the library complex, number of professors and other seasoned academics, as well as staff development and exchange programmes.

From Bode Durojaiye, Ogbomoso

“We are satisfied at the facilities in place for the MBA programmes, and hope the institution’s management would not rest on its oars in improving on them. The enabling environment which is conducive for learning is also commendable”.

The NUC team, however, urged the alumni association to rise to the challenge of contributing its quota to the development of the school.

LAUTECH Vice Chancellor, Prof Lanrewaju Nassar, thanked the NUC team for a job well done, assuring that the management

would improve existing facilities.

“The strength, image and beauty of university in the area of accreditation cannot be over emphasised, hence the need for ivory towers to brace up to the challenges of the millennium”.

In another development, Osun State University Vice-Chancellor Prof Soji Akinrinade was also at LAUTECH, to explore the possibility of collaboration between the two universities in health sciences.

Akinrinade, who was accompanied by some officers, also commended LAUTECH for its excellent performances in the comity of state –owned universities.

“Why won’t Nigerians crave European and American higher education? ... Abroad, Boko is never Haram!”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

27

EDU-

NTI boss laments nomination of non-educationists for training

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HE Director-General of the National Teachers Institute (NTI), Dr Aminu Ladan Shareh, has lamented the sponsorship of non- educationists for workshops organised by the institute for teachers of primary schools.

Sharehu, who was addressing chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB) at the Institute’s conference hall on Monday, said such practice should be stopped.

He noted that though it has reduced in recent times due to the involvement of the state wing of the Nige-

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

ria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the selection of participants for training, the practice should be discarded by those involved so that teachers can benefit from the programme.

He told the SUBEB chairmen to spare no efforts in ensuring the attainment of the President’s transformation agenda by exploring resources at their disposal to rejuvenate the education sector in their various states.

He also said problems associated with payment of allowances to participants since the exercise be-

gan in 2006, have been reduced and that steps have taken to ensure a hitch-free exercise this year .

He listed the problems as dormancy of bank accounts, wrong/incorrect account numbers and multiple use of same bank account number by participants.

To forestall the problems, he urged participants to keep their accounts active, submit the new NUBAN bank account numbers and open account instead of using proxies.

He implored the chairmen to partner with the institute in the discharge of their statutory duties.

•Pupils in the ICT laboratory of one of the benefitting schools

Church donates ICT labs O promote computer education in schools, House on the Rock and the Lagos State government have inaugurated a Computer Laboratory initiative that will equip public secondary schools with modern computer laboratories.

According to the Senior Pastor, House on the Rock, Paul Adefarasin, the church set a target of covering 100 schools by 2014 and that it believes that

T

knowledge of the computer is of importance to pupils.

So far, Dolphin Senior High School, Lagos island and Girls Senior Secondary School, Keffi, Ikoyi have benefited from the programme. Each provided got 17 computers, Computer Lab furniture (Tables and Chairs), fans, lightings, generators, work stations (flat screen monitors and CPUs), air conditioners, burglary proof, security doors and

Venetian blinds.

Their Computer Laboratories were inaugurated by the Lagos State government.

Others are Lafiaji Junior High School, Lagos Island; Okesuna Junior High School, Lagos Island; New Era Senior Girls High School; Wesley Girls Junior High School, Iponri; Estate Junior High School and Isale Eko Grammar School, Lagos Island, he added

ETF decry poor access to its funds

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HE Executive Secretary, Education Trust Fund (ETF), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has lamented the inability of beneficiaries to access its intervention funds about three years after allocation.

He said the development had hampered the implementation of the fund’s programmes.

Yakubu spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital at atwo day capacity building workshop for its directors of physical planning/works and desk officers.

He bemoaned that in the past after allocation, funds were not accessed for about three years. This has resulted in the accumulation of billions of naira, he said.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

The Executive Secretary, who was represented by the Director, Finance and Investment, Alhaji Idris Saidu, said the board of trustees at various meetings considered the issue and condemned it “It is, therefore, very important to use this medium to rub minds to address the issue of unaccessed funds and

strategise to ensure timely delivery of quality projects nationwide,” he said.

During the workshop participants were told to re-acquaint themselves with the requirements, procedures and guidelines for accessing ETF funds, especially in new areas such as academic staff training, conference attendance, journal publication, and research.

‘It is, therefore, very important to use this medium to rub minds to address the issue of unaccessed funds and strategise to ensure timely delivery of quality projects nationwide’

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

EDUCATION UNAAB FILE Varsity’s ranking soars THE University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB) is now eighth in the ranking of best universities in Nigeria.

It rose to the position among the 77 universities that were ranked by www.41cu.org as part of its world universities web ranking.

According to the result of the second half of 2011, it was ranked eighth as against 11th in the previous ranking done in January.

A breakdown of the ranking showed that UNAAB led other third generation universities and also beat most of the first generation universities.

They include University of Port Harcourt, which came Ninth and closely trailed UNAAB, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Maiduguri, Bayero University, Kano, Usman Dan Fodio University, Olabisi Onabanjo University, University of Calabar, among others.

However, a major upset was recorded in the ranking as the University of Ibadan “dethroned” the hitherto reigning University of Ilorin, to the second position.

UNILORIN is followed

by Obafemi Awolowo University, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Jos, University of Lagos and UNAAB.

Ekiti defends varsities’ merger

E

KITI State Commissioner for Information,

Orientation and Strategy Funminiyi Afuye has said the three state-owned universities were merged as part of measures to boost the quality of education.

He said stakeholders at an education summit held in the state reflected on the poor condition of education before Governor Kayode Fayemi assumed office. He said there was a compelling need to transform the sector.

Afuye faulted the establishment of the University of Science and Technology, IfakiEkiti and the University of Education, Ikere-Ekiti by the illegal Oni administration without considering the financial capability of the state.

He was reacting to the criticisms of the merger by a former commissioner under

By Emmanuel Oladesu

Oni, Babade Kayode, who flayed the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government for the decision.

Afuye said the ousted government created confusion by attempting to move the university from Ikere to Ifaki without following due process.

The commissioner described the establishment of a university at Ifaki as an after thought, recalling that the institution was established following the failed bid to relocate the Ikere institution to Oni’s native town.

He said: “Establishing a university in every town and village in Ekiti is not an issue. The issue is the quality of the university. There was total confusion and pandemonium. The governor met this confusion on ground.

Education is part of his

eight-point agenda. Ekiti intellectuals and other experts from other lands came to look at the situation in a summit, from primary to tertiary level. They arrived at the conclusion that Ekiti State cannot sustain three universities.

“The merging of the university was proper and all the stakeholders in Ekiti were involved.”

Afuye said the restructuring ot Ekiti State University is meant to make the institution meet global standard, which proliferation of universities without adequate planning and funding it cannot ensure.

The state, he said, has embarked on internal expansion in of the university to guarantee access to more young people to acquire qualitative education in an atmosphere of academic security.

UNILORIN FILE Don delivers 95th lnaugural Lecture A PROFESSOR of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Ilorin, Ayodele Ojuawo, will today be delivering the 95th inaugural lecture of the university.

The topic of the lecture is The Child’s Gut and Its Guts.

The venue is the Science Lecture Theatre. The lecture begins at 5:00 p.m.

•Afuye

He said: “The state government is ready to make Ekiti State University a university of standard. It will be adequately funded and its products would be able to compete favourably with their counterparts across the globe.”

VC bids Senate farewell THE UNAAB Senate ended the 2010/2011 Academic Session with a befitting luncheon at the Sweet Sensation Hall, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, in company of his wife, Elizabeth, also a professor, enjoyed his last session with other members of Senate, most of who came with their spouses.

Balogun thanked members of the academic for their contribution to his tenure.

“I want to thank you for keeping me on my toes and for not making me to preside over those who know nothing. Thank you for driving the system to where we are today. Despite all odds, you made it possible for us to regularise the academic calendar at a time when some Universities were just starting their first semester examinations,” he said.

Varsity subscribes to research facility THE UNILORIN has subscribed to “Research Africa”, a facility that provides “the African research, science and development communities with the most comprehensive online system of funding opportunities and research-related news” across all disciplines.

The university’s ViceChancellor, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said the step is part of efforts in positioning the university, and its scholars on the top list of the global research system.

Briefing the Senate of the university at its last 220th meeting, Oloyede said the facility, which is to be trialtested in August, will aid sourcing funds for research projects and academic conferences, a major problem confronting researchers, will be addressed.

He added that another problem is that many people are oblivious of several funding opportunities available across the world which they can easily access to fund their research activities.

Thief caught on campus •The excited pupils during the event

Governor’s wife plans parenting seminar

B

EFORE the year runs out, the Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network (LEARN), an initiative of the Mrs Abimbola Fashola, plans to hold a seminar where parents will be counselled on how to take better care of their children.

Mrs Fashola made this known during the Time out with Youths event organised

by LEARN for secondary school pupils at the City Hall, Lagos Island.

She said the seminar became necessary because of the feedback co-ordinators of LEARN got from pupils, which showed gaps in the

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

homes capable of undermining whatever investments made by the organisation and government.

Mrs Fashola said the seminar would address issues such as curbing rape, incest and other forms of child abuse, caring for children and enforcing discipline.

“We have had cases where the children told us to talk to their parents. We are going to have a parenting seminar before the end of the year. We will address child abuse, proper parenting, the need for par-

ents to be their children’s friends, and not be afraid to discipline them. We will also discuss issues of incest and rape,” she said.

During the event, secondary school pupils not only had a swell time, but also learnt some lessons.

Chairman of the occasion, Mr Babatunde Odufuwa, counselled the pupils to develop their potential.

Motivational speaker Mr Niyi Adesanya spoke on leadership and counselled the pupils to choose the likes of Nelson Mandela as their role models given the impact they have made on the society.

“Carlos Slim is the richest man in the world, but Nelson Mandela is regarded more as a leader. It means you don’t need money; or to be born into royalty to be a leader,” he said.

Another facilitator, Mr Bola Olayinka, told the students that they should plan their time like they make spending budgets.

“We plan how to spend our money, how come we do not plan how to spend our time? Some events are steal time. You have to think of how to use your time in a way that it will become an investment,” he said.

ONE Mr Abdulrazaq Bello who posed as a candidate seeking admission details, has been arrested by a staff memeber of Bursary department after he had escaped with N7,000 belonging to one Bamidele Olalekan who worked in the same unit.

Mr Olalekan had approached the culprit who was a stranger, offering answers to his request.

Olalekan then left the stranger in his office only to return later and found out the man was gone with his money.

MrAhmed immediately raised an alarm which forced the staff of the Bursary unit into a frantic search for the thief, who was eventually caught as he was about to escape at the university gate via a taxi.

Schools sign up for spelling competition

N

ATIONWIDE registration for the fourth season of the SPELLIT! Competition has begun as primary and junior secondary schools rush to register for the contest.

Organised by Gift People Ltd, SPELLIT! is an oral English spelling competition designed for pupils aged

seven to 14 in primary and secondary schools across the country aimed at improving their English; inspire self-confidence and help them develop interpersonal and public speaking skills as well as comprehension and communication skills.

At a briefing, Managing

Director, Gift People Ltd., Oluwatoyin Akintayo, who also serves as National Coordinator, of the programme, said the competition was launched in response to the poor English Language skills of school children and the need to stimulate educational programmes outside the regular school cur-

riculum to reverse the trend.

“Our aim is to enrich the learning experience of the youth in English Language through extracurricular platforms such as competition where stakeholders such as the youths, parents, schools, business and the community at large can be engaged,” he explained.

29

NYSC: Beyond the allawee hike

Behold, the ‘kingmakers’

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS

Page 34

Page 31

*GRANTS

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE

0805-450-3104 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Students of Creative Arts, University of Lagos (UNILAG), organised a carnival and drama to celebrate black culture. AYODEJI ADESINA (400-LEVEL Mass Communication, UNILAG) captures the excitement.

UNILAG students in creative best

•The King and Queen of Trinidad and Tobago with their entourage

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HE procession of revelling students around the University of Lagos (UNILAG) a fortnight ago could have passed off for London's Nottinghill Carnival celebrated yearly by black immigrants. The revellers comprised creative arts students, who staged a cultural show tagged: "AfroCaribbean festival". From planning to execution, it was clear that the students were out to send a message to the world.

Prior to the event, there was excitement among students and members of staff. Banners and posters adorned strategic locations on campus. Even a first-timer could perceive that something interesting was in the offing.

Tickets sold fast during the drama week as the performers embarked on rigorous rehearsals at the main auditorium. Some worked on scripts; others erected the rostrum and yet others sewed costumes.

The organisers deployed enough resources to promote the programme. On the D-day, the students were divided into groups, each with its own unique and style. There were eight groups. The mission was to project cultures of selected African and Caribbean countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa,

•Excited members of the procession in colourful attire

Brazil, Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago.

The group that displayed Nigerian cultures wore attires peculiar to the northern, eastern and western parts of the country. Amid the rendition of the National anthem, the stu-

dents shielded themselves under green and white umbrellas to add beauty and glamour to the event.

The Egyptian team was led by "Pharaoh," accompanied by his queens, maids and se-

curity guards with the paraphernalia of the Egyptian civilisation. The Pharaoh looked grim in a black cloak laced with gold stripes.

His queens wore silk golden regalia.

The South African traditional apparels were noticeably glowing as students in this category dressed in Zulu attire with leopardskin leather cloth tied around their waists and shoulders. Six students in the group carried spears and shields and pranced back and forth as if ready to strike. The "Zulu king" dressed like a warrior going to battle with spear-bearing men trailing him closely.

In their brownish and purple brocades, the king and queen of Trinidad and Tobago rode on the white horses majestically and intermittently waving their hands to the cheerful crowd. The Brazilian group equally rolled out their samba drums and danced to entertain the audience.

Many students commended the pageant as the Arts students marched around the campus main road, singing and dancing.

For Daniel Adewunmi, 200-Level student of Political Science, the festival was a good way of promoting the black culture.

•Continued on page 31

• Varsity lifts ban on associations - Pg32 •Students protest late registration fee - Pg33

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

30

CAMPUS LIFE that will serve the current needs of the people. Again, I need to be properly educated on what, in tangible terms, is meant by "the next level".

We are good at using impressive expressions that do not say anything at the end of the day. Minister Abdullahi must go back to the drawing table with his lieutenants, especially those directly in-charge of the NYSC, so that they can come up 08054503104 with something they can properly grasp first. Then, they would also (SMS only) to come up with a realistic and •campuslife@thenationonlineng.net need practical method through which the •ladycampus@yahoo.com same would be passed across to the rest of the NYSC staff, and then the ing he would "take the scheme to the next members (more commonly called level so that it would meet the current needs "corpers").

President Jonathan made two shows and expectations of the country".

According to Abdullahi, the objective of (summits) of "reclaiming, restoring, restructhe scheme to foster national integration turing and sustaining education quality when it was created 38 years ago was still and ethics". Since then, last October and relevant and would not be allowed to be this January, we have had many strikes in both state and federal-owned institutions. defeated.

I agree with the last part. What I do not As I write, staff in all higher institutions pretend to understand are phrases like: owned by Plateau and Yobe states' govern"The new NYSC will create values and ments are striking. Those in Kaduna Polyserve the current needs of the people, to technic, a federal institution, resumed about make it more relevant to the national trans- two weeks ago; this was after almost six formation agenda of President Goodluck months of industrial action.

One is hard-pressed trying to understand Jonathan" and the promise to "take the scheme to the next level so that it would what the reclamation and restoration was meet the current needs and expectations of all about. One cannot really hold Jonathan down on anything because the words (recthe country".

Those are words that say nothing. For one, lamation, restoration and sustenance) say I do not understand what the "transforma- nothing. They need tangible pointers to tion agenda" of the President is about. I also what really is to be reclaimed, when and do not understand what the Minister sees how.

And that was my fear as the values

NYSC: What Pushing manner of Out with reform?

Ngozi Nwozor

S

INCE the killing of ten members of the National Youth Service Corps

(NYSC) in the disturbances following the declaration of Goodluck Jonathan as winner of the April presidential election, a lot has been said about the corps. Many called for the scraping of the programme, saying it has overgrown its usefulness, if it never was. Others disagreed, arguing that the scheme is still relevant. However, the latter group called for a reformation of some kind.

Thus, all believe there is need for some sort of restructuring. The President promised that much.

Last Friday, a statement credited to the Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi, said he would embark on "urgent reforms in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to make the scheme more relevant to nation building".

The statement was signed by his Senior Assistant on Media, Mr. Julius Ogunro. It added: "The new NYSC will create values and serve the current needs of the people, to make it more relevant to the national transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan".

The minister was equally quoted as say-

'God is the first comedian'

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Winners of Free Enterprise Essay We regret to announce the postponement of the announcement of the winners of our Free Enterprise essay competition.

It will now be for next week, August 4.

Meanwhile, the prize presentation to the winners will now hold on August 15.

We regret any inconvenience to our participants.

Destiny Okwundu, a 100-Level student of Economics at the University of Abuja, owns a boutique, Campus Shopping Outfit. CHIDIEBERE UMEORIZU (300-Level Educational Administration and Planning, Federal College of Education, Pankshin, Plateau State) met him.

Oluwatoyin Bayegun is a 200-Level Psychology student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). Known as Arole within and beyond the university, he is one of the popular comedians at OAU. OPEOLUWA SONUGA (200-Level Law) met him.

HY did you choose comedy?

It is my way of life and my passion. I discovered comedy after I gained admission into the university. Before my admission, what I always did was tragedy (laughter).

How did you come about the name Arole?

Arole means heir to the throne, I got the nickname from Romans 8:17. It was inspired by God, the first and greatest comedian.

Why did you say so?

God cracked the first joke in the Bible. In Genesis 17: 17, the Bible says "after what God has spoken, Abraham fell on his face and laughed".

What inspires your jokes?

God and the environment.

How did you start?

It started in my room, when there was tension or we were not comfortable with anything, I would just make a comment and everyone around would laugh.

How far have you gone?

I started two years ago. We have organised three shows and the coming Laff2Pass will be the fourth. I have gone for shows in various institutions and still counting.

What's Laff2Pass about?

It is an exam concept. It is an event for students to relieve themselves of the tension and pressure of examination. The main concept is learning from old events relating to academics.

That is why the dress code is old school.

How do you combine your aca-

when I read Abdullahi's reform sentiments. Yes, sentiments. Now, that word just came; and how true! Sadly.

But the last thing we need in our quest for development as a nation is sentiment.

What we need at this point are some hard facts, hard nosing and hard work.

We must wake up and get going. Enough of the shuffling while our house burns down on our heads. The government is truly powerful; but today, we do not know anymore, especially with the self-governing Boko Haram calling the shots up north.

I know that there are some Nigerians who are strong and consistent, and who not only wish the best for the nation but are willing to give whatever it takes to see things done better. I also know that the youths, well prepared or not, are the ones who can decide to halt the decline or take it to imaginable heights (I shudder to consider the latter option).

This is not a call for a revolution, not as if anything is wrong with that anyway (if it's going to do the trick). It is rather a call for an evolution towards true nationhood; we must begin to take decisive steps.

Ciao

demics with comedy?

I always attend shows at weekends. Moreover, I don't go for shows when I have tests exams.

What has been your most embarrassing moment as a comedian?

If I should pick one, it would be a show in the middle of which I thought I was making sense. I later discovered the people were not interested. That day was not funny because I was mocked at and the audience gave me sarcastic cheers.

Any challenges so far?

Yes! First one is academic. I had to cross from Biochemistry to Psychology, not because of low CGPA but because I saw no future in the first discipline. I also have financial challenges even till now. Sponsorship comes mainly from mum and friends.

Why do you dress simply?

I like to be humble; you know fruits of the spirit.

How do you handle your female fans?

‘My ambition is to get govt job’

H

Oluwatoyin

I give them what they want.

Most of them want attention. I don't like signing autographs, but, one day, a lady came to me asking for my autograph. I asked her where should sign it, but the lady just pushed out her boobs for me to sign. I was shocked. But I know my boundary.

RETRACTION In reference to a story published Last Thursday on Page 33 of our CAMPUSLIFE edition: “Students protest late registration fee”. We have discovered that some parts of the story were misleading, especially the photograph accompanying it. We sincerely apologise to the management of the Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State. We are assuring that the story is neither meant to dent the image of the Rector, Dr Philipa Idogho, whom we hold in high esteem, nor to paint the school in black.

We regret any inconvenience it might have caused.

OW did you start this business?

I started because of difficulties getting admission into the university. I sought for admission four years without success. I made up my mind to start the business before I later got admission early this year.

What is it like combining business with studies?

To be sincere, it is not easy to combine business with studies. You know business requires 100 per cent attention and, for any business to flourish, it needs consistency and commitment. Academics too need full commitment in order to come out with a good grade. I am really finding it difficult combining the two but, to God be the glory, I am coping.

What are the challenges you face in business?

Every human being faces one challenge or the other. To me, challenges are inevitable and they are what moves us from the level we are to the level we desire to attain. As a student who is also involved in business, sometimes, I close my shop to attend lectures.

What do you intend to do after studies?

My ambition is to hold one key post in government to help in transforming the economy. But the problem of unemployment is still ravaging the nation. So, I am left with no choice than to be selfemployed after graduation.

What is your expectation

•Destiny

concerning academics?

By the grace of God Almighty, I should graduate with Second Class Upper. I will work hard to achieve my goals. So, this is a challenge for me.

31

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

CAMPUS LIFE The monthly stipend for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members has been increased. But, the state of the NYSC camps across the country is bad, reports OLAWALE AJETUNMOBI (A serving corps member, NYSC, Lagos).

•New orientation camp in Ogun

NYSC: Beyond the allawee hike O

ladunni Daranijo graduated from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) last year and could not be mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) the same year. She is from Lagos and has lived in the city all her life. But she still hoped to be posted to Lagos for her service year.

Why? “Most camps of NYSC across the country are in a deplorable state,” she said. “Though I had not been to any of the camps before posting but, according to a female friend of mine who is serving in Lagos, the camp is still okay compared to others, which is why I would have loved to do my service in Lagos, “ she told this reporter on phone.

Oladunni did not get her wish.

She was posted to a Southeast state with the NYSC Batch ‘B’ that was early this month, and conditions in the camp confirmed her worst fears.

“The life in camp is so crude and could be likened to the ancient times. The condition of the toilet and bathroom here is pathetic and it confirms what people have been saying about NYSC camps across the country,” she said.

She told CAMPUSLIFE there are no bathrooms and toilets in her camp. This prompted the corps members to erect a makeshift bathroom made of sack and polythene nylon. However, they could not build toilets because of great efforts such task would involve. The corps members had to resort to fate as they continue to

shot put (a term used for indiscriminate defecation) in the bush within the camp.

“I take my bath in the open, though I was shy on the first day.

But, days after, I no send anybody because I am not the only female corps member bathing in that shack.” Oladunni said, chuckling.

She said the lavatory provided in the camp has been misused by successive sets of corps members and only God knows how long the toilets have been padlocked because “the pile-up of faeces has continued to discharge unpleasant odour”.

Apart from sporadic detonation of explosives and endless kidnappings in some parts of the country, another turn off for graduates is poor facilities in

UNLAG students in creative best •Continued from page 29

“Africans must begin to appreciate their culture. We have a rich heritage in Africa. And as you can see, the participants are sending messages about various ethnic and cultures of the black race.

This is a splendid way to remind us of our origin and lost values.”

Abiodun Ajisafe, 200-Level Surveying, said the initiative, if sustained, would attract tourists from all over the world to Nigeria.

Eniola Alebiosu, 100-Level Geophysics, expressed surprise that students could hold such a carnival in the academic community.

"Many students watched in awe as the procession progressed because nobody believed that an event of such magnitude was

possible," Eniola said.

A week after the carnival, the students performed another round of drama starting with.

Wole Soyinka's Death and the king’s horseman. The decision to dramatise Soyinka's play, according to the lecturer who supervised the carnival and drama, Mr Otun Rasheed, was to celebrate the Nobel laureate whose birthday coincided with the drama week.

Students who watched the stage play commended the actors for their forthrightness and equally thanked Dangote Group, which sponsored the event.

The second and third day plays featured 3rd World War and The Marriage of Anansewa, written by Ahmed Yerima.

•The Brazilian group

•Tsiga at the camp

some states. While some states have been able to cross the Rubicon in terms of provision of state-of-the-art edifices to house corps members during their orientation, some states are still struggling to build a conducive permanent site for the scheme.

It is also interesting to know that most states still harbour corps members in obsolete primary secondary school classroom with poor lavatory and hostel facilities.

A corps member serving in Ogun State, Hafeez Obe, told CAMPUSLIFE that even though welfare of the serving youths has been well addressed by the authorities, the blame should also be shared by the corps members.

According to Hafeez who is now undertaking his primary assignment in Ijebu, he said the Ogun State NYSC camp was new when he was mobilised for youth ser-

vice. But, within days, the toilets and bathrooms were messed up by his colleagues.

“Did Mua’rahazu Tsiga (NYSC Director General) come there to defecate with us?” he questioned angrily.

Apart from Ogun, Osun, Nassarawa and Abuja that have built modern facilities in their NYSC camps, most states have continued to show insensitivity to the plight of serving corps members. Yearly, the youths are camped in dingy classrooms passed for NYSC camps. Even in those states that have modern buildings, there are no cleaners to scrub the facilities Though corps members welcome the increase of their monthly allowance from N9,770 to N19,800, they still expect the state governments to make the camps habitable.

32

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

CAMPUS LIFE

T

Students win big in UI

HE University of Ibadan (UI) came alive when Etisalat

CliqFest promo hit the campus amid expectations from the students.

The venue of the event, Pope John Paul Hall, was jam-packed before the event began. A motivational speaker, Mr Niyi Adesanya, who delivered a lecture on Individual competitiveness, compered the programme.

The show climaxed with a raffle draw that produced a 100-Level student of Agric Science, Gbenga Olaniyi, as winner of the star prizes, a Kia Picanto car and a Blackberry phone from Etisalat.

Gbenga said individual competi-

From Funmi Faleye UI

tiveness was his backbone as he had purchased 260 Etisalat SIM cards to improve his chances of winning in the promo.

Biodun Afolabi, 400-Level English, said: “I have learnt a lot from today’s seminar about myself and the need for me to keep on adding value to myself so as to stand out from the crowd.”

The Dean of Students Affairs, Prof Eyiwunmi Falaye, thanked the telecom company for the support given to the institution by awarding 10 scholarships to students.

•CAMPUSLIFE Editor, Ms Ngozi Nwozor addressing the students

Mass Comm. students visit The Nation

M

ASS Communication students of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) have visited the Corporate headquarters of The Nation in Lagos.

Led by their president, Aderibigbe Adediwura, the NDI and ND II students said the visit was to observe how a standard print media organisation operates and to also see the facilities of Vintage Press, the publisher of The Nation Editor of The Nation on Sunday Mr Lekan Otunfodunrin, received the students and took them round the company. From the reception, the students were taken to the weekend office of the newspaper and the advert section. They equally met with CAMPUSLIFE Editor, Ms Ngozi Nwozor, who was surprised at see-

From Olawale Ajetunmobi Lagos

ing the students The visiting students were shocked to find the newsroom almost empty as they had expected to see a typical boisterous newsroom.

“You came at the wrong time,” CAMPUSLIFE Editor told the students, adding that “the reporters are still on the field working for stories and the few people you see here are either editors or production people.”

The students were told the modus operandi of a newspaper production by Ms Nwozor as Mr. Otunfodunrin, who was standing by, expatiated more on the editorial hierarchy of The Nation newspaper. It was a moment of surprise

for CAMPUSLIFE readers among the students, who continued to take pictures of Ms Nwozor as she explained the idea behind the weekly pullout.

A student asked why editors always change headlines of articles sent to media houses by students, Ms Nwozor replied that some students always confuse the theme of their write-ups with bad headlines that do not agree with the articles.

“But as editor, our job is to correct these small lapses and make the write-up understandable and presentable,” she said.

The students were later taken to the pre-press and press hall by Mr Otunfodunrin where they were briefed on the process involved in printing a newspaper.

Artist stages solo exhibition • Body set to launch youth movie

A

FINAL year student of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Segun Fagorusi, has launched himself into the painting world with an exhibition tagged: Colour rendezvous.

Segun, a zonal winner of the National Gallery Arts Award in 2009, staged a well attended solo exhibition of paintings and mixed media.

It was attended by students, members of staff and artists from Ife and neighbouring towns.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Segun said he chose painting over graphics or sculpture because he could communicate better with colours. He said: “Painting has variation when it deals with colours. With colours, one can put three-dimensional thoughts on two-dimensional surface. Basically, by my works, I intend to bring to the fore the wrongs we see in this country.”

On how he manages to cope with his studies, Segun said: “I take the advantage of the strike to do my drawings and paintings. I may decide not to return home so as to do it.”

Damilola Ajayi, a poet, said: “His works reflect our experiences and cut across borders and frontiers. I see a brighter future for Segun.”

Halimah Yusuf, another visitor who showed interest in Segun’s paintings, noted that the exhibition affirmed that the future of African art is bright.

Meanwhile, Revolution Entertainment is set to produce an all youths’ movie in Africa. It held its

•Gbenga (middle) with Etisalat officials

Poly shuts down as students protest water scarcity

T

HE Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State is on the boil again as students protested water shortage and epileptic power supply. The students also complained of lack of security in the hostels, alleging that animals stray into the halls.

The protest led to the closure of the school by the management to prevent a break down of law and order.

One of the protesters told CAMPUSLIFE that they had been facing the problem since the beginning of the semester. “We have recorded two snake bites this semester and we complained to the management but they did not do anything about it. What do they want us to do?” the student asked.

Also, the Public Relations Of-

From Habeeb Whyte and Akinola Oluyi OFFA POLY

ficer of National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Jamiu Ibrahim, condemned the management for closing down the institution.

He said the management should have prevented the protest rather than closing the school, especially when the exam drew nearer.

“As a matter of fact, violence does not solve any problem but students are willing to come back for their studies. We are ready to meet the management on solution so that the school can be re-opened,” Jamiu said.

Fellowship gets new exco

T

HE tenure of executive members of Baptist Students Fellowship, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife chapter, has ended It was led by Olaoluwa Babatunde, a 500 Level student of Nursing Science.

A new executive council has been inaugurated for the 2011/2012 session. It comprises 46 members and is led by Emmanuel Taiwo, a 400Level student of Pharmacy. Ayodeji Okeya, a 400-Level student of Medicine is the Vice President and Com-

•Some of the paintings From Samson Ademola and Caleb Adebayo OAU

audition last week at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). The movie is titled When friends fall in love.

The screenplay writer, Tomilola Aderigbe, told CAMPUSLIFE that the aim of the movie was to show a new side to romance among youths in Africa, thereby changing the common belief that love is synonymous with sex. He said the movie, which would be shot in OAU, would be a romantic campus comedy with a lot of moral lessons.

From Opeoluwa Sonuga OAU

fort Oyeniyi, 400-Level Agriculture is the Sister’s Co-ordinator.

The inauguration sermon was delivered by Mr Biola Akinola, Director of Works, Bowen University and a lead cast in the Mount Zion Film Fiwajomi.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Emmanuel said his tenure would engender spiritual growth and draw everyone closer to God.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

33

CAMPUS LIFE

A

•Participants at the workshop

Language key to Nigeria’s growth, say dons OW can Nigeria become great?

It is through the adaptation of its languages for technological development, say Prof.

Duro Oni and Prof. Tunde Babawale.

Oni, the Dean of Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Babawale, Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts Civilisation (CBAAC), said such a step was necessary for Nigerians technologically advancement.

They spoke at a workshop organised by CBAAC at UNILAG. Seeking the systemisation of indigeneuous languages as a means of international negotiations Oni called for the conversion of certain terminologies into local languages for the teaching of students.

According to him, part of the efforts of Nigerian scholars in this regard is documented in the works of Orimogunje et al, who

H

From Tayo Alofun UNILAG

translated primary science texts into Yoruba. Orimogunje and Co, he said, are still working with Microsoft to translate the computer programmes into Nigerian local languages.

He also urged youths to drop the copy cat mentality “There is no way they can copy the western world and be like them. When you are trying to copy someone you will have to wait for the person to bring in a new innovation,” he said.

Babawale equally pointed out that Nigeria’s diverse cultures should be the nucleus of its development like other countries He said: “We do not need to stop speaking our local languages because we want to learn foreign languages.”

Babawale added that research has shown that an average child under seven can learn six different lan-

guages at the same time. He advocated a holy book for African Traditional Religion (ATR) just like the Bible and Quran.

He said CBAAC has taken steps to preserve Nigerian cultures, including singing memorandum of understandings with several organisations locally and internationally including the Nigerian embassy in Washington DC among others.

“CBAAC has also established a summit called SICADA and is working on establishment of harmonised and standardised language (Ibo, Yoruba, Hausa and Ijaw) for standard literature and scripts.”

Present at the workshop were Prof Omololu Soyombo, Coordinator of UNILAG Consult and a lecturer at the department of Sociology, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, Executive Director of Human Development Initiative (HDI), Prof F.B.A. Oloko, chairman, HDI.

Corps members seek clarification on Islamic Banking

GROUP, Inxpire.com, has held a workshop for students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on how to exploit their potentials.

Tagged LEAD360, the seminar focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, academics and self development.

A guest speaker, Mrs. T. Akinyemi, said: “You have a purpose for being in whichever places you are. You have something to give out to meet a particular need, discover that thing and solve the problem.”

Former president of the Association of Campus Journalists (ACJ) OAU chapter, Ayodele Obajemu also observed that in tackling such challenges, there was need to be focused.

A participant, Olayemi Olatunde, 400-L Geology student lamented that she would graduate without learning other skilled she might need to succeed after her Bachelor’s degree.

“I think I have to do something in other businesses,” she said.

From Samson Ademola OAU

Nike Alade, 400-Level Civil Engineering, told CAMPUSLIFE that the programme changed her mind-set.

“The organisers have a carriage that can’t be resisted. I think I have learned to think outside the box. I may be brand mad, but it will pay off eventually.”

Another student, Gbenga Sogbaike, praised the organisers, saying “They have done wonderfully well in this regard. I can be a good citizen in my country of birth if I can make use of what I learned here today.”

Media and Awareness Officer of the body, Demola Adeyeye, said that that the programme was targeted at youths. “Youths account for over 70 per cent of the Nigerian population and are positioned with a great potential to move the nation forward. Inxpire.com is a non-profit organisation that aims to breed a new generation of leaders that are value-driven and visionary.”

•Madu addressing the students

Orientation for freshers

A

T

HE corps members were excited as they waited the arrival of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Lamido Sanusi.

It was in the expansive hall of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in Ede, Osun State, where Sanusi, was billed to deliver a lecture entitled: Youth empowerment as a tool for sustainable development: The CBN interventions.

The corps members were, however, disappointed because Sanusi sent the Osun State Branch Controller of the apex bank, Mr. Joseph Atteh, to represent him. The lecture was organised for the corps members as part of their three-week orientation course.

Sanusi told the corps members that unemployment has been a major challenge in Nigeria’s economy in the last three decades, adding that it is aggravated by lack of social security. However, he added that youths have a crucial role to play in boosting economic growth.

He said: “The role of youths as a catalyst and engine of growth, as well as the primary source of opportunities for productive employment has widely been recognised. It is also on record that many emerging economies of the nations are driven by the energies of the youths and CBN believes that youth empowerment is a tool for development

Leadership training for students

•Corps members reciting the national anthem at the seminar From Mariam Adeyemi OSOGBO

of any country of the world.”

It is incumbent on the political class, he said to ensure more innovative approaches to curb the growth of unemployment among youths to guarantee Nigeria’s future. He advocated the collaboration of governments at all levels with financial institutions to create avenue for youths, especially the graduates to have access to non-interestloans to float small scale businesses.

“Lack of funds has remained a major challenge to youth entrepreneurship development and there is need to unlock the credit market with innovative interventions through developing internal capacity that will de-risk lending to the young graduates. The CBN interventions are focused on creating an enabling environment, including access to long term financing by youth entrepreneurs to enhance their productivity and

ensuring that the youths play their strategic role and compete globally,” he said.

Sanusi said the CBN has institutionalised the NYSC Venture Prize competition under the CBN-Youth Empowerment programme, to inspire corps members to develop entrepreneurial skills during their service year.

He said all serving corps members were given the chance to compete on the basis of defined entrepreneurial traits within the service year.

“The national award prizes for winners are N1,000,000, N750,000 and N500,000 while states awards are N200,000, N150,000 and N100,000,” he said.

The lecture took a dramatic turn when the corps members raised questions on the controversial Islamic Banking. The guest speaker replied that Non-Interest Banking (NIB) was not new to the country as two or three commercial banks had been rendering such service in the past few years.

NAMBRA State Students’ Association (ASSA), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) chapter has held its induction and orientation for new members.

The event, which took place at the Faculty of Social Sciences quadrangle, was to build a strong relationship among students from the state.

Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences Prof. Emmanuel Eze-ani warned the new students against violating the rules and regulations of the association.

Also, Prof D.O Obikwelu of the Faculty of Engineering highlighted the importance of the association to new members. He stated that such an assembly creates avenue for communication between the students and their state governments. He

From Oladele Oge UNN

called on the Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, to look into the payment of bursary allowance as a major way of assisting less privileged students.

The president of the association, Madu Okeke, welcomed the students and advised them to place priority on their academics. He added that character is part of the value the university considers in awarding degrees to students.

One of the students, Onyinye Nwakwo, 100-Level Microbiology, commended ASSA executive members for the orientation which would “go a long way in the benefit of many of us who did not know much about the importance of the association earlier.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

34

CAMPUS LIFE Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) students have organised a symposium to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the death of five union leaders. SIKIRU AKINOLA (200-Level Political Science) and Samson Ademola (300-Level Biology Education) report.

•OAU students at the symposium

B

ARELY two months after former President Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn in, in 1999, tragedy struck at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. Five students were shot dead by cultists believed to have been sponsored from within the university.

George Iwilade, then Secretary General of the Students' Union, Eviano Ekelemu, 400-Level Medicine, Yemi Ajiteru, a spillover student, Babatunde Oke, 100-Level Philosophy, and Efe Ekede, were murdered in cold blood in Blocks 5 and 8, Awolowo Hall on July 10, 1999.

Twelve years after, the incident is still fresh in the memories of past and present students.

According to a detailed document obtained by CAMPUSLIFE correspondents, George had gone to his room 273, Block 8 in Awolowo Hall after a ceremony at Awo café around 4:15 am. He was killed 30 minutes later by cultists from the Black Axe Con-

•OAU Students’ Union building

12 years after, OAU students remember fallen colleagues fraternity led by a student from the University of Benin (UNIBEN). The second victim, Ajiteru, was sleeping when he was shot in the belly. He died instantly. The killing of other victims was no less gruesome.

The following day, the cultists were apprehended courtesy of an informant, a commercial driver, who drove them to a hotel at Ile-Ife. The cultists confessed to the crime and claimed their sponsor was an insider in the university. Afterwards, the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof Wale Omole, was immediately relieved of his appointment after a recommendation by a panel of en-

quiry headed by Prof Tunde Adeniran set up by the Federal Government.

On October 29, 2002, a state high court sitting in Iwo discharged the accused persons on the ground that the petition could not be beyond reasonable doubt.

At a symposium organised in Awolowo Cafe to mark the 12th anniversary of the killing, former Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Students Union, Mr Dayo Fadugba said: "The attack was a revenge by the Black Axe confraternity against the shameful treatment of nine of its top members by the George Iwilade-led anti-cultism group."

Many students who spoke said the general acceptance of the Maximum Shishi (OAU's punitive measure for cultists), low tuition and zero tolerance for cultism among others, are due to sacrifice and made by the OAU-5.

James Adelu, 400-Level Law student, said: "George Iwilade also fought against school fees increment. A female student can walk from Computer Centre to Anglomoz car park in the night without harassment. This is a legacy of the dead students."

In his tribute, former speaker of the OAU students' parliament, Ekienabor Adodo said: "Today, tomorrow and forever, we re-

Behold, the ‘kingmakers’ Politics on campus is full of intrigues. In this report,CHISOM OJUKWU (400-Level Chemical Engineering, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, OWERRI) reports that students of higher institutions now enjoy playing godfather to their mates aspiring for leadership.

HE text message reads: "Dear aspirant, you are hereby required to come to Golden Lodge within the next 48 hours to fill your bio-data form for a fee of N1,000. The consequence of not complying is automatic disqualification". Students aspiring for a political position in the Federal

T

•A meeting of ‘stakeholders’ in a restuarant

University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), who receive such text messages, feel three things: depression, confusion and suspicion.

They get depressed because N1,000 would make their already lean purse leaner; confused because of all the requirements for vying for an office, they had never heard of a bio-data form that needed to

be filled off-campus! And suspicious because somewhere deep inside, a tiny voice warns that the 'godfathers' are at it again.

In FUTO, most political positions can only be contested by students in 200 or 300 levels. After the elections, some of these contestants win, others lose but they all would have gained a certain level of popularity. Armed

with their popularity and experience, most of them metamorphose into 'political godfathers' or stakeholders as they are commonly called.

In a chat with Ezeanowi Nnaemeka, 500-Level Chemical Engineering and a judge in FUTO students' court, he defined stakeholders as students "whose names have been written boldly on the political

member the death of OAU-5 who were gruesomely murdered in 1999. We celebrate their noble exit as legends and brave heroes.

But whether we bring our enemies to justice or we bring justice to our enemies, someday, somewhere, somehow, justice will be done".

A 300-Level law student, Quadri Ganiyu, was full of praise for the fallen students. "It's exactly 12 years today when cultists defiled our campus and murdered Yemi Iwilade and four others.

They are our martyrs in our search for freedom on campus."

The president of National Association of Local Government Students said: "Even if the messengers were killed, the message they brought would never die.

The Nigerian students have been endangered by the malaise of cultism. Many have been killed by cultist while many were victimised academically. We need to convene a national conference to address this issue." blackboards of higher institutions."

He said stakeholders might not directly participate in elections but they possess relevant strategies, grassroots influence and political framework.

The stakeholders usually go on the hunt for aspirants who are popular and have better chances of succeeding in their political endeavours.

Judith Okanume, the SUG Treasurer said godfathers apply a lot of pressure on aspirants.

"They call your phone incessantly telling you to come and see them.

Whenever they see you, they say that you are not loyal and threaten to disqualify you," she said.

Indeed, 'seeing' a godfather involves gifts ranging from cash to bottles of wine, buying expensive lunches and recharge cards. There have been cases where aspirants visited stakeholders for advice without gift. Such visits ended fruitless.

But seeing stakeholders is no guarantee for victory in the elections. As Onyedika Ezejelue, a former member of the SRC puts it: "It is just a medium for the aspirants to formally introduce themselves and pledge loyalty to the stakeholders who have occupied the seat they aspire to occupy.”

The stakeholders also operate on the platforms of some political parties on campus. Any aspirant who wishes to be 'delivered' joins a party through induction or deduction.

•Continued on page 36

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

35

CAMPUS LIFE

The substance in Islamic Banking

T

HE Non-Interest Banking, also called participant banking, is a banking system that prohibits the payment or acceptance of interest or commission on loans. Such payment of interest or acceptance is called Usury or Riba in Arabian parlance, which means unjust compensation.

However, Non-Interest Banking comes from a religious background and its history dated back to the time of the revelation of Quran to the prophet of Islam, Mohammed (SAW). God ordered the prophet to tell his disciple not to alter the measurement of anything and that they should not eat from what did not come from their sweat. This fatwa encompassed stealing, fraud and payment of interest. It is this provision from the Holy Quran that the Muslim Arabs used to establish Islamic Banking, which operation

agrees with terms and tenets of the Revelation from Almighty God to Prophet Mohammed.

However, for obvious reasons, the mention of Non-Interest Banking in Nigeria has created suspicion because the bank is synonymous with Islam. As conventional banks continue to crumble under the weight of fraud and ever-rising interest rates, what seems to be the succour to beleaguered citizens of this country is the coming of Islamic Banking model that prohibits factors that have aided the gradual collapse of the conventional method. But instead of embrace it, many people seem opposed to the idea because of its Islamic origin.

Instead of getting more information about the model, the people opposing the Islamic Banking have shown their lack

knowledge by saying the motive is to islamise Nigeria. Pray, can such opinion hold water when, in fact, the current president is of the Christian faith? How can federallyappointed Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido, want to islamise Nigeria with establishment of a bank that has benefitted even Christian citizens in other multireligious climes that have embraced the idea?

We must begin to see issues on their merit and not from the prism of religious intolerance if we must develop as a nation. The substance in the proposed bank ranges from Mudarabah (partnership), Waqf (trust), Musharaqah (joint-venture), Murabaha (cost-plus), to Ijarah (leasing) etc. Also, Islamic Banking has the same purpose as conventional banking, which is, making profit for the bank but with-

out leaving the borrower impoverished.

While, under the conventional banking, profit is made through charging of interest and commission on loan, the Non-Interest Banking profit is made through profit sharing arising from loaned capital, thereby implying that the profit accrued to the bank is not directly from the money or capital loaned. There is sharing of profit or loss arising from the transaction between the bank (lender) and the customer (borrower), hence equity, justice and fair play is to all parties.

Whereas, under the conventional banking system, the loan must be paid inclusive of the interest rate calculated in percentages. This is injustice and unfair treatment of borrowers. Therefore, Non-Interest Banking is a system that cut across religious,

By Muibat Salam salammuibat@yahoo.com

social or political stratum of the society. Meanwhile, let us allow the Islamic banking model to be established and watch how the idea would “islamise” the country.

Muibat, ND I Mass Comm., Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta

Lagos flood: Fashola versus PDP

By Rotimi Akinola treknfreedom@yahoo.com

W N

HAT befell the nation’s commercial nerve centre as rain

O child is born to be a destitute, prostitute, criminal or a drug addict. It is the society that makes the criminal elements in our midst what they become and that same society bears the consequence of their brutality.

Nobody was born wicked but the trait is nurtured from the cradle. If a child does something bad and he is not corrected either by flogging or scolding, the gene of the wickedness would grow as the child grows. This is why the children are the most pliant humans.

But nowadays, the children have become the vulnerable victims of sexual, emotional, physical, psychological and economical exploitation.

They are everywhere especially in our major cities. Children of about five years are seen in ragged clothes meandering their way deftly through traffic snarl. Even, children of little above the age of 10 abound in Nigerian universities doing all

W

HEN I met him, I did not know he was popular. That day, he was putting on a black suit on a shirt whose colour I cannot remember now. He took a walk around the lobby of Mass Communication department at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK). As he approached where I was standing, I said to myself that I had never seen this man before in the department because he does not teach undergraduates. I watched the approaching figure, who clutched a brief case, with interest.

As I watched his back, the thought of the legendary Iroko tree came to mind.

The tree is endowed with strength and uncommon grace, which explains why some cultures refer to the tree as the king in the wilderness. At his age, this man was not impatient about the hurrying students who always rush to wherever they are going. Well, I noticed him and somehow, I wanted him to notice me too. “What do I do?” I asked myself a million times within split seconds. ‘Help him with his briefcase!” my subconscious responded immediately.

I moved closer to him. “Can I help

poured in torrents a fortnight ago was nothing but a natural disaster complicated by a bad drainage system. But the demand made by some members of our “holy” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) calling for the resignation of Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, is nothing but a call to discontinue good governance.

While I agree that the governor deserves to be criticised for not reading the flood signal despite several warnings from experts, I am, however, opposed to notion that Fashola should resign over a disaster nobody, not

even the PDP-led Federal Government, could control.

Come to think of it, if Fashola should throw in the towel because of a crippling flood, should we crucify him if a hurricane strikes?

Meanwhile, as a sign of respect to the 31 lives lost during the flooding, the government should please unblock the drainage system if we want to prevent another disaster.

The greatest good we can do to the soul of the departed is to prevent further loss of lives. Even though I never voted for you but I believe your administration has gained legitimacy and the support of many

Lagosians, including me.

Then, a word, or should I say words, for the Poverty Designing Personalities otherwise known as PDP: a man who calls his brother a goat while he himself bleats is not only a hypocrite, but also a devil.

Who do you take Nigerians for? We cannot forget how PDP conjured an artificial disaster that swallowed up our essence as a people with its anti-people and anti-development policies.

Do we also call for President Goodluck Jonathan’s resignation for preventing the kidnapping of citizens by MEND and its sister groups in the creek or the mindless

World’s easiest victim of exploitation

By Sekinat Quadri fola00097@yahoo.com

kinds of odd jobs. God! Why is the future of this country being gambled away? Is this another child trafficking under the guise of child labour?

This amounts to self-colonisation.

Nigerian children face a plethora of problems ranging from hunger, diseases, paternal assaults and rapes.

The unlucky ones among them have become sexual objects for libidinous men who claim to help their victim by paying for the sex. Instead of helping the girls by fixing them in schools and vocational centres, they sexually exploit the unfortunate girls and pay them money that is not enough to even purchase a JAMB form.

The scourge of child labour and trafficking is prevalent in Nigeria.

Even as organisations such as the

United Nations labour to put a stop to this unwholesome trade, the acts still continue simply because it profits some bad ones in the society. Since children are easy to deceive because they neither have the knowledge to seek legal protection nor physical ability to resist coercion, employers take advantage of the lack of regulatory guidelines in various industries to extract cheap labour from little hands.

In Nigeria, it is easy to trample on the right of a child who comes from nonprivileged backgrounds. Those who employ them for hard labour impose inhumane working hours and harsh conditions with no healthcare, food allowance or any other benefits. Some of these children run away from home because hardship is a daily occurrence in their household. So, in a bid to escape from

this, they apply for these dehumanised jobs with the consent of their hapless parents. Eventually, they turn to street beggars, traffic hawkers, drug addicts, delinquent robbers and area boys.

It is sad to note here that the cause of these ills is poverty combined with high level of illiteracy, ignorance, unemployment and poor living standard. This happening in Nigeria, a country that prides itself as the giant of Africa and endowed with natural resources, is unbelievable. If a country is characterised by a widespread poverty and disparity between the rich and the downtrodden, children are always seen as commodities with the potential to garner income for a desperate family.

The National Child Labour Survey in 2007 revealed that 15 million children have been lured into labour in

bombing by Boko Haram extremists or corrupt tendencies of PDP’s top men? I will advise the PDP to face its own business rather than involve itself in argument with a working governor.

Let them know Lagos was attacked by nature. We know property was damaged, means of livelihood taken away, lives were lost, but could we have prevented the torrents. But, to make a political point out of it, as PDP did, is nothing but an act of irresponsibility punishable by public rage.

Rotimi, 200-Level Mass Comm., UNILAG Nigeria while the International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimated that there are 250 million children worldwide between the ages of five and 11 years in active labour with the highest population in sub-Saharan Africa, where 48 million children are in various industries. These figures are shocking enough to prod a sensitive government into taking action and arrest this malaise.

In war-torn countries such as Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Rwanda and Zimbabwe, more than 500,000 children are estimated to have been converted into combatants. In the Middle East, the scourge of suicide bombings have involved children as young as 16 or 17 who are raised with the belief that they will attain martyrdom if such tasks are done. These children are victims who have been robbed of their innocence, childhood, and most importantly, their lives.

Sekinat, is a 400-Level student, BUK

Meeting with a rare gem you with your briefcase sir?” I humbly offered. He turned and gave me a smart look, saying “I almost got my office”.

As I wanted to betray my feeling, he quickly snorted, “But why not? You can take it”. Oh my God! I felt like I had been given a ticket to heaven as I carried the briefcase with pride.

At his office I shyly placed the briefcase on his table and said “Have a nice day at work sir”. He replied: “Thank you young lady, have a nice day too”.

For goodness sake, I don’t even know this man and could not explain why I found him irresistible in such manner. I

continued this exercise for a very long time and I was always content receiving a “Thank you young lady, have a nice day too” appreciation. One of such days, as I turned to walk out of his office, the man called me back and gave me N1,000. I will never forget how much I needed the money that day! Though, I did not ask.

One day, I was sent to interview the man. He gave me audience despite his busy schedule. He was discussing with his colleagues on that day. As I entered his office, he pleasantly shouted: “Oh! The lady who always carries my brief-

Re: Students protest late registration fee

Y

OUR pull out, Campus Life, of Thursday July 21, 2011, edition of The Nation carried a story of students of Auchi Polytechnic protesting the imposition of late registration fees.

To be frank, there is no truth whatsoever in the report. The Polytechnic has remained very

By M. I. Oshiobugie debbychriswp@yahoo.com

peaceful and has certainly not recorded any protest by students in recent times.

The illustrating photograph of the protesting students that • Continued on page 36

case”. In the middle of the interview, he intimidated me with his vast knowledge in news media and latest development in communication. Immediately, I concluded this man must be one of the best brains across the country.

He is Prof Emmanuel Nwuneli, a professor at Mass Communication department of UNIZIK. He graduated from Texas Southern University, Houston in 1968 and bagged a degree in Journalism. He had both his Masters’ and PhD degrees in Journalism and Communication Arts respectively from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, US. He was a commissioner in old Anambra State. He has written and edited several publications and earned several international prizes.

With his level of intelligence and brilliance, students in the present-day Nigeria are challenged to be focus.

We ought to brace ourselves for the challenges and opportunities of contemporary times. We have to keep advancing in knowledge and intelligence. We

By Ngozi Emmanuel marionngozi@yahoo.co.uk really have to emulate people like Prof Nwuneli and others like Prof Alfred Opobor, the first male professor of Communication in Nigeria, Prof Wole Soyinka, the Nobel Laureate, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and a host of others. Let us try and use the examples of these living icons and become testimonies of good education and strength of character to the next generation.

Ngozi, 400-Level Mass Comm., UNIZIK

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

36

CAMPUS LIFE A new dawn at UNIUYO

Enjoying life on campus

There has been a change of leadership at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO). The inauguration was graced by distinguished personalities. MFONISO UMOREN (300LEVEL Architecture) reports.

By Uche Ogbonna uche.ogbonna@fidelitybankplc.com 08055061278

E

VERYONE dreams about the years spent on campus. Many look forward to it ever so longingly, while others look back at it with regret. Today we want to look at certain helpful tips for enjoying the campus experience.

Start early: Registration processing can be very daunting every session. Our first tip for enjoying the campus experience is to ensure that school fees and registration payments are made very early. The advantage here is that there usually will be less pressure on everyone especially the staff and so you will more likely get a very nice reception and better and more helpful attention. Also, starting early means that you are free to take care of other matters and gives you the edge in choosing rooms and also in settling down to attending classes while many others are still trying to sort themselves out.

Be healthy: Never take your health for granted. The campus is a grueling boot camp.

It will test your health and stamina. Classes, distances to be covered on foot, etc, can be quite an ordeal. To this end, therefore, you must take your health very seriously. You have to eat right, and take the necessary medications when needed. You must have periodic checkups and watch your social lifestyle to ensure that you are not burning your candles at both ends. It is very important that you do not live in a manner that puts your health at risk. If you are healthy, you will more likely enjoy the campus even better.

Participate: Get involved in social activities that make for healthy interaction. Do not be a recluse. Do not stay away from people and events. Remember that this is a critical phase of life which you may never go back to. While we do not advocate extremes, I urge you to fully take part in social and interactive events which will put your relationship skills to the test. The beauty of this is that the relationships formed here can be life changing and dramatic and may still come in useful many years down the line. Join one or two clubs or student groups and take part in trips and other activities of the groups.

Contribute: Being a part of a thing doesn't mean much if you do not contribute to its well being and growth. Your days in the campus are

On and Off Campus

days when you must grow the skills of Community impact. You must, by exploiting the opportunities of the groups and affiliations you belong to, do something of worth to build relationships and the academic community that you currently live in. Remember, participation is good, but contribution is better.

Have great grades: There is a feeling of confidence and pride that is very necessary to enjoy campus living. There is a feeling of fulfillment that effuses one when your academic pursuits are right on track. This is very critical. You do not study for your parents or guardians or sponsors. You study for yourself. You are the first and last beneficiary of academic excellence. Too many people have lost their voice because their poor grades have stolen their voice from them. After all as failure is an orphan who would want to listen to her? You can make a super difference in your campus experience if you can make up your mind to put in the back breaking work and burn the candle and change your grades to something better. Champions always have fans while failures have at best only sympathizers and these are few and far between. You need to make up your mind to up the game if you are going to have a memorable campus experience.

Boost your grades and you will be happier on campus.

Prioritise: The campus is full of students who have not yet learned the skills or prioritisation.

It is very important to be able to mentally compartmentalise your activities into four broad categories of things that are important and urgent, things that are important but not so urgent, things that are urgent but not important and finally things that are not important and not urgent at all! Prioritising stuff will help students determine where they ought to be on a moment by moment basis and this is very important if you are to really enjoy the campus experience. Knowing what is important and urgent helps you channel the required amount of mental energy that you need to accomplish certain things while on campus. This Is the key to sustained success and this sustained success helps keep you on top of your game as a student on campus.

Have these articles helped you in some way?

Feel free to write us. marketing.communications@fidelitybankplc.

Com. It would be a pleasure to hear from you!

Also ensure that you sign up to our new Youth based savings account. Fidelity Flex account is your account. Get signed up!

By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•Prof Ekpo with the newly inaugurated SUG executives

I

T was a memorable day for students of the University of Uyo when the new executives of the Students Union Government(SUG) were sworn in. The ceremony, which doubled as the formal inauguration of members of the Executive Council and House of Representatives, was attended by students, staff and well wishers.

Leading the contingent of dignitaries was the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Comfort Ekpo, the Dean of Students Affairs (DSA), Prof Eno Ibanga, the Registrar, Mr. John Udoh and a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Iniobong Ememobong.

Among the new executives is Dennis Sampson who was inaugurated as the president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG). Others are Ekaette Enoh, Vice President, Kufre Udousoro, Secretary General, Bright Cletus, Assistant Secretary General, Andrew Nsikak, Financial Secretary, Victoria Ekarika, Treasurer, George Ufot, Attorney General and Idorenyin Etefia, Director of Sports.

In her address, the Vice-Chancellor commended the students for the maturity they displayed during the election. She thanked the outgoing President for doing a good job while imploring his successor to step up to the challenge of leadership.

Prof. Ekpo, while commending the new students’ leaders for their desire to serve the university, advised them to stay away from all anti-social vices capable of bringing the university into disrepute.

In what could be termed an inaugural charge, the Vice-Chancellor called on the SUG President to work towards laying the foundation of a Students Union Secretariat before the expiration of his tenure. She also assured the new executives of her support and co-operation. The DSA, Prof Ibanga expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor for her support during and after the election.

The outgoing president of the union, Essien Udoma thanked God for a successful tenure while also expressing gratitude to the Vice Chancellor and the entire university community for the support given him during the period. He congratulated the new president and charged him to surpass his own

achievements.

In his inaugural speech, which was greeted by a rapturous ovation from fellow students, the new SUG president, Dennis, could not hide his delight.

He expressed gratitude to the students of the institution for finding him fit to be their leader. He promised to discharge his duties in conformity with the union’s constitution.

Dennis also used the opportunity to extend a hand of fellowship to his contenders at the polls and urged them to join his government to forge a way forward for the students and the entire university community.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE after the event, the NANS president, Iniobong Ememobong, described the event as an integral part of the Aluta.

He congratulated members of the new executive and charged them to raise the bar in the standard of leadership of the union. Iniobong urged the new president to work hand-in-hand with other members of the executive and the university administration while protecting and defending the common interest of the Nigerian students.

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Elijah Akwa, congratulated the new executive members and described the SU president Dennis, who rose from the student’s parliament to his new position, as a humble, selfless youth advocate who has a radical desire for good governance and selfless service to the Nigerian Students.

Students protest late registration fee • Continued from page 35

accompanied your story even told the whole lie. From the photograph, the protesting students carried leaves obviously plucked from melaina trees. The entire land area of the Polytechnic has no single melaina tree; and there are no melaina trees either in the contiguous communities of the Polytechnic.

The story is a complete fiction and it greatly embarrassed the authorities of the Polytechnic.

It is strange that this piece of fiction found its way into the pages of a newspaper with a solid reputation like The Nation. In the interest of fairness, the Polytechnic demands a retraction.

Oshiobugie, is the Public Relations Officer, AUCHI POLY

Behold, the ‘kingmakers’ • Continued from page 34

Induction means such aspirant pays a stipulated fee and is inaugurated as a fulltime party member. Deduction means he has a personal godfather who already belongs to the party.

The party stakeholders hold meetings periodically to discuss the 'way forward'.

These meetings are held in off-campus hotels, restaurants and eateries.

An aspirant who pledges his loyalty to stakeholders enjoys certain privileges such hitch-free screening by electoral commission, which has been known to give par-

ties three slots for their major candidates.

There is no gainsaying the fact that godfatherism, whether on campuses or outside, is parasitic. A former aspirant to the post of SUG Director of Transport, who craved anonymity, told CAMPUSLIFE that the so-called stakeholders are unserious students, who bribe lecturers in order to pass exams. He added that they force aspirants to spend on them.

"They throw their phones at you and tell you how much credit they want in it. They eat in cafeteria and ask you to pay for their meals not caring if you have money on you or not. It is not fair but what can we do?" he quipped.

37

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

EDUCATION

Mimiko hails NYSC D-G on corpers’ redeployment

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•Students listening with rapt attention

‘How to cope as student in US’

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O fewer than 90 students are leaving Nigeria for colleges and universities in the United States (US) this week armed with information on how to navigate life as foreign students in a new environment.

They were advised by Nigerians educated or still schooling in the US at a pre-departure orientation organised by the Public Affairs Section of the US Consulate General.

They were also addressed by two officials of the consulate, Mr Peter Pinus, a Public Diplomacy Officer, and Martin Thomen, a Consular Officer, on what is required of them by the law – including not getting into scraps with the police, and informing the Consulate if they do, and ensuring that they return to renew their visas.

From serious tasks such as completing their registration, choosing classes, changing their majors, and renewing visas to others, such as making friends, watching what they eat, managing funds, keeping their Africanness and joining student groups on campus, the students were advised on various aspects of life abroad.

Speaking on The Orientation and Registration Process, Piriye Anga, who earned her degree from Villanova University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, advised the students, to learn about their

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

new environment and be ready to make friends. She also told them to seek advice from upperclassmen” when choosing courses.

“You need to learn about where you are because it will help you to interact with people. Be yourself. Choose courses that suit you and not your parents; talk to upperclassmen so you can figure out what works for you.

Talk to your academic adviser,” she said.

Ijeoma Anyigbo, who changed her major and school from St Mary’s College, Kansas, and the University of Houston, told the students what to consider if they need to change subjects or institutions.

“When transferring schools, be aware of the different kinds of schools – from small ones to large ones; whether you would get funding for the transfer from the new school. I had to change my major.

Be sure that is what you want to do.

When you start your first semester, try and pick some courses from your major, so you know how you feel about it,” she said.

While food may not be an issue in Nigeria, Chioma Udeze warned the students not to ‘lose it’ when offered an array of mouthwatering meals daily so as not to end up as victims of ‘Freshman 15’, an expression used to describe what happens to fresh-

men when they binge on food and alcohol and end up gaining 15 pounds.

“Most colleges impose meal plans, but you have to control what you eat. You can eat all you want here in Nigeria and add one or two pounds, but over there you blow up. Count the calories in whatever you eat,” she said.

On peer pressure, budgeting and time management, Collins Odogwu, a graduate of Howard University, said the students should remain proud of their roots and not get pressured to change their native names.

He also stressed the importance of remaining on the right side of the law.

While aiming to make the best grades, Mmachi Jidenwa told the students that they must do more to earn internship placements in good organisations, scholarships or admissions into renowned graduate schools. The graduate of Grinnell College and Cornell University underscored the importance of networking, resourcefulness and leadership skills.

“It is not enough to have a 4.00, but have a 4.00 and be a rock star. Be assertive; try to be visible, network and be friendly. Start groups, it will help with your masters application.

Make sure your professors know you so they can make good recommendations when the need arise,” she said.

Meet the best of the pack

N

NEKA Mba and Chisom Okpala are among the more than 70 students that gained partial or full funding under the EducationUSA Advising programme run by the United States Consulate General in Nigeria. The Co-ordinator of the programme, Mrs Ifeanyichukwu Olagbaju, pointed them out as outstanding students who received full scholarships at undergraduate and Masters levels.

While Nneka, on the basis of her brilliant performance at the Covenant University, Ota, where she graduated with a CGPA of 4.99 in Biochemistry and satisfactory application package, has been offered a place at the University of Toledo, Ohio to do her PhD in Biomedical Science, Chisom will be going to Harvard University for a Bachelors in Economics and Mathematics – one of only six per cent of 34,950 applicants to be admitted.

Nneka, who hopes to make a career in researching diseases, told The

•Nneka

•Chisom

Nation she looks forward to getting a world class education in the U.S. “I was the best graduating student at Covenant. I came here (U.S Consulate) with my results and they mentored me while applying till the final stage. I applied to eight universities and got two universities with full funding. I want to specialise in Cardio-Vascular Sciences and

Metabolic Diseases. I jumped at this opportunity because I want to get the best of education,” she said.

For, Chisom, a former pupil of Dority International School, Aba, Abia State, getting into Harvard is a dream fulfilled. Though she got scholarship placement into six other US universities, it was her admission into Harvard that she treasures most.

HE Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Prof Femi Mimiko, has praised the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen Maharazu Ismaila Tsiga, for redeploying corps members from volatile states.

In a statement by the University’s Principal Assistant Registrar, Information, Protocol and Public Relations, Mr Sola Imoru, the VC said: “It is gratifying that Gen Tsiga has ultimately heeded persistent calls from concerned and well-meaning Nigerians, to redeploy corps members from volatile states, including Borno, to secure states.”

Prof. Mimiko was reacting to an article which quoted Tsiga as saying: “We cannot leave them (corps members) to be victims of circumstances.

Mimiko described Tsiga’s decision as “a bold step in the direc-

•Prof Mimiko

‘It is gratifying that Gen Tsiga has ultimately heeded persistent calls from concerned and well-meaning Nigerians, to redeploy corps members from volatile states’ tion of national integration, correctness and expediency”. He encouraged the NYSC boss to continue to take decisions that will guarantee the safety of the corps members and the unity of the nation.

He added that calls for redeployment is not to undermine the NYSC scheme, but to protect corps members from harm.

“It is worth restating here that the call by Nigerians for the deployment of corps members from unsecured states in the interim is not an attack on NYSC, but a call for the protection of lives, which is a major responsibility of government,” he said.

Since Jehleel Kehinde Adeniji, an alumnus of the university, was killed with other the corps members in Bauchi during the postelection crisis in April, the university has been advocating the posting of corps members to safer places for their primary assignment

ASUP lauds action on Rector

By Adegunle Olugbamila

T

HE Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has hailed the Federal Ministry of Education for warning the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Dr Mustapha Barau.

The ministry’s action followed the recommendation of the factfinding committee that investigated allegations of high handedness, and financial impropriety levelled against the Rector.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the union’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia, signed by the National President Muhammad Kabir, and Secretary-General Usman Mamaki, the union.

In March, trouble erupted between the local chapter of the union and Barau, when he, acting through the ASUP vice-chairman, suspended Kabir and the chapter chairman. The decision drew the ire of ASUP which described it as’ illegal’ Said:“NEC welcomes the decision of the Ministry of Education to call the Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Mubi to order on a number of issues bordering on maladministration and high handedness. NEC equally affirms her stand on the urgent removal of the Rector on grounds of financial impropriety among others.”

ASUP National Publicity Secretary, Adesoji Senbanjo, praised the

•Senbanjo

ministry for setting up another committee when the union complained that the first one had been compromised.

He said: “You will recall that a press conference was held around March to air the displeasure of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics with the style of the administration of Dr Mustapha Barau.

“Consequently, a high powered delegation initially sent to the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi appeared compromised by the Rector. The union protested vehemently leading to a second delegation whose work has started manifesting in series of ‘call to order’ issued to the Rector.”

The body is also demanding full implementation of Consolidated Polytechnics Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONCASS) in all state polytechnics and monotechnics. It threatened to take on any governors who refuses the CONPCASS.

38

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

EDUCATION IBBUL FILE

GRADUATION

Don wins Strauss award A SENIOR Lecturer in the Department of Geography, Faculty of Applied and Natural Sciences, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), Dr Ignatius Madu, has emerged first runner-up in an international competition for African scholars on Environmental Security, sponsored by the Robert S. Strauss Centre for International Security Studies and the Pew Centre on Global Climate Change.

The competition, which was on Climate Change and Africa Political Stability (CCAPS), aims at fostering innovative African scholarship on the link between climate change and security in Africa.

Madu’s entry was on “Spatial vulnerability of rural areas to climate change in Nigeria: implications for internal security”. The award comes with research stipends to enable him to attend an international conference.

The management of the university congratulated Madu and has approved his attendance at the International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts and Responses in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

FRSC trains drivers THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lapai Unit Command, Niger State, has organised a public enlightenment on safe driving for the university’s drivers.

Delivering his speech at the opening of the event at the Board Room of Faculty of Applied and Natural Sciences, the Registrar, Mallam Sama’ila Muhammad, represented by the Establishment Secretary, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, said the institution collaborated with FRSC to further improve the proficiency of its drivers.

He charged the drivers to take advantage of the opportunity to improve themselves.

Lapai Unit Commander of FRSC, Alhaji Nma Magana, said the agency is working towards reducing road accidents by 2020.

He explained that most times, road users commit traffic offences because of ignorance, noting that public awareness programmes are important to enable the public to apply their senses while driving.

Magana commended the management for ensuring that all the drivers in her employ benefited from the programme, enjoining it to extend same to other members of the university community.

Ministry provides lab equipment THE management has received scientific laboratory equipment worth millions of naira from the Niger State Ministry of Education.

The equipment includes Moisture Analyser and Spectrophotometer.

At the hand over, the ViceChancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Adamu Kolo, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Dr Baba Alfa, explained that the equipment when installed, would enhance academic and research .

Kolo said the equipment would form the building blocks of the planned central laboratory.

He expressed appreciation for the government’s gesture.

Pupils urged to embrace teaching HEN the 41 graduating pupils of Vanguards Academy in Odosengolu in Ogun State were asked of their future ambitions during their fifth graduation, expectedly they gave different answers.

Abdullah Adewunmi aspires to become a chartered accountant at 25. AbdulSalam Ibrahim wishes to become a robot engineer, others want to be doctors, but none wanted to be teacher.

However, Chairman, Managing Board of the School Mr Dawud Arogundade, counselled them, hoping that some of them would change their minds. He encouraged the graduates to aspire to be teachers, saying if the pupils of today do not want to be teachers tomorrow, then, there will be a decline in education in the nearest future.

In his keynote address, the Director of Administration, Mr Zafaran Adeniyi, urged the pupils not forget their training.

To achieve excellence and greatness, Adeniyi urged them to avoid bad friends, desist from wasting time on films, sports and study hard in order to attain greatness.

The guest speaker, a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Dr Miftahudeen Abdurrauf, also urged the pupils not to forget the school’s legacy of sustaining academic excellence.

He said they should aim to

W

•A cross section of the graduating female pupils

By Risikat Ramoni

make first class in the higher institution.

Addressing parents, Abdurrauf advised them to monitor their wards, provide their needs, and guide and protect them.

The Principal of the school, Mr Luqman Alatishe, said parents and guardians have a stake in the pupils’ future.

“They have a lot of responsibil-

ity, knowing full well that part of their own right is to provide them with good education, morals, good upbringing and protect them from bad friendship.”

Alatishe implored the Federal, state and local governments to have a change of attitude towards education. He said the government should put education and not politics as first on its priority list.

He lauded Lagos State Ministry of Education, hoping that the Commissioner of Education in Ogun State will raise education to an enviable standard before leaving office.

The most outspoken pupil, Ogunjimi Qasim, who represented the outgoing pupils, urged his peers not to be distracted from furthering their education.

them not to procrastinate, but to learn to manage funds, appetite properly, be responsible, set goals and say ‘no’ when appropriate.

He advised them to plan ahead, so they can be celebrated in future.

“Where will you be in the next five years? In 10 years? In 15 years?

Let all of us gathered here today see you at that time doing exploits in your various callings in life. It is only then that you would have justified the investments on you by your parents, your school and even the society. May God hold your hands as you go forth into the world,” he said.

long way to shape your vision in life and help you determine that which you will like to do.

The Chairman, Board of Governors, Jextoban, Mr Emmanuel Adedayo Ojo, reiterated that the family is the first institution that has the greatest responsibility of imparting high moral standard on the minds of students.

The Proprietor, who spoke on

the topic “Challenges of blending knowledge with character”, said slide in moral standards, social values and noble philosophies was a source of concern.

He pointed out that events all over the world have confirmed that character or integrity, has been thrown to the winds in politics, governance and virtually in all sectors of life.

School sends off pupils

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

B

EFORE a packed hall of guests, parents and teachers at the Ogudu Residents’ Association Centre in Lagos, 34 SS3 pupils of Mictec International School, Ogudu, were given a rousing send off.

They were entertained by their juniors with dance, drama, orchestral, ballet, and choral presentations. They also received parting gifts and, more importantly, words of wisdom to keep them focused in life.

Director of the school, Mr Michael Tejuosho and guest speaker, Mr Femi Adesina, the Deputy Managing Director/Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Sun, guided them well in this regard.

In line with the theme of the event, “Groomed for Exploits”, Tejuosho told the teenagers to keep in mind the three ingredients of desire, decision and determination for exploits in their journey.

Tejuosho urged them to help reverse the rot in the society, saying: “The national conditions – corruption, violence, insecurity, among others, are current issues of great concern where the

•The graduates

economy is becoming unbearable.

Therefore, we need people like our groomed students to promote honesty, loyalty, and truthfulness to revamp the ailing circumstances.”

Adesina reminded the pupils that the way to success not smooth, adding that it requires determination. He also counselled

Ex-ICAN President tasks graduands on goals

F

ORMER president of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) Mr Emmanuel Ijewere has tasked students to work towards achieving their dreams and aspirations early in life.

Ijewere, who spoke at the 13th valedictory and graduation of Jextoban Secondary School, Ketu, Lagos, said this would go a long

By Miriam Ndikanwu

way to determine their success.

He explained that being a genius does not guarantee success, but the ability to dream and live that dream through hard work and dedication.

“Today is a great day in your life, and I want to advise you to cherish this day because it will go a

39

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

EDUCATION GRADUATION

Onosode calls for good parenting, hardwork

P

RO- Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, has advised parents against indulging their children.

Onosode gave the advice at the nineth valedictory service of Westminister College, Idimu, Lagos which governing board he chairs.

Onosode flayed what he called the “do- or-die” attitude of parents to get their children everything, describing it as improper.

He said: “In my days in school, whenever I take what is not mine home from school, my parents will challenge me, but today parents are the ones stealing to educate their children and hire ‘exam mercenaries’ to write exams for pupils, but my prayer is that the graduands of today will grow to be quality parents.”

Onosode added that without influence, the graduands can get good positions if they work hard and urged them to exemplify such way of life in the society.

“There was a man who came to me to help his son get a job. I asked about the boy’s performance in the test he wrote. I learnt he performed well. I told them since the boy is good, they should wait for the list.

Without anybody’s intervention, the boy got the job.

“You have received quality education, go out and become the light of the world. Don’t lobby to get positions,” he advised.

He praised the school administration for ensuring a neat environment and good performance academically and urged for continuation.

By Seun Olalude

Rev Father Chuks Mueme read Matthew 5:1-16. He urged the pupils to be light in the midst of darkness.

He said: “We have gathered to celebrate an end of a stage which leads to other. What kind of light do you want to be? A halogen or the one under a table. You have received instructions; your teachers have given you basic training. The instructions you have received and light in you will help you to shine.

Be a model of compassion, mercy, truth, justice and life in this world of injustice and death.”

The school’s Managing Director Mr Johnson Barovbe, said it has recorded high level of academic excellence.

“We have carved a niche for academic success which emanates from the small class sizes arrangement, good teaching facilities and well qualified teachers. This helped our pupils. The 36 who are graduating today, no one failed the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and none scored less than 209. They are all qualified to be invited to attend post-UTME admission test by the universities.

Some who chose private universities had already secured admission,” he said.

Barovbe advised the graduands to choose good mentors.

“My home work for you is going to the Internet to study the biography of Gen Gowon, the former President of Ghana, J.J. Rawlings; former Finance and Foreign Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and some others who are good mentors,” he said.

•Isioma (second left). With her are her grandmother (left), Vice Principal (Academics), Mr O. Fasoranti, and her parents

Shun body tattoo, pupils told F they are seeking role models, outgoing pupils of S.T.T. Regency College, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos have been advised not to look up to some politicians who have no careers outside politics.

Speaking at the college’s second graduation, a lawyer,Chief Michael Agbamuche, urged the 13 graduands to be hard working in order to achieve.

“Let no one among you be found on the pages of newspapers as former governors who have nothing else doing. Let your school be

I

•Cross section of graduates of Access International School Magoro, last week

I want to be a journalist, says blind pupil •Principal seeks help on flooding

T

OSIN Fashoro had dreamed of becoming a navy officer when he grows up. But when he suffered from leukaemia, which rendered him blind, his plans changed.

He passed out from the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted, Surulere, Lagos last Thursday.

Yet, he is not losing hope of becoming great in future.

He said: “I love the navy and I wanted to be a part of it before I got blind, but that dream is dead now. I have not lost hope. I want to study Mass Communication so that I can become a presenter and I know I will be a good one too.”

Despite his optimism about

By Kemi Runsewe

what lies ahead, Tosin will miss his school.

“I’m not too happy that I am leaving. I will miss the teachers, nuns, pupils, cooks and all the fun we had together. This place is peaceful and we are treated very well. But I am happy because it is time for me to move ahead with my life and with God, I know I will make it,” he said.

The Principal of the school, Rev Benedicta Ogike, urged the government to contribute to the development of the school. She stated that the flood caused by the consistent rain in recent times hindered lots of the school activi-

ties, and forcing the pupils to write their examinations in their rooms.

She said: “For some years, we have tried to arrest the flood situation here, but it has defied all efforts. The flood brought every activity to a halt in Pacelli School.

The children were confined to their dormitories, which incidentally are upstairs. Every activity including writing their examinations had to be done on their bed.

We call on the Lagos State government to come to our rescue before something worse happens.”

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, advised the graduates to always be positive in their thinking, apply what they had learnt and use their talents well.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

proud of you. You owe a duty to yourself and your school. Continue against all odds. The secret of the story of Noah’s Ark is not that it rained, but he was prepared before the rain. Build your ark with integrity and hard work,” he said.

The proprietress, Dr Maggie IbruEbigwei, counselled the graduands, who she referred to as her children.

She acknowledged the pupil’s faults and asked them to shun negative trends of youthful living including engraving tattoos on their bodies.

“Never let anybody lure you to put tattoos on any part of your body. People who do so are not responsible. You will be ashamed.

When they are looking for responsible people to give jobs, they wont come to you,” she said.

She also urged them not to forget all they learnt in the college about living right, but continually shine as lights for others to see.

The graduands were presented with awards presented by the school, teachers, the founder and other donors. The awards encompassed academics and other areas of school life such as leadership, integrity and discipline.

Isioma Kasi-Okonye took home the highest number of awards including three academic awards – best in Science, Mathematics, and overall best graduand; seven teachers’ award (best in Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics,

Further Maths, and Computer Studies) and one Founder’s award for being the most disciplined girl, presented by Ms Maggie.

Another notable award winner was Fusika Akinsete, who won Ms Maggie’s most disciplined boy and the integrity award to the pride of his parents, Mr and Mrs Stephen Akinsete, who were also presented with the Most Dedicated Parents award for bringing him up so well.

“You would never see him doing wrong. He did not have a girlfriend here in school, though he is very handsome. It is not time for girls.

Keep away from alcohol and stay focused,” she said.

Of the Most Dedicated Parent award, named the Roseleen MayNzeribe Annual Award, Ms Maggie said she instituted it in memory of her late sister, who dedicated her life to bringing up her children to the point of sacrificing the chance to be a successful career woman.

She urged parents to invest time in grooming their children to turn out will.

He praised the parents for their support while the pupils were in the school.

During the event, a hall named after Oba De Aholu Menu-Toyi1 of Badagry Oba Babatunde Akran was inaugurated.

The monarch praised the school for a job well done.

Parents, guests and graduands were entertained by the school cultural groups.

Develop correct attitude to life, cleric tells graduates

P

ASTOR Ajimuda Phillips of the Deeper Life Bible Church has advised the graduating pupils of Prospect College, Ketu, Lagos, to develop the right attitude to life.

He added that the greatest disability anyone can have is bad attitude.

“Attitude is everything. If you have all the certificates and you have poor attitude, your certificate maybe rendered useless. Therefore, you need the right attitude because positive attitude is a magnet for positive results.The most important change in life is change in attitude.

Your attitude is the real person inside you. So, you all have a duty to develop the right attitude to life,” he told the pupils.

The Proprietor, Mr Phillips Opatola, said it is also important for the products to have a sound vision.

“It is clear that you cannot do it unless you can imagine it. As a man thinks so is he,” the propertior said.

He advised the students to strive hard and refused to be deterred by challenges.

The occasion featured presentations of drama and music by the pupils. There was also the presentation of awards. The neatest student among the graduands was Louis Adelaja, who is also the head Girl.

She is also best in mathematics and English language, and the best behaved. Master Deji Shentoye won the award for the most active prefect.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

40

EDUCATION

‘I told my father to disown me if I did not make a First Class’

Y

OUNG Victor Effiong Ubong made a promise to his father when he secured admission to study Accounting at Covenant University (CU), Ota, in Ogun State.

“When I came to CU before I resumed, I promised my father that I will come out with First Class not minding my previous background because I have always been an average student. But I challenged him to disown me if I don’t come out with a First Class. I’m grateful to God because I never expected that I could go this far. It was truly not planned,” he said.

But Ubong did not just finish with a First Class, he emerged the 2010/2011 Valedictorian at the sixth convocation of CU with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.99.

He was the cynosure of eyes as he mounted the podium to receive his awards amid thunderous applause. Of nearly 1,263 graduates, Ubong shone like a thousand stars.

•Ubong

By Adegunle Olugbamila

The secret of his success, he said, was a culture which he and three other friends cultivated right from the start.

“In my 100 Level, I studied for 16 hours. Later, I met my friends with whom we synergised, and I observed that if we contributed like three to four hours each, we could bring out 12 hours. The synergy worked and from then on, we made the best grades. I am happy God didn’t just give me a First Class, he even made me the best graduating student. I am very grateful to God,” he said.

Ubong expressed gratitude to his late mother whom he described as his source of inspiration, and the university for revealing to him the true way to success.

He said: “I’m grateful to CU for the wonderful spiritual core values. The school has helped in moulding me into a better person.

My mind was changed drastically as I came to this university. When I was in junior secondary school, I used to cheat and cram, but when I came here, God showed me that it was possible to read and pass if I have the mind of Christ.”

•Mr. Olusanya (second left) with Mrs Funke Malomo, youth co-ordinator, SOS Village, Mr Inusa Ahmed, Dr Fasehun, Abiodun Adejola, stock controller SOS and Mrs. Soetan Folaremi, executive secretary of the Foundation with some of the pupils and the gift items

S

Foundation donates to SOS home

UCCOUR came the way of pupils of the SOS Children Home in Mushin, Lagos as a non-governmental organisation, Life Savers Foundation donated food and clothes to the orphanage.

The donation was made during the home’s primary school’s valedictory, speech and prize giving day.

The Head of the home, Mr Dada Olusanya, who received the items, which included 35 cartons of noodles and some textile materials, expressed appreciation to the foundation.

By Titilayo Banjoko

Founder, Oduduwa Peolples’s Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasheun, who is also the Chairman of the foundation’s Board of Trustees, said the donation was done as part of the NGO’s mission to assist the less privileged.

Fasheun restated the foundation’s commitment to the less privileged, urging other philanthropic organisations not to relent in their efforts.

He said irrespective of the plight of the children, the society owes

them a duty to make them live like other children.

He also appealed to the government to come to the aid of the home because it has many challenges.

“The village does not have any form of support from the government. This is why we are agitating for local support because we need to show more concern to the lives of these children. Other well-to-do Nigerians should develop interest in this home and make donations.

We should stop thinking about ourselves all the time,” he said.

Agege Council organises Olympiad

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RIMARY and junior secondary schools under the IfakoIjaiye Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) competed for honours during the maiden Science Olympiad, Quiz Competition and science project exhibition. The event was held at the Vetland Primary School, Agege, Lagosm State.

Twenty-five public and 17 private primary schools battled for supremacy in Basic Science, Computer Science, and Mathematics.

Seven public and nine private junior secondary schools tested their knowledge in Agricultural Science, Integrated Science, Technical Drawing and Computer Studies.

Some of the participating schools

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

also exhibited science projects such as simple periscope, design of instructional materials to teach scientific concept, local cooking stove, and prototype houses, among others.

Education Secretary of the LGEA, Mr Murisik Taiwo Balogun, said he initiated the Olympiad to improve the teaching and learning of sciences in primary and junior secondary schools in his domain to stimulate the pupils’interest in the subjects.

“This is to encourage the teaching and learning in schools and tap hidden talents. We will award prizes to the winners as a reward,”

he said.

At the end of the competition, Vetland Primary School won the Project Category for primary schools for its model of a standing fan. In the second position was Taqwa Private School with the model of a house, while Ebenezer Primary School came third with their model of a wall clock.

Barachel Model College came first among the junior secondary schools with their 500 watts inverter project. They were followed

by Stadium Junior College in second place for designing an instructional material of the mammalian teeth. Ijaiye Housing Estate Junior Secondary School was adjudged third for their electric stove.

EDUTALK

with

Parents and parenting

L

AST week, the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola announced plans to hold a seminar for parents before the end of the year. It could not have come at a Kofoworola more auspicious time. Sometimes it is worrying the kind of things that escape the notice of parents about the affairs of their Kofosagie@yahoo.com children.

08054503077 (SMS only) Before we blame any school for condoning indiscipline, or a teacher for not living up to expectations, we should examine the kinds of homes our school children come from. Some parents live in ignorant bliss about what is happening in their children’s lives. Sometimes, a student would have missed classes, dropped out of school, got pregnant, or be battling drug addiction long before parents notice something is amiss.

It is common for parents to vehemently defend their wards when they are told of wrongdoings. “It is not my Tunde”, they may say.

“He is very quiet and well-behaved”. That is easy to believe if the child is good at pretending, or if the parent is actually never around long enough to know his true character.

For parents to be in the know on happenings in the lives of their children, they need to partner with the schools. They should not abdicate their responsibilities – expecting the teachers to – in addition to the arduous task of teaching, supervising and grading, monitor whether the children are eating well, turning in home work, or associating with the right kinds of people. Teachers are likely to notice when something is not right about their students, however, if parents do not cooperate with them, their influence may be limited.

Sometimes teachers send notes to parents through their wards, calling their attention to one issue or the other in the life of the child.

Some very daring children may fail to deliver the messages to avoid trouble. Repeated messages may end up being destroyed intentionally to keep a parent who is not vigilant in the dark.

However if parents attend PTA meetings regularly, and make it a point not to miss open days, prize giving ceremonies, and other school activities, they are in a better position to ascertain how well their wards are doing. Apart from developing cordial relationships with their children’s teachers and other cadres of workers, they get to meet the friends they (the children) talk about so often, and probably the parents of such friends. When parents become friends because of their children, they position themselves better to gain timely information about values their wards may pick up and from where, and are able to take decisions quickly on what to encourage and what to nip in the bud.

Parents also need to pay attention to what their children tell them.

Sometimes children complain about rape or incest only to be hushed by mothers. Unfortunately, by the time the truth comes to light, it is often too late and the child damaged beyond repair.

Children are gifts from God. Many couples go through a lot seeking medical and/or spiritual help to have them. It is, therefore, expedient that those blessed with them should not spare any effort to lay a good foundation made up of virtues such as hard work, integrity, honesty, fairness, discipline, compassion, and the like, so that their adult lives are fruitful.

Belo-Osagie

‘It is common for parents to vehemently defend their wards when they are told of wrongdoings. “It is not my Sola”, they may say. “He is very quiet and well-behaved”.

That is easy to believe if the child is good at pretending, or if the parent is actually never around long enough to know his true character’

From my Inbox Re: Frank vs deceptive schools (Thursday, July 21-07) Kofoworola, I read your Edutalk and I beg to disagree. All private schools are the same – without standards. Can you imagine a proprietor saying it is better to lose a teacher than a pupil? Agibah.

Kofoworola, you have spoken frantically concerning these deceptive schools. Most of these private schools are full of deception. I love your write up to be factual. Please, keep it up. Teniola, Akure.

Help tell the government to supervise the public schools. Standards will continue to drop as long as people are left to do as they please, or are not trained. 07062721—.

Kofo, good evening, I want you to please make it a point of duty to be highlighting through your column in The Nation, the need for both National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Education to hurry up to amend the Education Act, to accommodate the agreement with ASUU on age of lecturers to prevent another strike in the universities. Thank you and God bless. Olajide.

SLIDING TACKLE

'These stimulants should absolutely still be prohibited but we'd like more flexibility in the sanction we give.

If we think someone's been taking a substance to cheat we would still give two years, but more often it's a case of them being used in a social setting. We want the prohibited list to be an evidence-based document, not a question of moral and ethics.'

Thursday, July 28, 2011

42

Head of Science and Medicine UK AntiDoping, Michael Stow calling for more flexibility in dealing with athletes caught taking banned substances.

Walcott: Set for MRI scan

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N G L A N D international Theo Walcott has been training with the rest of the squad in Germany but was forced to sit out Monday's session due to the injury.

The Gunners have since made the decision to send the 22-year-old home for treatment.

"Theo went home early and was due to have an MRI," manager Arsene Wenger told Setanta.

•Aguero

Chelsea: Torres not a flop

C WELCOME TO MANCHESTER!

Aguero arrives for medical ahead of £38m City move S

ERGIO Aguero has expressed his delight at arriving in Manchester to complete his £38million move from Atletico Madrid to Roberto Mancini's City.

The Argentine flew from his homeland on Tuesday night after the two clubs struck the multi-million pound deal, and took to social networking site Twitter on arrival.

He wrote: 'Just landed in Manchester to finalize the details of the offer with the City. Everything is fine! In a while I'll tell you more.'

It is understood City already have a clear idea of his personal demands and do not expect discussions to take very long.

The highly rated 23-yearold is expected to put his name to a five-year contract worth around £200,000 a week and his arrival will certainly please manager Mancini.

City are expected to lose

Carlos Tevez in the coming weeks and with doubts remaining over the reliability of Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli, Mancini needs a proven goalscorer before the Barclays Premier League season begins in two-and-ahalf weeks.

Aguero has recently played with his compatriot Tevez in the Copa America and as such will be allowed some holiday before beginning his new life at the Etihad Stadium.

Tevez has been told to report back for training with Mancini's squad on August 4 and the same will apply to Aguero, meaning neither player is expected to start in the Community Shield against neighbours and rivals Manchester United three days later.

City travel to the Republic of Ireland on Friday for two games in the Dublin Super Cup, including the pick

against Inter Milan on Sunday.

City's deal with Aguero is thought to have been sealed after the striker talked the

IVE-TIME World Cup coach Bora Milutinovic has lost his legal bid to receive a million-dollar payoff from the Jamaica Football Federation after being fired in 2007.

Milutinovic originally sought $3 million to settle the three years remaining on his deal when he was sacked for an unspecified breach of contract.

A Swiss Federal Tribunal ruling published this week, rejected Milutinovic’s final appeal and confirmed he would receive compensation of less than $20,000.

However, the tribunal also ordered the Serbian coach to pay

F

LONDON 2012

Ban on coke must be relaxed for games —Anti-doping chief

•Osayemi

does not believe that substances such as cocaine and ecstasy should be treated in the same way as performance-enhancing drugs.

He told The Times: 'These stimulants should absolutely still be prohibited but we'd like more flexibility in the sanction we give.

If we think someone's been taking a substance to cheat we would still give two years, but more often it's a case of them being used in a social setting.

'We want the prohibited list to be an evidence-based document, not a question of moral and ethics.'

Dame Grey-Thompson, the

move through with his wife Giannina, who is Diego Maradona's daughter, in Argentina over the weekend.

HELSEA have closed ranks to try and protect Fernando Torres after manager Andre Villas-Boas claimed there was a ‘media obsession’ with the £50million striker.

Petr Cech and John Terry have been at pains to stress Torres remains ‘one of the best strikers in the world’, despite only scoring one goal since his recordbreaking move from Liverpool in January.

Cech said this week Torres should not be compared to Chelsea flop Andriy Shevchenko and Terry agreed on Tuesday.

The Chelsea captain said: ‘That’s unfair to ‘Nando.

Naturally, there’s a bit of pressure on him but he can deal with it.

He’s one of the best strikers in the world and he’s hungry to win.’

Torres finally spoke for the first time on Chelsea’s tour of Asia

yesterday – albeit under pressure from one of his sponsors, Adidas – and maintained he has not lost his killer instinct.

Torres said: ‘I am 27. I don’t forget how to score goals. I will score. We are all trying to be in the best form for the new season.

There are big expectations for the new season that Chelsea always have. I have been here six months and I can see the winning mentality they have.

‘It is going to be a long season and now is a time to get ready.

My form is OK, like my teammates. We have a new manager and it's time to get ready.’

But the striker has not looked fluent in three pre-season friendlies since his summer break. He will continue the search for his elusive rhythm and his confidence when Chelsea play Hong Kong champions Kitchee on Wednesday in the Barclays Asia Trophy.

Milutinovic loses bid for $3m damages from Jamaica

BRIEFS... BRIEFS... BRIEFS... BRIEFS... BRIEFS...

A senior anti-doping official has called for more flexibility in how the authorities deal with athletes caught taking recreational drugs - starting at next year's Olympic Games in London.

Michael Stow, head of science and medicine at UK Anti-Doping,

"It is an ankle injury that comes and goes. We need some more investigation because sometimes he's completely free of it and sometimes it affects him.

"But we had to send him back because he couldn't practice anymore."

The injury comes as a second blow to Arsenal's pre-season following the news teenage sensation Conor Henderson is facing the entire campaign on the sidelines after suffering cruciate damage to his knee.

former Paralympian, now a member of UK Athletics, believes the softening of sanctions on those caught testing positive for banned substances would send out the wrong signal to the public and young fans who look up to professional sportsmen and women.

She said: 'I can understand why UKAD would want to differentiate between recreational and performance-enhancing drugs, but I think if you choose to be an athlete and are in the public eye, you have a certain responsibility of how to behave.

32,000 Swiss francs ($40,000) in court costs and legal fees.

Milutinovic’s legal battle pitted him against Jamaican officials, FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Nicknamed “The Miracle Worker” for his World Cup record, Milutinovic made football history as the first man to coach five different teams at the finals.

Jamaica hired him in November 2006 on a four-year contract with an annual salary of $1 million.

When Milutinovic was fired less than one year later, Jamaica had fallen 45 places to No. 103 in the FIFA rankings.

His side had lost 8-1 against Iran, 3-0 to Vietnam and 2-1 in Indonesia.

Milutinovic took his claim for compensation to FIFA whose players’ status committee awarded him $1 million.

Jamaican officials appealed to a CAS panel which downgraded the award to “$19,691.90 in liquidated damages,” the sports court said.

Milutinovic challenged the JFF and FIFA at Switzerland’s supreme court, which has dismissed his appeal.

From 1986-2002, he guided Mexico, Costa Rica, the United States, Nigeria and China, respectively, at the World Cup. All but China advanced from the group stage.

Milutinovic also coached thenAsian champion Iraq at the 2009 Confederations Cup played in South Africa.

•Torres

Fenerbahce sanctioned over crowd trouble

T

HE Turkish football federation has ordered Fenerbahce to play two home games without spectators after its fans invaded the field during a friendly against Ukrainian champion Shakhtar Donetsk, forcing the abandonment of the game.

The federation announced Wednesday that the punishment was in response to last Thursday’s crowd trouble by Fenerbahce fans, who also attacked media

representatives for what they regard as critical coverage of a match-fixing probe that involves the league champion.

Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim is among 30 suspects in the case and the club faces the threat of being stripped of its title and possible relegation.

Turkey pushed back the start of the season for more than a month until Sept. 9 due to the inquiry.

43

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

e-Business The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is about to appoint a clearing house for the implementation of the Number Portability initiative. Though operators appear unperturbed, analysts say their profit margins may be affected by the scheme, ADLINE ATILI writes

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HE fad among Nigerians is to carry multiple handsets all because of the unreliability of the networks of the major telecoms service providers. These various handsets have different numbers. But soon, there may be no need for multiple handsets as plans are afoot by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to begin implementation of Number Portability.

Number Portability allows end users to keep their phone numbers when they switch service providers.

NCC said it is at the tail end of appointing a provider for number portability data base.

According to the commission, Number Portability will remove barriers to the free choice of service provider by a subscriber, ensure further increase in the level of open competition among network operators, and act as an incentive for service providers to improve Quality of Service and consumer satisfaction.

Globally, nations are recognising that subscribers benefit from number portability because it can help develop and sustain competition in the telecoms sector.

Regulators have also embraced it to promote healthy competition among operators. They believe implementation of number portability initiative in many key markets created new opportunities and improved the consumer’s experience.

In those markets, they say, changing numbers, while not impossible, was an obstacle that discouraged customers from switching mobile service providers.

Operators were sometimes lulled into a degree of complacency about serving their existing customers.

Number Portability made it easier for customers to shop around for the best deal and shifted the market to a ‘consumer-centric’ number ownership model, rather than the ‘operator-centric’ number ownership model that was previously in place.

Etisalat’s Chief Executive Officer, Steven Evans, endorsing the initiative, had said: “A customer’s number belongs to the customer. It doesn’t belong to the networks; so we feel that it’s important that customers can take that number if they want to and move to another network. Why shouldn’t they be able to do that?

“The same number that they’ve given to lots and lots of people so that they can contact them why should they have to change it after switching networks?

“We are very supportive of it and believe it’s all about freedom of choice for the customer.

“I think Nigeria is definitely

•With Number Portability, subscribers will be able to change SIM cards without changing phone numbers

Between number portability and operators’ profit ready for it with regards to the networks, but I am not surprised that most operators are reluctant to welcome it because clearly, they see it as a competitive threat.

“I think their fear is that of losing customers who may want to move their lines to other network and experience the quality of their services.

“Many countries have introduced Number Portability and it is quite interesting for the customers and the operators themselves.

If it works in other countries, then it can work in Nigeria.”

Bharti Airtel had also signalled its intention to adopt number portability as a means of giving Nigerian telecoms consumers the freedom of choice.

During a visit to Nigeria, Chief Executive Officer (International) of the company, Manoj Kholi, advocated the immediate introduction of number portability, stat-

ing that it would increase competition in the telecoms market and challenge operators to improve quality of operations.

Although tariff may not be a differentiating factor in the choice of operator, experts say Telcos that offer superior products and services; better quality of customer service, better price structure and higher network quality will have an edge in ‘porting’ customers to it.

With the price war brought on last year when Bharti Airtel acquired Zain and slashed tariff prices, analysts believe that number portability might spur a price war again and the profitability of Nigerian service providers is likely to be squeezed.

But a top official of MTN Nigeria who spoke with The Nation disagreed with the notion.

According to her, “It’s an established fact that number portabil-

ity does not change the dynamics of mobile subscription; it does not mean an operator would become larger or smaller by subscriber base.

“The way it’s going in Nigeria makes it all seem it is going to change something for some operators, whereas it wouldn’t.

“If anything, it would stimulate more competition. At MTN, we are not worried because we know how it goes elsewhere in the world. Number Portability is just the next phase in the maturity of the market.”

A telecoms analyst, Mr Emeka Agu, however, disagreed with the view that Number Portability is not going to change the dynamics of mobile subscription.

He said: “I read somewhere where the ATCON President Mr Titi Omo-Ettu, said Nigeria may not have more than 30 million ‘real’ subscribers after all. I totally agree.

A customer’s number belongs to the customer. It doesn’t belong to the networks; so we feel that it’s important that customers can take that number if they want to and move to another network. Why shouldn’t they be able to do that?

“At present, there are over 100 million connected lines, where only about 80 million are active.

This means each of the 30 million-odd subscribers own about three SIM cards.

“If we have 30 million subscribers, it then means there is still a large un-served population out there that would benefit greatly from Number Portability when they are eventually served.

“It also means, the initiative will keep operators on their toes in terms of service delivery, because there is still a large market for mobile phone subscription.”

According to the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah, Number Portability was delayed because of lack of SIM registration data base.

In a chat with some industry stakeholders, he said: “We deliberately delayed number portability because we don’t want to inject number portability in a state of anonymity of SIM cards; in a state of confusion and chaos of data registration.

“We said as soon as we get a good grasp on SIM card registration we are going to revive the process of actually appointing a clearing house and operator for the number portability project.”

He disclosed that towards the end of this month, a number portability clearing house and operator would be appointed.

He, however, said appointment of a number portability operator does not mean the project would commence straightaway, until after all logistics has been taken care of.

He said: “We are now at the tail end of appointing a provider for number portability data base. We hope that in July, this provider would be appointed.

“However, the appointment of an operator for number portability doesn’t mean that it would start immediately; the operator has to set up equipment and interconnect with all the operators.

“By international standard, it takes nine months from the time of appointment of a number portability operator to realise the porting itself.”

Additionally, the commission has created a new department, Projects Office, which will oversee the implementation of the various project of the commission, Number Portability inclusive.

Subscribers who spoke with The Nation are excited about the idea.

They argue that though people subscribe to more than one network in Nigeria, most people have their main numbers which they give out to friends, family and business associates, adding that it would likely decrease the prevalent use of multiple SIM cards.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

44

e-Business

Firm chief urges action on cyber crime law

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EGIONAL Vice-President, Emerging Markets, Symantec, a security and systems management company, Kevin Isaac, has called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the passage of the cyber crime bill into law to effectively tackle cyber crime in the country.

He also called for the formulation of policies, saying until policies and laws are put in place and cyber criminals can be extradited between countries, the cyber crime war would not be won in a long time.

Speaking in Lagos at the launch of the Symantec Endpoint Protection 12 (SEP 12) an endpoint security solution for large, medium and small organisations, Isaac said all hands must be on deck in combating the threat cyber

Stories by Adline Atili

crime poses beyond anti-virus and firewalls, by taking the government to task on policy formulation.

He said: “Nigeria accounts for 2 per cent of the global Internet user population and 29 per cent of the population are connected to the Internet.

“According to our Internet Security Threat Report, attackers unleashed more than 286 million distinct malicious programmes in 2010, creating a challenge for traditional signature-based security solutions that can’t keep up with this volume of attacks.

“This means we have to rethink what we do; if we don’t rethink, we’ll be at fault. Gov-

ernments, agencies and organisations are increasingly at risk today.

“Therefore, governments have to formulate policies and laws, especially those that would enable extradition of people between countries. Ask government to improve your lot; ask what is being done about cyber crime law. Did you know 78 per cent of all emails coming to your box are spam? If we take it away, cost of Internet will reduce.”

Senior Vice-President, Endpoint and Mobility Group of the company, Chirantan Desai noted that results from independent tests have demonstrated that the SEP 12 out-outperforms competition in both virtual and physical environments, providing unrivalled protection and blazingly fast performance.

Glo makes global call rate N9

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LOBACOM has announced the reduction of its International Direct Dialing (IDD) rate to N9 a minute. The new rate, according to the company, is being offered in a promotion called IDD Call Promo, applicable to both prepaid and post-paid subscribers.

The company's General Manager, Prepaid Marketing, Ashutosh Tiwary, said 15 major destinations in the world are covered by the promo. These are: United States of America, Canada, India, China, Hong Kong and Singapore. Also covered are: fixed lines in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico and the Netherlands.

Tiwary said: "At present, the low-

est rate in the market is N10 per minute and even this is limited to 5 destinations. With the new IDD promo, Glo subscribers pay only N9 per minute for calls to as many as 15 major destinations."

He explained that the tariff is applicable to all rate plans irrespective of day or time of call, while customers who are on per second billing platform will be charged the promo rate on per second basis for the IDD calls.

"With this offer, we have empowered our subscribers to make calls to friends, family members, business associates in any of these destinations. The tariff allows them to make more calls to more destinations than before," he added.

Commissioner promises improved service delivery

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HE Commissioner for Information and Communications in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Aniekan Umanah, has pledged to deploy effective information and communications technology tools to boost governance.

He said these tools would ensure real time online video posting and media tracking in the state.

Speaking after a facility tour in the ministry, Umanah said under his watch, the state would be

transformed from a pedestrian state to a preferred destination in the country.

He added that the information machinery of the state would be upgraded and harmonised to provide capacity training for information officers in his ministry as well as efficient information dissemination.

He urged members of staff to ensure success of the ministry through dedication to duty and robust approach to service delivery.

Resourcery gets award

A

•From left: A member of Egelege community, Chief Lawrence Ogunka; Globacom Territorial Head, South, Mr Charles Odiase; Mayor of Port Harcourt, Hon. Chimbiko Akarolo and a Representative of the community at the Globacom-sponsored Egelege festival in Port-Harcourt.

ISPON, government parley on capacity building C

HAIRMAN of the National Software Policy Committee (NSPC), Professor Wole Akiyoku has assured the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) of the Federal Government’s cooperation in developing a roadmap for software engineering capacity building and job creation for national development.

He gave this assurance at the recent national software roundtable organised by ISPON. He said: “The role of information technology, especially indigenous software, in Nigeria’s development cannot be overemphasised. It is a resource that must be tapped to build our

economy and provide jobs for the unemployed.”

Also speaking at the event, President of ISPON, Chris Uwaje said: “Nigeria cannot afford to miss out on this critical phase of human development. With a youthful population of more than 65 per cent, we can leverage on this manpower to harness our intellectual prowess and curb youth restiveness.

“This roundtable seeks to identify, address and resolve the challenges of building software knowledge capital by harnessing the potentials and

youthful strength in our nation, to build software skill capacities and provide a sustainable interface between education and the industry.”

At the end of discussions, it was agreed that institutional framework that should be put in place should be Nigerian, incorporating best practices from other countries and leveraging on the uniqueness of the local environment and needs.

They also agreed on development of policies and strategies, while recognising the plurality of digital domains; adding that needs should be standardsbased, reflective of national concerns and interests and backed by legislation where appropriate.

Samsung launches Series 3 Notebook

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ONSUMER electronics giant, Samsung Electronics West Africa, has announced the arrival of the sleek and stylish Series 3 350U2A notebook computer.

According to the company, Samsung Series 3 350U2A notebook is thin and light, weighing 1.3kg and less than the height of N1 coin, in a choice of vivid colors (black, silver and pink) to complement users’ personality. In addition, its premium-style design incorporates an elegant slim bezel display, so users can get all the benefits of a larger screen without having to sacrifice portability.

Information Technology Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Chioma Iwuchukwu-Nweke said: “Samsung’s intelligent

charging technology, PowerPlus, keeps up to 80 per cent battery capacity for up to 1,000 recharges, three times longer than a typical battery, making it more economical and environmentally friendly as fewer batteries need to be replaced.

“Its anti-reflective display means users can enjoy outstanding image clarity and text legibility even when they are outdoors with an extensive battery life of up to eight hours, as well as optimised performance of an Intel Core i3/i5 Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) processor, Windows 7 and Samsung’s unique Fast Start technology that provides instant on boot-up. When you need to get things done on the move, but still want to look good then the

Samsung Series 3 350U2A notebook is the perfect choice.”

She explained that the hybrid sleep mode combines the fast start-up of sleep with the stability of hibernation, to get started within a few seconds of opening the display or pressing the power button.

“The notebook’s Series 3 350U2A’s anti-reflective 12.5 inch HD LED display lets you enjoy images that are fine-tuned with the sharpest details and boldest colours, even when you’re outdoors.”

According to her, it features a 4in-1 card reader, Bluetooth, and a range of USB and HDMI ports, so users can quickly share and enjoy music, pictures, video and files from any device.

S part of its ongoing efforts to foster healthy and competitive economies worldwide, Microsoft Corporation recently joined the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in celebrating this year’s world Intellectual Property (IP) day, an event that calls on the Information Technology industry, governments and consumers to speak out about the importance of IP rights.

Resourcery Plc, an IT firm and Microsoft Gold Partner, was awarded the Intellectual Property Champ Nigeria award.

At the awards ceremony in Lagos, Anti-Piracy Manager,

Microsoft Nigeria Seye Oloruntoba said: “Microsoft works closely with our partners to ensure consumers receive the highest quality experience, best protection and most value for their money. This award recognises the tireless efforts of partners who are doing exemplary work in this area.”

Receiving the award on behalf of his company, Head of Applications, Resourcery, Aderemi Adejumo said: “We are honoured to be recognised by Microsoft with this award. As a trusted advisor to our customers, we remain committed to recommending the use of genuine Microsoft software.”

ACCA to begin online exams

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UMMIT Consulting Group has entered into partnership with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the global body for professional accountants to introduce online examinations. To this end, all ACCA examinations will be delivered online through an innovative eAssessment programme.

The terms of the agreement stipulate that technology will henceforth be deployed to enhance assessment of accountants who possess ACCA qualification.

Chief Executive Officer of ACCA, Helen Brand in a statement said: “ACCA’s migration to the e-examination platform will be beneficial to employers and students, giving them greater choice and access.

“As we develop our new e-Assessment model, ACCA will be able to test students’ knowledge and skills in a way which more accurately reflects real-life workplace scenarios and activities.

Employers have told us that this is what they want for the future.

The world of work is changing, becoming increasingly online.”

Firm designs e-reg system

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IDMACH Technologies, a Microsoft Gold Partner, has designed an e-Registration System for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) under the Public-Private-Project implementation model. This will enable candidates register for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) online.

The process allows for seamless registration, more efficient record keeping and eliminating the ordeal of manual registration, as well as prevalent exam malpractices resulting from poor monitoring.

According to the Managing

Director, Sidmach Technologies, Mr Mike Olajide, “The technology is primarily built on the Microsoft Visual Studio.Net and the SQL Server 2008 platforms. This engine captures candidates’ biodata, UTME subjects, first and second choices of institution and course, O/Level subjects and grades, examination town, passport photograph and biometric data.

“It also provides step by step instructions on how to fill the form online. The scheme offers a simplified online brochure and provides information to JAMB on the candidates for the UTME.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

45

e-Business

Production Team: Femi Jolaolu, Lekan Hammed, Yomi Oseni, Ugo Ananaba, Mustapha Sulaimon, Dare Ojo, Lanre Malik Marketing: Adeline Atili, Nkechi Nwabaogu, Kemi Makinde, Lillian Nsi-Enodien, Mariam Adeyanju Edited by: O’seun Ogunseitan

Pls. send Questions to oseun2@gmail.com or text to

080 5511 9009

The Nation releases Unilag’s Post-JAMB examination practice questions as software download on Facebook

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HE Nation Newspapers’ Archive and Databank, has released a software version of the Practice Questions and Answers published this week by authorities of the University of Lagos, for students sitting its admission examinations next month.

The unique software is a comprehensive last-minute revision tutorial for the practice questions in three subjects released on Monday with the University’s post JAMB examination forms.

It follows closely on the heels of the acclaim for Fashola.exe, Nigeria’s first elearning software, by students and other young Nigerians who downloaded that software from the internet last April.

Fashola.exe was released to garner support for the re-election of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos. That release, also on the

Video disc to teach Mathematics coming

By Kemi Makinde & Dare Ojo

auspices of The Nation, was sponsored by former secondary schoolmates of the Lagos governor.

Just like Fashola.exe, the new Post-JAMB examination Practice software released for download from the internet this morning, uses answers and answer options to teach the principles of the particular subject.

The new software provides answers and explanations to all the answers and answer options available for all the practice questions published by authorities of the University of Lagos

expected to prepare students for the examination.

The University of Lagos practice questions are on three subjects, Mathematics, English Language and General Knowledge. The new software released today by The Nation Databank teaches two of the three subjects- English Language and General Knowledge.

A new multimedia disc-based teaching technology, developed in Nigeria by multimedia e-learning software programmers at The Nation Databank, is being used to produce a special video and data disc which will teach Mathematics on video, playing on regular home

Google’s new OS set to win large followership

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HE new personal computer operating system (OS) released into the Nigerian market last week by Nigeria’s premier personal computer user group, the PCUser2user forum, is set to win large following in the country.

The forum released the compact discbased user-ready version of the Chrome Operating System from Google, the world’s No 1 internet search engine owner.

The new OS is fast proving to be a lifesaver of sort to troubled PC users. It readily lends itself out as a good alternative OS on any Windows-based computer. It comes complete with a Microsoft Office-like suite of software .

The Chrome OS is been seen in computing circles, as the precursor of the next direction of personal computing has at least 16 other essential PC utilities.

The software which can run run without being installed on a PC, can also be easily installed easily on a new partition on a hard disc running Windows. It does not destroy the older Windows OS installation, rather it offers menu of two OS choices.

The Google’s Chrome OS, is the world’s first browser-based Operating System. It enables a computer to be switched on and boot straight on to the internet, just from a compact disc, even without any hard disc installed.

The software is normally available for free download on selected websites on the internet. But the download is not for neophytes in computing, because it is not just a software, but a collection of hundreds of software arranged in a particular order which must be maintained after download, for it to work properly.

The PCUser2User forum got a pristine copy of the OS, repackaged it with an easy to understand user guide before duplicating copies for interested PC Users and computer hobbyists. An introductory user manual for the OS is also available for free download on PCUser2User’s BlogSpot space and Facebook page.

43,587 phone users have used OpenMarket ™ Have you?

television screens, using home video players.

The same disc which will carry thousands of pages of tutorial texts and books, including dictionaries and encyclopaedia, is expected to be made available shortly.

Of the near 114,000 JAMB candidates who passed last month’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and applied to the University of Lagos, only those who pass the University’s post JAMB examination will be offered admission.

The University of Lagos has the largest number of admission applicants in Nigeria. It has space for less than 14,000 of the 114,000 applicants, suggesting that nine of every 10 of its applicant students must fail and be refused admission.

More than 1.5 million candidates sat last month’s UTME examination. But only about 400,000 candidates who passed the examination are qualified to sit PostJAMB examinations to be conducted next month by individual tertiary institutions across the country.

Results of Secondary school leavers’ examinations in the country have been getting progressively poorer over the last 20 years. Some states such as Osun and Ekiti which hitherto led such examinations in the past now record failure rate as high 90 per cent.

Experts have hinted that the continued use of yesterday’s analogue blackboard and chalk techniques to teach today’s digital age students, is largely to blame for the recurring mass failure in Nigerian secondary schools.

The Nation Databank has led a campaign for the digitalisation of teaching and learning in Nigerian schools, as a panacea to the recurring mass failure of secondary school students and the general decline in education standards in Nigeria.

It was to this end that the Databank’s O’seun Ogunseitan created the flashbased examination test and practice tutorial software which he named Fashola.exe, as a model e-learning software tool and aid for Nigerian secondary school students.

The software which runs on virtually every type of computer, uses answer options and answers to past examination questions, to teach the principles of the particular subject.

Nigeria’s oldest private Media Archive, The Media Databank and The Nation Databank have a database of more than 100,000 past secondary school leavers’ and JAMB examination questions and answers spanning the last 30 years.

Tosin Akanmu, spokesperson of North Carolina, US-based Media Tools and Technologies Llc, who for the past four years midwifed the development of novel multimedia e-learning packages, in Nigeria, announced the arrival of interactive video-based e-learning tools in Lagos two months ago.

Ms. Akanmu said the interactive learning videos will allow for wider deployment of the new flash-based teaching techniques.

Visit

www.facebook.com/PCUser2User for the weblinks for all downloads

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

46

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

People, Power and Property (1) “Cameron said, he regretted that politicians had failed to ask fundamental questions about media regulation…the media and democracy were going to go through a cathartic moment, he predicted. (The Guardian, London). “We were all in this world of wanting the support of newspaper groups and, yes, broadcasting organisations and when we are doing that do we spend enough time asking questions about how these organisations are regulated, the malpractices and the rest of it? No, we did not. We have to.”

Rupert Murdoch: The press and politics

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OR two weeks the crests were falling in London. The closure of the iconic News of the World (tabloid) after 168 years was historic, but more importantly because it marked the end of a time and the re-birth of society.

After-all, the aim of corporate governance is to breathe life into society whenever it becomes asphyxiated; as surely the English world was in those two weeks dominated by NOTW. But suddenly the English man began to stretch his neck again, and someone commented it was “just like the morning after an evil dictatorship”. That was very ironic, that the Press which had long stood for freedom, is now being perceived as oppressor. Even in Nigeria the ordinary john sees the Press as a friend of the people. How has the wheel turned so totally round, to change the places between hare and hound?

At the end The World gulped briefly on its own News and gagged. It drank the poison and the paper died with an epitaph on its tombstone: “1/10/1843-10/7/2011, THANK YOU AND GOODBYE.” That, yet, was another trick attempted on the market that also failed, but only a few marked it. With a sense of histrionics people went to the stations and stores around London to pick up the souvenir- the last copy of NOTW! The rising gale of resentment held for a while, but then it went burst for the last time and nothing else could stop its free-fall, till they dropped out of the bottom. Several intrigues kept playing up that made the open-air theatre, London, to be giddy. Not for the smaller, iconic, valedictory shows of Harry Potter happening simultaneously at Trafalgar square that kept people glued under the rains, but this to an impinging socio-economic reality. Meanwhile in the newspaper world, rival titles readied their knives at the carcass of NOTW to carve it up, thinly veiled in innuendoes and body language that only the experts could see. But one needed not talk, because the ultimate ends of these dramas were playing to the good of the people, for once.

At the British House of Commons the coalition of Lib Dem and Tories played a game of sanctimony among themselves over certain decisions that backfired, like the hire of Andy Coulson into government and the aftermath; while Labour gawked, not sure whether to take a plunge even as the fading memory of Gordon Brown its last hero again reappeared on the floor, in a taste of what critics termed a badly warmed-up soup. Across the Atlantic where the other eyes also turned, America is in its run-up to next year’s presidential election (2012). By now their experiment with President Obama has outworn its novelty and craves a make-over. Here Rupert Murdoch has a news empire, News Corporation (NC) which has interest “in some of America’s biggest cable channels including Fox TV, Fox News, National Geographic and FX”, Daily Mail, in far away London reminded the frenzy of readers. As a rival she is from the stable of Murdoch’s fiercest competitors who are also waiting, in fact setting an agenda to carve

up some if not all of Murdoch’s 38 per cent stake in the British newspaper market. Meanwhile the mogul’s giant bid for BSkyB (TV) in billion mega-bucks, which could have meant ultimate kill of influence for him, entered icy into waters, making politicians and all the British colony of hero-worshipers who have been hurt severally by NoTW and other siblings, to do a quickthink against being sold off finally into Murdoch hands as slaves.

For a tool they remember the Regulators.

While Britain had a long respect for the onus of Self Regulation by the Press it is obvious that the present abuse meant even government had been slack in her duties and now want a stricter regime. Yet British PM David Cameron knows better than to order a straightforward inquiry into Press activity just like that, so first he created a blanket intro: “This is a black cloud hovering over press, parliament and police. We have got to remove this cloud”, he said. Before he asked to scrap the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) and in its place find a successor body that “should be truly independent…so that newspapers will never again be solely responsible for policing themselves”. But in Nigeria the British clone, doesn’t the Press have a Council (?) just like her Central Bank who for the moment seems to be all knowing, and virtually self accounting. After all who knows better than CBN governors?

Daily Mail reached out for the version of Regulation that operates in America in order to remind them in the UK: “Under federal law, holders of television and radio station licences must undergo character tests to show they are fit and proper to be media owners.” In other words putting Murdoch on the spot the paper reiterates on the phone-hacking scandal in Britain with what must be a meaningful parallel to Americans: “The claims that employees of Murdoch-owned newspapers may have bribed police officers and hacked into the voicemails of 9/11 terror victims has placed these licences in jeopardy.” In the Nigerian parlance, to be fit and proper sounds typically familiar of late, as the CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi hatched his latest plan to demand the cost of integrity from bank operators; although he did not bother about acknowledging to the public that the linguo was American, verbatim.

After-all who else would know, or who is asking? Plagiarism remains the ethical non-compliance in intellectual matters; it is not proper to obtain the glory of what one did not invent.

Meanwhile hacking, the reigning crime, is the violent robbery of other people’s private accounts.

Digress. Last week as the Nigeria CBN Governor appeared before the House of Representatives to offer explanation about a new banking product that was generating controversy and national anxiety, based perhaps on its co-textual happenstance with the “boko-haram” bloody nationalism, the House concluded it was needless to ask the CBN Governor any further

questions. Rather, at the end of the day he even elicited an ovation and took their bow. But the following day a Chancellor of two upbeat universities in Nigeria, Dr David Oyedepo was quoted by the newspapers as saying the essence of that product could lead to dividing Nigeria.

Dr Oyedepo, is also head of a church that built the world’s biggest auditorium, which is currently logged for Nigeria in the Guinness book of records. Whether his was a futurology, a prophecy or mere sound bites, at least someone who knows better should check, not the least in the House, especially against the background of a familiar study from America that had put such a scare of Nigeria splitting at 2015! By Monday, 25/07/11, the Islamic Council met in the Arewa House, Kaduna and declared a readiness for war on account of the subject.

“Cameron said, he regretted that politicians had failed to ask fundamental questions about media regulation…the media and democracy were going to go through a cathartic moment, he predicted. (The Guardian, London). “We were all in this world of wanting the support of newspaper groups and, yes, broadcasting organisations and when we are doing that do we spend enough time asking questions about how these organisations are regulated, the malpractices and the rest of it? No, we did not. We have to”. That speaks volume of the danger and desperation that have entered the political media abroad.

Unrelenting, Daily Mail concludes, in a thin strip, “Several Democratic Senators have called for a full inquiry. They are particularly eager to neutralise the effect of Fox News-which has campaigned vigorously against President Obamain the run-up to the next United States (US) presidential election in 2012.”

What is the essence of all above to the African country or indeed an emerging economy? Perhaps not much, but it is premature to draw a self-serving analogy, to wit about news vending and its power and relationship with politicians. The lesson being not immediately about ethical compliance in any level yet; which would be unfair unless there is a STRUCTURE (knowledge and infrastructure) first. That is where London is posited and where it was able to absorb the impact of those scandals ( including making back payment to certain Metropolitan police for information that translated to some of those money-spinning front page hits for those tabloids). Even then in those two weeks London was able to turn around and re-invent herself.

The resilience of the culture is based on its foundation in Structure; which many emerging still economies lack.

There is a strange calculus about stable environment and their balanced markets that make them familiar to changes which are predictable.

Meanwhile even change is changing.This systemic perfection becomes an albatross when unusual agents or reagents enter the fray, like it happened at the millennial change-over with its accompanying effect of a persistent global economic meltdown. Incidentally this is a hid-

GBENGA OGUNSAKIN den strength for emerging markets, which are still imperfect, as it were. It is in the organics of their virgin nature that it is open, osmotic, and malleable, with a potential resource for elasticity and reliability for the longer term. A midyear HBR publication has revealed. Indeed that was what’s the long hand behind David Cameron’s perspective about China and Africa, on his sudden visit to Nigeria. He echoed the same sentiment in another way that the US Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Clinton made in East Africa two months ago, that Africans be wary of the Chinese gratuitous new gestures that predicate their long term investments in Africa on a mortgage of large acres of land, as the coming “new colonialism.” African leaders are yet to decode the new trans-Atlantic conspiracy (Story for another day).

However in the weeks preceding the Rupert Murdoch scandal most of Europe was sinking under its owed debts. The general concern for bottomline was rife in all the governments. Debt was re-announced. Greece rioted. America’s Obama returned to its post bail-out political pressure in the Congress. IMF was shuddered to a new prospect of the lifeline offered to Dominic Strauss-Khan, its hastily removed head in the midst of a sex scandal with a hotel maid in America. DSK himself became the subject of a new opened diplomatic ‘beef’ between France and America, over the treatment meted to Khan, once considered a Presidentin-the-waiting. Notwithstanding all of this, it was the name of the three dramatis personae of NOTW that dominated the front pages of all titles. These names: Andy Coulson, former Director of Communications for David Cameron; Rebecah Brooks, Chief Executive of News International and, the biggest of them, Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul who inspired and groomed them all, were more important. The whole of Britain was thrilling to sizzling stories each passing day. Right now, as a tableau to demonstrate corporate governance, the story of self-renewal continues…

• Ogunsakin Email:greenhavenfoundation@gmail.com tel: 08037250343

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

World stocks gain as US debt compromise awaited Qatar to supply

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ORLD stocks mostly rose on Tuesday as investors anticipated a compromise would resolve the United States (US) debt deadlock even as President Barack Obama described his country as being dangerously close to default. The US has until August 2, now just a week away to reach a deal to increase its $14.3 trillion debt limit or face not being able to pay its bills. That has led to fears the world’s largest economy could default on its financial obligations and send shockwaves throughout the globe.

Both Democrat Obama and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Republican John Boehner, spoke to Americans on Monday.

Obama said a compromise was needed to avoid a “reckless and irresponsible” outcome. Boehner appeared to dig in his heels, saying Obama would not get what he seeks.

Stocks were mixed in early European trading.

Britain’s FTSE 100 index rose 0.2 per cent to 5,939.70. France’s CAC-40 declined 0.3 per cent to 3,801.75, while Germany’s DAX advanced a fraction to 7,346.02.

US stocks were set to open higher. Dow Jones industrial average futures gained 0.2 per cent to

12,574, and Standard & Poor’s 500 futures gained 0.2 per cent to 1,335.50. The Dow fell 0.7 per cent Monday, while the S&P slipped 0.6 per cent.

In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 stock average rose 0.5 per cent to 10,097.72. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 1.3 per cent to 22,572.08 and South Korea’s Kospi added 0.9 per cent to 2,168.70.

China’s Shanghai Composite Index advanced 0.5 per cent to 2,703.03. The index fell three per cent Monday following a weekend high-speed train crash that killed at least 39 people.

Markets in Australia, Taiwan, Indonesia and Singapore also rose, while India, the Philippines, Thailand and New Zealand fell.

“Most investors view that at the last minute the two parties can get some sort of compromise,” said Peter Lai, director at DBS Vickers in Hong Kong, explaining the resilience of Asian markets in the face of Washington’s gridlock.

Democrats are seeking a combination of spending cuts and revenue increases to solve the debt crisis, while Republicans have vowed that any compromise must not include higher taxes.

The probability is increasing that the US will see its AAA credit rating downgraded, Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank said in a report.

But it added that a delay in reaching a compromise on the debt ceiling beyond the August 2 deadline is not expected to lead to a default on US Treasuries because the Treasury Department would prioritise its payments to make sure interest on its debt is paid.

Chinese stocks stabilised after Monday’s selloff following the Saturday collision of two bullet trains in eastern China.

“The loss yesterday looks more like panic selling,” said Cai Dagui, an analyst at Ping’an Securities.

In currencies, the dollar fell to 78.07 yen from 78.25 late Monday in New York. The euro strengthened to $1.4490 from $1.4380.

Benchmark oil for September delivery was up 40 cents to $99.61 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Crude lost 67 cents to settle at $99.20 on Monday.

LNG to Malaysia for 20 years

ATARGAS has agreed to supply Malaysia’s Petronas LNG Ltd 1.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually for at least 20 years from 2013, the world’s biggest LNG producer said on Sunday. “It is the first time Qatargas has signed a HOA (heads of agreement) for supplying LNG to the South East Asian market,” Qatargas CEO Khalid Bin Khalifa Al Thani said in a statement.

“We are very pleased with this achievement as it represents the first long-term agreement for supplying LNG to one of the world’s fastest growing LNG markets,” he added.

The LNG supply from Qatar would be equivalent to about five per cent of Malaysia’s current annual domestic natural gas demand, the statement said.

Qatar, the world’s biggest LNG exporter, can produce up to 77 million tonnes of LNG a year.

Q

•Source: Reuters

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

47

THE NATION

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

‘Patients free to choose treatment’ C

ONCERNED with providing adequate health care services and promoting research of international standards into diseases, the Catholic Monk, Rev. Father Anselm Adodo, has set up a natural health hospital.

According to him, the centre, simply named, Pax Natural Medicine Hospital, is to provide genuine African holistic healing that blends the physical and the spiritual aspects of human beings.

Explaining further, Father Adodo said: “The prevalence rate of chronic diseases such as cancer, hypertension, diabetes, as well as infectious diseases is alarmingly high in Africa. There is evidence that the current health care system in place in most African countries is inadequate to cope with or manage these serious diseases.

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

“What are the prospects of finding an alternative cure for cancer, hypertension and diabetes? How best can indigenous knowledge of medicine be preserved? What are the most practical ways to integrate alternative medicine into national health care delivery services?

These are some of the boggling questions that the hospital will attempt to provide answers too.”

On further goals of the hospital, Father Adodo said the hospital located in Ajah, Lekki, Lagos State will provide Nigerians in need of herbal/alternative therapies who want to be attended to privately. It will also provide patients with special needs for rest, nutrition, different therapies and observations.

“My target is to translate it to an international cancer screen-

• The hospital building. Inset: A staff attending to a patient.

ing and management centre; HIV/AIDS research centre towards the production of effective herbal anti-retroviral medicines and even cure. Constantly, it will be organising regular health talks for all and sundry, especially on preventive measure.

“The beauty of the hospital is that as experts, we will allow freedom of choice of treatment to patients. Be it Ayurveda, acu-

puncture, herbal medicine, chiropractic, massage, alternative cancer management, nutrition, colour therapy, music therapy or a confidential general health counselling.

“There are experts to attend to patients’ needs as we are prepared to offer them the best in health care. We have access to nature and nature has answers to all that afflict mankind,” he said.

• Adodo

Alternative medical practitioners decry MDCN interference

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LTERNATIVE Medical Practitioners rose from a one day meeting in Enugu with a plea to the Federal Government to prevail on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to stop interfering in their activities.

In a communiqué, the group canvassed the establishment of a Central Alternative Medical Practitioners’ Board to regulate and supervise the practice of alternative medicine in Nigeria as ordered by the High Court of Lagos in 1994.

They insisted that members of the board be drawn from seasoned professionals in alternative

From Chris Oji, Enugu

medicine without the interference from the MDCN or Allopathic professionals.

The practitioners also asked the Minister of Health, Prof Christian Onyebuchi to take up the Alternative Medicine Bill currently on the floor of the National Assembly as an Executive Bill.

They rejected the method of registration of their members as adopted by the MDCN, arguing that it has created more confusion in the alternative medical profession in the country.

The practitioners commended

Practitioner introduces herbal tea

nual budgets for the equitable funding of the three campuses to ensure their even development.

The forum frowned at the, “negative activities of some members of the executive of National Complementary and Alternative Medical Association of Nigeria (NACAMA)”, and urged them to close ranks in the interest of alternative medicine in Nigeria.

The forum stated: “It is observed that many of the practitioners in Nigeria no longer have confidence in the national executive of NACAMA. This forum, therefore, advises the executive of NACAMA

to desist from any representation on behalf of Alternative Medical Practitioners in Nigeria till all the issues are resolved.”

They raised a committee to be led by the convener of the meeting, Prof. Okoro Akpa to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that the points raised at the meeting were complied with.

Other members of the committee included Dr. Pep Omoroka, Prof. Osmond Onyeka, Dr. Timothy Timothy, Dr. Celestine Dike and Dr. Anthony Ironwa. So also Dr. Akabueze, Dr. L. M. Anaele Dr. Morgan Anioha and Dr.B Duru.

Guidelines on herbal administration

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T

HE manufacturer of OdumEgwu General Purpose (GP) 6 Herbal Tea, Dr Robinson Ike has described his herbal tea as an effective antidote for viral load. According to him, the tea has an unparallel immune booster for people living with HIV when drunk daily.

Ike said he has researched in sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) treatment, adding that his tea has the necessary natural ingredients that could deal with the bacteria fuelling STD. “The herbal tea is the only cure for staphylococcus with laboratory results to support the claim.

It does not lead to reactions. The tea is good for the cure of syphilis, diabetes, fibroid, arthritis among others,” he said.

Describing how it works, he said the tea causes the body to make insulin and regulates the sugar in the blood. People from all walks of life and countries are benefitting from the product.

“The tea cures some diseases totally as against others that control.

the government for setting up the Ministerial Committee on the closure of the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (FEDCAM), Abuja, as well as the suspension of the management of the college.

They also asked the government to respect the original agreement that, “three autonomous campuses of the FEDCAM should be established – one in Lagos to serve the West; one in Enugu to serve the East and one in Abuja to serve the North.”

The Federal Ministry of Health, they suggested, should henceforth make adequate provision in its an-

•Ike

By Wale Adepoju

“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) directed me to do analyses and toxicity of the tea.

I complied and the laboratory result is with the agency we are looking at other areas at the moment,” he said.

Ike, a member of Nigerian Council of Natural Medicine (NCNM), said the product is prepared from roots, leaves and back of trees and other natural ingredients. “Many still wonder why orthodox medicine cannot cure staphylococcus, hypertension and diabetes but manage them. But the herbal tea can cure these diseases.

ERBS should always be gathered fresh, early in the morning when their natural oils are at the maximum.

Herbal natural oils are highly volatile, and the steadily increasing heat of the ascending sun depletes them.

• How to take herbs Rule 1 Take herbs before meals, except when they cause irritation.

Why? Taking herbs before meals is often convenient and the practice usually assures that herbs and foods are not mixed.

However, taking herbs after meals may be necessary if the before meal dosing yields adverse gastric reactions. The primary difference (as recognized by modern research) between before-meal dosing and after-meal dosing is the higher activity of the digestive system for an hour or more after meals, compared to that before meals. The ingestion of food stimulates the release of digestive juices (including many enzymes and bile acids) and activates the intestinal absorption mechanisms and peristalsis.

• Right dosage The herb decoction or pills in-

gested on an empty stomach, especially if the dosage is small, may produce a limited stimulation of this system and hence result in a slower action during the assimilation of herb materials.

Rule 2 Separate foods, drugs, and herbs, unless there is good reason to do otherwise.

Why Modern experience with drugs shows that simultaneous ingestion of a drug with a food or beverage can sometimes cause changes in absorption and effects. For example, ingestion of tetracycline with milk results in reduced absorption of the drug. People relying on protease inhibitor drugs (for HIV treatment) are well aware of the significant restrictions placed on the relationship of meals and drug dose timing because of lowered absorption when food is present.

• Vitamins By contrast, ingestion of vitamin C (or other vitamins) along with foods can enhance absorption and utilization of both the vitamins and any minerals that are present. Ingestion of certain pharmaceutical products with alcohol can cause adverse reactions because both produce a pharmacologic effect on the liver.

• Food-herbs interaction It is possible that food components bind-up and therefore inhibit the absorption of various herb ingredients. The relatively low volume of herb materials consumed at one time (especially when not taking a high-dosage decoction) compared to the amount of food materials consumed suggests that it is possible for foods to inhibit the absorption of some herb components.

Rule 3 Use stimulants in the morning, insomnia remedies at night.

• Sedatives Many formulas that treat insomnia will have an immediate effect if taken about one-half hour before going to sleep as well as potentially providing a long-term solution with regular ingestion over a period of several weeks or months. Other formulas will release body energy and will cause insomnia at night; in sensitive individuals, it may be necessary to take no herbs for four hours prior to bedtime. Similarly, energy stimulating formulas might be best taken in the early morning, much like one consumes coffee at that time.

•Source: Pax Herbals Magazine

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

NATURAL HEALTH

Ramadan, a lifebelt for spirit, soul and body (1) A NOTHER Ramadan will be here next week, a lifeline for spiritual rebirth and growth, and, of course, health rejuvenation. It is unfortunate that only Moslems observe the month-long fast, which Prophet Mohammed advised his followers to undertake every year. How wonderful would it be for body, mind and society if every-one would pull back a little from the boisterous material rat race this month and ever after, to purify body, soul and spirit. I do not know if Prophet Mohammed was advised of the health benefits of fasting when he received and instituted the Ramadan. But of the spiritual considerations and benefits there should be no doubt. Man is spirit. A spark from out of the Radiation of God. He came from paradise.

The earth is material. For the spirit to experience life in matter, or any realm of existence, for the purpose of unfolding its abilities, it has to enclose itself in the finest material of that world, to be anchored there. Without this physical body anchorage, he is a ‘ghost’ That’s why astronauts wear apparel which protect them against comic rays, divers are kitted specially for the water medium, firemen don uniform made from slow burning or incombustible materials, and soldiers of yore, when swords were the major arm in warfare, wore heavy metal plated armour Man on earth is a triology of body, soul and spirit. Man is spirit. The various materials of the worlds between Paradise and the earth he covers himself with, together with himself, constitute the soul of which we all speak. When the soul enters into a growing human body in a woman’s womb, the earthman arrives. These various cloaks are like cages or anchorages for the spirit in the World of Matter, of which the earth is the last outpost. It is implanted in matter like a seed such as corn in the earthly soil. The spirit is meant to be awakened by the friction and pressure pressures in the soil, open up the seed and encourages it to sprout, push aside soil and pebble, raise itself above the soil, and search for the energy in sunlight to flower and to fruit. The same law of the Creator governs all forms of existence, including the human. So, in this deep vale of matter, the spirit, like the seed germ breaking through the confining and anchoring forces of its covering materials or coats, search for its Maker through his laws, flower and fruit.

I

BELIEVE the Ramadan was instituted as a help to man when he could no longer as a human seed germ do this easily. The material race is not new. Only its forms have been changing. The content and effects remain the same.

The Ramadan is, therefore, in my view, something like a braking system to cheek or prevent a rush into perdition. In the Ramadan, therefore, we are to pull a little aside from the world and observe how well or unwell we have fulfilled the purpose of our earthy existence, discover where we have failed and plug the gaps. If, therefore, in every week of the month-long we resolve my one question of inner disability, that would make four areas of possible spiritual growth in one Ramadan. That will be 16 or 40 in 10 Ramadans. One of the interesting areas to develop this season is DEATH. What is death? Many people are dying. The unprecedented Lagos flood of three Sundays ago swept away a man and his wife.

Suddenly, their jeep floated and lost control. They panicked and jumped out. The flood carried them off in different directions. They died. One of my friends is yet to recover from shock. He was wading through the flood. Suddenly, the man directly ahead of him disappeared. Unknown to the man, he stepped into an uncovered manhole. Everyone behind him, fled, quite naturally. There was a woman alone in a room with a baby strapped to her back and flood water up to her navel region. The door had jammed. She telephoned frantically for help as death stared her in the face. Luckily, help arrived in time. If we all can stop, even briefly, every day to think about death, and deepen our recognitions of it as an inevitable earthly end, and what follows it, perhaps we may become different and better persons than we now are, and our world would be better off. What about fatherhood and motherhood? Surely, the Koran says a lot about these questions. If we become better fathers and mothers, wouldn’t we attract better souls as children than we probably did, and wouldn’t this earth be better off? What about forgiveness?

Christ taught His followers not to be angry with any-one until one had been offended seven times seven times seven times by him or her in one day. That’s about 343 times, an impossibility. Prophet Mohammed said no sunset must find guile in the heart, otherwise access to Divine blessings is closed. How many Moslems are still not angered by last year’s annoyance?

The Ramadan as a system of fasting provides an opportunity for the freeing of the soul from the hold of the body so that it can deeply contemplate many questions, the deeper clarifications of which provide ammunition for better conduct, purification of soul and ennoblement of spirit and society. A process through which this can occur is simple. We only need some knowledge of radiation to understand it.

E

VERTHING radiates, is, in fact, the coarse external material form of the radiating essence within, just as the human earthly body, physical and coarse, is the reflection of the indwelling immaterial vibrating flame, the spirit.

We encounter radiation not in the nuclear reactor but, for example, also, when I hold a baby rabbit in my hands. Its mother would later “smell” my hand on its body and refuse to care for it, its radiation having altered. If I mix up the chicks of one hen with those of another, the mother hen recognises the strangers and pecks them out of the fold. Similarly, a mother pig may identify and treat strange piglets unless I first run my hands on her body, then run them on

the strangers to let them radiate somewhat like the mother pig. If you live in only one room in a house of many rooms, you should discover how easily stale the air is in the unoccupied rooms because it has not been pervaded by human radiance. This radiance, I believe, is what attracts the mosquito, to burrow through protective nets and dressing to reach us for some blood. Isn’t it why animals like to gather at the feet of man? For two elements to bond into a compound, the vibrations or radiations of their external electrons must be such as can bond. Obeying this universal law, spirit, body and soul bond in the same way to unite.

Thus, for us to remain alive on this earth, our physical body must produce such amount and quantity of radiation as can bond with that of the soul. We generate the radiations through the glowing of the spirit through all its cloaks, and from the radiations we pick from the food we eat.

Semyon Kirlian (see Internet) photographic technique shows us that all plants, all foods display an external field of visible image of themselves. This is their aura or radiation. The fresher the plants or foods, the stronger the impression of their auras or radiations on the photographic plate. Fried food exhibits little or no radiations and is, therefore, dead food. Cooked food is only a shade better. Raw food has vibrant auras. And this goes on to explain why juices, salads and raw foods generally are life-giving. They help the body produce radiations energetic enough to hold on to the radiations of the soul. Radiations of the soul are strong or weak, depending on the strength of the will to live, and of spiritual (not religious) activities. By concerning oneself with the mysteries of Creation, seeking clarifications as we all did as children as to, for example, how the moon came about, how our mothers came by the new baby, and who we are, where we came from, Who God is, the spirit bursts aflame, producing vibrant radiations which glow through all its cheaks, including the physical human body. The healthy interchange of radiations between the body and the soul keeps us alive. It is probably this knowledge, long ago, which gave rise to the popular expression, “keeping body and soul together” In many health circles today, degenerative blood induced diseases such as cancer and HIV-AIDS, are thought to originate from a weakening of radiations from the soul.

Fasting and radiations

H

OW DOES FASTING come into all this? The hurly burly of the unceasing material rat race does not make for a healthy connection of the spirit with the spiritual world or Paradise. But Nature provides a lifebelt in sleep. During sleep, the soul-body bond loosens somewhat, without the risk of detachment of one from the other, which would cause physical death. In this situation of loosening up, the soul is freed for a while from the tenacious anchoring hold of the physical body to experience life independent of it. This experience is what we call dreams. Thus, it is in dreams that foundations of the greatest discoveries have been made.

It is in dreams that we have been forewarned of events taking shape in the ethereal spheres for us to experience physically afterwards when they manifest physically on earth. I do not know if the Koran reported the great Egyptian famine which, as the Bible records, was announced in a dream seven years ahead to the Egyptian Pharaoh. None of his wise men understood the dream in which seven lean cows swallowed seven fat cows. Slave boy Joseph from the land of Goshen did. Seven years of bountiful harvest were to be followed by seven years of terrible famine. By storing surplus grains for the disaster ahead, Egypt was able to overcome hunger and mass death. Joseph found favour with the king and was to rescue his own tribe from the famine. In dreams, we learn many things. Experiences of the wandering spirit are pictorially transferred to the back brain, the spiritually receptive part of the brain, from where it impresses also on the frontal brain, seat of the intellect, or thinking part of the brain where pictures of events received from the back brain are decoded into thoughts and worlds.

That’s why many people who for whatever reason are not

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

very active in the back brain cannot remember their dreams vividly. The pictures are too faint or have been disturbed by an overactive frontal brain leading to the fogginess of double exposure as in a photographic film exposed to light more than once. Reception of “messages” from beyond the reaches of earthly senses is poorer nowadays because of the aftereffects of huge sleep deficits. We sleep too late, often after midnight, and not so deep and well. Sleep is categorized into four stages, the last or Rapid Eye Movement (REM) is the dream stage. Many people suffer from many sleep disorders, such as Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) in which, most probably due to a deficiency of Calcium and Magnesium in the diet, their nerves and muscles jerk, waking them up intermittently. But by far the commonest sleep disorder in this environment, in my view, is sleep apnea. This is cessassion or suspension of breathing often attributed to witchcraft, for which the churches offer services of deliverance. It is one step away from suffocation and respiratory failure. The person affected is unable to breathe or move and it often requires strong willpower to move as little as a finger or shout a battle cry, to restore breathing and normalcy. Other causes of sleep disorders may be hormone imbalance snoring, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure medication and other medications, headache, caffeine in the diet, stress and, grief among many others. In some cases sleep apnea has been attributed to infection(s) of the airways which shut down, or to the diaphragm and chest muscles not working.

The soul-body radiations and bond cannot loosen easily, if they dot all, in conditions such as this. And this state does not permit REM sleep, of which James F. Balch, M.D; and Phillis Bakh say in their PRESCRIPTIONS FOR NUTRITIONAL HEALING: “People who have sleep aprea tend to have higher than normal blood pressure and are more likely to have strokes than the general population, and they also face increased risk of heart disease, although the reasons for these links are not known. People with sleep apnea also seem to have a higher-than-normal in incidence not psychotic disorders.

Experts attribute this to what they call ‘dream deficit’ – a lack of adequate Rapid-Eye-Movement (REM) sleep, the stage of sleep in which dreaming occurs. A person with sleep apnea often cannot settle into REM sleep for even the eight to twelve seconds it takes to have a normal, healthy dream.

While there is much about the phenomenon of dreaming that is not understood, it is known that prolonged periods of REM-sleep depreciation can induce various psychoses and other serious emotional disorders”.

C

AN WE INFER FROM this that the spirit is walled up in a cage, and explore the possibility of a fast, such as the RAMADAN to free it and restore health? That wounded and sick animals fast their way back to health is no longer news. It is not news any more as well that many people have shattered the medical myth that a fast for nine days can cause death due to starvation. In March 1963, pilot Ralph Flores, 42, from California, and Helen Klaben, 21, survived a Northern British Columbia mountain plane crash and spent 49 days without food in the wilderness before help reached them. They lived virtually on melted snow water for six weeks. Doctors certified them after the rescue to be in “remarkable good” condition. Flores lost “forty-two pounds” and Helen “thirty pounds”. In 1960, Tara Smith, 76, undertook a 48-day political fast and the doctors said afterwards that it “increased his life span by at least 10 years”, and “relieved illnesses from which he was suffering” Hebert M. Shelton, who is reported to have supervised more fasts than anyone else, cutes in his book FASTING CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE cities the case of a gentleman, 70, beset for 30 years with bronchial asthma and for a longer time with sinus trouble. He was deaf in the left ear and had enlarged prostate. After many years of fruitless cure, he sought help from an Hygienist’s fast clinic. Hygienists are doctors who believe dirty internal environment cause disease and fasts clean up the pollution. Soon, his symptoms began to clear. He accepted the doctors’ advice to continue fasting after the 25th day. By the 42nd day, he could “easily hear the ticking of a small watch when held at arm’s length from his deaf ear”. To cut a long story short, he recovered dramatically from all illnesses.

W

HAT WE LEARN from Dr Shelton’s book is that a fast gives the body a holiday from food during which it throws away all its poisons and becomes cleaner. And since poisons cause diseases, diseases disappear in a fast. This is one benefit of the Ramadan. Perhaps the most important is the fact that we are reminded to turn our gaze upwards. By not feeding the body heavily, a loosening of radiations and soul-body bonding occur which free the soul and permits it to soar. It is a time to deepen our recognitions of the questions of existence such as birth, death, child, work, marriage, sex, man and woman, food and nutrition, care of the healthy human body and many more. Every Ramadan, our understanding of these questions should expand, and application of the recognitions in everyday event should make us deeper, better people, not the fickle people many people are. Many of my friends have asked me for nutritional supplements they can take during the fast. That is a matter for another day. Meanwhile, may this Ramadan, as always, endow with strength all those who earnestly beseech Allah for His Grace to improve their lives and become inheritors of paradise AMEN.

Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

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NEWS Abia shooting: Orji appeals to community O V E R N O R

G

Theodore Orji of Abia State has appealed to Ohanku community in Ukwa East Local Government to remain calm pending the police investigation into the killing of its son Corporal Clement Amachi by his colleague, Corporal Amachi Mohammed.

The community had protested peacefully to the Government House in Umuahia, calling for a full investigation into the killing of its son.

The governor urged them to be patient as it is doing everything possible to unravel the cause of the shooting last Tuesday.

Deputy Chief of Staff Charles Ogbonnaya ad-

From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

dressed the protesters.

Ogbonna said Orji would soon come up with a position, adding that the law must take its course.

He pleaded with the youths to give the government sometime to look into the matter and urged them not to take the law into their hands. He commended them for comporting themselves peacefully during the protest.

Spokesman of the group Kingsley Okere said they were at the Government House to protest the killing of their kinsman and pleaded with the governor to punish the culprit.

Varsity honours Fashola, others

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola(second left); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (left); government lawyer, Bashir Ajibola (right); Justice Oladejo Akanbi (second right) and Chief Judge, Justice Olaniyi Ojo, during a two-day Capacity Workshop, organised by Judiciary Staff Union of Osun State at Osogbo Hight Court…yesterday

Iwu’s brother loses at tribunal

T

HE Senatorial candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for Imo North, Chief Cosmos Iwu, and junior brother of the former National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Maurice Iwu has lost.

The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu had on Tuesday, struck out the petition filed by Iwu, which

From Kunle Johnson, Calabar

iss challenging the election of Senator Mathew Nwagwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on grounds that the petition had offensive paragraphs.

Counsel to Nwagwu Joe Agi (SAN) said the petition contained offensive paragraphs and was struck out.

He hailed the tribunal’s verdict.

Cosmos Iwu’s counsel,

Kanu Agabi (SAN), had dragged Nwagwu to the tribunal alleging that there was rigging in Imo North Senatorial election.

Agabi, an Abuja based lawyer, who was represented by D. C. DenNwigwe (SAN), had argued that the election was fraught with irregularities and did not comply with Electoral Act. INEC manual and the 1999 Constitution.

He alleged large scale

violence in Isiala Mbanu, Ihitte, Ubona, Okigwe, Obowo and Omuimo local governments.

The counsel urged the tribunal to annul the election of Nwigwe and asked for a fresh election.

Tribunal Chairman Justice Umoekoyo Essang struck out Iwu’s petition on grounds that the petition had offensive paragraphs and the petitioner had nothing else to prove his case.

MASSOB seeks reinstatement of monarch

T

HE Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSSOB) has condemned the dissolution of Imo State Council of NdiEze under the leadership of Eze Cletus Iluomuanya by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Speaking in Owerri, MASSOB Leader Chief Ralph Uwazuruike said Okorocha embarrassed Ndigbo. He described Ilomuanya as a true Igbo man, who has consistently projected the Igbo identity.

Uwazururike said the Igbo are pulling down their own people.

He said: “ Eze Cletus Ilomuanya has performed

•’Okorocha’s action an embarrassment to Ndigbo’ satisfactorily. We appreciate his leadership of the traditional institution in the Southeast. He has really defended and projected the course of Ndigbo. We are pleased with him.”

He advised Okorocha to reinstate the cause of NdiEze, adding that nothing short of that will be acceptable.

“Governor Okorocha cannot just wake up and embarrass Ndigbo. That dissolution is unacceptable to us.

Not even a military administration can behave the way Okorocha did” Uwazuruike said.

Okorocha had, in his

‘Eze Cletus Ilomuanya has performed satisfactorily. We appreciate his leadership of the traditional institution in the Southeast. He has really defended’ maiden broadcast on June 6, dissolved the State Council of Traditional Rulers led

by Ilomuanya, who also chairs the Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers.

This dissolution elicited public outcry in the State.

Critics of the governor point to the State of Nigeria Traditional Rulers and Autonomous Communities Law No 6 of 2006 as amended in 2009 (Section 17a) which specified resignation or death as the only conditions for the expiration of the Council.

They argued that the governor do not have the right or power to dissolve or appoint council members arbitrarily as he did against legal advice.

Drama as Ebonyi Assembly drops commissioner -nominee

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HERE was a mild drama at the Ebonyi State House of Assembly yesterday as a commissioner- nominee and former Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Housing Jonah Egba could not recite the National Anthem and name the governor of Borno State.

The Assembly has dropped his name following the development.

Egba is one of the 20 commissioner- nominees submitted by governor Martin Elechi to the Assembly yesterday.

Egba was asked by the lawmakers to recite the National Anthem and name the governor of Borno

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakiliki

State(Shettima Ibrahim), but he could not.

The former commissioner could not also present the original certificate of his Master degree results which he acquired 10 years ago at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) for verification.

Moving a motion, Leader Samuel Nwali urged the House to confirm the nominees, excluding Egba.

Mabel Aleke, representing Ohaukwu South State Constituency,seconded the motion.

Eni Uduma Chima, who

represents Afikpo South East state constituency, regretted Egba’s inability to recite the National Anthem and present the certificate of his master degree . The Speaker Ikechukwu Nwankwo, directed that Egba’s name should be dropped.

He said: “Comrade Egba’s screening is hereby withheld; the Clerk of the House should communicate our decision to the governor.”

Elechi had on Monday sent a list of 20 commissioners and seven Special Advisers to the Assembly.

The House has screened 19 commissioner- nominees and confirmed the seven

Special Advisers -designate.

They are are Romanus Nwasum, Donatus Ajah, Hycienth Ikpo, Sunday Ugwuocha, Friday Nwogha and Ifeanyi Ikeh.

Others are Samuel Mgbada (Jnr), Chike Onwe, Celestine Nwali, Fred Udogu, Ben Okah and James Aro Nweke,Sunday Nwangele, Chukwuma Nwandiugo, Ben Igwenyi, Paul Okorie, Ndubuisi Chibueze Agbo, Timothy Odah and Chinyere Nwanoke.

The Special Advisers are Chidi Emerole Ejem, John Nwaokerekwu, Ken Uhuo, Beatrice Nkwuda, Clement Nweke, Collins Agbo and Chinyere Elom.

A

MERICAN Liberty University in United State, will induct Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State, as executive member of its governing council

today.

Others to be inducted are Olusegun Olusola, (Chairman, African Refugees Foundation ), Justice Shehu Ibrahim Ahmad of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Isaq Usman Bello(High Court of Justice, Abuja), Prof. Gabriel Onalaja( Rector, Gateway Polytechnic, Ogun State), Prof. Patrick Onyekwere(former Director-General, National Teachers Institute, Kaduna), and Dr Agbenedeh Augustine( University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State.)

In a statement by the Director, African Programmes Department of the School, the event is aimed at appreciating their contributions to the education sector.

‘Ogun PDP won’t pardon indiscipline’

T

HE Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not condone any act of indiscipline within its fold, the Vice-Chairman of Ogun East Elders’ Forum, Alhaji Agboola Alausa, has said.

In a statement yesterday, he dissociated himself and members of the forum from the activities of “some disgruntled elements” who worked for the opposition parties during the April elections but still pretend to remain in PDP. Alausa said: “The like of a Senatorial candidate, who is

hoodwinking others left the PDP to contest the April election on the platform of another party. How can such a person claim to still be a member of the PDP? “We have it on good authority that some of them who either contested the April elections on other platforms are scheming to mislead the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party even when they know that there is a subsisting judgment validating the Bashorun Dayo Soremi-led exco,” Alausa said.

Asiwaju of Oke –Agbe dies HE death has been announced of Chief Festus Ojo Aremo, the Asiwaju of Affa-Oke –Agbe, Ondo State.

Chief Aremo died on July 12. He was 98.

The late Aremo was born into the family of the late Pa Ogbodo Aremo. He attended St. George Primary School in Oke-Agbe in 1922 and St.Andrew’s College,Oyo, in 1947.

The late Asiwaju of Oke-Agbe attended the University of London in 1961.

He was a teacher who taught at various Schools in Ondo and Lagos States. The late Aremo is survived by wives, children and grandchildren.

T

Retired railway man dies at 97

P

A Carter Olufunmi Agbe-Davies is dead. He died at his Lagos residence. He was 97.

He was a principal accountant with the Nigerian Railway Corporation. A devout Christian, he served as a People’s Warden for several years at the All Saints Anglican Church, Montgomery Street, Yaba, Lagos. He was also an executive member of the Young Men’s Christian Association.

He is survived by children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Old students reunite

T

HE Ijebu Southern District Grammar School , Ala, Ogun State, old students will hold a reunion on Sunday at the school hall. A statement by Felix Ajayi, chairperson of the organising committee, said details of the 50th anniversary celebration of the school would be discussed.

Stolen Honda CRV

A

N army green Honda CRV car with registration number BR242RSH (Abuja), belonging to Funso Aina, was stolen on Friday, July 22, at Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State. The engine and chassis numbers are B20B42023310 and JHLRD1844VCG186647. If found, please call Aina on the following numbers - (08032004168, 08023009478), or report to the nearest police station.

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MONEY LINK

CBN may review $250,000 limit on forex

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may review downwards, its $250,000 perweek mandate on forex sale to Bureau De Change (BDCs) operators. The apex bank had in June, slashed banks’ sale of forex to BDC to $250,000 per week and

Stories by Collins Nweze

mandated each buyer to purchase from only one authorised dealer.

The Monetary Policy Committee recommended that although the policy is laudable, but since the premium between the rates at the

important factor in mitigating inflationary pressures, the spread may lead to arbitrage by players and fuel unhealthy speculation.

“We commended the CBN for the limit placed on the foreign exchange sales to the BDCs. However, in view of the widening premium between the WDAS and BDC rates, the Committee encouraged the CBN to review the existing limit,” the Committee said.

A circular signed by CBN Director, Trade & Echange, Batari Musa sated that the new plan was in line with provisions in the Monetary, Credit , Foreign Trade and Exchange Policy Guidelines for fiscal year 2010/2011. Musa explained that before this amendment, banks and other authorised dealers could sell autonomous funds to BDCs subject to compliance with the Anti-money Laundering Act 2004.

It said in a statement signed by

Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) and interbank rate narrowed, that between the WDAS and the BDCs widened.

It linked the disparity with CBN’s measures taken to limit sales to BDCs. The MPC said while strengthening of currency is an

... adjusts microfinance banks’ policy active poor and low income households. It would also provide appropriate machinery for tracking the activities of development partners and other non-bank service providers in the microfinance sub-sector of the Nigerian economy.

In a circular dated April 29, the MfBs are meant to enhance the access of micro- entrepreneurs and low income households to financial services sector to enable them, contribute to the growth of the economy.

Microfinance services refer to loans, deposits, insurance, fund transfer and other ancillary non-financial products targeted at low-income clients.

The CBN said that before the emergence of MfBs, the people that were unserved or under-served by formal financial institutions usually found succour in non-governmental organi-

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reviewed Microfinance Policy Framework, five years after the introduction of microfinance banks (MfBs) in the country.

The policy seeks to harmonise operating standards and provide a strategic platform for the evolution of microfinance institutions particularly MFBs. Existing non-deposit taking service providers, which continue to operate outside the purview of regulation and supervision of the CBN, would be encouraged to make periodic returns on their operations for statistical purposes to the CBN. The apex bank said the policy would enhance the provision of diversified microfinance services on a sustainable basis for the economically

sation-microfinance institutions (NGO-MFIs), moneylenders, friends, relatives, credit unions among others.

It said the revised policy framework continues to take cognisance of this category of institutions, which have now become key players in the Nigerian microfinance landscape.

The revised policy is prepared in exercise of the powers conferred on the CBN by the provisions of Section 33 (1) (b) of the CBN Act No. 7 of 2007 and in pursuance of the provisions of Sections 56-60 (a) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) No. 25 of 1991 (as amended).

The apex bank said the microfinance industry in the country had been confronted by numerous challenges since the launch of the Microfinance Policy Framework in December, 2005.

T

Birchi, said the agreement was “in line with the agreed terms of reference (TOR) of the agreement, and the OTA has since May 2011 deployed a Resident Technical Advisor, Mr Phillip Morris to the NDIC, to facilitate the capacity building programme.”

Under the agreement, which is for an initial period of two years, the technical assistance involves a comprehensive review of the Corporation’s operations in banking supervision, deposit guarantee,

T

RANSACTIONS on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, witnessed increased interest in the shares of Transnational Corporation (Transcorp) Plc. The 380 million shares of the firm traded made it the most traded stock to close of market. Investigation at the Exchange revealed that the huge turnover was boosted by a cross deal that saw Heirs Holdings acquiring 370 million units of Transcorp shares from Adonai Net Limited.

Heirs Holdings through its investee company HH Capital, had acquired a significant stake in Transcorp in April this year. The acquisition by Heirs Holdings is seen by analysts a further deepening and consolidation of its shareholdings in Transcorp.

bank failure resolution and closures with specific reference to the following: Increased technical capacity of NDIC staff in the implementation of Risk Based Supervision (RBS) as it relates to deposit insurance; Design and implementation of training programmes /methods to improve the capacity of NDIC staff in the prompt payment of claims to depositors and creditors; design and development of staff training modules.

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES OBB Rate Call Rate

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 27-7-11 SYMBOL CUSTODYINS HOLYFLOUR CADBURY NASCON AIICO CONTINSURE ECOBANK VITAFOAM UNILEVER BAGCO

O/PRICE 2.77 3.84 18.00 4.95 0.67 1.02 2.83 5.88 28.00 2.30

C/PRICE 2.90 4.00 18.55 5.10 0.69 1.05 2.90 6.00 28.49 2.34

CHANGE 0.13 0.16 0.55 0.15 0.02 0.03 0.07 0.12 0.49 0.04

LOSER AS AT 27-7-11 SYMBOL CAPHOTEL ETERNAOIL UBN GLAXOSMITH COSTAIN PLATINUM OCEANIC STARCOMMS STERLNBANK INTERCONT

O/PRICE 6.85 4.09 2.47 25.10 2.79 0.66 1.11 0.67 1.58 0.91

Investors are anxious to see significant changes in the operations and fortunes Transcorp.

Already, Heirs has constructively engaged the Board and Management of Transcorp in a bid to strengthen Governance and enhance business processes of the company. This follows the appointment of Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, to the Board of Transcorp.

Heirs Holdings Director of Communications JeNika Mukoro confirmed the company’s increased holdings and restated its belief in the potentials of Transcorp. He said Heirs Holdings would further identify similar opportunities across Africa with the set objective to build exceptional value for all stakeholders.

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

its Head, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Muhammed Abdullahi, that the latest appraisal of the policy initiative revealed gross abuses of the enhanced official funding of the Class A category of the BDCs and the negation of the expected benefits to the economy.

Heirs Holdings consolidates stakes in Transcorp

NDIC partners US Treasury on capacity building HE Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has entered into a Technical Assistance Agreement with the Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) of the United States of America Treasury Department as part of efforts to reposition the Corporation and enhance its capacity to discharge its mandate of depositor protection.

A statement signed by the Head, Communications and Public Affairs of the corporation, Harde

•Lamido Sanusi, CBN Governor

C/PRICE 6.51 3.89 2.35 23.90 2.66 0.63 1.06 0.64 1.51 0.87

CHANGE 0.34 0.20 0.12 1.20 0.13 0.03 0.05 0.03 0.07 0.04

Amount Sold ($)

Exchange Rate (N)

Date

400m

467.7m

400m

153.59

25-5-11

400m

452.3m

400m

153.4

23-5-11

500m

499,8m

499.8m

153.45

16-5-11

EXHANGE RATE 30-05-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD NGN GBP

147.6000 239.4810

149.7100 244.0123

150.7100 245.6422

-2.11 -2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

(S/N) Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

22-07-11 N7.650tr 23,925.72

25-07-11 N7.689tr 24,046.65

% Change +0.51% +0.51%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW January ’11

February ’11

May ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.00%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.3%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 117.62 1,586.00 0.81 0.99 0.99 1,586.00 9.55 1.39 1.87 8,827.74 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.16 1,576.75 0.78 0.99 0.99 1,576.75 9.09 1.33 1.80 8,557.25 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 04 MAR, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 24, MAY, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 MAR, 2011

07, MAR, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

57

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 27-07-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES

NSE to float five new instruments T

HE Nigerian Stock Ex change (NSE) plans to in troduce five new instruments over the next five years to deepen the Nigerian capital market and widen investment opportunities available to investors.

Chief executive officer of NSE, Mr Oscar Onyema, yesterday at the listing of the first closed-end fund at the Exchange said the listing was a stepping stone to the wider diversification agenda of the management of the Exchange.

According to him, in addition to equities, which are dominant instrument now, the Exchange aim to promote active trading in bonds, exchange traded funds, options and financial futures while sustaining the promotion of closed-end funds.

“These initiatives are a vital part of increasing the vibrancy, depth and competitiveness of the Exchange so we can truly become the undisputed gateway to African frontier markets,” Onyema said.

He urged all stakeholders to cooperate in the task of deepening the market, noting that though the new instruments might come with their challenges, they would become acceptable with investors’ education and enlightenment.

He noted that though the regulators play important roles in setting rules to ensure fair, orderly and transparent markets and in enforcement and general oversight, market operators however, need to partner with the regulators in the critical task of capital market development.

This is a milestone development in the capital market in important ways. First, the investor enjoys the diversification benefits of a mutual fund while also benefitting from the enhanced liquidity that results from continuous trading. Of course, as with any other ac-

•Lists first closed-end fund

By Taofik Salako

tively traded security, the Fund Manager has a responsibility- to ensure a steady flow of information to the market on fund composition, strategy and performance. Second, a closed-end fund provides investors with another investment option, thus deepening the offerings in our market.

Deepening the market and enhancing liquidity are important strategic goals of The Nigerian Stock Exchange.

“Some of these financial instruments may sound daunting, but we will all learn by doing, all the while educating investors and market operators about the need to have a well-balanced and diversified portfolio, which meets their risk profile and investment goals,” Onyema noted.

He said with the listing of the first closed-end fund, investor would enjoy the diversification benefits of a mutual fund while also benefitting from the enhanced liquidity that results from continuous trading.

A total of about 32.1 million units of N100 each of SIM Capital Value Fund were listed by way of introduction on the main board of NSE at N103 per unit yesterday. SIM Capital Value Fund, an equity-based closed-end fund, was floated and is being managed by SIM Capital Alliance.

A closed-end fund is tradeable on the Exchange the same way as equities and investors wishing to purchase or sell units of the fund would simply place orders through their stockbrokers at any time. Units of a closed-end fund trade continuously and the investors do not rely on periodic valuations

provided by the fund manager. Closed end funds can be either equity funds or bond funds.

Meanwhile, the overall market situation at the NSE yesterday reversed into negative with declines in aggregate market capitalisation and the benchmark index. The All Share Index (ASI) reversed from its opening index of 24,057.90 points to close at 24,011.99 while market capitalisation of all equities dropped from N7.69 trillion to N7.60 trillion.

The market was overtly bearish with two in every three stocks traded ending in the negative. Many highly capitalised stocks drove the bearish trend. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer topped the losers’ list with a loss of 120 kobo to close at N23.90. Dangote Sugar Refinery slipped by 36 kobo to close at N12. Capital Hotel lost 34 kobo to close at N6.51 while Eterna dropped by 20 kobo to close at N3.89.

However, Cadbury Nigeria recorded the highest gain of 55 kobo to close at N18.55.

Unilever Nigeria gained 49 kobo to close at N28.49. CAP gathered 37 kobo to close at N28.90 while Honeywell Flour Mills chalked up 16 kobo to close’s at N4.

Total turnover stood at 602.23 million shares worth N1.81 billion in 4,884 deals. The conglomerate sector was the most active with a turnover of 379.62 million shares worth N469.7 million in 186 deals. The market was driven largely by transactions in Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, which recorded turnover of 377.29 million shares valued at N388.61 million in 23 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 27-07-11

58

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

59

60

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

FOREIGN NEWS

US suspends aid project in Malawi

T

HE United States has suspended a $350m (£213m) aid package to Malawi after the security forces were accused of killing anti-government protesters last week.

A US government agency, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), said the money was to have been spent on developing Malawi’s power sector.

But it had suspended the aid because it was “deeply upset” by the deaths of 19 people during the demonstrations.

The nationwide protests were against the rising cost of living in Malawi.

President Bingu wa Mutharika accused the protesters of committing treason and deployed the army and riot police in three cities - the capital, Lilongwe, the biggest city, Blantyre, and Mzuzu in the north.

UK expels Gaddafi’s diplomats, recognises Libyan rebels

Egypt’s ex-President Mubarak refuses food

B

EGYPT’S former President Hosni Mubarak is weak and refusing solid food, according to the country’s official news agency.

He is due to stand trial in a week, accused of corruption and ordering the killing of protesters.

The head of the hospital where Mr Mubarak is detained in Sharm alSheikh said he was depressed, has lost weight, and was not eating enough to keep him alive, MENA agency reports.

But critics see Mr Mubarak’s illness as a ploy to avoid going on trial.

Opposition supporters are sceptical about the reports. They believe the authorities are just looking for a way to put off the start of the former leader’s trial, scheduled for next week.

The latest of many reports on Mr Mubarak’s health said his doctors would decide in the coming hours how to proceed, as his current food intake was not enough to keep him alive.

There does now seem to be growing evidence that he is an increasingly enfeebled old man, says the BBC’s Cairo correspondent, Jon Leyne.

RITISH Foreign Secretary William Hague has said the UK will recognise the Libyan rebel council as the “sole governmental authority”, as Gaddafi-regime diplomats are expelled.

The Libyan charge d’affaires was called to the Foreign Office earlier to be told he and other diplomats must leave.

Instead the UK will ask the National Transitional Council to appoint a new diplomatic envoy.

It follows similar moves by the US and France. The UK

previously said it recognised “countries not governments”.

But Mr Hague said it was a “unique situation” and said recognising the NTC could help “legally in the unfreezing of some assets”.

The green flag of the Gaddafi regime was still flying outside the embassy in Knightsbridge on Wednesday afternoon and attempts to reach staff for comment were not successful. Protesters carrying the red, green and black flag of the Libyan rebels gathered outside.

Libyan rebels and pro-

Gaddafi forces are still locked in battle, five months after an uprising began against Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year rule, as Nato continues to enforce a UN-backed no-fly zone over the country.

At a press conference, Mr Hague said the NTC had shown its commitment to a “more open and democratic Libya... in stark contrast to Gaddafi whose brutality against the Libyan people has stripped him of all legitimacy”.

He said a recent meeting of the Libya contact group in Is-

tanbul had decided to treat the NTC as the legitimate government authority in Libya - and he was outlining the UK’s response to that.

The UK would now deal with the NTC “on the same basis as other governments around the world” - and as a result the Libyan charge d’affaires had been summoned to the Foreign Office to be told all Gaddafi regime diplomats must now leave. It is thought that eight Libyan diplomats remain at the embassy.

Lockerbie bomber backs Gaddafi

T

HE man convicted of blowing up a plane over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in 1988 has appeared at a rally broadcast by Libyan state television.

Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was released from prison in Scotland almost two years ago on health grounds.

Introducing him at a televised rally of members of Megrahi’s tribe, the presenter said his conviction was the result of a conspiracy.

He said his release had been a victory against oppression.

The 1988 bombing of the United States airliner, flying from London to New York, killed 270 people.

The Lockerbie bomber has been shown on Libyan television, in the midst of a progovernment tribal gathering.

Megrahi was convicted of the atrocity in 2001 but released in August 2009 on compassionate grounds, as he was suffering from prostate cancer.

The Scottish government judged that he had about three months to live.

Megrahi returned to Libya, since when he has rarely been seen in public.

•Swazi HIV patients protesting....yesterday

Swazi HIV patients eat dung for drugs efficacy

S

OME HIV-positive patients in Swaziland are so poor they have resorted to eating cow dung before taking anti-retroviral drugs, Aids activists say.

The drugs do not work on an empty stomach, so patients have to use the dung - mixed with water - instead of food, the activists say.

Several hundred people protested in the capital, Mbabane, yesterday against the economic crisis in the kingdom.

Protest organiser Sipho Dlamini told the BBC that

growing hunger was forcing HIV/AIDS patients to eat cow dung.

“Some people are now saying they are going to stop taking anti-retroviral drugs because it [requires] that they have food in their stomachs,” he told the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme.

Swaziland, with a population of about 1.2 million, has one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the world.

About 230,000 people are HIV-positive, of whom 65,000 get free drugs from

government hospitals.

Mr Dlamini said the protesters urged the government not to cut health spending.

“We want the government to stick to its word and to prioritise health,” he said.

Last month, MP Joseph Madonsela said state hospitals would run out of antiretroviral drugs within two months.

This was denied by the government.

But it admitted that it had asked South Africa for a financial bailout and had

introduced austerity measures to curb expenditure.

In May, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Swaziland was facing a “serious liquidity crisis”.

The shortage of money forced King Mswati, who is sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, to cancel his silver jubilee celebrations this year.

He has an estimated personal wealth of $200m and each of his 13 wives has a palace paid for by the state, correspondents say.

Norway probes gunman Breivik attacks

N

ORWEGIAN Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has announced the creation of a “22 July Commission” to investigate Friday’s bomb and gun attacks.

He said the commission, agreed to by all political parties, would analyse everything that happened.

The speed of the police response to Anders Behring Breivik’s second attack, on Utoeya island, has been questioned.

The shootings, and a bomb attack on government buildings in the capital, Oslo, left at

least 76 people dead.

Mr Breivik, a far-right extremist, admits carrying out the attacks.

The police yesterday released the names of 13 more victims who died in the attacks.

Ten were teenagers and the youngest was 14-year-old Sharidyn Svebakk-Bohn - all were killed on Utoeya. The first four names were released on Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference at his residence, Mr Stoltenberg said the commission would be independent

and would enable lessons to be learned.

‘I could smell blood’ The victims MEP backs Breivik ideas Timeline of attacks “This is not a critical inquiry, we have a lot of respect for the way that our authorities and our different agencies have handled the operations,” he said.

“But we think it’s important to go through everything that’s happened so that we can learn as much as possible and draw from our experiences.”

The BBC’s Jon Brain in Oslo says the overall police opera-

tion has been criticised, with questions asked about why it took so long and why a helicopter was not available to allow police to get to the island more quickly.

Meanwhile a police union spokesman has announced that 20m Norwegian kroner (2.6m euros; £2.3m) will be released to create 100 new police jobs in areas affected by the attacks.

The prime minister also announced a national memorial, and said the government would contribute to the cost of funerals of the victims.

Man convicted of spilling whisky on Zuma

A

SOUTH African man has been convicted of spilling whisky on President Jacob Zuma.

Racehorse owner Daryl Peense, 31, was arrested after spilling whisky on Mr Zuma at a race meeting last July in the eastern city of Durban.

Mr Peense said it was an accident, but a bodyguard of Mr Zuma insisted that it was intentional.

A magistrate’s court ruled that Mr Peense was guilty of assault and he will be sentenced in September.

Mr Zuma’s bodyguard, Funani Nemaenzhe, told the court he saw Mr Peense pour a drink from a balcony on to the president’s entourage during the horse-racing event.

Mr Zuma did no get wet because another bodyguard protected him, the South African Press Association reported.

Mr Peense said he had been drunk and did not intend to harm the president.

In another incident last year, police briefly detained a student from Cape Town for 24 hours for allegedly gesturing with his middle finger at Mr Zuma’s motorcade.

South Africa’s Human Rights Commission ordered the police minister to apologise to the student, Chumani Maxwele.

It said Mr Zuma’s bodyguards had violated Mr Maxwele’s right to privacy and dignity.

Relatives and victims would also be entitled to payments from the state under a new law on compensation for victims of crime, he added.

In a statement earlier, Mr Stoltenberg said Norway would not be intimidated or threatened by the attacks and that Norwegians would stand firm in defending their values.

The attacks were directed at Norway’s “fundamental values” - democracy and openness - and that the response would be “more democracy, more openness”, he said.

Grew up in Oslo, son of a diplomat Obsessed with “Islamisation of western Europe” Likened himself to a Crusader knight Wrote a manifesto detailing his attack plans Profile: Anders Behring Breivik Manifesto details attacks He said he expected people to participate more broadly in politics.

Meanwhile, the leader of the police squad who apprehended Mr Breivik on the island has been describing the events.

UN begins aid airlift to Somalia THE United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) has begun to airlift emergency food supplies to famine-struck Somalia.

The first flight, with 10 tonnes of nutritional supplements for children, has landed in the capital Mogadishu, an African Union official told the BBC. Millions in Somalia and across the Horn of Africa face dire food shortages in the worst regional drought for decades.

The Islamist al-Shabab militia, which controls much of Somalia, has banned the WFP from its areas.

The delivery was to have begun on Tuesday but was delayed from leaving Kenya by bureaucratic hurdles.

Challiss McDonough, a spokeswoman for the WFP, said the 10 tonnes of Plumpy’nut, a peanut-based paste high in protein and energy, would be enough to treat 3,500 malnourished children for one month.

Given the demand for food aid in Somalia, the delivery is just a drop in the ocean, says the BBC’s East Africa correspondent Will Ross, in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Plumpy’nut was flown from France to Kenya on Monday.

More flights were planned for the coming weeks, Associated Press news agency quoted Ms McDonough as saying.

The delivery is the first airlift of food aid since the UN declared a famine in two southern areas of Somalia last week.

The aid is being moved by plane because sending it by boat would take months, said Ms McDonough.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

61

62 CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

HAMMED

OKAFOR

POPOOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Hammed Muriat Olawumi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oladiran Muriat Olawumi. All former documents remain valid. AAUA, NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Phina Njideka Okafor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ekpekpe Phina Njideka. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

OMALE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyeka Clara Chioma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Isaac Clara Chioma. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Blessing Omale, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Blessing Akpa. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

OLORUNMOLA I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olorunmola, Praise Oluwawemimo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Emmanuel, Praise Oluwawemimo.

All former documents remain valid. UNIJOS, NYSC and general public take note.

AJAYI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajayi Elizabeth Oluwatoyosi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Jacob Elizabeth Oluwatoyosi. All former documents remain valid. Ifedayo Local government Area, Oke-Ila Orangun and general public take note.

NURUDEEN

I, formerly known and addressed as Nurudeen Olatunji Muraino, now wish to be known and addressed as Adenekan Nurudeen Muraino Olatunji. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Kareem Aminu Saidi Tundeola is the same and one person as Aminu Sheed Tundeola. All documents bearing the above names remain valid. Citizenship & Immigration Canada, Nigeria Immigration Service, Canadian Embassy and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Alli Balogun Adeola Aishat, Adedeji Adeola Aishat is the same and one person as Mrs Aminu Adeola Aishat. All documents bearing the above names remain valid. Citizenship & Immigration Canada, Nigeria Immigration Service, Canadian Embassy and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Grace Olutunbi, Okunsanmi Grace Oluwatunbi & Okunsanmi Grace Olutunbi is the same and one person as Temimese Grace Olutunbi. All documents bearing the above names remain valid.

University of Nigeria, Nsukka and general public take note.

ABDULGANEEY

ONYEKA

ORIFAH I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mary Orifah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adimabua Ephraim Nwaeke. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

UGUN I, formerly known and addressed as Ugun Etete Isaac, now wish to be known and addressed as Stephen Ebikabina Isaac. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

IKOLI I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Ikoli Reuben Nengiebimiekumo Dickson, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Reuben Nengiebimiekumo Dickson. All former documents remain valid. UBA, ECO Bank, Nitel Plc., IBTC Pension and general public take note.

LONGSE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Lawal Opeyemi Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Fasanu Morakinyo Opeyemi Temitope.

All former documents remain valid. Federal Polytechnic, Ede and general public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Lawal Falilat Oluwafolake, now wish to be known and addressed as Yusuf Fadilat Oluwafolake. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

WEJE

OSIFALUJO

OJOBO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Roseline Aba, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Roseline Enenche. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Police and general public take note.

ABA

AJAYI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajayi Olayinka Justinah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adesokan Olayinka Justinah. All former documents remain valid. State Independent Electoral Commission, Ekiti State and general public take note.

FASUSI

ADEBAYO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Fasusi Olubunmi Modupe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Owoeye Olubunmi Modupe. All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Wifery Council and general public take note.

OJO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Sanya Bosede Toluwani, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Agunbiade Bosede Toluwani. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AGUILIM

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Aguilim Rosemary Nneka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Egbogota Nneka Rosemary. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

THOMPSON

LAWAL

I, formerly known and addressed as Friday Azubike Okolo, now wish to be known and addressed as Wealth Ugochukwu Innocent. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Muodu Uchenna Charles, Muodu Uchenna, Muodu Uchenna Anthony is the same and one person. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Babalola Eunice Oluwakemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Thomas Naomi Oluwakemi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Amaka Chibuzo Okeke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Amaka Chibuzo Onwumere. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

BRAIMOH

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojo Caroline Taiwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogundipe Caroline Taiwo. All former documents remain valid.

Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Borad and general public take note.

BABALOLA

OLIWO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oliwo Monsurat Bamidele, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Sanusi Monsurat Bamidele. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Braimoh Adejoke Temidayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olatinwo Adejoke Temidayo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adebayo Morayo Aminat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs OlowoyeyeAdebayo Morayo Aminat. All former documents remain valid.

LSLGC, Alimosho LGA, LASU and general public take note.

AKPORE I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs Henrietta Udume Brai Akpore, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Herrietta Udume Brai Iwegbu. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwokocha Chimee Osita, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogbo Chimee Osita. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OKOLO

OYEDIRAN

MUDIKI

I, formerly known and addressed as Omozele Zaria Mudiki, now wish to be known and addressed as Omozele Zaria Adebayo. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

TINUBU

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Fariat Abosede Tinubu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Francisca Abosede Tinubu. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Weje Onyinyechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Onyinyechi O. Nwoke. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olubunmi Adedoja Oyediran, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olubunmi Adedoja Olu-Aderomu. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OREDEIN

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oredein Adetutu Bamidele, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Shobande Adetutu Bamidele. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Imediuwem Okon Thompson, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Imediuwem Iniobong Ekponta. All former documents remain valid. Akwa Ibom Local government Commission, Uyo and general public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Godiya Plangnan Longse, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Godiya Plangnan Danep. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ruqoyah Olaposi Abdulganeey, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ruqoyah Yoyinsade TellaAjifowowe. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojobo Loveline Uchenna, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ugwanyi Loveline Uchenna. All former documents remain valid. ESUT, Enugu, WAEC, NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwatuyi Popoola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Bejide Oluwatuyi O. All former documents remain valid.

Ekiti State Micro Credit and general public take note.

SANYA

IDOWU I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Idowu Olanike Yetunde, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ojuade Olanike Yetunde. All former documents remain valid. Obafemi Awolowo University and general public take note.

ADEDOJA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adedoja Agnes Adetomi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ilesanmi Agnes Adetomi. All former documents remain valid. Ilesha East LG, Education Authority, SUBEB, Osogbo and general public take note.

OSITA

OKEKE

LAWAL

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Osifalujo Bukola Oluwakemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Abodunrin Bukola Oluwakemi. All former documents remain valid. Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) and general public take note.

OMOTOSHO

I, formerly known and addressed as Olasumbo Margret Omotosho, now wish to be known and addressed as Olasumbo Itsemeh Akhigbe. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ALEXANDER I, formerly known and addressed as Alexander Bright Okodi, now wish to be known and addressed as Iniyekenumu Bright Okodi. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ENYINNAYA I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eyinnaya Margret Obioma, now wish to be known and addressed as Shebbs Margret Obioma. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AIYEDE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Aiyede Christiana Oluwatimilehin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Christiana Oluwatimilehin Uche.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ASIRU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Asiru Deborah Modupe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adeboye Deborah Modupe. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Teaching Service Commission, Abeokuta and general public take note.

BADRU I, formerly known and addressed as Dr. (Miss) Badru Noimot Abisola, now wish to be known and addressed as Dr.(Mrs) Balogun Noimot Abisola. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, LUTH, MDCN and general public take note.

OBINNA

I, formerly known and addressed as Chinedu Obinna, now wish to be known and addressed as Goddey Okorie. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NATION SPORT

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

Rosenborg, Chievo, Odense chase Igiebor A

CCORDING to reports on Norway's biggest daily Aftenposten, Rosenborg are interested in signing the Nigerian midfielder Nosa Igiebor.

The Norway clubside is ready to battle other suitors

for the Nigerian. ''We work up to 1 August when the transfer window opens. We have some injuries right now and need people .

But I will not go into names, it makes you speculate, '' general manager of

Rosenborg, Nils Skutle was quoted as saying by aftenposten .no.

Chievo Verona and OB Odense are also understood to be circling around Igiebor, who can cover several roles in midfield.

LAGOS STATE POLYTECHNIC MARATHON RACE

Ogodo, Innocent emerge winners

A

N ND 11 student of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Lagos, Ngozi Ogodo has emerged the overall winner of the second edition of the Students’ Union Government Marathon race. The 11km event which was held on Tuesday at the Ikorodu campus.

The marathon race was tagged' race against Cholera'.

According to the President Students’ Union Government, Comrade Gafarr Adedayo, the programme was organised to create awareness about the pandemic cholera and also encourage students involvement in sporting activities within and about the four walls of the higher institution.

Making reference to Cholera as a disease, he explained that cholera is not just a epidemic but also an infection of the small intestine that causes a large amount of watery diarrhea which people require immediate rehydration to

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to bring to the notice of the general public that a document issued by the Lagos state government (certificate of occupancy) issued to Victoria Uche Chigbue of 29/31 Solomon Ogun Street, Aguda Surulere Lagos. Reg. No. 57/57/ 1993A of land measuring 473 meter square Got missing, and all efforts to locate same proved futile and by this publication the general public and all governmental bodies are notified.

prevent these symptoms from persisting because these signs and symptoms indicate that the person is becoming or is dehydrated and may go on to develop severe cholera and this could be reduced to the minimal level when people are ware of these facts, thus, enhancing their healthy living and fitness as humans.

The kick off time for the programme which was 10am, had in attendance about 800 students from the five faculties that make up the institution; Faculty of Management and Business Studies, Faculty of Technology, Faculty Of Agriculture, Faculty Of Environmental Studies And Faculty Of Engineering all assembled at the Ikorodu campus of the school.

Comrade Alawoki Ahmed, sports director 2010/2011 programme in a chat with Nationsport, said the marathon race was organised by the students’ union in a bid to contribute to their society and create awareness about the pandemic called cholera and social vices in the society. Its all about fun and the brain is to explore the sporting zeal, passion and interest of the students not just to engage in sporting activities within the institution but also outside the school vicinity and I believe

through this they would excel’.

The winner of the race was given a HP laptop, mini freezer, stranding fan, cooker, television respectively for the five winners in the male and female categories.

Other winners in the female category are :Davies J o y ( C o m p u t e r Science),Odusanya Kehinde(Computer Science), Olatoye Feyisola(Electrical) and Taiwo Beauty. In the male cateroy,Micheal Innocent emerged winner while Akinmoyeye Jeremiah clinched the second position.

Other winners are: Oluwadairo Opeyemi, Bolaji and Aderele Moses.

Sports in Lagos will be private-sector friendly —Oshodi

By Innocent Amomoh AGOS State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Wahid Enitan Oshodi has declared that the state is ready to encourage private sector participation in sports.

He made this statement while reacting to the Super Sports' grass root development initiative “Lets Play” which is targeted towards getting the kids off the streets and encouraged to engage in productive ventures in the area of sports.

The Commissioner noted that Lagos State sports development policy and implementation is similar to what the “Lets Play” Programme is expected to achieve. On this basis, Lagos State will give support to Super Sports and other organizations thinking along this line.

The "lets play" initiative, expected to be domicile in Lagos is directed at discovering, nurture and promote young stars in schools and on the streets.

In the same vein, a team from Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), led by Lola Odedina, General Manager Communications & External Affairs, paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner ahead of the finals of the Principal Cup to be decided today.

Welcoming the team to his office, Oshodi appreciated the continued sponsorship of the Principals’ Cup by GT Bank over the years. He opined that he hopes the Principals’ Cup Competition, while promising the continues support of the Ministry.

L

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

63

NATION SPORT

One year to go: How London is looking for Olympics L

ONDON 2012 has declared the Olympic aquatic centre open for business - the last of the six permanent Olympic Park venues to finish construction.

As organisers gear up to celebrate one year to go until the start of the Games, Tom Daley will make the first dive into the pool later this evening, after flying back from the ongoing World Championships in Shanghai especially for the moment.

"Marking the one year to go by diving in the aquatics centre is an incredible honour," said Daley.

"Only a few years ago, this was a distant dream. The fact that I qualified at the weekend and am taking the first dive is a complete privilege. I can't wait for next year and the honour of representing Team GB." The aquatic centre was originally designed to be one of the iconic landmarks of the Games but the addition of two unsightly temporary stands - in a measure designed to ensure a better legacy for the venue means Zaha Hadid's wave design is no longer so easy on the eye.

The Olympic Delivery Authority might boast that the

building is ready on time but it has run hugely over budget - its final cost of £232m three times over the original estimate.

“With construction now complete on the aquatics centre, we are another step closer to the spectacular Olympic Park which will be host to world class sport in 2012," said London 2012 chairman Seb Coe. "And after the Games, the venue will become a much-needed swimming facility for London with community use at its heart, epitomising the spirit of London’s bid – a Games which would bring lasting change and encourage people to choose sport.

"Everyone involved can be very proud of this venue and the progress of the Olympic Park as a whole."

Construction on the aquatic centre started three years ago, with over 3,600 workers and 370 UK businesses contributing to the project.

Next year's British Gas National Championships, the Olympic trials meeting, will be the official swimming test event at the venue while Daley and his team-mates will compete in the FINA World Diving Cup at the facility in February.

"The aquatics centre will be a fantastic gateway to the Games in 2012 and a much-needed new community and elite sporting venue for the capital afterwards,"

said ODA chairman John Armitt.

"Five years ago, in July 2006, we published a delivery timetable which set out the ambitious target to complete

the main venues a year before the Games. Today, with the completion of the sixth main permanent venue, I am proud to say that we have delivered

• London Velodrome (Cycling (track) - capacity : 6,000)

• Olympic Stadium (Athletics, Ceremonies (opening/ closing) - capacity: 80,000)

Medals revealed

T

HE thousands of athletes striving to compete at London 2012 now know what treasure awaits at the end of their long and tortuous journeys after the medals for next year's Olympics were revealed in Trafalgar Square on Wednesday, one year before the start of the Games.

Measuring 85mm in diameter the gold, silver and bronze medals designed by British artist David Watkins are considerably larger than those in many previous Games and, weighing in at a hefty 400 grams - the heaviest for a summer Games multiple champions may well be paying some excess baggage on their flights home.

As at all the modern Olympics since 1896, apart from Paris in 1900 when they were rectangular, London's medals are circular with one side featuring the obligatory Greek goddess Nike - the symbol of victory and embodiment of the spirit of the Games.

It is the other side, however, that organisers say will encapsulate London's third hosting of the Games, following the previous editions in 1908 and 1948.

The now-familiar London 2012 logo features strongly in the abstract design, appearing to rise out boldly from the centre of the medal which is criss-crossed by lines which are meant to symbolise energy radiating out from the city.

"They could be particularly popular with javelin throwers," admitted Watkins. "Or fencers," he added, pointing to his design which also features the River

Thames as a ribbon snaking through the heart of the medals.

Olympic triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards, who won his gold medal in Sydney in 2000 and who now works for London's organising committee, said the medals would be an inspiration to the world's sportsmen and women as the one-year countdown to the "greatest show on earth" begins in earnest.

"Athletes will look at the pictures today and say I want one of those," the world record holder told Reuters hours before the world got to see the design for the first time at a special oneyear-to-go event in Trafalgar Square attended by IOC president Jacques Rogge.

"They will go out and train the next day with a little extra motivation, it's kind of a wakeup call, it crystallises what the challenges are."

Asked for his thoughts on the design, Edwards said the medals were "a chunky piece of kit".

"Compared to my Sydney medal it's a considerably bigger in diameter and also a lot heavier.

It's beautiful and it's a chunky piece of kit. If you win seven or eight of them like Michael Phelps did in Beijing you'll need a strong neck."

While fame and fortune often await Olympic champions, Edwards said the medals themselves were the goal. "I slept with the medal under my pillow in Sydney," he said.

"It represents a lifetime's work."

Watkins, who was chosen from a shortlist of six to design the medals, said he was looking forward to the moment the first of the 2,100 medals were handed out.

PUBLIC NOTICE DIVINE WOUND HOME OF THE MOTHERLESS INITIATIVE This is to inform the general public that the above named initiative has applied to the Corporative Affairs Commission for incorporation under the Part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MOST REV. DR. F.E.O. OKOBO 2. REV. SR. MARTINA OFORMA 3. ANSELEM O. ODO 4. REV. FR. PETER NNAJI 5.

DIDYMUS IDOKO 6.

DR. SYLVANUS NNADI 7.

JOY CHIGOZIE UJA 8.

BARR.GEOFFREY O.UGWUOKE. 9. FRANCIS CHISOM OFORKA AIMS & OBJECTIVES To help the needy and Motherless.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporative Affairs Commission Wuse Zone 5, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: G.O Ugwuoke Esq (Solicitor)

on that commitment."

The 2012 Games will use a mixture of newly-built, existing and temporary venues.

TOMORROW

IN THE NATION

‘Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State hit the nail on the head when he said last week that “the social insecurity that has engulfed Nigeria is ‘planted and perpetrated’ by the elites against the larger majority of the population. We must remember that no social group can be bigger or larger than the Whole.’

STEVE OSUJI

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 6, NO. 1,835

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

GBENGA OMOTOSO

A

AFTER the drudgery of forming a cabinet, President Goodluck Jonathan seems to have settled down to work.

He has told ministers that they are on probation. They have 100 days to prove themselves or get the boot. Dr Jonathan has been battling the Boko Haram violence with the fury of a soldier at war. Besides, he has visited flood-lashed Lagos, Nigeria’s business and financial engine room. Amid all this, he has gone to Monrovia to be honoured with Liberia’s highest award. Good.

Of all the cabinet members, one seems to be so sure to get a medal at the end of the 100 days, if not before then, considering the agility of an Olympian with which he pursues his mission. I am told by usually dispassionate sources – I have little or no reason to disbelieve them – that never in the history of this august body has any member deployed so much intellect and raw strength, far beyond the ordinary call of duty, to achieve a particular goal at such a lightning speed. So adept is he at his duty that his predecessors must be wondering where he finds the deftness and the energy to undertake such breathless exertions.

I am talking of no other than the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), whose achievements in so short a time must be the envy of his predecessors, some of them jurisprudential giants in their own rights.

Clement Akpamgbo (SAN) found in law the solution to all that ailed the nation. In fact, many had wondered why he could not decree for himself a longer life, considering the speed at which he churned out decrees upon decrees while in office, until he suddenly passed on.

A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president, the late Akpamgbo drafted all the draconian laws which enabled General Ibrahim Babangida, the self-styled military president, to rule Nigeria with an iron fist.

And so much guileful confidence that resulted in an eight-year rigmarole of a transition programme under which leading politicians were banned, unbanned and banned again and again, until the house of fraud collapsed.

To his eternal credit is the enactment of Decree 107 (Suspension and Modification Decree) of 1993, which snatched away from the courts the power to entertain any suit concerning the fiendish annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election that was won by the late businessman, Chief Moshood Abiola, who once said with a friend like Babangida, nobody needed an enemy.

Chief Bayo Ojo rode into the office on the wing of a huge controversy. He was accused of shredding the NBA constitution, which bars its officials from taking government appointments. Why shun an opportunity to serve your country just because of a rule that guides only

RIPPLES JONATHAN ‘LL DELIVER DIVIDENDS OF DEMOCRACY-Mark

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

An Attorney-General at work

•Mr Adoke

a minute section of the country? Ojo would have thought. So, like the proverbial dog that shunned the hunter’s call, he jumped the NBA ship and plunged headlong into the cauldron of public service. But Ojo served no public interest, critics insist. He kept on interpreting court verdicts to suit the government of the day, choosing the one to obey and the one to trash. So infuriated were his colleagues that they boycotted the courts for one week to protest the way he, in their view, ridiculed the judiciary.

Former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja was impeached illegally. The court ordered his reinstatement. He was not. Why? Ojo was studying the judgment. He left the job the way he began it – in a blaze of controversy that has till date made his tour of duty an unforgettable expedition in self extirpation. The other day he tried to be governor; he failed. The people must have said: “ No thanks; we won’t forget so soon.”

Nor will Nigerians forget so soon the immediate past Attorney-General, Mike Aondoakaa.

A gentleman, according to those who know him. Aondoakaa, alleged critics, fought hard to bring the anti-corruption agencies under him, took over high profile cases involving big politicians and discontinued them.

O

When did he tell you, Sir?...news INFORMATION MINISTER!

F all the bills before the National Assembly requiring urgent attention, the Senate has unbelievably chosen to amend a bill to facilitate the deportation of Nigerian prisoners serving term in foreign jails. According to a report, the bill was sent to the Senate only last week, yet it is receiving hasty attention.

The law, which the bill wants to amend, provides that a Nigerian jailed abroad cannot be deported back home to complete his sentence without his own consent. The proponents of the bill believe that if it is passed it will help to expose Nigerians who serve jail terms abroad only to return home to vie for political office. They also hope those who hide their foreign prison records would be disgraced if they were sent back home to complete their jail terms.

Opponents of the bill, however, wonder what the real motive of the Federal Gov-

Aondoakaa got immersed in the muddy politics of the muddled last days of the late former President Musa Yar’Adua whom he said could rule Nigeria from anywhere after the latter had disappeared from his beat at the Villa for an undisclosed location. By the time he announced gleefully that Yar’Adua, who had not been seen in public for long, had signed the budget, his cup was full. He was disparaged at will by many. At the end of it all, he became the only Senior Advocate to have his SAN rank suspended. Poor guy.

Of all the aforementioned officers, none seems to have come close to Adoke in what his detractors have described as the pursuit of the emasculation of the judiciary. While other ministers are trying to study their beats, he has simply taken off from where he let off. Right from his screening at the Senate, he has left no one in doubt as to his mission this time around: force a marriage of the anti-corruption agencies ICPC and EFCC to strengthen the fight against graft. Apparently, the AGF knew that corruption has long ceased to be a problem but the agencies set up to crush the monster.

Those who did not get Adoke’s message got another opportunity last Sunday. In an elaborate interview in The Trust, the minister accused EFCC Chairman Farida Waziri of being “too powerful” and exposed what many had known, but which he would never accept – that he has vowed to kill the agencies. The final solution.

Adoke has withdrawn many cases from the courts, yet the EFCC and the ICPC won’t stop filing charges against suspects and the courts have, miraculously, refused to close shop. In just 10 months in office, last year, more than 25 cases were pulled off the cause list.

The Halliburton scandal died. The Vaswani brothers were never allowed to prove their integrity in court. Kenny Martins, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s in-law who was arraigned for alleged theft of billions belonging to the Police Equipment Fund, was dramatically left off the hook. Former Bauchi Governor Adamu Muazu’s trial was halted abruptly. As a compensation for the discomfort he had to endure, he got a government appointment. All of a sudden, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chair Okwesilieze Nwodo had no case to answer. I wonder why the government has not yet apologised to the gen-

tleman for the traumatic experience he had.

Saipem. Technip. Siemens Plc. They all got away without breaking a sweat. In fact, one of those mentioned in the Siemens scandal is now a minister, rewarded for his remarkable loyalty to the PDP. The Anosike brothers were not all that lucky. A judge resisted attempts to stop their trial over the Daily Times N3b scandal. He overruled the AGF, saying public interest would have been wrongly served, should the case be withdrawn. I understand they are not giving up.

The minister’s critics, who obviously do not understand the workings of his office, have advised him to return to the more demanding business of drafting the presidential bill for a single term – the “new racket in town” - for president and governors, rather than engage in costly frivolities and catatonia.

They won’t just listen to his excuses that the withdrawn cases were defective and would be difficult to prosecute. Besides, the files needed to be studied. I am told by usually reliable sources that the spate of withdrawals may well be the minister’s answer to the repulsive congestion of the courts, the incessant judiciary workers’ strike and incompetent judges who ever so often embarrass the government in a manner that no AGF worthy of his silk will tolerate. The logic: withdraw as many cases as possible, render the courts slothful and, eventually, shut them down. His critics may well be forced by the resultant abolition of the judiciary and the concomitant unlimited freedom to hail the ingenuity of a genius. Who knows?

After the Lagos floods

T

HE flood of tears is yet to dry up. The floods that tore through Lagos and some other states, including Katsina, Anambra and Ogun, killed many, including women and children. Amid the calamity, Nigerians have been displaying their strange sense of humour. Consider this sms sent to me by a friend: “A married woman was found in another man’s room five streets away from her home.

When her shocked husband asked her why, she replied: ‘I’m sorry; the flood carried me.’”

And this: “Dear Ragosians, it is with deep aporogy and condorence we commiserate with you for the frod you are suffering, prease accept our condorence. Do remember that during erections, we encolage evlebody to vote for humblera but many were having strong heads and voted for bloom, which the caraba people and Ibomites have already rejected (tufia!), that they wir no ronger be house helpers to anybody. Now the lains have come and you need humbler, which you don’t have. Anyhow, I have begged Ebele to do sontin and I am happy to message you that 5birion naria has been released to buy more blooms for all affected bloom states. Ret fathers join mothers and chidrens at this very time to sweep away the frod and be assured that I wir tell Ebele to visit you, no how no how. May the good rod bress you all.”

•For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Fairly used prisoners

the two countries to deport prisoners. That deal fell through. Could we be seeing a revival and modification of the deal?

Opposition to the bill may not be enough to stall or defeat it. Left to Nigerian prisoners abroad, and given the notoriety of our prisons, none of them would opt to come back home to complete their jail terms. However, if the bill is passed, cashstrapped Nigeria will find out that it is much easier to make the law than keep it.

It is unlikely our prisons will enjoy a significant increase in budgetary allocation in the near future, seeing how lowly ranked they are on the government’s priority scale. Considering the bill’s doubtful usefulness, it is also worrisome that it is being railroaded through the Senate.

The proper thing to do is to defeat it; but the chances of that happening, sadly, are as bright as the dim and blackened future of the prisons themselves.

ernment is in pursuing the amendment. Nigerian prisons are not only overcrowded, they are also poorly funded, poorly equipped, and obviously largely ignored by the governing elite. If the bill is passed and a country like Britain takes advantage of the law to deport Nigerian prisoners, our prison population could swell by about 16,000. Imagine, then, if other countries were to also send Nigerian prisoners back home? There would be bedlam. It will be recalled that Britain once offered to build standard prisons in some locations in Nigeria in exchange for an agreement between

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E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO

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