The Nation July 30 2013

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

INEC meets on APC Thurs NEWS

Pages 2&6

•Court okays FRESH Party

News Ekiti PDP factions clash again P9 Sports Emenike’s form excites Keshi P15 Business NNPC yet to remit NLNG’s $8.48b P11 www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 8, NO. 2561 TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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42 Boko Haram suspects arrested in Lagos, Ogun Army alleges plot to attack Southwest 20 feared dead in Kano bombings

By Hamed Shobiye and Precious Igbonwelundu

F

ORTY-TWO suspected Boko Haram members were paraded yesterday by the Army in Lagos.

They were arrested in various parts of Lagos and Ogun states, after fleeing the military intervention in some parts of the North. The suspects were arrested between July 12 and 23.

Parading the suspects at the headquarters of the 81 Division, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Gen. Obi Umahi, said they were seized during raids done in conjunction with intelligence operatives following plans by the sect to unleash terror in parts of the Southwest.

One of the suspects, Ibrahim Abubakar Bori, said they took part in several major operations in Borno State, where several military personnel and civilians have been killed since the insurgency started in 2009.

“We were involved in several major operations in Maiduguri, where several security agents and civilians were killed.

“I and some others here were recruited

by Mallam Hassan Ibrahim.”

Ibrahim, 22, admitted recruiting some of the suspects and disclosed that he went with Ibrahim Ismaili and Alhaji Black to kill a soldier and a man described as Buka.

Continued on page 2

•The suspected Boko Haram members in Lagos…yesterday

‘

We rode in a tricycle and it was Alhaji Black that pulled the trigger...I met both Ismaili and Alhaji Black in Lagos, while I was riding Okada.

We all went to Maiduguri, where we carried out some operations

Rivers House Leader to face attempted murder charge •Lloyd to defend six counts in court

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IVERS State House of Assembly Leader Chidi Lloyd has been slammed with a sixcount charge by the police following the July 9 fracas in the House.

Lloyd is expected to be taken before a Magistrate’s Court in Port Harcourt, the state capital, today.

It was gathered yesterday that the charges filed against him include conspiracy, attempted murder, assault and malicious damage.

The police yesterday said they were handling the investigation into allegations against Lloyd professionally.

Police spokesman Frank Mba also

PHOTO: PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

said that the lawmaker was moved in an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC)from the Port Harcourt Airport to the State Police Command Headquarters.

But Rivers State Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu said he had not seen Lloyd since he was brought to Port Harcourt from Abuja where he gave himself up after being declared wanted by the police.

Lloyd turned himself in to the police on July 25, following the crisis in the Assembly on July 9.

’

•Deputy Director, Banking Supervision, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Kelvin Ibedu cutting the tape to inaugurate UBA Security Operation Centre. With him are Mr. Phillips Oduoza, GMD/CEO, UBA Plc (left); and Deputy Managing Director, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka(right), in Lagos …yesterday

Continued on page 2

•HEZBOLLAH: LEBANESE GO ON TRIAL P6 •IBADAN POLY STUDENTS PROTEST P9

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

NEWS Rivers House Leader to face attempted murder charge Continued from page 1

•Students of the Polytechnic Ibadan protesting non-availability of power and water in their hostels in Ibadan…yesterday PHOTO: NAN

42 Boko Haram suspects arrested in Lagos, Ogun Continued from page 1

20 feared dead as explosions rock Kano

He said: “We rode in a tricycle and it was Alhaji Black that pulled the trigger.

“I met both Ismaili and Alhaji Black in Lagos, while I was riding Okada. We all went to Maiduguri, where we carried out some operations.”

However, some of the suspects denied being terrorists, alleging that they had been in Lagos for many years.

Black, who was indicted by Ismaili, said he had been staying in Lagos for about five years, riding Okada (commercial motorcycle).

He said the army came to Kirikiri to arrest some suspects and he was taken along with them.

The Army said the raids were conducted at Ibafo trailer park and Ileke new trailer garage in Ogun State; Aviation Quarters at Mafoluku, Oshodi; Ketu/Mile 2 Motor Park; Orile Trailer Park; Lekki new extension and Bar Beach, which are fast becoming Boko Haram terrorist enclaves.

Gen. Umahi said the suspects, who were arrested at various intervals, gave information that led to the arrest of others.

The GOC reiterated security agencies’ determination to rid Nigeria of terrorists, adding that the suspects would

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HREE coordinated explosions shattered last night the serenity of Sabongari, Kano State — the North’s commercial engine-room — leaving some people dead and many others seriously injured.

Eyewitnesses said no fewer than 20 people were feared dead, following the burning down of a Pentecostal church located on 38/39 and 40/41 New Road.

The police said last night that six people died in the incidents, which no group claimed responsibility for. The Boko Haram sect was believed to have set off the bombs.

The first explosion, which occurred on Enugu Road by Ibo Road, was followed few minutes after by two others on New Road in Sabongari, an area inhabited predominantly by non-indigenes.

The Nation correspondent, who witnessed the first explosion around 9:10 pm, said people had gathered at the popular Enugu Road, close to Forest Villa Hotel to relax, after the day’s work. Suddenly, a Mercedes Benz 190 salon car, which had been parked on the road, exploded.

The explosion shattered the windshield of five other cars parked by the side of the street and destroyed a kiosk. Eyewitnesses said many people were lying on the ground seriously injured. The whereabouts of the be handed over to security agencies.

Gen. Umahi, however, refused to disclose if weapons were recovered during the raids.

He said: “In response to intelligence report on the influx of Boko Haram terrorist ele-

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

owner of the kiosk remained unknown.

There was pandemonium. Many were injured in the stampede.

Few minutes after the first explosion, two bombs also went off on New Road, also in Sabongari, causing confusion in the ancient city.

The military Joint Task Force (JTF) cordoned off the scenes of the explosions. Emergency workers and medical workers were drafted to the scenes.

JTF spokesperson Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, confirmed the incident, saying preliminary investigations had been launched into its cause.

The AFP reported at least four blasts.

“There is confusion all over the place. There were four huge explosions, so huge that they shook the whole area. Everywhere is enveloped in smoke and dust,” said Chinyere Madu, a fruit vendor.

Resident Kola Oyebanji said he believed “beer parlours” were the target.”My house is not far from there,” he told AFP. “All my windows are shattered.”

Boko Haram, the extremist group which has said it is fighting to create an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, was blamed for coordinated suicide blasts at a bus park in Sabon Gari in March that killed at least 22 people.

ments into Lagos and Ogun states, 81 Division headquarters organised and conducted raids with intelligence operatives in these states between July 12 and 23.

“The Boko Haram trickling influx is adduced to their plan to unleash terror in some

parts of the Southwest.

“During interrogation, they confessed to have participated in various major terrorist attacks in the North, especially Maiduguri, where majority of the suspects fled from.

“We are bent on ensuring Continued on page 59

He was declared wanted by the police for his alleged role in the fracas.

Mba told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Abuja that detectives handling the case were professional.

He said it was untrue that the police tortured the detained lawmaker.

“I want to say that our handling of the investigation involving Chidi Lloyd has been as professional as possible.

“Detectives investigating that case have been very meticulous, very professional. We have done everything humanly possible to ensure that the honourable’s rights are respected.

“It is not true that he is being manhandled, it is not true that he was tear-gassed and it is also not true that he was moved from the airport to the state command headquarters in a black Maria.

“As a matter of fact, we used an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) to move him from the airport to the command headquarters. And the reasons are obvious, because of the peculiar nature of Rivers State politics.“ He said the police had enough men on ground to escort the motorcade carrying the House Leader from the airport to state police command headquarters.

“I can also assure that it is not true that Chidi Lloyd is having any health issue. He is doing very well,“ he said.

Mbu washed his hands of the case , saying Abuja is handling it.

The police chief, speaking to reporters yesterday, said he had not seen the embattled lawmaker for many months.

He exonerated the Police from all allegation of torture on the legislator, insisting that the police do not torture suspects.

“The offence Chidi Lloyd committed is not an imagination, it is real and all of us may have seen it. The Police have no cause to torture him.

“I just want to clear my name, I’m not involved, I have not seen him. I saw him last physically when he came to report a case that his vehicle was hit by company’s car which we investigated and it was over.

“I want to throw more light, I have read in the newspapers

that I sent about 500 riot policemen to the airport to arrest and bring Lloyd, who is in the police custody on the offence of attempted murder. “As you all know, no day passes without the name of the commissioner of police Rivers state being mentioned in your dailies. I’m so happy because all of you have made me become so popular in Nigeria and beyond.

“The case involving Rivers state House of Assembly is being investigated and handled by the deputy inspector-general of Police, force CID., Abuja.

“The said Chidi Lloyd reported in Abuja, Abuja brought him here and he is under their custody. I have not even seen him because there is a commissioner of Police in Abuja who came in with him to prosecute him.

“That is the truth about the case involving the House leader. The case is out of our hand, and I can’t even remember when I saw him except in a video clip.”

It will be recalled that the CP at a news briefing after the July 9 Assembly fracas said Llyod brought a letter requesting him to give police protection for the House sitting .

Lloyd who is representing Emuoha constituency in the House of Assembly is being detained and investigated over his roles in the July 9, freefor-all in the House.

On arrival in Port Harcourt last Friday, his lawyer, Beluolisa Nwaofor (SAN) and Emenike Ebete, raised dust over alleged torture of their client. They told Justice Esor Teetito of a State High Court that he was flown into Port Harcourt in blindfold.

They expressed fears over his safety in custody.

•Mbu

INEC meets on APC registration Thursday

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will on Thursday make its position known on whether to register the All Progressives Congress (APC) or not.

The electoral commission said it would follow compliance with the laws instead of sentiments.

But it was learnt that INEC field officials did not see APC as a religious party, contrary to insinuations.

According to sources, INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega and all the National Commissioners will meet on Thursday.

Some of the National Commissioners who travelled abroad were being recalled yesterday, according to sources.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We will lay the controversy over the registration of All Progressives Congress to rest on Thursday. But INEC management will be guided by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

“We will also stick to our target of making the political space as free and fair as possible to all stakeholders without partiality.

“We are hopeful that by Thursday, most of the National Commissioners would have been around.”

On the insinuation that the APC is a religious party, the source said: “Our officials did not find such a colouration in their assessment to brand APC a religious party.

“If we did, we would have made our position known that we cannot register the party. We screened the list of all its national officers and nothing suggested a tilt towards any religion.”

The source stressed that INEC’s decision would be informed by Section 222 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 78 of the Electoral Act. “We have been doing final assessment of the application of the APC in line with these provisions in the Constitution and the Electoral Act,” the source

said.

Section 222 of the Constitution says: “No Association by whatever name called shall function as a political party unless: the names and addresses of its national officers are registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission; b. the membership of the association is opened to every citizen of Nigeria irrespective of his place of origin, circumstance of birth, sex, religion or ethnic grouping c. a copy of its Constitution is registered in the principal office of INEC in such form as may be prescribed by INEC any alteration in its registered Constitution is also registered in the principal office of INEC within 30 days of the making of such alteration the name of the association, its symbol or logo does not contain any ethnic or religious connotation or give the appearance that the activities of the association are confined to a part only of the geographical area of Nigeria and

the headquarters of the association is situated in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Section 78 of the Electoral Act reads: “A political association that complies with the provision of the constitution and this Act for the purposes of registration shall be registered as a political party. Provided that such application for registration as a political party shall be duly submitted to the Commission not later than six months before a general election.

“The Commission shall, on receipt of the documents in fulfillment of the conditions stipulated by the Constitution, immediately issue the applicant with a letter of acknowledgement stating that all the necessary document has been submitted to the Commission.

“If the association has not

fulfilled all the conditions under the section, the Commission shall within 30 days from the receipt of its application notify the association in writing stating the reasons for nonregistration.

“A political association that meets the conditions stipulated in the constitution and this Act shall be registered by the Commission as a political party within 30 days from the date of receipt of the application, and if after the 30 days such association is not registered by the Commission unless the Commission informs the association to the contrary, it shall be deemed to have been registered.

“An association which, through the submission of false or misleading information pursuant to the provisions of this

CORRECTION In a story on page 6 of yesterday’s edition, Namibian President Sam Nujoma was mistakenly referred to as Zambia President. Former Ghanaian President John Kufour is alive.

section, procures a certificate of registration shall have such certificate cancelled.

“An application for registration as a political party shall not be processed unless there is evidence of payment of administrative fee as may be fixed from time to time by the Commission.

“The Commission shall have power to deregister political parties on the following grounds; breach of any of the requirement for registration and for failure to win a seat in the National or State Assembly election.”

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

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

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Nigerians, o

• Minister of National Planning Dr Shamsuddeen Usman (left), receiving an Infrastructure Action Plan for Nigeria from the Vice President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Prof. Mthuli Ncube, at a high level policy dialogue on AfDB Infrastructure and Structural Transformation Plan for Nigeria in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

• From left: Manager, Environmental Health Safety Security and Quality/ State and Community Affairs, Oando Plc Mr. Mudasiru Fola; Head, Safety Skills Development, Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC)Mr. Yinka Adebiyi; Mr. Akwukwuma Chijioke and Director- General, Lagos State Safety Commission Mrs. Odebunmi Dominga when the LSSC team visited Oando Plc’s head office, Victoria PHOTO: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL Island, Lagos.

•From left: Etisalat customer, Aniekan Affia; Director, Network Operations, Etisalat Nigeria, Abdul Adegbuyi; another Etisalat customer, Solomon Adetayo and Head, Mass Market Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Idowu Adesokan, at the Etisalat Customer Forum, held at The Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt... at the weekend.

• Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello (right), with Ovation publisher Mr Dele Momodu during the inauguration of the Hotel Grading and Classification Review Committee at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday.

Italian media yesterday detailed how migrants, including Nigerians attempting to cross into Italy perished off the Libyan coast

• Refugees from different parts of Africa, including Nigeria, in Lampedusa, Italy.

PHOTO: AFP

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HIRTY-one migrants, including nine women, drowned off the coast of Libya during an attempted crossing to Italy according to survivors who managed to complete the journey, Italian media reported.

A dinghy carrying 53 migrants capsized on Friday evening, and witnesses said 31 of those who had been thrown off it drowned in the accident. Some of them are believed to be Nigerians.

The twenty-two survivors, who come from Nigeria, Gambia, Benin and Senegal, said the dinghy had capsized after three days at sea.

They were rescued by a passing merchant ship and taken to Lampedusa Island, the reports said.

Italian Interior Minister Angelo Alfano called for human traffickers who shuttle migrants across the sea to Italy to be stopped on Sunday, after 31 boat people drowned during an attempted crossing.

“The traffic of human beings must end. We need to stop the merchants of death. The deaths off the Libyan coast and the terrible stories told by the survivors show the need for a real collaboration between countries to stop this string of tragic events,” Alfano said.

He called for “the network of collaboration to be strengthened with the countries where the migratory flows begin” and slammed “the wicked commerce of men who place their trust in the death merchants, who are but cynical profiteers of a state of emergency.”

As the number of boat immigrants attempting the crossing soars in the good weather, rescuers saved another 450 people trying to reach Italy on Friday and Saturday, increasing tensions at the already crowded refugee centre on the island.

Another 92 migrants — including 16 women — were rescued Sunday morning in the Strait of Sicily after their boat got into difficulty.

Since 1999, more than 200,000 people have arrived on Lampedusa — which is closer to North Africa than Italy — making it, along with the Greece-Turkey border, one of the biggest gateways for undocumented migrants and refugees into the European Union.

In nearby Malta, 112 migrants were saved from their drifting dinghy overnight Saturday in a 13hour operation during which eight of those rescued were airlifted to hospital by helicopter for urgent medical attention.

That group — which included 20 women and four children — was suffering from exhaustion, dehydration and sun stroke, a Maltese army spokesman said.

The Pope arrived on a Sicilian island to pray for boat migrants who have died trying to land there - at the same time as nearly 200 immigrants from Africa were being de-

tained.

Pope Francis was to throw a wreath of flowers into the sea off Lampedusa in memory of those who have drowned over the years.

The Vatican said he had been “profoundly touched” by the flood of immigration to the tiny island.

Just as his plane landed on the island in his first trip outside Rome, a large group of immigrants was being escorted into the port on a coast guard boat.

All were described as in “good” condition before they were taken away by bus to be processed.

The latest arrivals bring the number of migrants to land on Malta in July to 880 — an all-time record for a month — while 1,200 people in total have landed on the island so far this year.

Tensions between the migrants, who are held in overcrowded detention facilities while their status is processed, and residents are frequent.

Pope Francis was also due to meet groups of immigrants who have successfully made the crossing.

His grandparents emigrated to Argentina from Italy, and as archbishop of Buenos Aires he denounced the exploitation of migrants as “slavery” and said those who did nothing to help them were complicit by their silence.

The anti-immigration Northern League party is again fanning the flames of racism in Italy, just days after a plea from Pope Francis for greater tolerance in the predominantly Catholic country.

The pope last Monday flew on his first trip outside Rome to the tiny of island of Lampedusa to “cry for the dead” migrants and refugees who perish trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

He urged people to heed “the cries of others” on a trip that humanitarian organisations and Italian parliament speaker Laura Boldrini, a former United Nations refugee worker, hailed as “historic”.

But some politicians, who are little inclined to defend secularism in Italy on issues such as crucifixes in churches, abortion or gay marriage, called for greater “au-

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

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NEWS

others drown on way to Italy ‘ The traffic of human beings must end. We need to stop the merchants of death. The deaths off the Libyan coast and the terrible stories told by the survivors show the need for a real collaboration between countries to stop this string of tragic events

•Pope francis

tonomy” from the Church.

Fabrizio Cicchitto, a deputy from Silvio Berlusconi’s People of Freedom party, said there was a difference between “religious preaching” and “a state handling a difficult, complex and insidious phenomenon”.

Lawmakers from the Northern League have gone further, calling on the pontiff to provide “money and land to house immigrants” who land in Europe.

The debate has taken a sinister twist after the deputy speaker of the Italian Senate, Roberto Calderoli, a leading member of the Northern League, compared Italy’s first black minister to an orangutan.

The remarks against Integration Minister Cecile Kyenge have been condemned by most politicians, with Prime Minister Enrico Letta speaking of a “shameful chapter” for the country and President Giorgio Napolitano saying they were an example of “barbarism”.

Calderoli said the jibe was intended as a “joke” and added insult to injury saying he “liked animals a lot”.

The Northern League on Monday even decided to capitalise on the publicity it is receiving and announced it would hold a demonstration against illegal immigration in Turin on September 7.

Kyenge, a doctor and an Italian citizen of Congolese origin, says she

has received daily threats since being nominated.

Her reaction has been low-key but she has said the slur shows “a lack of knowledge of others and of the phenomenon of migration, as well as an absence of culture of immigration”.

The centre-left Democratic Party has been equally critical and leading senator Luigi Zanda said Kyenge’s proposal on a law to allow children of immigrants to acquire Italian citizenship should now be adopted as quickly as possible.

Historically a land of emigration, Italy’s foreign-born population has increased exponentially over the last two decades ever since the wave of immigration from Albania in 1992.

Since the revolutions in Tunisia and Libya there has also been an increased influx of migrant workers from sub-Saharan Africa transiting through these countries.

In 10 years, between 2002 and 2012, the share of immigrants in the population has tripled to reach 7.9 percent, according to figures from the labour ministry.

At a meeting in Rome on Monday, Letta and his Maltese counterpart Joseph Muscat called for greater assistance from the European Union to manage undocumented migration.

Muscat, who last week threat-

ened to send migrants back to Libya, said the situation was “unsustainable” since there were no EU rules on the “pushback and push forward of migrants” to other parts of the EU. A former member of the Christian Democratic party, Letta said it was “fundamental to apply the pope’s appeal launched in Lampedusa: ‘Never again’.”

The United Nations says thousands of people have drowned in recent years trying to reach Italian shores and 40 have died so far this year.

Italy has come under fire from groups as diverse as the Vatican and the European Commission for its strict new anti-immigration laws, which were passed in early July.

Under the legislation, illegal immigrants are liable to pay a fine of 10,000 euros (£8,700; $14,200) and can now be detained by the authorities for up to six months.

In addition, people who knowingly house undocumented migrants can now face up to three years in prison.

The new law also permits the formation of unarmed citizen patrol groups to help police keep order.

The European Commission is investigating the new laws to see if they comply with existing EU legislation on immigration.

"Italy is absolutely not a racist

country. We just want to be sure that the immigrants who arrive on our land want to be here to work, not to make crimes," says Paolo Grimaldi, an MP for the right-wing Northern League.

Mr Grimaldi, whose party leader, Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, ushered the new law through parliament, firmly believes Italy is facing an emergency.

With nearly 37,000 immigrants arriving on their shores last year, mostly via boats from Libya and Tunisia, many Italians agree.

"There are too many people. You see in the city, on the streets in Milan, two million immigrants, I think," says one Milanese man, who did not want to give his name.

"I want to help people who are poorer than me, but I want to know where they come from and what they are going to do," says Martina, a 23-year-old Northern League supporter. "It is better if they come here legally."

According to Saskia Sassen, an expert on European immigration at Columbia University in New York, Italy's new laws could be the beginning of "a catastrophic phase" for not only migrants but also Italian citizens.

"This law really alters the landscape by criminalising the violation," she says.

"In the past you were in violation of the law. That doesn't mean you

‘

were a criminal. This law means if you break the law, now you are considered a criminal. That's a big deal."

Mr Grimaldi readily admits that almost no illegal immigrants would be able to pay a 10,000-euro fine. In fact, he says, that is the point.

European Union laws oblige all 25 countries party to the Schengen Agreement, which allows passportfree travel across the area, to allow illegal immigrants to make two "mistakes", and the new Italian law makes such "mistakes" more likely.

"We want to expel these illegal immigrants to their country of provenance," Mr Grimaldi says.

"If they have already been arrested for something before, if they don't pay the fine, we will have recidivism."

The immigrant will have made two "mistakes", and "so then we can make the expulsion".

Italy issues very few visas to people who are already living in the country, and demand for work permits from potential immigrants greatly outstrips supply.

It quickly becomes a Catch-22 situation - illegal immigrants who have no visa are unable to get a job; those without a job are unable to get a visa.

As a result, both illegal and legal migrants have become an increasingly obvious presence on the streets of Italian cities.

Nigeria requires $2.9trn to develop infrastructure in 30 years, says Shamsuddeen

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INISTER of National Planning Commission Dr Shamsuddeen Usman has said Nigeria will require 2.9 trillion dollars in the next 30 years to bridge its huge infrastructure gap.

Usman spoke yesterday in Abuja at a high profile policy dialogue on “ Infrastructure and Structural Transformation in Nigeria’’ organised by the African Development Bank (AFDB).

He said the country was well aware of its inadequacies in terms of infrastructure “which is why it has started to address some of them, especially in the areas of

power, transport and ICT sector’’.

Usman explained that a National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) was formulated to address the inadequacies and integrate existing infrastructure plans and projects of the Federal Government into one.

“The AFDB has been working closely with us in our economic transformation, especially in the development of the NIIMP. “This master plan is a long term 30-year plan, covering from 2014 to 2043. The 30-year master plan is phased into three 10-year strategic plans, and six 5-year operational plans.

“The NIIMP will require an estimated 2.9 trillion U.S. dollars to close Nigeria’s huge infrastructure gap in the next 30-years, 52 per cent of which will come from the treasury, while the private sector is expected to cover the balance of 48 per cent.

“The master plan will also put in place enablers that will attract private sector investment to the infrastructure sector,’’ he said.

Usman said the plan would also create job opportunities, especially for engineers “who will be involved in the design and construction of new roads, power, housing, rails and airports projects’’.

Dr Ousmane Dore, the Resident Representative of AFDB, Nigeria Field Office, said although Nigeria’s economy had improved in recent years, a transformation plan to enhance its infrastructure sector, still remained.

Dore said the bank had come up with an infrastructure action plan for Nigeria that would promote infrastructure development.

“In recognition of the work which needs to be done, it is my hope that this dialogue will provide the platform for policy makers and the private sector to reflect on these issues for practical solutions,’’ he said.

The Vice President and Chief Economist of AFDB, Prof. Mthuli Ncube, said the bank was concerned about transforming Africa by aiding it to make judicious use of its bountiful natural resources.

“Africa is transforming but we want it to transform faster. In 2000, the GDP of Africa was about 600 billion dollars and today it stands at over two trillion dollars. However, it still has challenges of youth employment and inequalities. We recognise Nigeria’s effort to address the issues, in spite of its large population. We believe that in 30 years to 40 years, it will succeed in doing so,’’ he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

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NEWS Minister denies backing gay marriage, diplomats

Hezbollah: Fed Govt opens trial in case against three Lebanese

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HE Federal Government yesterday began the trial in the case against three Lebanese being held over their alleged involvement in terrorism.

The government called three witnesses, who were officials of the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

The Lebanese - Mustapha Fawaz (49), Abdallah Thahini (48) and Talal Ahmad Roda (51) - are charged with their companies - Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park Resort.

Before the trial began yesterday, the accused were rearraigned on a 16-count amended charge, to which they pleaded not guilty.

Among the charges against them were that they con-

•Calls three witnesses From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

spired and engaged in unlawful importation of prohibited firearms between 1988 and 2008 in Kano.

The prosecution witnesses, who were hooded for security reasons, told the court how they investigated the case and recovered arms and ammunition in the premises of the accused.

The first witness identified as DSS1 told the court that he coordinated the investigation and that the accused made

T •Justice Minister Mohammed Adoke

time to enable the prosecution file and serve the defence, copies of written statements of its remaining five witnesses.

•Party members withdraw suit to stop convention From Yusuf Ali and Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

•Court seizes passport

By Joseph Jibueze

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From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Umaru Dikko chairs PDP committee

Chinese held for ‘selling fake’ Mama Gold rice HE police have arrested a Chinese, Hong Dong Shen (36), for allegedly selling a fake brand of Mama Gold parboiled rice brand.

He is to stand trial before Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court Lagos, on four counts of alleged forgery and fraudulent sale of the product.

Shen pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, Mr Daniel Apochi told the court that the accused committed the alleged offence between February 2011 and March this year.

The defendant allegedly forged the trade mark of Ollam Nig. Ltd, producers of Mama Gold Rice, the police said.

He was said to have reproduced about 140 bags of the rice for sale to unsuspecting members of the public.

The trade mark is valued at N200 million, the prosecution said.

The alleged offence contravenes Sections 390 and 516 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, as well as section 3 and 32 of the Merchandise Act 2004.

Following a bail application by the defendant’s counsel, Mrs Tokunbo Fayemi, the trial judge granted him N2 million bail with two sureties in like sum.

Justice Yunusa ordered Shen to deposit his International Passport with the court’s registry.

He adjourned the case to September 19 for trial.

voluntary statements where they admitted being members of the international terrorist group, Hezbollah.

The second witness identified as DSS2 said he led the team that conducted searches at the Wonderland Park and Amigo Supermarket, where they recovered arms and ammunitions.

He, however, stunned the court when, on being asked to read the inventory of the about 45 items recovered in the two premises, most of the

items, except three, were not related to arms and ammunitions.

They were common items like computer accessories, sim cards, travelling documents, camera, Identity Card, among others.

The third witness identified as DSS3 told the court how one of the accused, Thahini was arrested at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano with $61,170 while allegedly trying to escape from the country.

The trial resumes at 12noon today. The court chose the

•Dikko

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HE leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted a seven-man national disciplinary committee to look into issues as they affect groups and individuals.

The committee is chaired by the controversial Second Republic Transport Minister, Alhaji Umaru Dikko. Other members are: King Turner, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun,

Hajia Ayishat Kadiri, Mr. Hussaini Diraki and Senator Emmanuel Agboti, who is to act as secretary.

A statement by the party’s Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Tony Okeke, said the committee was set up pursuant to the provisions of Articles 57 (1), (2), (3) of the Party’s constitution.

Okeke said the committee would be inaugurated by National Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur at a date to be announced later.

Also yesterday, the coast appeared clear for the party’s special national convention following the withdrawal of a suit seeking to stop the gathering by three members.

The aggrieved members are Abba K. Yale; Alhaji Yahaya Aruwa Sule and Bashir Madugu, a lawyer.

The plaintiffs were persuaded by the National Reconciliation Committee, headed by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, to withdraw the matter The Reconciliation Committee described its intervention as recording “a quick win”.

The plaintiffs yesterday filed an application to discontinue the suit seeking to stop the forthcoming national convention.

The case was brought before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja presided over by Justice Suleiman Belgore.

According to a statement by the National Reconciliation Committee, the lawyer to the aggrieved members, Mr. F. N. Nwosu filed papers yesterday withdrawing the matter for the Dickson’s committee to amicably address their grievance.

“Since his clients had applied for the discontinuance of the matter, Nwosu told the court

that the most logical thing to do was to strike out the suit to save the PDP from unnecessary delay in the conduct of its primary.

“But Justice Belgore adjourned the hearing of the application to September.”

“In a statement jointly signed by the plaintiffs, they pledged to support and cooperate with the committee and all other agencies of the PDP in order to have a hitch-free national convention. “ They also praised Governor Dickson for brokering peace between the party and urged all aggrieved members that ditched the party to take advantage of the window provided by the Dickson’s committee with the view to addressing their grievances.

A source said: “This is a major relief because preparations for the convention would have amounted to nullity.

How to decongest prisons, by ex-DPP

By Joseph Jibueze

T •Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (left) Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ona-Ara Local Government, Mr. Babatunde Ismaila (left) after the swearing of the chairman at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s office, Ibadan... yesterday.

With them is Director of Cabinet, Mr. Dotun Omokemi

Court overrules INEC on FRESH Party’s deregistration

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FEDERAL High Court in Abuja yesterday voided the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the FRESH Democratic Party (FDP).

Justice Gabriel Kolawole held that INEC acted unconstitutionally as it exercised its powers to deregister the party without giving it fair hearing as provided by the Constitution.

The judge also voided the provision of Section 78(7)(ii) of the Electoral Act 2011 for being inconsistent with the provision of the Constitu-

HE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru has denied reports that he is in support of gay marriage.

He also denied accrediting gay foreign diplomats.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called for the minister’s removal following his alleged endorsement for gay marriage.

In a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Mr. Amedu Ode, the minister insisted that Nigeria’s stand on the issue was very clear.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to reports published in some national dailies of Saturday, 27th July, 2013. In these publications, it is alleged that Amb. Ashiru has endorsed gay marriages, and by extension, gay rights in Nigeria by accepting to accredit foreign diplomats who are gay, posted on tour of duty to Nigeria.

“For the avoidance of doubt, at no time did the Honourable Minister, either in his public engagements or private encounters, endorse or suggest the endorsement of gay marriages and/or rights in the country. The Nigerian position on this issue is very clear, and Amb. Ashiru has, at every opportunity or fora, reiterated that foreign countries should not impose their values on Nigeria.

“At his recent engagement with the diplomatic community on 19th July, 2013, in the premises of Tafawa Balewa House, the Honourable Minister made the point that whilst Nigeria is not against any country legalizing gay marriages, no country should force that on Nigeria, for the reason that Nigeria and majority of Nigerians are against gay marriages and gay rights, as they are not part of our customs, religions, or laws.”

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

tion.

That portion of the Electoral Act allows INEC to deregister any party that did not win either National Assembly or State Assembly seat.

The judgment was on a suit

by FDP challenging its last year deregistration by INEC. The party was among 28 others proscribed by the electoral body.

Justice Kolawole held that the powers to deregister parties, granted to INEC in Section 78(7)(ii) of the Electoral Act assumes quasi-judicial nature when it comes to

deregistering parties, and “must not be exercised without giving the party to be deregistered a fair hearing.

“The first plaintiff (FDP) was entitled to be heard by the first defendant (INEC) before taking the decision to deregister it,” the judge held.

Justice Kolawole criticised INEC’s defence, holding that it failed to provide any shred of evidence to prove that it accorded the party fair hearing before proceeding to deregister it.

The judge, though upheld the National Assembly’s power to make laws as it relates to its enactment of the

Electoral Act 2011, held that paragraph 2 subsection 7 of section 78 of the Electoral Act was inconsistent with the Constitution.

Justice Kolawole described the provision, as enacted by the National Assembly, as “a legislative mischief that must be addressed.”

He held that the country’s electoral process had not matured to the level where it could garanty free and fair election.

The judge noted that the concern of all should be how to create acredible electoral process.

He granted nine of the plaintiffs’ 10 prayers, which include that INEC breached Sections 14, 15(2) and (3) and 17 of the Constitution in excercising its powers to deregister parties.

Justice Kolawole also held that INEC, as established under Section 153 of the Constitution, could not deregister parties without recourse to sections 221-229 of the Constitution.

The judge refused to grant the plaintiffs’ prayer for N10millon cost. He asked them to see their effort as a contribution to the growth of the nation’s democratic process.

HE problem of prison congestion will remain until the criminal justice system is reformed to achieve efficiency, a former Akwa Ibom State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Chief Harrison Ataide, said yesterday.

He said to decongest the prisons of awaiting trial persons, some of who stay for years behind bars without being charged to court, the police and directorates of public prosecution must work together more quickly and seamlessly.

That, he said, will be possible with a comprehensive overhaul of the remand process, investigation and arrest, and issuance of legal advice by the DPP. Ataide spoke in Lagos at the Government Legal Advisers and Law Officers Course, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS).

The former DPP, who delivered a paper on the topic: Writing Legal Opinion and Advice, said: “What is affecting us in this country is that we leave what should be done in time undone.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

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NEWS Bishop: Tackle Boko Haram insurgency

Jonathan yet to decide on 2015, says Abati T

HE Presidency said yesterday President Goodluck Jonathan has not decided on whether or not to contest the 2015 presidential election.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, spoke on a Raypower FM programme, Fact File.

Abati was reacting to the allegation that the President’s 2015 ambition was heating up the polity.

The presidential aide said Dr Jonathan was focusing on how to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians, adding that some people were distracting him.

He said the Jonathan administration was doing well on the mandate Nigerians gave the President.

UNIOSUN workers threaten to join ASUU strike

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

According to him, nobody has disputed the mid-term report the administration presented to Nigerians.

Abati said: “To the best of my knowledge, the President has never at any time discussed 2015. He has never at any time said this is his position on 2015. His position has been consistent and straightforward. The President has been saying: ‘Look, let’s focus on governance’.

“If Nigerians have given you an assignment, it’s your duty to deliver and move the country forward. That is what we want to focus on; that’s the statement about the mid-term report that was publicly presented.

“Two years down the line,

the President presented to Nigerians the scorecard of what he had been able to do.

He said: ‘I took over and now two years down the line, I have moved the country forward. This is the evidence.’ Nobody has been able to dispute the evidence.

So, we must be able to make a distinction between politicking, facts and reality.

“The President stands on the side of truthfulness, of fact, of reality. So, he wants to be engaged at the level of his performance. I will continue to tell Nigerians that this Presidency will remain focused.

“He is doing the job that Nigerians have given him and he is making progress.

He has provided evidence that he is making progress.

People who concentrate on politics want to distract Mr. President.”

The presidential aide also said Dr Jonathan should be praised for intervening in the political crisis in Rivers State.

He said: “The first thing Nigerians must know is that President Jonathan is not just the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He is also the premier political leader of the country. What that means, of course, is that he has the responsibility to ensure the security and well-being of all Nigerians. In that case, he, as the No. One person in the country, will not and will never at any time stand by while there are issues within the polity that could overheat the polity.

“It was within that context that he made the point when he met with the Nigerian Bar

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

•Dr Jonathan

Association (NBA) leadership that he has the primary responsibility to end the political excesses that seem to be overheating the polity.

“I think the President should be commended for being sensitive and for being fully aware of his primary responsibility, not just as Head of State but also as head of government and as head of the political process and as a citizen and a patriot.”

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

NOA advises Nigerians on national symbols

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CADEMIC workers at the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) are threatening to join the nationwide strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The ASUU Chairman at UNIOSUN, Dr. Oluseye Abiona, told reporters in Osogbo, the state capital, that the union members agreed at their last congress to support the ongoing indefinite strike of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union.

Dr Abiona regretted the failure of the state and the Federal Government to honour the 2009 agreement the government entered into with ASUU. He said: “Instead of toeing the path of honour, what Nigerians are witnessing is political brigandage.”

The union leader said none of his members at UNIOSUN had enjoyed 56 working days’ statutory leave, which they are entitled to, since the inception of the university.

He said: “The Osun State University has no operational condition of service. Appointments, promotions, emolument of our members are arbitrarily determined with impunity. Our colleagues at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, an institution jointly owned and co-financed by the Osun and Oyo State Governments, are enjoying hazard allowance with the exclusion of the ASUU

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

•Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi addressing a cross section of fire fighters and paramedical corps during the opening ceremony of a four-week training, in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday.

We ‘ll continue to pursue Kudirat’s case, says son

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BDULMUMEEN, son of the late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, has said the Abiola family will not give up until it gets justice in the murder of their mother.

Abdulmumeen said the family would follow up on the Court of Appeal’s acquittal of Hamza al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

By Musa Odoshimokhe

al-Mustapha was discharged and acquitted for the murder of the late Kudirat.

But her son said the family would fight the case to a logical conclusion.

Speaking yesterday at the Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Ikeja, at the media presentation of a book written by journalist/activist Mr Richard Akinnola, titled : A Travesty of Justice: The Acquittal of

Major Hamza al-Mustapha Over the Murder of Kudirat Abiola, Abdulmumeen said the family would get to the root of the matter.

He said: “That the case took 14 years for them to reach this conclusion was not only worrisome but buttress the axiom that justice delayed is justice denied. We were not surprised. But we will not give up on this matter.”

The young Abiola noted

Fashola urges Fed Govt to tighten security at borders

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday urged the Federal Government to tighten security at the nation’s borders to ensure the growth of the tourism and hospitality industry.

The governor spoke at the inauguration of Hotel Grading, Classification Review and Appeal Committees at the Conference Room of Ikeja House.

He noted that it was not the responsibility of the Federal Government or its agency to license operators in the hospitality industry.

Fashola said the central government should only ensure improved administration in the procurement of visas for more tourists to enter the country.

THE Bishop of Ido-Ani Anglican Diocese in Ondo State, Rev. Ezekiel Dahunsi, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to tackle the spate of insecurity in the country.

The cleric decried the killing of innocent persons through violence, particularly by the Boko Haram sect.

Suspected Boko Haram members, last Saturday, killed over 20 civilians at Dawashe village in Bornu State.

Rev. Dahunsi also expressed concern over the high rate of unemployment in the country, wondering how thousands of unemployed graduates should be made to roam the streets without hope of getting jobs.

The cleric, who addressed reporters after the third trinity ordination of the diocese, urged the Federal Government to proffer solutions to these challenges in the interest of peace.

•Governor inaugurates panels on hotel upgrade

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

The governor advised the committees to carry out their duties with diligence.

He attributed the rapid development of the hospitality industry in Lagos to government policies, which is aimed at expanding economic frontiers across the state.

Fashola said: “We have seen very rapid development of hotels and hospitality facilities in Lagos in the last six years.

But they haven’t happened accidentally. They have happened due to the state government’s policies, which aimed at expanding the economic frontiers of the state.

“They have come as a result of the state government’s investment in security, promoting night life and culture; the erection of street lights and cleaning of the city as well as the government’s policies which prohibit organising parties on the streets and major roads.”

The governor said it was unacceptable for another tier of government to regulate an industry that it does not contribute to.

He said: “Tourism and hospitality in many parts of Africa are sources of creating jobs and is revenue. Unfortunately, during this argument between both tiers of government, the growth

the state government was expecting from the massive investment, was not achieved.

“Although tourist traffic in the state has increased, the state, last year, was ranked by an international agency as the second most visited city on the continent, with 2.2 million visitors. Despite our population, Dubai was doing better than the state.”

A member of one of the committees and Ovation Magazine publisher, Mr. Dele Momodu, assured the governor that they would strive to achieve their objectives.

He said they agreed to serve because of the sustained development that has been witnessed in the state under the Fashola administration.

that the country was still groping in the dark, despite the democracy it has in place.

Abdulmumeen said things were still being done in the military fashion.

He said: “This country belongs to all of us. The matter on the ground is not only about Kudirat; it is about justice. We will continue to fight and pursue this case to a conclusion.

“During the military, we could not speak. Now that we have democracy, we are speaking but nobody is listening.”

Akinnola said the Appeal Court’s pronouncement did not surprise him but showed that the Judiciary was being compromised.

He said: “The mockery of the judicial system is even more pronounced as the late Kudirat was clearly murdered in cold blood. Yet, with al-Mustapha’s acquittal, it is as if that fact is a farce.”

The activist noted that it was cynical that the Court of Appeal discharged and acquitted the former CSO because the prosecution could not prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, as required by law.

Akinola added that there was abundant evidences during the trial.

THE Gombe State office of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has begun a tour of public and private organisations to monitor the patriotic use of the national flag.

NOA Director in the state, Mr. Ado Solomon, who started the exercise last Thursday, said it would be continuous.

He restricted his first inspection tour to public and private organisations as well as schools in Gombe township and environs.

The NOA director urged the residents to respect the national flag and other symbols.

He said the agency had observed that most Nigerians were not patriotic, because the national flag was either absent in most organisations or was left flying in tatters and unkempt in others.

Naval chief speaks on Gulf of Guinea From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

THE Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Joseph Ezeoba, has called for closer working ties among Gulf of Guinea states to eradicate criminality in the region.

The Naval Chief spoke at the maiden GoG Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Conference (RMAC) in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

He said the region was a strategic maritime environment with enormous potential and has persistently faced threats which were directed at the economy of its littoral and landlocked states.

The threats, he said, have become worrisome, not only to the region but also to the international community.

Ezeoba listed some of the threats as piracy, drug and human trafficking, oil theft and proliferation of oil theft.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

NEWS Lagos donates ambulance, equipment to hospital

Supporters urged to pray for Akeredolu’s victory at Supreme Court

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AGOS State Government has donated a mobile intensive care unit ambulance and other intensive care unit equipment, such as defibrillator, ECG machine and ventilator to the Creek Military Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos.

This is to enhance the intensive care unit of the hospital and improve service delivery to Lagosians.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who made the donation on behalf of the government, said it is a demonstration of the government’s resolve to support institutions that share common objectives and goals with the government in addressing the healthcare delivery system of the indigenes.

Said he: “A lot of the equipment we are donating to the hospital, including the multi-parameter cardiac monitor, ventilator, automated external defibrillator, pulse oximeter, portable echocardiogram machine and ECG machine are geared towards the development of the intensive care unit of the hospital based on the request of the authorities of the hospital.”

UPPORTERS of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State have been urged to remain steadfast in the struggle to ensure a positive change in governance.

They were also enjoined to unite and pray for justice at the Supreme Court following the petition filed by the party and its governorship candidate in last year’s governorship election, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu.

The Appeal Court sitting in Akure upheld the verdict of the lower tribunal in favour of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko as winner of the October 20, 2012 governorship poll.

Speaking with leaders and supporters of ACN in the 15 wards of Akoko South West Local Government at Akungba-Akoko, a chieftain of the party, Otunba Gboyega Adefarati, said

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ACN has the administrative virtues to bring about positive change to the state.

He lamented the harrowing experience of indigenes, stressing that with determination, perseverance and prayer, Ondo State would soon join other Southwest states to enjoy good governance.

The meeting, which coincided with the 2013 Akungba Day, was attended by elders and leaders of the party, local government executives, ward chairmen and women and youth leaders.

The Chairman of the Leader’s Forum in Akoko Southwest Local Government, Mr. Foluso Babadele, hailed the party leaders for their steadfastness, commitment and support for Akeredolu.

He lauded its National

Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for their support, particularly during the last governorship poll.

Babadele said the party’s structure, which helped it to win election in the local government in the October 20, 2012 poll was still intact.

The host, who is the son of former Governor Adebayo Adefarati and ACN House of Representatives candidate for Akoko South West/East in the 2011 National Assembly election, appreciated the party leaders in the area, who encouraged him to launch his campaign for the 2015 House of Representatives election.

He noted that the Court of Appeal judgment had raised fundamental issues and he hoped that the Supreme Court would do jus-

PDP upholds Southwest committee’s decision on Fayose, others

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•Akeredolu

tice. He added that after darkness, light would emerge.

According to him, election is a process and not an event and a compromised voter register cannot produce a legitimate election result.

He said: “The issue of personal ambition is not now.

When we get to the river, we shall cross it. What is paramount to me now is how to join other ACN leaders to build a formidable party that will win future elections.”

The ACN chieftain urged party supporters to rally round Akeredolu in his struggle to get justice at the Supreme Court.

Ajibola becomes foundation chair

Railways to award new contract

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ORMER Nigerian Ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK), Prince Bola Ajibola, has accepted to head the Senior Citizens Care Foundation (SCCF), a pro-elder care Non-Government Organisation (NGO). He succeeds former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia, the late Chief Segun Olusola, who died last year.

His investiture as chair and patron comes up today in his Abeokuta, Ogun State home. According to the Executive Director of SCCF, Mr. Jide Taiwo, other directors expected at the ceremony are Ambassador Segun Apata, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, Dr. Amos Akingba, Executive Adviser, Gbolahan Gbadamosi and Tope Awe.

‘2015 ‘ll be stable’

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SUN State governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Fatai Akinbade has predicted stability in the 2015 general elections.

He said money would not make meaning to the electorate during the poll.

The former PDP chairman in the state said in an interview in Ibadan that the people are getting sophisticated and politicians would find it difficult to take them for a ride.

“In 2015, there will be a change in the voting pattern not only in Osun State, but also in other parts of the country.

Things will stabilise and money will not make meanings to the electorate,” he said.

HE National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has upheld the decision of the Southwest Caretaker Committee which reversed the suspension of former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose and state PDP Chairman, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, among others.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the National Chairman of PDP, Mr. Oliver Okpala, said the national leadership of the party also upheld the appointment of the Dr. Oluyomi Finnihled five-man investigative committee into the Ekiti State PDP crisis.

Sympathising with those who were attacked during the crisis, the NWC directed the Finnih committee to investigate the fracas at the party secretariat.

It urged members to be calm and keep the peace, as the 2014 governorship election approaches “to make it easy for our party to dislodge the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).”

By Yinka Aderibigbe

T •Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (middle) and his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire(fourth right), with members of two recently-inaugurated committees at the Lagos House, Ikeja...yesterday.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Underage marriage: Olanipekun berates Senate

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LEGAL luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has criticised the Senate for voting against the proposed amendment to the constitution, which forbids underage marriage in Nigeria.

He urged Nigerians to shun child trafficking.

The Senate recently approved the marriage of underage children. The new law, according to the Senate, would proscribe the 18year-old rule for any Nigerian child to qualify for a marriage.

Olanipekun, the immediate past Pro-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI) spoke recently when he delivered a lecture at the third series of the Dorcas Oke Hope Alive Initiative (DOHAL), titled: ‘Human Trafficking and the Challenges of the African Child’, held at the Law Lecture Hall, University of Ibadan.

The DOHAL foundation was founded 10 years ago in memory of Oke, the daughter of Bishop Wale Oke, the President, Sword

•Urges Nigerians to shun child trafficking From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

of the Spirit Ministries, who died following the usage of fake typhoid drugs.

Extolling the virtues of Oke Olanipekun said early marriage is part of child trafficking, adding that people should rise up against the vice.

Said he: “Tell me where it is written in the holy books that a girl-child should be given in marriage? A girl of 13 would first see it as a child’s play.

It is evil. It is a vicious circle that has extended to the embassies. Why do the embassies give visas to our children? Human trafficking is a recurring habitual circle backed by a strong cartel.

“We need to ask what happens to a senator, who married a girl of 13? We are compounding our problems if we have outlaws making laws for us. What do you expect from such personalities?

“We have the global con-

vention, which must be adhered to. There should also be reciprocity of love between the parents and the child. But now there is a void; we are destroying the foundation and future of our children.

“There is need for our people to talk to some of these lawmakers. I once discussed it with Senate President David Mark.

There is need for psychologists to examine the people who are sent to positions of authority in this country.”

Olanipekun said there is need to appeal “to our government that the foreign embassies have to be warned. Do Russia and Italian girls come to Nigeria the way our girls get trafficked there?”

He said according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), over 12 million Nigerian children in 1995 and 15 million in 2003 under the age of 14 were engaged in child labour.

Olanipekun said child trafficking is not simply a

social or moral problem to be treated with casual initiatives, adding that no government or organisation can combat, prevent and obliterate child trafficking.

He said there has to be a multi-sector and multi-disciplinary approach to it, where relevant partners with expertise and experience will be mobilised to bear on the problem.

“Governments, law enforcement agencies, judiciary, employers’ and workers’ organisations, non-government organisations (NGOs) and other civil society actors would have to participate in the coordinated action to fight child trafficking. Also, there must be a strong policy and institutional framework to address it,” Olanipekun said.

Oke said child trafficking and child marriage are becoming a terrible menace, adding:” A prostitute voluntarily gives her body.

In this case, the girl-child has no choice; she has no liberty and is given no right at all.”

HE Federal Government may have approved a contract for the building and rehabilitation of sidings and loop lines for the Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC).

The contract, it was learnt, is to enable the nation’s oldest corporations boost its passenger train services across the country.

The Managing Director of the NRC, Prince Adeseyi Sijuwade, said this when fielding questions from reporters at the corporations, Alagomeji, Lagos.

He said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its last meeting gave the corporation the nod to award contracts for the rehabilitation of the loop lines across the country.

Sidings and loop lines are lines that allow trains to come in from opposite directions on a narrow gauge lane.

Sijuwade said without the lines, it would be impossible for the corporation to go ahead with the next phase of its plan to make passenger train services available to Nigerians.

Said he: “Without these sidings and loop lines in place, we would be compromising the safety of Nigerians as we may begin to have on our hands train mishaps, which we do not want.” The NRC Managing Director said the execution of the multi-million naira contract would take six months.

He, however, did not disclose the amount involved or whether the contract would be handled by one contractor or more.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

NEWS Alaafin stresses true federalism

Eight die in crash From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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HE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has said the only thing that can save Nigeria and guarantee its future is to revert to a true federal system.

The monarch, who spoke in his palace in Oyo town when breaking fast with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, led by the Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Opadotun, urged President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the National Assembly to save the country from collapse.

He said with too much power at the centre and the states going cap in hand every month for money, it would not engender development.

Oba Adeyemi said if states are allowed to control their resources, they would grow at their own pace and this would ease tension among politicians, who are scrambling to take over power at the centre.

He urged constitutional roles for traditional rulers to enable them contribute to the nation’s development as envisaged by its founding fathers.

Students paralyse Ibadan From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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HERE was confusion yes terday in Ibadan when students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan took to the streets, protesting lack of social amenities in their hostels.

Human and vehicular movements were paralysed for nearly two hours as motorists found it difficult to pass through the major roads linking Sango-Eleyele to other parts of Ibadan.

The students complained about epileptic power supply.

They shouted anti-government slogans and barricaded entrances to their campus.

Some of the students, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said the epileptic power supply should be addressed to ensure smooth academic activities.

One of them said: “Electricity supply is terrible in our school. We have made our grievances known to the polytechnic authority, but to no avail.”

The institution’s spokesman, Alhaji Soladoye Adewole, said: “We all know that power generation is a critical issue in this country. We generate light for four hours a day for students between 6am and 8am and 8pm to 10pm, using a generator.

“We started having problems with them when the generator became bad. It requires overhauling and this is taking us time.”

He said there was no need for the protest since there was an effective means for the students to channel their grievances.

Said he: “We once gave them the phone numbers of the polytechnic’s principal officers so that they can lodge complaints and cross-check facts from the school authority.

“We understand that the students are not happy about the situation, but the matter should have been tabled instead of protesting.”

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•Prof Adelabu at the event

•Mr Falana teaching Primary 5 pupils at Holy Trinity Primary School, Ilawe-Ekiti.

‘Education remains best legacy’ •Rev. Ajakaye teaching Primary 1 pupils at Holy Trinity Primary School, IlaweEkiti.

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KITI State Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu yesterday identified education as the best legacy parents should give to their children.

She described other things as secondary.

Mrs. Adelabu gave the advice at the third edition of the Reading Parents Initiative Programme held at the Holy Trinity Primary School and St. Stephen’s Primary School, Ilawe-Ekiti.

The Deputy Governor spoke after inspecting parents, including Lagos lawyer Femi Falana, Bishop of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, Rev. Felix Ajakaye and Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, among others, who taught pupils for 35 minutes.

She said the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration considers education as critical to development, hence its efforts at reviving education.

The Reading Parents Programme, which is aimed at resuscitating the reading culture among pupils, is one of the avenues being used by the government, Mrs. Adelabu said.

Stressing the need for parents to set aside time to check the children’s school work and super-

Oyo to build eight markets vise their assignments at home, she urged them not to leave their children education to teachers alone because children spend more time with their parents at home.

The Deputy Governor stressed the need for educated parents to visit schools to read and teach the pupils, noting that the pupils are not only happy but motivated and more receptive seeing familiar faces, especially those of their parents in their schools.

Prof Adelabu, who urged wealthy parents and philanthropic

individuals to donate dictionaries to schools, reiterated that the government would provide instructional materials and infrastructures necessary for conducive learning and incentives to motivate teachers so that education would regain its glory.

Other parents, who taught the pupils include: the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola-Richie Adeusi; the State Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Chairman, Comrade Kayode Akosile and the Ekiti South West Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairman, Oluyemi Alatise, among others.

Ekiti PDP factions clash again

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HE crisis rocking the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened yesterday, with the reported clashing of two factions at the secretariat in Ajilosun, AdoEkiti.

Some factional members led by the Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole and Dr. Tope Aluko, who met reporters, said the hoodlums, allegedly sponsored by a top official of the party, attacked Deolu Aluko, the treasurer and others.

Those also reportedly attacked were the AwoEkiti Ward Chairman, Alhaji Azeez Akanbi, Mr. Agboola Olajide and Mr. Alake Abiodun.

A statement read by Oluwawole said: “The violence violates the decision of the Southwest PDP and the national leadership that peace should be maintained pending when the five-man committee set up by the South-

IGHT persons, including an expectant mother and a toddler, yesterday died in an accident on Gbongan Expressway, Owode, Osun State.

The crash, which occurred about 6:30am, claimed the lives of traders going to Owode market from Ede, a community of about five kilometres from the scene of the accident.

According to an eyewitness, the crash involving three vehicles, occurred when the driver of a blue Volkswagen Gulf car marked Osun AG 19 EDE coming from Ede ran into a big pothole, lost control, somersaulted and left his lane to face two oncoming vehicles.

The Volkswagen Gulf car landed on the ash colour Kia car with registration number Abuja KUJ 74 AJ and the white Toyota Hiace bus with number plate Abuja XR 930 ABC. Victims’ bodies littered the accident spot before officials of the Osun Ambulance Service came to take them and the injured to a hospital in Osogbo.

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Osun State, Mr. Imoh Etuk, who confirmed the accident, said the deceased had been deposited at the morgue of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

west Exco would visit Ekiti to intervene.”

Sixteen PDP governorship aspirants yesterday declared their consent for the adoption of a consensus candidate for the party for next year’s poll.

The group, through a communiqué issued at the end of an inaugural meeting, also supported the indefinite suspension of former Governor Ayo Fayose and others for their alleged involvement in the violence, which rocked the party a few weeks ago.

They urged the leadership of the party to put measures in place to confirm Fayose’s suspension, adding that “consensus arrangement would produce a quality and marketable candidate with wide acceptability.”

At the meeting were Chief Abiodun Aluko, Senator Bode Olowoporoku, Navy Cap-

tain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), Senator Ayo Arise, Aribisala Adewale, Otunba O. O. Akerele, Prof. Adesegun Ojo, Dare Bejide, Femi Bamisile, Odeyemi Tunji and Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

Others are Mr. Bodunde Adeyanju, Chief Obafemi Peters, Ropo Ogunbolude, Bimbo Owolabi and Dr. Kunle Afolayan.

Fayose described the group as “mere conspirators”.

His supporters, led by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Pastor Oluwawole, the Secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko and the Treasurer, Mr. Deolu Aluko, decried the 16-member list.

According to them, “most of the names are unknown to the party going by the requirements that would qualify anybody as an aspirant.”

Oluwawole said many of the people whose names were mentioned were also officially unknown to officials of the

party and had never visited the secretariat since the present leadership assumed office last year.

Ogundipe told reporters that the constitution of the party “is clear on the process of disciplining errant members.”

According to him, the only three members of the party in the state, who could be suspended by the local chapter of the party, include “my humble self as the state chairman, members of the Board of Trustees, Senator Clement Awoyelu and the member representing the state at the zonal level, Temitope Ademiluyi.”

He said: “These people are the only ones subject to discipline at the national level of the party.”

Added he: “As at the last count, we have 23 aspirants in the party and one wonders why it is only one (Fayose) that faults every step taken by the leadership of the party.”

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said his administration would build eight more markets before the end of the year.

He spoke during an interaction with reporters in Ibadan.

The governor said his administration has built more markets than previous administrations. He stressed that he would address the challenges facing the indigenes.

N600m for Osun compensation From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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SUN State Govern ment has earmarked N600 million as compensation for residents whose houses and shops were demolished.

The exercise is part of the ongoing urban renewal programme.

Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, who broke the news when speaking with reporters in Osogbo yesterday, said the urban renewal programme was aimed at improving the environment, to make the state look like cities, such as New York, Beijing Tokyo and other worldclass cities.

He assured that those with genuine documents would be compensated, adding that the government would not inflict pains on the residents.

The commissioner said government is planning to plant trees and flowers on the roads’ setbacks.

He said the exercise was aimed at giving the state a befitting identity.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

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NEWS RAMADAN KAREEM

SOLAT TIME (Lagos) Fajr Zuhr Asr Magrib Ishai

– – – – –

5:20 12:52 4:13 7:04 8:16

am pm pm pm pm

(Abuja) Fajr Zuhr Asr Magrib Ishai

– – – – –

5:02 12:38 3:58 6:54 8:06

am pm pm pm pm

(Sokoto) Fajr Zuhr Asr Magrib Ishai

– 5:02 – 12:46 – 4:03 – 7:07 – 8:21

Ramadan 21st, 1434AH

am pm pm pm pm (Source: Islamicfinder.org)

Lawmaker urges Muslims to pray for unity, stability

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EMBER, House of Representatives, representing Egbeda/OnaAra Federal Constituency Olayemi Busari, has urged Muslims to pray for the country’s unity and stability during the Ramadan period.

Busari of the Accord Party made the call in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He urged Muslims to take advantage of the Ramadan period to pray for unity, peace and stability of the country.

“We all know that the unity and peace of the country is being threatened by crises, ranging from the insecurity in the North to the political unrest in Rivers State.

“I want to urge Muslims to use the holy month of Ramadan to come closer to Allah and pray for the peace and stability of this great nation,’’ he said.

The legislator also advised Muslims to use the Ramadan period to rededicate themselves to the tenets of Islam, while rendering assistance to the less-privileged members of the society.

Busari urged affluent Muslims to come to the aid of the less-privileged and assist them via donation of cash and provisions.

“As Muslims, we should use the Ramadan period to help the less-privileged in the society. We should visit them in their various locations and donate generously to them,’’ he said.

Busari said that Ramadan represented a period of forgiveness and blessing, calling on Muslims to take advantage of the holy month to make supplications to Allah.

•The Nation Newspapers columnist, Mallam Haruna Muhammed, speaking during a programme entitled Iftar with Ogbeni, where Journalists in the State break fast with Governor Rauf Aregbesola (third left). With them are Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola (left) and former Abia State Governorship Aspirant, Mr Nkechi Emenike, at the Government House, Osogbo.

Minors’ marriage: Don carpets Mark L

AGOS State University (LASU) lecturer Prof Ishaq Akintola has criticised statement by Senate President David Mark on the amendment of the constitution that sparked outrage.

Akintola described Mark’s blackmail’s claim as “an afterthought, laughable and infantile. The position of the Senate president is unaccept-

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

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Indebtedness (2)

S stated yesterday, any intension to rectify material indebtedness by proxy must be in the name of the debtor and the source of funding must be pure.

As for moral indebtedness, it may come in form of promise or reciprocation of good deed. In Islam promise, especially a voluntary one is a debt, which must be paid. A deferred dowry for instance, is as much a debt as taking charge of the property of an orphan. Both must be paid as at when due based on fear of Allah. There are many other forms of promises.

All these types of debts are between man and Allah. They need no witnesses. The one, which requires witnesses, is contained in chapter 2:282 of the Qur’an. It is about money and other material matters. This verse (the longest in the Qur’an) deals extensively with the issue of indebtedness and emphasizes the documentation of such a debt between the creditor and the debtor in the presence of witnesses who must append their signatures to the document innvolved. It does not matter whether the debt in question is between a husband and his wife or between a mother and her daughter.

The intension is to create a peaceful co-existence, within the Muslim community, which no debt should be allowed to violate. It only amounts to self-deception and hypocrisy to sweep all these under the carpet while pretending to be an obedient Muslim by fasting in the month of Ramadan. It is better not to make promise than to change one’s mind after making it without informing the person to whom promise is made.

Another form of debt is the boycott of sexual intercourse either by the husband or wife for an untenable reason. From the day a marriage is consummated, a knot of legitimate sexual indebtedness has been tied. And except for a very cogent reason which must be understandable to both parties, no one of them should boycott intercourse deliberately. Ramadan fasting, therefore, or any religious activities in the sacred month should not be used as an excuse for refraining from intercourse without getting the consent of the other party.

Whoever does that has fallen into a major indebtedness that must be paid sooner or later.

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

able as he puts the blame on blackmail from Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima. How can a single senator blackmail the whole Senate? Does it mean the Senate President is incompetent? We remind David Mark that the buck stops at his table. He is expected to have built a pressure-resisting system in his anatomy. He should simply resign if he is tired.”

The amendment on the renouncement of Nigerian citizenship, he said, has been erroneously broadcast.

Chapter 3 Section 29(1) of the Nigerian constitution states that to renounce citizenship, one must be of full age. Subsection 4 goes further to define full age as a) 18yrs and above and b) woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.

The 2013 review sought to remove the second qualifier.

That is a married woman before Senator Yerima pointed out the reason for the Senate not to do so.

Akintola, the director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) accused the Senate President of showing signs of submission to coercion as he reportedly accused Senator Ahmad Sani of blackmailing the Senate to leave the controversial clause untouched.

‘The position of Senate president is unacceptable as he hangs the blame on blackmail from Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima. How can a single senator blackmail the whole Senate? Does it mean the Senate President is incompetent?’

•Prof Akintola He described as unnecessary the criticisms which have greeted Islam’s approval of marriage to minors.

According to him, contemptuous cartoons, satirical essays, dirty language and insults have all been used recklessly in the past few days to assail Muslims and intimidate lawmakers.

His words: “MURIC will not descend so low as to exchange dirty language. We have respect for all homo sapien and for all groups. We also hold firmly to our avowed motto: ‘Dialogue, No Violence’. We will join none in heating up the polity because we know the value of peace in the society. Therefore we will not trade insults.

Whether people abuse or not,

it will not change the facts on ground. Superior argument based on facts will always remain superior, at least to intelligent minds. Nobody can intimidate us.

“Instead of jogging people’s emotion, MURIC hereby presents facts and figures on legal marriage age around the world for Nigerians to see and judge.

“In New Hampshire, United States, legal marriage age is 13 for girls and 14 for boys!

In Michigan (US) it is 15 but girls can be married below 15 with parental consent. In Indiana (US) a girl can be married at 14 if she becomes pregnant. In Hawaii and Georgia (US) it is 15 with parental consent.

Scholar urges leaders to shun corruption

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AYERO University, Kano (BUK) lecturer Prof Salisu Shehu has urged Muslim leaders to fear Allah and shun corruption.

Shehu made the call at a Ramadan lecture organised by the Muslim Students Association (MSA), Nigerian Muslim Women Association (NMWA), Young Muslim Association (YMA) and the Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC) in Bauchi.

According to him, bribery, corruption and disrespect for teachings of Islam were factors gaining ground among

Nigerians leaders.

“Leaders must change their attitudes and follow the teachings of Islam before any meaningful change can be achieved in our society,” he said.

Shehu, a former Special Adviser to Governor Isa Yuguda on Education, urged Muslims generally to unite in practising the good and acceptable deeds as taught by Islam.

Also speaking, the Grand Khadi of Bauchi State, Alhaji Abdullahi Marafa, called on leaders to be careful in deal-

ing with peoples’ rights.

On his part, the state representative from the Shari’a Commission, Alhaji Mustapha Hassan, urged Muslim organisations to increase the number of similar lectures to educate people, especially Muslims on things that affected their lives.

Chairman on the occasion, Malam Yunusa Ado, said the lecture was organised to assist leaders to know their responsibilities in line with the teachings of Islam.

“Now let us go outside America, in Britain it is 16, in fact it is 15 in most European countries; In Venezuela it is 14 with parental consent, 14 in Paraguay, 14 in Mexico, Bolivia 14. Coming to the African continent, the legal marriage age is 14 in Mozambique and 15 in Gabon. In Angola it is 15, Niger 15, Cameroon 15, Congo DR 15, Benin 15, Kenya 16 and Madagascar 14. In Equitorial Guinea it is 12!

So what is all the noise about? Tanzania adds a more pragmatic scenario: the legal marriage age is 14 but girls below 12 can marry for religious reason with the proviso that the marriage will not be consummated until the girl reaches 12. Gambia, Maldives, Saudi Arabia and Sudan place no age limit at all on marriage. Nigeria ranks among the most conservative in this area as marriage age is still 18 under the law.”

Women warned against selfmedication

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Kano-based scholar Hajia Umma Bello, has warned women against self medication to avoid being addicted.

She spoke at a Ramadan lecture organised for women at Gwangwazo Islamic Institute for women, Kano.

According to her, many women stay at home and treat themselves with all sorts of drugs instead of attending hospitals for medical attention.

“As Muslim, we should emulate the wives of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, who always consulted before embarking on any act,” she said.

She said women were the most vulnerable group in the society, stressing that they needed to be cautious due to their biological make up.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

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

- Minister of Information, Labaran Maku

Jonathan tasks African leaders on trade

Ikeja PHCN explains power interruption

• Nigeria’s projects in Ghana hit $200m

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From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday called on African leaders to take concrete steps towards fulfilling their declared commitment to improve trade and economic relations among the countries in the continent.

He made the call while receiving the outgoing Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs. Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President said there is an urgent need for African leaders to move beyond declarations of support for greater intra-African trade and act in unison to overcome obstacles, which currently hinder economic relations among the nations and people of the continent.

A statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati on the Ghana’s outgoing High Commissioner to Nigeria, Alhaji Baba Kamara’s visit to the State House, said that the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre revealed that out of the over 200 projects registered by it last year, Nigeria had 42 projects with a value of almost $200 million in Ghana.

It said that only China accounted for more registered projects in Ghana during the period with 56 projects.

On the Namibian High Commissioner’s visit, Jonathan said that with the right political will and commitment, African leaders could speedily overcome all obstacles to intra-African trade such as poor transportation links and achieve a significant boost in continental economic interaction for the benefit of their countries and peoples.

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

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

• From left: Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr Samuel Ukura; Executive Secretary, NEITI, Mrs Zainab Ahmed; Mr Mitee; Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals Development, Mr Mohammed Sada and Mr Yakubu, at the public presentation of NEITI Comprehensive Audit of Nigeria’s Extractive Industries in Abuja ...yesterday.

Minister summons NNPC over unremitted $8.476b NLNG dividends

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HE Coordinating Min ister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala yesterday summoned the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director (GMD), Andrew Yakubu, for the corporation’s refusal to remit a total of $8.476billion as reported by the previous Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) audit.

She said the NNPC received $4.84billion as dividends and repayment from the Nigerian Liquiedfied Natural Gas (NLNG), which it was yet to remit to the Federation Account.

Besides, the report revealed that the corporation received another $3.99billion without remitting it to the Federation Account.

The minister spoke at the public presentation of the the NEITI 2009-2011 oil and gas physical and audit report in Abuja. She asked the GMD to see her for private discussions on the financial issues.

Okonjo-Iweala noted that after a robust discussion with the NNPC boss, she , as the Minister of Finance could afford to depend on the remittance for additional revenue.

Her words: “GMD, you are welcome back. I missed you

• NEITI unveils $1.7b exchange rate difference, N175.9b discrepancies From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

because I was citing some of the words from NEITI and I said some of us are assembled here (the right people) because they pointed out some remittances from NLNG, amounting to over $8billion for a period of time-2006-2009, which we need to discuss.

“As the Minister of Finance, I don’t want it on the floor here. We need a very robust conversation about this money because I can depend on it as a Minister of Finance that this is additional revenue. “ The minister also drew attention of the stakeholders at the event to the issue of exchange rate.

She said that the areas of discussion with the corporation, included the exchange rate differences, which were not resolved in the declaration of revenue

by NNPC. The NEITI chairman, Mr. Ledum Mittee said the NEITI report observed poor inventory management, which accounted for the difficulty in determining balances for imported products.

The report, said Mittee, noted, “NEITI also discov-

ered a lingering worrisome situation where there is no agreed pricing methodology between NNPC and the companies for determination of fiscal values for royalty and PPT computations.

“In addition, the MoU for joint venture partners JV’s which expired in 2008 is yet to be renewed, yet the companies covered by JV are still using the expired MoU in their transactions with Nigeria, resulting in a difference between NNPC and covered entities positions over $1.7billion between 2009-2011, which are reported by the auditors as revenue losses to the Federation.”

On decline of the government crude oil productions, crude liftings and revenue accruable to the Federation, the report identified that there was inadequate funding of the JV operations.

It also noted that all refineries are operating below their name plate capacities resulting in a situation where 80 per cent of crude oil allocated to local refineries is exported for off-shore processing, crude oil and product exchange.

The chairman explained, “the report has negative consequences on revenue accruable to the Federation

Account. According to the report, “the combined loss to Nigeria in the Offshore Processing, Crude and Products Exchange within the period under review was over $866million.”

NEITI disclosed that Nigeria made total subsidy payments of N3trillion to importers of refined petroleum products.

It said: “This is made up of N1.4trillion fuel subsidy claims by the NNPC for the period 2009-2011 and a total of N1.60trillion paid to other marketers during the same period. The report observed that the disparity between subsidy claims paid from the Federation Account and that made by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) was N175.9billion during the same period.”

Mr Mittee however said Nigeria recorded a total crude oil production of over 2.5billion barrels, an increase of 4.8 per cent over 2006-2008.

Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC has reiterated the commitment of the Corporation to work with the NEITI in the pursuit of its mandate in ensuring transparency and accountability in the oil and gas industry and the entire extractive industry in general.

‘Why PPRA couldn’t probe oil documents’

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LAGOS High Court, Ikeja was yesterday told that the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) failed to investigate some documents submitted by three oil firms for payment of subsidy on oil imported into the county.

A prosecution witness, Mr Victor Chidok, who is the head of Lagos Zonal Office of the PPPRA, disclosed this while giving evidence be-

By Adebisi Onanuga

fore the court presided by Justice Lateefa Okunnu.

Chidok said that the PPRA could not carry out the investigation because it does not have representative offshore.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) had charged the three oil marketers, Adamu Maula, George Ogbonna, and Emmanuel

Morah before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja.

They were arraigned alongside their companies.

Downstream Energy Sources Ltd. and Rocky Energy Ltd. are standing trial for an alleged N789.6 million fuel subsidy fraud.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, Chidok, who was led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs told the court that

Downstream Energy Limited was given permission to import 10,862 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) into Nigeria.

He said that the defendants submitted some documents relating to a ship-toship transfer between a mother vessel, MT La Katrina and the daughter vessel, MT D. Roseline (Daughter Vessel on offshore in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

HE Ikeja Electricity Distribution Com pany said the loadshedding at Ikeja GRA, Opebi, General Hospital, Medical Road, Computer Village and environs, was due to an underground cable fault between the company’s transmission station at Maryland and the injection substation at Police Training College, Ikeja.

A statement from the company’s Assistant General Manager (Public Affairs), Pekun Adeyanju , said the management apologised to the customers in the affected areas explaining that the loadshedding is being carried out in order to avoid total blackout.

“The load-shedding is in order to avoid total blackout in those areas before we finish clearing the fault. The management has decided to back-feed the affected areas through Ogba transmission station,” he said.

However, the management has decided to go on overhead construction for easy clearing of fault because of the illegal structures on the underground cables, which has not been allowing easy access to clearing of faults.

Adeyanju said: “The new overhead construction work has commenced and will be commissioned in the next few days. We regret all inconveniences being experienced by the affected customers and we assure that power supply will soon be normalised”.

LCCI frets over global oil market

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst. Editor

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RESIDENT, Lagos Chamber of Com merce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Goodie Ibru, has raised the alarm over the sharp decline in the contribution of the oil and gas sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which fell from 26 per cent in 2003 to 13.42 per cent in 2012.

He frowned at what he called extreme dependence of the government finances and external trade balances on proceeds from the sector, which he said exposes the nation to significant risks arising from price, production and supply shocks.

Ibru, who made these disclosures in Lagos over the weekend while reviewing the performance outlook of the second quarter of the economy, expressed worries over new oil and gas fields in East and West Africa including Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leon, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

He also said that the replacement of Nigeria oil in the United States of America (USA) with Shale gas. Quoting the US Energy Information Agency (EIA), he stated that oil imports

by US will decline to six million barrels per day (mbpd), roughly a third of what it uses as the country moves closer to less oil independence as shale gas production accounts for 46 per cent of US natural gas production.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

AVIATION NIMET set to commercialise operations THE N i g e r i a n M e t e o r o l o g i c a l A g e n c y ( N I M E T ) w i l l soon commercialise its services to generate revenue for its operations, the Director-General, Dr Anthony Anuforom, has said.

Addressing reporters at the weekend in Abuja, Anuforom said NIMET’s attainment of the International Standard Organisation (ISO) 9001 certification would enable it to offer quality services as a world-class organisation.

He said this feat has prepared the ground for the agency to pursue the commercialisation of its services.

Anuforom said: “Getting the ISO 9001 certification is paving the way towards the commercialisation of our services.

“You cannot commercialise something that does not have quality. In other words, the quality of our services is now very well assured. The benefits of the ISO 9001 are enormous for this country. Nigeria is a destination because the air traffic will increase and the airspace will be busy. That is an opportunity for us. We must be prepared and live up to the challenges of providing sufficient safety services.”

Limousine operators deny planned attack

•Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Nnamdi Udoh (left) and President, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Mohammed Safiyanu, during the presentation of certificates of return to the union’s executives in Lagos.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

FAAN hires debt collectors to recover N22b debt T HE Federal Airports Au thority of Nigeria (FAAN) has hired debt collectors to recover the over N22billion owed it by foreign and domestic airlines, its Managing Director, Mr George Uriesi, has said.

FAAN took the step because of the huge debts owed it by many domestic carriers.

The move was part of the authority’s measures to restrategise as it prepares to unveil its new credit scheme powered by automation.

Uriesi said: “We are being owed a lot of money, I must be factual. For now, we are going through a legal process where we have assigned legal debt recovery agents for the first time, to go about recovering the debts owed FAAN. ‘’That for us is the only avenue through which our debts can be retrieved. It is difficult to tell you the exact amount because for the

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By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

first time, we are going to ask the Federal Government to allow us write off some debts that are considered unreasonable in our balance sheet. Such debts include the ones owed by airlines that are no more in active operations.’’

He said some moribund airlines that were still in FAAN’s balance sheet. ‘’We want to delineate between what is recoverable, because by now, we should know the ones that can never be repaid,” he said.

Foreign carriers, he said, had shown commitment to schedule their debts, such that domestic airlines allow the debts to accumulate over time.

Uriesi said: “The good thing about the foreign airlines is that

they are the ones that keep FAAN going . They pay their bills.

They all owe, but the international airlines pay regularly. But the problem we have is the domestic airlines. They owe and do not pay, and the debts keep accumulating over the years. We need the domestic airlines to service their debts more.’’

In 2011, FAAN raised the alarm that it might not meet its obligations as a result of the N10 billion debt owed it by 79 domestic airlines, allied bodies and international airlines.

In March 2011, about 79 domestic airlines and allied bodies, owed FAAN N3,424,627.56.

Active international airlines and allied agencies also owed the authority over N6,632,702.21. N3,424,627.56 during same period.

Why African airlines’ growth is hindered, by IATA

HE International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified high cost of aviation fuel, weak currencies, competition from foreign carriers and lack of connectivity as major obstacles to the growth of African airlines.

In its quarterly report on African airlines, IATA said the inability to resolve these obstacles took a toll on the operations of major African carriers during the past year.

Major African carriers include: South African Airways, Egypt Air, Kenyan Airways, Ethiopia Airlines, and Royal Air Maroc.

Revenues generated in weak home currencies, but with overheads paid in dollars or euro - coupled with fuel prices, IATA said, accounted for over 21 per cent higher costs for African carriers compared with the global average. Such arrangement, it added, puts African airlines often at a disadvantage with foreign competitors on intercontinental routes.

IATA said: ‘’Some of African aviation’s perennial problems - high fuel costs, weak currencies and competition from foreign carriers, affected the fortunes of the continent’s carriers during the past year.’’

It said revenues generated in weak home currencies, but with overheads paid in US dollars, or euro, coupled with fuel prices which are 21 per cent higher on the continent than the world average - means African airlines are often at a

disadvantage to foreign competitors on intercontinental routes.”

In a related development, Secretary-General of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA)Elijah Chingosho, said at IATA meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, that for most airlines, the cost of fuel is about 35 per cent of operating costs. He, however, added that in Africa, it is 45-55 per cent because of charges.

He said: ”This is because governments levy very high taxes on fuel as well as the airlines themselves, leading to high operating costs.”

He said state-owned South African Airways was forced to borrow $159 million to cover its near-term operating costs. The loan, secured against 2012’s R5 billion government guarantee, is being used as working capital, while the flag carrier implements its latest turnaround plan - the ninth such strategy put before its shareholder.

In October, last year, the airline posted an operating loss of R1.3 billion for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

Meanwhile, a former scribe of AFRAA, Nick Fadugba, urged African carriers to forge stronger partnership.

He said: ”SAA has become dependent on state aid due to its inability to sufficiently address challenges, including its high cost structure, unprofitable long-haul routes, inef-

ficient aircraft fleet, overstaffing, management instability, and its lack of success in forging strong partnerships within Africa.”

Kenya Airways slipped to a net loss of KSh7.9 billion ($91 million) from last year to March, this year, as demand and yields were hit by geopolitical uncertainty, compounding high fuel prices and the slow European economy.

It attributed the loss, which compares with a profit of KSh1.6 billion of last year, to reduced passenger traffic.

In southern Africa, Air Namibia and Air Zimbabwe are relying on government bailouts to stay afloat, while South African low-cost and charter carrier, 1time, ceased operations in November, last year after posting a first-half loss of R35.4 million ($4.1 million), compared with a loss of R21.3 million during the same period last year.

Africa’s market characteristics have also proved problematic for low-cost start-up Fastjet, which has indefinitely postponed the launch of South African domestic services due to start this month.

While predictions of huge passenger growth in Africa have yet to come to fruition, there is still optimism that some of its airlines can realise that potential and benefit financially from it.

AIRPORT Limousine Bus Operators Association (ALBO) has said it is not planning to clash with officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) attached to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

Speaking in Lagos at the weekend, Chairman, ALBO, Mr Ilyas Aminu Ibrahim, since March 25, this year, when he emerged as chair, bus operators and LASTMA officials have relatiing with them cordially.

According to Ibrahim, claims by Adesina Babatunde to wage war against LASTMA officials at the Lagos Airport is an attempt to discredit drivers who operate at the airport.

He said the promoters of the planned clash were acting on their own, urging law enforcement agencies to investigate them.

Babatunde, who is said to be leading one of the factions of airport drivers, alleged that the bus operators were angry and would confront the LASTMA officials in a free-for-all if they refuse to allow them disembark their passengers under the Ikeja Bus Stop bridge.

He said: “That report is a big lie and cheap blackmail, there is nothing like that. As the chairman and since I have been in this office, we have been having a good rapport with those LASTMA officers that are handling this our area at PWD, we have a good rapport with them, we discuss with them.’’

FAAN frustrating our efforts, group alleges THE western zone of the Airport Car Hire Association of Nigeria (ACHAN) has accused the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria staff of not cooperating with them to stop illegal cab operators at the airports.

The Co-ordinator of the zone comprising the domestic and international airports in Lagos, Benin and Asaba, Chief Isaac Eze, told reporters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja that until the activities of the workers were checked, the operators of illegal cabs would remain within the airports vicinity.

He alleged that while ACHAN had adopted several methods to send illegal cab operators away from the airport environment, FAAN workers have always been frustrating such efforts because of their interests.

“Most of the illegal cabs operating within the airports environment are owned by FAAN officials either serving or retired and that is why the cabs are bearing FAAN official stickers on their windshields to allow them park anywhere around the airport without molestation from the agency’s towing vehicle workers,” Eze alleged.

He also noted that apart from FAAN staff, other operating illegal cabs include retired personnel of the armed forces and those who could not meet the demands for registration.

“So, there is nothing we can do to stop them that can be effective.

We cannot control them and FAAN management has refused to look into this issue, yet the agency is losing big revenue through the activities of the illegal operators who are not paying the normal annual registration fee.’’

Eze, however, appealed to FAAN to provide a well organised car park for the registered car hire operators for the convenience of air passengers. “We are trying to organise our members and activities in a manner that will conform to the transformation of the airports and it is only FAAN that can help us to achieve that by way giving us a good park,”he emphasised.

Dana Air offers N7,200 fare DANA Air has launched a new campaign which will afford passengers of the airline the opportunity to fly to any of its destinations for as low as N7,200 by booking and paying for their tickets online.

According to the airline’s Head of Commercial, Obi Mbanuzuo, “From now till December 2013, our guests will get the best fares starting from as low as N7,200 only if the book and pay for their tickets in advance at www.flydananair.com.”

“As many as one million seats on all our routes have been opened for sale at these low fares. So, if you are travelling to Abuja, Lagos or Port Harcourt anytime soon, the best time to book your tickets is now; in order to be able to access our lowest fares. Very soon too, we will open seats to Uyo and Calabar for sale.”

Arik Air sponsors Centenary celebration ARIK Air has announced that it is playing a key role in the country’s Centenary Celebrations as an Associate Sponsor of the Centenary Pageant.

The world-class pageant is aimed at promoting the Centenary celebrations, which marks the amalgamation of southern and northern Nigeria by Lord Lugard in 1914.

According to the spokesman of the airline, Mr Banji Ola, an agreement was signed last week between Arik Air and AOE Events and Entertainment Limited, the company okayed by The Federal Government of Nigeria to handle the Centenary Pageant.

Arik Air Managing Director/Executive Vice President, Mr Chris Ndulue, said: “Arik Air is honoured to be invited to play a key role in Nigeria’s Centenary celebrations. This partnership further underscores our commitment to the people of Nigeria to deliver new standards in aviation and promote that which is truly Nigerian.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

Outrageous pay •Must we look for a lens to know what our legislators (with oversight function) earn?

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HEN The Economist published the damning report about the stupendous pay Nigeria’s federal legislators take home annually, it probably said nothing new. Nigerians have themselves alleged that their federal legislators must be some of the most pampered in the world. The difference in The Economist’s report is that the magazine put figures to its claims which no one is yet to deny. Although the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is saddled with the responsibility of fixing their salaries alongside those of other public officers, the fact is, the legislators cart home monthly far more money than the commission recommended for them under different guises.

According to The Economist, a Nigerian legislator receives an annual salary of about $189,000, (an equivalent of N30 million) while their counterparts in Britain earn about $105,400 yearly; United States ($174,000), France ($85,900), South Africa ($104,000), Kenya ($74,500), Saudi

‘This is at the root of the door-die attitude by people willing to contest elections into the National Assembly. Many people go there because they have come to see it as the honey pot where people do so little for so much return. We urge the national legislators to do self-adjustment in view of the indefensibility of this pay structure’

Arabia ($64,000) and Brazil ($157,600).

Other yearly salary details published by The Economist are those of lawmakers in Ghana ($46,500), Indonesia ($65,800), Thailand ($43,800), India ($11,200), Italy ($182,000), Bangladesh ($4,000), Israel ($114,800), Hong Kong ($130,700), Japan ($149,700), Singapore ($154,000), Canada ($154,000), New Zealand ($112,500), Germany ($119,500), Ireland ($120,400), Pakistan ($3,500), Malaysia ($25,300), Sweden ($99,300), Sri Lanka ($5,100), Spain ($43,900) and Norway ($138,000).

Going by these figures posted on the magazine’s website on July 19, it is clear that Nigeria’s federal lawmakers earn by far more than their counterparts in 29 countries whose data were analysed by the magazine, comprising mainly prosperous countries as well as key developing ones. And these are in absolute terms.

When we consider the ratio of what our National Assembly members earn to the gross domestic product (GDP) per person, the incongruity becomes the more flabbergasting.

For instance, the N30million each that our federal lawmakers earn per annum is, according to The Economist, 116 times the country’s GDP per person while that of a British parliamentarian is just 2.7 times. Even Australian lawmakers, with $201,200 annual salary (the only country where the legislators earn more than Nigeria’s), their salaries are only three times their country’s GDP per person.

This is one of the issues. If legislators in prosperous countries earn incomes that are a function of their GDP per person and that of Nigeria is so disproportionate to the country’s GDP per person, then, there is a problem, a big one at that. It is scandalous that legislators earn such humongous pay in a country where the

majority live on less than $2 a day. Perhaps it is the guilty conscience arising from this indefensible emoluments that is making our legislators not to come clean on their worth.

When a total of N150 billion was voted for the National Assembly in the 2013 national budget without a breakdown which should have shown at least a summary of the legislators’ earnings and a newspaper wrote to the National Assembly requesting for the breakdown under the FOI Act, the National Assembly refused to honour the request.

Clearly, this pay structure is indefensible. Though not a part-time job, how many times do they sit in a year? They get paid for committee jobs, they get fabulous estacode and duty tour allowance per night. There are other packages, including severance package for a job that lasts four years and best, eight years!

Though we now know the figures for the legislature, it is probably true the executive’s pay is no less bloated than the legislature’s. Yet, service delivery is as poor as the pay is rich!

This is at the root of the do-or-die attitude by people willing to contest elections into the National Assembly. Many people go there because they have come to see it as the honey pot where people do so little for so much return. We urge the national legislators to do self-adjustment in view of the indefensibility of this pay structure. They do not have to wait until Nigerians begin formal protests like the Kenyans have had to do when confronted with a similar challenge. Nigerians do not have to go looking for lens to see what their representatives earn; people who carry out oversight functions on others must also come plain before the electorate.

Same old path?

•We can only hope that report that indicted firms are still inporting fuel is not true

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HE report by an international newswire, Reuters, that a number of companies indicted in the fuel subsidy scam over the past three years have been re-listed for fuel importation by the government is shocking. The Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke has however denied that. But if the allegation is correct, we condemn such travesty against the Nigerian people.

The Federal Government claimed to have paid over one trillion naira in fuel subsidy, amounting to about 20 percent of the national budget, last year. More than half of this sum was allegedly paid to suppliers who either diverted the products they imported or merely got paid subsidies for fuel imports that never took place.

The report also stated that there has been an increase in the number of fuel importers, and that about $1.2 billion has already been spent on fuel import subsidy this year. According to the report, about $6 billion was lost to fuel subsidy corruption, in the past three years. It also named Nepal, Fresh Synergy, Ibafon and Techno as among the companies that the National Assembly indicted, but which has found their way back as official importers of fuel.

In her off-handed denial to the press after a meeting between the Presidency and the Nigeria Bar Association, the petroleum minister merely stated that such development was impossible

without specifically denying the inclusion of those companies named by the media. She also did not explain why the number of importers has increased, or the criteria used in choosing those on the list.

The Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), under the minister’s watch gave out humongous contracts for the importation of petroleum products to companies without any experience in the industry; and in some cases companies that were a few weeks old in the register of companies and with very minimal share capital. So, it will not be out of place to insinuate that another round of swindle is in the offing, unless the PPPRA and the ministry can explain this seeming recourse to the same old path. The least we expect from the authorities is the publication of the names of the approved importers for public scrutiny.

We also hope that the National Assembly and the police will show interest now, to ensure that any of the indicted companies trying to swindle the country a second time is stopped in its track. In sieving out those to be blacklisted, it is important that the names of the shareholders and directors are noted so that the promoters of the blacklisted companies are not allowed to use new companies to continue their criminal enterprise.

The PPPRA and other concerned agencies must also ensure that all the necessary verifications have been

completed before subsidies are paid. It will be most unfair to again allow billions of tax-payers’ money to be fraudulently paid to racketeers, after which further huge sums are expended to try to recover the stolen money.

Meanwhile, what has become of those that stole the alleged $6 billion dollars in the last three years? Is it that they have all been exonerated or that they have proved too smart for our criminal justice system? Or, is it also possible that the public officials have connived to make it impossible for the stolen public funds to be recovered? We must however warn that Nigerians will not accept the removal of the so-called subsidy as the answer for the glaring failure of governance.

‘Or, is it also possible that the public officials have connived to make it impossible for the stolen public funds to be recovered?

We must however warn that Nigerians will not accept the removal of the so-called subsidy as the answer for the glaring failure of governance’

South Sudan, teetering on chaos, needs more than words from the United States

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WO YEARS into its existence as an independent state, South Sudan is teetering on the edge of the abyss.

Often described by U.S. officials as a hopeful example of a new democracy forged out of decades of civil war that cost millions of lives, South Sudan and its adversary, Sudan, are again mired in human suffering and conflict.

The latest crisis erupted this week when South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, a veteran rebel commander, fired the cabinet, the vice president and the top negotiator with Sudan.

The move was apparently the climax of a power struggle with Vice President Riek Machar, a rival rebel commander who had been critical of Mr. Kiir and is a potential challenger in the 2015 election. Mr. Kiir had stripped the vice president of some of his duties in April, but the dismissal came abruptly and may foreshadow more instability.

Most ominous, the export of oil from South Sudan through Sudan is about to cease, which could deal a crippling economic blow to both countries. The oil resumed flowing in April after a long dispute over revenue-sharing.

South Sudan gets almost all its government budget from the export of oil, but it relies on the Sudan pipeline, and the flow has been halved in recent weeks. This time, Sudan says it is halting the flow of the south’s crude to a Red Sea port after Aug. 7 because of the south’s support for rebels fighting the government in Khartoum. South Sudan denies backing the rebels and accuses Khartoum of doing the same.

At the same time, a humanitarian disaster has erupted in South Sudan’s Jonglei state, where clashes between government soldiers and insurgents, as well as tribal violence, has forced tens of thousands of people to seek refuge in areas where rains have washed out roads and airstrips. Hiding in the bush and swamps for weeks, they are desperately in need of food. The U.N. World Food Programmeannounced it is attempting to rush food into these areas by helicopter but is seeking $20 million in emergency aid for the aircraft and supplies.

In a statement Wednesday, the State Department said it was “deeply concerned” and urged South Sudan to “stay true to the vision it laid out for itself two years ago,” with “sustained commitment to democracy and good governance, justice and accountability, and respect for rule of law and the human rights of all of South Sudan’s people.” Nice words, but the administration has been without a special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan since December; a spokesperson said a new appointment will be made shortly.

In his June 30 speech in Cape Town, President Obama urged Sudan and South Sudan to get on with a lasting peace, “not just words on a paper or promises that fade away.”

More than presidential rhetoric will be needed to make that happen.

– Washington Post

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

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: You can’t judge a book by its cover - but you can tell a lot from the title. The disposition of Federal Government and state governments to the ongoing ASUU strike is not only disappointing but also a coward attempt to destroy the future of the Nigerian youth. If government is deceitful, ASUU will be more deceitful and callous to call off the strike when the agreement is not fully implemented.

The proper word to describe the condition of our public universities is not ‘disintegration’ but ‘degeneration’ without any hope of redemption in the near future unless the government at all levels muster courage to salvage what is left. How long shall we keep the institutions alive on artificial oxygen and that, too, at the expense of the future of Nigerian youth? How long shall we keep pretending that all is well and that ASUU is only seeking pay rise? How long should we allow the business men and women in government to trade the future of our children in their spurious attempt to build business empires?

Three things are basically responsible for the worsening situation of our universities. One, children of the policy makers and the power brokers that dictate what becomes of our educational system do not attend public universities. Their wards are either in private ones or abroad. Two, many of the power brokers and policy makers are proprietors of private universities. Any betterment of the public ones would affect their patronage and profits. Three, ASUU’s approach to negotiations give impression that the union seeks momentary attention. These three facts are glaring and would not allow the government to develop a road map toward revamping our shameful educational system.

In the wake of the mushrooming of private institutions and reckless setting up of private universities as a result of myopic legislation in our

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Can ASUU get it right for once? country, there is an increasing demand that the NUC and other regulatory bodies must step in to check the rot by calling on the government to be more responsible. It is hypocritical and laughable that Gabriel Suswan-led committee on Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities could wait until ASUU went on strike to become visible. It is a deceit and bait; that would not go beyond normal rounds of talks.

There is no other better opportu-

nity for President Goodluck Jonathan to show he is both serious and committed to the nation’s education than now. At least two urgent issues need to be addressed as aggressively as possible lest Nigerians begin to cast aspersion not just on his person but also his government. His government is noted for parading ministers of high academic achievement but nothing to show for such. His government is equally known for exposing Nigerian youths to crimes and prostitu-

tion by deliberately forcing them out of the campuses in order to breed more thugs and child-brides. It is unthinkable that a government could be so comfortable to allow Polytechnics and universities to frequently embark on strike because of nonchalance and lack of focus on the government side.

No doubt ASUU’s strike is becoming boring and irrelevant. The situation where the union goes on strike for months and returns to work when

S

• Tola Osunnuga, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State

Why nothing works in Nigeria

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IR: Nigeria is touted as the giant of Africa. The truth is, Nigeria has the potentials to become the true giant of Africa; it is not a giant. For all our human and material resources, Nigeria is mired in economic stagnation and technological backwardness. Nigeria’s woes are not unconnected with inept, corrupt and incompetent political leadership.

We have not got our politics right since we became a politically independent country in 1960. Official corruption has ruined Nigeria. So, nothing works here. From education to health, to electricity, to infrastructural development, it is the same sad tale of rot. Monies set aside for the execution of capital projects are pilfered and stolen by political leaders supervising such projects.

Can Nigeria become an industrialized country when such things as good roads and steady supply of electricity which are given in other coun-

tries are in a deplorable state here?

Nigerians roads are death traps despite the fact that billions of naira are voted and budgeted yearly for the construction and rehabilitation of roads; the Benin – Ore road and other roads are death traps. These roads are marked by pot – holes and craters. Drivers get involved in road accidents while swerving to avoid entering the craters on our roads.

Some of the roads in Nigeria, an oilrich country, cannot hold candle to the ones in war - ravaged countries like Cambodia and Afghanistan. But, our political and religious elite with ill – gotten wealth own private jets and seldom travel by road. Now, the number of deaths caused by road accident outnumbers those resulting from malaria and HIV/AIDS infections. Nigerian roads are now killing – fields.

I am a victim of the Nigerian bad road - network. On February 24, I was involved in a fatal road acci-

dent on the Umunnachi stretch of the Old Awka – Onitsha road. It was a multiple accident caused by a fast travelling lorry with faulty brake, which claimed lives of some passengers on the buses involved in the accident. My right hand was trapped between the body of the bus and a deep gutter.

In Nigeria, almost everybody lays claim to being a devout Muslim or Christians. We talk excitedly about God, Allah and Jesus, and pray fervently to God for break-through in our endeavors. Yet, we fail the simple test of love, daily. We wear the mask of religiosity, and fake piety to deceive others into believing that we are with love and moral scruples. Nigeria is a failed or failing state because most Nigerians are morally vacuous and spiritually arid. That’s the reason past leaders had stolen Nigeria blind.

But, are our leaders not products of a society with warped values and

Archbishop Tutu and a ‘Homophobic God’ IR: I am writing to draw the attention of the general public particularly our religious leaders to the recent bold and thoughtful pronouncement of the retired archbishop of Cape Town and Nobel Prize Laureate, Desmond Tutu.

Speaking at an event organized by the UN to promote gay rights in South Africa, Tutu said categorically that he would never worship a

the reasons that necessitated the strike action were not met is counter-productive and meaningless.

Why the strike in the first instance?

ASUU’s strength and commitment to revamping the educational system is measured by the results of this particular strike. Should the lecturers call off or suspend the strike (when the agreement is not implemented) and declare another strike in future due to non-implementation of the agreement, Nigerian will be left with no option than to move against ASUU. It is either now or never to save the public universities. ASUU must bear in mind that the world is watching and its failure at this time will change public perception about the motive of the union.

‘homophobic God’ and that he would prefer going to hell to going to a homophobic heaven. “I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to the other place,” Tutu said. He compared his campaign against homophobia to that against apartheid in South Africa.

Tutu’s statement is coming at a time of rising waves of homophobic

attacks, persecution and killing in different parts of Africa. An anti-gay legislation is awaiting the signature of the President in Nigeria. Gay activists have been murdered in Uganda and Cameroun. Homosexual act is a crime in many African countries, and many gay people are languishing in jails across the region.

The moves to tighten the laws against homosexuality have the strong back-

ing of Christian and Muslim leaders.

I hope some Christian and Muslim leaders in Africa would emulate Archbishop Tutu and begin to openly denounce and dissociate themselves from the ‘popular’ reverence and worship of a homophobic ‘God’ in the region • Leo Igwe Dept of Religious Studies University of Bayreuth, Germany

perverted agents of socialization?

Schools, which are agents of socialization, are breeding grounds for future leaders. Those that passed through the portals of our educational institutions are expected to possess exemplary character and deep learning. But, can we say that of them? Today, in our schools, lecturers trade grades and scores for sex and money. And, religious activities and staging of beauty pageants have replaced researches and scientific inquiry on our campuses. So, our universities graduates are not morally and educationally equipped to tackle the leadership challenges of the 21st century.

Can our economy grow in a milieu of corruption, ethnic bigotry, religious intolerance, violence, blood-letting and over-bloated bureaucracy? It takes a competent, dedicated, and selfless leader for a country to ascend to the summit of economic prosperity and technological advancement. Those strutting their stuff on our political arena and calling the shots are ethnic chauvinists, religious bigots and perverted cradle-snatchers.

So, bad leadership is at the root of our national woes. We practice democracy, which pre-supposes that sovereignty rests with the people.

But, inveterate election-riggers, kingmakers and other selfish interests subvert our collective will and impose their leaders on us.

• Chiedu Uche Okoye Uruowulu – Obosi Anambra State.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

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COMMENTS A community with worthy elders never comes to ruin – Yoruba proverb

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R

epublican ipples

HEN do elders morph from leaders to dealers?

The latest foxtrot on the Rivers crisis, by the South-South Elders and Stakeholders, a group led by Pa Edwin Clark, Ijaw leader and presidential godfather, might just offer a clue.

The Clark-led elders, on July 24, told Governor Chibuike Amaechi to stop lordbeek@yahoo.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) blaming President Goodluck Jonathan and Patience, his ever-meddling wife, for the contrived Rivers crisis; told the governor to shape in or shape out; told the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to kick out the governor to serve as warning to other power renegades; pooh-poohed the four northern governors that went on a solidarity visit to Amaechi as cynical meddlers; and branded Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, as an arch-hypocrite who wept more than the bereaved at the legislative banditry of the Rivers Obasanjo’s impeachment, linking the Oyo legislative crisis to G-5, while he kept mute in earlier legislative outlawry in Oyo his complicity – just as Jonathan’s link to the present Rivers (where Governor Rashidi Ladoja was illegally impeached) and affront is crystal clear.

Soyinka’s native Ogun State (when Governor Gbenga Daniel “Obasanjo has acted sufficiently against the constitution to inspired legislative lawlessness in his gubernatorial dying days). warrant his impeachment,” Soyinka declared on 20 January 2006.

Indeed, they practically did a pun on the famous author of The “There is more than enough evidence to warrant his impeachMan Died and his work: that the man died in the Nobel Laureate ment”. for his alleged quiet at constitutional outrages in Oyo and Ogun That was even a case of 18 (a simple majority) removing the states; while jerking awake at the repeat of the same crime in governor in a 32-member legislature, which nevertheless fell their Rivers! short of the constitutionally required two-thirds majority: not a But, of course, Clark and his “elders”, in their release, case of Rivers’ “simple minority” of five versus 27! AFP, with never bothered with the rigour of reason. All they barked, Nigerian newspapers, reported the Soyinka stand. conceited folks, was the language of power, boasting neither On the Gbenga Daniel legislative shenanigans in Ogun, wisdom nor reason. where the minority G-9 overthrew the majority G-15, Soyinka The whole thing was some dumb smartie’s response to the was no less hard-hitting. “I wish to state, categorically, this five northern governors’ “Save Democracy tour” to former Presicannot and must not be allowed to stand. I call on the citizens of dent Olusegun Obasanjo (Jonathan’s estranged godfather), Gen. the state to ensure democracy is restored. A minority” he inIbrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, three sisted, “cannot sack a majority”. former soldiers ironically pitched to help save democracy unIndeed, since Soyinka’s famous “Daani Elebo” laconic der Jonathan’s reckless assault! putdown, he had visited every OGD misdeed with ringing conBut again, the Clark gambit was a classic from the brilliant demnation, including dismissing OGD’s as “government by dullness of the Jonathan court: no tactics, no strategy, just stark billboard”. power blundering and bumbling!

But where was Clark’s beloved presidential godson in all of Even then, if the so-called elders wilfully lost a bit of their these? Feigned culpable disinterest enough to name and retain wisdom in anticipation of some power gravy, can’t their young Daniel as his South West presidential campaign coordinator!

Turks at least work hard to safeguard the integrity of their claims?

For Jonathan, it was, it is and ever shall be: to win and keep The Clark group made the fantastic claim that Soyinka kept power, every constitutional breach is tolerable! mute during the legislative anomie in Oyo and Ogun states. But All these were in the public space. They are eminently verifithis claim is either criminal forgetfulness or plain mischief. able with a push of the computer keyboard. Yet, Clark and his On the Ladoja illegal impeachment, Soyinka called for elders made such an outlandish claim! Might these elders suffer “The Clark gambit was a classic from criminal senility, just to patch up the ultra-bad case of their godson? the brilliant dullness of the Jonathan beloved Even if Soyinka had kept mum: does that justify the criminality court: no tactics, no strategy, just stark in the Rivers Assembly of five (with a fake mace to boot!) trying to overthrow the will of 27, simply because of collusion from power blundering and bumbling!”

Jonathan’s Nigeria Police? That is the futility and hollow arro-

gance of power, while these socalled South-South elders ought to have built their case on rigour and reason. It falls flat – even in the ears of the dumb!

But Soyinka was right: if Obasanjo had been impeached for the Ladoja outrage or Jonathan seriously reprimanded for playing dumb, for electoral gain, on the OGD-inspired Ogun legislative crime, this nonsense would not have repeated itself; and the Clark “elders” would not ridicule themselves with woolly thinking to back constitutional evil.

But maybe it is good Jonathan is pushing his good luck. And maybe, if he pushes it enough, he just might be impeached to avert any future presidential rascality! Did these elders ever think of this dire possibility?

Really, it is amusing Clark of all people would doubt Soyinka’s total commitment to a Nigeria driven by equity, justice and fair play, and not arbitrary power. Indeed, when Soyinka landed in Ibadan in 1969, after his Civil War Kaduna incarceration, his first response to the war-time jingle, “To keep Nigeria One ...” was a snappy riposte: “Justice must be done!”

A younger Clark was busy collaborating with the same northern forces he now wants to demonise, to willy-nilly protect his godson – a power he doesn’t even have. But that is the way of Nigeria’s power men and women of all seasons!

Soyinka comes from a diametrically opposed culture: justice men and women of all seasons. And names like Obafemi Awolowo, Tai Solarin, Ayodele Awojobi, Gani Fawehinmi, Femi Falana – do they ring a bell? They stand for justice and fair play and would battle anyone, no matter where he comes from, even within their own Yoruba stock, that essays impunity.

So those orchestrated merchants of vulgar abuse, who claim the Yoruba are their problems because Soyinka told Jonathan to rein in his henchmen and women in Port Harcourt, miss the point.

The Nigerian Presidency is not South-South property. Whoever occupies that post must play by the rules or face the flak of right-thinking citizens – Nigeria is a republic, after all! So it is with President Jonathan.

As for Clark’s grouse with the visiting northern governors, the late Chuba Okadigbo called it “political arithmetic”. If Jonathan, with his power delusion and certified incompetence, alienates a wide swath of the North and a good chunk of the South West, how does he hope to win a second term? Indeed, if his party is in disarray and he is, for ego, planting further insurrection in his back yard, how does his centre hold?

Elders are supposed to be wise. Clark and co must do some hard thinking, save Jonathan from self-inflicted ruin and stop playing to juvenile gallery.

Olakunle Abimbola

Of leaders and dealers: Soyinka Vs Clark

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ID anyone watch the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala bemoan, on TV, the nation’s daily loss of 400,000 barrels of crude before the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Appropriation/ Finance two weeks ago?

It is not impossible that many Nigerians passed off that latest signature cluelessness of the Jonathan administration to the festering menace as one of one of those things – another instance of the systemic meltdown under the current managers - more out of indifference to its trademark incompetence than anything else.

Unfortunately, we are talking of a development that is at the heart of the survival of the Nigerian nation, a malaise that the nation can pass off only at its peril.

Picture a minister in charge of the exchequer passing off a loss nearly equal to 20 percent of its projected revenue for a given year? And this presented merely as footnote in the context of turf war between the executive and the legislature over the shape and size of budget – as against what should have been a red flag to summon citizens to war?

Don’t ask me how bad things can further get. I doubt if it could be worse.

Those who say Nigeria is a country of infinite possibilities are damn right. What are we talking about here?

At a conservative estimate of $100 a barrel, we are talking of a daily loss of $40 million; that is a princely loss of N2.184tn per annum – a figure nearly 50 percent of the entire federal government budget for 2013 – and this lost to shadowy operators!

The obverse side of the tragedy is that the Jonathan administration does not even know the fraction of the 400,000 barrels stolen!

Ten percent, 20, or more? Even President Jonathan’s acclaimed coordinator of the economy wouldn’t attempt a guesstimate beyond that “it is not as if the entire 400,000 barrels is stolen, no”.

Really? What more does she know? “That whenever the pipelines are attacked and oil is taken, there is a total shut down. All the quantity of oil produced for that day will be lost because it means government cannot sell it and it means a drop in revenue.” Good heavens! How about offering Nigerians that for consolation and that coming from our Ivy League minister!

Let’s attempt a simple arithmetic, taking a conservative figure of 10 percent of the amount as representing the stolen crude. That is some $4 million dollars daily – lost to the illicit trade and in the Gulf of Guinea region that already enjoys the dubious reputation of being one of the most under-policed regions of the world?

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Oil theft and a minister’s lament Well, I’m told that the sum is enough to finance Gulf War 11!

Is anyone still in doubt that the nation is sitting on gunpowder?

And what did our distinguished lawmakers do? Nothing. No summons to the Petroleum Minister. None to the Navy authorities or even the entire defence establishment. Does anyone see how easy it is for the abnormal to become norm in these parts? No wonder our bored but sometimes hyperactive lawmakers have since moved on to attend to other matters!

In this however, the lawmakers would seem by far less culpable than the ‘dovish’ Commander-in-Chief under whose watch the nation is being violated and bled.

In the first place, given what we know of the illicit trade, it is hardly done under the cover of darkness. It cannot be. Hard to imagine is how those super-tankers mooring to the shore to steal Nigeria’s crude escape being caught under the radar of the Amphibious Brigade of the Nigerian Army or the continent’s second largest Navy? And we are told that the business is a daily occurrence? Who’s kidding?

Let me put things in proper perspective. Oil theft is certainly nothing new – at least not in these parts. At Obasanjo coming in 1999, the daily loss to the activities of criminals stood at some point at 100,000 barrels per day. To its credit, the administration, rather than whine about the menace, actually brought the illegal trade down to 30,000 barrels per day or even less by 2003. The reversal of the achievement, which began under the Yar’Adua administration, is what has now hit the record

levels of 400,000 barrels per day under President Goodluck Jonathan.

To have a clearer sense of the disaster that is daily visited on the nation is to imagine a corporation losing nearly 20 percent of its revenue, not to acts of nature but to activities that are within the purview of those charged with running it. Surely, that would be a good ground for an extraordinary meeting by shareholders to sack both the board and executive management; that is if they are lucky to get out apiece as against seeking a renewal of woeful tenure!

The greater tragedy is that all this is happening at a time of great dynamism in the oil industry globally. One of the major developments is the revolution in shale oil sub sector primed to ensure that oil imports by leading consumers like the US is drastically curtailed. From barely 111,000 barrels per day production in 2004, the United States ramped up its shale oil output to 553,000 barrels per day in 2011 – an annualised growth rate of 26 percent during the period. As if the trend is not ominous enough for the oil-producer OPEC cartel, the country’s oil imports is said to be down to its lowest levels in two decades with shale oil projected to displace hydrocarbon imports by 35-40 percent in the long term.

If you thought that an OPEC member country like Nigeria ought to have gone to the drawing board to assess the likely impacts of the shale oil revolution on its revenues, budgets and the economy as a whole, you are tragically mistaken. Indeed, OPEC’s sixth largest producer hasn’t even shown signs of joining the debate anytime soon, not to talk of seeking to evolve a strategy to mitigate the potential long term effects of the revolution on its revenues. Instead, what we have is a nation hung on the menace of oil theft, a legislature on spendthrift mode, and a President on global shuttle looking for foreign help to protect its exclusive economic zone when he should be at his War Room issuing orders to his men to end the menace!

Let me reiterate what I said at the beginning; it couldn’t get worse. I mean it.

‘What we have is a nation hung on the menace of oil theft, a legislature on spendthrift mode, and a President on global shuttle looking for foreign help to protect its exclusive economic zone’

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

22

COMMENTS

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HEN Major Hamza al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha was recently discharged and acquitted of change of murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Bashorun M.K.O Abiola, by an Appeal Court in Lagos, it felt like somebody messing in ones mouth and putting salt as well, as the Yoruba would say.

The mess, one can’t swallow, the salt one cannot spit out, if you understand what that means. It was a sweet/bitter verdict that could be described as both victory and defeat for justice at the same time. To al-Mustapha and family, it was victory for justice while the Abiola family naturally felt otherwise. I guess most Nigerians felt the same way as the Abiolas but because the appellate court had spoken, are resigned to leaving everything in the hands of God, the ultimate judge.

But the Lagos state government (the prosecutor in this case) I guess, might not be inclined to handing over to God yet, as there is still one window of appeal to the Supreme Court left and might be willing to explore that, if only to be seen to have tried everything legally possible to get what the majority (at least in the South west) believes to be justice in this celebrated murder case.

I deliberately refused to join the bandwagon in condemning or praising al-Mustapha’s acquittal for obvious reasons even though I smelt rat in the whole thing. I could see politics at play here even though one could not point at any particular politician as being behind it. But with speculations in the air that al-Mustapha is about to pitch his tent with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), coupled with the reception he got when he visited the Government House in Kano shortly after his release, one needs no soothsayer to conclude that the former CSO had the support of the ruling party while his trial lasted.

It might not be out of place to also conclude that the powers that be in the north were sympathetic towards al-Mustapha’s cause as could be seen not only in the enthusiastic welcome he had received so far from his home region, but also in the shocking silence of that class on how to get justice for the Abiolas, after all somebody shot and killed Kudirat and the person was acting under somebody’s order. So, who did it and who gave the order?

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WO coloured birds sat complacently atop the Abia Tower this cloudy Sunday evening. They were chatting away happily, oblivious of the chaos of motorists below the height of about 100 meters. The gigantic concrete tower stands at the middle of the Port-Harcourt/Enugu Expressway at the interjection into Umuahia metropolis.

Beyond its towering height and aesthetic grandeur, there is a quite significant meaning and message in the edifice.

The imposing tower, built in Gothic cathedral designs with a concave metallic arch, is the first structure that welcomes one into the Abia State capital. With a certain reassuring air, it announces this hospitality with a bold inscription: Welcome to Abia ; God’s Own State. There are four of this inscription facing the four directions of the road, all written in bold white letters on a background of black metallic plates. The walls are painted in pink and light yellow colours which glow with the translucent lights overlooking the ground from the height.

I see the tower as the first brand ambassador of Abia State and it has consistently lived up to this billing with the warmth and friendliness conjured into its magical designs – a quality it transmits to visitors and residents alike as they behold its majestic heights. It embraces everyone and quickly introduces the people and the style of the incumbent leadership.

Since 1991 when the tower was built, it has remained a landmark structure with some architectural elegance around it. There is an effort, perhaps unconscious, to re-enact the surreal Gothic designs with its galloping pillars and the hollowness of its interior. A ring of iron bars encircles and secures it and there is a staircase that leads to the first elevation where a greenery of flowers has been laid out like a farm around it. There is a clear effort to create an enduring and beautiful statute. But, there is obviously no intension to have the tower speak in political tunes or stand as a fore-runner to the style of a current political leadership. All former leaders before Governor Theodore Orji saw it as only what it is - a statute, a tower. They could not see the potential in the concrete object as a

As al-Mustapha prepares to join PDP...

Until that person or those people are found and punished, al-Mustapha remains guilty in the minds of the people here, the show of shame by Dr Fredrick Faseun of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) hailing his acquittal notwithstanding.

In spite of the court’s verdict, if al-Mustapha and his co-accused as they were then, had a hand in Kudirat’s murder or any of the numerous unresolved murders of the Abacha era, definitely they will not go unpunished, both here and in the hereafter.

My concern here is not even about their punishment if they were indeed involved in the murder, but the red carpet being given to al-Mustapha in particular as if (the murder case apart) he was a honourable, just and competent officer while he held court as the unseen number two in the administration of the late maximum ruler. Don’t forget that alMustapha, a mere Major in the Nigerian Army was more powerful than most of his seniors, Major Generals et al including the official second in command in that regime, a three-star General, Lt. General Oladipo Diya.

After Abacha, no other person was most feared than al-Mustapha.

Have we suddenly forgotten all those revelations made at the Oputa panel about the activities of the death squad of that regime that were answerable only to al-Mustapha?

Has anybody been punished? If al-Mustapha had no hand in the killing of Kudirat what of the other crimes committed under his watch as CSO? Are we sweeping such under the carpet or has he been cleared? Until we are told that the man is free of all the baggage

attached to him as Abacha’s CSO, it would be wrong to parade him as a kind of a hero or victim of vendetta as he wants us to believe.

It would even be worse if any political party should roll out the red carpet for him and admit him into its fold.

It is unfortunate that the PDP already smells opportunities for electoral gains in the release of al-Mustapha, and the young man himself seems to wants to make political capital of it.

Apart from visiting the Government House, Kano, controlled by the PDP, shortly after his release, he had been making some political comments and visitations as well.

He was at the Abuja home of the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahideen Asari-Dokubo at the weekend where he was beating his chest as being the one whose actions shortly after Abacha’s death gave birth to this democracy. Can you imagine that, coming from an al-Mustapha? He wants us to praise him for not taking over power then, which he could have easily done according to him if he wanted to. What an insult? I think the young man is better advised to take it easy and lie low for some time and not reopen healing wounds. His choice of words and association tend to portray a man with an exaggerated view of his value. The AsariDokubo that he visited would either be in detention or a dead man under the Abacha administration that he served. We have not forgotten who killed Ken Saro Wiwa.

In any case politics they say is all about interest. So, an Asari-Dokubo can hobnob with an al-Mustapha? Wonders shall never

The metaphor of Abia Tower

By Godwin Adindu great image-maker for the state and for the manner of leadership.

Indeed, the Abia tower is an embodiment of the Abia story – a journey through stagnation and then revival. It is an epical monument capturing a dispensation in the people’s movement. Though a mere object of cement and gravel, it projects the message that is Governor Orji’s travails and triumph in the corridors of power. It celebrates the revival and the rebirth that are the governor’s stewardship.

Before 2007 when Governor Orji came on board, the tower was a statement of stagnation. In very unmistakable terms, it told the story of the style and manner of leadership of Governor Orji’s predecessor. The tower was weather-beaten, dirty, dilapidated and literally abandoned. Happy and well-fed spiders built a mast of cobwebs around its concave parapets. The paintings wore out and the smooth surfaces peeled. The surroundings remained unkempt and overgrown with the inner pavement transforming into a defecation point for hoodlums and motor parks boys around the place. Some letters of the bold inscription cleaned off and the walls cracked with neglect. It was a shoddy sight which provided a parallax view of the eightyears of Abia’s stagnation.

In year 2000, when I accompanied some tourists, journalists and movie-makers to attend the eight-day UgwuAbia cultural festival, the Abia tower was an eyesore. It was a demeaning testimony of neglect and stagnation and it spoke volumes about the style of the government of the day.

Thank God! Today, there is a new Abia tower. Quite cleverly, Governor Orji saw an opportunity in the tower to tell the message of his vision and the giant political strides.

Upon ascension to power in 2007, he quickly renovated the tower and has consistently maintained it as a treasure for the state. Since

then, the towering structure has continued to wear a new and sparkling look. It has recovered its charm and mystique. With the new paintings, the bold inscription has come alive.

On the ground and around the surroundings, there is a beautiful greenery dotted with flowers. And in place of the old garbage is a beautiful arcade which has added to the beauty of the landscape of this inroad into Umuahia.

Indeed, the Abia tower of today speaks eloquently of the new Abia. The new, beautiful outlook, in abstract forms, represent the rebirth and the attendant changes that have come with the liberation. It is a testimony of Governor Orji’s transformation efforts transmuted in a concrete structure. This transformation has seen to the laying of a fresh foundation for Abia, an enterprise under which he converted Abia into a huge construction site.

There are many sides to the message of the new tower. The first is the testimony of the two coloured birds. The sense of order and tranquility conjured by the uniformity of the design and the paintings represent the new society of law and order which is the current status of Abia. This air of peace evokes the memory of the governor’s pragmatic struggle to create a society of law and order out of the chaos of the past. There was a time when Abia was almost like a pariah state due to the challenges posed by kidnappers. Today, Abia is an oasis of sanity in the federation. There is security in Aba, Umuahia and other parts of Abia State, a situation that has transformed Abia to a destination of choice for major national events. The JAMB, NUJ, CBN, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and other national organizations have all come to Abia to hold their conferences and retreats.

This is a testimony to the success of Orji’s commitment and policy in the area of security. From being a pariah state, Abia is now a destination of choice.

The second message is coming from the renovated walls of the tower. It speaks of the governor’s large-scale programme of

cease. All for a Jonathan presidency again in 2015? So all those derogatory things AsariDokubo has been saying about the north, what E. K Clark, the Ijaw leader has been saying against the Hausa/Fulani no longer hold water as long as al-Mustapha can help win the northern votes for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015? Nigeria we hail thee.

Since al-Mustapha’s release, different Ijaw groups and leaders have been failing over each other to outdo one another in hailing his acquittal, nothing wrong in that if only they are genuine and sincere, but we all know why; 2015. But al-Mustapha should remember the party story of the Biafran leader late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu, who because he was granted pardon by the NPN government of President Shehu Shagari in the second republic, quickly joined the on his return from exile and took Ndigbo to NPN, thinking that the interest of his people, who had followed Dr Nnamdi Azikwe to NPP that time would be better protected in the ruling party, he was wrong. The rest is history.

Nothing personal against al-Mustapha, but he should tread softly and realise that the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola is still fresh and hurting in our memory, beating his chest all over the place or jumping into the political arena would do nothing to heal the wounds, he needs to show remorse and seek ALLAH’s forgiveness for the pains he inflicted on so many Nigerians as Abacha’s CSO. This is more honourable than joining the political fray. A word for President Jonathan and his group as well, Nigerians are no fools again; our mumu don do.

‘In spite of the court’s verdict, if al-Mustapha and his co-accused as they were then, had a hand in Kudirat’s murder or any of the numerous unresolved murders of the Abacha era, definitely they will not go unpunished, both here and in the hereafter’ infrastructural renewal. Under this programme, Orji started by laying a totally fresh foundation for the state. With a paltry federal allocation, he has been able to build legacy projects, like the world-class Conference Centre in Umuahia, the new four-storey Secretariat Complex, the new Government House, the Abia Diagnostic Centre in Umahia and Aba, the new High Court building, new modern offices for the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia and a host of other monumental projects. The roads in Aba and Umuahia have been transformed.

The third message lay buried in the beautiful grounds and greenery of flowers around the tower. I see it this the governor’s agricultural revolution and his efforts to revive the time-honoured Abia agro-economy. Under this effort, he revived the cashew and palm tree plantations of old. He disbursed N1 billion micro-credit to farmers and established the liberation farms in the 17 local councils of the state. Already, 50 Abians are working at the Okeikpe farms, the pilot project of the liberation farms where plantain is being bred Truly, the Abia tower is a lucid narrative about Abia’s transformation.

• Adindu is the President-general of the Abia Renaissance Movement (ARM)

‘In very unmistakable terms, it told the story of the style and manner of leadership of Governor Orji’s predecessor. The tower was weatherbeaten, dirty, dilapidated and literally abandoned.

Happy and well-fed spiders built a mast of cobwebs around its concave parapets. The paintings wore out and the smooth surfaces peeled’

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

23

MARITIME

Why corruption is high T at ports, by report

Ogun Customs reduces clearing time

•Apapa, Tin Can, Port Harcourt, Warri ports assessed

•From left: Nta; Executive Member, ICPC, Isa Ozi Salami; Ekwekwuo and Palicarsky at the event.

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HY is corruption endemic at the ports? It is because of ineffective administrative practices, weak institutions and poverty, among others, says a report on the Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) of six ports.

The ports are Apapa and Tin Can in Lagos State, Port Harcourt and Onne (Rivers), Calabar (Cross River) and Warri (Delta).

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR) and Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) commissioned the work.

ICPC Chairman Ekpo Nta, who presented the report in Lagos at a validation meeting, said it was prepared by the group’s consultants, Constantine Palicarsky and Chibuzo Ekwekwuo.

Corruption, the report said, was high at the ports because of poverty and related cultural issues, adding that there are 70 million people living below poverty level in the country.

It said: “In addition, serious security problems make the situation even more difficult for entrepreneurs. This generates additional costs for clients and contributes to the delay in port processes. For instance, proposal for 24-hour operation of the ports cannot be implemented as a result of security concerns. Besides, the host community seems to be a problem in itself and often local communities feeling alienated mount organised pressure to demand money from operators. This is noticeable particularly in the Warri port.

“Indications for state capture exist particularly in Onne and Warri ports, where concessions have been given to Intels as a terminal operator. Also

Stories by Emeka Ugwuanyi, Assistamt Editor

there is no independent place or institution to report corruption occurring in the ports. Complainants have no direct access to ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in the ports area or access to alternative virtual mechanisms. Complaints submitted to port agencies are often referred to the very subjects against whom the complaint is filed, or immediate but compromised superiors. As a result there is huge reluctance to report corrupt demands, and stakeholders fear subtle but effective reprisals if they do,” they explained.”

The report said, while attention is on restructuring operations at the ports including adoption of the Landlord Port Model and concessioning of many ports to private concerns, attention is not given to the agencies, their inter-

‘In addition, serious security problems make the situation even more difficult for entrepreneurs. This generates additional costs for clients and contributes to the delay in port processes. For instance, proposal for 24-hour operation of the ports cannot be implemented as a result of security concerns’

nal and external environment. Consequently, the organisational culture within those institutions affects their operations in the ports, the report said, adding that insufficient attention is given to ethics development, deployment and compliance monitoring issues at the ports.

It said Nigeria still doesn’t have an approved National Anti-Corruption Strategy, adding that the system of checks and balances is not entirely effective and needs to be improved.

The report said: “The nature and limits of legislative and executive oversight needs to be better codified and made more predictable. Also, policy volatility is a major problem.

The effects of this include multiple regulators and agencies at the ports in the past few decades. The controversy on the direct inspection contracts at the ports and borders is another example of policy volatility.

“The declared policy and concession framework required securing direct inspection companies to provide technology, equipment, training and inspection services such as scanning, for a number of years. They were required to use the contract period to train and equip customs officials, and handover operations and equipment at the end of the agreed service period to the Nigeria Customs Service.

It would appear that now the contracts have ended, there is reluctance to allow customs takeover.”

The report noted that despite the adoption of Information Technology (IT) in conduct of ports’ businesses as well as Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA), many operations are carried out manually with the attendant errors and corrupt practices.

Railway to evacuate containers from Lagos to Kano next month

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HE Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has said it will start haulage of containers from Lagos to Kaduna and Kano States next month.

NRC’s Head of Public Relations, Mr David Ndakotsu, told The Nation that arrangement has been concluded to transport containers from APM Terminals at Apapa Port to inland container depots in Kaduna and Kano.

“As from August, we will start the haulage of containers from APM Terminals in Apapa Port to the Inland Container Nigeria Ltd depots in Kaduna and Kano states.

The initiative, he said, was to boost

the corporation’s public-private partnership.

Ndakotsu also said an agreement had been signed with a company for the weekly haulage of its bran and wheat flour from Lagos to Kaduna under the programme.

“About 436 tonnes of the products are expected to be freighted weekly from Apapa to Kaduna,’’ he said.

On the third weekly Lagos-Kano passenger train service, Ndakotsu said the train would depart Lagos at 11.00 a.m. every Thursday with arrival time of 5.00 p.m. in Kano the following day.

He said with the additional serv-

ice, the number of passengers to be moved on the route would increase from 3,500 to 5,500.

“It is anticipated that the third weekly train service will help to decongest existing services and avail passengers more comfortable and pleasant trips,’’ Ndakotsu added.

The first weekly Lagos-Kano passenger train service, which was inaugurated on December 21, 2012, departs Lagos at noon every Friday.

The second weekly train service, which departs Lagos at 9.00 a.m. on Tuesdays, terminates at Ilorin, Kwara, with a connecting train from Offa to Kano.

HE Ogun Command of the Ni geria Customs Service has in troduced efficiency in clearing period of goods through the IdiIroko border post. The clearing period through the area (that is the process of taking imports out of the command), which formerly takes about one week, has been reduced to about one hour.

It was gathered that goods especially vehicles, which have accurate declarations either by the importers or agents, are now speedily processed by the Customs officers through the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA++).

It was also learnt that once the goods have been valued and scanned, the correct import duties paid, and no discrepancy detected on the goods during the examination process, the goods are released to their owners immediately.

An importer, Mr Azeez Owodunni, who also is the Managing Director of Azeez Clearing and Forwarding Agency, confirmed that vehicles can be cleared through the Idi-Iroko border post in one hour if the declarations for the payment of import duty is properly done and no concealment found in the cargo.

Another agent, who patronises the border post, said unlike in the past when it took days to clear goods through the Ogun Command border post, the clearing process can now be commenced and completed within one hour depending on the sincerity of the agent or importer at paying the right import duty on goods.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Ade Dosunmu explained that what was responsible for the im-

provement in clearing of goods at the command, was the effective us e of the ASYCUDA++and the scanning machine for the examination of goods.

He said the Idi- Iroko border post is one of the few b order posts in Nigeria today where you can make your correct self-assessment and have your documents processed for clearing of your goods within an hour.

Dosunmu said the encouragement the command gave the officers since he assumed office as the Controller, served as an impetus for them to be more committed and effective.

He listed some of the motivations to include increase in salaries and improvement in their welfare by the Customs Comptroller-General (CGC), Alhaji Abdullahi Inde Dikko.

He said his keying into the sevenpoint agenda of the CGC, has made it possible for him to ensure that the command’s operations were carried out faster so as to encourage more importers to use the border post and thus increase the revenue accruable to the Federal Government from imports.

He explained that once an agent or importer does his self-assessment correctly at the Idi-Iroko Data Trade Input (DTI) by paying the right import duty on the cargo, there would be no basis for any delay on the part of the command at ensuring that the goods are cleared promptly.

The Controller noted that in as much as the officers are up-todate in training and are more committed to their work, there would be no way goods cannot be cleared within one hour at the command.

Renew Dikko’s tenure, govt urged

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REIGHT Forwarders have urged President Goodluck Jonathan to reappoint the Controller-General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Inde Dikko, for a second term.

The Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (CMDLCA), the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN) and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), in a statement, said Dikko deserves more time to enable him to “put finishing touches to his laudable programmes”.

Dikko’s tenure will end next month when he would have served four years, but stakeholders want him to continue.

CMDLCA’s Seme Chapter Chairman, Charles Thomas, said: “Dikko has taken the Customs Service to a height that would have been impossible to attain in 50 years without his enterprise, passion, zeal, focus, professionalism and dedication, but he needs some more time, at least, one year more, to round off

some of his programmes.

AREFFN’s National Vice-President, Innocent Elum, said: “I know that Dikko has served four years and he has done very well; no doubt about that. But I know also that there are things he still needs to put in place, or fine-tune. He needs more time to do that. Service rushed is service crushed. I call on President Goodluck Jonathan to give him another four years.”

Chairman ANLCA, Seme Chapter, Patrick Ozobialu, said Dikko, a Russian-trained economist, has “brought blessings” to NCS.He said Dikko has modernised the servive and and projected it for international relevance and recognition, adding that the CG has boosted the morale of the officers and men, as well as introduced training programme for all.

He said the NCS helmsman is partnering anti-corruption agencies, especially the EFCC, to fight corruption in the ports. He appealed to the President to give him more time “so, we can tap more from his good ideas”.

Apapa Customs rakes in N121b

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HE Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) boosted the government’s coffer with N121 billion in the first six months of the year.

The Public Relations Officer, Apapa Area Command, Mr Emmanuel Ekpa, in the command’s half-year performance report, said the amount collected represented only 52 per cent of the total revenue targeted to be generated within the first half of the year.

Ekpa said: “The command collected over N121 billion as revenue generated into the federation and non-federation accounts between January and June 2013. The amount collected is about 52 per cent of the N234 billion aspired to be collected in the first six months of the year going by the monthly revenue target of N39 bil-

lion.”

A breakdown of the revenue figure shows that the Command collected N20.8 billion in January; N19.8 billion in February; N18.6 billion in March. However, in the month of April, over N20 billion was collected as against N19.7 billion raked in the same period last year. The performance showed an increase in the previous year’s record.

The Command collected N19.8 billion in May as against N24.6 billion in May 2012. For the month of June, the command collected a total of N21 billion as against the N36.7billion in June of 2012.

Ekpa said that the inability of the Command to meet its half year target was due to the continuous decline in the volume of importation into the country.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Panel on FHA’s restructuring, commercialisation inaugurated

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HE Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple, has inaugurated an 18-member steering committee on the restructuring and commercialisation of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).

Ms. Pepple said the committee was informed by the need to involve relevant stakeholders in the efforts to bridge the nation’s housing deficit estimated at 16 million.

She said though the deficit figure was disputable because of the lack of a reliable housing census, she, however, agreed that a huge deficit existed, especially in the provision of housing for low income earners.

She said the Ministry had designed some houses to address the need in that segment of the society, express-

Stories by Seyi Odewale

ing hope that improvement would be noticed in the coming years.

FHA, the Minister said, was established over 40 years ago to deliver mass housing to Nigerians, regretting that it had not delivered satisfactorily on its mandate.

She blamed the failure on poor internally generated revenue base; poor corporate governance; lack of internal cohesion and high cost of its housing units among others.

To address these issues, she said, a special committee was set up by her to restructure the Authority in May, last year and that the panel recommended a overhaul of the FHA, while another body that was set up came up with an action plan

for the implementation of the recommendations of the restructuring committee.

Following the approval of the President, the minister said, a technical board was set up in January this year to oversee the restructuring and commercialisation of the FHA. Pepple said the steering committee would work with the technical board and the interim management team in drawing the commercialisation plan of the Authority.

The committee, she said, among others, would: advise on steps to create necessary conditions for the provision of mass affordable housing by the FHA in line with the National Housing policy; propose policies and regulatory framework to

drive the sector; advise on the role of the private sector in providing mass affordable housing in the country; advise on necessary actions to ensure the successful commercialization of the FHA; consider and advise on the Public Private Partnership framework and options being envisaged for the FHA; review and propose measures that will encourage private sector participation and serve as a clearing house for sector policy recommendations for Council consideration and approval.

The committee will also bring to the attention of the National Council on Privatisation any other matters which in the committee’s opinion are critical to government’s effort to reinvigorate and commercialise the FHA. The minister described the inauguration as a major milestone in the effort to make housing delivery in the country more robust and efficient, noting that funding was critical to the on-going reforms in the sector.

She urged the organisations on the committee to consider taking up equity in the commercialised FHA. Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Benjamin Dikki, urged the committee to identify the issues that drive the housing sector and those that would encourage the inflow of private sector cash to the sector. He said the committee should come up with legal and regulatory proposals that would drive the sector.

Organisations represented on the committee include: National Planning Commission; Federal Housing Authority; Federal Capital Territory Administration; Federal Ministry of Justice; the Central Bank of Nigeria; Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority; Infrastructure Bank; National Pension Commission; and National Lottery Regulatory Commission; Others were Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria; Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria; Skye Bank; Senior Staff Association of Communications, Transport and Corporations (SSACTAC) and Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

The Sector Director, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Dr Vincent Akpotaire, will serve as secretary of the committee.

New technology in housing delivery

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•Ms Pepple (left) and Executive Director, Housing Finance, Accounts and Corporate Services, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Ms Adaze Aguele, during the inauguration.

Firm targets one million homes

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O meet the housing needs of Nigerians, a Lagos-based firm, A2W Estates Limited, has inaugurated an ultra-modern housing estate in Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos outskirt, with a promise to replicate it in other parts of the country soon.

The firm’s Managing Director, Mr Adeolu Akinyemi, said the firm plans to provide one million classic and affordable homes in the next five years.

He said: “The first phase at Iju comprises of four units of threebedroom apartments and four units of studio apartments, developed to excellent standards and currently

up for sale. The second housing project is 80 per cent done in Iju also while the third and fourth are starting soon in New Oko-Oba and Ogba areas of Lagos State.”

The estate, he said, is in a serene and urban environment, which makes living splendid. “It also boasts of state-of-the-art facilities coupled with an inviting landscape which makes it very attractive to the people,” he said.

The rationale behind the scheme, Akinyemi said, was borne out of understanding the disturbing gap in housing in Nigeria. “With a shortage of millions of houses, it is

a responsibility we realise we can’t abandon to the government alone,” he said.

He said his firm’s vision is to become one of the top five real estate firms in the vanguard of providing affordable housing to Nigerians, adding that the target is to develop housing units in every city of Nigeria.

“We plan to cover all areas in Lagos State and make visible housing impacts in other states of the federation in the next five years, building at least one million homes and reducing the quota of the unhoused in Nigeria,” he added.

Luxury residential living unveiled in Ghana

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N exclusive residential development has been unveiled in Accra, Ghana.

Comprising 18 luxury homes in one of the most coveted locations in the city, Ambassador Heights Residential Homes according to a statement, promises to deliver world class design and quality.

Modern glass facades, manicured private gardens, and beautiful interiors coupled with luxury finishes, fittings, and appliances, compliment a ownership experience owners of these apartment would have.

Ambassador Heights is designed

to be an urban sanctuary within the city for a privileged few. “This impressive development offers immediate access to Accra from the vibrant central business district to the sprawling seashore.

“With merely a few minutes away from the city Arts Centre, the National Museum and directly opposite the National Theatre, prospective owners would not lack a feel of local culture and entertainment to cater; a remarkable shift from busy urban lifestyle.

“Developed by the owner of the Moevenpick Ambassador Hotel and located within the same com-

pound, Ambassador Heights is luxury personified with each home enjoying direct access to services and amenities of the surrounding complex, private concierge, world class dining, shopping, fitness, swimming and meeting and event facilities, all with the comfort of being in a secure environment supported by continuous 24-hour electricity and water supply.

“With only 18 City Homes, the apartment offers a phenomenal investment opportunity in what is Accra’s premier downtown address,’’ the statement added.

SOUTH African based Nigerian firm, Ifek-Brown Limited, has fabricated a brick/ block making machine that can produce bricks/blocks at a faster rate and at affordable prices.

The effort, according to the Chief Executive of the firm, Williams Okeke, is aimed at reducing the huge cost of building construction in the country.

“Having looked at the building industry and the huge cost of construction in Nigeria, we then went ahead to fabricate equipment that will ease the cost of producing the major components of building, which are bricks or blocks,” he said.

He said the firm is coming to the country to raise awareness of its product, help reduce unemployment and provide a better alternative to brick/block making technology.

“We are coming to Nigeria to raise awareness and make our product affordable to all irrespective of class status or group. Our equipment is from Africa, built by Africans for Africa,” he added.

Okeke said though the awareness would raise the earnings of the company, “but we principally think we can collaborate with both governmental non-governmental organisations, that are involved in building and construction industry.

We are looking at taking our campaign to the six geo-political zones of the country to educate people on how this equipment works and the benefits from it.”

He continued: “At the same time, we want to let them know that this can generate employment massively. It will take less cement in making blocks. It will take less cement and more sand because the vibrating machines are capable of making the blocks firmer. There is a chemical we are going to introduce that will make one to use half a bag of cement to lay about 150 blocks.

What makes a building are the blocks used.”

Aside the brick/block making

machines, Okeke said his firm would collaborate with governments to build modular houses, which is a new technology in house delivery.

“We are also introducing modular type of building, which is a new technology in building. We have places where it has been used. For instance, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Haggai Estate, LagosIbadan Expressway, is using that technology to build their estate. It is a technology that can make about 20 three-bedroom bungalow in a day, using nine labourers. It may not be that cheap, but the more buildings we have, the lesser their cost,” he said.

The brick/block making machines, according to Okeke, are electrically powered and woud ease stress that usually comes with manually operated ones and the bricks are made with ‘zero’ input.

“We target small business outfits, who wish to upgrade their brick making endeavours. We also encourage medium scale enterprises to purchase the machines to enhance their productions. The machines can distribute more than a billion bricks in a year for construction workers in variety of shapes, colours and sizes,” Okeke added.

•Okeke

We are coming to Nigeria to raise awareness and make our product affordable to all irrespective of class status or group.

Our equipment is from Africa, built by Africans for Africa

INSIDE

TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

Health insurance scheme takes off

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

Page 25

Under-age marriage storm still raging

- Page 26

‘Abuja rail target realisable’

- Page 27

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Residents warned against substandard drugs

- Page 28

ENATORS in Abuja are not the only ones arguing over under-age marriage. On the streets of the nation’s capital residents have also been offering their perspectives on the heated issue. And, as you probably guessed, their opinions are divergent.

For instance, some think it is a matter of culture. They ask, if early marriage is widely practised in a community and the people see nothing wrong with it, why should anybody else fault it?

Still, some others (and they seem to be in the majority) see early marriage as barbaric.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, in an interview, also condemned the girl-child marriage.

She was of the view that the education and the empowerment of the girl-child and women are very important and should be taken seriously.

She added: “I totally support the empowerment of girls and

From Gbenga Omokhunu and Grace Obike

women. It has been shown that one very clear way to move our country out of poverty is to educate your girls and empower them. When they are educated all the other things fall in place and they will improve dramatically because they have a little more knowledge. The education of their children improves dramati-

cally when they have gone to school. ”So there is no doubt in my mind, letting them go to school is the best for the family. You start with what is good for the family to what is good for the nation to what is good for the globe. It is not a sentiment, the world knows this and our country need not lag behind.”

But a political analyst, Mr. Sani

It has been shown that one very clear way to move our country out of poverty is to educate your girls and empower them

Lawal Suleiman said that it is only hypocrites who believe it is a crime to marry an underage girl and call her a wife in one’s house, but the same people remain evasive about abusing and impregnating an under-age girl, denying the child and dumping her in her ordeal.

He asks, which is better: marrying an under-age girl into your house or abusing her in her parent’s house?”

Suleiman insisted that in the case of Nigeria, there is no way of stopping early prostitution or child-abuse.

He said that it is far better to marry the girl because it is almost impossible to stop the illicit trade.

Suleiman added that those who oppose early marriage are the same people who abuse the girls and then come •Continued on page 26

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

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ABUJA REVIEW

Media urged to promote Nigeria’s unity From Gbenga Omokhunu

•Senator Mohammed

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IGERIAN media has been called upon to promote peaceful co-existence and unity of the country.

FCT Minister, Senator Bala

Mohammed said this at the Eighth Annual Ramadan Public Lecture entitled “Islam in a Multi-Religious Society” organised by the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) at the National Mosque, Abuja.

The Minister who was represented at the occasion by Muhammad Hazat Sule, Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, insisted that without peace no nation can achieve much in terms of development or even in the practice of religious beliefs as enshrined in the holy books.

Mohammed reiterated that only through peace and stability would the entire country achieve sustainable development in all spheres.

The Minister emphasised that all the residents of the Fed-

eral Capital Territory and indeed every Nigerian have a stake in the Abuja project.

As the Minister congratulated the Muslim faithful, particularly those resident in the FCT on the commencement of the Ramadan fast, he admonished them to use this holy month for spiritual re-dedication and spread the message of love, self-

Only through peace and stability can the country achieve sustainable development, and every resident of the FCT has a stake in the Abuja project

Storm over under-age marriage

•Continued from Page 26

out to chant war songs against marrying them.

The fact, Suleiman said, is that it is almost impossible to stop abusing under-age children in any part of the world, so he suggested strict laws guiding the marriage and serious punishment for abusing them.

Miss Joy, a lab technician who was interviewed, said that it depends on the culture and background. In some places, you find a lot of teenagers made to marry early against their will.

Joy said: “If you want something, you will have to find a way of getting it because everybody in life wants something and even that girl forced into marriage can eventually make a difference, we have seen lots of cases where girls with dreams are forced into early marriages but eventually leave it and turn themselves into testimonies.

“Some girls do not care or strive for anything in life and in such cases, you will always find such people stuck in a marriage.

Moreover, being a full-time house-

lessness, sacrifice, patience and modesty.

While noting that Ramadan is a period of spiritual rejuvenation, he enjoined Muslims to use the period to continue to pray for the country and its leadership.

Mohammed also urged Muslims to follow the injunctions of Allah and the teachings of

wife can be a job on its own; we really need to ask ourselves if these girls really want an education or marriage because whoever wants to achieve a dream has to put an extra effort no matter how hard and long it takes.“ A gynaecologist Dr. Nwokoma Eze said: “The issues have become a heated debate at the moment. From a medical point of view, the girl-child deserves education because the girl is the mother of a nation and it reduces the issue of maternal mortality because if the girl is educated, she

will be able to take care of herself and will be aware of the best way to bring up her child.

“We in the medical profession advocate for a good education for the girl-child because that will help her in the long-run, and help us prevent maternal mortality which is one of the goals of the MDG. Also a lot of issues come up when a girl gets pregnant in an early age; we are talking about cases of the proportion of the pelvis, issues of affective labour and high-risk pregnancies associated with teenage pregnancies; we are all talking about women empowerment and gender equality which will go better with education.”

Prophet Muhammad during and after Ramadan, which he stressed, is an inspiration to Muslims to show compassion, mercy and kindness to their fellow brothers irrespective of religion.

He thanked the organisers of the public lecture and for inviting him to be the chief host of the occasion, as the association seems to have taken a bold step in fostering peace and unity of the country.

The Minister also commended the organisers and saluted their courage for bringing to the front burner the issue of peace and unity at this auspicious period in Nigerian history.

Speaking at the occasion, the Mother of Day and Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, commended the members of the fourth estate of the realm for taking a lead to promote unity of our dear country.

She also commended Uztaz Nurudeen Abdulmalik for doing justice to the topic of the lecture but enjoined members to do more in publicising the activities of the association.

The lecture was delivered by Uztaz Nurudeen Abdulmalik and chaired by Mallam Muhammed Musa Bello, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

Some of the media icons who also attended the lecture included the Directors-General of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and Voice of Nigeria (VON).

T

O resolve the ongoing crisis in the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), declare Governor Chibuike Amaechi the winner, a group has said.

The National Coordinator of the group, Northern Nigerian Youth Initiative for Peace and Development (NNYIPAD), Ibrahim Ali in a statement, expressed fears that the crisis poses a great danger to the 2015 election if not resolved.

He said: “Truth, as we know it, is incontrovertible. Neither malice nor ignorance can override it, because in the end, it is only the truth that stands. From the various claims and counter-claims that we have so far heard, NNYIPAD holds that truth and victory patiently sit with Governor Amaechi as the duly elected chairman of the NGF. Ibrahim explained that the attention generated by the NGF crisis stifles the economy and reduces Nigerians to a group of ridiculous people.

He added: “The reasoning is that if a circle of 36 individuals who are adjudged strategically fit to lead the citizens of their respective states could not hold a successful election at a mere NGF level, the all defining 2015 general elections will certainly, assuredly meet with monumental doom.

“As it is, attention is already being diverted from fundamental issues that have meaning for Nigerians.

“It is instructive to note that the corporate existence of Nigeria supercedes every other cabal or self-serving interests. It is such a strange paradox that the PDP, and, as it is believed, the Presidency, now oppresses one of their own shining stars in a drama that depicts fundamental changes in allegiances and ambitions.

•From left: Executive Chairman, Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Sani Abdullahi; his Borno State counterpart, Prof.

Abbe Ali; Deputy Executive Secretary (Services), Universal Basic Education Commission, Prof. Rashidi Aderinoye (second right) and Minister of Education, Prof. Ruquayyatu Rufa ‘I’ at a workshop on dissemination of World Bank report on Nigeria in Abuja.

Youths proffer solution to NGF crisis From Faith Yahaya

“If Governor Amaechi is today an outlaw, it may be because he is being denied the right to live the life he believes in. After all, it is said that rebellion to tyranny is

obedience to God. “NNYIPAD despises and abhors the bullying and oppression of Governor Ameachi and all those who share his sense of justice and freedom

“Power wrongly used, they say, defeats the oppressor as well as the oppressed. You can’t put a man down without staying down with him. The whole Nigeria is being put down with Gov. Ameachi and we say NO to that.

We, therefore, urge all concerned parties to the path of peace and reasonable dialogue.”

NNYIPAD an offshoot of Northern Nigeria Youth Initiative for Peace and Development having reflected on the huge hullabaloo over the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) election has taken stance on the part of justice, freedom and democracy.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

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ABUJA REVIEW

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Health insurance scheme takes off

HE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has started implementing its CommunityBased Health Insurance Scheme (CBHIS) in 300 communities, Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide has disclosed.

The minister, who made this known at a top-level advocacy on the health insurance scheme at the Emir of Karshi’s Palace, said the scheme would improve access of FCT residents to quality and affordable health-care.

“The implementation of the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme in 300 communities of the FCT signifies the fulfilment of a dream. The need for a health scheme that will guarantee affordability, quality and access to a greater number of the people has been a priority for this Administration. ”The FCT initiative is a collaborative effort between the FCT Administration, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the six Area Councils and is aimed at taking the scheme to every community in FCT, starting

I

T has not really been a good time for residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) especially those who live in the suburbs. They grapple with power failure. Some of the areas affected include Lugbe, Jabi, Kubwa, to mention but a few.

Tired of complaints to appropriate authorities, some the affected communities have taken to the popular radio station, known as “Wazobia” to air their grievances.

It could be worrisome when some lament living without power for almost two years and had to resort to power generating sets as well as inverters.

Generating sets have their shortcomings such as environmental pollution, noise and the need for gasoline, a fact which has made the inverter the better option.

Inverter adoption has been on the increase in the country especially the capital territory, as users look to improve the quality of their lives. The solution allows users to store energy when it is available and deploy it whenever it is needed, without needing to switch on their generators.

The solution is automatic, and assures users’ experience ‘Always on Power’. The resultant savings from not having to spend

From Gbenga Omokhunu and Grace Obike

with 300 communities,” said Akinjide, who was represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Area Council and Resettlement, Alhaji Yusuf Tsaiyabu.

She added that 10,000 households had shown interest in the pilot scheme, which covered 50 communities each from the six Area Councils.

The minister reiterated the commitment of the FCT Administration in reducing maternal and child mortality

rates, combating HIV/AIDS, especially mother-to-child transmission of the virus as well as rolling back malaria and improving immunity against tuberculosis. ”The FCT Administration is still concerned over the wide disparities in health and health services between FCT’s rural and urban areas. This situation results from the challenges of access to health centres, low capacity and scarcity of funds coupled with the difficult terrains of some communities.

There is also the issue of low purchasing power among rural

I like to pledge my support and commitment to the success of this insurance scheme in my domain. It is the prayer of every traditional ruler to see to the improvement in the living standard of his subjects

households.

“It is for this reason that the FCT Administration is driving the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme into the rural areas. This is a social security system that guarantees the provision of needed health services to its beneficiaries on the payment of token contributions of N150 monthly,” she added.

Akinjide appealed to traditional rulers and residents in the territory to support the FCT Administration in its drive to improve the lives of the people.

The Emir of Karshi, HRH Alhaji Ismaila Mohammed, commended the FCT Administration for initiating the scheme and also developing infrastructure in the area councils and satellite towns.

He pledged to mobilise community leaders, local associations and religious bodies to educate their people on the importance of the CBHIS. “We are all witnesses to the tremendous efforts of the scheme in delivering health-care to difficult terrains and reaching the hitherto unreachable areas of

Power failure: Inverter to the rescue From Gbenga Omokhunu

money on diesel are enough to justify the purchase of inverters.

The fact that they produces no noise and no pollution, just adds to their value proposition.

Speaking to Abuja Review,

T

Head of Simba Service, subsidiary of Simba Group which distributes the product in the country, Mr. Kj Anil said customer satisfaction has earned the firm much credibility.

“At Simba, we believe that total customer satisfaction is only achieved, when a good quality is

supported by attentive and responsive customer care and after sales service,” he added.

The power backup solutions are manufactured by Luminous Power Technologies, an Indian power and storage firm. The company, according to Anil, produces high quality inverters, bat-

•Oloye Akinjide

the FCT with Medicare. I join you to share the joy of this achievement.

“I like to pledge my support and commitment to the success of this Community Based Health Insurance Scheme in my domain.

It is the prayer of every traditional ruler to see to the improvement in the living standard of his subjects. This is something that is close to our heart,” the royal father stated.” teries and renewable energy products.

Anil further advised the concerned territories to strengthen its drive for alternative power source as well as renewable energy.

This among other internationally acclaimed methods can enable the administration as we ll as the country to achieve its goal on nationwide power transformation.

Pupils honoured at school anniversary

HREE excelling pupils of Government Day Secondary School, Wuse, Abuja have been honoured with prizes.

The trio distinguished themselves in a literary and debating competition tagged “Role of Students in Nation Building, Patriotism and Leadership”.

They were honoured at the 10th anniversary of the school.

The ceremony was organised by the school management in partnership with Accurate Pattern Global Concept.

The event started at 1pm. The students and guests were thrilled with jokes and comedy.

It was an anniversary filled with music, drama and cultural

From Gbenga Omokhunu and Jane Maha

display.

Mercy Kelebe, overall winner of the quiz competition, emphasised the significant role the youth should play in nationbuilding. Kelebe, an SSS1 student of Art Department and two others aspire to be a lawyer.

Speaking on the topic, she said with good parental upbringing and excellent teaching at preliminary academic levels, students can choose to be agents of change and good ambassadors of virtues.

Miss Kelebe was excited after being told that she had won the top prize.

Highlighting her experience, she said: “It was just God that did it. Even when I heard the topic, I went home, never discussed with anyone and I did research on the topic through Google. I never knew I would win.”

She said: “Students have many roles to play in the nation. For instance, the present terrorism in the country is caused by students and students are the youths. If you start training them on how to avoid usage of arms and those who use them to make money, when they grow or gain admission to higher institutions, where

•Continued on Page 40

Council chief’s wife helps widows

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•National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mallam Garba Mohammed briefing newsmen in Abuja.With him are the National Treasurer, Mustapha Lamidi (left) and Secretatary, Mallam Shuabu UsmanLeman

youths form the habit of cultism, they can actually decide not to join the group.”

She advised her colleagues to grab any of such opportunity that may likely come their way in the future and participate actively.

Miss Jessica Babatunde, also SSS 1 student of GDSS lauded the initiative which, according to her, brought out the best in her. She was the second-best student in the competition.

She said she did not know she would be among the successful contestants. Babatunde who

IFE of the Bwari Area Council chairman, Mrs. Tamar Yohanna Ushafa has donated various empowerment items to over 65 widows in the area in a bid to make life more meaningful to them.

The widows, selected from the 10 wards of the area council, were presented with sewing machines, grinding machines, hairdressing machines and knitting machines.

Mrs. Yohanna Ushafa called on well-meaning individuals, nongovernmental organisations and corporate organisations to complement the council’s effort in empowering the womenfolk.

She also urged beneficiaries of the facilities to take good care of them as they are meant to improve their lives and those of the chil-

From Bukola Amusan

dren left behind by their late husbands.

Earlier, the women development officer of the Area council, Mrs. Laraba A. Zagi, enjoined the beneficiaries to put the facilities to good use and generate income to carter for their families.

In his remarks, chairman of the Council, who was represented by the Council’s Secretary, Luku M. Zanishin said the administration is posed to deliver its electioneering promises and urged the widows to make good use of the items.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Saratu Usman, thanked the chairman’s wife for the initiative.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

ABUJA REVIEW

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HE executive of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja council, have paid a condolence visit to the family of a deceased colleague, Mr. Francis Ogbu-Ngene.

Ogbu-Ngene, a long-standing member of the union, died recently at the Maitama General Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness.

The chairman of the council, Comrade Chuks Ehirim during the visit to the family at Federal Housing Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, described the deceased as a strong member of the union.

He pledged the support of the union for the family during and after the burial ceremony, adding that they should feel free to contact the union at all times in any area they need assistance.

While praying God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss, he admonished them not to place their trust in man but in God at all times especially as they grieve over the demise of the head of the family.

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HE Federal Capital Territory Administration has signed a N19.438 billion agreement with SCC Nigeria Limited for the construction of a new water supply scheme in Karshi Satellite Town of the FCT. The Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, and the Permanent Secretary, FCT, Mr. John Chukwu, signed the agreement on behalf of the FCT Administration while the Managing Director of SCC Nigeria Limited, Mr. Yuval Levy, signed for the contractor.

Akinjide explained that the water project would address the issue of water scarcity within

NUJ Abuja mourns a committed member From Gbenga Omokhunu

Responding on behalf of the family, Eze Igbo Lugbe, Eze John Okonkwo, expressed appreciation for the union’s concern and support to the family starting from the time their brother was hospitalised.

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Mohammed Garba, also urged journalists to always

uphold the ethics of the journalism profession at all times.

Garba gave the charge during the service of songs organised by the NUJ, Abuja council to honour the late Ogbu-Ngene, at the council’s secretariat, Utako.

Garba said journalists should use their, “God-given talent to turn around the society for the better, bearing in mind that we would be held accountable for all we do as well as be remembered

Use your God-given talent to turn around the society for the better, bearing in mind that we would be held accountable for all we do as well as be remembered for the work we did when we are gone Karshi and its environs.

“The water supply project, which will provide potable water and irrigation to that growing suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is estimated to cost N19,438,012,125 with a completion period of 30 months.

“The source of raw water is by means of two dams constructed on the two rivers that cross Karshi town. The water supply system includes the following elements: two dams, one low lift pumping station, raw water conveyance systems, treatment plant, treated water pumping station, treated water rising main, and regulating reservoir of 6,000 cubic metres ca-

for the work we did when we are gone.”

The president who was represented by an ex-officio of the union, Mr. Gbenga Onaiyega, appealed to journalists to subscribe to the NUJ insurance scheme given the hazards of the profession so as to provide for their families in event of sudden deaths.

Deacon John Ojamiren of Winners Chapel in his sermon urged media practitioners to endeavour to make time out of their busy schedule for God, pointing out that it is their relationship with God that would count for them in the end.

Praying against sudden and untimely deaths in the union Ojamiren, however, said that death should be an earnest expectation of all Christians and should not take them unawares if they are living lives worthy of Christians.

Similarly, Pastor Vincent Mkpu of Graceland church urged friends and family of the deceased not to grieve too much as the dead only transit to a place where life is permanent, adding that death is not shame but gain to Christians.

According to him, they should expect it with boldness, just as the death of others should be a reminder of their mortality and encourage them to make peace with God and man as no one can tell when it would be their turn to move on to eternity.

Speaking on behalf of the deceased’s family, brother-in-law of the deceased, Mr. Azoro Ekezie expressed appreciation of the family to the union for their care and concern for their brother.

The body of the late OgbuNgene has been laid to rest in his country home in Enugu, Enugu State.

N19.4b water contract signed pacity,” the minister disclosed.

She noted that the water project would be funded through the “national priority budget”.

She added that the project would generate employment for 600 skilled and unskilled workers.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government had earlier ap-

The source of raw water is by means of two dams constructed on the two rivers that cross Karshi town

proved contract for the provision of engineering infrastructure in two districts of Karshi at the cost of N28 billion in 2007, without water provision component.

“Work in the districts have reached advanced stage, hence the need to provide other complementary infrastructure services in the area. Eighty per cent of Nigerians in the city actually live in the satellite towns, therefore, we believe that satellite towns should also receive the same level of infrastructure and attention as the Federal Capital City (FCT),” Akinjide stated.

‘Abuja rail target realisable’

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HE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed has assured that the Abuja light rail project started in 2007 will be completed in 2015.

Mohammed gave the assurance during the ground-breaking ceremony of the rail mass transit station at the National Park station, Wuye District.

The event which marked the commencement of the construction works on the 12 railway stations under the first phase of the Abuja light rail project will include shopping precincts, cultural and entertainment centres to boost tourism in the Federal Capital Territory FCT. The 12 railway stations are Abuja Metro Station, Stadium Station, National Park Station, Ring Road II Station, Wupa Station, Idu Transfer Station, Airport East Station and Airport Station.

Also included are the Gwagwa Station, Deidei Station, Jibi Station and Gwazango Station.

The rail stations, he said will be places of high economic activities like boarding or alighting, rail transit management and operations, commercial and tourism activities among others.The locations of these stations are strategically designed to connect the transportation network to districts and area councils.

•A moving train From Gbenga Omokhunu and Grace Obike

The Abuja main railway station located at the central business district of the Federal Capital City (FCC) will be linked to the transportation centre in the central business district (CBD) for high capacity bus and paratransit services, located within the vicinity is the world trade centre’s 35 twin-towers which will serve as the major business

hub within the vicinity of the Abuja main railway station and transportation centre.

He said that shopping malls, hotels, offices, restaurants, banks, clinics, etc, will all be located in the twin towers and will boost the economy of the railway stations.

Bala added: “When the projects are realised, they will bolster economic development of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and speed up the pace of our attain-

ment of FCT administration’s vision to build a capital city that would be among the top twenty capital cities in the world.”

The Chairman Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, Smart Adeyemi who was also present at the occasion commended the Minister on the progress recorded so far.

He also said that, “I hoped that in no distant time from now, the administration will be thinking of how to integrate the

whole Federal Capital, where the Abaji axis can be connected to Lokoja so that the FCT can as well develop its neighbouring states.

“The FCT will not be asked to pay but the Federal government can start thinking of constructing a rail system from Lokoja to Abuja, Minna to Abuja, etc, to increase the economic activities because it is important to have rail systems connecting all the neighbouring cities to Abuja.”

29

TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

are to increase the pace of development and restore pub‘Iflicwe trust and confidence in the state, the quality of governance in public procurement will have to be improved sooner rather than later See page 33

’

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

INSIDE: Firm, businessman in court over Dubai hotel project -Page 32

The Senate and the House of Representatives are set to amend the 1999 Constitution.They have concluded voting on the recommendations of their committees on Constitution Review.

Rather than allay the public’s fear, the exercise has reignited the call for a true Constitution •SEE STORY ON PAGE 30 that will address the nation’s core challenges. ERIC IKHILAE reports

Wanted: A people’s constitution

‘Efficient public procurement system will curb corruption’

-Page 33

Independence of electoral umpires in Nigeria

-Page 34

Democracy and socioeconomic imbalance in Nigeria:The role of law

-Page 35

‘Senate, Reps acted in good faith on Rivers crisis’

-Page 36

• Tambuwal

• Mark

Mr. Ibukunolu Alao Babajide is a 1982 graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State. He was called to the Bar in 1983. Babajide, an activist of the Chief Gani Fawehinmi school, is a lecturer, prosecutor and London-based advocate. He was one of those who fought and got concessions for Nigerian lawyers to practise as solicitors in the United Kingdom (UK).

In this interview with Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU,Babajide talks about his early days at the Bar, trans-border legal practice, legal education, prosecution of international crimes and sundry national issues.

•SEE STORY ON PAGE 31

‘How we saved Nigerian lawyers’practice in UK’

• Babajide

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

30

LAW COVER CONT’D •Continued frompage 29

T

HE amendment of the 1999 Constitu tion has begun apace, with the Senate and House of Representatives voting on some key issues.

Both chambers took opposing positions on two major issues, which many believe require urgent amendment - minimum wage and local government autonomy. The Senate voted in favour of removing the minimum wage from the Exclusive Legislative List and transferring it to the Concurrent List.

It voted against autonomy for the 774 Local Government Areas.

The House of Representatives voted against both issues. It voted for the retention of minimum wage as a federal affair, and called for autonomy for local governments.

Although both houses are expected to set up a harmonisation committee to straighten the areas of differences, observers believe that the development has reawakened the argument on whether the nation is ready to confront its fears and go for restructuring.

Item 34 of the Exclusive Legislative List confers on the National Assembly the exclusive powers to legislate on labour matters including prescribing a national minimum wage.

It was pursuant to this provision that the National Assembly enacted the 2011 National Minimum Wage Act, fixing the minimum wage at N18,000.

Section 7(1) of the Constitution provides for a local government system with its officials democratically elected. The second arm of the provision makes the establishment, structure, composition, finance of the local governments dependent on the state governments.

The opponents of local governments autonomy said the provision for a joint state/ local government account, into which funds standing to the credit of both levels of government are paid, allows for a form of control of the management of the funds allocated to local governments.

Those seeking autonomy for the third tier of government argue that the retention of the status quo negates the principles of true federalism and further supports the call for a restructuring of the country.

They also argued that the Senate’s decision to liberalise labour issues, by moving the minimum wage to the Concurent List will reduce the current over centralisation of national affairs in a supposed federal state.

To them, the provision of a national minimum wage in the Constitution, and some similar other provisions, conflict with the true meaning of federation in practice.

Their argument is anchored on the fact that the arrangement that allows an overbearing federal structure on the state government and the state government’s dominance of the local government do not reflect the country as a true federation as defined by the Supreme Court in the case of Attorney-General of Abia State vs the Attorney-General of the Federation and 33 others (2006) 7 SC (part 1) page 51 at 72.

In the decision, the Supreme Court described federalism, both as legal and political concepts, to imply an association of states, formed for certain and defined common purpose or purposes, with the states retaining a large portion of their original independence and autonomy.

Some are opposed to the approach to constitution amendment. They argued that the way the National Assembly is going about the amendment suggests that the country is yet to decide on what it wants.

They described the approach as a timid attempt at tackling the nation’s fundamental problems.

In particular, they queried the rationale behind the provision of pension for Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and their deputies by a National Assembly whose members’ pay had been described as scandalous, and second to none on earth.

They argued that a National Assembly that means well should be bothered by the social and economic rights and privileges provided for in Chapter Two of the Constitution which have remained nonjusticeable over 50 years after independence.

Critics said until there is a major push for genuine constitution amendment, the current crop of leaders, who see the constitution review process as a routine project and an avenue of squandering public funds, would persist in their deception

• Ubani

• Nwabueze

• Abayomi

• Ikeji

Wanted: A people’s constitution and only amend the Constitution to confer undue advantage on them.

Lawyers, including Prof Ben Nwabueze (SAN), Tunji Abayomi, Dr. Albert Tvon, Ikechukwu Ikeji and the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja, Lagos, Monday Ubani said the nation requires a new approach to constitution making and a departure from the current window dressing embarked upon by the National Assembly.

Prof Nwabueze suggested that the country do away with the 1999 Constitution and in its place, enact “a peoples Constitution.”

The constitutional law expert spoke in Awka, the Anambra State capital, at the weekend during the presentation of his autobiography: “Ben Nwabueze: His life, works and times.”

He argued that the 1999 Constitution can not pass as the people’s Supreme Law because its source of supremacy is not the Nigerian people.

“What we have as the 1999 Constitution is not the Supreme Law. What is its source of supremacy? The military? No! It can’t be.

The source of supremacy everywhere in the world is the people.”

He insisted that the people could only provide for themselves a true Constitution through a national conference that will fashion out a constitution that is truly sourced from the people.

“The constitution so framed will then be out through a referendum. That is the challenge before this country,” Nwabueze said.

Abayomi argued that both chambers were engaging in an exercise in futility.

To him, no amount of amendment would confer legitimacy on a Constitution foisted on the people by a departing military, without powers to so act.

In separate July 17 letters to the Senate President David Mark and House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Abayomi said: “Democracy is based on the principle of selfgovernment. The foundation of such selfgovernment is always found in a Constitution made by the people. And a valid Constitution is always presumed to predate government, which again, is deemed to be its consequence.

“A Legislature, which is presumed to represent the people’s will is at the core of democracy principally because it is presumed to act as the agent of the people in realising and affirming their will.

“Legislative authority is only valid if it is based on the consent of the people and if it is used to promote their desire,” Abayomi said.

He queried the powers of the National Assembly to make Constitution for the people. He argued that every attempt to amend the current constitution by the law makers will always end in failure.

‘What we have as the 1999 Constitution is not the Supreme Law. What is its source of supremacy? The military? No! It can’t be. The source of supremacy everywhere in the world is the people...To midwife a people’s Constitution, we must engage in a deliberate constitutional conference, more like a sovereign national conference whose results shall be subject to a referendum’

“It is, indeed, sad that the National Assembly under the present leadership is always inclined to surface dress national problem at high abnormal cost that grows out of largely selfish desires instead of fundamental sacrifices that will honour today and enhance tomorrow.”

Abayomi argued that as the law making delegates of the people, the National Assembly could only pass a law enabling the people to give to themselves a Constitution; set the terms, parameters and modalities to aid the people in the task of producing their Constitution.

Tvon argued that the call for a change in the constitutional reality should not be limited to political demand for restructuring, but must include economic demand for greater equality and ability to meet the second generation of rights as enunciated by the United Nation’s Declaration on Human Rights.

“One key question here is in what direction should the economy be driven? What should be the role of the state in socio-economic planning?

Aside from the core issues of restructuring and true federalism, which the Senate has failed to address in its constitutional amendment efforts till date, there is the need to address the people’s expectation that. the state has the responsibility of meeting its social and moral obligation to its people,” Tvon said.

He wondered how the Nigerian state hopes to command the people’s patriotic spirit when it has continued to fail in its responsibilities.

Ikeji did not only fault the subtle support the Senators have given to under age marriage in the name of religion, he argued that their refusal of the Senate to vote for true federalism is a set back on the nation’s march towards proper democracy.

“The phrase ‘people’s constitution’ is not a mere law. It connotes the source of all laws, pretending that it must have a direct deliberate input by the people. The fundamental issue to address in the Nigerian constitution is the question of legitimacy.

“The Nigerian Constitution tells a lie against itself and the Nigerian people and except this is addressed, we are merely deceiving ourselves. The Constitution lied when it said, in its preamble, that the people of Nigeria made it.

“It is public knowledge that the Constitution is a Decree, more specifically, Decree No. 24 of 1999 made directly by the military regime of General Abdusalam Abubakar who just imposed it on us without reference to our views.

“The Constitution also lied when it referred to Nigeria as the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We all know that Nigeria is presently far from being a federation as it is more of unitary government exerting strong controls from the centre in Abuja than from the constituent States.

“The present Nigerian structure has stronger centripetal forces than centrifugal forces. So, any constitutional review or amendment that does not address these fundamental flaws is an exercise in deception and futility.

“To midwife a people’s Constitution, we must engage in a deliberate constitutional conference, more like a sovereign national conference whose results shall be subject to a referendum.

The present Constitution lacks authochthoneity since it lacks the imprimatur of the people,” Ikeji said.

Ubani described the present process of constitutional amendment going on as a “patch patch mechanism” incapable to effecting the much needed restructuring.

“The people’s constitution can only be midwifed by the pple themselves, not what is presently going on where the people’s wish and aspirations are at variance with the legislators in the country “Their amendments and proposals rather deepen democracy will destroy it. “Any amendment of the of the constitution that does not reflect the peoples’ wish is null and void and of no effect. The constitution being the Supreme Law of the land must proceed from the people.

“A sovereign national conference out of which a constituent assembly will spring from to draw up a people’s constitution will be best way to produce the peoples’ constitution. For example now, we are wasting our time, money and energy in this amendment process. It will not take us far and that is the fact,” Ubani said.

31

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

LAW & SOCIETY

‘How we saved Nigerian lawyers’ practice in UK’

• Continued from page 29

W

HICH university did you attend?

I attended the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, between 1978 and 1982, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in July, 1983 and was admitted as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. I did my National Youth Service (NYSC) in Lagos and started my legal career with the Senate at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

How and where did you sharpen your legal and activism skills?

During my training and while I was in the university, I was an activist. In the course of activism, I met Chief Gani Fawehinmi of blessed memory, who became my mentor. During my training, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), a few others and I trained and did our pupilage in his chambers. From then till his death, he was my mentor, my friend and, indeed, a role model.

At the end of 1983, General Muhammadu Buhari and Lt. Col. Tund Idiagbon struck and the 1979 presidential system of government was abruptly cut short. I arrived at work that fateful morning and observed that the Senate was no more. So, I walked across the road to the Federal Ministry of Justice on Marina where my very good friend, Olaiwola Babatunde, was serving as a Youth Corps member.

He took me to Mr David Omotade, who was then in the Civil Litigation Department and I continued my National Youth Service with the Federal Ministry of Justice as a pupil counsel.

What was your first experience in court like?

It was very interesting. It was the case of Bayo Success who was then the terror of Oshodi in Lagos and who had become a Senator under the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN). He was arrested after the coup d’ etat and was locked up. He applied to be released and I was the lawyer sent by the Ministry of Justice to defend the Federal Government in that case. I had never been to court and I was a green wig. But, interestingly, as young as I was, about 23, I was given a Peugeot 504 with a driver, and it was quite illuminating that this profession can give one such prestige.

So, what happened?

We drove into the Ikeja High Court premises and immediately I alighted from the car with my very green wig and my shinny gown, a gentleman came and greeted me, the man’s name was Parry Osayande, a very senior Police officer at that time. He was the one who caught Lawrence Anini and his gang of robbers; that was his most famous arrest in the police.

He greeted me with so much courtesy and asked whether I was the one handling the case. I said, yes. I was really intrigued, a very

senior police officer showing so much respect to a very young lawyer like me. I said to myself: this profession must be quite a good one. I greeted him properly, asked what the situation was and he showed me the Black Maria where the suspects were. He said, well, the matter has been taken to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of Lagos State and that they were happy that the Federal Government had come, Lagos State had not sent anybody and that they were getting a bit worried that there was no representation in court. So, I went into the court, said my prayers.The court was filled to capacity. There were several senior lawyers but I was stunned when I was given the opportunity to address the court first. I thought that in the legal profession, the older you get, the more respect you get. Unknown to me then, representing the Federal Government of Nigeria put me ahead of all the other senior lawyers and the state. I was given precedence and prominence. So, my case was the first to be called. I stood up, announced myself and said I represented the Federal Government of Nigeria and sat down.

A very old lawyer whose name I cannot remember now stood up, he had a very old wig on his head, he also announced himself that he was for the applicant, then he sat down.

Then the judge said, Mr. Babajide, what is the state of this matter?

So, what did you tell him?

All I knew was what Parry Osayande told me at the court. I got up and said my lord, this matter has been sent to the Lagos State DPP to look into. But, as you can see, the application is made on the enforcement of the fundamental rights. Strictly speaking, it is not a criminal matter, that is why the Civil Litigation Section of the Federal Ministry of Justice has stepped in. We have just been briefed on the matter and we would need a very short adjournment to look into it properly, collect the papers from the Lagos State DPP and then proceed with prompt prosecution and then sat down. The old man got up, said look at this young people, they still have milk in their mouth when they come to court; we are talking here about the liberty of a citizen and look at what they have turned it into, a ping pong ball, State, Federal, Federal, State, State, do you imagine.

And what did the judge say?

The judge said yes, thank you. I can imagine but they need a little time, say give us a week, as a return date and I was so relieved.

When I got out of court, my legs were shaking, officer Osayande then came, thanked me profusely, he highly impressed and he hugged me and said, look, you have given us enough time to do everything and by next week, everything will be ready, so I ran back

to the ministry and told David Omotade what happened and he said, you are a good boy. He then introduced me to the wise book and said read everything about prerogative writs which I did and within a week, they had got the much dreaded Decree No 2, so when I got to court a week later, I told the court that it was a prerogative writ application for the release of the detained person and that Decree 2, overrides all that and that here is a copy with the name of the accused person on it and I placed it before the court.

The judge looked at the old man, the man stood up, spoke and after some time he said, well, am afraid the State has entered Decree 2, our hands are tied; the accused will have to remain in prison detention and that was the end of that case.

After that I did some other cases for the government and after service, I went back to the Obafemi Awolowo University, did my Master of Laws (LL.M) programme. It was, indeed, an interesting year for me. I led the class and after that, I became a lecturer in the university.

Why did you go to the United Kingdom?

By 1986, ‘87, the rot had started in the university system and there was a very long academic strike, that was around 1986 and in ‘87, I fell in love with a woman who was born in the United Kingdom (UK), so I moved over to the UK. When I moved over to the UK, I discovered that Nigerians who studied law in Nigeria were badly treated and they were not allowed to join the profession in England.

There were actually regarded as someone who had done a programme that is not law, it is as if you had done history, or geography or any of the courses in the liberal arts. You have to do a one year course if you want to become a solicitor, so, I was struggling to survive as an immigrant and I was also struggling to become a solicitor because my father had been called to the Bar in Lincoln’s Inn in 1959 and I decided that I would try and become a Solicitor since he was a Barrister. Then, I familiarised myself with the law of England and did that examinations.While working almost 18 hours a day, I also studied and, fortunately, I passed, I then wrote to the Law Society in England and they now said I had to go to another school for another year, a very expensive school and then I have to train for two years under a Solicitor’s firm.

So, I started reading the rules and regulations then, I realised that there was a reciprocity between the Law Society of England and places such as Zambia, Lesotho, Jamaica and lawyers from those places were allowed in and I remembered that a former Nigerian Head of State had funded the University of West Indies, especially the law faculty. Then, I said, look,

• Babajide

these people we sent lecturers there to train them, how can they have more prominence and reciprocity than those of us trained in Nigeria.

So, I wrote to the Law Society and they gave me some concessions, they said ok, we will allow you to do it without going to school, you can do it privately on your own, you don’t have to do two years of articles, you do only one, they gave me a lot of concessions which they thought was absolute and I said no.

So, one day in London, there was a lecture on intellectual property in Fort Chance, the biggest law firm in London; so I attended and this tall Solicitor who was seven years post qualified stood up and spoke, I was at the back of the room, I asked him two questions and he couldn’t answer them, then I looked at him and said I am better qualified than this man, I see no reason I should be subjected to further trainings, so I set up the Society of Nigerian Lawyers, gathered all the young lawyers who had qualified from Nigeria, I registered it, the Law Society of England wrote to me about it, I said fine, if you consider what I am doing illegal, I am willing to meet you in court. The Registrar of companies has registered it, so I was very comfortable. Then, I wrote to them that the treatment of Nigerian Solicitors and Nigerian lawyers was very wrong, that if countries such as Lesotho, Zambia and Jamaica could have concessions, why should Nigeria not. Then, they said, ok, that

I should bring everything I had done, I sent it to them, they sent it Prof Gray of Queen Mary’s and Westfield College, they assessed it and said the training in Nigeria was different from the training in the UK. So, I decided that I was going to sue them for judicial review in the High Court.

What happened thereafter?

At that point they got jittery and that was when Margaret Thatcher was going to deal with the professions, they were worried because they were negotiating with the government then and if I had gone to court and exposed what was going on, it wouldn’t have been good at all. So, I got a phone call from one of the immigration judges that if Nigeria was given some concessions would I be willing not to proceed and I said, of course, so they wrote to Nigeria and when Nigeria replied, they gave Nigeria concessions. The called it Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test ( QLLT) comprising three papers; if you pass it, you become a Solicitor. When that was going on, I had become the legal adviser of the British Standards Institutions and I read the rules of the Bar, the Bar Regulations and I realised that if you have been a lawyer for three years in a Commonwealth country, you can be called to the British Bar, so I applied under the rule, I got a very good recommendation from my boss, Dr. Ivan Donstan and based on that, I was called to the Lincolns Inn as a barrister.

• President Goodluck Jonathan (middle), NBA President, Okey Wali (SAN), members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Bar leaders during a courtesy visit to the president in Aso Villa ... last week.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

32

LAW AND SOCIETY

C

Firm, businessman in court over Dubai hotel project

AN a court restrain an investor from deploying lawful means to retrieve his investment in what he perceived as a doubtful project? Does the law allow the court to compel an unwilling investor to invest in a project he doubts its actuality?

These, among others, form issues to be determined when the Lagos High Court opens hearing in a suit instituted by a Dubai, United Arab Emirate-based real estate company, Sigma III Limited and five others against a businessman, Washington Agbons Umweni and one other. The other claimants are TFG Real Estate Limited, Nigel Burnside, Ms Tochi Izuchukwu, Miss Denise Igbokidi and Mac-Henry Isemede. The other defendant is Umweni’s lawyer, Tunde Abioje.

It is the claimants’ case that the businessman, who had subscribed to its proposed hotel project in Dubai, changed his mind midway; having made about 20 per cent contribution, now seeks a refund of his investment and termination of the transaction.

Umweni on his part denied any relationship with Sigma III and two of the claimants. He said his transactions were with The First Group, an international property development company, who he accused of insincerity.

He wondered why The First Group was not made a party in the suit.

The claimants stated in their statement of claims that Umweni subscribed in December, lasrt year to one of its projects - TFG Marina, a proposed luxury hotel to be built in Dubai, and was allocated Unit 2212 at about N48.4million (AED1,099,500).

They averred that parties duly executed Property Reservation Agreement (PRA) and Sales Purchase Agreement (SPA), which regulate the contract between them. The claimants added that the SPA made provision for installmental payments, which Umweni allegedly agreed to.

The claimants averred that Umweni, in compliance with the agreement between parties, made installment payments totaling about N9.8million, but stopped payment sometime later and demanded for a refund on the ground that he had lost interest. They stated that by the plan, Umweni was to make full payment by November 30, 2014 after which the project, which at the time of his subscription was at its elementary stage, was to be completed and handed to him.

In two letters written by lawyer to the claimants, Ismail Muftau of the firm of Jackson, Etti & Edu, in response to Umweni’s letter demanding a refund, the claimants initially denied any wrong doing, insisting that a refund was not an option under the agreement. After threats by Umweni, through letters by his lawyer, Abioje to deploy all legal means to recover his trapped funds, including exposing the claimants’ alleged fraudulent dealings by reporting to relevant agencies, the claimants agreed to make a refund of Umweni’s N9.771,876 investment, but less 40 per cent. They later conceded to 30 per cent, a proposal which

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

Umweni refused and insisted on reporting the case to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), the police and other relevant agencies, in his effort to retrieve his funds. Dissatisfied with Umweni’s insistence on the refund of his full deposit, the claimants accused his (Umweni’s) lawyer of interfering in the agreement between parties.

They want the court to among others, compel Umweni to continue with the transaction, in accordance with the alleged SPA In their joint statement of defence, Umweni said the project was introduced to him by The Furst Group’s representatives - Jennifer Anaba and Armanda-Roy Onwualu, who later invited him to a meeting with other The First Group officials, who he later met at the company’s office at seventh floor, Bank of Industry (BoI) building, Abuja last year. He said the officials convinced him to buy into the TFG Marina project, even when he had expressed his intention to invest in a completed project.

He identified the company’s officials with which he had meetings to include Ms Izuchukwu, Ms Mouna Kamassi and Harry Smith.

He added that they never told him they were acting for another company but TFG. He said he believed they were TFG officials because the officials’ complimentary cards and the Property Reservation Agreement, containing payment schedule and details of the Skye Bank account into which he made all his payments showed that he was dealing with TFG. Umweni stated that he never had any transaction with the first claimant (Stigma III) or its officials in respect of the TFG Marina project.

He added that he only dealt with TFG Real Estate Ltd, when on his refusal to make payment into an account in Dubai in the name of First Homes Worldwide LLC, as directed by TFG, an alternate account was provided by TFG Real Estate in Skye Bank, 3 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

He also denied knowing or ever dealing with Miss Igbokidi and Isemede (5th and 6th claimants) in respect of the TFG Marina project.

Umweni stated that the first time he saw the Sigma III name was when a draft copy of the SPA was brought to him. He said he drew the TFG official who brought it, Elena Kovalkina to the Sigma III Ltd written on the draft agreement, but that Kovalkina said being a draft, the agreement was not yet binding and that when the fair (actual) copy was ready, the name would be corrected to read The First Group.

He denied signing any of the agreements referred to by the claimants, but said what he signed was a payment schedule, indicating his mode of payment.

He stated that the company’s offi-

cials failed to provide him with the fair or actual copy of the agreements up until he decided to discontinue with the payment.

Umweni stated that he agreed to the transaction after he was taken to Dubai and shown the purported site of the proposed hotel, where he saw construction equipment that had been taken there. He said works were at piling stage.

He said he was surprised, when six months after he started payment, he visited Dubai and on reaching the site of the project, works still remained at the piling stage, while all the construction equipment he saw on his first visit had disappeared.

Umweni said he also noted the sign post erected close to the project, which earlier bore - TFG Marina Project - had been changed to WYNDHAM Dubai Marina, without the company either informing him or explaining the reason behind the change.

He said on his return to the country, he complained to TFG officials about his discovery in Dubai, but that none of the officials could address the issues he raised. He stated that while still expecting the company to provide response to his queries, he was surprised to receive a letter from Sigma III Ltd, informing him that he was in default of his installment payment to the project.

Umweni averred that he ignored the letter from Sigma III because he had always dealt with TFG and was still expecting The First Group to provide reasons for its decision to unilaterally change the name of the project, without informing him as a subscriber, and the lack of progress in its execution.

He stated that having waited endlessly without any meaningful response from TFG, he instructed his lawyer to write the company and demand for full refund of his contribution, having refused to explain the suspicious developments he had noticed.

Umweni admitted writing the company to demand for a refund and informing it of his resolve to explore all legal and legitimate means to retrieve his contribution. He accused the TFG of breaching whatever understanding they had and argued that the suit was a diversionary measure aimed at frustrating his resolve to ensure that his contribution was refunded in full.

He noted that TFG, who had argued that he was in breach of a purported SPA, which it claimed made no provision for refund, had made proposals to refund part of his contribution upon his threat to report the company and its officials to relevant government agencies.

Umweni cited TFG’s proposal of April 15, 2013 seeking to refund N4,847,940; another of April 24,2013 proposing N6,771,380 and the third proposal in which it offered to refund N7,255,042.50.

The defendants urged the court to enter final judgment on the N6,771,380 which TFG had admitted as they were ready to prove, at trial, the company’s indebtedness on the remnant of his N9.8m investment.

Although parties have filed and served their initial processes, no date is fixed yet for hearing in the case.

• From left: Council member, Business Recovery& Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN), Mr Ayodele Akintunde; former President, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN); President Mr Dele Odunowo; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Segun Aganga; General Secretary, Mr Victor Ihekweazu and Director, Legal Services, Ministry of Trade & Investment, Mrs. Uju Aisha Hassan-Baba, at a meeting on Nigeria Insolvency Reform.

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com

Our pampered, weeping and ignorant senators

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AST week, this column intervened on the constitution amendment programme undertaken by the National Assembly, and the indeterminate quality of the avowed conscience of our distinguished senators; and to some extent, the Representatives, in that process. That exercise has now been temporary suspended, as the legislatures take a holiday, to enable most of them make haste to Europe and America with their clear conscience to enjoy the tranquil environment and the sun, otherwise called summer break. Few may, however, stay home for their Ramadan. Never mind that the sun is in abundance in this part, summer holiday gives the senators and other privileged Nigerians the opportunity to holiday in saner climes, as against our degraded environment and the challenges of underdeveloped infrastructure. Unfortunately, Nigeria is the haven, where the senators rake in unconscionable resources with which they travel to pamper themselves abroad.

In that piece, I had warned: ‘Regrettably, the conscience of our distinguished senators has proved inadequate in the circumstance ... Either that their conscience is so blurred that it is incapable of conscientious exercises or that it is so stunted that it is incapable of conscious reasoning’. Within the past week, a distinguished senator from Ondo State, on the platform of the Labour Party, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, furthered the debate over his colleagues’ inadequacies, as he claimed that he voted in the so called underage-marriage constitutional provision in error. To show that he thoroughly regrets his error, he was reported to have wept profusely when he was summoned by his constituency to a caucus meeting in Akure, Ondo State, to explain his preference.

In essence, the distinguished senator has confirmed that like the rest of us, emotions, are also part of the challenges of our senators. Now that it has been evidenced by The Economist of London in its recent edition that our lawmakers are the highest paid, among their contemporaries across the world, shall we say that our lawmakers made the enabling, but clearly unconstitutional act to over-pay one another out of sheer emotion? Again, with that exposure that our legislators are earning way too higher than the job they are doing, shall we see our legislators like Senator Akinyelure go back to their constituencies and openly weep for that misconduct and ask for forgiveness; and immediately take recourse to common sense and the constitution? As I have persistently argued on this page, our national legislators, with the dubious self-awarded income they forcefully appropriate to themselves, have little moral authority to exercise their constitutional prerogative of oversight. As a legal maxim posits: Nemo dat qui non habet: No one gives who does not posses. So, the men and women at the National Assembly with jaundiced moral authority can’t enforce much.

Last week also, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, under pressure over the constitution amendment process, added another dimension to the challenges of the legislators. He was reported to have claimed that most of his colleagues were blackmailed and that they acted ignorantly, during the amendment process. In naming the blackmailed senators, I guess Mr. Senate Preident may rank number one. After all, the senate had already voted to delete Section 29(4b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, before Senator Ahmed Yerima of Zamfara State took the stand to blackmail the Senate President to call for another round of voting on the same issue.

Following the second round of voting, ignorance entered the mix, as Senator Yerima dubiously used religion to garner the required number of nay voters to kill the amendment. So, the requisite number of ignorant and blackmailed senators voted to retain that provision; which apparently delighted all the pedophiles.

Now with ignorance and blackmail named by the Senate President as the further challenges of his colleagues; it is our collective responsibility to educate our legislators over the on-going constitution amendment exercise and other matters of national importance. It is commendable that the Gender and Constitution Reform Network, made up of very distinguished women, including Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education, has thrown their weight, into the ring, in the arduous but very important task of educating our legislators and shielding them from blackmail. Again it is also important that our senators are guided to shun unlawful appropriation of our common resources, whether as a result of blackmail by the tempter or ignorance of the law or both.

To help the legislators work against ignorance, especially the type that has resulted in unconstitutional conduct, it is important that I yet again remind them to read paragraph 32(d) of the third schedule to the 1999 Constitution as amended.

That section provides that the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission shall have power to: “determine the remuneration appropriate for political office holders, including the President, Vic-President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Legislators and the holders of the offices mentioned in section 84 and 124 of this constitution….”

In my view that provision is clear enough, and our distinguished senators can not fool us that they have acted ignorantly to allocate to themselves, more remuneration by whatever name called than their contemporaries across the world.

Let me say that in the constitution amendment process, the House of Representatives so far, appear to be more clear-headed than the Senate as to what new provisions should be put in the constitution to help our country far better. They have voted among other innovations to separate the office of the Attorney-General from the Minister of Justice, the AuditorGeneral of the Federation from that of the Federal Government and the grant of autonomy to state legislatures. However in granting autonomy to local governments, they failed to create constitutional rights over economic activities, which is why many of the existing states are technically insolvent.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

33

LAW & SOCIETY

‘Efficient public procurement system will curb corruption’ Speakers at the Diaspora Scholars Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) have explored ways to ensure more transparency in public procurement, reports JOSEPH JIBUEZE

• Dr James Akanmu (left) and Prof Ajomo • Prof Osode and Prof Azinge

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NE of the easiest means of perpetrating corruption is through the award of contracts. The fact that billions of naira have been stolen in the name of contracts shows a failure of the public procurement system, experts have said.

“Corruption has its roots in procurement and award of contracts,” emeritus professor of Law and former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Ayo Ajomo said.

He was among speakers at NIALS’ Fourth Diaspora Scholars Lecture held in Lagos. It had the theme: Entrenching fairness and the rule of law in Public Procurement: Reflections and Lessons from South Africa.

This year’s lecture was delivered

by Prof Patrick Osode of the Nelson R. Mandela School of Law, University of Fort Hare, South Africa.

Ajomo said he was on a United Nation’s (UN) panel in the 80s, which studied award of public contracts in Nigeria. Major contractors of the world were interviewed.

“It was discovered that Nigerians have a propensity to own foreign accounts. And before any discussions are held on contracts, they ask contractors to pay money into those accounts,” he said.

He blamed the government for treating corruption with kid gloves, decrying the fact that highprofile conviction for graft remains low despite heavy looting by public officials.

Ajomo said rather than jail highstatus persons found guilty of corruption, anti-graft agencies enter plea-bargain arrangements with them, thereby encouraging rather than deterring official sleaze.

“Of all the nations in the world, Nigeria is the most notorious for keeping money in foreign accounts,” Ajomo lamented Osode said Nigeria’s performance is mediocre in governance and public procurement, adding that corruption makes it impossible to “mobilise the faith of the citizens, especially youth, around the Nigerian dream.”

The effect, he said, is damage to the national brand and continuing dent to the society’s moral fibre.

“When I hear that public funds are found in the basement of a public servant, it breaks my heart,” Osode said.

He said through the 10 years he served as Dean of Law in his university, he never “saw” a Rand (South African money) out of the faculty’s budget.

Osode said a poor public procurement system manifests in willingness of Nigerian families to tolerate illicit use of public funds by relatives.

It is also evident in general lack of genuine respect for the law, legal institutions and public functionaries.

“There is abnormal and inexhaustible appetite for conspicuous consumption and wealth accumulation by Nigerian elites,” Osode said.

He said one way to ensure an efficient procurement system is to make it part of the constitution, as South Africa did.

In the South African Constitution, public procurement is directly and indirectly stated, such as in Section 217 known as the Procurement Clause, Osode said.

“Public institutions and functionaries are specifically mentioned as being bound by that section.

“It is also justice-able, as no other law can supercede public procurement laws because it is in the constitution.

“That way, public procurement is capable of being deployed on a mission of nation-building through the enhancement of social inclusion, which should in turn lead to greater levels of transparency,” Osode said.

The law professor called for a review of Nigeria’s public procurement laws to remove the provision for administrative review which whittles down the influence of the court in such matters.

“Administrative review is problematic. It confers quasi-adjucatory responsibility to the authorities.

“The Administrative review indirectly insulates the tender process from judicial review, which hampers the growth of legal jurisprudence. Administrative review should be jettisoned,” he said.

According to him, meaningful development will continue to elude Nigeria until its public procurement system is made effective.

“If we are to increase the pace of development and restore public trust and confidence in the state, the quality of governance in public procurement will have to be improved sooner rather than later.

“Therefore, effect amendment of the 1999 Constitution to incorporate public procurement as has been done by Kenya in its 2010 Constitution. Eliminate administrative review.

“The effectiveness of the public procurement-related laws and institutions will depend on Nigeria’s successes in creating a socio-political environment that is conducive to the rule of law.”

Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr Emeka Ezeh, represented by Dr Akanmu, said the Public Procurement Act (2007) empowers the bureau to regulate the entire process of public acquisition of goods, works and services.

Their duty, he said, involves iden-

• Mr Austin Odokuma (left) and NIALS Research Director Prof Lanre Fagbohun

• Prof Yinka Omoregbe and Prof Bolaji Owasanoye

• Ibrahim Sani (left) and Prof Paul Idornigie

tifying the need and source of fund, and letting people know through advertisement that the government or its agencies want to make an acquisition.

“The bid must be examined technically and financially. The winner of the bid should be the lowest evaluated, responsive bidder.

“For any bidding firm to be responsive, it must be a legal entity,” Ezeh said.

Professor of Law at NIALS, Paul Idornigie, decried the fact that since 2007, the National Council on Public Procurement, which should guile the Bureau of Public

Procurement (BPP), has ceased existing.

NIALS Director-General Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN) said the purpose for establishing the Diaspora Lecture – to bring back the best brains abroad – was being achieved.

“We are attaining the objectives and the goal of engaging people in the Diaspora. The lecture is a way of bringing our best brains home to make useful recommendations on how to move the country forward in various spheres.

“Osode has been out for 25 years and this is the first time he is com-

PHOTOS: DAYO ADEWUNMI

ing back home. We keep looking out for our colleagues across the globe.

“They need to be brought back to contribute to the country’s development. We are achieving that objective through this forum, which is like an instrument to chart a path, so that our people, wherever they are, can be useful to the country.

“We will, in conjunction with the relevant authorities, work to implement all the recommendations that flow from the lectures.

If we can do that successfully, we will have achieved our aims.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

NATIONAL BAR

Independence of electoral umpires in Nigeria Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) pays tribute to legal luminary Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) who has just marked 50 years of his call to the Bar. • Continued from last week

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HE electoral umpires at that stage of the colonial ven ture were therefore the registering officers who were obviously subject to direct control of the colonial government. This was the position until the 1958 Nigerian (Electoral Provisions) Order in Council was promulgated, which created the Electoral Commission of Nigeria which was charged with the responsibility to prepare voters register and conduct elections. It was largely modelled after the British Electoral commission which was earlier discussed.

14.As the foregoing account of electoral umpireship in colonial times reveals, imperial Britain which was the predominant political influence of the time was without doubt the real electoral umpire for Nigeria in the colonial period.

That and the limited franchise granted Nigerians at the time meant that imperial Britain was very much in charge of whatever passed for ‘electoral process’ at that time. It is therefore not surprising that eminent Nigerians have alleged that the British colonial expedition to Nigeria tried to use the Electoral Commission of Nigeria (ECN), established to conduct 1959 elections to impose Northern Nigerians at the helm of affairs after independence. This sentiment was expressed in Chinua Achebe’s book earlier referred to.

After Independence in 1960 the Electoral Act of 1962 was enacted for the whole of Nigeria as its first electoral law. However, the law did no more than re-state the 1958 Electoral Regulations so that the electoral umpire remained the Electoral Commission. After the military coup in 1966, the Electoral Act was suspended and the ECN dissolved so that Nigeria was without an electoral umpire until the 24-man FEDECO1 Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) was constituted by the Obasanjo military administration through the Electoral Decree of 1977.

FEDECO’s functions included the conduct of elections, delimitation of constituencies and registration of political parties – much the same as the INEC, on paper at least. In 1976, the General Olusegun Obasanjo military administration appointed Chief Michael Ani to be the chairman of FEDECO for the 1979 elections. In 1982, another Electoral Act was enacted for Nigeria which defined the duties of the already existing Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) in greater detail.

15.By the end of the second republic, the Nigerian Army had litrally dismantled the country’s political structure and become Ni-

regulator carry the same mind set into elections. It has been said that the business of politics is too serious to be left in the hands of politicians. INEC must step up its game and improve significantly on its regulatory role.

By Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN)

geria’s predominant political influence. It was under these circumstances that FEDECO was dissolved by the General Mohammadu Buhari junta on December 31, 1983. Another military junta led by General Ibrahim Babangida established the National Electoral Commission (NEC) in 1987 to administer the Juntas transition programme to civil rule. The NEC was hailed as a step in the right direction till Babangida’s painfully elongated transition programme revealed that it was merely a weapon for tenure elongation, a view confirmed when the 1993 elections adjudged to be the freest and fairest election in Nigeria was annulled. The public perception of electoral umpireship was at the lowest after the annulment. Everyone in the country saw Professor Henry Nwosu’s NEC as toothless and unable to assert its independence under Babaginda’s Rule of the gun.

16. In 1993, the Abacha led junta dissolved Bangida’s NEC and, in December 1995, established the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) to replace it. The general perception was that the only difference between NEC and NECON were the two last alphabets of the NECON’s acronym. And although NECON conducted elections to Local Government councils and National Assembly, it was common knowledge that NECON had one overriding agenda: to perpetuate Abacha’s military rule by transforming him to a ‘democratically elected president.’ Following General Abacha’s sudden passing in 1998, General Abdulsalam Abubakar’s Administration dissolved NECON and established the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in August 1998. INEC comprises a Chairman and 12 National Commissioners, two members being drawn from each of the six geopolitical zones of the country. Like its predecessors, INEC has been riddled with criticisms and labelled a lackey of whoever wields the reins of power. The same criticism pervaded the era of Prof Maurice Iwu, a fine gentleman but with the odds stacked against him, he could only manage to deliver amidst condemnations particularly from the opposition to the Ruling Political Party.

The perception persisted until the coming of Prof Attairu Jega as head of INEC and the gains of opposition parties in some states of the Federation reduced significantly the barrage of criticism of the Electoral umpire.

17.The Electoral umpire for National Elections in Nigeria today

Conclusion

• Aare Babalola (SAN)

is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and it is established by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Establishment) Act Cap 15 laws of the Federation of Nigeria (the Act). Section 4 of the Act spells out the functions of the INEC. These include the organisation, conduct and supervision of elections, registration of political parties, monitor the organisation and operation of political parties including their finances, voter registration and the preparation, maintenance and revision of voters registers, monitoring of political campaigns, provision of rules and regulations governing political parties amongst other functions.

18.It is to be noted that Item 22 of the Executive Legislative List under the Part 1 of the Second Schedule (Legislative Powers) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered provides that the Federal Government and by extension INEC may only conduct election into the offices of the President and Vice President or Governor and Deputy Governor and any other office to which a person may be elected under the Constitution excluding election into a Local Government Council or any office in such council.

19.Section 2 of the Act deals with the membership of the Commission while Section 3 deals with the

tenure of office of members. Also contained in the Act are subsidiary legislation dealing with guidelines for elections into offices of the President and National Assembly.

20.While INEC has remained very active in its role as organiser, conductor and superior of elections, its role as designed in section 4 of the Act with regards to monitoring the finances and operations of political parties (Section 4c, 4d and 4e) have been at a low ebb. The independence and impartiality of INEC is not to be measured only during elections but in the manner in which it carries out its supervisory role over the operations and finances of political parties even in between electoral contests. The supervisory role that INEC should play over political parties as aforesaid should be comparable to what the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does with the banks and banking institutions or what other regulatory bodies do within their spheres.

21.INEC must actively engage political parties and supervise their operations and finances. Rules and penalties for breaches must be well defined and spelt out and the interaction must be in public space.

This will have a positive impact on the public and improve the perception of the public on the impartiality of INEC. The general public will therefore having perceived INEC as a effective and impartial

From the foregoing, it is clear that the Electoral Umpires we have had in Nigeria have never really had any measure of independence which would ensure their impartiality. In the colonial times, imperial Britain was the hand beneath the gloves of electoral umpireship.

Under the military, the various electoral umpires were either put in place to elongate tenure (Babangida) or to outrightly defeat clamour for democratic governance (Abacha). Under the 1999 constitution, things have not changed much and the INEC is generally considered to be partial and in favour of whoever happens to be the government of the day. Therefore, in accordance with the judicial pronouncements reproduced earlier, it is fair to assert that Nigeria has never really had an independent electoral umpire and the lesson here is the futility of embarking on journey towards democratic self-governance which does not have a fully independent umpire both in laws setting up the body and in the perception of the public.

This malaise is not restricted to the National umpire, it is in fact worse with the states electoral bodies saddled with the conduct of Local Government Elections.

On Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) “I have known Aare Afe Babalola all my adult life and he has always been a reference point for many in the legal profession in Nigeria and overseas. I remember that in 2003, I picked up courage and approached him one evening at Emanuel Chambers. I was straight to the point. I asked for his guidance in my quest to take silk. He asked three questions: 1.When I was called to the Bar, 2.How long I had established my own practice.

3.The highest fee I had charged as professional fees at the time and lastly.

4.If I owned my own residence.

I think he was satisfied with my answers and he allowed me to visit his chambers every weekend to discuss my progress until 2005 when I was called into the Inner Bar. Aare Babalola is not only a colossus in the legal profession, he has also firmly established perhaps the best privately run and funded university in Nigeria, that is, the Afe Babalola University in Ado Ekiti.

• Concluded

NUC, varsity know fate at Appeal court tomorrow

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HE Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan will tomorrow de liver judgment in an appeal by the National Universities Commission (NUC) against the verdict of a Federal High Court, Ibadan.

The lower court had restrained the Commission from invalidating its accreditation of Lead City University (LCU) Law programme.

Justice J.E. Shakarho, on July 26, 2011, annulled NUC’s declaration of the law faculty illegal.

The suit was filed by a First Class law graduate of the University, Revd. Segun Ademola Alli.

The judge described NUC’s action as a constructive malice against the university.

The court held that NUC did not

By Joseph Jibueze

have any power to declare the already approved and accredited Faculty of Law of LCU illegal and unaccredited.

It said NUC should immediately release the faculty’s accreditation report of 2008 which was rendered invalid because the Council of Legal Education (CLE) was not part of the exercise.

The court had directed CLE to visit LCU and mobilise its law graduates to the Nigerian Law School within 60 days with effect from July 26, 2011.

The judge further held that NUC did not need to co-opt another statutory body such as CLE before

it can accredit the faculty, and, therefore, declared the faculty legal, recognised and accredited.

The fate of the university’s Law graduates has been hanging in the air since 2009, as they were unable to proceed to the Nigerian Law School.

Anxiety is so high as graduates and law students of the university await tomorrow’s judgment.

A former LCU Student Representatives’ Council President, Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart, decried the spate of impunity in the country.

“In a country where people nurture whimsical belief that an ordinary citizen should not attempt confrontation with people in gov-

ernment, intellectual deficit abounds. Naked acceptance of impunity in the education sector signals a great danger to the future of Nigeria.

“We attach weight to this legal case because we consider the position of law that government policy should be directed towards ensuring equal and adequate educational opportunities for all, as enshrined in Section 18 of the 1999 Constitution.

“I also believe that the perseverance and insistence on rule of law by products of Lead City’s law faculty would be laced by the Appeal Court judgment.”

A law graduate of the institution, AbdulSemihi Oladele, said: “It is only

in Nigeria that people play politics with the future of its citizens, but having kept faith in the rule of law, we believe justice would prevail.”

Another Law graduate, Mr Ojerinde Ayodeji, said: “For me, justice is the first condition of humanity. If an entity or an oppressor had been practising illegalities since the birth of Jesus Christ and such oppressor remains unchallenged in the Court of Law, he would continue these dirty acts till thy kingdom come.

“Many birthrights of the weak and timid persons in Nigeria have been exchanged by such oppressors for plates of porridge because the oppressed also fail to utilise the provisions of our grundnorm, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

BAR DISCOURSE

Democracyandsocio-economicimbalanceinNigeria:Theroleoflaw Text of a keynote address by Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN) at the Law Week of the Benin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held at Fourteen Eighty Five Marquee, Benin City, Edo State.

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S a beneficiary of the legal profession, I always proudly associate myself with its activities. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has grown to such enviable heights that other professional associations are merely playing ‘catch up’ with us.

In any jurisdiction, developing and developed, the social-economic wellbeing of the citizens is of paramount importance to the government and the governed.

Section 14(2b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

Even at a family level, a family’s socio-economic status is a function of the family income, parental education level, parental occupation and social status in the community – contacts within the community, group associations and the community’s perception of the family.

Families with high socio-economic status often have more success in preparing their young children for school because they typically have access to a wider range of resources to promote and support young children’s development.

If financial indices and regional military prowess were indicators, it would seem strange to state that Nigeria as it exists is socio-economically imbalanced. It has enjoyed uninterrupted democracy for 14 years; its economy is second only to that of South Africa in Africa and it has a healthy population of roughly 150 million people. For the business enthusiast, this translates to unparalleled man power. Nigeria also has the biggest oil reserves on the continent after Libya. It is also a strategic partner for the European Union.

On the African continent, she was not only a founding member of the former Organisation of African Unity (OAU) but also a very active member of the African Union (AU).

She has since then been an essential leader in the West African sub-region playing a stabilising role through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and numerous peace-keeping efforts. In fact, in the early 90s, Nigeria successfully orchestrated two peacekeeping efforts simultaneously; one in Liberia and the other in Sierra Leone. Few countries would get away with tasking their Military

with so much but such has been Nigeria’s commitment to entrenching Democracy all over Africa. Over the years, various Nigerians have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields, bringing further glory to the country. As one of the leading countries in Africa, on the surface, Nigeria presents a near-impregnable case study in democracy.

Beneath the calm surface, however, Nigeria grapples with problems which all but threaten to drag the country down with them. Education in Nigeria is at its lowest ebb.

If you doubt this statement, you might want to interview some of the increasingly unemployable graduates that are turned out yearly by our universities. You might want to consider the poor West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results that secondary school children bring home nowadays. Stating that education is at its lowest ebb in Nigeria could be interpreted to mean that every Nigerian is afforded some degree of education but this unfortunately is not the case. There are several Nigerians (mostly children and some tragically, as old as myself) who have never seen the four walls of any classroom and who have never received any form of formal education. The statement, ‘knowledge is power’ clearly reveals to us why the more educationally advanced countries are the World Leaders. Nigeria falls short in this regard because a worrying majority of its citizens are either sparsely educated or uneducated.

Apart from Nigeria’s problems with education, there exist high levels of poverty in the land with a staggering majority living on less than a dollar per day. Not surprisingly, the high levels of illiteracy and poverty have combined to usher in an era of unprecedented criminality. Illiteracy, unemployment and poverty are inexorably linked and their presence at such high levels in any form of democracy connotes a serious problem; the ‘have-nots’ begin to see the ‘haves’ as the enemy, teeing off a sequence of activities intended to ‘reduce all citizens to the same level’. When you add the looming presence of religious and ethnic intolerance, you have a boiling cauldron, itching to spill its contents over the Nigerian landscape.

This is the result of socio-economic imbalance. Money, power and po-

Supermarket sues Planet One

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SUPERMARKET, The Source Limited, has sued Planet One Entertainment Limited at the Lagos State High Court over alleged breach of contract.

The claimant is praying for N1.7million being debt allegedly owed it from supply of beverages, disposables and household items to the defendant between March and November 2009.

It is also asking for interest on the amount at the rate of 10 per cent per annum from the date judgment will be given till the debt is fully paid.

It asked for N500,000 as cost of the law suit.

The Source, in its claims, said Planet One asked it to supply the goods, which it said it did using money it borrowed from a bank.

It said the defendant used the items, including drinks, wine openers, toiletries, cutlery, cigarettes, food items, air fresheners, padlock, among others.

But despite asking to be paid, the claimant said Planet One has “refused or ignored to pay the cost price of the items despite repeated demands.”

The claimant said it attended several meetings with the defendant,

By Joseph Jibueze

which agreed to pay the debt in installments, but still defaulted.

The Source said its business has been badly affected “as a result of willful refusal of the defendant to liquidate its indebtedness to it.”

“The claimant will contend at the trial that the defendant has no defence whatsoever to the claimant’s claim,” said the plaintiff.

But Planet One, in its defence, denied most of the The Source’s claims, including approaching it to supply any goods, beverages or disposables.

It also denied issuing local purchase orders for the items, as well as receiving the goods, and “put the claimant to the strictest proof thereof.”

Planet One said: “The defendant states that the claimant’s action as constituted against it is frivolous, vexatious, an abuse of court process and ought to be dismissed with substantial cost.”

It added that the suit “deserves to be struck out as the forum is shopping.”

The case, which is before Justice Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile, has been adjourned till October 10 for hearing.

• Gadzama

sition are concentrated in the hands of a few, leaving a large number of Nigeria’s considerable population mired in indescribable poverty.

The high level of poverty has led to an exodus of Nigerians, including the well-publicized “brain drain” which refers to several ablebodied Nigerians being “exported” to the rest of the world. This illustrious list of exports includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, the popular British thespian and a host of Doctors, Lawyers, athletes and footballers too numerous to mention. Others have advertised their Nigerian origin in less than complimentary ways as the recent Woolwich killing has shown. Some of them left Nigeria as children while others were born outside Nigeria (like the Woolwich murder suspects). Still, the mass exodus of Nigerian citizens over the years, some of whom have acquired the citizenship of other countries, is mostly as a result of the high level of poverty in Nigeria. Some years back, Ghanaians flooded Nigeria in high numbers, leading to the famous “Ghana must go” saga. The way Nigerians keep popping in every country (some as far as Singapore and Cyprus), we may soon have a “Nigeria must go” saga. The mass exodus of a country’s citizens is a glaring symptom of socio-economic imbalance. It means the country does not provide enough for its citizens.

Having endured decades of Military rule and having been unable to oversee a successful and sustained Military to Civilian transition, Nigerians had every reason to be optimistic even if apprehensive on May 29, 1999 when General Abdulsalami Abubakar handed over the reins of government to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and ushered in a democratic government. Since then, Nigeria has endured its first civilian to civilian transition with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo handing over to the late Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on May 29, 2007. Democracy has thus enjoyed an unbroken period of 14 years as the government of choice in Nigeria. If we are experiencing signs of socio-economic imbalance despite the sustained presence of our democracy then it simply means that the concept has not been holistically utilized by our country. In order for democracy to be successful in Nigeria, unhindered by socio-economic imbalance (which

ironically is what democracy has come to ameliorate), the concept of law has to work hand-in-hand with democracy. This means there must be “rule of law” in every sense of the expression. In addition, the Law exists to provide a remedy at all times, hence the latin maxim, Ubi jus ibi remedium. This is thus the thrust of this paper. With all these credentials and the perceived imbalance, what role can law play in reducing if not eliminating the socio-economic imbalance in Nigeria within the context of our democratic dispensation?

1. Definition of basic concepts In order for there to be a better understanding of this topic, we would need to ascribe a working definition to certain concepts. A better understanding of these concepts would lead to an easier analysis.

(a) Democracy

Etymologically, the term ‘democracy’ originates from the Greek word demokratia – rule of the people, which is coined from the word demos (people) and kratos (power) or rule in the fifth Century BC to denote the political systems then existing in Greek city-states, notably Athens.

The term is an antonym to aristocratie (rule of an elite). While theoretically these definitions are in opposition, in practice the distinction has been blurred historically. The political system of classical Athens, for example, granted democratic citizenship to an elite class of free men and excluded slaves and women from political participation. In virtually all democratic governments throughout ancient and modern history, democratic citizenship consisted of an elite class until full enfranchisement was won for all adult citizens in most modern democracies through the suffrage movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. The English word dates to the 16th century, from the older Middle French and Middle Latin equivalents. The practice of democracy can be direct or representative.

The layman’s idea of democracy stems from Abraham Lincoln’s iconic definition, in which he described it as “the government of the people, by the people and for the people”. This definition is quite mis-

leading because it is too complex and gives the impression that everyone is involved in Government. A more realistic and modern definition is that Democracy is a form of government which allows eligible citizens to participate equally (either directly or through elected representatives) in the governance of their country.

It is a system of government that guarantees socio-economic rights for the citizens of a country and is characterised by separation of powers, rule of law, constitutionalism, periodic popular elections and the rule of law. While no consensus exists on how to define democracy, equality and freedom have both been identified as important characteristics of democracy since ancient times.

These principles are reflected in all eligible citizens as being equal before the law and having equal access to legislative processes. For example, in a representative democracy, every vote has equal weight, no unreasonable restrictions can apply to anyone seeking to become a representative, and the freedom of its eligible citizens is secured by legitimised rights and liberties which are typically protected by a constitution.

There is no doubt that Nigeria has had a chequered history as far as democracy is concerned but on a more positive note, the country has experienced over fourteen unbroken years of the form of government, firmly engraving and etching it in the mind-set of every Nigerian. Democracy is the government of choice for the world’s leading countries and is usually seen as the stepping stone to greatness for any country. Nigeria’s seeming inability to rid itself of socio-economic problems despite the existence of democracy has more to do with the application of the concept in Nigeria than anything else.

Democracy as a form of government, when properly utilised, is the closest to societal utopia a country will ever get. One would be forgiven for naturally assuming that over a decade of democratic governance would have improved the lives of Nigerians but unfortunately, things could be a lot better. While it is true that democracy creates an avenue to promote growth, this does not mean that such growth (economic or social) would be automatic. There are features of democracy, which a country must imbibe, if it intends to reap the fruits of this concept of governance.

(b) Law and democracy There exists a glaring symbiotic relationship between these two concepts. Law ensures that a democratic government is in place while the existence of democracy guarantees the rule of law. To have one without the other would be to constitute an anomaly. A democratic government must have a law backing its establishment. When the law establishing or backing a democracy is not allowed to live up to its potential, then the democracy itself is shaky. If the enabling law for instance is hampered by certain clauses, then the democracy has not been allowed to be all that it can be.

(c) Socio-economics and socio-economic balance Socioeconomics (also known as socio-economics or social economics) is the social science that studies how economic activity affects social processes. In general it analyses how societies progress, stagnate, or regress because of their local or regional economy, or the • To be continued next week

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

36

NATIONAL BAR

‘Senate, Reps acted in good faith on Rivers crisis’ First, it was the House of Representatives that intervened in the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly. The Senate soon followed suit, provoking comments over the legality of the National Assembly’s action. In this piece, Rivers State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General Worgu Boms, submits that the lawmakers are in order. He adds that the probe panel raised by Governor Rotimi Amaechi is also backed by law

T

HE political crisis in Rivers State, which started with the judgment of Justice Ishaq Bello of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on April 15, has claimed the legislative functions of the House Assembly, which have now been taken over by the National Assembly.

I was in the House of Assembly on July 9 with the Deputy Governor, Mr Tele Ikuru, who came on behalf of Governor Rotimi Amaechi to present a budget variation request. Those who watched one of the several video clips now circulating on the internet would have seen me in black suit striving to tame one of the lead aggressors to discourage him from breaking and entering into the Assembly Chambers with his supporters. The deputy governor had embraced him in a bid to restrain him. It was in that warm embrace which lasted some minutes, during which I thought the deputy governor had succeeded in discouraging him from his course of action, that he, the lead aggressor, uttered the now (in)famous words concerning how, according to him, Governor Amaechi, has been abusing the president and the president’s wife, whom he referred to as mummy, and metaphorically too, as his Jesus Christ on earth. This is not hearsay as I repeat that I was there myself and heard him.

As the events in the video clips show, the deputy governor and I were unable to dissuade him. The rest, as we say, is now history.

As we left the Assembly complex that fateful July 9, it was certain that the contrived commotion would continue the next day. It was certain and clear too, that the sitting of the House would be disrupted.

This is because the group of five was resolute in its desire to make the world believe it was now in charge of the Assembly while the 27 members resisting the group were equally resolute, if not more, in their stance that five can never be more than 27.

The next day as the five against 27 respective parties made for the Assembly Complex, violence suddenly erupted as their supporters entered the arena, resulting in the Police throwing teargas canisters and the subsequent interim takeover of the Assembly by the House of Representatives through its timely and proficient intervention.

It is curious that this timely, proficient, patriotic intervention, was discouraged by some for one reason or the other.

Perhaps, to those opposed to the take over, the National Assembly should have remained uninterested in the crises as the Rivers State Police Command was, which disinterest provided, ab initio, the leeway for the commencement and festering of the Assembly distur-

bances. (I had, about a month ago in a press conference, warned of our slide to lawlessness in Rivers State through the machinations of the Police Command under the present Commissioner of Police). With such disinterest and with no authority in sight apart from the governor’s intervention which saved the situation on the first day, the lawmakers and their respective supporters would have concluded the massacre of themselves and then, at that stage, it would be ripe, as some argue, to intervene; only at that stage and certainly not before. This is not logical. It is unacceptable as nothing is more precious than human lives.

Let us grant it without conceding it, that the intervention, according to some viewpoint, is immature or premature or precipitous, etc.

However, to the extent that it saved several lives on both sides of the contrived disturbance, it should still be commended especially since it is not without constitutional basis.

What is immature, premature, or precipitous is not necessarily unconstitutional as the cardinal issue is whether there is constitutional basis for such immature or premature action especially in the face of clear and imminent danger to several lives and property if no action is taken at all.

I have stated in the past that the disturbances are contrived: In other words, they were planned in advance, they were invented and not genuine, all to achieve a predetermined end and that is why the planners and their sponsors do not want any genuine approach to resolving it as such genuine resolution will not hit their target of removing the Governor by any means whatsoever and howsoever.

This is the cause of action: Remove Governor Amaechi at all cost and by any means whatsoever and when that is accomplished, he can go to court and speak the grammar outside power and the period of the litigation will certainly last longer than his remaining tenure as in the Ladoja case. To many Nigerians, the courts are the place where disputes are buried and never resolved. So, those who seek any advantage at all cost, employ any means, fair or foul, legal or illegal, to attain it and then turn round to taunt their hapless victim by advising them to go to court. This is the tragedy of the judiciary and it helps in promoting impunity as we are seeing in Rivers State in particular. Whenever a conqueror tells you to go to court, he is actually taunting you knowing that he will wear you out in court and the matter will never get resolved while he is enjoying the subject of the looting. Such persons do not really want a genuine resolution of the dispute because the dispute was contrived.

The Rivers State crises are contrived and the sponsors do not really want any genuine reso-

• Worgu

lution unless that which will ease out the governor prematurely and incapacitate him politically. Below are the activities of the sponsors of the crises which form the bases for my personal view: By the Supreme Court judgment in Fawehinmi & 2 Ors Vs Babangida & 3 Ors, which judgment can be found from pages 604 to 691 of the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports, [2003] 3 NWLR Part 808, the Federal Government cannot constitutionally set up a Commission of Enquiries for any activity outside the Federal Capital Territory as such commissions of enquiry are adjudged residual matters for the states. Presidential spokesman on political matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, clearly, with knowledge of this constitutional incapacity of the National Government, rightly suggested an enquiry into the disturbances – he did not state that the Federal Government should set it up since this is constitutionally impossible, but that such an enquiry should be set up. Since only the Rivers State Government can, and as a responsible and duty-conscious government, it has since constituted a Judicial Commission of Enquiry headed by Justice B. A. Georgewill to ascertain the role played by all in the saga amongst other terms of reference and make appropriate recommendations.

This exercise is pursuant to the Commissions of Enquiry Law, Cap 30, Laws of Rivers State.

Because the sponsors of the disturbances are not interested in the resolution as that will not achieve their target, they have filed a suit in

which they are seeking to restrain the commission from carrying out its assignment.

Again, and as is already widely known, the same group wrote to the Senate intimating it that it has instituted an action in court to restrain it from concurring with the House of Representatives on the matter. Whether such a cause of action can be founded in the face of Section 30 of Cap L12, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, the court will decide.

Add to it the fact that up till the time of this writing, none of the five minority lawmakers, not even the one who reportedly ordered that the governor be shot, has been invited by the police or declared wanted.

The situation therefore is this: Intervention by the House of Representatives is said to be premature or unnecessary; in other words, they should not have intervened.

The Senate is being litigated against to prevent it from intervening; in other words, the Senate, too, should not intervene.

The Commission of Enquiry in Rivers State set up to investigate the matter and make findings, is being fought in court to prevent it from looking into the matter. In other words, the Rivers State Government, which alone has the constitutional power to set up a Commission of Enquiry into the matter, should also not do anything.

How, then, will the bloodbath and disturbances be curtailed and prevented from reccurring or escalating? Perhaps, only when the governor is removed by any means whatsoever.

This is precisely why I do not still agree with those who reason that the National Assembly, like the police in Rivers State, should do nothing until someone dies or the governor is illegally removed or a state of emergency is declared. To the contrary, the National Assembly should receive fulsome commendation from us all, regardless of which side of the divide we stand, because, but for their timely intervention, the police in Rivers State, by now, would be calling for reinforcement and assistance from the armed forces and media practitioners would be refusing posting to Port Harcourt for fear of suffering harm from the inevitable violence and killings that would have inexorably followed the institutional inaction as planned by the sponsors.

I commend the House of Representatives and the Senate and, indeed, all well-meaning Nigerians, who saw through the plot and rose against it, and urge them to celebrate the intervention for, through it, countless lives have been saved. By this, the National Assembly has proved, beyond doubt, that the primary responsibility of governments is the preservation of lives and property.

‘How to prevent religious, political extremism’ Experts last week converged on the ninth Aelex annual lecture to deliberate on how to use legal and moral strategies to combat religious and political conflicts.

PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports.

J

URISTS, political and religious leaders gathered in Lagos last week to explore how to collaborate for a better society free of extremism.

It was at an annual lecture organised by Aelex, a law firm.

It had the theme: In God’s name: politics, religion and economic development.

Participants, who cut across the professions, sought an end to religious conflicts which are disrupting socioeconomic development.

At the event were former President, Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi (rtd); Justice Benedicta Molokwu (rtd); Justice Funmilayo Atilade and Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okogie of the Lagos State High Court; retired Anglican Bishop, Rev. George Bako; Editorial Board Chairman of ThisDay, Segun Adeniyi; Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN); Secretary, Arewa Consultative Youth Forum, Comrade Sulaiman Tijani, and Managing Partners of Aelex, Funke Adekoya (SAN) and Soji Awogbade.

Speakers argued there must be limits at which politics and religion interfere, otherwise the nation may never get out of its present predicament.

Participants also argued that there was need for the various religions to

teach its followers the core values of the religion, as well as curb its excesses, bearing in mind that its rights and privileges stops where another religion begins.

It was agreed that to draw a clear cut line between political and religious excesses, a new constitution that will be agreed upon by Nigerians through negotiations was inevitable.

Participants said politics and religion work hand-in-hand, and the persecution, restrictions, harassment and marginalisation of various religious groups or communities across the world have resulted to the reprisals evident across all the continents.

An Associate Director of Religious Freedom Project, Georgetown University, United States, Prof. Timothy Shah, delivered the guest lecture where he noted that the most violent, system-wide global security upheavals tend to arise when the fuel of radical ideology is thrown on the fire of a “revolution in rising expectations.”

He said a revolution in rising expectations occur when widespread popular expectations about social circumstances were rising, while actual social conditions were stagnant or declining.

“We should not be complacent and say it cannot happen here. It is happening in otherwise peaceful communities. It is happening everywhere,”

• From left: Justice Akanbi, Awogbade, Shah and Mrs Adekoya at the event.

he said.

Shah said there was a growing “gaping global religious freedom deficit”.

“Given the dangers and pervasiveness of revolutionary religious militancy as a global security challenge, it must become a leading priority for the US intelligence and policy communities to closely monitor and proactively counter the radicalisation of religious groups across the world.

“Religious freedom fosters human capital; service oriented NGOs, attracts a diversity of immigrants and builds social networks, which all promote economic prosperity.

“There is no viable strategy in the face of the threats of religious militancy than what might be called a strategy of comprehensive religious security. That is aggressively promoting religious security for all groups in every society.

“Such a strategy is likely to reap a wide array of benefits. On one hand, it is likely to diminish the likelihood of religious militancy, violence and po-

litical instability-dangerously interrelated dynamics that are too intense and common in our world of rapidly rising expectations.”

Justice Akanbi who chaired the occasion, noted that the solution was not squarely legal but also moral. He said there was need for Nigerians-leaders and followers-to practice the core principles of their religion, which is love and peace.

“We need to educate the people in the values of religion. No religion preaches war or violence. Religious leaders have to be sincere and preach the word of God to the understanding of their followers. When you get power, you must agree within yourself to be a changed man.

“We have to sit down and talk to set standards for greatness. Nigeria has every quality to be great but people need to be educated from childhood,” he said.

Mrs Adekoya said the law as a regu lator either through the constitution or a legislation should be employed

to balance the conflicting interest of politicians and political parties, religious bodies, in order to allow for development.

She said it was important that Nigerians sit down and negotiate on certain terms which shall be biding on all parties, and allow for economic development.

“When there is a defining law in place which all parties agree to, then, discrimination or even child slavery will fizzle out. All parties will know the limit they can go and the economy will thrive.”

Awogbade, in his opening remarks, said the law firm chose the topic as a result of the challenges the country was facing. He said though their duty was ‘lawyering’, they realised that many Nigerians have looked away from foundational issues, hence, they want to wake people up, especially now that religious and political violence have found their way into the polity.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

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LAW REPORT

‘Courts have power to formulate issues for parties where justice demands’ the appellant’s complaint in EXHIBIT “F”.

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Date: April 19, 2013

Ground four:

SC. 135/2004, 2013(4) LEDLR-16

The learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they held that the 2nd defendant was properly struck out from the suit as an unnecessary party.

Before their Lordships CHRISTOPHER MITCHELL CHUKWUMA ENEH IBRAHIM TANKO MUHAMMAD

Particulars of error

SULEIMAN GALADIMA NWALI SYLVESTER NGWUTA STANLEY SHENKO ALAGOA BETWEEN ALHAJI RASAKI ABIOLA EKUNOLA

APPELLANT

AND CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

RESPONDENTS

ALHAJI SAIDU MOHAMMED

Ground Five:

(Director of Personnel, CBN) SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA •Continued from last week

T

HE learned Justices of the Court below assumed the role of a trial judge whose primary duty it is to assess or evaluate evidence of parties and ascribe probative value. ii. The lower court aptly noted that ‘’The appellant accused the 2nd respondent of usurping the powers of the 1st respondent ...’’ but simply affirmed the finding of the trial judge thus: The 1st defendant is a statutory body. That being so, it must necessarily function through its officers who are human beings’’ when there was no evidence on record to the effect.

A

The learned Justices of the court of Appeal unjustifiably failed to:a. look at the pleadings and evidence before the court which overwhelmingly challenged the vires of the 2nd respondent in the whole disciplinary action challenged. b. Consider the matter on the rules of court on joinder of parties under Order 12 Rule 3 Federal High Court Rules 2000. c. Properly consider S.137 of the Evidence Act relating to burden and standard of proof.

iii. The appellant’s evidence on record that 2nd respondent usurped the powers of the 1st respondent and acted without due authorisation was ignored by the lower court. iv. The Lower Court also uncritically affirmed the conclusion of the trial court that ‘’the acts of the 2nd defendant in the present case can therefore be attributed to the 1st defendant and that there is no evidence before me that all that the 2nd defendant did in these present case were done in his private capacity “ when there was evidence on record that there was no delegation of power by the 1st respondent to the 2nd respondent. v. The findings fail to show an appreciation of the pleadings as well as

The learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law by holding that the 2nd respondent did not usurp the powers of the 1st respondent and that the plaintiff/appellant was given a fair hearing by the 1st respondent thereby affirming the trial court’s decision on the point.

Particulars of error i. Against the evidence on record, the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal: a.Held that the appellant was given opportunity to exculpate himself but he failed to do so. b. Failed to appreciate the plaintiff appellant’s pleadings and evidence that the 2nd defendant who was his co-employee usurped the Powers of the first respondent and without lawful authorisation disciplined him

Lawyer sues Celtel for N5m over lottery

LAGOS lawyer, Mr Said Owonisile, has sued a tel ecoms service provider, Celtel Nigeria Limited (Airtel), over alleged unlawful deductions from his airtime, praying for N5million as damages.

In a writ of summons filed at the Lagos High Court, the claimant is asking for a declaration of the court that the “Win a million Naira Tonight” programme of the defendant is a lottery and is unlawful.

Owosile is also asking for an order of the court compelling the defendant to declare the amount made by it from the “Win a Million Tonight” programme as subscription by the claimant and other customers.

The claimant in addition asked for an order of the court compelling the defendnt to refund the amount made from the lottery, being N600 to the claimant and to respective customers who put their money in the programme, that refunds should be supervised by the Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC) and the claimant and for any other such other the court may deem fit.

In a 14-paragraph statement of claim, the claimant contended that the “Win a Million Naira Tonight” is unlawful and should be terminated forthwith.

He contended further that the programme of the defendant is a lottery, which the defendant is not entitled to do adding that by operating a lottery to promote the sustenance of the brand name in the minds of Nigerians, the defendant is allegedly exploiting Nigerians, including the claimant, and making them to pay for its advertisements and even making profit from it.

• Telco: action is frivolous

By Adebisi Onanuga

He averred that the message sent to him, also sent to all customers who recharge their lines, suggests the entry and involvement by the claimant and any such customer is free of charge and that the deduction of money without further communication of pecuniary liability is fraudulent.

He further averred that the defendant has failed and refused to heed the warning of the claimant and continued in its advertisement and alleged extortion of hapless customers taking advantage of their ignorance and making money out of the programme.

Celtel Nigeria Limited, in its 17point statement of defence, described the claimant’s action as vexatious, frivolous, speculative and an abuse of court process and urged the court to dismiss it with substantive cost.

The defendant said contrary to the claims of the claimant, it did not run any promotion/lottery known as “Win a Million Naira Tonight”, but that it ran a promotion known as “Wake Up a Millionaire”.

It averred that its promotions cannot be said to be unlawful having satisfied the conditions precedent required to the grant of permit from the NCC. It stated that the very essence of conducting promotion for its subscribers was never to defraud or fleece any one but rather to reward its customers for their loyalty to the

brand and encourage subscribers to keep faith with the brand stressing that many subscribers have won several prizes as a result of their participation in the promotion.

The defendant stated that contrary to the averments of the claimant, the text messages,’Zain granted you a free pass to tonight’s N1million!Text free to 888' if originated from it to the claimant was merely an invitation to treat which in other words means an invitation to customers, including the claimant to participate in the promotion/lottery out of free will.

The defendant stated that at all times material to the suit, it never lured, induced or misled any subscriber to participate in the promotion and that any subscriber is at liberty to decide whether or not to participate in the competition.

It said there are subscribers who received such messages of invitation to participate in the promotion but declined to do so without any negative consequence(s) to them for declining to participate.

It added that if the claimant participated in the promotion/lottery it organised on the strength of the text message sent to him, the claimant would be taken to have voluntarily participated in the promotion and to have understood the contents of the text message.

The defendant said that it obtained the licence to operate the lottery “Wake Up a Millionaire” from the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, having complied and satisfied the conditions precedent to the grant of license and as such cannot be said not to be entitled to operate the operation.

The Lagos High court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the suit.

by issuing the controversial exhibits. c.Wrongly held that the 2nd respondent acted on behalf of the 1st respondent when there was no evidence of authorisation by delegation of powers to him as well as approval of his actions including the recommendations in exhibits M, M1, M2 & M1-3 by the 1st respondent. ii. The learned Justices of the Court of Appeal unjustifiably refused to consider the case of Katto v. CBN (1991) 9 NWLR (Pt.214) submitted

by Counsel on the manner of proof of authorisation or delegation of powers by way of minutes of meetings and decisions of the 1st respondent. iii. The learned Justices of the Court of Appeal placed undue construction on and drew wrong conclusions from the plaintiff/appellant’s Exhibits’M”’M1"’M2" and M-M3'. iv. The learned Justices of the Court of Appeal unjustifiably failed to consider the authority of Haruna v. University of Agriculture, Makurdi (2005) 2 NWLR (Pt.912) 233 cited by counsel in oral elaboration with respect to the issue of composition of the Disciplinary Panel vis-a-vis fair hearing.

Ground Six: The learned Justices of the Court below erred in law by failing to appreciate the appellant’s case as in his pleadings first before affirming the judgment of the trial court that appellant failed to prove his case and that he was given a fair hearing by the 1st respondent.

Particulars of error i. The court confessed that it “cannot comprehend what the plaintiff

A

is complaining about apart from his allegation that the 2nd defendant has no power to query him after the Audit Investigation Panel indicted him” thereby undermining the pleadings before the court. ii. The court below failed to appreciate the facts and hold that on the state of the law in S.137 of the Evidence Act, the appellant proved his case.

Ground Seven: The learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they held that “the complaint of lack of fair hearing by the learned trial judge has not been made out’’ and that they “cannot see how the learned trial judge breached the principle of fair hearing by not calling upon counsel to address him on the two issues formulated” suo motu.

Particulars of error i.“The learned Justices of the Court below aptly observed:(a). That “the trial judge can formulate pertinent issues for determination provided they are related to the pleadings and evidence canvassed before the court” but failed to hold that the two issues formulated by the trial judge were not related to the pleadings and evidence before him. ii.The conclusion of the court below failed to follow the dictum in Agbeje v. Ajibola (2002) NWLR (Pt.750) 127 that where issues formulated suo motu “raise any issue which the parties did not advert their minds to, then the court must invite the parties to address on such issues raised suo motu before reaching a decision”.

•To be continued next week

LEGAL JOKES

woman wrote to Dear Abby: I have a dilemma. I am about to get married, but I haven’t been totally honest with my fiancé. My mother is a well-known madam, my father is a convict, and my brother is a lawyer. My sister sells heroin to the children at the school down the street. She started doing that after my father got sent to prison for molesting her. I also have a problem: I’m wanted in three states for embezzlement. Taking all that into consideration, this is my question: how do I tell my fiancé about my brother the lawyer?

A hitchhiker is standing on the roadside near the law school with his thumb out. A motorist stops, and asks, “Are you a lawyer?” He tells him that he is not. The motorist drives off. A second motorist stops and asks, “Are you a lawyer?” He again replies that he is not. The motorist drives off. A third motorist, this time a striking, voluptuous blonde, stops, and asks, “Are you a lawyer?” The hitchhiker says that he is. The girl tells him to get in, and off they go. After a few minutes of admiring the driver, the hitchhiker exclaims, “This is really something.

I’ve only been a lawyer for five minutes, and already I’m thinking about screwing somebody!”

Question: Why does California have the most lawyers, and New Jersey the most toxic waste dumps?

Answer: New Jersey got first pick.

Question: Why don’t lawyers go to the beach?

Answer: Cats keep trying to bury them.

Upon seeing an elderly lady for the drafting of her will, the attorney charged her $100. She gave him a $100 bill, not noticing that it was stuck to another $100 bill. On seeing the two bills stuck together, the ethical question came to the attorney’s mind: “Do I tell my partner?”

A lawyer had a jury trial in a very difficult business case. The client who had attended the trial was out of town when the jury came back with its decision, which was for the lawyer and his client. The lawyer immediately sent a telegram to his client, reading “Justice has triumphed!” The client wired back, “Appeal at once!”

A man was sent to Hell for his sins. As he was being taken to his place of eternal torment, he saw a lawyer making passionate love to a beautiful woman. “What a ripoff,” the man muttered. “I have to roast for all eternity, and that lawyer gets to spend it with a beautiful woman.” Jabbing the man with his pitchfork, the escorting demon snarled, “Who are you to question that woman’s punishment?”

A lawyer was asked if he would like to become a Jehovah’s Witness. He declined, as he hadn’t seen the accident, but would still be interested in taking the case.

People who love sausage and respect the law should never watch either being made.

T

he reason that there is a penalty for laughing in court is that otherwise the jury would never be able to hear the evidence.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

ABUJA REVIEW NEWS

•

•Vice President, Namadi Sambo (second left); Secretary to the Government of the Federation, • President Goodluck Jonathan receiving letter of credence from the Ugandan High Chief Anyim Pius Anyim (second right), Chairman, House of Representatives Committee Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Maurice Kagim Kuwanku (left), at the Presidential Villa in on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa (left) and Head of Mission, African Union Diaspora African Forum, Erieka Bennett during the opening ceremony of the Sixth Nigeria Diaspora Abuja.

Week PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE

• Proprietress Tophill Schools, Chief Mrs C. N. Nomhwange (middle) with graduating students of the school during the 12th graduation and prize-giving ceremony in Abuja.

•From left: Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory, Mr. John Chukwu; Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, and Managing Director, SCC Nigeria Limited, Mr. Yuval Levy, during the signing of N19.4 billion agreement between the FCTA and SCC for the provision of water to Karshi Satellite Town in FCT.

•Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Alhaji Abdulrahaman Sambo (left); Sarkin Karshi, His Royal Highness Ismaila Mohammed and Representative of the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Yusuf Tsaiyabu, during the top level advocacy on community-based Health Insurance Scheme in Abuja.

• Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Dikko (right); Dean Student Affairs, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Dr. Duna Samson; Director-General, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr. Umar Bindir; a Principal Manager, Nigeria Communication Commission, Mrs Emilia Nwokoro, at the Etisalat Merit Awards Abuja, at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

•From left: Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Micha Jiba (left); Chairman, Gwagwalada Area Council, Abubakar Giri and Coordinator, FCT, Community Based Health Insurance Scheme, Dr Grace Aganaba, during the top level advocacy on community- based Health Insurance Scheme.

•Chairman ,Northern Local Government Chairmen's Forum, Mohammed Ali(middle) with Hajia Fati Adam(right) and Hon Majeed Dahiru during a briefing on local government autonomy in Abuja.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

ABUJA REVIEW

Residents warned against substandard drugs

T

HE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has raised the alarm over the proliferation of substandard medical outfits in the territory, warning residents against patronising them.

The Secretary, FCT Health & Human Services Secretariat Dr. Demola Onakomaiya sounded the alarm when the Private Health Establishment Registration and Monitoring Committee (PHERMC) paid an unscheduled visit to the Abuja Unity Hospital and Maternity in Lugbe.

Onakomaiya said that the hospital was registered by a retired nurse and a doctor but the registrar of PHERMC later discovered that there is no doctor covering the facility and strongly advised her to employ a doctor but she declined doing so.

He added that the committee •Continued from Page 27

prayed to be a lawyer, expressed optimism that with good teacher to student orientation, youths could transform the nation through exceptional leadership qualities they enjoyed during early stages of education.

She likened students to good seeds which ought to produce wonderful yields.

“We students are good seeds; a good seed brings forth a good tree and a good tree produces good fruits. So we as students, if we play our role very well, we turn out to be good leaders.

Those that are interested in politics can contest for election and when eventually elected, they can make the nation a better place.”

Explaining her experience, Miss Babatunde said: “When our teacher told me about the competition, I told her I would participate because I can stand a crowd. I will not fidget because I’m used to it. So I worked on the topic, studied it and presented it to my teacher which she approved.

“When I got there, I saw my mate and I said to myself, I want to be one of the best because I want to make history in my school when I leave. So I did my best but I never knew I will

From Bukola Amusan

visited the facility after hearing the rumours and allegations of complications attending the delivery of a set of twins.

It was said that the first twin could not be delivered easily, causing a dislocation of its shoulder. The baby reportedly died later.

The secretary said in addition that the owner of the hospital has not renewed her practicing license for the year 2013, and that she has no qualified nurses in addition to the environment being very untidy. Therefore the hospital is being run above the scope of its operation.

Considering these reasons, the registrar of PHERMC promptly

The registrar of the committee Dr. Ibrahim Tata advised residents of the territory to always demand for the license issued by the FCT administration before registering as a patient in any hospital

closed down the hospital and withdrew its registration.

The Secretary who attributed the proliferation to the constant influx of people into the FCT, however, said the administration is on top of the situation, adding that Health & Human Services Secretariat of the FCT has been empowered to deal with such ugly situation through the activities of the Private Health Establishments Registration and Monitoring Committee The registrar of the committee Dr. Ibrahim Tata advised the residents of the territory to always demand for license issued by the FCT administration before registering as a patient in any hospital and enjoined the residents to as a matter of urgency raise alarm wherever they suspect such outfits to be operating in their neighbors and advice the

•Dr Onakomaiya

owners of private institutions to conspicuously display their certificate of the facility with PHERMC in their reception.

Pupils honoured at school anniversary emerge one of the best in this competition.”

Miss Mercy Otia, the 2nd Runner-Up identified need to have outstanding qualities such as boldness, being intelligent as well as the ability to discern good from evil. She outlined patriotism among other virtues as imperative to driving desired change the country hopes for. ”As a student, before you become a leader, you must be patriotic. You must love your country but being patriotic does not mean you must always criticize your government; it is about making an impact, a positive impact that will gain national recognition,” she said.

Asked what prompted the ini-

tiative, the idealist, Mr. Adewumi Adesida observed that corruption, bad leadership and unpatriotic spirit have remained habitual of people and some leaders in the country, which needs urgent attention for the nation to witness genuine transformation. He identified the need for practical changes.

According to him, it must start with the younger generation which is addressed as leaders of tomorrow.

“What we do is to train young people for leadership, we inculcate into them inward development. We want them to understand that they are change agents and thus, contributors to whatever occurrence that is hap-

We students are good seeds; a good seed brings forth a good tree and a good tree produces good fruits. So we as students, if we play our role very well, we turn out to be good leaders

pening in this nation.

“President of this nation, the government cannot do it all alone. With our present level, we have to partner with these present leaders to bring out the desire change we hope to see.

That is why i went to the secondary school to start educating them on their role by looking inward to the growth and development of this nation,” Adesida said.

He lauded the Secondary School Education Board for its support towards promoting vision of the organisation. According to him, representative of the Press Club was the overall winner, representatives of Sales and Entrepreneur Club and the Integrity Club won the second and third positions respectively.

Adesida unfolded plans to organise a 3-day maiden conference for all secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The conference, where every school will be representing each local council in the territory, will provide opportunity for students to contribute their views towards nation building.

“We want to go to every area council exercising the student on how to believe in the nation, Ni-

geria and how they can contribute to the nation. They are going to present a paper after going round the six area councils. Then we will pick a representative from each area secondary school during a three days conference.

They will thereafter present that paper which could be used to form necessary policy.” He however, appealed for sponsors to help promote the programme.

Earlier, the Principal, GDSC, Mrs. Ilenre Irene described the school as a “learning infantry” after 10 years of its humble beginning. To her, it’s been accolades and successes as the school has recorded great academic achievements where her students have gone to represent the country in international competition in Brazil. ”We can say much of the achievements on a yearly basis.

The school has come a long way.

For instance, we had the best West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) result in 2011-2012, apart from some of our students who went on arts and craft competition, some went to Brazil, to represent Nigeria in a science competition where they won the overall best.

“It has been so wonderful.”

•Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Isa Mustapha Agwai(left) welcoming the Chairman, Ju•From left: Chairman of the occasion, Sen. Osita Izunaso; groom and protocol officer to the FCT dicial Commission of Inquiry into recent killing of members of the Nigerian Minister, Mr Prince Nwokocha; bride, Sarah and permanient secretary, FCT, Mr Chukwu Obinna, at security forces in Alakyo Village of Lafia Local Government of Nassarawa State Justice Fola Gbadeyan during the sitting at Emir’s palace in Lafia Nasarawa State the Wedding in Abuja on .

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

41

THE NATION

HEALTH

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Experts: Birth defects are preventable Specialists and stakeholders in reproductive health gathered in Lagos to present measures to reduce, if not eliminate, deformities in babies. OYEYEMI GBENGAMUSTAPHA reports.

I

T was a gathering of specialists.

Academics, gynaecologists, obstetricians and general practitioners were there. So also were national and international personalities, including the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola; a laboratory medicine scientist/researcher from the University Medical Centre Groningen, The Netherlands, Prof Frits Muskiet. Women from various backgrounds; dieticians, nutritionists, food technologists and other stakeholders were also present.

The colours: pink and blue, used for decoration, were thematic. Pink indicates the female gender; blue male. It was at the presentation of Frisomum Gold. The only milk for mothers with prebiotics and probiotics. It contains DHA and AA to support baby’s early brain development. It is high in folic acid, iron, and calcium and also contains Beta-carotene, Selenium and Nucleotides. All these are essential nutrients and trace elements vital to the development of a healthy baby, and prevention of neural defects, such as Spina Bifida, hole in the heart, Hydrocephalus and others.

According to Associate Professor/ Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH)/Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Prof Adetokunbo Fabamwo, who addressed the gathering, the ultimate aim and expectation of an obstetrician is to have uneventful pregnancy, normal labour, safe delivery and healthy mother and baby.

“These do not always happen as there are unpredictable and unavoidable factors derailing these expectations.

These may lead to complications during the course of the pregnancy, in labour, at delivery and even after delivery.

“Of all these factors, maternal nutrition remains within the control of the woman and her attending physician.

In other words, this is one factor that can be modulated. The demands of pregnancy necessitates additional dietary requirements. Poor maternal nu-

tritional status is related to adverse birth outcomes. Maternal nutrition plays a major role in maternal and child health. Maternal nutrition refers to the nutrient intake and dietary planning that is undertaken before, during and after pregnancy.”

He said a study by Ojofeitimi Ebenezer, Institute of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State, and others published in international Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics titled - “Diet restriction by pregnant women in Nigeria,” indicated that low income illiterate women in pregnancy gave four reasons for food aversions - health, tradition, economy and religion.

“Two thirds or more avoided milk and bournvita for fear of having big babies and difficult labour ending in operative delivery. Nutritional counselling served to correct these erroneous assumptions.

“The nutritional status of a woman before conception is related to the birth weight of her child. Deficiencies of energy, fatty acids and micronutrients in women either before conception or very early in pregnancy have all been implicated in causing low birth weight in infants, infertility, foetal structural defects and long-term diseases, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), i.e the poor growth of a baby while in the mother’s womb during pregnancy. And consequences of

fetal illhealth are increased risk of fetal, neonatal and infant death. Intrauterine growth retardation; low birth weight and prematurity; birth defects, cretinism; brain damage and increased risk of infection.

“Certain steps have to be taken before conception or in early pregnancy to maximise health outcomes. But it is not commonly practiced in our clime. Preconception care is a set of interventions that aim to identify and modify biomedical, behavioural and social risks to the woman’s health or pregnancy outcome through prevention and management by emphasising hose factors that must be acted on before conception or early in pregnancy to have maximal impact,” he stated.

Prof. Fabanwo said most studies relating to the effect of maternal nutrition on pregnancy outcomes had been largely observational and retrospective, “Nevertheless, the overall data indicate that micronutrients may affect fertility, embryogenesis and placentation. The prophylactic use of some micronutrients may be useful in preventing several adverse pregnancy outcomes.

“It is known that acquiring a desirable weight and diet during the weeks before and around conception is highly recommended. Energy (calorific) intake is required to support recommended weight gain. Energy requirement in pregnancy is increased by 17

‘The nutritional status of a woman before conception is related to the birth weight of her child. Deficiencies of energy, fatty acids and micronutrients in women either before conception or very early in pregnancy have all been implicated in causing low birth weight in infants, infertility, foetal structural defects and long-term diseases, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), i.e the poor growth of a baby while in the mother’s womb’

per cent over the pre pregnancy state.

A woman of normal weight should therefore consume an additional 300 Kcal/day of energy contained in a high nutrient density food.

He identified consequences of maternal malnutrition to include increased risk of maternal complications and death; increased risk of infection; lower productivity; anaemia; lethargy and weakness’ increased risk of fetal neonatal and infant death; intrauterine growth retardation; low birth weight and prematurity.

The don said there is increasing evidence that disturbances in bowel microbial composition play a role in the pathophysiology of immune mediated disorders such as allergic disease; “The microbial flora in the bowel are key players in the early development of both local immune maturation and systemic immune programming.”

Prof Muskiet said there were double burden of malnutrition as concurrent underweight and stunting among young children and overweight and obesity in older children, adolescents and adults within the same population are rife.

“The deadly quartet are too high body mass; disturbed glucose homeostasis; Dyslipdemia and Hypertension. A lot of factors deprive women of (natural) nutrients and micronutrients. Most of the foods in the Northern part of Nigeria, for example are not good source of vitamin D. “Being Muslim, the women have limited benefits from Vitamin Dgenerating sunlight due to their dress habit. Childhood ricket is common in the region. Rickets in Nigeria mostly is a low calcium issue. One of the best things you can do for your children is to give them an excellent intra-uterine start,” he stated.

Mrs Fashola advised women of child bearing age to avail themselves of the nutrients and other micro nutrients that “are readily available in Frisomum Gold.”

‘700,000 children have cerebral palsy in Nigeria’

N

O fewer than 700,000 children are living with cerebral palsy, consultant paeditrician, Prof Afolabi Lesi has said.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a physical disability that affects movement and posture. It is an umbrella term that refers to a group of disorders affecting a person’s ability to move.

CP is a permanent life-long condition, but generally does not worsen over time. It is due to damage to the developing brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth.

CP affects people in different ways and can affect body movement, muscle control, muscle co-ordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance.

Speaking during the maiden National Cerebral Palsy (CP) family forum organised by a CP initiative, Benola, Lesi, Dean of Clinical Sciences at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) described the condition as one of the commonest brain issues in a child in a developing country.

He said 60 to 80 per cent of such children would have co-

By Risqot Ramon

morbidities such as seizures and intellectual disabilities, among others.

For every child affected by the illness, he said, there were five other people around the child who are affected in one way or the other.

He said drugs, infections, stress, nutrition and things taken during pregnancy and when the child is born till he or she becomes five years old go a long way to affect the development of a child’s brain.

In his lecture on Cerebral palsy: the stigma, fears and reality, he said most cerebral palsy were caused before, around and after delivery. Some of the identified causes are: when the brain doesn’t get air immediately after birth or when a child has difficulty in establishing breathing at birth. Other causes are jaundice and infections.

The neuro-developmental problems specialist said certain stigmas are associated with the condition.

Such stigmas include high cost, long duration of care, the fear of recurrence and inappropriate labels such as, disabled.

He said it leads to denial of such child, neglect, malnourishment, social isolation and murder in extreme cases, adding that in reality, most causes are preventable.

“There is the need for a national policy and legislation for all neurodevelopmental conditions,” he said.

The founders of the initiative, Mr Femi and Mrs Alaba Gbadebo, said there is the need to help improve the lives of people with CP including provision of care, covering medical and living costs.

They said the initiative would become the lead supportive agency and a leading advocate for the rights of those living with the condition in Africa.

Gbadebo said the initiative had been working to establish a road map for early detection and better management.

A consultant clinical psychologist at the Lagos University TEaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Charles Umeh said CP can’t be cured in a child; rather, series of treatments will often improve the child’s capabilities and quality of life.

• Prof Lesi

According to him, there are experts to help manage the condition such as pediatricians, surgeons, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists and special need educators.

He noted that some CPs could be mild and others severe.

Several people shared their experiences with CP. Some of those who have CP, some, their siblings and some other parents all shared their experiences on how they were able to live with the condition.

Briefs

Free health care in Lagos

A

CARE ministry, the Women of Global Impact (WGI) in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), will carry out a free medical fair on August 3, to help the less privileged in the society and to bring succour, inspiration and empowerment for women at all levels.

The one-day programme will take place at the Holy Habitation Auditorium, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) International Headquarters, Obanikoro/ Anthony Oke, Gbagada Expressway, Lagos.

There will be free medica screenings including cervical cancer screening, breast examination, medical consultation, Body Mass Index (BMI), Blood sugar test, Blood pressure test, Health talk, free eye examination treatment, distribution of free drugs, and general medical treatment.

NIMR holds workshop

T

HE Molecular Biology and Biotechnology division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), will hold its Hands on training between August 12 and 16.

The theme is the Importance of molecular biology Typing Techniques in Disease Mapping. The venue for the workshop is the Institute’s conference room.

It will feature lectures on molecular biology typing techniques in Nigeria as well as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and its uses.

Other topics of interest will be on Genethics and discussing the ethical issues in Molecular Biology and Molecular Biology of Viral Diagnostics.

‘Patronise real pharmacies’

T

HE Secretary, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Mr Olatunji Koolchap has advised people to patronise only registered pharmacies where they can meet a genuine pharmacist in charge of the premises. They should also look out for the Rx Pharmacy emblem, he added.

People, Koolchap said, can recognise the the registered pharmacies by looking for the current certificate of registration of the premises and the annual licence of the pharmacist practicing there hung on the wall in frames.

He said customers should have information about the expiry date of the drugs, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Registration Number, and the manufacturers address.

Koolchap said ACPN’s role include but not limited to protecting the consumers right by ensuring delivery of genuine and affordable drugs.

He warned unsuspecting buyers to always look out for the Rx Pharmacy emblem, expiry date of drugs and the NAFDAC registration number.

A pharmacy attendant, Mr Goke Adedigba, said people have been complaining of not getting better after taking drugs unlike in the past when they get relieve within minutes because they buy their drugs in a local chemist shop.

42

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

HEALTH

Breast feeding crucial to babies’ growth, says expert

N

URSING and expectant mothers have been enjoined to breast feed their babies exclusively for the first six months to protect them from childhood diseases, such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and ear infections.

This, according to the Project Coordinator for Colostrum International, a non governmental organisation, Dr Bunmi Ogundimu, will ensure the babies have sharp brains and healthy bodies.

Mrs Ogundimu, who spoke on a breast feeding project for the World Breast Feeding Week with the theme: Close to mother, said breast feeding decreased from 48 per cent in 2006 to 17 per cent last

By Wale Adepoju

year.

“The contributory factors are ignorance, schedule of working class mothers and some nursing mothers’ resolve to keep their breast in shape,” she added.

“The drop in breast feeding may be having adverse effects on the infant mortality ratio of 108 per 100,000 births. Practical parenting starts with taking vital decisions on behalf of the baby to ensure it gets the required nutrients for growth. Babies should be breast fed until they are two years old,” she added.

She said breast feeding was one of the practical ways of parenting as social evolution through child

care begins with it.

Dr. Ogundimu said breast milk was produced to meet specific nutrients need of the baby at any particular time.

She said nursing mothers should get more than four months of maternity leave, stressing that many women have lost their jobs because they chose to have babies.

“The moment some employers hear a woman wants to have a baby. They simply lay her off,” she added.

She said: “Women should not deny their babies colostrum, which is the first breast milk women produce after childbirth. Colostrum helps babies fight diseases and clears their bowel. No one drop of it should be allowed to waste. Co-

lostrum quantity is between five and 10 millilitres and it is yellowish. It is called ‘witch milk’ in Yoruba because it’s a powerful substance, which is why they throw it away out of ignorance,” she said.

Mrs Ogundimu said the Child Rearing Bill (CRB) which was proposed to the Lagos State House of Assembly is to support breast feeding mothers.

She said her organisation ws in need of sponsors to continue with baby programmes to enlighten the public on the benefits of breast feeding.

There will be award presentation on August 6 for people who have shown they received quality care during childhood, Mrs Ogundimu said.

•Mrs Ogundimu

How to check tuberculosis

M

•Chairman, Lagos Chapter, Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN), Dr Charles Onyekwere (right) and Dr Hameed Oladipupo briefing the press on World Hepatitis Day themed “Know it, Confront it” PHOTO: OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA

Blind man, 42, needs N300,000 for hernia surgery

F

ORTY-TWO-year-old Ebenezer Ojo, who hails from Ilesa, Osun State, cannot do what men of his age are doing because he is blind.

He is also suffering from hernia and watery sperm. He doesn’t have relations to cater for him. He needs money to feed, wade through life and, more importantly, pay for the surgery he is billed for.

At his age, most men are married with children; he is still single, living alone with no help from any family member or friends.

Lamenting his poor state, Ojo said some of his friends sometimes bother him for money.

He said he has been sustaining himself through begging for alms. This, he said, is demeaning.

“I hate to beg people for money but what do I do if I can’t get money to feed,” he added.

Ojo said: “Despite being visually impaired, do you know people still

By Wale Adepoju

rely on me? But now, I also need help to pay for my treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

“I really don’t like to lean on people, which is why I need the help of Nigerians so that I can start doing something, especially selling ice block, to take care of myself. Now I need to be taking some drugs but I’ve not been able to buy them. It is painful that despite having the prescription of drugs I wasn’t privileged to buy them. The medicines and surgery cost N200,000.”

Ojo said the doctor recommended he needs hernia surgery and another surgery to separate water from his semen.

“The doctor said my semen was diluting with water,” he added.

Ojo said he can be reached through Rimax Institute. He opened a bank account: Ebenezer Ojo: First

Mr Ojo

Bank: 3014420198.

He is calling on kind-hearted Nigerians and corporate organization to help him financially so that he can have the surgery as quickly as possible

‘Sickle cell disorder is an African problem’

S

ICKLE cell disorder has been described as an African problem.

According to the Chairman, Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN), Prof Olu Akinyanju, Nigeria tops countries with the most number of patients living with the condition.

He spoke at a walk organised by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) with the theme Let’s be sickle smart.

He said there were interventions that could make those living with the disorder live longer, stressing that they are capital intensive.

The foundation, he said, is funded by individuals from their personal contributions.

Manager, Promotions and Fund Raising, SCFN, Miss Fatima Ayefu, said it was the first time the founda-

By Inimfon Otung

tion would be partnering with IFC, which is a World Bank group.

She said most Nigerians did not know they were strong carriers of the gene or that they had been faced with the daily challenge of living with the condition. ‘‘There are two major objectives of the foundation, which is to create awareness which is what they do in various ways and also to raise funds for the victims”, said Fatima.

She said: “IFC has been partnering with the foundation to get the people living with the sickle cell gene. At the moment, we have five clinics made available for them. They also serve as counselling centres. It is a way of helping them battle the disorder.”

Ayefu said the most important as-

pect of the walk was majorly to take leadership on the disorder.

Mrs Bunmi Adeleye, who is a sponsor, said the programme has enlightened many on sickle cell.

She said: “This is my second time of sponsoring a walk-Marathon. In reality, I did not want to participate in the event but in all it has been a wonderful turn out, with the fact that it did not rain.”

At the event were persons living with sickle cell, sponsors of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria (SCFN) and some dignitaries. Ace Nigerian Comedian, Julius Agwu took to the streets in a seven-kilometre walk from the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos through some streets and then back to the museum to raise awareness on sickle cell disorder (SCD).

R Adetoun (not real name) and his three children have tuberculosis. He was the first to contract the disease followed by his children. One of them died of multi-drug resistance tuberculosis; another is undergoing treatment/medication for tuberculosis. The father and the last child are battling with multi-drug resistance tuberculosis.

They are undergoing treatment in a tertiary hospital in Lagos and have been on admission for about two months now. They spend about N30,000 weekly for treatment.

The ill-health of the family got the attention of the Respiratory Unit, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), which organised a programme on the upsurge of multi drug resistance tuberculosis.

The programme was organised in conjunction with Save Lives Initiative, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), and sponsored

by Prime Atlantic and Goldlink Insurance Plc. According to the Project Director, the Save Lives Initiative and Senior Register, Medical Micro Biology, Respiratory Unit, LUTH, Dr Ochang Ernest, tuberculosis affects about one third of the world’s population and kills about 1.7 million people yearly. He said Nigeria was among the 20 countries with the highest disease burden.

Ernest said tuberculosis is a treatable disease. But he noted that most cases of tuberculosis are still not diagnosed because of the inadequacy of the diagnostic test routinely used in Nigeria - smear microscopy.

He added that the unfortunate

By Olatunde Odebiyi

thing compounding the situation of tuberculosis is the wide spread emergence of MDR – TB whose prevalence in Nigeria is 12.5 per cent of all TB cases.

“These strains can only be detected by culture and drug susceptibility testing. Drug susceptibility testing allows the TB strain carried by a patient to be tested in the laboratory with the antibiotics that are intended to treat the patient”.

A Consultant, Head, Respiratory Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, LUTH, Dr Cyril Chukwu, said tuberculosis is spread by micro-organisms in the air.

He said tuberculosis can affect anybody irrespective of age, gender or status. He said the disease is transmitted by inhaling tuberculosis micro-organisms from the carriers; through cough, sneezing, singing, crying or talking.

Chukwu said that there are no specific ways to prevent tuberculosis because the micro-organisms are in the air. He noted that coughing, coughing out blood, fever, weight loss or loss of appetite are some symptoms of tuberculosis.

The Consultant said tuberculosis can lead to multi drug resistance tuberculosis if not properly treated at its early stage. “The multi drug resistance tuberculosis can lead to death,” Chukwu said.

In a similar view, a consultant in the Respiratory Unit, LUTH, Mrs Dania Michelei, dentified cost and ignorance as factors that hinder tuberculosis patients from getting proper treatment.

Why govt may not achieve HIV prevention goal, by DG

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HE Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. John Idoko, has warned that Nigeria may fail to achieve prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission by 2015.

According to him, unless state governments begin to actively participate in the campaign against HIV/AIDS, the goal would be a mirage.

Idoko is worried that despite the country’s little improvement, the statistics on mother-tochild HIV/AIDS transmission overrides the efforts to combat the disease.

The DG spoke at the dissemination of a report on Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) Scale-Up, organised by Centre for Integrated Health Programmes (CIHP) in Abuja.

He said in the last four years, the country has not achieved significant result in the battle against

From Vincent Ikuomola and Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

HIV/AIDS despite interventions from the Federal Government and development partners. He advocated a change of approach and push for better partnership from state governments.

Idoko said: “The problem is the problem of the people, the people who are contracting HIV at the community and state levels. It is the health of the states that is being affected; it is the development of the states that is being affected.

“Therefore, in this problem, neither you nor I from the centre for the development partners can really make progress in this area.

Unless states understand the good in it and we obtain political commitment, ownership and shared responsibility from them, otherwise the response cannot be suitable and we will not make progress at the end of the day.”

TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

43

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

• Dr Jonathan

• Mark

• Tambuwal

• Sagay

• Ali

• Akintola

Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN takes a look at the numerous resolutions passed by the Senate and House of Representatives, which have been ignored by the Presidency, and its implications for democracy.

What are parliamentary resolutions worth?

A

PART from making laws, the legislature can pass resolutions on matters of public interest. But the executive may feel that such resolutions are not binding, thereby frustrating the legislative initiatives. The failure of the executive to honour the National Assembly’s resolutions has on serve occasions led to frictions between the two arms of the government.

Critical resolutions One of the resolutions passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, which have been ignored by the executive, include the Senate’s resolution that the Director-General of the Security Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Aruma Oteh, be fired for not being qualified to hold her position. To underscore the imperative of the resolution, the National Assembly refused to appropriate funds for the SEC in the 2013 budget. It promised to approve the budget for the commission on the condition that the executive implements its resolution by removing her from office. Ms Oteh is still in office and SEC is still operating, despite the zero budget for the commission.

Similarly, the Senate adopted a motion demanding the immediate sack of the Chairman of the Pension Reforms Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, for gross misconduct. Maina refused to honour the Senate invitation over the controversial N195 billion pension scam. Before the resolution was passed, many legislators accused the Federal Government of collaborating with Maina to perpetrate the crime against Nigerians. The Senate also asked the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, to appear before it to explain why the police failed to act on the warrant of arrest issued on Maina for repeatedly refusing to honour a Senate invitation over the pension scam.

Maina never appeared before the Senate.

The House of Representatives on June 19, 2012, following a resolution, invited President Goodluck Jonathan to brief its members on what steps his administration was taking to curb insecurity. The summon was issued few days after a crisis broke out in some northern states, following the bomb attacks at three churches in Kaduna. The resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance sponsored

by Hon Yakubu Barde (PDP/ Kaduna Constituency). The Presi-

dent neither appeared before the House nor sent any of his aides to represent him. The position of the executive was that the House could not summon the President.

The Lower Chamber of the National Assembly in July, 2012 passed a resolution, asking President Jonathan to withdraw the national honours given to former bank Managing Directors who had been convicted for their roles in the collapse of their banks in 2009. Had the President implemented this resolution, Chief Olabode George, former chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Tafa Balogun, a former Inspector General of Police and Mrs Cecilia Ibru, former Managing Director of the defunct Oceanic Bank, would have been stripped of their national honours. George was convicted by a Lagos High Court in 2009 for impropriety committed as the chairman of NPA. Balogun was found guilty of money laundering charges in 2005 by Justice Binta MurtalaNyako.

The House of Representatives, before proceeding on a two-month recess in July 2012, condemned the poor implementation of the 2012 budget and resolved that the executive must achieve 100 per cent implementation before September. The lawmakers threatened to begin impeachment proceedings against President Jonathan. The Minority Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), warned that “if by September 18, 2012, the budget performance has not improved to 100 per cent, we shall begin to invoke and draw up articles of impeachment against Mr President.” In December, the budget performance was about 50 per cent. The President is still in office.

During the Obasanjo era, the House of Representatives adopted a motion that the National Stadium, Abuja, be named after the late Chief MKO Abiola for two reasons. The Assembly noted that Abiola’s contribution to the development of sports not only in Nigeria, but in Africa was unparalleled, such that he was referred to as “Pillar of

Sports in Africa.” The lawmakers said without the sacrifice made by Abiola, democracy would not have returned to Nigeria in 1999. He was described as a matyr of democracy.

For eight years, Obasanjo kept mute over the resolution.

Are National Assembly resolutions binding on the executive?

Legal scholars are unanimous in their views that the resolutions passed by the legislators are not binding on the President or the governors.

A Constitutional Law expert, Prof.

Itse Sagay (SAN), told The Nation that the resolutions are not mandatory on the executive. Resolutions, he said, are not laws and do not carry any sanctions, if the executive ignores them.

Sagay said: “Resolutions are mere expressions from a strong body like parliament. The executive may honour them or ignore them. The legislators are constitutionally empowered to make laws, which must be enforced by the executive arm of government. Such laws are binding on the President and every Nigerians.”

Another lawyer, Yusuf Ali (SAN), said resolutions are just pieces of advice. They are not binding on the executive. But the executive cannot ignore a bill, which has been passed into law by the legislature, he added.

Ali said that the resolutions crafted in high persuasive language may likely compel the executive to honour it. “For example, if there was a disaster involving lives and property, and the National Assembly passed a resolution that the executive should send relief materials to the people affected or to declare a state of emergency in the affected area, no serious person will ignore that.

“But a resolution that the executive should remove someone from office is not; it is a piece of advice.

People may be emotive in passing resolutions on issues, but the President is not compelled to honour

them.”

Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) concurred. According to him, resolutions are not mandatory on the President or the governors. Resolutions are not laws; so they are not binding on the executive. Resolutions are mere expressions of personal feelings of lawmakers, he said.

However, Akintola said the executive should respect the legislators’ views, if the two arms of government are working in the same direction.

Ali also said that if the President is not willing to honour the resolutions passed by the legislators, he should let them know. The executive should not just ignore resolutions and keep quiet. There should be a way of communicating between the two arms to avoid the breakdown of communication and schism.

Can the National Assembly enforce the resolutions?

Akintola affirmed that the Assembly is empowered by the 1999 Constitution to summon any Nigerian, including the President, in the discharge of their constitutional mandate. He explained that Section 89 (d) gave an unfettered power to the National Assembly to summon anyone, especially, if the person is a public official.

He explained that where the President cannot appear in person before the Assembly, he can send any of his aides who is capable of providing information or answering questions put to him by the lawmakers.

But Sagey disagreed. He said, the National Assembly can’t summon the President. “They can invite people who are working with him that are competent or are in the position to answer questions on issues at stake”, he emphasised.

Ali said it is part of the oversight functions of the National Assembly to summon the President to provide information on issues that the lawmakers feel are necessary. “Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters Senator Joy

‘If there was a disaster involving lives and property, and the National Assembly passed a resolution that the executive should send relief materials to the people affected or to declare a state of emergency in the affected area, no serious person will ignore that. “But a resolution that the executive should remove someone from office is not; it is an advice’

Emordi said that, they can’t summon the President. She said the House of Representatives erred when it insisted that he should appear, before them in person. She observed that by using the term ‘summon’, the House created the impression that it could issue a warrant of arrest on the President, should he fail to abide by the resolution.

But another lawyer, Mr Illiya Idris explained that, whereas the House actually has the powers to ask anyone to appear before it on any issue, the summon must be backed by a bill.

“My position has always being that unless the National Assembly is trying to make laws or amend laws and also expose corruption, they cannot just be inviting anybody indiscriminately.

Idris said the powers of the House of Representatives or the Senate to investigate any person are not at large. He said that it is limited by Section 88 of the Constitution.

A lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said the House cannot compel Mr President to appear before it. “ Section 308(1) & (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides as follows: ‘Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Constitution, but subject to subsection (2) of this section; no civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against a person to whom this section applied during his period of office; no process of any court requiring or compelling the appearance of a person to whom this section applies, shall be applied for or issued.’

What has upset Emordi was the choice of words by the parliament. She said: “The only concern is their choice of word and the impression they created. I would have preferred the word ‘invite’ rather than ‘summon’ because you use summon when it involves somebody on whom you can issue a warrant of arrest if he does not respond to your summon. Assuming the President fails to attend, what are they going to do?

“Mr President is covered by immunity and there is no law that compels him to appear before them in person if his schedule does not permit him to do so. You don’t make a law that is not backed by sanctions”, Emordi said.

Keyamo, pointed out that while the National Assembly can summon the President, it cannot enforce the summons. However, the action of the President in refusing to honour the summons may amount to ‘gross misconduct,’ which can trigger impeachment proceeding against the President by the National Assembly, he said.

44

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

POLITICS Dr Chris Ekpenyong, an engineer, who at 28, was the youngest member of the old Cross River State House of Assembly, was deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State between 1999 and 2005. Ekpenyong spoke to reporters on the crisis in Rivers State and other national issues. OLUKOREDE YISHAU was there.

Bamidele on service lane at 50 In this piece, Ahmed Salami writes on the political activities of the House of Representatives member, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, who clocks 50 this week.

‘Southsouth leaders should not A separate Jonathan, Amaechi’

2

015 is getting close and the Nigerian political space seems to be experiencing some heat because of it. Is this good for our democracy?

Well, it depends on how your look at it or from which point you are coming from. No heat is good for anybody. So, the heat generated by 2015 cannot be good for our polity. But, don’t also forget that the heat is all about politics. Politics comes with heat. I’ve experienced some myself.

Such heats do not necessary burn down the nation. It has a way of cooling itself. We have had more scourching heats before. When it naturally cools, nobody remembers. So, these ones will certainly pass away. But never forget, there must be heat or else it is not politics, especially election politics. The problem is that the people are the furnace feeling the heat the more. Nobody is talking about development again. Some people, especially those with duties to perform for the people. They have left their duty post to concentrate more on heating up the polity in the name of the politics of 2015. This is not good for our democracy. That is why I think people should resign their appointments before venturing for elective offices; say one year to the time.

One of the areas feeling political heat now is Rivers State. A lot has happened there. Recently, the Southsouth leaders called on Governor Rotimi Amaechi to leave the PDP and have also taken a swipe at Northern Governors for visiting him. Are they right?

There are no rights or wrongs in politics – only interest. It is in the interest of those leaders to make their demand. So for them, it is okay. But we in the party are talking about reconciliation. How can reconciliation come when they talk like that? The leadership of the Southsouth People’s Assembly (SSPA) is not the leadership of the Southsouth PDP, and should be careful not to conflict its role. By elementary definition, the SSPA is supposed to be non-partisan; for all people of the Southsouth; of every state, of every tribe and of every party affiliation. So why would they ask Governor Amaechi to leave the PDP? He is serving a suspension for which the PDP has set up a committee to probe him. Once the committee is through, it is the party, based on the recommendation that will decide his future in the party. I am sad our leaders do not know how to draw a line between their political interest and the general interest of the people.

In the SSPA, most of the people there were not in the PDP as at 2003. So, they can’t claim to be more PDP than President Jonathan who has been in the party since 1998. We are talking of reconciliation in the party. That is the way they should follow. Most of them are leaders we respect. We see them as elder statesmen and fathers

• Ekpenyong

and they should act like one. They should ensure Amaechi sits with the President to discuss and settle the issue so that the people of the Southsouth can take a common front into 2015. I believe they are just misunderstanding Amaechi. They need to sit with him, understand his position in the crisis and get him to understand our position as a people as well. They are the ones allowing Northern and Southwest governors and politicians to take advantage of the crisis and ‘play’ politics with it.

They are the ones who see Amaechi as an enemy. When everybody brands you an enemy, you welcome anybody that says he is your friend.

All of us need friends. Who among them would allow a minority in the House of Assembly to unseat him?

In going to the Assembly, Amaechi was only safeguarding his position.

Else, the kind of system we operate, he would have been gone by now and nothing will happen. I am talking from experience. So, I can safely say it was in defence of his governor-

‘The leadership of the Southsouth People’s Assembly (SSPA) is not the leadership of the Southsouth PDP, and should be careful not to conflict its role. By elementary definition, the SSPA is supposed to be non-partisan; for all people of the Southsouth; of every state, of every tribe and of every party affiliation’

ship that he went there. If he didn’t go, the five people would have impeached him that day and nothing will happen. Remember, the five sat with police protection for others to join them. So, the governor decided to go with his security aides to help the other 27 who were disadvantaged security wise to make them sit. I am not defending him. I am saying how we live in this country and why we do the things we do. We need our leaders to create a different system of doing things for us. Yet, they keep repeating the same old system making it impossible to do right. See the person the party has mandated to reconcile the ‘warring’ people, Governor Dickson. When did he join PDP? From his utterances, he is an interested party in the saga. What is wrong with people like Dr Alex Ekweume, Prof Jerry Gana, and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, several others who are neutral and will be respected across the nation?

Do you think the President should go back in 2015 since the current crisis is certainty about his intention to re-contest?

I am an ardent supporter of the President. He is my friend. He is my brother. He has a fair chance to get back because a lot of us want him back, especially those of us from the Southsouth. But truth be told, he needs to re-position his strategic political machinery to achieve results.

The people manning the machine are making strategic mistakes every day and the President keeps being on the receiving end. He needs to re-strategies. He needs to leave politics and concentrate on service delivery, on power, infrastructural development, education, health and other areas. Let these things deliver 2015 for him. As a Southsouth person, I am not happy that Mr. President has done four years and the East West Road has not been completed and commissioned. As an Akwa Ibom person, I am not happy that my governor has spent his time and resources to support the President yet we do not have heavy federal presence in terms of projects and appointments. When the Good Governance Media Tour Team came, I am sure over 95 per cent of projects they inspected, appraised and applauded were Governor Akpabio’s projects.

That is not fair to us. I am not happy that the SSPA is not pushing and dialoguing with others for the revenue allocation formula to be changed. Recently, my governor advocated for a 50 per cent allocation to oil-bearing states. Have they taken this up? It is not about us producing a President.

It is about us gaining from producing the President. I hope Mr. President is listening. Let the people around him give him space to think of how to make Nigerians love and desire him and 2015 will be a walk over for him.

Group protests against President

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HE United Nigeria Group has called for the impeach ment of President Goodluck Jonathan for breaching his oath of office.

Addressing reporters at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, the chairman of the group, Comrade Isa Tijani, said the action of the President was capable of truncating democracy. He said the group would lead a protest march to the National Assembly.

He said that the offences commit-

By Musa Odoshimokhe

ted by the President include the abuse of power, endangering democracy, reneging from the oath of office to protect and uphold the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and complicity to truncate the rule of law and other atrocities.

The group explained that the protest had to be postponed because of the fasting period. “Our Muslims compatriots complained about fasting and combining it

with demonstration that may require a lengthy trekking will not augur well.

“The National Assembly will commence a recess on, which makes it difficult for them to do anything on it, until they return.

Should we embark on it, we may risk sweeping such a burning issue under the carpet.

“The various stakeholders have expressed concern with lack of contact in time and as such asked for little more time to ensure wider contact and consultations,” he said.

FTER the glorious revolution of 1688, John Locke affirmed that the ‘power of the Crown lies in the consent of its subjects’. By the foregoing axiom, a politician can only be popular among the masses or wield enormous influence, if his political philosophy and belief are in tandem with that of his people.

This aptly applies to what this member of House of Representatives, Hon Opeyemi Bamidele connotes in Ekiti politics.

He is popular, musters immense influence among the masses and his beliefs, particularly in politics , are always in consonance with the yearnings and aspirations of Ekiti masses.

The popularity did not come the normal way others used to acquire theirs by using the power of money to buy people’s conscience through ill-gotten wealth, but his was through strong and uncommon ties with traditional rulers, Okada Riders, market men and women, politicians alike, widows, widowers, vulnerables and all other strata of the society.

This political enigma, who made a foray into politics in far away Lagos in 2000, had left indelible marks in the hearts of humanities and sand of time.

He was born to Mr and Mrs Bamidele on July 29, 1963 at Iyin Ekiti. As fondly obtainable among accomplished Africans, 50 years is treated specially and by this, the whole world would be expecting that this astute politician would roll out drum in celebration.

Bamidele, the Chairman of the House Committee on Budget and Research, who is also vying for the coveted seat of governorship in Ekiti in 2014, had while unveiling his intention to contest for the plum seat in Ado Ekiti recently said he had decided to shelve the idea of throwing a big party to commemorate his birthday based on the increasing level of poverty among Ekiti masses.

This vanguard of political emancipation , who has taken the masses as the source of his strength, averred that he cannot be celebrating while his people wallow in poverty. But whether he throws a big party or not, Bamidele has a golden and positive history about his name and contributions to the Nigeria nation in his five decades on the face of earth.

In practical terms, he was not born with silver spoon in his mouth. To put it directly, he was not even born with any spoon at all , which automatically foreclosed any categorization of whether he was born with a wooden or golden spoon. But he had been able to prove that he was born with brain that was more precious than any silver on the face of earth by his gestures and charisma.

History will never forget him for his scintillating contributions as a former President, National Association of Nigerian Students, who fought the military Juntas to standstill during the dark days of successive despotic regimes in Nigeria.

His contributions as a member of the fierce National Democratic Coalition that abraded the seemingly rocky posture of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and the dark-goggled Sanni Abacha regimes , not for selfish or conceited motives, but for the enthronement of democracy that would bring the needed sigh of hope for all Nigerians.

Added to the foregoing contributions in Lagos State, where he reigned like the biblical Joseph , was his service as Special Assistant , Political Affairs, Special Adviser and Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development through the instrumentality of the enigmatic leadership of the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, who has become his mentor, father and greatest benefactor today. The

same goes to ever performing Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, under which Hon he served as Commissioner for Information and Strategy At the homefront, Ekiti, Hon Bamidele, in the last two years in the National Assembly, has put smiles on the faces of his constituents in Ado/ Irepodun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency. He pioneered robust and prosperous representation at the Federal level in Ekiti. He was the first to forfeit his salary as a member of National Assembly for the upkeep of the poor masses, which had never happened in the history of the State.

The first tranch of money that accrued was over N8.1 million.

Again, during the struggle for the reclamation of Governor Kayode Fayemi’s stolen mandate in Ekiti, he played a prominent role. He stood by his party, Action Congress of Nigeria and repositioned it to have the necessary stamina a vibrant opposition party should possess.

He decided to throw his 50th birthday celebration overboard, not because he is broke or he has run out of cash, but a person don’t become a leader by virtue of age, but by providence and behaviour. As a front-liner in Ekiti politics, he was able to gauge people’s minds and align with the prevailing situations of his people at all times. This is how a good leader should act.

His sense of generosity among the masses is so huge that his political acronym, MOB , has become a household name in Ekiti. To attest to this, as a legislator, representing only two local governments, he had been spreading the dividends of democracy to his people in other councils as a way of palliating their sufferings.

As a member of the House of Committee on Education, he has cosponsored a bill for an Act to further amend universities and polytechnics miscellaneous provisions Act 1993 to increase the retirement age of academic staff in the professional cadre and non-academic staff and other matters connected therewith. He had also had imprints in the passage of over 20 bills into laws and had moved more than 10 motions within the two years.

Even, in his immediate constituency, he had facilitated more than 33 projects to the towns and villages in his quest to wrestle poverty and make people live in abundance.

The aggregate of all these gestures had made it difficult for anyone to eclipse the name MOB or wreck him politically in Ekiti . Let me at this stage borrow one of the Newspapers’ headlines credited to the vociferous former Governor Ayodele Fayose, ‘I am an institution in Ekiti politics, suspending me from PDP is like suspending the whole party in Ekiti. So, any attempt to muzzle Hon. Bamidele in Ekiti, will not only result to nought, but is practically tantamount to suspending political philanthropy and qualitative representation in our dear state.

• Bamidele

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

NATION SPORT

45

PREMIERSHIP

‘Suarez won’t achieve anything at Arsenal’

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•Toress

Man City to unleash ‘The Beast’

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ANCHESTER CITY are ready to unleash ‘The Beast’ on unsuspecting Premier League defenders next month.

The club’s new Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo stands at 6ft 1in and is known for giving opponents a hard time with his physical qualities.

It earned the £16.4million star the nickname The Beast of Vallecas among his team-mates at Seville — so he arrives in England with a fearsome reputation.

And after spending all his career in Spain, hitman Negredo believes he is at the right age to bare his teeth over here.

The 27-year-old said: “My team-mates first started calling me The Beast. It soon became so popular that the media in Spain also started to use the nickname.

“It made me laugh. But, yes, I am a strong player who can fight and be physical. I think I have some qualities that will suit the Premier League.

“I think my style suits the game in England but I also like to believe I have good technical ability as well.

“City will get my best years.

Now I am at the peak of my form and also this is another league and style of football.

“I am very confident I will succeed here, not just on an individual level but also in the group.”

•Negredo

Villas-Boas tight-lipped about Bale

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OTTENHAM manager Andre Villas-Boas was tight-lipped about Gareth Bale’s future after his side’s Asia Trophy victory on Saturday.

Bale, who is being targeted

by Spanish giants Real Madrid, was not in the squad for the 60 romp over South China.

His absence added further fuel to speculation the 24-yearold is poised to leave White Hart Lane after a Spanish newspaper claimed Bale has told Spurs he wants out of the club.

But Villas-Boas refused to be drawn when asked about his Bale’s possible move to Spain.

“I won’t comment on anything. I am so sorry,” Villas-Boas said.

“I can’t speak about speculation.”

Villas-Boas was more forthcoming when asked when Bale will be back in action for the London club.

“He is going to be fit to join the team for training on Wednesday,” he said.

“There is a big possibility he

Moyes in the dark over Fabregas deal

•Moyes

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ANCHESTER UNITED boss David Moyes is determined to add to his squad before the season starts, but is unsure over a deal for Cesc Fabregas.

The Premier League champions have seen a number of bids for the Barcelona midfielder rebuffed, with the Liga outfit determined to keep hold of the 26-year-old.

United have already missed out on deals for reported targets Thiago Alcantara and Kevin Strootman, who joined Bayern Munich and Roma respectively, as Moyes goes about replacing the retired Paul

Scholes.

With bids reportedly reaching £35million having already been sent out to Camp Nou, Moyes is uncertain if United will up their offer further, although he remains bullish that additions will be made.

“I couldn’t tell you if there will be another bid,” the Scot said.

“Obviously we’ll take stock and make a decision on what we do next.

“We hope we will do (sign new players), but what we’ve got is a good squad already.

You can’t forget about the quality that’s already here.

“Undoubtedly we hope to add to it and I’m quite confident we’ll do that, certainly before the window shuts.”

Young full-back Guillermo Varela remains United’s only signing of the close-season as they go about defending their Premier League crown, which they won at a canter last term.

Their biggest rivals for the title, Manchester City and Chelsea, have both strengthened significantly, while Arsenal remain in the market for big signings, despite being frustrated by missing out on the likes of Jesus Navas, to City, and Gonzalo Higuain, who has joined Napoli.

could be fit for Monaco.

“He hasn’t done any training with the team yet but in all of the pre-season friendlies we had before he was involved.

“We are confident he will be able to join us.”

Meanwhile, Jermain Defoe insists he is not concerned by the club’s continuing search

for a new striker.

“The prospect of more strikers being brought in doesn’t bother me,” Defoe said after scoring a hat-trick.

“It is the start of a big year because I feel I have a chance of going to the World Cup. That will definitely be a target for this year.”

ICHAEL OWEN has advised Luis Suarez against joining Premier League rivals Arsenal, claiming the striker has no more chance of glory by moving to the Gunners.

Liverpool have rejected two bids from the north Londoners – the last offer being £40,000,001 – but the Uruguayan is still keen on a move to the Emirates, which is a view Owen is struggling to understand.

‘Arsenal are a fabulous club and have got a great heritage, but Liverpool are as big – if not bigger,’ he said.

‘I’d be very surprised if he were to move to Arsenal.

Madrid or Barcelona would make more sense.

‘From Suarez’s point of view you can understand him if he wants to reach the absolute pinnacle of the game – that’s playing in the Champions League.

Liverpool obviously are not in that at the moment,’ continued Owen, who joined Real Madrid from Liverpool in 2004.

‘Truthfully, can you really see Arsenal winning the Champions League next season or going into the later stages? Unless they buy a good few players then I can’t.’

Mourinho: No need to sell if Rooney joins

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HELSEA manager Jose Mourinho says the club does not have to offload any current players to sign Manchester United star Wayne Rooney.

The Londoners are planning to make a £25milion offer for

•Rooney

the England striker in the coming days after their initial £20m bid was turned down.

It is understood Chelsea are prepared to spend up to £30m to secure the services of the disgruntled United veteran.

“The club are working hard to keep the numbers in balance but we can still invest in a player who costs £20m, £25m, £30m and not break the balance,” Mourinho was quoted as saying by the English press.

“We don’t need to sell to do that.”

Asked if he could spend £50m on a striker, Mourinho said: “The striker I want doesn’t cost £50m.”

While Mourinho insists Chelsea will not need to sell should they sign Rooney, one of Demba Ba or Fernando Torres are expected to leave should the United star join.

Rooney’s relationship with departed manager Sir Alex Ferguson became strained last season.

New boss David Moyes, who gave Rooney his English Premier League debut as a teenager with Everton, has attempted to restore the 27-year-old’s faith in the club.

However, United chief executive Ed Woodward says the reigning Premier League champions are in no rush to offer Rooney a new deal.

His current contract expires in June 2015.

It is understood Chelsea are prepared to match Rooney’s £220,000-a-week wages and are planning to offer him a four-year deal.

The two clubs are scheduled to square off at Old Trafford on August 26 and a deal is not expected to be done before that clash.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

46

EUROPEAN FOOTBALL

NATION SPORT

Bayern’ll bounce back, insists Lahm

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HILIPP LAHM is confident Bayern Munich will be a success under Pep Guardiola, despite Saturday’s DFL Super Cup loss to Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern won all six of their pre-season friendlies, scoring 24 goals in the process, but were rocked at Signal Iduna Park as Marco Reus struck twice in a 4-2 triumph for Dortmund.

An error from Tom Starke allowed Reus to net the game’s opener, while Bayern were also punished by Daniel van Buyten’s own goal.

Arjen Robben scored both goals for the Bavarian giants and Lahm is not too concerned by the loss, and is keen to atone for their errors when their Bundesliga campaign gets under way in a fortnight.

He said: “We’re still making preparations (for the new campaign) and conceded at the worst possible times.

“We would have liked to have won this, it’s a title, but now we have to analyse the game and we move on.

“We work very hard every day and I think things still look very good.”

Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller credited manager Juergen Klopp’s preparation as key to his side’s win.

Having lost to Bayern in the UEFA Champions League final in May, as well as ending

their domestic campaign 25 points behind Munich, Dortmund will take confidence into the new season after their win against Guardiola’s charges.

“The team fought hard and played good football.

Whenever we formulate a good plan, we have a chance against anyone,” Weidenfeller said.

“We’ve won the Super Cup, and we’re delighted to have done so against such a great side.”

•Lahm

Ancelotti won’t be drawn out on keepers

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EW Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said he will not be drawn on who would be his first-choice goalkeeper, saying only he was happy to have in Spain veteran Iker Casillas and Diego Lopez “two good keepers”.

“I do not know. The most important thing is that we have two good keepers with a great deal of experience and great qualities. We need two good goalkeepers for such busy seasons,” said the Italian.

Ancelotti has just taken over from Jose Mourinho, who dropped previously unchallenged number one Casillas, 32, last season after he had returned from a serious hand injury, preferring Lopez.

Ancelotti revealed Lopez would be between the sticks for Saturday’s friendly against former club Paris Saint-Germain.

Robinho: I hope this is my year

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HE Brazil forward expresses his delight after signing a new three-year deal with AC Milan and underlines the importance of the upcoming season both for him and the club Robinho has pledged his commitment to AC Milan after signing a new contract and says he is eager to make the new season a success.

The Brazilian attacker had been linked with a return to his former club Santos but, with the Sao Paulo outfit unable to finance the move, instead his deal with the Rossoneri to 2016.

Speaking ahead of his side’s 2-1 Guinness International Champions Cup win over Valencia on Saturday, the 29year-old was keen to demonstrate his enthusiasm for playing for the San Siro giants and his optimism now his future has been settled.

“I hope this will be the both AC Milan’s year and mine,” he told journalists.

“I am happy to know that the club wanted to renew my contract. This becomes important year for me. I had already said that Milan has a team in which I want to play for the next 10 years.”

Milan continued their preseason preparations with victory at the Estadio Mestalla, with Nigel De Jong and Robinho himself both netting

•Robinho

Carvalho plays down Monaco title hopes

Barcelona to bid for Chelsea’s Luiz

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FTEN criticized as a defender who attacks much too often, David Luiz was once of Chelsea’s best players last season. The 26-year-old dazzled from both his hard tackling, and his brilliant strikes. Despite the solid play from the Brazilian, he could be headed to Spain before the transfer window shuts, to play with Barcelona.

According to Goal, Barcelona are set to table a bid of around •29 million for the center-back as Barcelona’s defense has been questioned often lately. With Puyol no longer the defender he was, and Gerard Pique searching for a replacement, Luiz naturally seems the best bet at the moment.

As Jose Mourinho takes over at Chelsea, it seems as if Luiz’s services are no longer needed

as he’s placed a recent emphasis on Doria from Botafogo.

Although sometimes rash in the challenge, the current curlyhaired defender/midfielder would bring Barcelona stability in their already questionable defense.

Carles Puyol and Pique both have brought plenty to the table for Barcelona; however, the strength in Luiz’s play would bring depth to their defense and midfield should they see fit. Just as Barca so desire, he brings the added presence to the attack from a defenders standpoint, one which John Terry brought Chelsea years ago.

David Luiz may be best fit for La Liga where he can possibly get away with his overzealous 60 yard passes, or his long-winded runs

•Luiz

forward. Certainly, this is not a knock to La Liga but, Luiz would seem to fit in the Barcelona system quite well.

That being said, Mourinho may be seen as making the wrong move due to the Brazilian’s recent success; however, that’s why he’s referred to as “The Special One.”

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HE Portuguese defender believes the newly-promoted principality club will likely finish outside the top two in Ligue 1 in 2013-14 despite their lavish summer spending AS Monaco defender Ricardo Carvalho has played down his side’s chances of mounting a challenge for the Ligue 1 title next season.

Claudio Ranieri’s side have stunned the continent with their summer spending to date, splashing out upwards of •120 million on the likes of Radamel Falcao, Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez.

Ranieri himself acknowledged that the Principality club would struggle to usurp Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the standings in France this season, and Carvalho - who

Isco confident of Real Madrid silverware

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•Ancelotti

in the first-half.

The ex-Manchester City man also revealed his respect for his tournament opponents and his enjoyment whenever playing them.

“Playing against Valencia is difficult, the stadium is beautiful, the people are very charged,” he added “With the Milan shirt on you always want to win and although this is a warm-up tournament, the goal is always to win when you wear this shirt. I’m very happy to play in this great stadium.”

The Rossoneri will now play the winners of Chelsea against Inter in New York on August 4.

HE young starlet has hailed the team’s quality and believes that glory is in the offing for los Blancos.

Real Madrid midfielder Isco has revealed his delight at the quality of his new team-mates and believes the club are on the right track for success this season.

The 21-year-old also took time to speak about his own satisfaction with life at the Santiago Bernabeu, but admits that there is still a lot of work to be done in order to fully adjust to Carlo Ancelotti’s system.

“I’m happy with the work we are doing. It’s early, but

we have a great team with great players and a very good attitude. We are on the right track,” he told the club’s official website.

“I’m happy and adjusting well. I still need to build understanding with teammates but I am doing that in every training session.

“The team’s quality is impressive and that is important. The way the team plays is more important than individual players.

“We are a young team with a future. What Ancelotti asks is for us to play well, play creatively and keep the ball.”

As Real Madrid continued

their preparations for the upcoming season with a 1-0 against PSG, Isco highlighted the importance of winning as los Blancos attempt to regain the Liga title.

“It is always important to win; but today we played against a competitive and very good opponent,” he continued.

“Now what we have to do is keep picking up the pace and try to improve every day. The team’s quality is impressive. We are a young team with a future.”

Isco sealed a •27 million transfer from Malaga to Real Madrid earlier this summer.

•Carvalho

also moved to Stade Louis II this summer - believes a topfour finish is their realistic target.

“We want to be ambitious, but we will most likely finish third or fourth,” he told Le Parisien.

“Paris already have a very competitive team in place.

Monaco have just begun.

There will also be other good teams, but we need to grow as a collective. We will have to try to win our games.

“PSG remain the favourites.

I hope to see us finish behind them.”

Carvalho went on to express his excitement at being part of the Monaco “adventure” and believes his experience - along with that of former Barcelona defender Eric Abidal - will be important to the side in the coming campaign.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

47

OTHER SPORTS

NATION SPORT

Bolt gives Brit boys baton lesson

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SAIN BOLT gave Britain’s 4x100m boys a master-class in relay-running as once again they blundered with the baton.

Bolt, who won the Olympic 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles at London 2012, anchored his Racers Track Club team from back home in Jamaica to victory in 37.75secs.

That was still way off the world record of 36.84secs Bolt and the Jamaican national team set at London 2012 last summer but their slick change-overs made it look easy.

In stark contrast — and bringing back echoes of their disaster at the Olympic Stadium last summer — Britain’s quartet once again messedup.

Dwain Chambers passed to Adam Gemili — who was only drafted in at the last-minute for an injured James Dasaolu — only for the teenager and James Ellington to then botch the hand-over and drop the baton.

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was left standing on the track as Bolt sailed past him.

Ironically it was Gemili that was at the centre of another error that cost the quartet a place in the Olympic final despite being on course to get on the podium.

That was the FOURTH time in a row Britain’s men had botched up the blue-riband relay event at major championships including the last World Championships in 2011.

Chambers admitted: “It’s like the Olympic Games all over again. We will have to learn from this.

“We were going for the British record – we were due to do that.

We’ve had fantastic relay performances so far this summer but this time didn’t get it round. We’ve still got the World Championships in Moscow to come though.”

Bolt, whose team included Olympic 200m bronze medallist Warren Weir, said: “I always love running the relay.

“It was our first run out this year as a team and we’re close to Moscow now so we wanted to run fast to see where we are at.”

It followed Bolt’s victory in the 100m at the London Anniversary Games back at the Olympic Stadium on Friday night.

He said: “It’s magnificent to be here.

The energy from the crowd is incredible. I can’t explain what it gives you as an athlete.”

I want to be president —Pacquiao P

HILIPPINE boxing great Manny Pacquiao is harbouring thoughts of running for president in his beloved homeland when he finally hangs up his gloves, he revealed to AFP in an exclusive interview.

Giving his strongest hint yet that he will push to the top of the political tree when he finally retires from the ring, the “Pacman” — a hero and congressman in his home country — admitted he had considered the presidency of the 95 million-strong nation.

When pressed on whether he had thought about shooting for the top job, the softly-spoken 34-year-old

replied “Yes”.

Drawing parallels between his pugilism and politics careers, the former world champion in eight weight divisions said: “When I started boxing, of course I was planning, you know and thinking about getting to become a champion. So when I enter politics it’s the same thing.

“But, you know, it’s far away,” he said, adding: “It’s God’s will.”

Before that, however, Pacquiao whose record stands at 54 wins, five losses and two draws, must concentrate on his latest bout — a post breakfast-time tear-up with US fighter Brandon Rios, kicking off at

the Venetian resort-hotel in Macau at 10:00 am on November 24.

The unconventional start time is for the benefit of the lucrative US payper-view audience, who will be settling down to watch the fight midevening on Saturday, as top US promoter Bob Arum attempts to elbow his way into the China market.

And viewers will not be oblivious

to the fact that it is probably make or break time for Pacquiao’s boxing career.

Despite his last fight ending in a disastrous knockout, when Juan Manuel Marquez caught him with a huge right hand that saw the Filipino crumple to the canvas — his second successive defeat — Pacquiao refuses to entertain the notion that he will lose a third straight bout, or retire.

HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX

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Important win for me — Hamilton

EWIS HAMILTON won the Hungarian Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday to clinch his first victory for Mercedes and his only win of what has been a frustrating season for the Briton.

Kimi Raikkonen was second after holding off a strong late challenge from Sebastian Vettel, who was third ahead of Red Bull teammate Mark Webber.

Hamilton’s first year with Mercedes

•Hamilton

has been tricky, and he came into the race with low expectations of victory despite securing his fourth pole this season.

“This is probably one of the most important Grand Prix wins of my career,” Hamilton said. “The guys have done an exceptional job, I really couldn’t be happier. I hope there are many more to come.”

He managed his tyres wisely to get the 22nd GP win of his career and the first since the United States GP last November. Prior to Hungary, he had been third three times.

Hamilton remains fourth overall but likely too far behind to mount a serious title challenge as the season takes its mid-season summer break. Leader Vettel has 172 points, 38 clear of Raikkonen and 39 ahead of Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso. Hamilton has 124, some 48 points adrift of Vettel.

As he approached the finish line, Hamilton waved. After he won, he kissed his Mercedes and then hugged team boss Ross Brawn. When he raised the winner’s trophy, Hamilton looked emotional as he pointed to members of his team to share the moment with them.

During the race, the British driver was

in no mood for compromise, barking back at an engineer over the race radio, “Hey man, I’m trying to drive here.

I’m happy with the way the car is” when he received some advice inside the last ten laps.

His teammate Nico Rosberg, who had split the past four GP wins with Vettel, had to abandon right near the end with flames billowing from the back of his car. He was unhurt.

Vettel has four wins overall, having won at the German GP three weeks ago. He tried desperately to get past Raikkonen and they almost collided on the penultimate lap as the Finn blocked his move.

•Pacquiao

Marin Cilic fails drugs test

T •Marin

ENNIS was reeling last night over claims Marin Cilic has failed a drugs test.

Sources in his native Croatia allege the world No 15 is already serving a three-month ban after failing a test at the BMW Open in Munich in April.

The 2012 Queen’s Club champ — who lost to Andy Murray in the 2013 final — apparently learned of the findings during Wimbledon.

He pulled out of his round-two match against Kenny De Schepper at SW19, claiming he had a knee injury.

The International Tennis Federation, which runs the antidoping programme, declined to comment.

Serb Viktor Troicki is appealing an 18-month ban for failing to provide a blood sample.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

48

NATION SPORT

•Jude Ilo

How I combine business and boxing—Jude Ilo W

hen and how did you start your career as a boxer?

I started boxing since 1982, that was in Benin. Today I have emerged the light heavy weight champion of Nigeria. My coming into boxing was preplanned. It has been my passion all along. I never left boxing at any time since I started except that my business has a way of sharing in my time. No matter the business I do, I still devote time to boxing. A lot of people think that I am supposed to have made more progress than what I have achieved now.

But I say it is because I am enjoying two things at the same time, I didn’t come fully into boxing because I have been doing business alongside.

How have you been able to combine boxing and business over the years?

It has not been easy, but it’s just that I now have people taking care of my business for me so I am free this time to go fully into boxing. That, I will say, is responsible for the progress I have recorded so far. In those days when there was a competition I would be engrossed in my business, but now I have put the right machineries in place and so I am now full time.

What will you say is your major set-back in your boxing career?

The major set-back for me is the fact that I am not where I should have been. My business has been the main factor. Like I said earlier doing business and boxing is not an easy task.

Are you saying that you would have been a better boxer if not for business?

Yes, business has taken me backward in boxing. This is so because in Nigeria if you cannot finance yourself you can’t move forward, that is the prob-

He was relatively unknown, although he has been around for a while. Current light heavyweight boxing champion in Nigeria Jude Ilo however came to limelight when he defeated Bassey Ekpenyong in a twelve-round bout recently in Lagos. At that fight, the Brai Ayonote boxing gymnasium at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, came alive bringing to memory what professional boxing was like in Nigeria years back. Tagged ‘heavies in bloodbath’ by the organiser, the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC), boxing fans in the country were treated to the best of professional boxing. The Anambra state pugilist told INNOCENT AMOMOH in this interview how he combines business with boxing, his desire to win a world title in the nearest future and other issues. Excerpts.

•Jude Ilo lem with most of our talented boxers. I can tell you it is the same factor affecting most athletes. We have stars that can win medals for Nigeria in international competitions but for lack of finance and government support, which has always been the

bane. I overcome this by investing my time in growing my business. Assuming government is there to assist me, I would have done better.

So what is your background like, your family?

Talking about my family

background, I am not from a wealthy family but we were not poor. I come from a very hardworking family that is why I believe so much in working. I did not go into boxing because of wealth or because of the money coming out of boxing

but it has been my passion to be a successful boxer. I am somebody that doesn’t like staying idle, I need to be active every time that is why you see me training because training in boxing is not child’s play, you must be strong enough for the chal-

lenges.

Will you say that growing up was tough for you?

No, it was not tough. I grew up in an average family. My parents were comfortable, we were not millionaires, but they managed to give us basic education.

If you look back as an individual, what moment of your life would you say has been memorable?

I think that is when I won the national title recently. I was very happy because my dream came to reality. It’s an indication that I have lots of prospects in the sport. I have a passion for boxing, and with the victory I’m ready for the challenge, because I know many Nigerian boxers are interested in this belt I’m holding. But with technical support from my coach Paul Onwuachi (White Horse), and my family, I am well motivated to defend the title.

“...business has taken me backward in boxing. This is so because in Nigeria if you cannot finance yourself you can’t move forward, that is the problem with most of our talented boxers. I can tell you it is the same factor affecting most athletes. business has taken me backward in boxing. This is so because in Nigeria if you cannot finance yourself you can’t move forward, that is the problem with most of our talented boxers. I can tell you it is the same factor affecting most athletes.”

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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

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TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

ENERGY THE NATION

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

Oil workers protest exclusion from PIB public hearing

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EMBERS of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have protested their exclusion from the National Assembly’s public hearing on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

They alleged that critical stakeholders in the oil and gas industry were denied the opportunity of making their presentations at the hearing.

The action of the National Assembly Joint Committee was deliberate and not in the interest of the nation. They said the committee ended the hearing, without allowing the invited stakeholders to make their presentations.

In a position paper sent to The Nation, the PENGASSAN’s President, Mr Babatunde Ogun, said 14 out of the 54 memoranda given to the National Assembly

Stories by Akinola Ajibade

was presented during the hearing.

Ogun listed the memoranda to include expunging the provision granting the President powers to use his discretion to award petroleum licences and leases from PIB; ensuring that the bill provides transparency on the award of contracts and licensces, and other accompanying processes.

Others are ensuring that the bill builds on the efforts of National Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) by erasing the ’black hole’ perception of the oil and gas industry; mandatory publication of all licences, tenders, and contracts; voiding confidentiality clauses for oil revenue and payment information; publication of statistical figures of oil operations that include but not limited to production export and import on quarterly basis; annual reports

and audits of operations and commercial and associated institutions created by the PIB, National Petroleum Assets Management Corporation/ Company.

Ogun stressed the need for critical examination of proposed changes in the fiscal regime to ensure that Nigeria does not discourage investments in oil and gas.

He said: “It is our considered view that the PIB should allow for the optimisation of returns to Nigeria from its oil and gas resources without stifling investments and growth of the industry. The government will, therefore, have to strike a balance between taking a significantly higher stake from industry operations and ensuring the sustainable growth of the industry. To this end, we suggest that the National Assembly should arrange a meeting between the government represented by the Nigeria National Petroleum

Corporation (NNPC) and the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) to reconcile the disagreements on the fiscal regimes.”

The unions called for the curtailing of the power of the Minister under the PIB to avoid the bureaucracy that characterises the management of the sector; fixing the tenure of the board, chief executive officer and other management staff of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and National Oil Company (NOC) to prevent undue interference of the board and ensuring that workers meet the targets set for them.

Ogun said the Petroleum Host CommunityFund(PHCF) should cover communities hosting oil and gas resources and assets, including downstream infrastructure, adding that independent and effective regulators should be provided to ensure the bill’s success.

“The Joint Venture(JV) has, however, been bedevilled by inadequate funding, as the government has not being able to meet its cash call obligations.

The Petroleum Minister only

recently pointed out that inadequate JV funding was negatively impacting on exploration and with it, reserves addition. The proposal under the PIB for the JV assets to be under a government-owned corporation does not seem to solve this cash call problem even with the proposed seed capital. There is no doubt that government’s finances are constrained, what will therefore, be more practical is for government to divest some of its holdings in the NPAMC while members of the public hold the rest. This way, the JV will be better funded,” he added.

He said the oil firms are putting 10 per cent of their profits into the fund, adding that they cannot draw from it when their facilities are vandalised.

According to him, regulatory functions are placed under the Ministry of Petroleum in line with the provisions of the PIB. He said the call for the establishment of the Upstream Petroleum Inspectorate (UPI) and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (DPRA) to regulate the sector is in order, adding that this is the only way to prevent abuse of power.

'Nigeria's energy consumption’ll grow by 56% by 2040’

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•From left: Olaleye; Okpara Joe, representative of Anthony Community Development Association (CDA); Major R. A. Owolabi (rtd), at the event.

MDAs, others owe PHCN N3.174b

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USTOMERS are owing the Ikeja Business Unit of the Power Holding Company (PHCN) N3,173,910,457.47, the Business Manager, Lateef Olaleye has said.

Speaking during a customers' consultative forum in Lagos, Olaleye said payment of the debt would enable the unit to improve on its service delivery.

He said: “We at Ikeja Business Unit have been trying to ensure that we satisfy our customers in every way possible. I, therefore, appeal to all electricity debtors to please settle their outstanding. It is only when customers settle their bills as and when due that we will be able to render the best of services.”

He said Ministries, Departments and Agencies owe N2.4billion, while non-maximum demand customers owe N778.2million.

Olaleye said the rate of vandalism of PHCN’s equipment has increased

within the unit. “Vandalism of PHCN installations, especially in the Government Reserved Area (GRA), has increased, adding that Ikeja has become a cankerworm, which has assumed a personality of its own.

He said in the past four months, the Unit has recorded the highest vandalism of nine transformer substations. Oba Akinjobi 300kva substation was vandalised thrice in March, April and May, while Remi FaniKayode 500KVAsubstation was vandalised on April 8, and after the vandalised materials were replaced, the vandals came again two days later on April 10, and stole the replaced cables and other substation materials.

He said on July 2, they stole virtually all the materials in the same substation, including 20 metres of 150mm2x4 single core cable, adding that another theft was recorded on March 7 at Ladoke Akintola 500KVA substation when the thieves carted away eight metres of 150mm2x4 core

cable, cable sockets and ferrules. He said GRA Local and Ladipo Bateye were also affected.

The vandals destroyed equipment on May 8 and June 10.

He said the management has been doing its best to reduce vandalism in the unit.

“But I thank members of the community development association (CDA) in the GRA and their security committee for their unrelenting efforts in trying to put an end to this malaise. I also thank the DPO of Area F Police Station for giving us all necessary assistance. I appeal to well-meaning Nigerians to assist us in fighting these vandals,” he added.

Olaleye also noted that though the quality of service has not reached that level where PHCN workers can rise and click glasses for job well done, the utility firms are making efforts to see it happen.

He said there are occasions where some areas do not without electricity supply for hours or days probably due to obsolete equipment. poles.

IGERIA'S energy con sumption will increase by 56 per cent in 2040 due to its repidly growing population, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) has said.

Already,the country is targeting increase from 4,000MW to 10,000MW and gas production from 26,000 to 46,000 mega watts to meet its energy needs in the next few years.

EIA, in its International Energy Outlook report released at the weekend, said the energy needs of Nigeria among other countries in Africa, would increase in tandem with its growing population in the next few decades. It said the growth in energy consumption is driven by the its growing economy, among other indices..

It said China and India's rising prosperity is a major factor in the outlook for global energy demand, adding that the power requirements of the two countries have been more than double in recent times.

The report said: “These two countries combined, account for half the world’s total increase in energy use through 2040. This will have a profound effect on the development of world energy markets.”

It said energy demand will increase to 820 quadrillion British

thermal units (Btu) in 2040, up from 524 quadrillion Btus, adding that China’s energy use will double that of the United States by 2040.

It said renewable energy and nuclear power are the fastest growing source of energy consumption, with each increasing by 2.5 per cent per year. stressing that fossil fuels, including oil, natural gas and coal will continue to supply almost 80 per cent of the world’s energy through 2040.

The report said natural gas is the fastest growing fossil fuel in EIA’s outlook, and will continue to dominate the landscape.

It said non-OECD in Europe, Middle East and the United States, accounted for the largest increase in natural gas production globally.

The explosion in supply from unconventional sources will underpin growth of natural gas demand, while high oil prices will encourage countries to focus on liquid fuels “when feasible”, the report stated.

The report projected benchmark Brent crude to average $105 this year, and $100 by 2014, adding that prices will increase long-term with the world oil price reaching $106 a barrel in 2020, and $163 in 2040 in the reference case.

'Oil vessels prone to attacks'

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IL vessels, which anchor off Nigerian waters are prone to pirate attacks, Oil Rig Zone has said in its latest weekly report.

According to the organisation, a surge in piracy in the Gulf of Guinea region, including waters off Nigeria, is alarming.

It said Nigeria's position as one of the major producers of oil, cocoa and metals, lend credence to this

assertion.

It said vessels that anchor off West African coastal nations are often the target of criminals.

Unlike waters off the coast of East Africa, where ships can move past at high speed with armed guards on board, many vessels have to anchor off West African coastal nations, with little protection, making them a soft target for criminals, it added.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

53

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

‘It’s a miracle I survived’

‘Couple’ arrested for scam marriage

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•Victim of Ladipo market crisis recounts ordeal

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T was a free-for-all at the popular Ladipo auto-spares market, Mushin, Lagos, early last Thursday. Members of Ladipo Central Executive Auto Dealers’ Association aka LACEC, a traders’ body, locked horns with loyalists of the Babaloja of Warehouse A, in a leadership tussle.

Today, the warring factions appear to have put the crisis behind them, as they are back to their businesses. However, 45-year-old Ismaila Owoseni, a member of the Babaloja group, is still nursing the injury he sustained during the fight.

He narrated his ordeal in the hands of the irate traders that fateful day, to The Nation yesterday: “As a trader, I belong to Babaloja group, headed by Alhaji Oladotun Habib Oki. That fateful day, we were doing environmental sanitation in front of our main market when, suddenly, I saw a crowd armed with broken bottles and stones, moving towards me.

I saw their leader, leading them in war songs. They surrounded me, kicked me and gave me machete cut at the back of my head. I passed

Ebele Boniface and Taibat Idowu

out; when I woke up the next day, I found myself in a clinic. In fact, it is a miracle that I survived.”

Both groups are now trading blames as regards who caused the fight. The LACEC’s president, Mr Ikechukwu Animalu, claimed that the Babaloja boys provoked the fight, saying: “On Thursday, environmental sanitation holds from 7.00am to 10.00am, involving the 37 independent units in the market. The rule is that each unit carries out its own exercise within its area. But that fateful day, the Babaloja’s boys came to the market junction, shouting that Babaloja had taken over the market. They beat up traders who were opposed to their position.”

Animalu said that the first experience they had in this type of crisis was when the late Alhaji Hassan Olajokun, who developed the Aguiyi Ironsi Market, declined to support the installation of Babaloja there. He said the traders were stakeholders with assets in the market,

‘They kicked me and gave me machete cuts at the back of my head.

I passed out; when I woke up the next day, I found myself in a clinic’ who would not destroy their own property.

However, Alhaji Oki also claimed that the LACEC members provoked the fight.

He said that his supporters were observing sanitation when the LACEC members unleashed terror on them with broken bottles and machetes.

He said his Babaloja title is a traditional one, which does not conflict with the market union, alleging that it was money that was driving the Igbo traders into lawlessness.

The Area ‘D’ Police Commander in Mushin, Assistant Commissioner (ACP) Omololu Bishi, said his pres-

• Owoseni ... yesterday

ence with his men “prevented the traders from killing themselves.”

He narrated how he invited both parties into a peace meeting with the Commissioner of Police and his deputy. He said since he was posted there to protect lives and property, he would not hesitate to advise government to shut the market again to avoid bloodshed.

The police officer said that he was not in a hurry to give such advice because he noticed an upsurge in crimes, especially car snatching, when the market was closed for almost two weeks recently. He advised both parties to go about their businesses peacefully.

WO suspects have been arrested by operatives of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) over alleged fake marriage.

The suspects are: Adejayan Adetokunbo, a 35-year-old teacher with a private school in Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos and Funke Adebisi, a 27-yearold woman from Ilesa East of Osun State. Their arrest followed a petition to the Commissioner of Police, SFU, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin, by the Assistant Regional Security Officer, United States Consulate General.

The said petition alleged that both conspired and went to US Embassy to apply for an Immigrant Visa as a couple, adding that the said marriage was later discovered to be fraudulent, after a comprehensive investigation by Embassy officials.

By Jude Isiguzo

It was also alleged that suspects are working with touts for the purposes of smuggling Nigerians to the United States of America with fake marriages.

Police investigation, it was learnt, revealed that suspects are not husband and wife as they claimed, and that it was an “arrangee” marriage by a syndicate which specialises such fake marriages for visa seekers.

SFU spokesperson, Ngozi Isintume-Agu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) said: “In this case, N1.5 million was collected from Funke and she was purportedly joined in matrimony with Adejayan Adetokunbo who genuinely won a lottery visa. Both suspects confessed that they are not husband and wife,’ Isintume-Agu said.

‘Hot drink’ kills man From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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RAGEDY struck at Ago-Igbira in Adifase area of Apata-Ganga, Ibadan, Oyo State capital, last Saturday.

A 32-year-old man, Saidi Taiwo (Akinigai), slumped and died shortly after consuming a local concoction popularly known as “paraga.” The incident occurred at a “paraga joint” at about 10.30am.

It was learnt that the deceased, whose wife was recently delivered of a baby boy, had abandoned the wife and the new baby with his parents at Omi-Adio, a suburb of the town, to squat with his friend, simply identified as Wasiu, at Apata-Ganga.

The friends, before Saidi met his untimely death, were said to be going from one joint to the other in the area to celebrate his baby’s birth. His death was said to have been reported at the Apata Divisional Police Headquarters before his family came to carry his remains for burial.

Two held for cocaine importation

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FFICIALS of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have held a Cape Verdean for alleged unlawful importation of two kilogrammes of cocaine.

The drug was detected during the inward screening of Emirate Airlines passengers at the arrival hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

They are: 35-year-old Rosangela Gomes Gonealves Correia, and Olua Uguru Christopher, a 36-year-old Nigerian.

•From left: Mamman Tsafe, AIG Zone 2; Marvel Akpoyibo, DIG Training. and Ogunsakin...at the workshop

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

The agency’s Airport Commander, Hamza Umar, said: “The statement of the lady was obtained in Portuguese. Both suspects are cooperating with authorities. Parcels of the cocaine hidden inside the linings of the female handbags were found during a search.”

The NDLEA’s Chairman/ Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade, has assured that drug traffickers would continue to encounter difficulties in the country. He said the suspects would soon be charged to court.

Woman ‘bathes’ maid with pepper

Police move against corporate fraud

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HOUGH it is difficult preventing corporate fraud, the police are being strengthened to tackle it, Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Mr Tunde Ogunsakin, said yesterday.

He spoke at a workshop held in Lagos by the Unit in collaboration with the City of London Police. It was entitled: “Corporate Fraud: Insider Abuse in Financial Institutions and Implications in Developing Economy.”

Ogunsakin told The Nation at his Ikoyi, Lagos office that “despite the fact that preventing corporate fraud is difficult, our men have been exceptionally wonderful, especially after the workshop.”

The workshop was attended by police officers, especially in the investigation departments, banks’ Chief Security Officers, lawyers and private security practitioners.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed

By Jude Isiguzo

Abubakar, who was represented, said: “Corporate fraud is considered a whitecollar crime, but gate-keepers in the financial market can perform better if properly equipped with modern tools for its prevention”, he explained.

The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Peter Carter, said the British government’s commitment to fighting corruption resulted in the partnership between the SFU and City of London Police, adding that the workshop will build the confidence of foreign investors.

Ogunsakin noted that the workshop became necessary because of the increasing rate of connivance between some financial institutions and fraudsters.

According to him, an upgrade and training of Nigerian policemen, the SFU and the various financial institu-

tions, on how to combat the menace had become expedient. He added that the workshop reinforced the theme of its 2012 edition - The Dynamics of Cashless Economy and Emerging Methods of Financial Crimes.

The police chief said the outcome of the workshop had created a format for crime prevention and control in banks and other financial institutions, adding that it further opened the eyes of financial crime investigators to how to minimise insider threat in corporate fraud in a developing economy like Nigeria.

Ogunsakin noted: “The collaboration with the City of London Police, which provided tested resource persons to share ideas and acquaint us with tasteful innovations that have been developed in aid of law enforcement agencies in UK, made the workshop an enriching eye opener for participants.

“The financial crime experts from the Department of Homeland Security, USA, grounded in tracking suspicious transactions and terrorist financing were handy to share their experience.”

A

HOUSE wife, Mrs Ngozi Chikwado, has been detained at the Police Area Command, Jos, the Plateau State capital, for allegedly inflicting bodily harm on her maid, Miss Chika Nkwegu.

The arrest and detention of Mrs Chikwado followed a complaint by the victim’s cousin, Chief Dominic Mbam.

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

Chika, 12, said the woman used to beat her regularly for no specific reason.

Police spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Felocia Anslem, said the woman would be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 29-07-13

Equities gain N132b in bullish trading

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HE equities’ market snapped a week-long recession with widespread bullish rally that saw nearly two gainers for every loser yesterday. Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities added N132 billion in new capital gains to close at N11.896 trillion as against its opening value of N11.764 trillion.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc also yesterday announced that it recorded a profit of N33.2 billion during the first half of this year.

The All Share Index (ASI), the main index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), rallied a gain of 1.21 per cent to push average year-to-date return at the stock market to 33.78 per cent. The ASI closed higher at 37,562.50 points as against its opening index of 37,145.65 points.

With 34 gainers to 19 losers, substantial gains by highly capitalised stocks further orchestrated the bullish rally.

Guinness Nigeria topped the gainers’ list with a gain of N11 to close at N241. Seven-Up Bottling Company followed with a gain of N6.40 to close at N75.90. Dangote Cement rose

by N4.77 to close at N194.77 while Nestle Nigeria chalked up N3.98 to close at N959 per share.

On the other hand, Total Nigeria led the losers with a drop of N5.92 to close at N153.08. Forte Oil trailed with a loss of N4.38 to close at N39.44 while Nigerian Breweries lost 69 kobo to close at N169.32 per share.

Total turnover stood at 197.75 million shares valued at N1.71 billion in 5,466 deals.

Meanwhile, interim report and accounts of UBA for the first half ended June 30, 2013 released yesterday showed gross earnings of N125.98 bil-

•UBA records N33b half year profit

By Taofik Salako

lion as against N107.91 billion recorded in comparable period of 2012. Profit before tax increased from N30.41 billion to N33.25 billion. Profit after tax also improved from N27.07 billion to N28.41 billion.

The report showed appreciable improvements in the group’s balance sheet with deposits rising by 13.5 per cent from N1.77 trillion in 2012 to N2.01 trillion in 2013. Total assets increased to N2.42 trillion while net loans for the period amounted to N761.18 billion. Net assets grew by 7.9 per cent to N207.60 billion.

The bank remained ahead of regulatory benchmarks in key indices with liquidity, adequacy and loan deposit ratios of 53.5 per cent, 22.3 per cent, and 37.7 per cent respectively.

Group managing director, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr Phillips Oduoza, said the results were commendable, especially against the background that the bank operated under the revised Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s guideline on bank charges in the second quarter of the year.

He noted that net loans grew by 14.6 per cent from N664.4 billion in first quarter 2013 to N761.2 billion in first half in line with management’s guidance for the year.

“I am glad to announce that our plans to minimize the effect of the reduced fees and commissions are working.

Our business fundamentals are improving with increased revenues from loans creation, cost savings arising from cheap deposits mobilization and improved asset quality.

We will focus on driving our business to gain market share

and manage costs to enable us deliver value to our stakeholders,” Oduoza said.

He said the bank’s results represented another bold step by the lender in its pursuit of industry leadership.

According to him, the results reflected continued improvement in asset quality; disciplined expense management and an articulated execution of the bank’s three-tier strategic plan.

“The decisions we have taken so far are paying off, having recorded an improvement in revenue, as indicted in our guidance for the year.

We were also encouraged by the growth in our Africa subsidiaries, which benefited from the strategic business alignment that has commenced. Thirteen of our 18 bank subsidiaries recorded profit in the first half of the year,” Oduoza said.

He said the bank had been well-positioned for growth based on its solid balance sheet footing, robust capital and liquidity positions, noting that the lender will continue to benefit from the successful execution of quality relationship management process, which is driving client acquisition and engagement.

He said the bank will continue to harness new efficiency initiatives, increase lending to key growth sectors of the economy, continuously develop its platforms to sustain synergies among the bank’s African subsidiaries while identifying viable opportunities to leverage on its strong capital position and make the right investments in its business.

“While economic growth remains modest, there are signs that business returns will be much better. Our customers are the reasons we are in business, and we will not relent on our efforts to seek new and innovative ways of delivering unique and value adding products to meet their banking needs,” Oduoza said.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 29-07-13

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

55

MONEY LINK

CBN: five banks control 40% of sector’s assets

T

HE stress test conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last year has shown that five ‘large banks’, hold 40.3 per cent of the industry’s total assets.

The apex bank’s Financial Stability Report said most banks recorded liquidity ratios below the regulatory threshold of 30 per cent for the five-day and cumulative 30-day run scenarios, respectively.

The results showed that industry liquidity ratio declined to 16.1 and 7.8 per cent, after the five-day and cumulative 30-day shocks, from the pre-shock position of 68.0 per cent.

The report, which is for December 2012 was conducted in terms of liquidity and solvency. The liquidity stress test assessed the resilience of the banking system to substantial withdrawal of deposits, wholesale and long-term funding in a five-day period and a cumulative 30-day period, with specific assumptions on fire sale of assets to generate liquidity.

It also assessed funding maturity mismatch and rollover risk for assets and liabilities in the less than 30-day and 31-90 day buckets, with the assumption of some level of

By Collins Nweze

CBN and intra-group funding.

The results showed that industry liquidity ratio declined to 16.1 and 7.8 per cent, after the five-day and cumulative 30-day shocks, from the pre-shock position of 68.0 per cent The report said although the test revealed vulnerability in some banks, the overall banking system was not at risk as it was well positioned to absorb any liquidity pressure that might occur.

“The solvency stress test assessed the resilience of the Nigerian banking industry to plausible shock scenarios. The scenarios were based on historical worst case and hypothetically strained macroeconomic situations,” it said.

The test assessed banks’ balance sheet deterioration from the baseline position (steady state), which entailed a static balance sheet approach (assumed no response to the shocks). The assumptions were built around credit, liquidity, exchange and interest rate risks.

The resilience of the banks was assessed against a benchmark defined with reference to 10 per cent

Capital Adequacy Ratio, 30 per cent liquidity ratio, five per cent non performing loan ratios, as well as trend performance of return on asset (ROA) and return on equity (ROE).

The baseline CARs for the banking industry, large, medium and small banks stood at 18.36, 18.06, 20.32, and 16.93 per cent, respectively. These represent 0.05, -0.26, 1.16 and 0.66 percentage points change over the June 2012 positions.

Similarly, the pre-shock banking industry, large, medium and small banks liquidity ratios were 68.02, 61.99, 47.22 and 79.77 per cent, respectively, representing 29.24, 28.35, 4.76 and 22.41 percentage points change respectively. The ratio of core liquid assets to total assets increased by 1.2 percentage points to 24.7 per cent at end-December 2012, from 23.5 per cent at end-June 2012.

Similarly, the ratio of liquid assets to short-term liabilities rose by 0.8 percentage point to 28.9 per cent at end-December 2012. The improved liquidity level of the sector reflected the increase in holdings of liquid assets, such as short-term government securities, and indicates reduced systemic risk arising from illiquidity.

In his remarks, CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said the slow recovery of the global economy had implications for the international financial system as the sovereign debt crisis of the Euro Area and weak consumer demand continued to impinge on the system. The Nigerian financial system he noted, was not insulated as international trading partners and foreign portfolio investors occasionally responded adversely.

“The Nigerian financial system remained stable and resilient, despite the slower rate of growth in global output in the second half of 2012. The period witnessed renewed efforts by monetary authorities to cushion the adverse impacts of these global developments,” he said.

He said that most of the risks in

finance, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, yesterday told a gathering at the African Development Bank (AfDB) policy dialogue on infrastructure and structural development that the continent needs to address its infrastructure deficits as “a strategic step towards enhancing the performance of their economies”.

She listed other constraints to economic growth on the continent to include lack of access to long-term funds

From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor), Abuja

and corruption. She said: “Infrastructure comes first, access to long-term finance second and corruption third.

So, this shows you how they ranked the challenges we have and it makes this seminar a very important one.”

She pointed out that for Nigeria and other economies in the continent to develop the productive strength for

U

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc yesterday commissioned a 24-hour online real time Security Operations Centre (SOC) and Forensic Lab meant to protect its customers against cyber crimes and other forms of e-banking threats.

Speaking at the commissioning of the centre in Lagos, Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza said the centre provides all round security monitoring for all electronic banking transactions in all the lender’s networks in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.

He said the SOC empowers the bank to securely deliver electronic banking services to its esteemed customers, effectively manage all form of information security threats and protect its systems, network and electronic banking channels against fraud.

He said the bank decided to invest

“the challenge of huge infrastructure deficit must be prioritised amongst other developmental agenda of their governments.”

Okonjo-Iweala revealed that a World Bank survey on corporate entities in Nigeria “indicated that the most formidable challenge confronting businesses and threatening the diversification of the economy was infrastructure deficit, which stood at 53 per cent.”

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 ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 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 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 29-07-13

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

CHAMPION WEMABANK 7UP DNMEYER COURTVILLE IPWA LIVESTOCK GUINNESS ETERNA ETI

11.00 1.07 69.50 1.48 0.66 1.09 4.67 230.00 3.15 14.00

12.10 1.17 75.90 1.58 0.70 1.15 4.90 241.00 3.28 14.46

1.10 0.10 6.40 0.10 0.04 0.06 0.23 11.00 0.13 0.46

O/PRICE

FO 43.82 IHS 3.05 PHARMDEKO 2.05 AGLEVENT 1.58 ROYALEX 0.55 TOTAL 159.00 WAPIC 0.90 UNITYBNK 0.61 FCMB 4.90 DIAMONDBNK 6.80

C/PRICE 39.44 2.75 1.85 1.43 0.52 153.08 0.87 0.59 4.76 6.61

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N) Parallel Market 153.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N)

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

July ’12

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

CHANGE 4.38 0.30 0.20 0.15 0.03 5.92 0.03 0.02 0.14 0.19

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

LOSERS AS AT 29-07-13

SYMBOL

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

OBB Rate Call Rate

in the information security infrastructure because of its commitment to protecting its customers’ transactions.

Oduoza said that any serious banking institution that wants to succeed in this digital age cannot afford to ignore information security as any major compromise of bank’s system and network has potentials for colossal damage.

“We partnered with top Information Security Organisation that worked with the bank to upgrade our information security infrastructure in Nigeria and 18 African countries where we have presence”, he said.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Deputy Director, Banking Supervision, Mr. Ibedu Onyebuchi commended UBA for the initiative adding that the centre is a milestone that should be emulated by other lenders to because of the global threats of fraud to electronic banking.

DATA BANK

Tenor

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

the system were isolated and appropriate measures adopted to achieve financial stability. Specifically, new areas of growth and development that will impact the financial system include financial inclusion and pension funds.

UBA moves to check cyber crime

Okonjo-Iweala seeks improved infrastructure HE Coordinating Minister for and play leading investment competitiveness the Economy and Minister of roles in the global economic order,

T

• CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 9.17 9.08 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE INVE 140.65 140.16 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 163.44 163.29 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.80 0.78 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.16 1.16 BGL NUBIAN FUND 1.17 1.18 FBN MONEY MARKET FUND 100.00 100.00 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,000.00 1,000.00 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,831.70 1,830.57 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 14.73 14.01 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 1.33 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 1.80 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 11.386.29 11,045.54 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUNDARM AGGRESSIVE • OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

56

NEWS JTF arrests 608 suspected oil thieves •Seizes 24 vessels, 133 barges

T

HE Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, codenamed ‘Operation Pulo Shield’, said yesterday that it arrested 608 suspected oil thieves in 594 raids carried out between January and June.

The JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that oil theft was on the decline.

“So far, we have carried out 594 illegal oil bunkering patrols and several arrests have been made.

“In the two quarters we are talking about, we’ve scuttled about 748 illegal refineries within the region and we have impounded 24 vessels; we equally arrested 133 barges involved in oil theft.

“And 861 giant open wooden boats, popularly referred to as Cotonou boats, have been seized.

“About 910 large surface tanks which oil thieves engaged in illegal refineries use to reserve the crude have been seized.

“We’ve taken into custody about 608 suspects who are involved in oil theft and oil theft related cases.’’

On the rate of oil theft which reportedly led to a combined shut-in of 190,000 barrels per day production in Bayelsa, Nwachukwu said the JTF was making a positive impact.

The spokesman said: “Two major pipelines were shut down and before these pipelines were actually shut down our patrol troops had reported breaches on these pipelines.

“And if the oil companies had reacted in time to these reports, the breaches would have been clamped, and it would not have resulted in this shut down of the pipelines.

“So, I would say that if you take an overview of the area, you will find that most of the illegal refineries that were in operation have been shut down completely.’’

NCC arrests six for ‘piracy’ From Osagie Otabor, Benin

S

IX persons have been arrested in Edo State by the Nigeria Copyrights Commission (NCC) for illegally transmitting channels of Multichoice Nigeria Limited and channels of other broadcast entities.

Equipment worth N6million were seized from the suspects, popularly known as Cable Network Boys, during the antipiracy raid in different parts of Benin City.

The suspects are Nwankwo Ikenna, Godwin Kadiri, Friday Idemudia, Ogunmwonyi Dave, Ogunmwonyi Osazee and Osawe Osayi.

NCC’s Zonal Manager Michael Madueke said the raid was a continued effort to reduce piracy for owners to enjoy the fruit of their labour.

He appealed to the public to stop patronising the illegal broadcast outfits.

The zonal head said the suspects have been charged to court.

Jonathan, Amaechi invited From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

T

HE Akasoba of Kalabari and Chair, Akasoba Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ACPCR), Queen Akasoba Duke-Abiola, has invited President Goodluck Jonathan, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and some politicians for a peace meeting.

A statement by the ACPCR Secretary, Dr. Jen Clarence, said other invitees include ex-Head of State Dr. Yakubu Gowon, first Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda and former United Nations Secretary-General Boutrous Boutrous Ghali.

She said: “In view of the seemingly intractable sociopolitical problems presently besieging our beloved Rivers State and taking into consideration the need for reason and moderation in these trying times, we need to have a meeting.

“The meeting, which will take place at the ACPCR Centre, Kula, Ekulama, in River State on Saturday, will focus on the restoration of peace and progress in Rivers State, the need for creation of more states, and the need to continue to maintain the indissolubility of Nigeria.

“I have been involved in peace efforts and conflict resolution around the world, it is therefore necessary that we deploy some vital strategic appurtenances and modus operandi designed to bring lasting peace to Rivers State, the Niger Delta and Nigeria.”

Lecturer ‘sacked by students’ From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

T

HE Cross River State College of Education, Akamkpa, has sacked a lecturer voted “the most corrupt lecturer” by students.

The Provost, Prof Anthony Owan Enoh, told reporters in Calabar yesterday that the sacked lecturer was notorious for collecting money for grades, despite warnings by the authority.

He said following complaints by students, he conducted a referendum among the students who voted the lecturer the most corrupt.

A couple of months later when examinations had set in, Enoh said a sting operation was carried out in which he was caught and shown the way out.

“If students can be expelled, lecturers can be sacked,” he said.

Several other lecturers, he said, have appeared before the disciplinary committee for various offences.

He said the institution would not compromise on standards.

•Special Adviser to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Politics and Media Sunny Ajose (left) and President, Asiwaju Total Loyalty, Oluwatoyin Balogun at a Ramadan prayer for the late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji in Lagos.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Akwa Ibom SSG’s office sealed off •Workers asked to vacate premises

S

ECURITY operatives, allegedly acting on the orders of Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio, yesterday sealed off the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Umana Umana.

Workers were searched and asked to vacate the premises.

The Permanent Secretary in the SGG’s office, George Akpabio, was transferred to the Ministry of Transport.

Akpabio’s transfer, according to a Government House source, was conveyed to him by security operatives.

A worried Akpabio was said to have asked the security personnel: “Just like that? Is that how they move a permanent secretary?”

Both Umana and Akpabio were said to be in Abuja at the time of the incident.

From Kazeem Ibrayhm, Uyo

The decision to remove the SSG, according to sources, may have been his interest to contest the 2015 governorship race.

The governor is said not to be pleased with Umana’s plan.

Umana, who is from Uyo Senatorial District of Nsit Ubium, is one of the nominees for Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Other nominees are Special Adviser, Bureau of Technical Matters, Etido Inyang, an Ikot Ekpene man and Loveday Ekuyok, a native of Eastern Obolo Local Government Area.

The SSG, while declaring interest for in 2015 governorship race, said it had become imperative to make known his position to assuage the overwhelming

wish of the greater majority of Akwa Ibom people.

But the governor has always said only God will determine his successor.

It was gathered that the relationship between Akpabio and Umana turned sour last Friday when Umana was prevented from attending a meeting the governor convened with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state executives.

According to a Government House source, the governor said he did not want to attend a meeting with any governorship aspirant “so that it won’t look as if the party is supporting the aspirant.”

The source said: “The governor conveyed a meeting on Friday with the party and when the SSG and Commissioner for Special Duties, Emmanuel Enoidem, went, they were prevented from

entering.

“The governor said he wanted to meet with only the state PDP state executives that he did not want to attend any meeting with any governorship aspirant again so that it won’t look as if the party is supporting anybody.

“With that embarrassment, when the Senate President came to declare open the Senate Press Corps retreat in Uyo, Akpabio was not pleased with the SSG’s absence because no official reason was given for his absence.

“On Sunday evening after the Senate President left, it was gathered that the governor had purportedly told the SSG to resign but the SSG did not.

“So yesterday morning, mobile policemen stormed the SSG’s office and locked the place.”

Neither the Akwa Ibom State Government nor Umana has made any official statement on the incident.

Court dismisses Rivers Speaker’s suit

J

USTICE Adolphus Enebeli of a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, the state capital, yesterday dismissed the application by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Otelemaba DanAmachree, to restrain the Commissioner of Police, Mbu J. Mbu, from inviting, arresting or interrogating him over a threat to life document allegedly authored by him.

Amaechree reportedly sent a save our soul “open letter” to President Goodluck Jonathan, where he alleged a plan by unnamed persons to kill some government functionaries, including himself and Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

The letter also alleged that

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

criminals (kidnappers, and robbers) were to be released from the Port Harcourt Federal Prisons to carry out the plan.

Mbu, through the Divisional Police Officer, in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (DC/ SCID), Samuel Okaula, invited Amaechree for further questioning.

But the Speaker approached the court to enforce his rights.

He appealed to the court to grant him an interim injunction to stop the police or the officials from further inviting and interrogating him.

The court refused to make the order but urged the applicant to put the parties in no-

tice by serving originating summons on them.

Delivering his judgment, Enebeli said: “This court cannot impose a perpetual injunction to shield someone from police investigation, or invade arrest for investigation, if there is a criminal allegation that can give rise to criminal proceedings.

“There is no legal right to any person not to be investigated, when a prima facia case is established.

“In the instant case, the applicant is not even a suspect but a mere concerned complainant. Why cry wolf when there is no wolf to cry?

“To my mind, the restrain which is desired in this case at this preliminary stage is not

to restrain the police by imposing the restraining order of the court not to investigate, but the Police are restrained from added biased, which may emanate from police during the course of investigating the matter.

“All I have said is enough to discountenance this application for abuse of court process.

“The conclusion of this court is that this court cannot restrain the police from their investigation on criminal allegation, contained in the petition to the police allegedly authored by the applicant, for being speculative and premature, this suit is hereby dismissed.”

Redeploy police chief Mbu, says Abe

T

HE Senator representing Rivers South-East, Magnus Abe, has reinforced the calls for the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, over his “involvement” in the state’s political crisis.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, the state capital, yesterday, Abe, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, expressed sadness that the police hierarchy had done nothing even when the National Assembly passed the resolution asking for Mbu’s redeployment.

“I think that it is an embarrassment to the police for them to wait this long. If you look at the report of the senate committee, it is clear that crime rate has gone up in Port

Harcourt.

“It is clear that normal policing is not going on in the state. It is clear that the citizens are at risk, so moving somebody who is not contributing positively to the state is not something that the police need to wait for the National Assembly to pass a resolution.

“It is clear that the man cannot function as commissioner of police in Rivers State,” he said.

The senator insisted that the police commissioner should be redeployed so that the peace and stability of the state would not continue to be threatened.

“He will go. There is no doubt about it.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

57

NEWS

NJC asks Abia Chief Judge to vacate office HE National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the compulsory retirement of the Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Shadrack O.E. Nwanosike.

The NJC said the recommendation followed its finding that Justice Nwanosike “falsified his date of birth, which invariably affected his retirement age.”

The council recommended to President Goodluck

T

•Accused of falsifying age •Recommends appointment of CJs in FCT, states From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

Jonathan and some governors, the appointment of chief judges in some states, including Delta, Jigawa, Katsina and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This formed part of the council’s decision at its 63rd meeting held on July 17 and 18.

The NJC also reviewed the performance of some judges and resolved to invite some with unimpressive perform-

ance to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.

NJC’s Acting Director, Information, Soji Oye, in a statement, said the council, after its meeting, constituted a five-man committee, comprising its members to invite judges with “very low performance or non-performance”, to appear before it to show why they should not be removed from office.

Also recommended by the

NJC to the Executive for appointment include President, Customary Court of Appeal, Taraba State; two Kadis for the Sharia Court of Appeal, Kebbi State and two Kadis for the Sharia Court of Appeal, Sokoto State.

The NJC also recommended the appointment of a judge for the Customary Court of Appeal, Delta State and two Judges for the Customary Court of Appeal, Ebonyi State.

PDP urges support for Anambra chair •Anambra State Governor Peter Obi (left) and factional Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Victor Umeh at a reconciliation meeting... yesterday at the Exco Chambers, Government House, Awka.

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

T

HE leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given its support to Ken Emeakayi as the authentic chairman of its Anambra State chapter.

This followed alleged moves by the PDP to ensure that Senator Andy Uba emerged as the party’s consensus candidate in the November 16 governorship election.

A statement by the Acting National Publicity Secretary, Tony Okeke, yesterday said the party took the decision to back Emeakayi, following comprehensive consultations with major party stakeholders in the state.

The statement added that the decision was borne out of the desire to have a strong and united party to effectively reposition the PDP for the election.

“All members of our party in Anambra State are hereby directed to work with Emeakayi towards achieving victory in the forthcoming governorship election in the state,” the statement added.

Party sources said yesterday that the party hierarchy is being pressured to ensure the emergence of Senator Uba as a consensus candidate.

P

Why Okorocha joined APC, by APGA chairman T HE Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Imo State, Marshall Okafor Anyanwu, yesterday explained the reason why Governor Rochas Okorocha joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Anyanwu, the governor is on a mission to save Ndigbo from political encapsulation and years of neglect.

He said Okorocha’s action was hinged on the need to correct the political realities in the country, which he said does not favour Ndigbo.

“Those blackmailing the governor on his membership of the APC are the same people working with outside

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

forces to continue to enslave our people.”

The APGA chieftain said the decision to team up with other progressives was taken in the best interest of the people.

He, however, posited that “this does not mean that we are totally abandoning APGA, it will continue to exist as our political identity but we need to consult wide and seek collaboration with a broader spectrum of Nigerians, who are sympathetic to the course of Ndigbo.”

Anyanwu insisted that APGA with its acceptance and

strength in the Southeast was still not enough to drive the ambition of securing a front row in the affairs of the nation.

“The governor took a plunge to save Ndigbo from further political woes. We cannot achieve our political ambitions under APGA. “We need to take urgent and drastic measures to save our people from the present bondage and Governor Okorocha has taken the lead and should be supported.

“In the first instance, Ndigbo are well recognised with influential positions in APC unlike in the PDP. APC is the place where our aspiration as a people can be real-

•Okorocha

ised.

“It is absurd that after voting for Jonathan the zone has nothing to show for it and you still expect us to stay in the same party with the same people.

“We have a population of over 30 million people and still play a second fiddle, this is no longer acceptable.”

2014 poll: Consensus candidacy tears Osun, Ekiti PDP apart

EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Osun and Ekiti states are protesting plans by the party leadership to impose candidates on the troubled chapters for the next year elections, it was learnt yesterday.

But a party elder, who is a former National Assembly member, told our correspondent that no definite decision has been taken on the method of picking the candidate. He said: “Both methods-primaries and consensus-are on the table.

There are protagonists and antagonists. The party will prefer consensus, but, if it will lead to destabilising crisis, then, we may still hold primaries in states where they indicate the preference”.

In Osun State, some of the aspirants have raised eyebrow over an alleged move by the top echelon of the party to give the ticket to the former deputy governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore, as the consensus candidate.

Party sources said the Presidency has been lobbied to back

•Party may opt for primaries to avoid crisis, says chieftain

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

the Ile-Ife-born politician because he has the structure and financial muscle to weather the storm. However, Omisore’s rivals, who have vowed to resist any imposition, said they would appeal to the electorate more than him, the source added.

Other PDP chieftains jostling for the ticket in Osun State include the former Minister of Sports and Culture, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, former Secretary to Government, Chief Fatai Akinbade, former federal legislator, and Hon. Wole Oke. Sources said at the weekend that a lawyer and former commissioner may join the race this week.

“In the Southwest, the PDP want to avoid post-primary crisis, which often militates against the success of the party at the general election. The mood of the party favours consensus candidate. The puzzle is who should the candidate be.

In Osun, the aspirants are aware of the consensus option, but they feel that the Presidency wants to tilt the pendulum towards Omisore. They believe that he has the experience, money and other credential to rub shoulders with the incumbent governor. Seriously speaking, other aspirants are not disposed to Omisore’s candidature”.

However, one of the associates of Omisore said that the former deputy governor is prepared for the primaries, if the consensus option fails. He said: “The stage we are now is that we are prepared for party primaries. We are holding retreats for our members in preparation for the contest. We have our structures on ground across the 30 local governments. Omisore is determined and he is mobilising towards victory”.

In Ekiti State, the consensus candidacy is generating ripples, since a Board of Trustees (BoT) member and party elder, Chief Dayo Okondo,

disclosed in Lagos at the party’s zonal meeting that the chapter was disposed to the option. Sources said that many aspirants are being persuaded to embrace the option, which Okondo said, would forge unity and cohesion in the fold.

Ekiti PDP aspirants include former Governor Ayo Fayose, Police Affairs Minister Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd), Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Senator Ayo Arise, Senator Gbenga Aluko, former Deputy Governors Abiodun Aluko and Biodun Olujimi, and Ayo Aribisala.

A source in Ekiti PDP said: “The party is disposed to picking an aspirant who appeals to other aspirants as the candidate. But some aspirants, including Fayose, want primaries. Those who are supporting consensus are also saying that other factors like zoning, structure, financial muscle, experience and pedigree should be considered. Already, there is crisis over the formula”.

Another party stalwart said:

Why I’m opposed to state police, by Elechi From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

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BONYI State Governor Martin Elechi has reiterated his opposition to state police. He said the nation is safer with a uniform police force.

Elechi spoke in Abakaliki, the state capital, when a team of senior police personnel from the Office of the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) Communication Directorate, led by the Force Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Frank Mba, visited him.

His words:”I’m totally against state police, I am 100 per cent against it. I see it as an unhealthy development; we are safer if we have a uniform police force”.

He reiterated that over the years, he had watched the trend of events in the country, recalling that even the colonial administration had jettisoned regional police force and opted for federal police.

“What if today I have Ebonyi police in a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state, escorting somebody to Lagos, an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) state, what happens at the various road blocks from Abakaliki to Lagos?”

The governor advocated the posting of police officers outside their states of origin, stressing that such measures would eliminate compromise and enhance their performance.

Elechi said the administration had bought six Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), renovated the state police headquarters and donated patrol vehicles.

The governor said the government built a house for a serving police officer in his home town, Lafia, Nasarawa State, as a reward for his gallantry in tracking down robbers.

“Some of the aspirants are afraid of primaries because they know that they will fail. It also appears to me that they want a particular candidate out of the race because he is insisting on primaries. If this matter is not properly handled, we know the result”.

PUBLIC NOTICE HERITAGE COVENANT MISSION Notice is hereby given that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act L.F.N (cap 20), 2004 THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Pastor Bridget Siramene Wite------------------President 2. Mr. Henry Tambari wite-------------------------Secretary 3. Rev. (Dr.) Godwin Gbaanador---------------------Member 4. Mrs. Justina Baadam-------------------------------Member THE OBJECTIVES ARE 1. To encourage its members to know Jesus Christ individuallyand to be personally committed to Him. 2. To make Jesus Christ known to others by our words and actions.

3. Publicly testify of the Power and Authority of Jesus Christ over Satan by personal evangelism, group evangelism and crusades, to give spiritual encouragement to one another in love, prayer and words of exhortation and admonition.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja within 28days of this publication.

SIGNED: TITILAYO T. AKINBIYI (MRS) GREEN & AKINBIYI, SOLICITORS #16B AGIP ROAD RUMUEME PORT HARCOURT 08033170774

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

NEWS

Almajiris will begin school

by September, says Jonathan

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ESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said urchins, popularly called Almajiris, will be taken off the streets and enrolled in schools by September.

Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, spoke in Lafia, theNasarawa State capital, at the inauguration of the Ta’al Model Primary School, built by the state government.

He said of the 143 Almajiri model schools being built in the North, 120 had been completed.

“We agreed at the last Economic Council meeting that by September, we would have all

the less-privileged children participating and learning in all these schools,” the President said.

Jonathan hailed Governor Umaru al-Makura for his commitment to the education sector in line with the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

He said Nigeria had about 9.5 million less privileged children without the opportunity to go to school, hence the government was committed to give them the opportunity to attend school.

The President stressed that besides providing the infrastructure in the schools, the

Federal Government had approved the provision of free textbooks and uniforms to all the pupils.

Dr Jonathan said the government would also provide laboratory and other teaching and learning aids in the schools.

He assured Nasarawa State of the Federal Government’s continuous partnership through the provision of counterpart fund under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme. al-Makura said the inauguration of the model school marked the commencement of the new UBE-ICT Education

EFCC arraigns laywer for ‘defrauding’ client of N4.8m From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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•Dr Jonathan

Policy in the state’s primary and junior secondary schools.

“I believe that this will accelerate the acquisition of computer literacy in our schools and lay the foundation for the turn-around of the fortunes and prosperity of basic education,” he said.

,Fed Govt: 13 states to experience flooding from today

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BOUT 13 states may experience heavy flooding from today, the Federal Government has said.

The states are: Taraba, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kano, Bauchi, Katsina and Borno.

Others are: Jigawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Gombe, Kebbi and Gombe.

In a document, titled: Flood Status Report for Dissemination, released yesterday in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Environment’s Flood Early Warning Centre, the government said the

From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

states were advised to take precautionary measures to curtail the effect of the flooding.

It reads: “Please, note and help to disseminate the forecast of possible heavy rainfall that may likely result in flood, if adequate and necessary precautions are not taken in the following areas and their immediate environment between now and August 6.

•Taraba: Beli, Donga, Serti, Takum; Adamawa: Mubi; Kadu-

na: Jema’a; Sokoto: Kangiwa, Shinkafi, Silame, Sokoto, Wamakko, Shagari; Kano: Kano, Bebeji, Wudil, Tudun-Wada, Sumaila, Kunchi, Gezawa; Bauchi: Katagum, Azare, Yelwa, Itas, Misau, Darazo, Jama’are, Kari.

•Katsina: Bindawa, Jibia, Daura, Kaita; Borno: Maiduguri, Mallam Fatori, Ngala, Damasak, Dikwa; Jigawa: Dutse, Gwaram, Miga, Gumel, Ringim, Hadejia; Yobe: Putiskum, Machina, Dapchi, Gashua.

•Zamfara: Kaura Namoda, Bukwium, Gusau, Gummi, Ma-

radun, Maru; Gombe: Nafada; Kebbi: Bungudu, Argungun, Bagudo, Birni Kebbi, Bunza, Gwandu, Jega, Kalgo, Ribah, Wamakko; Benue: Vande Ikiya, Ito, Katsina Ala. “Appropriate authorities in these areas have been informed and reminded to watch and take necessary pre-emptive actions to avert disaster and loss,” the statement said.

However, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) denied the report provided by the Ministry.

Health professionals may begin strike tomorrow

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HE Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has threatened to ground the health sector, if appropriate authorities refuse to meet its demands before July 31.

By tomorrow, Nigerians will know if the threat is empty or not.

The group issued a communiqué in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in June.

The union said its members would begin a nationwide strike, if its demands are not met by the end of a 21-day ultimatum, which will elapse tomorrow.

Among the demands is that no university lecturer should be appointed as a Chief Medical Director (CMD) of any teaching hospital.

By Wale Adepoju

NUAHP also said CMDs and Medical Directors (MDs) should not be advertised in the media because the actual contents of the governing law on tertiary hospitals would have been altered and wrongly interpreted.

It added: “We disagree with the recently constituted Hospital Management Boards and asks for their immediate dissolution as it contravenes the provisions of decree 10 of 1985 now Act U15 LFN 2004.

“The National Executive Council (NEC) calls for equitable representation of registered Unions and Assembly of Health Professional Associations on each Board of Management.”

It also called for the abolition of the Office of Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Commit-

tee and Deputy Head of Clinical Services in some tertiary hospitals.

NUAHP added: “We request the immediate promotion of qualified Deputy Directors who have stagnated to Directors in line with extant schemes of service and the circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Health in June 2012.

“All union members are advised to apply for such vacancies wherever they exist provided they are qualified clinical health professionals such as: physiotherapists, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, dietitians and radiographers, among others.”

The group said the Federal Ministry of Health should convene a stakeholder’s conference to agree on guidelines for appointing chief executives for ter-

NOUN chief decries North/South HE Vice Chancellor of education disparity the National Open University of Nigeria

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(NOUN), Prof Vincent Ado Tenebe, yesterday decried the growing education disparity between the North and South.

He said northerners have not embraced the advantage offered by NOUN to tackle their educational challenges.

Prof. Tenebe, who addressed reporters in Kaduna, recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo enrolled in the university as a good example to Nigerians.

He said NOUN has a lot to

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

offer Nigerians.

According to him, while the Lagos study centre of the institution boasts a student population of about 36,000, the Kano centre has only about 5,000 students.

Prof Tenebe said: “There has always been this argument between Kano and Lagos regarding which state is the most populated in the country. We ask: where is this population? We also complain

about the educational backwardness of the North, but we have failed to use the opportunity provided by the NOUN.” On former President Obasanjo, who studied a Post Graduate Diploma in Christian Theology, the NOUN Vice Chancellor said the former President was a troublesome but brilliant student.

According to him, Obasanjo did not study as a student of the institution when he was still in office.

Shippers’ Council urges issuance of HE Chairman of the licence to Kano Port Governing Board of the

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Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Lt.-Gen. Salihu Ibrahim, has urged the Federal Government to grant operational licence to the Kano Inland Dry Port to boost its revenue generation base.

Gen. Ibrahim, who spoke

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

yesterday in Kano yesterday when he inspected facilities at the port, said the non-declaration of the inland dry port as an authentic port has hindered its operation for over 10 years.

He said: “The problem, which caused the delay, was the non-declaration of the inland dry port, officially by the government, as a port for goods coming in or going out of the state to other parts of the country. That is the main thing.”

tiary health institutions and medical advisory committee in to prevent the act of multiple and wrong interpretations.

LAWYER, Hassan Tanko Kyaure, was yesterday arraigned at a Kano High Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged misappropriation of funds and issuance of a dud cheque.

Kyaure, who was arraigned before Justice Farouq Lawan on a two-count charge, was alleged to have converted N4,480,000 he was mandated to collect from the tenants of his clients, Yakasai Investment Limited, as the rent on the house at 30E, Ado Bayero Road, Kano.

The accused allegedly issued his client a N1,000,000 cheque as a part-payment. But the cheque was turned down when it was presented at the bank on the grounds that the account had no such amount in it. Kyaure was said to have committed the offence between October 2011 and March, last year, in Kano.

He was accused of committing a criminal breach of trust “by dishonestly converting the money to your own use without remitting same to Yakasai Group of Companies”.

The offence is contrary to Section 311 and punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code Law. The accused pleaded not guilty after listening to the charge read to him by prosecuting counsel Nasiru Salele, who requested for a hearing date following the accused person’s plea.

The defence counsel, Musbahu Ayuba, presented a bail application for his client.

NSCDC parades kidnap suspect in Kwara From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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EN of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, paraded a man, Bashiru Ishola, for allegedly kidnapping three girls.

The suspect, a drummer with a local music band, was said to have committed the crime last Friday at Oke-Kere community in Ilorin.

It was learnt that the kidnap victims are two girls from same parents, including another six-year-old girl.

The state Commandant of the Civil Defence, Yerima Gana, who paradedthe suspect, said the children were abducted at Sheikh Kamaldeem Street, Oke Kere, Ilorin.

The children, he said, took part in a free meal for breaking the ongoing Ramadan fast by a Muslim cleric in the area.

Gana said the suspect allegedly enticed the kids with soya bean cake, popularly called Beske, and a loaf of bread, before he took them to Flower Garden, about 20 kilometres from where the kids were having their meal.

The NSCDC commandant said some charms, wrapped with black and white thread were found on the suspect when he was arrested.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

59

NEWS 42 Boko Haram suspects arrested in Lagos, Ogun Continued from page 2

that Lagos and its environs remain safe for Nigerians and will not hesitate to fish out criminals,” Gen. Umahi said.

Security agents March 14, raided Ijora Badia, Lagos following intelligence reports, which led to the arrest of over 14 suspected Boko Haram members.

The suspects were said to have disclosed during interrogation, their planned mas-

sive attacks on Lagos, with designated 16 landmarks slated for simultaneous bomb blasts.

That foiled attack was the second in March. No fewer than three suspected Shiite sect members were arrested in Illorin, the Kwara State capital in February, with the allegation that they had plans to bomb Israeli and America’s interest in Lagos.

The group allegedly planned attacks on the Lagos offices of the U.S. Agency for

International Development; the Haifa-based ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Limited and the Jewish Cultural Centre.

Also in June, the army said it arrested about 15 Boko Haram suspects at various parts of the metropolis, with most of them arrested at Ijora Badia and Kotankowa areas between February and May, who were handed over to security agencies.

Sophisticated weapons were recovered including ex-

plosives and remote controls during the previous raids The vehicles that were to be used to transport the bombs to their designated places were also among other items recovered during the raid.

When the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security, visited Lagos, it emerged that about 104 Boko Haram members arrested in the Northern part of the country, were being detained in Lagos prisons.

Port Harcourt rally leader alleges plot to arrest him

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HAIRMAN of the Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition (NDCSC), Anyakwee Nsirimovu, yesterday alleged that the police were planning to arrest him.

Nsirimovu said he had to relocate from Port Harcourt but declared that the rally would go on as planned.

Nsirimovu spoke on the telephone yesterday from his hide out.

Anarchy might also be looming as some Niger Delta militants said they would not allow the rally. They were poised for a showdown with the civil society coalition, urging the police to prevent the protest from holding.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

The NDCSC chairman said DSP Onengiye of the Rivers Police Command’s Intelligence Unit called him to attend a meeting with Mbu “unfailingly” yesterday, which Nsirimovu said was a ploy to arrest him and he decided to ignore the invitation.

He said the coalition had written to the Rivers police to provide minimal security during the rally, which he said was normal in a democracy and would not need police permit, but that the policemen should do what was right.

Nsirimovu said: “We are not bothered about the

threats by Niger Delta militants and attempts by the police in Rivers state to frustrate the rally. We are going ahead. As free citizens, we should be able to express our displeasure on issues.

“If Mbu could allow Niger Delta militants to protest on the streets of Port Harcourt, why does he want to intimidate the civil society coalition and law-abiding citizens?

Mbu cannot stop the rally.

They should not be jittery, because the rally will be very peaceful.”

The group said the planned rally was to put an end to impunity and political violence in Rivers state and prevent anarchy, declaring that the internal political processes

within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state was moving from bad to worse.

The NDCSC also condemned the barbarism displayed in the hallowed chamber of the Rivers House of Assembly on July 9, when five of the 32 members attempted to impeach the Speaker, Otelemaba Dan Amachree. It also frowned on the continuing inaction of Rivers commissioner of police.

A militant group, the Ijaw Freedom Fighters (IFF) and a non-governmental organisation, Ijaw People’s Development Initiative (IPDI), over the weekend, however, invited activists to steer clear of Port Harcourt.

Lagos commissioner quits to join FirstBank

L

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday accepted the resignation of his Commissioner for Finance, Mr Tokunboh Abiru. He commended him for rendering meritorious service to the State. He spoke at the State

Executive Council meeting.

Fashola announced that the Commissioner was leaving to take up an appointment as Executive Director of First Bank of Nigeria Plc and a Board member of FBN Holdings Plc. He said he gave commend-

able service to the state within his short but impactful stay in office.

Abiru, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and professional banker joined the State’s public service from the First Bank of Nigeria Plc where

he has had over two decades of a successful career, serving variously as Group Head Corporate Banking and Business Development Manager among others.

Abiru’s appointment with the bank will take effect from August 1.

Obi, Umeh reconcile

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NAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi and National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, yesterday ended their long-running feud.

They vowed after a meeting at the Anambra State Government House in Awka to retain the governorship seat. The election is billed for Novermber16.

The running battle for the soul of APGA ended with the decision of the Court of Appeal in Enugu last month, which gave the position to Umeh, whose leadership was being challenged by Chief Maxi Okwu.

Obi said none of them was happy while the APGA crisis lasted. He declared the crisis over.

“We are going to reconcile every other person or group and set the machinery in motion for our victory in the November election, I have said it that any time I leave APGA, I will leave politics. ”Those who think that it is over are wrong. APGA is just starting and people will see what will happen during the election, it is now all action,” Obi said Umeh, beaming with smiles as he hugged Obi, described yesterday as the liberation day in Anambra State “I really missed the Executive chambers of this Government House during this crisis. Everybody should go out and announce to the world that Governor Obi and his brother have finally reconciled, we are now one. ”The political landscape of Anambra State will now change and those who want to take over the Government House in other parties will be totally disappointed. ”The amazing thing is that while the crisis lasted, Obi

Nwanosike Onu and Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Awka

continued to function with his government without derailing, and what he has done with this executive will be the strength of the party in the election. ”It is a no victor, no vanquished affair, people really worked so hard for this reconciliation, I was never happy throughout the duration, likewise my brother Governor Obi, I’m happy we are now one united family again. ”Our late great Supreme Leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu will be very happy today and the celebration I have been having at his grave side is now happening at the Government House,” Obi said.

According to him, the reconciliation, is complete having sorted things out with Ojukwu’s widow Bianca. ”I met with his Amb. Bianca Ojukwu last week where we reconciled too, we are brothers and that is why we must come together to fight this common cause our late leader wished for. ”We have worked together for 11 years trying to chart a new course for APGA until the devil came trying to destabilise us; people worked so hard for this peace,” Umeh said.

It was gathered yesterday in Awka the reconciliation efforts by the Catholic and Anglican Bishops in Enugu facilitated the peace deal.

Others who met with the duo in Abuja were Prince Arthur Ezeh; Hon. Chudi Offodile and the traditional prime minister of Awka kingdom, Ozo Austine Ndigwe, who made the reconciliation possible.

Your Sexual Health & You: Novelty Tips, Questions & Answers

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r Edochie I need your help. My wife and I have been trying to have a baby but so far we have not had any luck. She had a fibroid operation some time ago so it caused some complications. The problem now is that there is so much pressure to have this baby that it is affecting my performance. Sometimes when I am in the office, I get a desperate call from my wife telling me to come down immediately for sex because she is ovulating. Now I find it hard to get an erection with her – Etim Dear Etim, many couples who are trying for children face similar problems and the best way to approach the issue is to be calm and avoid putting unnecessary pressure on yourself. I know it hurts seeing your married friends having children all over the place but the truth of the matter is that this is not a competition. You are not under pressure to pass an exam here neither are you facing a job interview. Every family will evolve and develop in its own unique way and time. Everybody’s destiny is different. Please understand this and explain this to your wife as well. So be calm. The first thing we have to do is to get your erections back and get you performing again. Even though your type of erectile dysfunction is psychological, the quickest treatment for it is an erection supplement. Good quality erection facilitators enable you get erections without trying too hard. So I recommend Exploding Thunder Supplement. Xzen 1200 and Sex Voltz are all good too. But please be calm. If all else fails, you can always adopt. You will have children once you remember that you have other options as well. Take care – Uche I just heard about your dating site. I am a 33 year old woman looking for a man I can settle down with. Please what is the cost of joining your dating site? Thanks – Angela Angela the dating site is a free service we offer visitors to our site. There is no registration fee. Visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com, click on dating, register and upload a good picture of yourself. That is all you need to do to start making friends – Uche

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What else can you recommend? Mike Mike you can also use a cream like Maximus Enlargement Cream or a penis pump. Jack Pump and the Penis Enlargement Pump are very good too – Uche I enjoy massages and it helps me get in the mood. I don’t know if you have oils along those lines? Nky Hello Nky, of course we do. We have pheromone massage oils specifically designed to arouse while melting away the stress as well. Ask for the Making Love Massage Oil or the Adam & Eve Massage Oil – Uche I used to buy your 69 Nipple & Clit Arousal Gel but the last time I asked for it, it was out of stock. I need it or something similar. Thanks – Kolawole Hello Kola. There is a new nipple and clit gel called Nipple Nibblers. You will like that too. So ask for Nipple Nibblers Nipple and Clit Arousal Gel – Uche That’s it for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08191978308 or 08027901621 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

60

FOREIGN NEWS

Mideast talks resume amid deep scepticism

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SRAELI and Palestinian teams flew to Washington yesterday to end five years of diplomatic stalemate and prepare for a new round of Mideast peace talks, though optimism was in short supply after two decades of failed attempts to reach a deal.

The resumption of talks was made possible by a decision by Israel’s Cabinet on Sunday to free 104 long-held Palestinian prisoners in four stages, linked to progress in talks. The release was part of an agreement brokered early this month by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to bring the sides back to the negotiating table.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been reluctant to negotiate with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, fearing

the hard-line Israeli leader will reject what the Palestinians consider minimal territorial demands.

The Palestinians want a state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in 1967, but have accepted the principle of limited land swaps to allow Israel to annex some of the dozens of settlements it has built on war-won lands.

Abbas had repeatedly said he will only go to talks if Israel either freezes settlement building or recognizes the 1967 lines as a starting point for drawing the border of a state of Palestine.

Palestinian officials reiterated yesterday that they received US assurances that Washington considers the 1967 lines the basis for border talks.

However, a senior Abbas aide acknowledged that Israel has not signed on to that principle. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the issue with reporters.

Senior Israeli officials have also reiterated in recent days that settlement construction would continue.

The Palestinian official

said the expected prisoner release went a long way toward persuading Abbas to give negotiations another chance, even without Israel meeting his long-standing demands on the terms of such talks.

The two teams are to meet for the first time later yesterday in Washington for discussions that will not deal

with the fundamental issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but rather aim to lay the foundations for fullfledged peace talks later this year.

The U.S. State Department said they would try to establish a work plan for the broader negotiations, which are to last six to nine months.

Egypt killings: Falana calls for probe

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AGOS lawyer and Human Rights activist Mr Femi Falana SAN has called for inquiry into the weekend killings of scores of pro-Morsi protesters in Egypt.

In a release, Mr Falana noted that Egypt which has signed the Rome Statute has an obligation not to do anything to defeat its object and purpose regardless of the fact that it has not ratified the treaty.

The human rights lawyer noted the disparity in the treatment meted out to promilitary protesters who staged their protest on Saturday, July 27 in Cairo only to have the protection of security forces while the proMorsi demonstrators at Nasr City were violently attacked by soldiers killing 120 and injuring 1,500 without

provocation.

Mr. Falana noted also that the United States of America which funds the Egyptian armed forces to the tune of $1.3 billion per annum has merely expressed “concern” over the killings.

He therefore calls on the Special Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to conduct an inquiry into what he calls ‘genocidal attacks and illegal killing of members of the Muslim Brotherhood’ by the Egyptian military contrary to Article 6 of the Rome Statute.

Finally, the 2008 Bernard Simons Human Rights awardee by the International Bar Association wants the ICC to issue a warrant for the arrest of General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for crimes against humanity in order to abate the illegal killings.

PUBLIC NOTICE THIS PUBLIC NOTICE is to inform all parties interested in or concerned with the Estate of MADAM EUGENIA LABINJO (Deceased without will) that pursuant to the Letters of Administration issued by the Lagos High Court dated 27th June 2013, the Administrators of the Estate are: 1.

2.

3.

4.

DR. FRANCIS OLUSEGUN LABINJO MR. LEO ADEKUNLE LABINJO MRS. ADENIKE SHOBOMEHIN (NEE LABINJO) MR. NEE EMMANUEL ADENIYI LABINJO

All matters in relation to the Estate of MRS EUGENIA LABINJO must henceforth be referred to the Administrators named above through their Legal representatives.

Olayinka Abiose Esq., Idowu Olaniyi Esq., Remi Jagun Esq.

08033278883

08023001828

08023690937

PUBLIC NOTICE The above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration in accordance with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990, Part C. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide effective Primary Healthcare services 2. To prevent maternal and new born morbidity and mortality 3. To provide Health Education and Advocacy to the rural communities 4. To reduce morbidity and mortality among the poor through curative and rehabilitative health services.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES: 1.

Lady Agnes J. Otu 2.

Mrs Comfort D. Umofia 3.

Mrs. Elizabeth M. AkpanNnah 4.

Rev. Fr. Lawrence M. Obotamah 5.

Rev. Sr. Thereseanne Afangide 6.

Mr. Columba O. Etim 7.

Mr. Andrew C. Umoren 8.

Mrs. Florence I. Inyang 9.

Mr. Donatus M. Akpan 10.

Amelia A. Okon

•Clergy gather for Pope Francis’ final mass on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, July 28, 2013. Pope Francis, in a stunningly candid assessment of the state of the Catholic Church, said on Saturday it should look in the mirror and ask why so many people are leaving the PHOTO: REUTERS faith of their fathers.

Iraq: Wave of car bombings kills 51

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WAVE of over a dozen car bombings hit central and southern Iraq during morning rush hour yesterday, officials said, killing at least 51 people in the latest coordinated attack by insurgents determined to undermine the government.

The blasts, which wounded scores more, are part of a months-long surge of attacks that is reviving fears of a return to the widespread sectarian bloodshed that pushed the country to the brink of civil war after the 2003 U.S.led invasion. Suicide attacks, car bombings and other violence have killed more than

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bore the hallmarks of alQaida’s Iraqi arm. The group, known as the Islamic State of Iraq, frequently sets off such coordinated blasts in an effort to break Iraqis’ confidence in the Shiite-led government.

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HE EU’s foreign policy chief has praised the “calm” of Mali’s weekend presidential election as vote-counting continued yesterday, in a contest that international observers hope will help ease the African nation’s deep divisions.

Catherine Ashton, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said after polls closed on Sunday that the vote was marked by “calm and serenity”. “Despite the difficult conditions, the Malian administration showed its determination to guarantee the transparency and the credibility of the elections,” she said.

Nearly 7 million people were eligible to vote, and observers reported high turnout on Sunday in a contest that the EU, the top donor to Mali, regards as essential for stability and the continuation of international support.

The leading candidates in the election included two former prime ministers, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and Modibo Sidibé; Soumaïla Cissé, a former finance minister; and Dramane Dembélé, who was backed by Mali’s biggest party, Adema. A runoff is scheduled to be held on 11 August if no candidate emerges with more than half of the vote.

The election was monitored by hundreds of international observers, including an EU delegation led by Belgian MEP Louis Michel, a former EU development commissioner.

Zimbabwe goes to poll amid voters’ Zanu-PF candidate, is OUTHERN Africa’s roll concerns the seeking to extend his 33-year chief observer to Zim-

babwe, Bernard Membe, says he is gravely concerned that a voters’ roll has not been released two days before tightly contested elections.

This is despite the fact that it is the “most important document” for tomorrow’s

election, he added.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said it plans to take court action to obtain the voters’ roll.

The poll ends the coalition between the MDC and the president’s Zanu-PF party.

President Robert Mugabe,

rule and will face Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC at the ballot box.

With virtually a day to go to the election, no political party in Zimbabwe other than Zanu-PF perhaps has got a copy of the final voters roll”.

Liberians in Nigeria celebrate Independence anniversary

T

HE Union of Liberians (UNIL) in Nigeria celebrated their country’s 166th independence anniversary last week Friday in Lagos, amid a large cheerful turnout of Nigerian - based Liberians.

Greatman Phillip Zulu a member of the union while delivering his speech said the objective of the ULIN was to bring every locally integrated Liberian together under one umbrella in order to seek their welfare and to serve as a force to put across the problems of Liberians in Nigeria, by giving them a sense of belonging.

The guest speaker at the event was the Administration Officer

By Sampson Unamka

of the Consulate General office in Lagos Mrs Annie Broaderick who conversed about their great country Liberia and July 26th when they gained their independence.

During her speech she urged all Liberians that they have a purpose and that the purpose must be fulfilled, hence the Liberians shouldn’t sit back and be idle but be productive in the economy.

“My fellow country men and women make your own life amount to the greater change we all want to see achieve in our great country” said Mrs

Broaderick.

She further congratulated them on their anniversary.

Liberian Ambassador AlHassan Conteh called in from abuja to felicitate with the union and also added that the Liberian president moved the celebration from the country’s capital Morovia to Capemount.

Professor Ben Christain a liberian lecturer who came in from liberia to celebreate with his people , during his project presentation/fund presented a project to help support these liberians academically, vocationally among others.

Father of the day, C.E.O Ho-

tel Ibis Royale and Protocol Officer of Liberia, Chief Clifford Nzerum with his passion for assisting these Liberians promised to fund 10 young Liberians in secondary school for a year which was close to 200 thousand naira per anum as part of his donation towards the UNIL and he further advised liberians in the country to visit the embassy to acquire necessary papers they need to keep them out of embarassment in Nigeria as the documents are free.

Chairman of the occasion Honourable Edmund Eigbobo and popular Nigerian actor Emeka Ossai also donated to the educational cause.

Nelson Mandela court case delayed

A

-Chairman -Secretary -Treasurer -Chaplain -Member -Member -Member -Member -Member -Member

Any person having any objection to this registration should report to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Lady Agnes J. Otu - (Chairman)

3,000 people since April, including more than 500 since the start of July, according to an Associated Press count.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Monday’s attacks, but they

Mali elections ‘calm and serene’, says EU chief

•Mandela

COURT case aimed at ousting ex-South African president Nelson Mandela’s aides from two companies he set up has been delayed, a law firm has said.

A judge took the decision after lawyer Ismail Ayob, acting for Mr Mandela’s daughters, withdrew from the case.

The women were trying to gain control of the companies, said to be worth about $1.7m (£1.1m).

Mr Mandela’s grandson Mandla accused them of trying to “loot” the 95-year-old ex-president’s wealth.

In April, two of his daughters, Makaziwe and Zenani, brought court action to oust prominent human rights lawyer George Bizos, ex-Housing Minister Tokyo Sexwale and lawyer Bally Chuene as directors of two of Mr Mandela’s firms, Harmonieux Investment Holdings and

Magnifique Investment Holdings.

The three had never been appointed to serve on the board of the companies, and had rejected requests to resign, Makaziwe and Zenani said.

The case was due to be heard yesterday, but was stuck off from the court roll because of Mr Ayob’s withdrawal, said a spokeswoman for Norton Rose Fulbright, the legal firm representing the defendants.

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SPORT EXTRA

Michael Eneramo to pocket N511m at Besiktas

U

SING the Public Disclosure Platform (PDP), Istanbul giants Besiktas have officially announced the signing of Nigeria international Michael Eneramo.

The 27 - year - old forward,

who last represented Sivasspor, has put pen to paper on a two year contract, with the option for an additional season inserted into the deal.

The additional year comes into effect if he makes the squad for 30 games in the 2014 - 2015 season.

According to the PDP statement, Eneramo will pocket 1.2 million euros per season (N256m), meaning he will earn 2.4 million euros (about N511 million) for the two years he is guaranteed to be under contract.

In addition to his annual wage,

Besiktas will pay the Super Eagle 10,000 euros appearance fee for every game in the Super League, a normal occurrence in Turkey.

Michael Eneramo has shown his class since he arrived Turkey from Esperance., netting 29 goals in 79 matches.

Imoke welcomes Golden Eaglets to Calabar •As training takes off smoothly

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HE Golden Eaglets training session has taken off smoothly post Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan of the 30 players invited to compete for a place in the World Cup-bound National Under-17 team even as Senator Liyel Imoke (CON), the Executive Governor of Cross River State welcomes the team to the Canaan City yet again.

The amiable Governor who was represented at Monday’s evening training at the practice pitch of the U.J Esuene Stadium by the State’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Honourable Patrick Ugbe, reiterated his earlier submission that the Golden Eaglets can go all the way at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup finals taking place in the United Arab Emirates in October.

“His Excellency, Senator Imoke

as well as the good people of this state once again welcome you back home to Cross River State,” said Ugbe.

“Of course, we have strong faith in you and we want you to concentrate on the job at hand by preparing well for the World Cup which His Excellency believes you can win.”

Responding, Head coach Manu Garba (MFR); said Senator Imoke has demonstrated in many ways his abiding love for the Golden Eaglets, promising that his wards would do the country proud at the World Cup. “We are very grateful for the continued support of His Excellency as well as the people of Cross River State,” he said.

“Of course, to whom much is given, much is expected and we would do everything in our capacity to do very well at the World Cup.”

NOC hails sensational Okagbare

P •Ogundele

Ogundele dreams gold in Lagos Table Tennis Classics

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ANIAT Ogundele, a top table tennis player, on Sunday gave an assurance that she would win a gold medal at the maiden Lagos International Open Table Tennis Classics. The classics have been scheduled to hold from Aug. 26 to Aug. 31 in Lagos.

Ogundele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that she had been

training since the competition was mooted. She noted that she did not want to take any chances when the tournament became a reality. ``Regular training helps to improve a player’s standard, which is why I take time to practise on my own.

Preparation is training, embarking on exercise and ensuring mental alertness. As a player, I consider all these

while training. I am not intimidated by any foreign player. I will do my best and leave the rest to luck and God. I am not bragging but I will not settle for a silver medal, my aim is to win a gold medal in my category through the help of God,’’ she said.

Ogundele, a gold medallist at the 2008 Aso-Oju Oba Table Tennis Championships,

commended the new table tennis board elected into office in April, saying the future was bright for the sport.

The categories to be contested for are the Men’s Singles, Men Doubles, Senior Mixed Doubles, Junior Boys Singles, Boys Doubles and Junior Mixed Doubles. Others are Women’s Singles, Women Doubles, Junior Girls Singles and Junior Girls Doubles.

CHAN 2014: Echiejile commends Eagles

P

ORTUGAL based Elderson Echiejile has joined other Nigerians to commend the home based Eagles for their resolute performance which earned them a berth at next year's African Nations Championships in South

Africa despite losing 0-2 in their second leg qualifying match in Abidjan over the weekend.

Nigeria held on and qualified 4-3 on aggregate to reach the finals for the first time, a feat the SC Braga defender admitted did not come easy.

“It was tough in Abidjan, but

delighted the boys still fought to qualify for the CHAN for the first time,” Elderson tweeted.

Nigeria joins Morocco, as well as Libya, Ghana, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Congo and hosts South Africa in the 16-team finals which kicks off from

January 11 next year.

Nigeria missed the first two editions of the championship losing out to Ghana in the inaugural edition in Cote d’Ivoire in 2009 while the Republic of Niger ended the dreams of the Eagles’ path to Sudan 2011.

Rangers give technical crew 3-match ultimatum

E

NUGU Rangers' management on Monday after a crucial meeting with the coaches has handed a three match winning ultimatum to them in the Flying Antelopes' next three games or risk having their salaries slashed by half.

NationSport had exclusively reported Friday last week that the coal city side would have a clear the air meeting with the coaches based on the club's lacklustre lost to Akwa United in the Federation Cup Round of 16 and in the league in

•Set to cut coaches' salaries by half From Tunde Liadi, Owerri recent times.

Revealing the outcome of the meeting had with the coaches yesterday to SportingLife, the club's Director of Media and Publicity, Foster Chime pointed out that the club was becoming disillusioned with the outing of the team and what impact it might have on the club's position in the league at the end of the season.

Hence, the drastic decision taken to halt the rot in terms of results which have been favourable to them this season.

Chime however noted that as a morale booster, the players and coaches will receive their three match bonuses before their next game against Warri Wolves while technical crew will also collect the balance of their signing on fees for the season within a fortnight.

"The Rangers' management

held a meeting with the coaches which stretched till late today(yesterday). It was agreed upon that the team must win their next three games or at least amass 7 points out of possible 9 if they do not want their salaries to be slashed by half.

"The club is doing very well in terms of welfare but the results churned by the team has not actually reflected the huge investment on the team by the state government. We had no reason to lose against Akwa United.

RESIDENT of Nigeria Olympic Committee, (NOC), Engineer Sani M. Ndanusa has saluted sensational African queen of track, Blessing Okagbare for her stellar performance at the London Olympics anniversary race at the weekend.

“Okagbare is indeed a Blessing to Nigeria. Let me offer you my warmest congratulations on your feat in London where you not only finished first in the pack of world champions but also sent the African record crashing. Your performance sooths our soul after the London 2012 Olympics where you could not make it'', Ndanusa said.

Okagbare returned to the same venue at Olympics Stadium in Strafford and

sensationally beat the world to win the 100m, setting a new African record in the process.

She first broke Gloria Alozie’s 14 -year old record of 10.90 record when she returned in 10.86 seconds in the heats and further lowered that in the final to 10.79 seconds.

“We are happy that she is doing absolutely well and pray that she carries her form to the IAAF World Athletics Championship which takes place in Russia from August 10 to August 13, 2013.

The NOC President who is also the President of Tennis Federation also saluted the efforts of President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Evangelist Solomon Ogba and the Delta State Government for providing the platform for the athlete.

PRIMEAPPOINTMENT

Osun stakeholders back Ogunjobi

S

TAKEHOLDERS in Osun State have thrown their weight behind Taiwo Ogunjobi, led Prime Football Club of Oshogbo, management committee.

Chairman of the club supporters club, Jeleel Olatunde, said the appointment of Ogunjobi as the club boss by governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, is the best thing that has happened to the club in recent times.

"As far as the supporters are concerned, we are fully in support of Taiwo Ogunjobi, as the club boss, he is the best football administrator we have in the state and we appreciate governor Aregbesola for appointing him and we hope by next season he will use his wealth of experience to turn the fortunes of the club."

"Those criticising his appointment I believe are being political and not thinking of the goodies Chief Ogunjobi, will bring into the club."

However, former Super Falcons’ assistant coach and chief coach of football in Osun State, Mudashir Yusuff, has described as unfortunate, statement credited to Gbenga Ololade, led Osun Sports Renaissance for faulting the appointment of Taiwo Ogunjobi, as Prime FC chairman.

Ololade, in a session with the media faulted Ogunjobi's

appointment who is also the chairman of Osun State Football Association, claiming Ogunjobi will be compromising issues.

The pioneer tactician of defunct BCC Lions of Gboko, said Ololade and others have lost touch to modern trend of football administration citing instances that Chief Emeka Inyama, is the chairman of Nigeria National League and also the boss of Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia and also Pinnick Amaju, who is the Chairman Delta State Sports Commission, Chairman Delta State Football Association and Chairman of Warri Wolves FC. He also noted that Nasarawa United boss, Barrister Isaac Danladi and Sunshine Stars chairman Mike Idoko, are both members of the League Management Committee (LMC) and they have not been compromising issues Muda, former Golden Eaglets assistant coach, said Ololade is a sadist that does not see anything good in other people’s progress.

He further stated that any good indigene of Osun State that want progress will not criticise an astute administrator in Chief Ogunjobi.

The Chairman of Nigeria Football Coaches Association (Osun State Chapter), said the group are not indigenes of the state and cannot disstabilize or bring Osun State football into disrepute.

TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 8

NO.2,562

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘‘In spite of the court’s verdict, if al-Mustapha and his co-accused as they were then, had a hand in Kudirat’s murder or any of the numerous unresolved murders of the Abacha era, definitely they will not go unpunished, both here and in the hereafter’’ WAHEED ODUSILE

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

H

OW time flies!

It seems only a year or two ago – three at most — that a good many of Alade “Allah De” Odunewu’s contemporaries in his years at Kakawa and a host of his admirers gathered to honour him at ceremonies marking his 80th birthday.

As befitted the occasion, reminiscences of the Man of the Day filled the air – his essential decency, his quiet dignity, his sardonic wit, his mastery of the art of satire, his unwavering professionalism, and the great mentoring skills he brought to bear on the grooming of a generation of Nigerian newspapermen and women.

I found myself then thinking about Odunewu and two of his younger contemporaries at Kakawa — Peter Enahoro, who entered Nigerian journalism as “George Sharp” and is much better known as “Peter Pan,” and Sam Amuka who began his journalistic career as “Offbeat Sam,” and morphed later into “Sad Sam.” Though their Kakawa overlapped, each exercised editorial suzerainty at different times over the mighty journalism empire that the late Babatunde Jose built.

Of the three, Odunewu was the most selfeffacing.

The boyishly handsome face of Enahoro, Odunewu’s star predecessor at the Daily Times adorned his column “Life with Peter Pan.” His bohemian lifestyle perfused it. Amuka signed his column with a sketch of his jaunty, hirsute self wearing a floppy hat and blowing a trumpet from the wrong end, and he lived up to that iconoclastic billing.

Odunewu permitted only an outline sketch of his face to appear on the column, simply called Allah De. It showed him in a thoughtful, Byronic pose, wearing what looked like a French suit, and a skullcap.

This depiction, it now seems in retrospect, was his way of signalling that though the “Allah De” column would inevitably be a projection of Alade Odunewu the columnist, it was not going to be extension of his person.

That, after all, was the tradition at Fleet Street, then the mecca of journalism, a tradition in which he had been schooled at the Regent Street Polytechnic, in London, where he won the highest accolade bestowed on students from the Commonwealth.

From the first column he wrote for the Daily Times after crossing over from the Allied Newspapers group where he had risen through the ranks to the position of editor-in-chief, you knew you were in the hands of a different person – different in temperament, in style, and in his concerns.

One of the defining attributes of professionalism, sociologists tell us, is the capacity to separate fact from feeling. On this score, Odunewu must be rated the consummate professional.

He dissected the issues of the day clinically, based on what he judged to be their merits.

You suspected that he had to have some affili-

RIPPLES DON’T HANG CLOTHES ON HIGHWAYS, STREETS –Lagos State Government

Yes..especially on BALCONIES in POLICE BARRACKS

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

Allah-de: A model, and a monument

•The late Odunewu

ations, if only by virtue of his being human.

But you could never guess just what those affiliations consisted in. He kept them discreetly, and I should add, decently, to himself.

The closest he came to volunteering something about himself was during one of the religious upheavals that have now become endemic in Nigeria, when he revealed that his wife was a Catholic. His Hadj title gave away his identity as a devout Muslim, but you could not guess it from his writing.

It is not for nothing that Nnamdi Azikiwe, one of the finest newspapermen to emerge from these parts, canonised Odunewu as the dean of Nigerian satirical writing. Satire was the stuff of his work. Master of the wellplaced innuendo, and of what the British call “damnation by feint praise,” Odunewu deftly laid bare the follies and foibles of his era with-

out wounding the vanities of the men and women of the moment.

Enahoro took great pride in being “controversial” and “hard-hitting.” Odunewu was self-effacing even when delivering those gentle jabs, those pin-pricks that in the end proved just as effective, even if not as dramatic, as a sensational knockout.

Those were my reminiscences when Alade Odunewu turned 80, in 2007.

He died six days ago, aged 85.

Not much can be added to the tributes that poured forth on that epochal milestone and have been cascading since he drew his last breath.

Odunewu knew no retirement or semi-retirement for that matter. Long after he quit active newspapering, he was an influential presence wherever journalism was being discussed, contributing insights and suggesting strategy and tactics, and generally helping to raise its professional and ethical tone.

He steered the Nigerian Press Council for about a decade, monitoring performance, investigating and adjudicating complaints, and providing magisterial guidance for future conduct. The Council had won only grudging acceptance from the media at its inception and, with a person of lesser specific gravity than Odunewu as chair, it would have been marked for failure.

For the better part of a decade, he presided over the Nigeria Media Merit Awards recognising excellence in various aspects of print and broadcast journalism.

It is a mark of his commitment to the pursuit of journalistic excellence that he personally endowed one of the most prestigious prizes in the business, the Alade Odunewu Prize for In-

HARDBALL

formed Commentary, administered by the premier industry journal, Lanre Idowu’s Media Review.

Now, was it an accident that when new titles entering the Nigerian newspaper market used his name and prestige as strong selling points. Thus it was with The Guardian at its launch in 1984, and much later, in 1999, with The Comet, now defunct, where managing director Lade “Ladbone” Bonuola proudly introduced him as “our leader.”

Without question, he will be remembered as one of the greatest pillars of Nigerian journalism — pillar by force of personal example, by tireless exertion. In that respect, he was a model.

He was also a monument – monument to an enduring commitment to the best practices in journalism, to “All The News That’s Fit to Print,” as the evocative motto of The New York Times has it.

His public service also bore the stamp of distinction. As the Commissioner for Information and Tourism in Lagos State from 1973 through 1975, he helped nurture and consolidate the state’s communications infrastructure. His even temperament and innate sense of fairness and justice suited him especially for the post of Lagos State Public Complaints Commissioner, a remit he discharged with his accustomed distinction.

As a member of the Federal Electoral Commission that midwifed Nigeria’s transition from military rule to republican democracy in 1979, he was a front-row witness in the manipulations, the opportunistic revisions and the desperate fudging that handed Shehu Shagari and the NPN victory at the first ballot during the presidential race. But you could never get him to discuss them even off the record.

A man of the utmost discretion, he seemed to have resolved to take those secrets with him to the grave. That may explain, at least in part, why he never wrote his memoirs when he was so abundantly endowed for the task.

In more than four decades at the front ranks of journalism and public service in a country where the next major scandal is just one news bulletin away, Alade Odunewu served and thrived without being tainted even by a whiff of impropriety.

There is no greater tribute.

Portions of this article first appeared in my December 11, 2007, column for this newspaper, titled “The Kakawa Triumvirate”.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) – A fable

O

NCE upon a time; in fact this fable is set in this present age of corporate governance, due process and shareholder power. This story is of this age in which the shareholder is akin to the voter: but though the shareholder like the voter, has all the power to change boards and governments, that happens only on paper. The company board, like government, is a monster that eats up the mass of people which brought it to power. So power (let’s not delude ourselves) still lies with the wielder and not the voter or the shareholder. The men of power would first violate the vaults and treasuries and fortify themselves so that when they cough the shareholder and voter will catch fever.

But sorry this is not about business ethics or philosophy, it is a simply fable about a mining conglomerate, let’s call it OPL 1000 Plc. OPL mines and sells a fuel product that is in hot demand across the world; let’s call the product, HOT PROVIDENCE (HP for short). Ordinarily, OPL ought to refine this product to maximise benefits before shipping but out of sheer mental laziness of the board the product is sold in its raw, crude form to other companies and even countries that refine and make about ten times the profits that OPL makes. But not to worry, OPL has the product in stupendous reserve

under the ground, enough to last several generations which explains why OPL couldn’t be bothered to begin puttying about with this grimy product. And the base logic is: if a company has a winning product that is in hot inelastic demand, a product in which it could ship out about two million barrels each dawning day, then it can afford to, sit pretty and reap its bounties. Such a product can safely be called providence isn’t it? You now see why they called their product what they call it?

Now dear readers, there is a small ruckus at OPL. It is worrisome enough that management cannot be bothered with the tacky business of refining in spite of the age-long protestations of the shareholders, now OPL loses thousands of tanker-loads of HP to thieves everyday. How could that be, people have been wondering considering that OPL is as good as a state? OPL is as good as any garrison and it is as powerful as any state. It has access to any force or agency in the land and has the cash and sass to press them to use. How then does it happen that thousands of tankers just fade into the horizon daily in this day of hi-tech metering and GPRS? OPL 1000 was at this sorry pass when it had to hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM). The board suspecting it would be an

AGM like no other, did their best to circumvent the shareholders: they deliberately mixed up the date, they picked an impossible venue, sent out notices at the last minute and made announcements in near-moribund newspapers. But a crowd of shareholders thronged the venue all the same prompting the managing director to try some filibustering. He spoke for hours on end going from company’s financial algebraic to Afghanistan politics. The people were weary but not out.

It took one shareholder to set it off: Shareholder: Mr. Chairman, you have told us that our company loses thousands of trucks of our products daily. Why is that so considering that you have all the security personnel you need at your command and what are you doing about it?

Chairman: We have set up a committee to catch the thieves and we have also asked our neighbouring and foreign companies, even our customers to help us fight the menace.

As if rehearsed, most uncharacteristically, the crowd of shareholders rose in rowdy protestation. How can trucks grow wings!? Why don’t we get neighbouring companies to run OPL?! Why don’t we get the foreign companies to do your job? Enough is enough!!

Moral of the fable: Everyday is for thieving board members, one day for the shareholders.

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos.

Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Editor Daily:01-8962807, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14 Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790 WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO