The Nation-June-16-2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

10 cabinet nominees for final checks

Kudos for Tinubu on HID Awolowo •Fasehun, others endorse letter

NEWS

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NEWS

•Senate awaits list of likely ministers

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VOL. 6, NO. 1792 THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

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BPE stops NITEL sale

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HE Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has terminated the privatisation of Nigeria Telecommunication (NITEL). The process began in 2009.

This follows the inability of the reserved bidder in the NITEL/Mtel sale, Omen International Consortium, to revalidate its bid bond ...

Business Page 2

‘Drogba is going nowhere’

D •President Goodluck Jonathan flanked by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (left) and Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Tony Elumelu Foundation, during PHOTO: STATE HOUSE their visit to the State House in Abuja ... yesterday. Story on page 4.

Pressure on Jonathan over Bankole, Nafada Mark, Tambuwal, Ihedioha seek political solution

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HE President is under pressure to save former Speaker Dimeji Bankole and his deputy, Bayero Nafada.

They are facing charges at the High Court for alleged fraud.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal has met with Dr Goodluck Jonathan twice in

From Yusuf Alli and Sanni Ologun, Abuja

the last 72 hours.

The “peace” meeting was said to have been at the instance of Senate President David Mark, whose plan is to put the seventh National Assembly on a sound footing, according to sources.

Many prominent Nigerians

are mounting pressure on President Jonathan for a “political solution” to Bankole’s travails. They include many former and present members of the House, who are insisting that Bankole and Nafada are victims of politics.

The President, according to sources, met with the House leaders at the Presidential

Villa on Monday and Tuesday.

A source, who pleaded not to be named because he is not permitted to speak to the media, said: “I think a rapprochement is in the offing between the President and the House leaders.

“Eminent Nigerians have intervened and they are al-

ready prevailing on Jonathan to overlook any political distortion which the emergence of Tambuwal would have caused.

“The new House leadership has also been humble in approaching the President informally at the Villa on Continued on page 2

Salami urges NJC to ignore call logs

C •Justice Salami

OURT of Appeal President Isa Salami has told a National Judicial Council (NJC) panel that the MTN call logs attached to some petitions against him were fabricated.

Justice Salami has closed his case before the panel raised by NJC on the rift between him and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Aloysius Katsina-Alu, who said the verdict of the Court of Appeal on the Sokoto governorship election dis-

•Appeal Court President closes case From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

pute never leaked.

These are contained in the final written address filed by Justice Salami’s counsel, Lateef Fagebmi (SAN), Ricky Tarfa (SAN), Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Emeka Ngige (SAN) and O.A. Adelodun

(SAN).

Former Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni presented the call logs to the panel, in a bid to prove that the Appeal Court was compromised in sacking him from office.

Continued on page 57

IDIER Drogba will not be leaving Chelsea, according to the club’s chief executive Ron Gourlay.

Fernado Torres’s £50m arrival in January has raised doubts over the Ivory Coast striker’s Stamford Bridge future.

Sports Page 24

‘NYSC 5’ ransom now N10m

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HE kidnappers, who are holding five National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members since June 7, have reduced the ransom from N100 million to N10 million. Commissioner of Police Suleiman Abba broke the news yesterday at a briefing ...

News Page 9

Blair speaks on Jonathan

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ORMER British Prime Minister Mr. Tony Blair has said President Goodluck Jonathan is focused and has the right priority to take Nigeria out of the woods. Mr. Blair, who runs the African Governance Initiative, which has signed a working pact ...

News Page 4

•POLITICS P11 •SPORTS P13 •INDUSTRY P17 •EDUCATION P25 •N/HEALTH P45

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

NEWS

•From left: Mr. Chidi Okpala, Divisional Head, Retail Banking, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Guillaume Dewael, Vice President, MoneyGram International, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, Group Managing Director/CEO UBA Plc, and Mrs. Feyi Adebayo, Regional Director, MoneyGram International during the visit of Moneygram International officials to the UBA GMD in his office at Marina, Lagos ... on Tuesday.

•From left: Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State; Chairman, Panel of Enquiry into NURTW crisis, Justice Olagoke Ige; Mr Lekan Owolabi and Mr Tunji Alawaye, members of the panel, at their PHOTO: NAN inauguration by the governor in Ibadan ... yesterday.

Security agencies get list of 10 ministerial nominees they ECURITY agencies are still desirous of servyesterday got the list of ing their fatherland. It is

S

the first batch of 10 ministerial nominees for final checks before submission to the Senate.

The Senate said it was still awaiting the list last night. A Presidency source had told The Nation that it was to be submitted yesterday.

The seeming delay has given some former Senators a chance for last-minute lobbying for cabinet posts.

The list of about 10 nominees was sent for final checks after which President Goodluck Jonathan will send it to the Senate.

It was gathered that the final checks might not last more than a few hours.

A source in the Senate said: “We are awaiting the list but what we learnt was that the list of the first batch of 10 nominees was sent to security agencies on Wednesday for final checks.

“I think any moment from

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

now, we will get the list. We have been receiving enquiries on the list. We may get it tonight (Wednesday) or before the week runs out.”

As at last night, it was gathered that some former Senators were involved in lastminute lobbying for appointments into the cabinet.

It was learnt that the affected Senators cut across all the six geopolitical zones.

But the fierce jostle for ministerial slots by ex-senators is more pronounced in Osun, Oyo, Taraba, Ekiti and Nasarawa states.

It could not be immediately ascertained whether the exSenators have the backing of the Senate leadership or not.

A source said: “I am aware that some ex-Senators are desperately lobbying for cabinet jobs. After losing election to return to the Senate,

within their constitutionals right to aspire to be minister.

But it is left to the President to make his choice.

“What we have decided to do this time around is to ensure a thorough screening of all the ministerial nominees.

“The era of glossing over any ministerial nominee for political reasons is gone. We are set for a comprehensive screening.”

Section 147 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), empowers the President to constitute his cabinet to reflect the Federal Character Principle.

The Section says: “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President.

“Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is con-

BPE terminates NITEL sale

T •Dr Jonathan

firmed by the Senate, be made by the President, “Any appointment under subsection(2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of Section14(3) of this Constitution provided that in giving effect to the provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state.”

HE Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has terminated the privatisation of Nigeria Telecommunication (NITEL). The process began in 2009.

This follows the inability of the reserved bidder in the NITEL/Mtel sale transaction, Omen International Consortium, to revalidate its bid bond of $105 million. The deadline for payment was June 10.

A BPE statement yesterday said it was exploring various options to consummate the sale of the telecommunications company.

The statement said: “The Director General was emphatic in saying that while several options, which included, among others, liquidation and negotiated sale, were under consideration, the Federal Government

Govt not fighting corruption, says Obasanjo

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HE Nigerian government is not fighting corruption, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said.

He also identified unemployment as capable of creating disorder in the system.

Obasanjo spoke on Tuesday at the ongoing 100th Session of the International Labour Organisation Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

He said unless the person in power is ready to give his life for corruption, he would

Our Reporter

not be able to fight it properly.

The former President also said Nigeria is not growing as widely believed, saying the indices did not suggest growth.

“If you are going to fight corruption, it is not a one night or one day war. You have to be consistent and persistent with it. I haven’t seen that will of persistency and

consistency in Nigeria because the people that are involved in corruption are strongly entrenched. Unless you are ready to confront them at the point of even giving your life for it, then you will give in and when you give in, that is the end of it,” Obasanjo said.

He spoke on the platform of Club de Madrid. The topic was: “Meeting sustainable societies and social justice.”

Club de Madrid is an independent non-profit

organisation made up of 80 democratically-elected former presidents and prime ministers from 56 countries.

Former Ecuador President Osvaldo Hurtado; ex President John Kufuor of Ghana, ex-Yemeni Prime Minister Abdul Karim Al Eryani and ex-Prime Minister of Netherlands Wim Kok were on the panel Obasanjo traced the emergence of corruption and underdevelopment in Nigeria to oil. He said, “rather than a

boom, oil has become a doom” He described oil as “one of the misfortunes of Nigeria.”

“Corruption came in initially with politics at independence when our politicians, after giving you contract ; you gave 10 per cent.

They thought that was the way to make money for their party.

“Ten per cent of that contract is taken to develop the Continued on page 57

From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

had not yet taken a decision as to which of the options to pursue.”

The BPE said although the deadline was June 10, a grace period which expired Wednesday was given.

The BPE said: “The transaction was therefore closed.”

Nigeria is one of the world’s fastest-growing telecoms markets but the government has been trying to sell NITEL for almost a decade, struggling mainly because of the shambolic state of its fixed-lines and huge debts.

Its fixed lines have fallen to fewer than 100,000 from five times that number in 2001 and subscribers to its MTEL mobile unit have dropped to a few thousands from over one million.

Following the failure of the preferred bidder, New Generation Consortium, to pay 30 per cent security bid of its $2.5 billion bid offer, the reserve bidder, Omen, was called upon to revalidate its bid bond.

The BPE wrote to Omen in March, asking if it would be interested in revalidating its original February 2010 offer of $959 million after the preferred bidder missed several payment deadlines.

The Bureau said last Tuesday the reserve bidder had up till yesterday to come up with a $105 million bid security or the firm could face liquidation.

Jonathan under pressure over Bankole, Nafada Continued from page 1

Monday and Tuesday to resolve the crisis of confidence.

“Tambuwal and his deputy explained that they are not out to oppose the President in any manner. They also debunked allegations that those opposed to the President were behind their election.

“I think Jonathan may at the end of the day forgive these House leaders. The credit of the peace being brokered goes to the President of the Senate, who has been facilitating reconciliation at different levels.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “The House leaders also raised concern over the ongoing

trial of Bankole and Nafada.

They will prefer a political solution to the matter.”

A former principal officer of the 6th House of Representatives, who also pleaded not to be named, said: “Most of us believe that Bankole and Nafada are being persecuted purely for political reasons, especially for defying the directive of the Peoples Democratic Party on zoning for the emergence of Tambuwal.

“Bankole and Nafada are also paying for their sins for not re-amending the OpenSecret Voting System put in place by the 6th House, which paved the way for Tambuwal’s success.

“But, instead of blaming Bankole and Nafada, the PDP

leadership should account for how things went wrong for the anointed candidate of the party, Mrs. Mulikat AkandeAdeola.

“The party leadership came to breathe down on new members of the House on why they must vote for Mrs Akande-Adeola. Our party leaders even threatened sanctions as if these new House members were school boys and girls.”

On how the House leadership ran into trouble, the source added: “Following agitations from members, we decided to ‘collapse all working costs’ duly appropriated in the budget and allocate equally to all members.”

Following the crisis over

zoning – the PDP’s power sharing formula – the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) yesterday set up a committee to review the situation.

Zoning was truncated by the election of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal from the Northwest and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, from the Southeast. The positions were zoned to Southwest and Northeast.

The party leaders were said to have been sharply divided over the issue. Some were said to be of the opinion that zoning should be laid to rest, others insisted that zoning must be sustained for the overall interest of the country”.

The party’s National Pub-

licity Secretary, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali, told reporters after the NWC meeting that the in-house committee would advise the NWC on the “way forward”.

Alkali did not give details of the composition of the committee and when it is expected to submit its report.

When asked what the position of the PDP’s leadership is on the zone to produce the next chairman, Alkali declined comments, saying the issue was not discussed at the meeting.

Besides, he did not speak on how the PDP intends to rein in its “straying” members in the House.

“The preoccupation of the NWC now is how to stabilise the system and the National

Assembly,” Alkali said.

But, a source close to the meeting said the two issues on the day’s agenda were “zoning and party issues”.

It was also learnt that the Southwest petitioned to say it would not let go of the speaker’s slot.

Another source said Southwest and Northeast members of the NWC were mandated to meet and resolve among themselves who takes what from the remaining principal positions in the National Assembly.

The Southwest was said to have told the PDP leaders that they would not accept a situation where the Vice President, Senate President and Speaker are from the North.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

NEWS

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (middle) during a road walk after receiving the 17th National Sports Festival Torch in Abeokuta... yesterday. With him are Mrs. Falilat OgunkoyaOmotayo (left), Princess Iyabo Odulate, Deputy Governor Segun Adesegun (third left) and others

‘Tinubu’s letter to HID Awolowo in order’ Concerned Nigerians, especially from the Yoruba-speaking part of the country yesterday called for an end to the friction that trailed the article: ‘Awo Family without an Awo,’ written by the Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation in his column on Monday, June 6. EMMANUEL OLADESU, DADA ALADELOKUN and MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE spoke with them.

Fasehun urges peace

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OUNDER of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun, expressed his concern, saying that it was time the matter ended peacefully: “I am keenly worried over the whole matter.

As a real Yoruba man who is seriously concerned about the oneness of the important race, it has been giving me a lot of sleepless nights since it reared its ugly head.

In fact, I have been making frantic moves to see ways we can get it laid to rest early enough. I strongly feel that the matter should not be allowed to drag any further; it must end now in the name of peace.”

Tinubu never disrespected Mama, says Cleric Activist-cleric and Awoist, Rev. Tunji Adebiyi, enjoined those capitalising on the publication to exercise restraint and maturity, stressing that Tinubu holds Mama Awo in high esteem. He said: “There was no time Asiwaju Tinubu attempted to disrespect the matriarch. There was never a time he failed to honour her invitation. Even, when Mama summoned the meeting of former AD and PDP governors, and the AD governors did not want to meet with the PDP governors because the case over the stolen mandate was in the court, Tinubu, Chief

‘What is happening is sheer scapegoatism; calling a dog a bad name so as to hang it’ Bisi Akande, Chief Segun Osoba, Alhaji Lam Adesina and Chief Michael Koleoso, went to Ikenne a day before the meeting to meet with Mama. Tinubu is not the kind of person that will disrespect Mama. He holds Mama in high esteem. When he was governor, he made sure that he attended all programmes involving Mama and when he could not attend, he sent delegations. I will only appeal to those capitalising on the publication by Omatseye to exercise restraint and demonstrate maturity.

Asiwaju has acted well, says Igbokwe When asked to speak on why the matter had not been laid to rest, Lagos State spokesman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Joe Igbokwe, reacted thus: “Are you saying that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s letter to Mama has not ended it all? I doubt it. I have been following the matter and I think Asiwaju has done what he needed to do. I expect his

letter to have ended it at that point. I am also a publisher; so, I’m convinced that Asiwaju has no control over what goes on at The Nation. It will be mischievous and very unfair to link him with the issue on ground. ‘’Tinubu’s humble letter should end it’ Lagos lawyer and politician, Tunde Buraimoh, also spoke on the issue: “What is happening is sheer scapegoatism; calling a dog a bad name so as to hang it. With the turn of events on the matter, I see it as an orchestrated and well-fabricated hostility webwoven around and innocent reverent man whose real offence against them is his focus and complimentary success in his quest for service. Mama Awolowo is not involved and is sure to receive Asiwaju, her beloved son warmly anytime they meet. Asiwaju is not involved and he has taken further steps to explain what ordinarily he should not; yet, the hurt, the envious are not satisfied. Yorubas say that you may cut off your neck, even your head for the hater; that would not make him like you. I expect such a humble letter by Asiwaju to lay everything to rest. By the letter, he apologised and evinced the quality of a good leader.”

Lagos AC: Tinubu has shown elderly respect Lagos State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chairman Otunba

Dele Ajomale said Asiwaju has done the right thing by writing to Mama Awolowo. He said the issue should now die down, warning mischief makers to halt their campaign of calumny against the party’s National Leader. Ajomale said: “Tinubu has shown a sense of responsibility. He has explained to our Mama that there was no way he could disrespect her. What for? But enemies of peace just want to create confusion.

‘Allegation not true, wild’ Economist and banker, Isiaka Adekunle-Ibrahim, said agents of opposition parties are fuelling the misunderstanding, despite the fact that they knew that Asiwaju had no hand in the publication. He said: “Some of them know how a newspaper operates, but they are deliberately feigning ignorance. If they have issues with Asiwaju, they should know where to attack him, instead of peddling falsehood. Asiwaju did not authorise the publication. If they have been following Omatseye’s column, they would have known that his pen is strong. I don’t share Omatseye’s view either.

But I know that they are capitalising on the publication to attack Asiwaju. Asiwaju may be paying the price of leadership and greatness.

The matter should be laid to rest with letter he wrote to Awolowo family.

Bankole, Nafada beg court for bail From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

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ORMER House Speaker Dimeji Bankole and his deputy, Usman Nafada have asked an Abuja High Court to grant them bail pending their trial.

The duo are facing a 17-count charge of criminal breach of trust, dishonest use of House of Representatives bank account to obtain loan and sharing same to members without the consent and approval of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the extant Revised Financial Regulations of the Federal Government of Nigeria, 2009.The alleged offences are contrary to Sections 97(1), 286 and 311 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990, and punishable under Sections 287 and 315 of the same Penal Code Act. They pleaded not guilty.

Their lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) filed separate applications for them.

In the application, Nafada said he was in a precarious health condition, informing the court that he needed to liaise with his lawyer and prepare his defence to the charges He added that he had never been tried for a criminal offence and that he would not jump bail if admitted to bail.

In his own case, Bankole said he was ready to face trial and prove his innocence before the court.

The bail application will be heard today.

Presidential election: PDP urges court to dismiss CPC’s petition

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Presidential Election Petitions’Tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) for lacking in merit.

Its position is contained in a preliminary objection filed by its counsel, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN) pursuant to Section 137 (3) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended), Order 3 Rule 9 of the Court of Appeal Rules 2011, Order 46 Rule 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009 and

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

Paragraphs 4 (d) and 47 (1) of the 1st Schedule to the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and under the inherent powers of the Court of Appeal.

The party is contending that the petition, having been filed on a Sunday, May 08, 2011 which is a public holiday, does not exist in the eyes of law. “ The position of the law on public holidays can never be overemphasised. For the avoidance of doubt and for the purpose of clarity, Section 15 (5) of the Interpretation

Act CAP I 23, LFN 2004, in defining a public holiday states thus: “In this section, holiday means a day which is a Sunday or a Public Holiday” The Public Holidays Act CAP P40 LFN 2004 is even more explicit in its exclusion of Sundays from the list of working days.

Section 4 of the Act specifically states: ”No person shall be compellable to do any act on a day appointed by or under the provisions of this Act to be kept as a public holiday which he would not be compellable to do on a Sunday.

“Thus Section 4 of the Public

Holidays Act clearly sets Sundays as the benchmark for Public Holidays.

The pertinent question is whether or not; a court can sit or validly transact court business on a public holiday.

Likewise, Order 46 Rule 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009, which are the Rules guiding this Honourable Court states thus: “Subject to the directions of the Chief Judge, sittings of the court for the dispatch of civil matters shall be held on every week day except: On any public holiday, during the week beginning with Easter Monday, during the period

beginning on 23rd December, and ending on 5th January next following: “ During the long vacation, i.e. the period beginning in any day in August and ending on date not less than six weeks later ending on a Friday as the Chief Judge may by notification in the Gazette appoint. “In Patrick Ikhariahle -VOkoh 2008, 2 LRECN Pg 47 @ 55-56 Ratio 9 and 10, it was held most emphatically that Courts cannot sit or transact court business (filing of processes, certification of documents etc) on “Sundays”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

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NEWS South Africa deports 31 Nigerians

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

ABOUT 31 Nigerians were yesterday deported from South Africa for immigration and related offences.

The deporteees, according to an immigration source, arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, aboard a chartered flight with registration number GBB , at about 12:30 pm.

The flight was operated by a charter company, called Global Aviation, which is based in South Africa.

The source said, the deportees were 30 men and one woman.

They were accompanied on the flight by six crew members and six security operatives.

Shortly after alighting from the aircraft, they went through security checks and were were allowed to go to their different homes across the country.

This was after they had gone through normal immigrations and security screenings at the Cargo/ Hajj Terminal of the airport.

Minimum wage is a time bomb, says ACN

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has described the minimum wage issue as a time bomb capable of blowing into smithereens the existing industrial peace and harmony across the country and hurting the economy, if not well managed.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party called for an urgent rejigging of the revenue allocation formula to put more money into the coffers of the states and make it possible for them not only to pay the minimum wage, but also to improve the working conditions of their workers.

It said while the long-suffering Nigerian workers deserve more than the approved

By Nneka Nwaneri

N18,000 as minimum wage, the current unfunded mandate handed over to state governors by the Federal Government - in the name of a new minimum wage - is the wrong way to go.

ACN said the new minimum wage, which curiously may even benefit workers at the higher echelons more than the lower-level ones, may distort the wage bill of some states to such a level that they would need to borrow monthly to be able to pay, leaving nothing for development projects. ‘’Today, the Federal Governments takes 52 per cent of the accruing revenue, leaving a mere 30 per cent for states that are saddled with more re-

sponsibilities such as paying teachers and funding health care services.

“This badly skewed allocation formula effectively renders the states impotent in paying the stipulated minimum wage, thereby putting them on a collision course with their workers.

“The jumbo allocation to the Federal Government negates the principle of federalism, which should see the federating units - the states - which are the owners of the revenue, keeping a chunk of it and deciding what to give the Federal Government. ‘’This is why we are calling on our federal lawmakers, who are the true representatives of the people from their states, to act urgently to change the revenue allo-

cation formula to give the states at least 45 per cent each.

“This is the biggest assignment facing the Seventh National Assembly and we have no doubt that they will not fail,’’ the party said.

ACN expressed concern at the implication of the emerging situation in which many states have publicly stated that they cannot afford to pay the new minimum wage. ‘’States are saying they cannot pay. Workers are agitating for immediate payment, especially as there is a law backing such payment. A stalemate is created. Industrial peace and harmony becomes the first casualty once workers down tools. The economy suffers in the long run, and no one benefits at the end. This is

Jonathan congratulates, Okogie, Kukah From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

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JAMB to try erring officials From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

THE Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof.

Dibu Ojerinde, yesterday vowed that all officials who will monitor Saturday’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) would be held responsible, if there is crisis.

Those who compromise arrangement, according to Ojerinde, would be made to face the wrath of the law.

He spoke with reporters in Abuja.

Ojerinde said the board met with the InspectorGeneral of Police, Hafiz Ringim, on how to prosecute anybody or candidate arrested for examination malpractice.

He said officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) would arrest and hand over any erring candidate to the police for prosecution.

About 1, 493, 603 candidates registered for the 2011 UTME compared to the first UTME last year, where 1, 375, 642 candidates registered.

The figure shows an increase of 117, 961 compared to this year’s figure of 1, 493, 603.

The JAMB chief said 160 visually impaired candidates registered for this year’s UTME. He said: “The board is determined to ensure a credible and successful UTME by making sure that all officers engaged in the conduct of the board’s examination are held culpable for any lapses during the examination, and that full weight of the law is equally brought on any erring officials.”

why we have termed it a time bomb, which must be defused immediately,’’ it said.

The party noted that the gravity of the situation is such that even some oil producing states, some of which get double what their non-oil producing counterparts receive, are saying they cannot pay the minimum wage, saying even the Federal Government that foisted the minimum wage on the states has not paid it.

ACN said its stand remains that Nigerian workers, who are the creators of the nation’s wealth, deserve the new minimum wage and even more, but that the states should be immediately empowered to pay, instead of being given an unfunded mandate.

•Director of Admission, Joint Admission and Marticulation Board, (JAMB) Hajia Aisha Dahiru (left), JAMB Registrar / CEO Prof. Dibu Ojerinde and Director, Test Administration, Alhaji Koko Mohammed at a press briefing in Abuja... yesterday PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Jonathan is focused, has right priority, says Blair

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ORMER British Prime Minister Mr. Tony Blair has said President Goodluck Jonathan is focused and has the right priority to take Nigeria out of the woods.

Mr. Blair, who runs the African Governance Initiative, which has signed a working pact with the Elumelu Foundation, spoke yesterday when he visited Jonathan at the State House in Abuja.

The former prime minister, who spoke with reporters after the meeting, said Jonathan is in a position to meet the expectations of the people.

He said:“I think the President is absolutely focused on the right areas, which is improving the infrastructure in the country, making sure that in areas, such as agriculture and power and so on, that he is making the changes that are necessary.”

Blair, who said his talks with the President focused on relationships between Britain and Nigeria and the great expectations of the two countries, added that from his assessment, “I have found the President well focused and determined to improve Nigerian’s total potential and he is

•Signs pact with Elumelu Foundation From Vincent Ikuomola and John Ofikhenua, Abuja

someone I have a lot of respect and regard for.”

He added: “I have been through Abuja a couple of times, worked with Nigeria for a couple of years and I just feel there is enormous promise and potential here and I will be glad to do all I can to improve relations between Britain and Nigeria.”

Blair said his passion for Africa dated back to when he was in office and he liked what he saw back then, adding, that “there are enormous potential here that can be exploited.

He challenged African leaders on the need to set their priorities if they are desirous to develop their nations.

The ex-prime minister urged them on the need to be focused on what they want to achieve.

A statement issued by the office of the Special Adviser to the President and signed by the Director of Press, Mr. Musa Aduwak, quoted the former British Prime Minister as saying:“There is a gap be-

tween vision and reality, and leaders must know how to do whatever they set out to do, given the reality of their situations.”

Mr. Blair also said leaders must recognise the importance of proper and efficient scheduling of their engagements, to make maximum use of the limited time available for governance.”

Responding, President Jonathan said Nigeria is committed to global peace, and would continue to support any efforts at peace and development.

He welcomed Mr. Blair’s collaboration with the Elumelu Foundation, saying that Africa would benefit from the former British Prime Minister’s experience and efforts.

The duo came together under the auspice of the Tony Blair Africa Government Initiative (AGI) and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) for a three-year programme to strengthen the private sector’s role in the economic transformation of select African countries.

The countries are: Liberia, Sierra Leone and Rwanda.

Blair said: “We are beginning with three countries, Liberia, Serra Leone and Rwanda, and we have to focus more on what I think is the biggest challenge of modern day Africa, which is not really about ideology but about getting things done.”

He noted that they chose the three countries because Sierra Leone and Rwanda were the first countries he worked closely on when he was in government.

The former British Prime Minister said he chose to work with Elumelu because he came highly recomended.

•Mr Blair

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah on his elevation to the position of Bishop in the Catholic Church.

In a letter to Kukah, the President described the elevation as well deserved.

The President urged him to continue to use the pulpit to advance the cause of peace, progress, prosperity, harmony, equity, and justice in the country.

Jonathan, in a separate letter, also congratulated His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, who turned 75 years today.

He said: “On behalf of my family, the government and the people of Nigeria, I write to felicitate with you on your richly deserved elevation to the revered position of Bishop in the Catholic Church.

“Your worthy antecedents of unbridled patriotism, clarity of thought, selfless service, unwavering courage, and enduring belief in our nation’s great potential for abiding greatness have come to signpost your life of fulfilment and distinguished service to God and country.

“As you assumed duty as the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, I am confident that you will continue to use the pulpit to advance the cause of peace, progress, prosperity, harmony, equity, and justice in Nigeria,” he said.

The President also prayed that God continues to guide, guard and prosper him.

In his letter to Okogie, Dr. Jonathan said: “You have evidently lived a most eventful life. You have used the pulpit as an effective platform not only to advance the propagation of the gospel, but also as a vehicle to drive the cause of equity and social justice in our country and across the world.

“I pray that Almighty God continues to guide, strengthen and prosper you in many more years of accomplishment and service to humanity ahead,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

5

NEWS Eminent Nigerians mourn Aderinokun

It’s nice to be home, says Daniel

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N

INETEEN days after he flew out of the country, former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel yesterday returned home from the United Kingdom aboard a Boeing 747 British Airways aircraft that landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, at about 6.20 pm.

He was dressed in a navy blue suit and wore dark glasses.

Daniel, who returned to the embrace of former aides, was all smiles as he shook hand with his friends and associates, saying: “Ah, you are all here, thanks for coming. It’s nice to be home.”

He declined comments when reporters asked how it felt to be home.

Daniel simply said: “I wish you all well, I am happy to see you here to receive me at the airport. No comments.”

After exchanging pleasantries with his friends, Daniel was driven away in a dark Toyota Land Cruiser Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), with three other cars in tow.

MINENT Nigerians yesterday eulogized the late Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Mr. Tayo Aderinokun, who died in London on Tuesday.

In separate statements, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun State), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Peter Obi (Anambra), former Abia State Governor Orji Kalu, former Minister for Mine and Steel Development Tunji Ishola and the Secretary-General, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Dr. Lateef Adegbite described his death as “a major loss to Nigeria.”

Atiku said the late Aderinokun’s contribution to the growth of the bank-

•Daniel ...yesterday PHOTO: ISAAC AYODELE

‘We prayed that he would recover from his illness and play a major role in the execution of our industrialisation and employment generation programmes, but the Almighty knows best’ ing and financial sector can never be forgotten.

“His stay on earth may have been short, but that could not be said of the huge impact he had on our socioeconomic lives. As a pacesetter, he engineered new ways of banking, which will be with us for a long

time,” he added.

Amosun described him as “a captain of industry, whose attributes are worthy of emulation by his peers and the younger generation.”

He said: “We prayed that he would recover from his illness and play a major role in the execution of our industrialisation and employment generation programmes, but the Almighty knows best.

“He was one of the shinning lights produced by the state in recent times.”

Fayemi: “We’re consoled by his contributions in GTB, which he co-founded and built over the years. It has been known as the bank that has made banking easier for Nigerians and citizens of other West African countries.”

‘Ondo will be cynosure of all eyes’

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•Permanent Secretary, Public Service Commission, Mr. Lateef Abari, flanked by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance Mrs. Oluseyi William andPermanent Secretary, Lagos Television (LTV 8), Ikeja, Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo, at the 2011 Public PHO9TO:OMOSEHIN MOSES Service Week news conference held at the Bagauda Katho Press Centre, Alausa, Lagos

Lagos IGR yet to hit N20b monthly

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HE Chairman of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Mr. Tunde Fowler, has said the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is yet to hit N20 billion monthly.

He was reacting to an advertorial credited to the Oyo State Government, which claimed that the Lagos State Government has

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HE Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ekiti State branch, has vowed to continue with its

By Miriam Ndikanwu

commenced payment of the N18,000 new minimum wage because it “generates N20 billion internally every month. Therefore, its new wage bill of N5.5 billion is only 25 per cent of its monthly IGR.” Fowler, in a statement yesterday, said the government resolved to pay

the new wage to motivate workers.

He said: “Our resolve to pay the new wage with obvious limitations, given the infrastructure and social needs of a state with a huge population, such as Lagos, hinges on our belief that our ability to govern and serve our people can only be enhanced by a wellmotivated workforce.

“For the records, the IGR of Lagos State is yet to reach N20 billion per month. The 36 states of the Federation have different comparative advantages, hence, the need to leverage on the unique opportunities that each state is blessed with.

“Lagos State is determined to empower its workforce, hence, the payment of the N18, 000 minimum wage.”

Ekiti teachers continue strike From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

strike, which began last Friday.

NUT Acting Secretary Mr. Akin Ade-Ojo said yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, that the union would not call off the strike until the state government agrees to pay its members the 33 per cent relativity salary.

The teachers are protesting their exclusion from the 33 per

cent salary increase.

They said the 27.5 per cent package they were enjoying was their due as teachers and not salary enhancement in any regard.

The government had served a notice of its intention to exclude teachers from the new package, explaining that they were enjoying enhanced salary.

The teachers, however, insisted that the new wage was their entitlement as

public servants.

Ade-Ojo said: “The terms of the 27.5 per cent package were stated in an agreement jointly signed by Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and NUT representatives. The 33 per cent relativity salary is meant for every public worker.

“As at yesterday, the government had not invited us for any talk on the strike, which means the stay at home continues. But we are ready to dialogue.”

Man gives $50m scholarship to graduates

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HIEF Executive of Chester Engineering, United States Mr. Bob Agbede has offered $50 million scholarship to best graduating engineering students in Nigeria.

The scholarship will be spread over the next 10 years and recipients would be free to pursue Master’s degrees in engineering

By Emmanuel Udodinma

in any US university.

The scholarship will be administered by the Institute of Directors (IOD), Nigeria.

Agbede said the gesture was his way of thanking God for his life and giving

back to the society.

Four students from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and University of Lagos (UNILAG), who had grade point averages of 4.12 and above, have been shortlisted for consideration for the scholarship.

OVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko has said Ondo State would soon become the cynosure of all eyes.

He promised to complete all on-going projects to attract investors to the state.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Secretariat Annex of Akure South Local Government, Mimiko reassured the people of his administration’s commitment to good governance.

He praised council chairmen for adhering to the Labour Party’s (LP)’s policy of grassroots development.

Mimiko said: “Most of our local government caretaker chairmen are doing very well.

This edifice is a real LP project; excellent in conception, quality and time of delivery. It was delivered in less than two years.

“Our council caretaker chairmen and their teams are creating a new benchmark for local government governance. Most of these chair-

men have invited us to commission projects and we are very excited about what they have done.

“There is no room for inefficiency in the LP. We must all work hard to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. That is our promise and we will not falter.

“Take a look at Akure, the state capital, for example, by the time we complete the landscaping; 24-hour streetlight and many other exciting projects, the city would be very beautiful.

“We are also transforming other towns to attract investors and facilitate development.”

The Caretaker Chairman of the council, Mr. Tayo Oluwatuyi, said the edifice cost N126 million, which was internally generated by the council.

The building has 78 rooms, a traditional meeting chamber, computer resource centre, library, conference and reception rooms as well as a park for 100 cars.

‘Produce people’s constitution’

A

CTIVIST lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Associa-

tion (NBA) Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) yesterday urged the National Assembly to produce what he called the “people’s constitution”.

He said the lawmakers should see the need for “a genuine constitution” as its “big agenda”, adding that a legitimate law book is the vital framework Nigeria needs to move forward.

According to him, a piecemeal approach, used in the three previous amendments, would be suitable.

Agbakoba, who gave a briefing in Lagos, suggested that the amendment should be entitled: Constitution (Fourth Amendment, Devolution of Powers) Act 2011, in which power will be devolved from the centre to the states.

For him, some items in the exclusive legislative list would be better handled by the states.

He listed such as issuing of drivers’ licence;prison matters; labour relations;municipal police; electric power; healthcare; criminal law; zonal institutions among others.

His words: “There could be a Court of Appeal and Supreme

•Agbakoba

By Joseph Jibueze

Court for each of the geo-political zones, which should be recognised in the constitution.

The zones need not be given political power.

“The devolution should be in phases. The first phase will devolve power from the Federal Government to states in respect of items in the exclusive legislative list.

“The second phase will involve items necessary to achieve technical efficiency at state level.

“The third phase will tackle tough issues on natural resources and fiscal federalism.”

Agbakoba said petroleum resources could be left to the Federal Government to manage for now, but states should be allowed to exploit the over 1,000 “untouched” solid minerals in the country.

6

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

NEWS

Abiola’s bio-data video on Internet THE Nation yesterday released clips of its acclaimed databank and archive video on the Life and Times of Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola for free download on the internet. The epochal video is available for free download via a weblink on the facebook page of the The Nation Databank’s PCUser2User.

A unique 15-minute extract of the special video and data disc documentary, which was given free with the newspaper in 2009, was opened up for free download on the Internet yesterday. The release is in response to a deluge of download requests on the facebook page on which it was offered last weekend.

Nigeria’s novel digital-age marketing forum, OpenMarket, also sponsored by The Nation, had released the historical video for free viewing via the Internet’s largest video library, Youtube, last weekend. The video release for ‘viewing only’ last Sunday, was to mark the 18th Anniversary of the June 12, 1993 Nigerian Presidential election.

By yesterday, just three days after the video release for viewing only, the Databank had received more than 137 requests for download access by Nigerians within and outside the country. The free video download link is now available on www.facebook.com/ PCUser2User.

Bauchi pays corps members’ families N20m compensation From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

THE Bauchi State Government yesterday paid N20million to the 10 families of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members killed in the April post-election violence in the state.

In a statement in Abuja by NYSC Director of Public Relations (PR), Mr. Samson Agboko, the service said the Bauchi State Government issued a cheque to the nextof-kin of each of the affected families.

NYSC praised the commitment of the deceased corps members to the success of the April elections.

It said the Federal Government would bring the perpetrators of the violence to justice.

The statement added that the Bauchi State Government compensation was to express its condolence with the bereaved families over the death of their gallant children/wards.

‘We won’t end strike without govt White Paper’ S TRIKING members of the Kaduna Polytechnic chapter of the Academic Staff of Polytechnic (ASUP) have said they would remain at home until the Federal Government releases a White Paper on the outcome of the Visitation Panel to the institution.

But students of the polytechnic have shown their frustration over the lingering face-off between the lecturers and management, threatening to stage a protest in Abuja on Monday if the government fail to resolve the crisis.

It was gathered that the lecturers have pocketed about N400 million salaries for two months without teaching, and the students are on the verge of losing an academic session.

•Students threaten to protest in Abuja From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

The students, who besieged the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Kaduna, yesterday, said they were tired of staying idle for nearly an academic session as the polytechnic workers - academic and non-academic collected their salaries without working.

They said the government refused to address the crisis because most of the children of top government officials were studying abroad.

According to them, if the government fails to resolve the issue, about 20,000 of them will stage a protest march in Abuja on Monday.

The students’ spokesman Salawudin Lukman, said: “We have resolved that by next Monday, if the Federal Government does not address our problem by releasing the White Paper on the submitted report, we are mobilising our 20,000 members to storm the National Assembly, the Headquarters of the Nigeri-

an Army, the Headquarters of the Police and all other security agencies, including the Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government.

“In the past months, some of our students have become political thugs; some have gone into all kinds of anti-social activities; and some have died. Our graduating students cannot go for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

“We are all becoming very frustrated with life. When the management announced that the school had reopened last Monday, we came back happily to start lectures only to find out that the demand by ASUP had not been met, and as such they refused to lecture.

“When we staged a peaceful protest within the confines of our school, the school was invaded by soldiers who were firing live bullets. Our students were severely beaten.

Six of them had to be treated for various injuries; because we were peacefully asking that the Federal Government should do the right thing.

“ASUP is taking salary with no work done. The management is coming for work and taking salary with other non-academic staff too.”

The union Chairman, Mallam Yahaya Mustapha Bida, confirmed that his colleagues were payed, even when they were on strike.

He said: “Is the Federal Government not remitting our salary to the school management, even when we are on strike?”

How councils can reduce rural poverty, by ICPC From Eunice Bosua, Dutse

S

•From left: Mrs Elizabeth Courtois; Co-founder, Mrs Raida Foudeh; Founder, Mr Darwish Foudeh; former Information and Communications Minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili; Principal, Mr David Ogburn; Mr Paul Olubajo and members of the 2011 graduating class of AVI-Cenna International School, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

Kwara election tribunal to issue pre-trial form to ACN T HE Kwara State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, the state capital, has said it would on June 27, issue a pre-trial session form, known as Form TF007 and TF008, to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The tribunal yesterday adjourned till June 27 when the ACN petition is expected to be opened.

The party is challenging the outcome of the April 26 governorship election in the state.

The issuance of the form is to prepare the ground for the case to begin.

ACN lawyers yesterday wanted to apply for the issuance of the pre-trial form pursuant to Paragraph 18 of the Electoral Rules, but the tribunal said it should do so on June

•Party to supporters: we’re not ACN has five days to reply withdrawing case From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

27 after the first, second and third respondents - PDP candidate and Kwara State Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed; his deputy, Peter Kishra; and PDP - must have responded to ACN’s petition.

ACN’s lawyer Yemi Akangbe told the court that the party’s counsel received a response from the first to third respondents on June 14.

He asked for an adjournment to enable the counsel file the pre-trial form against the respondents.

to the response from the respondents and another seven days to apply for the issuance of pre-trial form.

ACN Chairman Kayode Olawepo dismissed as “ridiculous and mischievous” claims by some rumour-mongers’ “whose sponsors are not hard to pinpoint”, that the party’s governorship candidate, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN) was considering withdrawing his case from the tribunal.

He said: “What took place in the court yesterday is enough to end their mischief.

From what has happened so

far, from PDP’s weeks of trying to evade service of court papers to its desperate attempt to frustrate inspection of poll materials, as ordered by the court, it is clear we are not withdrawing our case. We urge our supporters to ignore all lies and misinformation being bandied on radio and from other sources.

“To be sure, we are resolute in our pursuit of justice. Our case remains intact because we are convinced that the Judiciary will do justice to our case.

We urge these rumour mongers to seek a better vocation because no amount of such desperate misinformation will stand in our way as we seek justice for the people of Kwara State, whose right to freely elect their leader was so brazenly trampled upon.”

ECRETARY of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Mr E. E. Oglafa has said poverty in rural areas could be tackled effectively if local government functionaries managed councils properly.

Speaking at a three-day local government integrity training workshop, organised for key local government officials in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, Oglafa noted that the endemic poverty in the country could be handled by properly implementing the budgets from the revenue accruable to local governments.

He said ICPC organised the workshop to infuse integrity, transparency and accountability in local government administration.

Oglafa said the workshop was an initiative of Local Government Integrity Initiative (LGII), which was earlier launched on August 10, last year, in Katsina State.

He said the workshop was meant to help local government functionaries to tackle the problems militating against effective service delivery.

The Director of Personnel, Roni Local Government Alhaji Halilu Rabiu Babera said the workshop was to intimate top council officials with the laws and penalty of the ICPC. The workshop exposed participants to best accounting and procurement practices, and design code and ethics for integrity in local government administration.

It ends tomorrow.

ACN to Yakowa: account for fertiliser money

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HE Kaduna State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has challenged the government to account for the millions of naira it allegedly deducted from local government allocations in the last six years for the purchase and distribution of fertiliser to farmers.

The party accused the government of exploiting the residents through overbilling in the name of subsiding the sale of the commodity.

It said the government

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

“subsidy” on the sale of the commodity was exploitation of the people.

In a statement by Mordecai Sunday Ibrahim, on behalf of the party Chairman, Mohammed Musa Soba, ACN wondered why the government had not told the residents how much it had deducted from local government allocations for fertiliser in the last six years.

The party asked why the government was selling a bag

of fertiliser to farmers at N2,800 when other states, including Zamfara, were selling it on credit for N,1000.

According to the statement, “it is also unfortunate and in fact inconsiderate of this Kaduna State government to be selling fertiliser for N2,800 per bag when a relatively poor state, such as Zamfara, is selling all brands of fertiliser for only N1,000 per bag, and even on credits basis.

“It is very disturbing that in the past six years, Kaduna

State government has often claimed to purchase thousands of metric tones of fertilizer for its citizens.

“The disturbing aspect of the matter is that we all know that the past PDP led administrations in the state normally deduct at source money needed for the purchase of the commodity from the monthly allocations of the 23 local governments and this runs into hundreds of millions of Naira.

“It is a fact that there was never a time the people of

Kaduna State have ever been told how much was realised from the sale of fertiliser neither do they know how the proceeds of the fertiliser sale is spent on their behalf.

“A situation where taxpayers money is often deducted at source for the purchase of fertiliser to be purportedly subsidised, which eventually does not reach the end users, is very worrisome and unacceptable. Records abound in the 23 local governments that fertiliser distributions hardly reach the peasant farmers in

the villages.

“It is an open secret that most local government chairmen, ward councillors and other categories of politicians (so-called PDP stakeholders), who are not farmers, share to themselves trucks of the commodity while forcing 8 - 10 farmers to share a bag. Complaints abound where these categories of people divert such fertiliser to neighbouring states at the expense of those the commodity was meant for”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

7

NEWS

Set agenda for us, Speaker urges Nigerians

H

OUSE of Representatives’ Speaker Aminu Tambuwal yesterday urged Nigerians to set a robust agenda for the lower chamber to enable it serve the country meritoriously.

The Speaker described governance, especially legislative business, as a collective enterprise requiring the input and participation of the citizenry.

He urged Nigerians to offer suggestions and advice to the House, saying the legislators would not depart from the wishes and aspirations of the constituents they represent.

Tambuwal spoke at MUSON Centre, Lagos, at the 50th birthday of the Chairman, Editorial Board, The Nation, Samuel Oritsetimehin Omatseye. It was his first official visit to Nigeria’s former capital.

Tambuwal was accompanied by his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha; Chairman, House Ad-hoc Committee on Media, Opeyemi Bamidele; and Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

He said: “I want to assure Nigerians that we will live up to expectation. However, the House needs the cooperation of all Nigerians. As we set to work, we need the advice, cooperation, suggestions and input from Nigerians to assist us in our legislative and oversight func-

Governor sets up panel on Oyo NURTW crisis From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday inaugurated a fiveman judicial Commission of inquiry to probe the protracted crisis rocking the state’s branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

The crisis reached a climax when some members of the union and innocent residents were killed at motor parks in Ibadan, the state capital.

The panel is headed by a retired High Court Judge, Justice Olagoke Ige. It has a Principal Administrative Officer, Alhaji Lere Omotoso, as Secretary; a lawyer, Mr Lekan Owolabi; a journalist, Mr Tunji Alawaye; and an activist, Dr Doyin Odebowale; as members.

Ajimobi said the probe became imperative because of the dangerous dimension the crisis had assumed, describing it as unacceptable.

He said the crisis was already portraying Oyo State as a state of touts and hooligans.

The panel has eight weeks to conclude its assignment and submit its report.

Its terms of reference are to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the violent clash; identify those individuals and or groups that precipitated and or participated in the crisis either directly or indirectly, and recommend appropriate sanctions on the identified culprits, among others.

•From left: Bamidele, Senator Tinubu, Omatseye, his wife, Fadeke, Alake, Mrs Odutola and Olaniyonu...yesterday

•Friends celebrate Omatseye at 50

By Emmanuel Oladesu and Nneka Nwaneri

tions.”

To Omatseye, the Speaker said: “I am happy sharing this important and joyous moment in his life, wishing him many more years in good health.”

At the event were Chief Hope Harriman, and chairperson of the occasion; Senator Oluremi Tinubu Lagos

Governor Babatunde Fashola, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mrs. Ranti Odun Odutola.

Also present are the Editorial Board Chairman of ThisDay, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, who represented Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; Delta State governor’s representa-

tive, Dr Hope Eghagha; Ambassador Oladapo Fafowora; former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, a members of the House of Representatives, Temi Harriman; Senator Babafemi Ojudu; Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) governorship candidate in Delta State, Great Ogboru; his Action Con-

gress of Nigeria (ACN) counterpart in Akwa Ibom State, John James Akpanudoedehen, professor of Law Itse Sagay; Mr. Steve Shaga; former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba; the Abia State liaison officer in Lagos, who represented Governor Theodore Orji, Mr Felix Azu and awardwinning poet, Odia Ofeimum.

Others include Mr. Tunji Bello, representative of

Nigeria needs competent leaders, not technocrats, says Fayemi E KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday said what Nigeria needs in President Goodluck Jonathan’s next cabinet are not technocrats but competent, credible and committed Nigerians with the nation’s interest at heart.

Addressing reporters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, on arrival from Abuja, Fayemi described the call, in some quarters, for the appointment of technocrats as ministers as a false dichotomy.

He noted that some professional politicians had proved their competence over the years.

The governor urged Dr Jonathan to appoint people

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

with compassion to serve Nigeria in his cabinet, adding that he should consider experience, antecedents and exposure as the determining factors in appointing the ministers.

Fayemi said: “It’s a false dichotomy to talk about technocrats and politicians. You need people who have the sincerity of purpose to serve Nigeria with all their hearts; they have credibility and commitment. That is what Nigeria needs. You may be a politician, a grassroots politician that has something to

offer in that regard. You may be a technocrat. I am a technocrat and also a politician.

“So, how do you weigh that? Do you want me to drop my technocratic hat and wear my political hat?

It’s my experience, exposure and education that you need. It is not the name of the label I’m given.

“I think we intend to make a mountain out of the molehill. President Jonathan should appoint people who have the integrity, commitment and competence and who have the compassion to serve Niger-

ia. That is all we need. It is not the paper they carry.”

On implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage for civil servants, Fayemi said he was yet to receive any circular from the President, adding that when he gets it, he would know the step to take.

Fayemi refused to comment on the detained former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying: “I don’t want to comment on that, sir.”

Ajimobi moves to resolve LAUTECH crisis

T

HE Oyo State Government has taken the first step to resolve the protracted crisis at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, by securing a resit examinations for its final year students from the Medical and Dental Registration Council of Nigeria (MDRCN).

The move by the Senator Abiola Ajimobi administration followed series of complaints and appeal by final year medical students of the institution over MDRCN’s suspension of the examination due to the ownership crisis.

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

Former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala stirred the crisis when he pursued sole ownership of the university for Oyo State.

But joint owner, Osun State Government, opposed the move till Alao-Akala lost the April election to Ajimobi.

It was learnt that Ajimobi set up a committee, headed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Waheed Olajide, to meet with the leadership of the Council and restore the hopes of the students to become practising doctors.

The Head of Service and the

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, are also members of the committee, it was learnt. The committee is to facilitate accreditation of courses run by the institution.

The SSG was said to have met with the Council in Abuja on Tuesday during which his committee secured the resit examinations after long deliberations and assurances.

The examinations will hold at the approved teaching hospital in Osogbo.

MDRCN withheld accreditation and recognition of

•Ajimobi

LAUTECH medical students when Alao-Akala forcefully relocated the teaching hospital to Ogbomoso from Osogbo.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Alhaji Mojeed Jamiu; Victor Ifijeh; Gbenga Adefaya; Mideno Bayagbon; Louis Odion; Waheed Odusile; Gbenga Omotoso; Olakunle Abimbola; Sanya Oni; Bolaji Sanusi; Emiola Bello; Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe.

Dr. Harry Olufunwa reviewed Lion Wind and Other Poems; Maxim Uzoatu reviewed The Crocodile Girl; and Kunle Ajibade reviewed In Touch.

Osun doctors end strike From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

D

OCTORS in the employ of Osun State Government yesterday called off their five-month-old strike.

They resolved to end the strike at an emergency meeting in Osogbo, the state capital.

In a statement by the Chairman and the General Secretary of the state’s Association of Medical and Dental Officer (OSAMDO), Dr. Segun Olomola, and T. Saibu, the doctors urged their members to report at their duty posts immediately.

They said the resolve to suspend the strike was informed by the intervention of the Medical Elders’ Forum, adding that they would continue to demand and negotiate for the new salary structure, Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), among other things.

The doctors urged Governor Rauf Aregbesola to reciprocate the gesture by addressing the issues they raised during the five-month-old strike.

The doctors have been agitating for a pay rise from the time of the former administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

8

NEWS Why I joined APGA, by Imo Speaker

God used unpicked phone calls to save my life, says Diya

T

HE newly elected Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly Ben Uwajumogu has explained why he and other three members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

He said the development was in the interest of the state and decried the poor state of infrastructure at the Assembly.

Uwajumogu spoke to reporters yesterday shortly after inspecting the facilities at the Assembly Complex.

“The implication of defecting to APGA is that Imo people are happier. We all believed that Imo must be rescued. The problem is not party, it is ideology. Party is just a vehicle to get to your destination. I don’t have any problem with the PDP”, he said.

The Speaker decried lack of facilities at the complex and promised to fix the environment to enable the legislators make quality laws.

Uwajumogu dismissed the allegation that Governor Rochas Okorocha compelled them to take an oath when they joined APGA. He said: “I am a member of the Evangelical Church of Christ. I was born there. I am a Christian. There was no oath taking. The governor is also a good Christian. I want to say that if believing in the governor’s vision is an oath taking, I will take it again.”

The Speaker solicited the cooperation of his colleagues.

I

T was a day of praise and thanksgiving for the former Chief of Staff, Major-General Oladipo Diya(rtd) in Ibadan yesterday .

Diya, who was in Ibadan to attend a book launch, told the gathering that it was the grace of God that made the then Head of State, General Sani Abacha, not to pick up his phones to give a final order for his execution.

He spoke 13 years after the

C

following the election of Raph Akpe as the traditional ruler.

The former ruler of the community and a foremost nationalist, Igwe Osita Agwuna, who ruled for over 40 years, died in May 2007.

The community elected Akpe as its new monarch at the Enugu Civic Centre on February 26.

The Agwuna family has condemned Akpe’s election, claiming that the family still holds forte to the rulership

late Abacha ordered that they be court marshalled over their alleged involvement in a coup plot.

Diya recounted his ordeal while speaking on the retired Anglican Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi.

Diya, who shouted hallelujah, hallelujah, halleluiah and praised God several times, told his story at the

By Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

of the community.

The Agwunas have written a protest letter to the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers, headed by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe.

The newly elected monarch (Akpe) has been functioning without a certificate, it was learnt.

It was gathered that the son of the late monarch, Nkpume Agwuna, has started planning for the August New Yam festival in the community, which is the prerogative of the monarch.

Ibadan

Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan , venue of the launching of a book written in commemoration of Gbonigi.

Diya thanked God for escaping the execution.

According to him, he and others would have been executed on the day the execution was to be carried out but Abacha simply decided not to answer his phone calls.

He said the General Officer Commanding (GOC)Abuja,

whose name he did not mention, phoned Abacha for over six hours to confirm his execution, but Abacha did not pick the phone.

“One of the problems Abacha had was that he would never pick his phone from morning till night no matter who was calling him,” he said.

Diya added that it was after the GOC returned them to the prison that the news of Abacha’s death reached them.

CBN denies setting remuneration for bank executives

Crisis hits community over traditional stool RISIS is brewing in Enugu Ukwu community of Anambra State

From Joseph Okwuofu,

•Sanusi

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied setting remuneration limit for bank executives. It has also denied saying that banks should not use credit rating agencies.

A statement signed by M. M. Abdullahi, Head, Corpo-

rate Communications, reads: “For the avoidance of doubt, the CBN has no intention whatsoever to dabble into what is purely the purview of the Board and management of the banks. The CBN has never interfered in the issue of executive remuneration and has no plans to do so.”

Dr Okwuosah, Deputy Director, Risk Management Department,had said: “In the context of the global discourse on remuneration of bank executives, its impact on the balance sheet is of concern to regulators, as part of the lessons learnt

in the aftermath of the global financial crisis that saw the collapse of some global financial giants.”

Regarding the issue of rating agencies, the CBN said the quotation attributed to Okwuosah “is a misrepresentation of the paper presented by the Deputy Director. The correct statement is: “Given that credit rating agencies measure the probability of default, they should not be heavily relied upon to validate the health of financial institutions” Abdullahi said.

He said the statement “was, again, made in the context of the wider global debate on the over-reliance on credit rating agencies to de-

termine the health of financial institutions, specifically in the context of the aftermath of the global financial crisis that saw the collapse of erstwhile positively-rated financial giants such as Lehman Brothers, AIG, etc.”

The paper presented, he said, made no assertion that; “They [rating agencies] are paid by the institutions to give them the rating that they want”, and certainly no pronouncement that; “In Nigeria the best rating agency of banks is the CBN”. In fact, the CBN has been taking tangible steps to encourage the use of the rating agencies in Nigeria as is the normal practice globally.”

Ex- Imo deputy speaker challenges impeachment in court ORMER Deputy Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly Jonas Okeke yesterday said he has commenced legal proceedings against the 11 members that impeached him last month.

He dismissed the claims that he resigned from office.

He said: “I did not at any time tender a letter of resignation to anybody or group as Deputy Speaker of

F

From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

Imo State House of Assembly.”

He said he did not authourise anybody to resign on his behalf and wondered why it was announced that he has resigned.

Okeke, who was impeached with Speaker Goodluck Nanah Opiah, said it would be a contradiction for him to be in court and at

the same time resign his position as the Deputy Speaker.

“In fact, I have already initiated a legal action against my purported impeachment.

It would therefore be a contradiction on my part to be in court against my impeachment and at the same time turn around to resign my position as Deputy Speaker.”

Okeke urged the public to ignore his purported resignation.

ACN gives Obi 14-day ultimatum to dissolve caretaker committees •Obi: It’s constitutional

T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has given Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State 14day ultimatum to dissolve the newly constituted caretaker committees.

The party described the action as illegal, unconstitutional and anti-people and urged Obi to conduct council election.

The 21 local government caretaker committees were sworn in last Monday by the state government.

Commissioner for Information and Culture, Maja Umeh, said the government’s action was legal.

He said the caretaker committees were appointed in accordance with the law governing their constitution.

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Umeh said: “The law says the governor can nominate and the Assembly can constitute itself into the electoral body on such issue, so what was done was constitutional and legal. There is no ambiguity about the entire process.”

ACN Chairman Amechi Obidike yesterday kicked against the constitution of the caretaker committees.

He said: “The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)government under Mr.Peter Obi was long before now put under notice to the likely political and legal consequences of such action by our party and other progressive elements. We initially got wind of the nefarious

•Obi

plans about four weeks ago.

“We therefore wish to state that this action is totally unacceptable to us, as well as to the people who are being taken for granted.

“That transition committee is an aberration under democratic governance. It is also not in the nation’s constitution or the Electoral Act. “Since 2006, Obi has received from the Federation Account about N200 billion which nobody in Anambra can see or feel.

“We urged Obi to conduct council election as that is the only way to guarantee democracy at the grassroots.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

9

NEWS

‘We paid N5000 to join cult’ •Stolen PHCN, NITEL cables sold for N250 per kilo

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IVE suspected cultists, who were last week arrested by the police in Edo State, have said they paid N5,000 and a bottle of rum to join Warlord Confraternity at the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma.

Four of the suspects, who are students of the university, said they joined the group to improve in their studies.

Several persons were killed in a renewed cult war shortly after the April elections.

The killings led to a massive clampdown on suspected

•The suspects...yesterday From Osagie Otabor, Benin

cultists with over 75 suspects arrested.

Commissioner of Police David Omojuola said the five suspects were arrested during an initiation.

Osun’s revenue projection rises by 58.59 per cent

T

HIS year’s revenue projection for Osun State has been raised by 58.59 per cent.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Budget Abiodun Akintaro made this known at the breakdown of the 2011 Budget yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital.

He said last year’s revenue was less by N38,005,341,033.63.

Akintaro said the main policy thrust of the budget is to focus on the state’s economic transformation through effective implementation of the six-point action plan of the present ad-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

ministration.

“As part of its strategy, the current administration is also determined to reposition the Internally Revenue Service towards greater efficiencythrough the recruitment of qualified personnel and the provision of necessary logistics to enhance its performance.

“The government will ensure that leakages in tax collection are reduced and smoothen administration processes through the implementation of an electronic revenue system,” he said.

Anambra North: Court summons Mark, Clerk over inauguration

J

USTICE Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has summoned the Clerk of the National Assembly and Senate President David Mark to explain why an Oath of Office should not be administered on Senator Alphonsus Igbeke within five days.

Igbeke won the Anambra North Senatorial District election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after a Federal High Court declared him the party’s authentic candidate.

But his rival, John Emeka, alleged that Igbeke forged the results of the primaries he presented before the court.

In a ruling obtained yesterday, Justice Kolawole said: “The first and third defendants are to show within five days, upon being served, why the plaintiff should not have the benefit of the orders sought ex-parte being granted in his favour.

“That unless the first and third defendants are able to show good cause as ordered herein, this court will proceed to granting the order sought ex-parte without regard to any pending criminal charge that may have been instituted against the plaintiff.”

Igbeke through his lawyer, Oghenovo Otemu, sought an order compelling the Clerk of the National Assembly

“That unless the first and third defendants are able to show good cause as ordered herein, this court will proceed to granting the order sought exparte without regard to any pending criminal charge that may have been instituted against the plaintiff.”

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

and Mark, to administer an Oath of Office on him.

Justice Kolawole then transferred the case to Justice Abdul Kafarati because of what he described as “the possibility of multiplicity of actions which may involve the same parties and possibly, the same subject matter, i.e Anambra North Senatorial District.”

The judge said he was making the order to avoid reaching contradictory decisions or making conflicting orders .

PHOTO:OSAGIE OTABOR

He gave their names as Ohizokhai Vincent(24) a 300Level Engineering student; Ebhoma Humpery (20) 200Level Accountancy student; Ohonsi Success (20) 200-Level Chemistry student; Williams David (25) 400-Level Accoun-

tancy Education student and Akhimien Ehis an instrumentalist.

Omojuola said the suspects would be charged to court when investigation is concluded.

Ohonsi said initiations

were carried out inside the bush. He said those to be initiated were beaten.

The student said he joined the group because it was not prone to violence and that they were encouraged to read and discuss educational is-

sues.

Also paraded were nine suspects, who specialised in vandalising underground cables of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and Nigerian Telecommunications Company (NITEL).

The suspects are Lucky Ebadin; John Etim; Okam George; Samuel Etim; Moses Okon; Iluobe Ogbeide; Olufemi Osanyibo; John Okon and Friday Obanor.

Omojuola said the suspects had confessed.

The suspects said a kilo of the cables sells for N250.

“What we steal and sell are cables that are no longer used

by NITEL. We go there at night and just steal them. We don’t carry guns or knives and we don’t kill.”

The suspects said they work in groups and call one another whenever there was a job to do.

Okon said he was on his third mission to steal cables at Uromi when he was caught.

‘NYSC 5’: Kidnappers reduce ransom to N10m T HE kidnappers of five National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Rivers State have reduced the ransom from N100 million to N10 million.

Commissioner of Police Suleiman Abba said this yesterday at a briefing at the Police Officers’ Mess, Port Harcourt, the state capital.

He gave the names of the victims as Olumide Yusuf; Mrs. Funmilayo Fase; Chinonye Ejiogu; Nkechi Nweze and Vivian Okwuanya.

They should have passed out yesterday.

Abba said policemen, in collaboration with the military and the State Security Service (SSS), are closing in on the kidnappers, but would prefer to rescue the victims

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

safely.

He said overt and covert patrols, surveillance, raids and investigations are being carried out to ensure quick rescue of the victims.

The hoodlums are insisting that the ransom must be paid but Governor Rotimi Amaechi said he would not negotiate with criminals.

The corps members were kidnapped at Omademe, on the Port Harcourt International Airport Road, near Igwuruta in Ikwerre Local Government on June 7.

The police commissioner

paraded a robbery suspect Friday Anthony (25).

Two Sport Utility Vehicles; eight Ak-47 rifles; one Browning pistol, 500 live ammunition; 55 magazines; master keys; mask and charms were recovered.

The police chief said the Choba Divisional policemen stormed the Aluu hideout of the notorious kidnappers, armed robbers and murderers, who had been terrorising Port Harcourt and its environs, leading to the arrest of Anthony.

An ex-militant, Bishop Neli and two other members of the gang escaped with bullet wounds.

Abba said six policemen have been killed by hoodlums, in the last one week.

He said: “A search revealed seven Ak-47 rifles, including the one snatched from a slain police sergeant and a Browning pistol, with its six rounds of ammunition.

Some 625 rounds of 7.62mm, 106 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and 55 AK-47 magazines were also recovered.

“No one kills a policeman and gets away with it. Rivers State will not be an exception.

“We will apprehend all the criminals and prosecute them, to serve as a deterrent to others.”

Anthony, who hails from Ikono in Akwa Ibom State, said he was a taxi driver and not a robber.

10

NEWS Fayemi appoints ex-The Nation man spokesman

E

KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has appointed a former Assistant Editor with The Nation, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode as his Chief Press Secretary.

Oyebode was, until his new appointment, the Special Assistant on Media to the governor’s wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.

By the new appointment, Oyebode becomes the official spokesman of the governor.

Oyebode , who hails from Ido-Ile Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government, started his journalism career as a political reporter with The Post Express, Lagos, in 1996.

He later worked with The Anchor and The Punch before joining The Nation in 2009. He joined the Fayemi administration in December, last year.

An award winning journalist, Oyebode is a graduate of English and Literary Studies from the Ondo State University, AdoEkiti (now University of Ado-Ekiti). He did his post graduate studies at the University of Lagos, Akoka.

In a statement by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr Yemi Adaramodu, Fayemi also approved the appointment of Mr. Ifedayo Sayo as Technical Assistant on Information.

Mr Akin Oyedele, former

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

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Special Assistant on Media to the governor, has been named the new Special Assistant on Media to Fayemi’s wife.

Alhaji Mojeed Jamiu, who was Special Adviser to the governor on Media, has been named the new Deputy Chief of Staff.

The appointments take effect immediately.

NBA criticises judges’ visit to EFCC

T

HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has criticised the visit of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and a few others to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri.

Describing it as questionable, the NBA President, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), said: “No matter how well intentioned and harmless the visit may be, it is inappropriate for the EFCC is a prime litigant having so many highbrow cases before the Federal High Court; it is for all intent and purposes a party before that court. It is therefore unseemly for judges of that court to visit a prosecuting entity. It will raise so many questions that will bring the independence and impartiality of the court needlessly into question” He spoke at the valedictory session of the former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Dan Abutu.

Daudu, who said he had received “calls from well

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

meaning members of the Bar concerning the visit of the new Chief Judge, the highly respected” Justice Ibrahim Auta, added: “It is demeaning to the dignity and prestige of the court for judges to file out of their hallowed chambers and troop to the office of government functionaries for whatever reason. Will the Lord Chief Justice of England and his judges pay a visit to the Metropolitan Commissioner in Scotland Yard over matters that are before his court? That will never happen. “ The NBA chief said: “Courts must strive to adhere to the concept of separation of powers. That laudable concept is eroded by unnecessary interaction between functionaries of these arms of government.

Justice, my Lord is a delicate ornament. It must be kept shining and transparent at all times. The impression must never be given that one party

(litigant) before the court has an advantage over the other.

It is likely to harm the concept of fair hearing. It is not the hearing that matters, it is availing the parties the opportunity of being heard.

So is the concept of bias”, he said.

Justice Abutu said if delays in the trial of cases must be overcome, a further amendment of the constitution was imperative to remove parties’ rights to interlocutory appeals.

“Most of the delays are caused by adjournment, which are mostly at the instance of the parties and occasionally at the instance of the court.”

To him, interlocutory motions and interlocutory appeals are the other causes of delays.

He said: “It seems that the only way we can combat the problem of delay is by regulation. The constitution must be amended and the provisions therein, which give parties the right to file interlocutory appeals and to

apply for stay of proceedings pending appeal should be amended.

“Experiences in this country have shown that petitions can be addressedto the National Judicial Council not only against non-members and members of the council, some of whom are serving judicial officers, but also against the chairman of the council. I think because the council has disciplinary powers, the head of the judiciary should not be the chairman of the National Judicial Council. If the head of the judiciary is the chairman of the council, when, God forbid, we have a delinquent head of the judiciary it will be difficult to discipline him.”

Abutu, however, noted that the funding of the judiciary through the National Judicial Council (NJC) has, to a large extent, solve most of the problems hitherto experienced by the judiciary, particularly the federal judiciary.

Bi-Courtney appoints new Head of Communications

L

EADING concessionaire, Bi-Courtney Highway Services Ltd., has appointed Mr. Dipo Kehinde as Head of Communications and Media Relations.

Until his appointment, Kehinde, a multiple-award-winning journalist, was the Deputy Editor of the Nigerian Compass. He started his journalism

career with the Sunday Concord in 1989. He worked with The Comet as Assistant News Editor, Investigations, and the Daily Sun as Head, Crime Desk and Deputy News Editor.

Bi-Courtney is an infrastructure development and management company, specialising in the identification, conceptualisation, design, implementation

and management of infrastructure development projects.

Born on November 22, 1965, Kehinde, who hails from Abeokuta, Ogun State, studied Fine Art at the Polytechnic, Ibadan and the Yaba College of Technology, where he specialised in painting. He also has a post graduate certificate in journalism from the BBC

Training School.

Kehinde won the BBC Prize for Excellent Reporting, Academy Press Award for Excellence in Visual Arts; Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA), Newspaper Reporter of the Year; Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME), Press Reporter of the Year, and the Faculty Award, Yaba Col-

lege of Technology, School of Art, Design & Printing Technology (Journalist of the Year).

Kehinde also had a stint in Politics. He was Publicity Secretary, Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) in Alimosho Local Government and Kehinde later won election as the Local Government Party Chairman in 1997.

11

THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The election of Usman Gangara as Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly did not come to many as a surprise. A second-time lawmaker from Giwa Local Government Area of the state, his emergence has fulfilled the dream of Kaduna Central Senatorial District for a pride of place in Yakowa administration. TONY AKOWE writes.

Balancing Kaduna’s political equation W

ITH the emergence of Patrick Yakowa as gov ernor of Kaduna State in May 2010, following the appointment of Mohammed Namadi Sambo as Vice President, the only slot that was occupied by the zone was vacated.

Many had thought that the position of deputy governor would go to the Central Zone because the positions of party chairman, Head of Service, Chief Judge, Ambassador and Speaker of the House were occupied by people from the Northern Zone, but they were wrong. Mukthar Ramala Yero emerged from the same zone as deputy governor in what many saw as an imposition by the Vice President. Although Yakowa denied such an assumption, not many people across the state, especially stakeholders in the Central Zone believed him.

So, when Yakowa emerged as governor of the state after the April general elections, it was a foregone conclusion that the Speaker of the House will come from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which dominates the House. But the question was: ‘who will be the Speaker?’ The major front-runner for the plum job was Hon. Philemon Usman from Makera Constituency who is one of the returning lawmakers from the zone. But the fear was that the emergence of Philemon would mean that all the principal officers of the state would be Christians and this may not augur well for the smooth administration of the state, which is highly sensitive when it comes to religious issues.

With Yakowa, the Head of the Executive and Rahila Cudjoe another Christian, heading the Judiciary, some felt that the Speaker should be a Muslim.

This, perhaps, explains why the election of the Speaker was a smooth sail.

However, with the appointment of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Lawal Samaila Abdullahi, popularly known as Yakawada, by the governor, many had thought that the position of Speaker would go to another local government. But, that was not to be as the lawmakers toed the line of federal lawmakers and chose their own man, incidentally, from the same Giwa Local Government.

Though very little is known about the political credentials of the new Speaker, his election has, no doubt, balanced the political equation in the state.

Yakowa’s Southern Senatorial Zone also produced the Head of Service. Mukthar Ramalan Yero and Rahila Cudjoe from the Northern Senatorial Zone are the Deputy Governor and Chief Judge respectively while Usman Gangara and Samila Abdullahi from the Central Zone are

• Sambo

Speaker and Secretary to Government. With this spread, the question before the people now is: whether any section of the state will cry of marginalisation under the current dispensation.

Before his emergence as the Speaker, it was a three-horse race among the top contenders Philemon Usman of Makera Constituency, Alhaji Mu’azu Usman Gangara and Alhaji Shehu Usman Tahir of Giwa East and Giwa West constituencies.

But one indubitable thing is that the Speaker comes from the Central Zone. Sources from government circles told The Nation that one principal factor that worked in favour of Gangara was the religious factor which occupies a prime place in political calculations in the state.

The source said: “Governor Yakowa is a Christian from Zone 3 while Alhaji Muktar Ramalan Yero, a Muslim from Zone 1, is his deputy. Naturally, the Speaker ought to come from Zone II or the Central Zone as it is sometimes called.”

But the election of Gangara as the Speaker may not go down well with some power brokers in

• Yakowa

the zone, who believe that the governor has not been fair to them in terms of power distribution with one local government producing two principal officers.

But Reuben Buhari, the governor’s spokesman, disagrees with them. According to him, “The governor is not a member of the House of Assembly. He does not have any say in their activities, especially when it comes to electing their leaders.

They were aware of the appointment of Samaila Abdullahi as the SSG. If they decided to pick their leader who is the Speaker and the number-three man in the state from the same local government, it has nothing to do with the governor. It is entirely their decision; and don’t forget that the Executive and the Legislature are two separate arms of government. They can only work together for the good of the state and I do think that we should learn to respect their decisions. The governor is only looking forward to having a cordial working relationship with the House.”

Investigations revealed that

the choice of Abdullahi as the SSG may have given a clear indication that Yakowa is prepared to be his own man in the next four years. Abdullahi, a former commissioner for Agriculture under Makarfi government in which Yakowa served as SSG and later Deputy Governor, may have been chosen ahead of others because of his vast experience in governance and his nononsense stance as an administrator. A former local government chairman and former chief of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, Abdullahi also served as Political Adviser to the governor and is an “adopted son” of former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof Ango Abdullahi, in whose house he was said to have grown up.

With the appointment of the SSG and the election of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Yakowa is on his way to mending fences with other parts of the state which may feel aggrieved. But the appointment of commissioners and other principal officers of the govern-

‘In trying to balance the political calculations in the state, the governor will, no doubt, attempt to please many who, one way or the other, contributed to his success. For now, the government is believed to be working on a list of those to be appointed into caretaker committees of the state’s 23 councils’

ment will go a long way to determine the success of his government. It was learnt that the House has conceded the position of Deputy Speaker and Majority Leader to the Southern Senatorial district. But the appointment of commissioners by the governor is what residents, particularly those who worked for the success of the governor at the polls, are now awaiting.

However, one man whose contribution will be given serious consideration by the governor in making his appointment is Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi.

Hunkuyi is believed to have played a vital role in Yakowa’s victory at the polls. Though his name is among those being considered as possible ministers, Hunkuyi is believed to have forwarded names of some of his people to the governor for consideration. He is also believed to have backed the choice of Gangara as Speaker.

In trying to balance the political calculations in the state, the governor will, no doubt, attempt to please many who, one way or the other, contributed to his success. For now, the government is believed to be working on a list of those to be appointed into caretaker committees of the state’s 23 councils.

Various interest groups are believed to have forwarded names to the governor for consideration. But, before the dissolution of the State Executive Council, the governor reportedly directed all his commissioners and principal officers to go back to their local government areas to consult with stakeholders and draw up a list of those to be considered members of the caretaker committees. So far, Yakowa has been able to withstand pressures and be his own man in making his first set of appointments.

It was gathered that the governor’s choice of Abdullahi as SSG and his bosom friend, Galadima, as Chief of Staff was not that of party stakeholders. Also, some political stakeholders in Southern Kaduna were believed to have pressured him to drop his Media Adviser, Buhari. They were believed to have told Yakowa that Buhari was not capable of handling the office.

Those who wanted him out of the way were said to have presented a former media practitioner-turned legal practitioner as their choice candidate for Buhari’s position. But Yakowa was said to have insisted on retaining Buhari because he was pleased with his performance far.

However, the poser on people’s lips now is: How far can Yakowa remain his own man? Time will tell, but how long he can achieve that will go a long way in determining his success in the next four years.

12

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

POLITICS

Bello’s graceful exit from Osun House of Assembly

P

ROVIDENCE definitely has a role to play in our journeys through life. At different stages, events unfold that are beyond our comprehension. But there we are, trudging on, leaving certainties for uncertainties, known for the unknown.

Hon. Adejare Bello’s emergence on the political turf was due, essentially, to the grace of God and an act of providence. Here is a young man, who innocently wanted to be a councillor for his Ologun/Agbaakin Ward in the present Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State in 1991.

As a green horn and a Law student at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he went headlong for the councillorship race but success did not attend his way. He took defeat with philosophical calmness, believing that there is always another day. He was painstaking.

In 1997, he contested for Osun House of Assembly seat under the defunct Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) and won. But that Assembly was not inaugurated for obvious reasons under the late Abacha regime.

A few years later, as a young practising lawyer in his Ede community, he, again, went under the banner of ANPP to contest the chairmanship of Ede North Local Government Area. Even though, he has done a lot of grassroots work, he lost to another war-horse on the political terrain, in a very keenly contested party primaries.

It was one contest that stressed and stretched all contending forces to their last limit, Bello inclusive.

It was a political calculation that totally went wrong. But while his supporters were bemoaning what befell their camp with his loss, Bello was courageous and sportsmanly as he embraced the winner of the primaries and rode in the same vehicle with him to celebrate the victory. He ascribed his loss to an act of providence. He was gallant in defeat. Right from that day, it was clear that Adejare Bello was cut out for greater heights in politics.

Undaunted, he advanced his political ambition for a seat in the Osun State House of Assembly. He contested for the Ede North Local Government constituency seat once more, and became a member of the Osun House of Assembly, coming as it were, from a minority party, in a predominantly Alliance for Democracy-controlled Assembly. Doggedness and humil-

‘Adejare Bello’s meteoric and steady rise from a humble background as a son of a farmer, took more than charm and intellect. It took hardwork, spartan discipline, drive, determination and optimism, for Bello to have carried along men and women of integrity that Osun Assembly was made of for good eight years without blemish.

He took law-making to another level entirely’ • Bello

By Olumide Lawal

ity were his attributes, as he elected the Minority Leader of that Assembly (1999-2003) The period (1999-2003) tasked Bello and a few Osun House of Assembly members who believed entirely in justice and the rule of law. He gave a good account of himself as a Minority Leader at a time when turbulence was the order of the day in the Assembly.

Speaker Adejare Bello balanced his act and emerged unscathed from the scenario. He maintained his dignity for the rest of the days of that Assembly. He carved a niche for himself.

As a political tactician and long distance runner, Bello was bidding his time to switch camp to PDP, his mentor and political leader, Otunba Isiaka Adeleke, having gone that way earlier. But it was not all that easy for Olu-Omo Adejare Bello. At the end of the day, the ebullient Speaker emerged the PDP candidate for Ede North Local Government Area for the House of Assembly in 2003, after a keenly contested election between him and another Barrister-at-law, Adetunji Ajagbe, now a Federal House of Representatives memberelect. Adejare Bello won though he declared that there was no victor nor vanquished. He was humble in victory.

The PDP, in 2003, zoned the Speakership slot of the state Assembly to Ede North Local Gov-

Activists fault dissolution of councils in Imo

A

GROUP, Campaign for Constitutional Justice (CCJ), has condemned the dissolution of local governments and Council of Ndieze in Imo State, saying Governor Rochas Okorocha erred in law.

In a statement issued in Enugu , the Regional Headquarters of CCJ, Southeast Chapter, Head of Programmes Dr. Kieran Igbojekwe, said: “Having carefully reviewed the governor’s maiden broadcast in Imo State , it became very clear that Chief Okorocha has to be advised on constitutional matters.

“The relevant state laws on the running of Imo State Council of Ndieze as provided in Imo State Law Number 6 of 2006 is very clear on Number 6, Section17A. “Section 17A says that “the tenure of office of every executive member of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers shall be five years unless predetermined by resignation or death, it did not allow for sack by the Governor.”

The group argued that, “by law,

there are only two conditions that can effect the untimely removal of the council member and they are resignation or death and not executive fiat that lacked merit in law or had not been proven by law”.

“The Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers is a creation of the laws of Imo State and by the law, it is tenured to five years,” CCJ noted, stressing that “the statutory provisions of the law are clear and should not be misinterpreted by any party”.

“Until either the council or any member is found guilty of an offence by a court or tribunal, the dissolution by a governor’s broadcast is illegal, unconstitutional and an abuse of the status book which the governor had sworn to protect”.

The group, therefore, called on the governor to retrace his steps as it concerns traditional institutions and reinstate the Council of Ndieze.

Efforts to get the views of the chairman, Imo State Council of Ndieze, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya and any other executive member or the council failed.

ernment Area, and Bello clinched the post by the grace of God. A role-reversal, from Minority Leader to Speaker, was at play, as his party was in the majority, which made his speakership role a lot easier. The sun was shinning for Bada of the Source. It was a goal scored in a grand style for Bello, after a protracted play against concerted forces of fate. He piloted the affairs of Osun House of Assembly so admirably, that he became the toast of his fellow lawmakers across the country.

The man that ward councillorship and chairmanship of a local government area eluded, became the proverbial cornerstone of the house; the number three citizen of Osun for eight years. God works in miraculous ways, His wonders to perform.

Speaker Adejare Bello, just like other eminent politicians, showed incredible energy and zeal in the discharge of his duties as a Speaker. He displayed a deep and far-reaching knowledge of public policy, great compassion for people in need and forward-looking spirit, that an average Nigerian likes in a politician of his standing. Bello’s meteoric and steady rise from a humble background as a son of a farmer, took more than charm and intellect. It took hardwork, spartan discipline, drive, determination and optimism for Bello to have carried along men and women of integrity that Osun Assembly was made of for eight years without blemish. He took law-making to another level entirely.

It was a rancour-free Osun Assembly, where love, understanding and peace reigned supreme. Speaker Adejare Bello was gracious in the promotion of

cordiality among the Legislative and the Executive arms of government. No time was any hitch recorded in the discharge of duties of the Assembly for the eight years that Bello was in charge as the Speaker.

A Speaker with human face, Bello ensured, with the total co-operation of his fellow lawmakers, the passage into law of many bills, that made positive impacts on the lives of the people of Osun State. Some internal auditors who were irregularly and unjustly laid off by a previous administration before he came on board were, through the instrumentality of the Osun House of Assembly, recalled and given back their jobs.

A Chief Registrar of the state judiciary, who was also a victim of the same exercise meted to the auditors by the same previous administration before 2003, was also recalled by the House of Assembly under the Speakership of Bello. The registrar was later appointed a High Court Judge. As a reward for honesty, Osun Assembly under Adejare Bello bought a car for a commercial taxi driver in Osogbo, who found N150,000 forgotten in his cab by a commuter and returned it to the owner. Another of Adejare Bello-led Assembly appreciative gesture as lawmakers, who identified with the yearnings and aspiration of those at the grassroots.

Adejare Bello Assembly promoted honesty as the best policy parlance.

As he performed his duties as Speaker, Bello did not lose sight of his responsibility to the less-privileged, through silent financial and moral contributions to the improvement of their lives. His official and Ede residences were always opened to all and sundry. He demonstrated love and affection for those in needs.

Speaker Bello was not known to have looked down on anybody, although it is human, that irritation could set in atimes, but it never made him to lose his cool. By and large, Osun State Assembly, under Adejare Bello, contributed in no small measure to the success of former Governor Oyinlola’s development programmes through meaningful legislation, no matter what anybody may want to say.

All leaders of men, whether political figures or military men, all those who can get the best out of others, have identified themselves with high ideals. And this has given added scope and strength to their influence. Followed in their lifetime, because such leaders stand for greatness of mind, rather than self interest, they are later remembered for the usefulness of what they achieved.

In this rare class is Rafiu Adejare Bello, a lawyer, who, through his

numerous constituency projects for Ede North Local Government Area, opened up Owode, a sleeping rural community until 2003, for accelerated development, with electrification project, pipe borne water and functional primary school and health centre.

Today, Owode, where Speaker Adejare Bello grew up and had his elementary education, is a satellite town, with every potential as a futuristic city. Many thanks to Adejare Bello, who did not forget his root.

Bello has done us proud in Edeland in particular and Osun State in general. Adejare Bello’s sharp humour, native intelligence, towering personality, candour and elegant demeanour, served him in good stead as the people’s Speaker for eight years. Bamofin of ErinOsun, Basorun of Igbajo, Bada of the Source, you shall forever be remembered as a servant of Osun people, who came, served and put smiles on faces of thousands of our people, particularly job seekers, whom you placed in gainful employment in their hundreds.

Speaker Adejare Bello is a man who never bites the finger that feeds him. He defers to his political mentor – Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke in absolute loyalty. He revers him. In the course of the just-concluded Senatorial election, that Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke contested in the Osun West District, Speaker Adejare Bello gave Senator Adeleke unflinching financial and moral support, dotting all over him throughout the electioneering campaigns. He refused to allow anybody to create a wedge between Senator Adeleke and himself. Some of Bello’s innate qualities are: ability to galvanise Osun politics, strong leadership/ character, compassion, wisdom and perseverance, even in the face of unwarranted provocation.

The constituency project phenomenon, fashioned out by Rt. Hon. Adejare Bello’s House of Assembly in 2003, has become a model and reference point for other Houses of Assembly. What a giant stride? What a positive and ground-breaking event?

Definitely, Barrister Adejare Bello is an emerging political tiger in Osun State nay Nigeria and the future beckons on him for greater responsibilities, to avail our nation the wealth of his invaluable experience.

For these and more, we say well done Rt. Hon. Rafiu Adejare Bello and welcome back to your native Edeland. Home, sweet home.

• Olumide Lawal, wrote from Ede, Osun State.

• From left: Election petition tribunal judges, Justice Owo Aiki, Chairman; Justice Abdullahi Liman and Justice Mohammed Kunti at the tribunal sitting in Enugu.

NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL

Torch of Unity arrives Lagos

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U-23 players to remain intact for Ghana tie

Pg. 51

Nation Thursday, June 16, 2011

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AHEAD FIFA WYC

•Obuh

Obuh picks 30 for Nigeria

Dream Team V won’t spare Tanzania —Eguma

Pg. 51

THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

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51

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT AHEAD OF NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL

CHELSEA CHIEF INSISTS

AHEAD FIFA WORLD YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP

Drogba's going nowhere! Torch of Unity arrives Lagos DIDIER DROGBA will not be leaving Chelsea, according to the club's chief executive Ron Gourlay.

Fernando Torres's £50million arrival in January has raised doubts over the Ivory Coast striker's Stamford Bridge future.

And Drogba, 33, has been suggested as a potential makeweight in a deal to take Luka Modric from Tottenham to Chelsea, but Gourlay says the burly front-man is going nowhere.

'Didier is very much a mainstay of the Chelsea team so yes, Didier will be here with us in a few weeks' time,' said Gourlay.

The Chelsea chief also added that whoever takes over as manager from the sacked Carlo Ancelotti will be expected to challenge immediately for the Premier League, FA Cup, Carling Cup and, Roman Abramovich's most coveted prize, the Champions League.

He said: 'Our target is very much to be back competing. Last year was a difficult year, of course.

'However, that's history now. We will move on. We expect to be competing for all the major trophies next season.

'Let's not get too despondent. I'm sure a club like ours will bounce back very, very strongly this coming season.'

•Drogba

Moratti hints at Leonardo’s exit INTER MILAN president Massimo Moratti has revealed coach Leonardo could leave the club this summer.

Leonardo has been linked with the sporting director role at Paris Saint Germain, with Gazzetta dello Sport today claiming the Brazilian held talks in Doha with executives from Qatar Sports Investments, which

owns a 70% share of the French club.

Moratti initially denied the rumours, but has now made a U-turn and confirmed Leonardo could be on his way out after just six months in charge.

"Leonardo has coached with so much willingness and passion," Moratti said on the club's official website, www.inter.it. "But it's certainly not his ambition for the future. It best thing is that he follows his aim and that we look for a new coach. It could be that Leonardo changes his mind and so will we."

Moratti only yesterday denied reports that Inter had approached Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa as a possible candidate to succeed Leonardo in i Nerazzurri hotseat. But he has now confirmed the club has been in touch with the former Argentina boss. Moratti added: "I believe there has been a first contact with Bielsa, but not from me."

Leonardo, who replaced sacked Rafael Benitez at the helm in December, led Inter to a runner-up finish in Serie A and the Coppa Italia title.

L

AGOS yesterday played host to the Torch of Unity of the National Sports Festival (NSF) that has been on the move round the various states of the federation amidst pomp and excitement from 10. am.

The movement of the torch which was flagged–off by President Goodluck Jonathan since the 10th of May at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, arrived in Lagos via Ogun State a team led by the Zonal Coordinator, South West zone of the National Sports Commission, Steve Olarinoye.

Representing Governor Baatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) at the ceremony, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe said the state is most delighted to play host to the torch which he described as a symbol of peace and unity of the National Sports Festival (NSF) being taken round the various state capitals throughout the federation.

“I want to commend the Main Organizing Committee of the NSF for the journey round the country in the past weeks. This is a testimony of your passion and commitment for the development of sports in this country. I commend your sense of patriotism and the love you have for our country Nigeria.

“The NSF is a bi- annual competition which is designed to promote mass participation of the populace in sports, from the grassroot, for the purpose of discovering new athletes and nurturing their talents as well as keeping them away from anti-social vices whilst creating an alternative source of empowerment for our teeming youths, and also fostering national unity,” he said.

Adesegun explained that the desire of Lagos to participate in the games is an indication of the Government’s commitment to the unity and oneness of the country with a sacred duty of ensuring that our youths are given a brighter and rewarding future for excellence.

He emphasized the state’s intention to partner and promote any meaningful sports and youth oriented programmes such as the hosting of the 2012 National Sports Festival that has been tagged “Developing Human and Infrastructural Development through Sports,” won by Lagos.

“As you move with the Torch of Unity, let me remind you that you carry the symbol of hope and unity of this great country. Hence, do it zealously as patriotic citizens; illuminate the cities, brighten the dark spots, spread the enthusiasm and saturate the communities with the message of one Nigeria, devoid of ethnic or primordial sentiments,” he

By Innocent Amomoh said.

Speaking on behalf of President Jonathan, Assistant Director to the Lagos state office of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Lagos State office, Tayo Oreweme said the rousing welcome accorded the torch by the states, esoecially Lagos is an assurance that the games will be successful, while wishing them the best in their endeavours.

By this, Lagos became the 21st state to receive the torch since it took off in Abuja.

Obuh picks 30 for Nigeria D

ETERMINED to leave a mark at the FIFA World Youth Championship (WYC) tagged “Colombia 2011” the

COUNTDOWN TO 17TH NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL

Adequate accommodation provided –Jaja A S the preparations for the 17th national sports festival, Garden City Games hit the peak, Marathon sessions going on at the local organizing committee office, marathon inspections at the various venues, awarding of contracts of various kinds and so many more in last minute effort to organise a successful festival.

One major area that has received high attention is the accommodation as the several hoteliers that besieged the LOC office some weeks back are now rarely seen as it seems many of them have been settled.

NationSport spoke extensively with the Chairman of the accommodation subcommittee, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja who is also a seasoned sports administrator and he assures that everything is under control.

"We know that come rain, come shine, the festival must be hosted starting from the 27th of this month and I believe that some athletes from some states should be arriving from the 26th, so asking how prepared is asking the obvious because there is no going back, there is no postponing the festival any longer", he boasted to NationSport.

"We are prepared. For the officials accommodation, we've held series of meeting with the hotels in Port Harcourt, we've inspected several hotels and also accredited a number of them that will host those that will be coming in for the festival.

"For security reasons, we are not releasing the names of the accredited hotels for now but by the end of this week, the brochure containing the lists of the accredited hotels will be out but its for the Local Organizing committee and the state, not for the media consumption for now and that is for security reasons.

"The athletes will be at the games village where a lot of renovation works are receiving the finishing touches.

Hostels such as the King Jaja extension

•Uniport closed down for Games From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt

By Innocent Amomoh Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has submitted to FIFA, the names of 30 players as Nigeria’s provisional list for competition taking place in the South American country from 29th July – 20th August, 2011.

The list led by team captain, Ramon Azeez includes 17 players out of the 19 from the victorious African Youth Championship (AYC) squad in South Africa.

Conspicuous on the list were, first choice goal keeper, Danjuma Paul, Uche Nwofor, Chidi Osuchukwu, Olanrewaju Kayode, Edafe Egbedi, Ganiu Ogungbe, Stanley Okoro, Philemon Daniel, Abdul Jeleel

Ajagun, Terry Envoh, and Mohammed Aliyu.

Others are, Gideon Gambo, Terna Suswan, Ahmed Musa, Gbenga Arokoyo and Emmanuel Anyanwu, Omoh Ojabu, Kenneth Omeruo, Sani Emmanuel and Eddy Onazi, all graduated from the national U-17 squad that reached the finals of the World Cup hosted by Nigeria in 2009.

The new entrants however are, Kelly Godwin, Jamiu Alimi, Kazim Yekini, Felix Udoh, Ndubuisi Sunday, Sani Tahir, Bright Ejike, Seyi Adeleke and Chimezie Mbah.

Nigeria will be leading other African contenders, like Mali, Cameroon, and Egypt.

one and two, The Aminu Kano hostels A - D, Kwame Nkrumah hostels, the Olu Obasanjo hostel, Jonathan Goodluck hostel, UBA hostels and a whole lot of other hostels apart from the various guest houses that have been made available for the events".

Dr. Jaja also noted that the students of the University of Port Harcourt have been vacated from the campus because of the events.

"The students have vacated, the university have been closed down for the purpose of the festival and any student you find in the school now is just staying there illegally, so the school has b He also went ahead to note that the task has been quite demanding because of the importance of accommodation to the events.

"It has been quite challenging because accommodation is critical to the success of any festival, you can't talk about festival without talking about housing the athletes and officials first because every other thing comes after they are comfortable, so its been quite challenging to ensure that we have adequate accommodation for them, ensuring that the contractors are doing what they are expected to do and at the standard they are expected to carry out the renovation works.

Dream Team V won’t Fabregas: No spare Tanzania–Eguma decision

D

ESPITE absence to some key members of the country’s U-23 team owing to injuries and club commitment, the Assistant Coach of the Dream Team V, Stanley Eguma has assured Nigerians that the remaining crop of players in the team will do what will be enough to ensure qualification for the next round of the Olympics Qualifier after the conclusion of the match on Saturday in Benin.

Rabiu Ibrahim of PSV, Holland had an injury in Monrovia against Liberia and his attempt to stage a comeback was spurned by his inability to recover fully from it while Danny Uchechi, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Harmony Ikande are the latest players to be on treatment table.

While Harmony Ikande’s injury has shown appreciable recovery same cannot be said of Oduamadi who told SportingLife that he sustained ankle injury when he slipped in one of the training

•Abdul Ajagun of Nigeria (r)

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

•Eguma

sessions on Monday.

In spite of these setback Eguma informed SportingLife that the rest of the players will fight like Trojan to ensure that victory is ascertained on Saturday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

“Rabiu Ibrahim had injury in Liberia while Nnamdi Oduamadi had his on Monday about two days ago and he is likely out of the match.

We shouldn’t forget that we do not have the presence of Nosa Igiebor and Odion Ighalo who were not available because of club duties. We still have crop of players in the team that are equally good and we have started work on them and by the time we are done with them and they get into our rhythm we are going to give the country, players that will beat Tanzania on Saturday.

“We are also not lacking support from the technical department of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

With this support I am assuring the country that we are on course and that the spirits in camp is very high.

“The players know that the game is crucial and that it is a make or mar match and that is why they are giving it all they have to ensure we win convincingly. Our flag must appear in the Olympics Games football Event. We have respect for our opponent because they are equally good but we have experienced and more coordinated than them.”

U-23 players to from U.S. Open will return to Shinnecock remain intact Madrid demands £17.5m for Clijsters, Querrey withdraw Wimbledon Giggs's brother accused of Man United and Spurs target for Ghana tie •Moratti

cheating on his wife

RYAN GIGGS's brother Rhodri has been accused of cheating on his wife Natasha, while she allegedly cheated on him with the Manchester United star.

The footballer and Natasha's eight-year relationship was revealed after Giggs was named in Parliament as the player behind the Imogen Thomas court injunction.

However, Danielle Healy has now told The Sun that Rhodri cheated on his wife with her earlier this year.

"I think Rhodri has got a lot of balls trying to play the victim in all this," she said. "I might not have had an eight-year affair with him but what we did was still wrong. He was a married man with children when he had sex with me.

"He wasn't exactly being the family man the night we got it together. Rhodri knew exactly what he wanted that night and I got caught up in the moment.

Rightly or wrongly, we did what we did."

The brunette told the paper that she first met Rhodri in a Manchester pub in February.

"I was out with friends and Rhodri was sitting on the next table with Will Mellor

and another lad. We started chatting when they called last orders and they asked where the party was going to be," she explained. "We went back to someone's house and started doing karaoke. Rhodri was up there singing away.

"I noticed he had rings on both hands.

He was banging his right hand on a table and one mate asked, 'Is that your wedding ring?' Rhodri held up his left hand and said, 'No, that's my wedding ring'. Then he pointed to his right hand and said, 'That's my divorce ring'. I just thought it was a throwaway comment.

But now it makes you wonder if he already knew what Natasha had been up to."

Healy continued by claiming how the pair had gone "upstairs to a spare bedroom" after Rhodri "tried it on".

"We spent half an hour in the bedroom and then just went back downstairs and carried on the night," she said. "Then these two random women turned up. I think Rhodri's friends had called them. And everybody vanished into the night at about 3.30am.

REAL MADRID will accept no less than £17.5m for Manchester United and Tottenham target Lassana

•Diarra

Diarra.

The France midfielder, who has had spells at Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth in the past, has been linked with a move back to English football after struggling to cement a place in Jose Mourinho's first team.

Juventus and Fenerbahce are also understood to be keen on doing a deal and it was reported that the Turkish side have already bid £11m for the 26-year-old.

But, according to reports in Spain, Madrid have now told any potential suitors they will only listen to offers of £17.5m or more, and they will then use the funds to finally complete the protracted deal for Benfica left-back Fabio Coentrao.

Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports

WORLD No. 2 Kim Clijsters has withdrawn from Wimbledon citing a foot injury. The former No. 1 injured her ankle in a freak wedding accident in April. Since

•Clijsters

then, the former No. 1 has only played two tournaments losing in the first round at the French Open and yesterday in Rosmalen.

“I’m very very disappointed to have to withdraw from Wimbledon after injuring my foot again at the tournament in ‘S Hertogenbosch,” Clijsters said in a statement released by Wimbledon. “At this moment I feel frustrated that it has to happen now before one of my favourite tournaments.

I’ve always enjoyed being a part of the W i m b l e d o n atmosphere but I have no other choice now but to rest, recover and to not play tennis for a few weeks.”

Also pulling out was Sam Querrey and Benjamin Becker who both withdrew with elbow injuries.

THE U.S. Open is returning to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.The posh club at the tip of Long Island has been chosen as the site for the 2018 U.S. Open in an announcement made official today by the USGA in it's annual news conference at the U.S. Open.

This will be the first time that the Open has returned to Shinnecock Hills since the 2004 U.S. Open, won by Retief Goosen. It appears that 14 years was the amount of time that it took for the USGA and the membership at

Shinnecock Hills to mend the fences and hurt feelings after the 2004 hosting.

Over the final two days of the tournament, the USGA setup of the golf course caused a stir of controversy.

Greens — notably the one at the seventh hole — were borderline unplayable, as the sun and lack of watering caused them to because too hard for balls to hold.

This will be the fifth U.S. Open for Shinnecock Hills.

•Goosen

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

over future

ARSENAL MIDFIELDER Cesc Fabregas insists his future has yet to be decided, even though he is aware a move to Barcelona would guarantee success after a failure to land trophies with the Gunners in recent seasons.

The 24-year-old Spain international has been repeatedly linked with the Spanish giants, but insists he has not spoken to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger about a possible move this summer.

"I haven't spoken to the boss," said Fabregas, speaking at a promotional event in Madrid. "He is the one who makes the decisions and I don't know if they want to sell me or not."

He added: "I have my values and after everything I have experienced with the team for eight years, I'm not going to say something that could ruin everything. I have always acted with discretion."

Last summer, the Arsenal captain openly admitted his wish to rejoin Barca, the club where he grew into a promising teenager before leaving in 2003.

"Last year was hard. I came out and gave my position and maybe I was wrong to do so," he said.

Nevertheless, the midfielder voiced his admiration for Pep Guardiola's side.

"Barca are the best team in the world and going there guarantees winning titles. Any player who says they are not frustrated by not winning titles is lying; I'm ambitious," he said.

However, Fabregas says a move would depend on other factors.

"Everyone has their way of interpreting things, but in these decisions not everything depends on the player. To say anything else would be to lie and give way to speculations that aren't true," he said.

Sneijder can join Man Utd for £35m WESLEY SNEIJDER will be allowed to join Manchester United for £35m, according to reports.

Reports in Italy suggest that Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti is considering cashing in on Wesley Sneijder - after he refused to commit to the club.

Sneijder said last week: "I love Inter with all my heart, but only God will decide where my future lies."

According to Gazzetta.it, Moratti is said to be upset over the comments and has hinted he would be willing to let Sneijder leave for £35m.

He said: "It was sad to hear those comments."

According to recent reports, Manchester United’s sensational summer spending spree is being funded by Qatari money - meaning United would be able to fend off any competition from Chelsea for the signing of the Dutch international.

N

O member of the players presently in camp of the Under -23 national team dubbed Dream Team V will be decamped ahead of the second leg match billed for Saturday owing to another fixture Nigeria has against The Black Meteors of Ghana a week later.

The Assistant Coach of the team, Stanley Eguma stressed to NationSport that with only 22 players in camp it will make no sense asking some of them to go when the tie with Ghana looms around the corner after the second leg Olympics Qualifier this weekend.

“We don’t have up to 25 players in camp in fact we only have about 22 players if we exclude those injured since some of them are still receiving treatment and are almost recovering from their injuries.

“The technical crew will later sit this week to name the 18 players out of the 22 while the rest will remain in camp ahead of the tie with Ghana next week.”

•Sneijder

15

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

BUSINESS THE NATION

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- Michael Dell

Naira strengthens as reserves climb

‘US debated oil reserve swap before OPEC’

T

T was to be a swap felt across the world - a plan privately discussed by the world’s largest oil exporter and the globe’s biggest consumer to take the heat out of $120-plus oil prices.

In the weeks leading up to the failed June Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting, US and Saudi officials according to Reuters news, met to discuss surprising the market with an unprecedented arrangement: exchanging urgently-needed high-quality crude oil stored in the US emergency reserve for heavier, low-quality oil from Saudi Arabia, according to people familiar with the plan.

The idea involved shipping some of the light low-sulphur, or “sweet,” crude out of the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve to European refiners, who needed it after the war in Libya cut off shipments of its premium crude varieties coveted for making gasoline and diesel.

In return Saudi Arabia would sell its heavier high-sulphur or “sour” crude at a discount back to the United States to top up the caverns that hold America’s emergency stocks.

It was a striking suggestion, one that would have demonstrated Washington’s readiness to put the SPR to extraordinary use and Riyadh’s willingness to work creatively with consumers to quell high prices.

HE naira appreciated the most in six weeks against the dollar after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data showed reserves have increased this month.

The naira jumped one per cent to N155.20 per dollar in the interbank market by 10:29 a.m. in Lagos, the largest intraday advance since May 5.

Nigeria’s gross reserves stood at $34.1 billion as of June 13, a 6.2 per cent increase this month, according to CBN data. CBN Governor Lamido Sanusi has been defending the naira by using foreign reserves in a bid to curb inflation. The bank attempts to keep the naira within a 3 percentage-point band above or below N150 per dollar at its twice-weekly auctions.

“We still believe the naira should be stable on the 150 mark,” an analyst at Lagosbased Afrinvest West Africa Ltd., Victor Ndukauba, told Bloomberg by phone yesterday. “A lot of the surge in dollar demand in our view is more artificial than real.

We should find some accretion of reserves.”

Demand for dollars at CBN auctions peaked this year at $586.4 million on March 28, before dropping to as little as $277.1 million on April 27, during elections, which returned incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan to power.

Banks sought to buy $383.8 million at the last auction on June 13.

The inflation rate fell to a revised 11.3 per cent in April from 12.8 per cent a month earlier. The banking watchdog raised its benchmark interest rate half a percentage point to 8 per cent on May 24, a third increase this year, as it tries to stabilise the naira and bring inflation below 10 per cent.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$112.3/barrel Cocoa - $2,856/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢78.07.pound Gold -$1,161/troy ounce Rubber - ¢146.37/pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N8.1 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion

RATES Inflation -11.3% Treasury Bills -2.64% Normal lending -24% Prime lending -18% Savings rate -3% 91-day NTB -6.99% Time Deposit - 6% MPR -7.50% Foreign Reserve -$32.5bn FOREX CFA 0.281 • 220.9 £ 253.5 $ 153.59 ¥ 1.5652 SDR 245.85 RIYAL 39.3

I

• From left: The Chief Operating Officer of Oando Marketing Plc, Mr Yomi Awobokun, presenting the Best Dealer, Total White Products to Otunba Funmilayo Alebioseu while Retail Branch Manager, Monsiola Saka looks on at the award ceremony held at Canton Concourse, Victoria Island, Lagos on Tuesday.

Federation Account: N51b deducted to pay London Club debt

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HE sum of N51.27 billion was deducted from the Federation Account in February, 2011 to pay governments’ debts to the London Club, The Nation has learnt.

This was contained in a report presented to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) last Tuesday by the Post Mortem Sub-Committee after its meeting on June 9th, 2011 at the board room of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

The report said: “ The sum of N51.27 billion was deducted from the Federation Account in February, 2011 as loan for the refund of London Club debt buy back to states.” It however, failed to name the states.

The Sub-committee chaired by Mr Useni Gangum in its report, expressed “concern that the terms and conditions for the payment of the loan were not specified”.

Consequently, the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) have been instructed to investigate the borrower and terms of refund to the Federal Account.

The sub-committee’s chairman also discovered: “In the course of its analysis, there was an outstanding amount of

• N18.5b unremitted Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor)

$140,198,605.42 being the cumulative unreconciled Royalty Oil lifting sales value as at April, 2011.”

Consequently, he told the FAAC his committee “drew the attention of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to the matter and requested that the Department should reconcile its books to reflect the true position of its account with the CBN soonest.”

He said his committee also discovered the bank reconciliation statement of revenue collections and transfers to the Federation Account indicated: “The un-remitted balances against the Revenue Generating Agencies.” FIRS Federation Account N8,549,835,197.76, FIRS VAT Pool Account N9,316,254,511.87, DPR Federation Account -N2,114,573.41 and NCS Federation Account N614,086,156.64.

Mr Gangum said his committee has requested “the affected agencies should endeavour to reconcile their accounts with CBN.” Following the payment of $4.5 billion balance of the deal reached with the Paris Club in October

2005, Nigeria had exited from the debt owned the multilateral agency. Of the $36 billion Nigeria’s external debt, $30 billion was owed the Paris Club of creditor countries, namely: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States, as permanent members.

The debt owed to the London Club creditors comprises par bonds, promissory notes and an outstanding units of oil warrants.

The oil warrants were issued as part of Nigeria’s London Club debt restructuring in 1992, as part of measures to improve the attractiveness of the deal to investors in exchange for below-market rates on the actual restructured bonds.

The Federal Government had in December 2006 paid $1.486 billion to redeem the par bonds debt, while about $512 million was paid later to liquidate the promissory notes debt, leaving only the oil warrants.

The government had on January 31, 2007 hired a leading global investment bank, the Citigroup Incorporated of United States, as a dealer manager for the planned

cash tender offer for Nigeria’s outstanding oil warrants.

The London Club creditors include: Deutsche Bank, Germany; First Chicago, Germany; Dailcht, United Kingdom; Commerz Bank, Germany; C. Lyonnias, France; American Express Bank, Germany; Banque De Paribas, France; Societe Generale, United States, and First Republican Bank, United States.

Others are: Swiss Bank Corporation; American Export Bank, United States; Samuel Montagu, United Kingdom; Standard Chartered, United Kingdom; Lazards, United Kingdom; Lloyds, United States; Morgan Guaranty, United Kingdom; Amro Bank, United States; and Bank of Boston, United States, among many others.

The London Club debts were contracted for projects such as Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Nicon Noga Hotel, Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill, Jos Steel Rolling Mill, Katsina Rolling Mill, Oshogbo Steel Rolling Mill, Enugu-Onitsha Road, Makurdi Lafia Road, Enugu water, Akwa electricity, and Bendel road project.

Some of the projects/enterprises have been sold by the Federal Government through the Bureau of Public Enterprises to core investors.

Court urged to void NPDC’s pact with Septa Energy

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Federal High Court in Lagos has been asked to void the recently signed Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA) between the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC) and Septa Energy Nigeria Limited (SENL).

The request formed part of the reliefs being sought in a suit filed before the Ikeja division of the Federal High Court, Lagos by a lawyer, Bartholomew Aguegbodo, through the firm of B.

By Eric Ikhilae

Aguegbodo and Co. The suit challenges the propriety of the said agreement.

The plaintiff is contending that the process leading to its signing on September 16 last year by then Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, violated the provisions of sections 19 and 24 of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and Section 3 of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act

2010.

He is praying the court to determine whether, in the face of the Public Procurement (PP) Act 2007 and the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010, the SAA entered into by NPDC and SENL, a subsidiary of a foreign company, Seven Energy International Company, with the approval of the ex-Minister, was valid.

Named as defendants include Alison-Madueke, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corpora-

tion (NNPC), NPDC, SENL and the Attorney General of the Federation.

The reliefs sought by the plaintiff include a declaration that the purported Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA) entered into by NPDC and SENL, with the then Minister’s approval, is illegal, null and viod.

He is also seeking a declaration that Mrs. Alison-Madueke lacked the powers she purportedly exercised in favour of NPDC and SENL in the SAA they entered.

UNIDO spends N6.2b on 181 projects

By Toba Agboola

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HE United Nations In dustrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has spent $40,791,198 (about N6.2billion) on 181 industrial projects in Nigeria over the past two decades.

Investigation by The Nation revealed that the UNIDO projects are mostly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) spread across different sectors of the industrial landscape. For instance, the organisation recently granted $27,400 (about N4 million) to Austin LAZ Iceblock Machine Co2 refrigeration technology.

Other projects funded by UNIDO include Aba Textile project - $730.90; leather industry in Kano - $126,561; strengthening productive and trade capacities of the cotton, textile and garment industry in Nigeria - $16,983 and mini grids based renewable energy to augment rural electrification, which gulped $36,561.

Speaking with journalists recently, the UNIDO regional representative and Director office in Nigeria, Dr. Patrick Kormawa, disclosed his agency has started negotiations with its head office to design a Technical Assistance Project (TAP) for institutional strengthening and human capacity building in support of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in Nigeria.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

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

2.

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

1.

2.

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Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1.

2.

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

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

1.

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Arik Aero Arik Aero

LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

09.15 12.50 12.55 15.55

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3.

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

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 11.15 13.15 15.50 18.00

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

He said: “The capital base may not be adequate, but I am aware that companies that want to operate within the Local Content are making efforts to shore-up their capital. Also, NAICOM is working very hard to put in place risk-based supervision. And one of the fundamentals of risk-based supervision is risk-based recapitalisation.

“Risk-based recapitalisation measures the type of business in relation to the capital to back-up the business. Some companies may not be there now, but they would not be allowed to operate beyond their capacity. I think NAICOM is doing

a good job in that direction. For the industry, efforts are being made to shore-up capital and of course, there have been discussions about mergers and how companies can be bigger, because companies have realised that there is beauty in being big. If they are big, they will be able to increase their capacity to retain more businesses and that will impact the economy through job creation.”

He said the industry will not tow the line of banks by operating either as regional, national or international entities adding that insurance operation is quite different from the banks.

He said risk will be the bases for determination of capital for insurers

08.00 18.00

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

while scope is used by the banks.

“Insurance is quite different from the banks. What happened in the banks cannot happen in insurance.

What will happen is what NAICOM is doing, which is risk-based recapitalisation. The parameter for judging insurance and banks differs.

While the risk is the fundamental for insurance, the scope is what the banks are using. For insurance, if you want to write a low level line of business, you have to get the capital base and nobody would trouble you, but the moment you want to go to high level risk area, you will have to acquire more capital and that is what NAICOM is doing,” he stated.

Blair, Elumelu sign pact for African development From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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12.15 12.45

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

1. IRS 2. Arik

By Chuks Udo Okonta

08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20

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1. Dana

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NSURERS are now to recapitalise according to the risks they underwrite, the Director-General, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Sunday Thomas has said.

Thomas told The Nation in an interview that the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has put in place structures to enable insurance companies have the required capital that can underwrite the type of risk they cover.

He said some companies have begun consultations on how to raise their capital to enable them key-into the opportunities provided by the Local Content Act, especially in the oil and gas business.

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40

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

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik

Insurers adopt risk-based recapitalisation

• From left: Revenue Manager, Easyfuel Limited, Gbenga Ayinde; Chief Executive Officer, Tayo Olajide and Chief Financial Officer, Edward Anyaegbunam, during a press conference on the new e-Payment Solution in the PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE. Nigeria Oil and Gas sector held in Lagos...on Tuesday.

Air Nigeria, Delta sign code share pact on US flights A IR Nigeria and Delta Air lines yesterday signed a code share agreement that will facilitate the seamless movement of passengers from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to Atlanta and New York.

The agreement between the duo is the third that the Nigeria carrier will be signing with other global carriers including Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways.

Speaking yesterday at the ocassion, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Air Nigeria, Mr Kinfe Kahssaye, described the agreement as a win- win partnership for both airlines. He described the deal as a significant landmark in the area of multilateral cooperation as one of the strategies that enhance connections for passengers on the route.

The Air Nigeria boss said : “Through this partnership, Air Nigeria will pave the way for the fu-

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

ture of aviation beyond Africa by putting its call sign code on Delta Airlines operated services between Abuja and New York via Accra, Ghana, as well as flights between Lagos and Atlanta direct.

“This code share partnership with Delta Airlines is a significant landmark in the history of Air Nigeria especially as the cooperation arrangement will enable Air Nigeria and Delta Airlines operate flights using individual flight codes. The intent of the partnership is to provide passengers with a wider choice of destinations beyond our individual route network, which ties into our vision to continuously make air travel as seamless as possible, bringing convenience to the doorstep of our customers.”

He explained that the partnership between Air Nigeria and

Delta Airlines offers a win - win arrangement for passengers.

Also speaking, senior vice president for Europe Middle East and Africa, Delta Airlines Mr Perry Cantarutti, described the pact as part of the strategic deal that will give the American carrier the operational edge in Africa as the world’s largest carrier.

The Delta Airline boss explained that the choice of Air Nigeria was informed by its strength as the dominant carrier in Africa, with its impressive performance in the West and Central African market.

He said Air Nigeria will assist Delta Airlines as a feeder carrier to move passengers into Lagos, Abuja and Accra into New York and Atlanta in the United States.

He said the partnership will assist Air Nigeria passengers to benefit from the benefits accruing from the global alliance: Sky team Alliance, which Delta Airlines belong to.

IPMAN demands kerosene allocation from NNPC

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HE Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Ni gerian (IPMAN), Western Zone, has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Pipelines Products Marketing Company (PPMC) to supply its members with kerosene as a way out of the lingering scarcity of the product.

The Chairman, Olumide Ogunmade, said this while addressing the media after the association’s meeting in Lagos, yesterday. He urged both agencies to provide level playground for all players by allocating the product to its members, just as it did the Major Oil

Emeka Ugwuanyi

Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN).

Ogunmade said earlier attempts by the NNPC to distribute kerosene through IPMAN members was not well planned, as there was insufficient product resulting in allocation of one truck of 30,000 litres to 30 marketers.

He said: “To ensure that kerosene gets to every nook and cranny of the country, NNPC/PPMC must ensure that equal allocation of 30,000 metric tonnes is given to both bodies.

“Government should treat IPMAN better in terms of products allocation

because we are large in number and have the largest retail outlets across the country.”

NNPC had last allocated 30, 000 metric tonnes of kerosene to major oil marketers to ease scarcity in the country.

Ogunmade said: “Up till now, NNPC/PPMC did not allow IPMAN to know the actual quantity of kerosene products allocated to our members. In the case of MOMAN, the value of allocation given to them was publicly announced and published.

“As I speak with you, the total volume received by IPMAN members is not more than 5000 metric tonnes.”

HE former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr. Tony Blair and the former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Tony Elumelu, yesterday signed a partnership agreement for supporting transformational governments to advance the economic development in Africa.

The duo came together under the auspice of the Tony Blair Africa Government Initiative (AGI) and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) for a threeyear programme to strengthen the private sector’s role in the economic transformation of a select African countries-starting with Liberia, Sierra Leone and Rwanda by developing the capacity of their government to enhance competitiveness, attract investment and move beyond aid.

Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, Blair explained that his initiative was due to his desire to leave office and continue to work in Africa because his office could not allow him to focus on another country as he desired.

He stated that his focus was to tackle the principal challenge in modern Africa, which according to him, is not about ideology but about getting things done starting from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Rwanda.

He explained that what they planned to do was getting things done through the private sector, development bearing in mind how to avoid the disadvantages in the private sector.

Blair noted that they chose the three countries because Sierra-Leone and Rwanda were the first countries he worked closely on when he was in government, adding that these countries seemed to be in the most complex situations.

On how Nigeria could benefit from the pact, he added that in the long run, they would cover all other countries in Africa.

The former British Prime Minister however said as he planned to commence the initiative in Africa, people kept referring him to Tony Elumelu, who had distinguished himself as a great entrepreneur.

“Whenever I want to get in touch with Africa, they will say yes, you must get in touch with Tony Elumelu,” he said.

On the essence of focusing on getting things done, Elumelu recalled he had the opportunity of listening to Blair in 2010 in Washington, where he said most leaders don’t lack knowledge of what to do but how to translate ideas to reality.

Said Elumelu: ”I had the opportunity of listening to former Prime Minister Blair in Washington in December last year. He spoke largely on how most leaders know what is good, what they ought to do, but between knowing what is good and delivering on what is good, you require a lot of capacity, a lot of knowledge and a lot of monitoring mechanism is needed to be put in place.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Politics in Post 2011 Nigeria: Is Yorubaland endangered? –3

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N the Southern part of the Oyo Empire, Owu an important and large kingdom invaded Apomu part of the sacred Ife territory in 1821 thus repeating the mistake of Alaafin Awole. This led to an enduring alliance between Ijebu and Ife and roving band of Oyo refugees who destroyed Owu and scattered its inhabitants. The Owu war was the signal for wholesale destruction of Owu and Egba towns and villages. The ripple effect of the change of political leadership in Ilorin, the breakdown of law and order in Oyo and the Owu war lasted until 1886 and touched the whole of Yorubalad and changed the spatial distribution of the people and the sub-ethnic pattern of Yorubaland.

With the destruction of Egba and Owu villages there began a population movement south-westwards which finally led to the founding of Abeokuta where the Egba and the Owu built an impregnable fortress of a kingdom against their neighbours, the rootless and ruthless Oyo refugees who had seized their land and had established their camp in Ibadan to the east and the militaristic Dahomey kingdom to the West. Ibadan also emerged as one of the consequences of the Owu War, first the Ijebu and Ife forces and Oyo refugees fleeing from the savannah to the wooded south for security and sustenance camped in Ibadan.

Old Oyo was itself destroyed by the Ilorin forces in 1837 further leading to migration southwards. There was a conscious effort to replicate old Oyo in Ago-d’oyo (new oyo) but it seems glory had departed from Israel. Conscious efforts were made to hold the tide of disintegration through several attempts to gain back the lost province of Ilorin and to remove the Fulani rulers from there so that this basically Igbomina village could return to its provincial role as part of the new Oyo Empire. At the same time the Ilorin rulers had ambitions to dip the Koran into the sea through conquest of Yorubaland. Between 1825 and 1840 no less than eleven inconclusive battles were fought between the Oyo and the Ilorin forces. Ilorin’s march to the south was decisively halted through a devastating defeat in 1840 by Oyo/Ibadan forces at Oshogbo.

One of the points which needs to be emphasized at this point is that Yoruba nationalism did not exist until recently. All the various kingdoms considered others even though speaking the same language as competitors. The Ekiti and Ijesha, for example, did not see any difference between the Ilorin and Ibadan hegemonist desires.

We will be missing something if we fail to see this point clearly.

The notion of Ilorin forces being Fulani forces did not arise because most if not all their soldiers were Yoruba like the others. Even while the struggle was going on the Emir of Ilorin was marrying off his daughters to rising military leaders in Ibadan. Perhaps what was happening at least in Northern Yorubaland as Abdullahi Smith once argued was a religio-political struggle between the forces of Islam and votaries of traditional religion. In this struggle, leaders such as Solagberu, a Yoruba Muslim leader was as important as a

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HAT does the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, want? Nobody seems to know what the sect, which has unleashed mindless attacks on the society, is fighting for. It claims it is against western education, a position that it is entitled to without pulling the society down.

To the group, it is a sin for its members to seek knowledge outside Islamic teachings. Whoever does so is courting trouble and many have come to grieve for flouting this injunction which is not part of Islamic tenets, but the tendentious wish of a man. That man, Yusuf Mohammed, is dead.

Mohammed died in 2009 during his sect’s monstrous attacks on three states in the Northeast. Boko Haram overran Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states, leaving sorrow, tears and blood in its trail. The members of the sect were so daring in their attacks which in most cases started from police stations. Is it not sheer madness for anybody to storm a police station under whatever guise?

Mohammed and his group hid under the cover of religion to perpetrate their bestial acts not only against non-muslims but also against their fellow muslims.

By attacking fellow muslims they exposed themselves for what they truly are - fundamentalists.There is a huge difference between fundamentalism and Islam. Islam preaches peace; fundamentalism is at home with violence. No true muslim, who abides by Islamic tenets, will take the life of another man be he a kafir or not. Islam stipulates the conditions under which a muslim can kill. These conditions are not different from those in our statute books. A man who takes another person’s life unjustly will be ex-

member of the Ummah as Alimi a Fulani was.

Ibadan Imperialism

The emergence of Ibadan as a nascent power in 19th-century Yorubaland drew the ire of Ijaye another competitor for the replacement of the then prostrate Oyo Empire. It was only a matter of time before the two kingdoms went to war in 1860 apparently over a dispute about tradition. The Alaafin had died in 1858 and before his death he had requested that he be succeeded by his Aremo, Adelu contrary to Oyo tradition in which the Aremo reigned and died with the Alaafin. The Alaafin’s request was supported by Balogun Ibikunle and Basorun Ogunmola of Ibadan while the arch traditionalist Are Ona Kakanfo Kurunmi of Ijaye wanted the Aremo to die with his father.

The Ibadan point of view prevailed and this led to war during which the Ijaye leader Kurunmi and his allies the Egba were worsted.

Ijaye was completely destroyed and most of the people were evacuated to Abeokuta. During this war the Ilorin and the Northern Yorubas supported Kurunmi. The Ijebu who feared Ibadan’s ascendancy especially since they started infiltrating the Egbado area close to the coast which the Ijebu and the Egbas had sealed off from the Ibadan/Oyo forces, also supported Kurunmi. However when the occasion to demonstrate absolute support came Kurunmi found himself supported only by the Egba against the apparently unstoppable Ibadan/Oyo forces. With the defeat of Ijaye, Ibadan supremacy in Yorubaland was asserted. The Old Oyo imperial control was renewed over the the Ekiti, Ijesha, Akoko, Igbomina and the Ibolo of Offa and surrounding villages. The only group that occasionally challenged the Ibadan was the Ilorin Yoruba who sometimes allied with the Ekiti, Ijesha and Igbomina. Each group through forging ever-changing alliances used the other to advance its group interest. The Ilorin Yoruba saw themselves as the arrow of God while the Ijesha, Ekiti Igbomina and Akoko were rightly struggling to be free.

Ekitiparapo or Kiriji War

The climax of this imperial competition was reached in 1878 when the Ekiti, Ijesha, Akoko and Igbomina came together to form the Ekitiparapo confederacy to fight for their independence from the Ibadan who were then engaged in war with Egbaland and the Ijebu over Ibadan’s desire to open a route to the coast. The Ekitiparapo forces were initially led by Balogun Isola Fabunmi of Okemesi who later after some startling victories against the Ibadan gave way to Seriki Ogedengbe of Ilesha a much more older and intrepid fighter cast in the mould of the Ibadan warriors under whom he had trained.

Ogedengbe for about two years stayed away from joining the Ekitiparapo because of his respect for the Ibadan leader Are Latoisa.

The Ilorin joined the Ekitiparapo and thus began a war of attrition which lasted until 1886 when the British intervened and the subject peoples gained their independence. A state of military readiness however continued to be maintained until 1893 because the Ilorin

and the Ibadan forces still faced themselves at Ofa and Ikirun until the British once again intervened and broke the military camps in Imesi-Ile, Offa and Ikirun and a pax Brittanica was imposed on Yorubaland.

These wars were not just wars of positions and attritions; there Jide were occasional bold Osuntokun moves such as Fabunmi leading Ekitiparapo forces to relieve Ife from from Modakeke forces in 1885. But most of the time the allied forces faced each other in their camps which were fortified by either ditches, walls or naturally protected positions in Imesi-Ile or Igbajo. The size of the forces ranged from battalion to brigades and even divisions. At the height of the war, Ibadan had 60,000 soldiers deployed against 40,000 Ekitiparapo troops. Apart from poisoned arrows and long swords at the beginning, weapons of precision such as breechloaders, flintlocks and Lee Enfield riffles were used with devastating effect towards the end of the war. Strategies included ambushes, surprises and trench warfare. The soldiers also believed in supernatural powers and these were employed and seemed to have worked because these things are a matter of belief and psychology.

Those who distinguished themselves in this war included apart from Ogedengbe and Fabunmi, Arimoro, Ogunmodede and Obe all from Ijeshaland, Aduloju and Falowo from Ado-Ekiti, Olugbosun of Oye, Adeyale of Ila, and Faboro of Iddo. The wars were not only restricted to the men. Women also played significant roles either as carriers of war material and provisions or as nurses tendering the wounds of their husbands, fathers or brothers. In some cases women were fighters as well. It was a period of total war with women and children bearing the brunt of defeat through enslavement or actual massacres. There were of course agreed treatment for war prisoners and war leaders were sometimes released to their troops as happened to Ogedengbe a couple of times after having been captured by the Ibadan forces. There was esprit de corps among the war leaders; “dogs do not eat dogs” seemed to have been the case. This was because many of them trained together previously and had sometimes fought in the same armies in this period of shifting alliances. This was true of Fabunmi and Ogedengbe who were trained in Ibadan and had fought under Ibadan commanders in previous campaigns.

A killer-group on the prowl ecuted; so also for a criminal duly found guilty by the court of law.

Any person who kills except under these conditions and some not listed here will be guilty of murder.

If our brothers in Boko Haram are versed in Islamic matters as they want us to believe they must know that it is haram to kill just for the fun of it. They are the kind of muslims who allow all sorts of people to speak ill of Islam.

I don’t know where Boko Haram got the impression that western education is evil. If indeed education is bad, the Almighty Allah would not have commanded Prophet Muhammed to embrace education.

Allah endorsed education when He commanded the prophet to read the first surat of the Quran to be revealed to him. Though the prophet was not educated Allah opened his mind and eyes and he was able to read as commanded. Now if that is not education, what is? There is nothing sinful about education except if some people are afraid that it may open the eyes of the oppressed to the wily ways of their oppressors.To condemn education is to say that the almighty who ordained it does not know what He is doing. Who are we to question God? Boko Haram is too set in its ways for my liking. Since its 2009 attacks which swept through Bauchi, Yobe and Borno, the sect despite the death of its leader and some of its members appears to have taken a vow to continue to wreak havoc on people for no just reason.I don’t see the cause they are fighting. Perhaps

I am myopic. But I am ready to listen to anybody who can tell me what the sect wants. Is it the closure of all schools in the country? Is it the sacking of the government? Is it the adoption of Islam as state religion? Is it the introduction of Sharia law in the North?

Boko Haram does not seem to have a clear cut objective except to embark on wilful killings and the destruction of public properties. Before the last elections and now the number of those killed by the group may have exceeded 100 and that is being conservative. Its members just wake up, take to the streets and start slaughtering people. If they don’t do that they resort to throwing bombs into schools, homes, vehicles, police stations and any other place that catches their fancy.

For two years we have been at the mercy of Boko Haram. But for how long will we continue to turn the other cheek? We have been slapped and beaten black and blue by this group for too long that it has become so emboldened to challenge constituted authority, which has bent backwards to accommodate it. The problem is that

at times the only language groups like this understand is force no matter what you do to pacify them. Must the nation continue to watch while the group goes on a killing spree in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital where before the elections it killed the governorship candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP) and the younger brother of former Governor Modu Sheriff.

Boko Haram has killed so many others after that without answering for its despicable acts. Rather Governor Kashim Shettima is waving the olive branch to the group. But the group is not interested in peace.

What does it want? A clearer picture of what it is fighting for is beginning to emerge. In a statement written in Hausa and issued in Maiduguri on Monday, the group said: ‘’We demand for the strict enforcement of Sharia legal system in the muslim-dominated states in the North as part of conditions for dialogue with the government.We demand for the prosecution of former Governor Modu Sheriff for the killing of our leader, Yusuf Mohammed, two years ago and the release of all our detained members. ‘’If the government meets these conditions, we will agree to a ceasefire and enter into dialogue with them’’. Are we sure Boko Haram will live up to its words? Is it appropriate to allow renegade groups to set the terms for peaceful co-existence in a civilised society like ours? These are posers we must ponder as the government seeks a way out of the Boko Haram quagmire.

Sam at 50

‘We have been slapped and beaten black and blue by this group for too long that it has become so emboldened to challenge constituted authority, which has bent backwards to accommodate it’ •The late Mohammed

Yesterday was Sam Omatseye’s day. He turned 50 and those of us who know him turned out to celebrate with him. I have known Sam, the chairman of this paper’s Editorial Board, at close quarters in the

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net

past four years. Before now we never worked together but I had read him in the Concord, Newswatch and Quality magazines. Sam is a fine writer, a damn good writer at that.

When you read Sam you cannot but wonder at the depth and profundity of his thoughts. He is versed in the arts, literature and history and all these reflect in his writings. As contoversial as Sam’s writings may be, you cannot afford not to read him if you love good writing. He is bold, fearless and witty, all attributes that make a good writer. Beyond Sam’s writing is a side of him that many do not know about because of the way he carries himself.

Looking at him from a distance you will think that he is haughty.

He is not. He is simple and downto-earth and very funny.You only need to meet Sam one-on-one to appreciate his largeheartedness and humanity. Joseph Ogunsemi, exaide to former Ekiti State Deputy Governor Sikiru Tae Lawal, and Sunday Omoniyi, our Chief Sub-editor, know what I am talking. You can only refer to ‘’the chair’’ as full of airs if you are not close to him. The thing is Sam knows his onions and he is ever ready to let you know that he cannot be pushed around.

That is Sam for you; kind, generous, caring, but brutally frank. Happy birthday.

SMS ONLY: 08056504763

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

I

N the years gone by, Yoruba folks ensured potential petty thieves and scoundrels that could bring shame to their communities had no hiding place Truants at school and at trade training centres would be placed on the watch list of potential thieves.

What the elders of PDP today consider as ‘lynch mentality’ of elders of Ogun state in relation to the current travails of Dimeji Bankole and Daniel is in fact anchored on this old cultural norm.

It is true as PDP has alleged, that the war against rascals in Ogun state in the last eight years have been spearheaded by notable personalities of the state beginning with the Alake of Egba Land, Oba Gboyega Gbadebo, the Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, former governors and former political office holders.

But it is equally true that the good people of Ogun state would have been saved the current embarrassment if the duo of Daniel and Dimeji had not behaved like the proverbial hunter’s dog that refused to listen to its owner’s whistle. Both continued with their bad behavior in spite of appeal by well meaning people from the state.

The elders started with wise counseling.

They employed soft appeal and even warned them of a possible electoral backlash, but those set on a journey to self perdition will not listen. Not even the intervention of highly revered pastors of the Pentecostal churches in the state or the appeal of well respected Islamic scholars had any effect on their conduct. Daniel and Dimeji outwitted all men of goodwill whose genuine intervention could have forestall their current travails Since Ogun state accords all faith including traditional practice equal importance the elders opted for the time tested traditional approach for solving intricate issues that defy human solutions. The gods must be consulted.

After all Christian faith does not preclude the Egbas from practicing the tradition of their forefathers. To rein in their wayward children,

‘They spend billions of tax payer’s money to renovate government properties which they later sold to themselves at fraction of the cost of renovation. They just don’t give a damn’

Ogun State elders and youth lynch mentality the elders sought the intervention of ‘Edi’ Yoruba god of confusion to create disharmony between Daniel, Dimeji and ex president Obasanjo, their god father .This worked like magic. Daniel and Dimeji were soon to publicly assault each other over who was to take credit for, of all things, an eight year uncompleted otta bridge.

As if possessed, they turned the heat on each other. They did not spare even their god father. In their self inflicted war of attrition, they destroyed PDP, the vehicle with which they perpetuate evil. They in the process paved the way for the emergence of ANC .The duo that once bestrode Ogun state like gods are today either on the run from justice or seeking bail from EFCC’s cell.

It is also true that Ogun youths ably supported their elders in the battle against misguided Dimeji and Daniel. They did this through agitation and petition writing. In fact the immediate cause of Bankole’s current travails was started by Ogun youths.It was they that attacked Bankole campaign train in April shortly before the election.The attck was first dismissed by his media aid, Kayode Odunayo as antics street urchins over payouts.

But a spokes person for the youth claimed responsibility for the attack. Their grouse: Bankole ‘makes over 20 million a month, lives in a 2-acre plush mansion free, control more than ten cars(some bullet proofed) enjoys tree medical treatment, free clothings,millions of naira earmarked for his

local and international protocols. And on top of it all, ‘he enjoys immunity clause for stealing our money while the people dwell in abject poverty’ When EFCC would not act, ‘Sahara Reporters’, managed by another Ogun state youth leader published details of EFCC’s finding against Bankole. The onslaught on Bankole was concluded by another group of youths ‘the Youth Anti-corruption League’ headed by Jumoke Iliyasu. The youth group stormed EFFC’s office in Abuja to protest ‘non arrest of Bankole in spite of many petitions in relation to the 2.3 billion car scam arising from the purchase of 407 Peugeot cars in 2008, Progressive group of legislators’ petition on the N9 billion capital budget of the house of rep in 2008/2009 session’ The elders, curse and the youth agitation have led to further disclosures. EFCC this week alleged , Bankole under the dubious monetization scheme bought his official residence, after it was allegedly renovated with 600 millions of tax payers money for a paltry N48 million. He was also alleged to have bought the 37-storey (NECOM) building using his fathers company. This is in addition to four posh properties in choice locations in Abuja. That he allegedly owned.

But while the Ogun states elders and the state youths have been busy celebrating the downfall of their misguided children, other stake holders in the PDP ‘mainstream’ Nigerian project have been wondering what

manner of people are the Ogun people.They were piqued by the action of those persecuting their children for what has become an istitutionalised practice in PDP governed states. What the Egba elders seem to forget is that all the allegations against Bankole, their son find parallel in the upper House.

But Ogun have kept on hitting their fallen children. In other PDP states, it is seen as sign of failure if you serve as a federal minister without stealing parts of what belong to none.

In the neighboring Delta , but for cantankerous old man like Pa Clark and busy body British police, Ibori would have been save among his people and free to spend his peoples’ confiscated common wealth. Unlike Ogun elders, in Delta, both the elders and the youths hail Ibori for his bravery. The state intellectuals provided intellectual justification for Ibori impoverisation of the people through massive graft. During Ibori’s eight years in government house in Asaba, the journalist of the state origin did not see evil.

PDP strongly believes a part of a whole cannot be holier than the whole. The party thinks its superior electoral victory is an invitation to impose its prevailing culture of looting. Its leading lights operate without rules. Legislators of both houses borrowed billions and illegally spent un appropriated money to support a life of leisure. They spend billions of tax payer’s money to renovate government properties which they later sold to themselves at fraction of the cost of renovation. They just don’t give a damn.

I think the PDP elders are right. While the Egbas can deal with their children who desecrated an acceptable cultural norm, they cannot unilaterally impose their self proclaimed superior value system on the rest of the country. If we all accept democracy is a game of number, the opposition may have their say but cannot stand on the way of PDP and its vision of how to run Nigeria for the next four years.

Here lies the problem of democracy.

Operating without rules has a major attraction to those who profit from state of anarchy or state of nature. And it is always those constitutionally empowered to enforce rules that often circumvent them. Those who want to live by law suffer a double jeopardy.

NB: Contrary to the misleading title of my last week’s piece, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola actually celebrated his 54 th birthday. The error was due to the proverbial printer’s devil

VIEW FROM THE FOREIGN PRESS

I

HATE poetry. Though I enjoy reading, I don’t consider myself voracious, eclectic, or fool myself for a second that I’m a literary buff. Literature for me simply doesn’t include poetry. Even poems from reputable poets have hardly stirred me. I was content with picking quotes from the lines. And irrespective of the author’s interpretation, I always had mine.

But, last year, I was fortunate to come across Dear Baby Ramatu. It is a book, or better put, a poem (a long one) about the struggle of motherhood, societal reflection of how women in dire circumstances are perceived and treated, and the consequent implications. Not many people know the inspiration for that poem.

Ramatu was the name of the baby found buried in the sands of Yobe while her hand jutted out. I love that poem. I am not alone. The prodigious Tosin Otitoju also loves it. The author of that poem, Sam Omatseye is 50.

I remember my first meeting with Omatseye in 2004. At that time, I was staying with my cousin, Victor Agbro around Mafoluku, Oshodi. Omatseye was then based in Denver, Colorado, US, but he maintained a weekly column in The Sun newspaper. In fact, because of him, Papa V, as my cousin is fondly called, never failed to buy The Sun. By 2006 when Omatseye came to Nigeria to resume as Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation, Papa V switched to buying The Nation.

Coming from the airport that night, Omatseye’s presence at over six feet could have been intimidating if not for the boyish grin on his animated face and his hearty and genial conversation style. In his luggage were sweets and biscuits which I and my nieces and nephew savoured. Later, I always knew Mr. Sam, as he is fondly called in the newsroom at The Nation had come from the US any time chocolates and biscuits were shared in the newsroom. I didn’t know at that time that three years on, he would facilitate my job as a reporter.

I remember that the first assignment he gave me landed me in trouble. He had asked me to compare how the rich and poor were buried.

The brief included visits to cemeteries. I

Omatseye @ 50: As I know him

By Joe Agbro Jr. started at a cemetery at Agege. However, my timing on a Sunday morning coincided with a campus cult meeting going on there. The neighbouring fields were also a haven for marijuana smokers. Armed with a camera, I was there in search of my first story. I did not know some people had informed the police of the cult meeting. In a twinkle, Policemen busted in and I was among those apprehended, accused of being a cult member and smoking dope. Having traits of a ‘bad-boy’ it was difficult for my parents to believe my version of the story. Edozie Udeze and I finally completed that story. It was strange, weird, but interesting to read! Thanks Mr. Sam for the weird idea.

But, I’ve learnt it’s tough for a reporter to be around you. Your head is always bubbling with ideas. Sometimes, they are dangerous ones. Nevertheless, you remain my mentor.

I’ve learnt that Omatseye would do a lot for a story. In 1992, when the plane carrying some army officers crashed at Ejigbo on the outskirts of Lagos, he was the first reporter to get there. With the area cordoned off by soldiers, identifying himself as a reporter would have been suicidal. Omatseye would not be deterred. He joined locals to carry the scattered corpses of the military men and got his story. He would later leave for the United States after being hounded by General Sani Abacha’s military goons. There, he taught journalism and also continued work as a journalist.

At 50, he has established himself as a consummate journalist, having won the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) for best columnist twice. He has also mastered the art of stirring the hornet’s nest.

But, he is not all about journalism. He particularly loves watching and playing football and acted as football commentator while at Government College, Ughelli. He is an avid reader and he has a rich book shelf which he happily shares with others. Happily married, he also loves Starch and Banga soup. And he never forgets his friends as he talks nostalgically of his days at Government College, Ughelli, Federal School of Arts and Science, Victoria Island, Lagos, University of Ife, and robust relationship with his friends. His amiable mien makes him approachable.

For me, he now towers beyond being Oga. He is a big brother, coming with all the moral ways ‘big brothers’ come with. As a teetotaller, he doesn’t hide his frown at my love for alcoholic beverages, he is getting fed up of complaining of my bohemian disposition, and he is always pestering me of the woman of my dreams.

Yesterday, Mr. Sam marked his golden jubilee with three books; a novel, The Crocodile Girl, a poetry collection, Lion Wind and Other Poems, and In Touch, a compilation of some of his best Monday columns. In Touch is definitely keepsakes. I’ve already read The Crocodile Girl. It’s a story of seeking – for a local Itsekiri beauty whose family background, her village had scripted to originate from the crocodile. She begins a romance with foreigner in search of his heritage. Both find and lose again but a history is exhumed. But unlike Dear Baby Ramatu, it’ll require studious determination to read Lion Wind and Other Poems. I still hate poetry. I just love quotes.

• Agbro works at The Nation

•Omatseye

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

23

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

24

INDUSTRY

12,000mt of cement coming A

BOUT 12,000 tonnes of cement will soon be released to the market by Lafarge WAPCO Nigeria Plc as part of the measures to reduce the price of the product.

The product is coming from the Lakatabu plant of the firm, which may be inaugurated in the next few weeks.

Speaking during a facility tour of the new plant with journalists, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Samy Abdelkader, said the company’s new 2.5 million tonnes Lakatabu plant, once operational, will double the overall capacity of Lafarge cement products, including Elephant Cement and Elephant Supaset, supplied into the market.

He said: “I am happy to inform you that our Lakatabu Project, which we started in 2009, will be inaugurated in the next few weeks, as we finalise the construction of the infrastructure necessary to make cement. Lafarge WAPCO is

Stories by Toba Agboola

wholly committed to remain a true leader by delivering value to our customers and the built sector.

What you are experiencing today is a reflection of the fact that when we promise, we deliver. We are completing the plant on schedule as promised to all our stakeholders.”

He added that the company has keyed into the Federal Government’s backward integration policy, which aims at self-sufficiency in cement production and that the new plant has the capacity to produce four different qualities of cement to better serve customers’ special requirements.

However, in a bid to improve on service delivery so that customers can carry out business transactions with ease, an electronic collection system has been introduced. In addition, 19 new depots

NEXIM Bank budgets N285b for non-oil exports

T

HE Nigerian Export- Import (NEXIM) Bank said it would commit N285 billion within the next five years to support nonoil exports in the country.

Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Roberts Orya disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists.

He said the bank has supported the Nigerian non-oil export with N20.04 billion within the last four years (2007-2010).

Orya said the bank’s strategic plan projection was to support the nonoil export sector in the five-year funding intervention that would see it commit N37 billion to non-oil exports in 2011; N41 billion in 2012; N50 billion in 2013; N63 billion in 2014 and N94 billion in 2015.

He said NEXIM Bank’s funding intervention in support of exports had created and sustained 6,000 jobs between 2009 and 2010. That, according to him, translated to additional foreign exchange generation amounting to an average of $100 million annually in the past two years.

Orya added that the bank was positioned to create and sustain over 15,000 direct jobs including an estimated $300 million in foreign exchange, adding that the funding intervention would be aimed at sectors with high employment potentials such as agriculture, mining, tourism, entertainment/ creative art industry, among others.

He said the bank’s efforts were aimed at supporting the initiatives of the current administration through the provision of finance and guarantees to enhance industrial capacities, capacity utilisation as well as support the acquisition and adoption of new and clean technologies.

He said this will ensure competitiveness of Nigerian products and manufacturing operations.

According to him, the bank has also provided over N63 billion and $280 million in funding intervention to over 400 beneficiaries as well as non-funded risk bearing facilities of over $36 million and •11 million since its inception 20 years ago.

•From left: Industrial Director, Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc Paul Rogers; Operation Preparation Manager Lanre Opakunle; Head of Supply Chain Division Kola Olowokere; Project Director Guy Chaperon; Country Manager, Lafarge Nigeria and Republic of Benin Jean Barbant; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Samy Abdelkader; Head of Communications Mrs Temitope Oguntokun and General Manager, Corporate Service and Business Review, Jamiu Ajala, during the facility tour.

have been opened across the nation.

Furthermore, the logistic system is also being enhanced with brand new trucks and a new business partnership with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), for haulage of cement by rail as Ewekoro is rail connected.

He noted that to enhance logistics safety and environmental aesthetics, the company has built a new roundabout around the Igbesi Estate of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and is finalising the con-

struction of a 600 truck capacity trailer park.

Nonetheless, in order to maintain a good supply of cement and ensure effective and continuous operation of its plants without power interruption, a 90 megaWatt power plant, which has a dual firing system of both gas and liquid fuel (AGO/LPFO), has been completed and will be inaugurated with the new cement plant.

On the government’s directive on cement price crash, Abdelkader noted that the cement industry

would need the assistance of the government in providing a conducive environment for operation to be able to really make cement to be more affordable to the masses.

“When volume is available, the price should be affordable, but the government should endeavour to provide a more conducive environment for operation,” he said.

The Lafarge boss said the project costs the company about •370 million of which 65 per cent is from bank loan.

•Sitting from left: Miss Flo Poonen, Coordinator, Shoprite South Africa; Mrs. Shola Akinsanmi, Mrs. Shola Bankole, both from Magi Trading Co Limited and other customers, at a workshop organised by Shoprite for its clients in Lagos.

SMEDAN, Film Corporation sign MoU on enterpreneurship

T

HE Small and Medium En terprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), a step expected to make the industry contribute significantly to the nation’s economic growth and development.

Speaking during the signing ceremony which took place at SMEDAN’s Head office in Abuja, the Managing Director of the NFC, Mr Afolabi Adesanya , said for the film industry to make meaningful contribution to the overall economic development of the country, emphasis must be placed on impacting entrepreneurial skills on practitioners in the sector, a pivotal role for SMEDAN to play.

Adesanya noted that although largely perceived as art, film is also a business capable of generating huge revenue which could contribute to the growth of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“If the business potentials of film are fully harnessed and ad-

equately developed, the industry could become one of the highest revenue-generating sectors of the economy as obtained in the United States ,” he said.

He said the absence of entrepreneurial and business skills in the film industry have resulted in the practitioners placing more emphasis on the artistic aspect of film-making at the expense of the business aspect of it, which in turn results in the sector’s inability to sustain the momentum of growth and development He, however, expressed confidence that with the support of SMEDAN, the challenges facing the industry would be reduced.

“SMEDAN, with its requisite experience and expertise can assist with its various workshops and specific training programmes for practitioners in the sector for us to reap the full benefits of increased film production, post-production, distribution and marketing as well as film exhibition,” he said.

While thanking the stakeholders, he assured that the corporation would fully implement its obligations and would avail SMEDAN of their various activities through which the agency can lend it support.

Earlier, the Director-General of

SMEDAN, Alhaji Muhammad Nadada Umar, said the terms of the MoU would add tremendous value to the national economy as it aims to create opportunities for small businesses to grow in the film industry, especially as regards youth employment, revenue generation, poverty reduction and social stability in the country.

While calling for more collaborative efforts with state governments, non-governmental organisations and establishments in a bid to guarantee greater success on the objectives of the agency, the Director-General charged all stakeholders to work hard to en-

SMEDAN, with its requisite experience and expertise can assist with its various workshops and specific training programmes for practitioners in the sector for us to reap the full benefits of increased film production, post-production, distribution and marketing as well as film exhibition’ ‘

sure that results are produced for all to see so that at the end of the day, something will be achieved.

He said SMEDAN was ready to support NFC with funding windows available to Nigerian entrepreneurs such as the SME Credit Guarantee Scheme introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the funding scheme from the National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND).

Consequently, the areas of training/capacity building, development of business models for entrepreneurs in the film sector, linking film-makers to local and international sources of finance, product competitiveness and market standard development have all been catered for in the MoU. Those present at the ceremony include: the Executive Director Operations, Mr Tex Benibo; the Head of Finance and Accounts, Alhaji Sanusi Sambo; the Head of International Cooperation, Mr Edmond Peters; the Head of Public Affairs, Mr Brian Etuk, and the Head of the NFC Abuja Liaison Office, Mrs Ngosi Udo.

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

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

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) may soon become the rave, with plans by the Federal Government to introduce the National Vocational Qualifications Frame-work (NVQF). KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE and ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA report.

Skilled manpower: prospects coming for employers •National Vocational Qualifications may be the answer

I

T is no longer news that employers complain about graduates trained in tertiary institutions across Nigeria. At any given opportunity, they complain about the mismatch in the knowledge, skill and competence required to function in the labour market and those provided in schools.

At the heart of the matter is the certificate craze that many employers say has made university education the preferred path to the labour market to the detriment of technical and vocational training and qualifications. Yet, these skills, provided by the polytechnics as well as nonformal private sector institutions (through apprenticeship) are vital to the economy.

The need to find a lasting solution to this problem is why the Federal Government is introducing the National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF) which when in operation will provide a platform to measure the skills of each worker irrespective of qualifications from conventional tertiary institutions.

To this end, the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, approved the establishment of 103 Innovations Enterprise Institutions (IEIs) and Vocational Enterprise Institutions (VEIs) in 2009. These institutions, largely run by the private sector, some of which have existed for years, providing industry-specific trainings, will now issue nationally recognised certificates under the NVQF. The aim is to improve the quality of education and training, enhance employability and expand the pool of highly-skilled labour to serve various sectors of the economy.

It is hoped that when the NVQF is in operation, the industry would no longer need to rely on expatriate workers to provide services in construction, information communication technology (ICT), maintenance, automotive technology, among others.

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) is going round the industrial enclaves to create awareness about the NVQF and seek input from manufacturers on how to better groom skilled manpower for their businesses.

In Lagos, the NBTE Zonal Industry Consultation Meeting held at the NECA House last Monday was an eye opener.

NBTE Executive Secretary Dr Mas’udu Adamu Kazaure said in his keynote address that the NVQF would be based on the competence of a person to perform tasks required of a job to the set standard. He said this would go a long way to correct the low regard for technical and vocational education and help institutions tailor their training to the need of the industry and give due recognition to skills gained outside conventional schools.

He said: “The Nigeria’s Technical and vocational Education Training (TVET) sector is too ‘formalised’.

There is no provision to cater for those who acquire skills informally; either to assess them on the job, or to provide for their progression. In addition, evaluation of all sectors of education tends to be by conventional examinations, which generally does not factor in practical techniques.

“The result is a serious gap between state-of-the-art skill in the industry and the skill acquired from school experience, with the resultant effect of teeming population of unemployed youths, including many unskilled graduates roaming the streets. These are the kinds of problems that may by addressed by the NVQs, through short-term skills acquisition and reskilling programmes.

“There is increasing number of ‘politically inspired’ youth development programmes that are not standardised. These are introduced at the Federal, state and NGOs across the country. These widelyused initiatives have little or no comparability and skills lack nationally-recognised certification.

This vacuum can be best addressed by the introduction of the NVQF.” Mr Mahmud Othman, Group Public Affairs Consultant of A.G. Leventis (Nigeria), who represented the Nigeria Employers’ Con-

•Kazaure (right) with Reginald Ike Odiah, Chairman, Infrastructure Committee, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN)

•Wapmuk

•Othman

•Gasper

sultative Association (NECA) at the event, said the NVQF is a necessity.

He added that its adoption would be a means of reviving training institutes that used to exist in the past.

“We believe in technical education and look forward to what used to be. I can remember we had trade centres in Ilorin, Kaduna and other places.

“We turn our priorities upside

down in Nigeria. Everyone wants to have a BA. Nobody wants to have an HND. You can’t have an army made up of only generals.

NECA and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) have recognised serious gaps with formal school training.

It is either the graduate went to Zebrudaya School of English or he attended Oluwole University in Lagos Island. All their papers don’t

reflect reality,” he said.

Underscoring the need for the NVQF, Mr Olawumi Gasper, Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), said states should get more involved in TVET training to make it more effective.

Perhaps when the NVQF comes into full swing, the ITF would adopt its qualifications for products of the centres of excellence the agency plans to establish across the country.

During a visit to The Nation in Lagos, last Wednesday, ITF DirectorGeneral Prof Longman Wapmuk said, for a start, ITF has established a model skill centre in its headquarters in Abuja to be commissioned next month. The centre will provide qualitative technical training in Mechatronics, ICT,

‘We turn our priorities upside down in Nigeria. Everyone wants to have a BA. Nobody wants to have an HND. You can’t have an army made up of only generals. NECA and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) have recognised serious gaps with formal school training. It is either the graduate went to Zebrudaya School of English or he attended Oluwole University in Lagos Island. All their papers don’t reflect reality’

•Continued on page 26

•NB PROMISES NATIONAL READING COMPETITION WINNER JOB - Page 37 •18 NIGERIANS BAG DEGREES AT HARVARD - Page 38

RUN FILE THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

26

EDUCATION

Babcock High School records growth

UNILORIN FILE Varsity to host NIAE confab THE University of Ilorin will host the 11th international conference and 32nd annual general meeting of the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE).

The conference, themed “Agricultural engineering, will hold between October 17 and 20.

According to a statement by the Chairman, Technical Committee, Prof. A.O. Ogunlela, some of the seven sub-themes to be discussed at the conference include: “Farm Machinery Development and P0recision Agriculture for Increased Food Production”; “Soil and Water Conservation for Agricultural Development”; “Food Storage, Preservation and Processing for Economic Development” and “Mechanizing Aquaculture for Economic Development.”

New SU president unfolds agenda THE newly-elected president of the Students Union, Mr. Musa Surajudeen, has unfolded a programme of action which would make his administration leave a trail.

Surajudeen outlined the policy thrust of the union while delivering his inaugural address titled: “The Way Forward” last Wednesday after he took the oath of office at the Geology Lecture Theatre of the University.

The president said he plans to create class Representatives Forum, organise tutorials, build a hostel and facilitate a student Research Group.

On plans for the hostel, Surajudeen said that his administration would “with the support of the Student Affairs Unit, design and construct a standard hostel of 1000 bed spaces”.

As UNILORIN prepares to host the West Africa University Games (WAUG), he said he would make one of the Union buses available for branding to create publicity for the Games.

The Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, lauded Surajudeen’s plans. He pointed out that it is a welcome dream that might be a reality in a distant future while tasking the leadership in orientating their colleagues on the maintenance and good use of the facilities on ground.

NASU decries rumour mongering CHAIRMAN of the UNILORIN chapter of the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) Mr J.J. Bello has counselled members to stop peddling rumours.

Bello spoke while inaugurating four committees.

He advised the members to shun rumour mongering and learn to manage and interpret information.

The newly-inaugurated committees are: labour force committee chaired by Mr Samuel Ehinmidun; Women in NASU committee chaired by Mrs Bisi Adeshina: Investment/Project Committee by Mr Olakunle Idowu Ojo and Welfare scheme committee chaired by Mr M. Olateju.

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• Mrs Awoyomi applauds as Ogbonnaya Nnana of Kuramo Senior College receives a prize from Olumide Olayomi, Head, Government & Community Relations Etisalat, at the event

Etisalat counsels pupils on careers S part of its commitment to corporate social responsibility in education development, Etisalat Nigeria has organised its second career counselling session for pupils in three secondary schools in Lagos.

The schools, Akande Dahunsi Memorial High School, Kuramo Senior College and Victoria Island Senior Secondary School, sent large numbers of their SS1 and SS2 pupils to benefit from the all-day session held penultimate week.

Akande Dahunsi Memorial is one of the schools adopted for life

by Etisalat under its partnership with the Save Our Schools initiative of the Lagos State Government.

Members of the staff of Etisalat, under its Employee Volunteering Scheme, spoke with the pupils on what should guide them in deciding career paths in Human Resources, Project Management and Accountancy.

A

The presentations by the trio of Chike Otubelu, Anthonia Attoh and Charles Sanwo provided information about the various professions and explained requirements the pupils should meet to be able to study such programmes in higher institutions.

The pupils also learnt about the world of opportunities these courses open up to them and how they could specialise.

Speaking at the occasion, Etisalat Director Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, Ibrahim Dikko said that the career counseling session was part of its CSR initiatives spanning education, health and the environment.

“The career counselling scheme is our commitment to internal CSR. It is also our way of restating our brand values of caring, optimism and simplicity to Nigerian youths,” he said.

He also acknowledged the

support of the Lagos State Empowerment and Resource Network (LEARN), an NGO founded by the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, for continuous partnership on the scheme.

Also speaking, the Tutor General/ Permanent Secretary for Education District III, Alhaja Wonuola Idris commended Etisalat for the initiative which he said provides unique opportunities for youths to learn from those who understand the challenges of their generation.

LEARN Project Manager, Mrs. Bisi Awoyomi, urged other orgnisations to follow Etisalat’s example.

The seminar came to an exhilarating end with a surprise performance from prolific rap artiste, M.I, who thrilled the pupils with some of his hit songs. He also encouraged them to be diligent as education continues to play a key role in his success as an artiste.

Skilled manpower: prospects for employers •Continued from page 25

Culinary Skills, Facility Technology and Computer Technology.

“We hope the model skill centre will be commissioned in July (next month). Half the equipment have been purchased. Our Singapore consultants came and took inventory and installation would start soon. They will help us for two years to graduate our first set of students.”

Wapmuk said the ITF is borrowing from successes in Brazil, Singapore and Britain as well as other parts of the world where the strength of their technical education system provides backing for technological development.

He said agencies like ITF in these countries run many technical institutes which he said is responsible for the advancement.

“To bridge the gap of lack of training, I visited the Asian Tigers and I found that they had a lot of voca-

tional institutes.

Their organisations – like ITF – are responsible for technological development. In Taiwan, our sister agency runs four technical institute. In Indonesia, they have about 50 technical institutes and people are even taught to speak Japanese, Arabic and other foreign countries because they are training them for the foreign market. But in Nigeria, we don’t have enough technical institutes and those still run by states are a shadow of themselves,” he said.

With the amendment of the Act establishing the ITF, Wapmuk said the agency would get more funds to enable it establish training centres all over Nigeria. The bill, once signed by President Goodluck Jonathan, would compel all organisations seeking contracts from the Federal Government to show receipt of the remittance of one per cent of their profit to the ITF. Wapmuk said ITF plans to establish 15 of such centres in the six geo-

‘We believe in technical education and look forward to what used to be. I can remember we had trade centres in Ilorin, Kaduna and other places’

political zones. However, before then, he said that the agency would be collaborating with sister-agency in Brazil to establish a centre to train technical instructors.‘ “We are collaborating with SENAI of Brazil. They are going to help us establish a centre of excellence in Jos where our staff will be trained,” he said.

HE principal, Babcock University High School, Ilisan, Ogun State, Mr Tayo Adebayo, was proud to deliver the school report at North West Nigerian Union Mission Educational Summit at Lagere, Ile-Ife. Adebayo said the school founded eight years ago has recorded academic excellence in external exams which has contributed to her numerical growth.

“The school has recorded academic excellence in both junior and senior West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO). This has contributed to the increase in pupils enrolled from 46 per cent to 74 per cent from inception till date also staff population increase,” he said.

One of the successes recorded was the construction of the Elearning centre worth N28 million to fasten the method of learning.

“A unique feature of our school is the use of electronic learning system (E-Learning). It involves the use of interactive board, projector, computer and megaphone.

Pupils now learn faster with the use of e-learning at their own pace.

Lectures can be saved; pupils can be linked to World Wide Web of knowledge through the Internet,” he said.

The school now has a JAMB centre where pupils can write exams without going outside the school premises.

Staff school to boost image

M

EMBERS of staff and pupils of the UNAD Staff School have pledged to work harder and cooperate with the university Authority to lift the image of the school.

The Acting Head Teacher of the Staff School, Mrs. O.B. Owolabi stressed these while welcoming the Acting Vice- Chancellor of the university, Prof. Dada Adelowo and his team to the School during a visit.

The Acting Head Teacher, however, pleaded with the Management to provide the school a modern Laboratory and a standard library as well as luxurious buses for easy transportation of staff and pupils among other demands.

“You’ve heard of ‘catch them young’ ... this is ‘ruin them young’!”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

27

EDUCATION

Ibadan Law Centre produces first set A

N Ibadan Law institute, the Lateef Aremu Centre for Legal Studies, turned out its first set of products last week amid pomp and fanfare.

The centre, which is affiliated with the Institute of Legal Studies (ILEX), England, awarded diploma in Legal Studies to 10 graduands who passed through the rigorous training.

Speaking at the convocation, Coordinator of the centre, Mrs Connie Aremu, said the diploma course is aimed at providing standard education for supporting staff of legal practitioners, judiciary workers and lawyers.

She also pointed out that the diploma would enable the recipients gain direct en-

From Bisi Oladele and Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

try admission into universities to study law.

She said:” With this diploma certificates, they can go for degrees in law and they are better prepared for paralegal courses because they have been taught theories. It can also help them take up little jobs in law chambers.”

Mrs Aremu further disclosed that the graduands went through standardised assessment methods as their examination scripts were sent to ILEX executives in England for grading before qualifying for the diploma.

The ILEX representative at the event, Mr John

Westwood, who has 40 years legal practice experience, said: “I was impressed by the quality of examination script I received for marking. I could not believe the standard of students here. I believe that in few years time the graduates would become fully-fledged lawyers of international repute with these diploma certificates and they have become members of the ILEX family” He also added that the Institute of Legal Studies is one of the major bodies for legal executives in the United Kingdon, adding that it has been in existence since 1964.

The Osun State chairman of Judiciary Staff Union (JSU), Mr Oladapo Oseni, commended the centre for the

quality of legal education currently being provided.

Oseni said:” I want to commend Mrs Aremu and the members of staffs of this Institute for a job well done on the quality of legal education that is being provided and the manner in which the student are being tutored is incredibly excellent.

“In the past, one became a judiciary worker with just any certificate but nowadays, it is almost impossible without a degree or at least a good diploma certificate. Quite a lot of judiciary workers are going for diploma courses in Universities and Polytechnics but the centre is a better place.

The pomp ceremony was the first in the Institute since its inception in 2005. Accord-

ing to Mrs Aremu, before securing accreditation for the award of diplomas, the institute provided continuing legal education for lawyers and law students and also organised seminars covering vast areas like Information Technology, Election petitions fillings, criminal law and corporate affairs. She added that between June and January 2012, the LOA court would treat topics in oil and gas, law of banking and negotiable instruments.

Dignitaries at the event include the former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, the Olugbon of Ilegbon, Oba Emmanuel Fadare, Reverend Idowu Fasogbon.

ACE FILE

College renovates classrooms To ensure that learning and teaching remain conducive for stakeholders, the management of Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo, has completed the renovation of classrooms.

The exercise completed within three weeks included the repair of all desks and chairs in the classrooms in Y-Block and the Babatunde Ipaye Lecture theatre.

The college also refurbished the generators in the halls of residences The students have expressed satisfaction with the renovation and commended the management for putting their interest first after the mid-semester break.

They said the conducive environment would contribute to their success in the ongoing Harmattan examinations as it would solve the problem of inadequate seating spaces during the period.

…completes buildings •Sir Ejodame and Ifejika (middle) and other resource members of NBTE in a group photograph .... on Monday

‘My dream is to transform this polytechnic into varsity’

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HE Rector, Ayodeji Otegbola (ICT) Polytechnic (formerly Gateway Polytechnic (Igbesa) Ogun State, Sir Godwin Ejodame, has vowed not to rest on his oars until he attains his dreams of transmuting the five- year old polytechnic into a university of technology. He said his resolve not to apply the breaks until the institution gets to the peak, accounts for its speedy rise above its three other ICT polytechnics created under the former governor Gbenga Daniel simultaneously in 2006.

With a top-up programme with University of Greenwich in London in the pipeline, he said the institution is on the verge of getting to the next level.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

Ejodame announced this on Monday during the resource approval visit of its National Diploma in Accountancy, Business Administration and Statistics programmes by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

He said: “We are currently working out an alliance with the Greenwich University in London. We are already at the advanced stage. It is only to sign the Memorandum of Understanding. Once that is signed, the first batch of our students will go to the UK to study. But you know it will be more expensive and some of our students might experience visa problems. However, the ultimate will be when we have the university

here using the technical knowhow of the Greenwich University. We would not only be useful to our graduates but all graduates who want to take advantage of the top up programme.”

Ejodame said the institution officially inaugurated on June 29 2006, is the first ICT polytechnic in the state to get approval to run a National Diploma (ND) in Computer Engineering Technology and Electrical and Electronics Technology.

Since then, the polytechnic has added six programmes at the ND level – with full accreditation in Computer Science Technology and Electrical/Electronic Engineering.

He said the institution’s focus on engineering and IT programmes is because it is

situated close to Agbara and Otta, which host many industries.

The Rector gladly announced that come September, the polytechnic will be turning out its first ND Computer Science and Electrical/ Electronic Engineering graduates.

The leader of the NBTE team, Mr Austin Ikemefuna Ifejika told The Nation that he had been part of the accreditation team for all the gateway polytechnics since inception, noting that Ayodeji Otegbola has sustained an edge over others, “Right from the inception of the four gateway polytechnics set up in the state I’ve been involved in the visiting for approval and accreditation of programmes.

This is the only polytechnic that was able to get two programmes approved at its first visitation. And so far, this is the only polytechnic that has got approval for the HND programmes Electronics Engineering and ND in Computer Science.

“I expect that having scaled through in the past, the institution should be able to scale through this one too.”

In his team as resource persons were: Dr Olusanya Olubusoye; Mr Ikpere Clement; Mr Halilu Aminu and Mr Bashir Jamilu.

Others were Mr Edita Ekpa; Dr Stephen Aigbepue; Mr Usman Saleh; Mr Mau Dangabar; Mr Ogunjimi; and Mr Okechukwu among others.

Laptop campaign reaches Cross River schools

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HE MDGs office-sponsored ICT initiative for JSS1 girls has reached Cross River State.

Speaking at the Federal Government Girls’ College, (FGGC) Calabar, last Friday during the presentation of the laptops to pupils from select schools, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Prof.

D.A. Damachi, said the initiative is geared towards boosting the ICT potential of pupils at the Junior Secondary School Level.

Damachi explained that it has become necessary to adequately equip pupils

From Kunle Johnson, Calabar

with the requisite ICT knowledge and skills to prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century.

He added that for this reason, government will continue to place high premium on providing qualitative education for all, irrespective of age, gender, geographical and cultural settings.

He added that the initiative would serve as a recipe to fast-track the achievement of Universal Basic Education and gender

equality by attracting more girls to school towards the attainment of the National Vision and the MDGS. “The attainment of this goal must be a responsibility of all and I therefore urge all stakeholders in education to partner with us in implementing this programme in order to salvage the education system of our great country towards the attainment of sustainable development,” he said.

On his part, the Commissioner for Education, Prof Offiong Offiong, applauded the ICT initiative and urged the pupils to make proper

use of the laptops and teachers to be committed to monitoring their use.

Commending the Permanent Secretary for the laudable initiative, FGGC Principal Dr Ijeoma Essien said the donation was timely due to the ill-equipped ICT lab oratory in the school and assured that it will be put to proper use.

The schools that benefited are: FGGC; Community Secondary School, Abanwam Ere, Biase; and Government Girls Secondary School, Igoli Ogoja.

Others are: Girls Secondary School, Obudu, Girls

Secondary School, Ugep and Big Qua secondary School, Calabar.

AS part of the commitment of the management to the infrastructural development, it has completed a 500-seater lecture theatre and the Dean of Languages office complex.

The building housing the lecture theatre also has office spaces for lecturers, as well as conveniences. Furniture and other accessories are also ready.

The Dean of Languages building consists of the Deans’ Office, the secretary’s, general offices for members of staff and a conference room.

Harmattan exams begin ALL categories of students of the college have begun the Harmattan semester examinations.

According to the final examination time-table from the Officer of the Deputy Registrar, Academic Affairs, all staff and students are enjoined to adhere strictly to the time-table.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

EDUCATION UNAD FILE Workers, students get counsel WORKERS and students of the University of AdoEkiti (UNAD) have been told to be loyal, dedicated and hard working. They have also been asked to be punctual and avoid embezzlement or mismanagement of funds.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dada Adelowo spread the message across all Faculties and departments while inspecting the university’s facilities, faculties and properties.

Adelowo also urged them to follow due process.

Crèche for nursing mothers NURSING Mothers in UNAD may no longer need to go home to nurse their babies during office hours as a crèche is being established at the university’s health centre.

The Acting Vice-Chancel, Prof. Dada Adelowo has directed the Director of Health Centre, Dr. O. P. Omoniyi, to set up the crèche.

He also inspected the space provided for the crèche and ordered that electricity must be constant in the hall as well as the health centre.

Adelowo also inspected the Facilities in the Health Centre and promised to improve on the Facilities there.

At the Health Centre, he specifically urged the Provost of the College of Medicine Prof JGF. Esan, who was in his entourage to help supervise the clinical aspect of the health centre as a senior Medical Doctor of repute.

ACE FILE

Ag VC begs unions over arrears THE Acting UNAD ViceChancellor, Prof Adelowo has pleaded with all workers’ unions to cooperate with him in lifting the Institution.

He also told them that he would present their case before Governor Kayode Fayemi on the payment of the remaining 50 per cent of the monetisation arrears which they have been agitating for.

Adelowo assured them of the governor’s support.

The Unions ASUU, NASU, NAATS and SSANU represented by their leaders urged the Adelowo to quicken action on the payment of the arrears. They asked for the immediate constitution of the University Governing Council by the government and threaten to go on a warning strike if their demands were not met.

•Members of SWN with guest speakers at the event

Shell women motivate pupils I

T was three hours of fun and illumination for some secondary school pupils in Lagos during an interaction with members of the Shell Women’s Network (SWN). The session was held at the Shell Hall of the Muson Centre, Onikan.

There was no dull moment during the ‘Catch Them Young’ (CTY) programme of SWN which had as theme: “Your Future is in your Hands”.

The pupils heard inspirational talks from members of the SWN, who are all high flying employees of Shell Nigeria, watched a feature film on the dangers of HIV/ AIDS and unwanted pregnancy, and had opportunity to ask questions. The central message from all the talks was for them to be focused, take charge of their lives and dare to dream.

Mrs Beatrice Spaine, Shell’s General Manager, Business Planning and Performance Management for Sub Saharan Africa told the pupils to be wary of having fun today at

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

the expense of their future just to belong.

“We all like to be popular and cool. Cool is not necessarily defined by anybody.

You can define what cool is.

You don’t have to do what your friends think is cool.

Many times being ultra cool today does not necessarily translate to cool tomorrow,” she said.

William Udofia, a maintenance/reliability engineer for the oil company shared how he got inspired to take on a career in the oil sector when he visited an uncle who worked with Shell in Port Harcourt.

“That visit changed my life.

It was the first time I saw a washing machine. After the visit, I became serious with my studies and my grades improved. Be able to seize an opportunity; be focused, hard working and disciplined,” he said.

Ehimen Okoh, a Petroleum Engineer with SNEPCO, told how she proved to her father

she could be a successful engineer by making a first class in Chemical Engineering which earned her a Masters scholarship to Cambridge University, United Kingdom. She emphasised the need for the pupils to plan ahead for the kind of future they desire.

“For me, I liked competition so I always challenged myself to do something. If you take everyday as it comes you might not achieve anything. I looked ahead then and I thought of what I want to achieve by age 30.

You need to start now,” she said.

However, it was the Fela Durotoye who arrested the most attention with his presentation. He mesmerized the pupils and literarily made them to see themselves acting in their future roles.

He told some pupils bold enough to come out and introduce themselves as who they would be in the year 2027. By the time the pupils introduced themselves as Nobel Laureates, world re-

nowned gynecologist, presidents, and the like, the audience was charged.

He urged them to take action about their future if not what they desire will never come.

“The future is everything you can be but have not yet become. Whatever you want to do that you have not yet done remains in the future,” he said.

During the HIV/AIDS talk anchored by Mrs Jennifer Olorunisola, a Peer Educator for Shell, the pupils were warned to take care not to contract Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) through premature sexual activities.

She added that the rate of HIV/AIDS infection among adolescent was a cause for concern and showed pictures of the damage STIs could wreck when passed from mother to child.

“Eighty out of 500 students tested randomly were found to be HIV positive. I am not saying this to scare you but that you need to take care.

People say that such things do

IT student floats website on tertiary institutions

T

HERE is good news for those sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) holding nationwide on Saturday.

Do you have any problems about the examination? All you need to do for a resolution is to click on www.edunigeria.com.

The website is, however, designed to tackle problems related to all tertiary institutions in the country, according to the project

By Adegunle Olugbamila

manager, Ogunrinola Oluwatobi.

Speaking about the concept when he visited the corporate headquarters of The Nation in Matori, Lagos, Oluwatobi, a student of NIIT said: “I realize that websites of most of our tertiary institutions are not regularly updated. Sometimes, one still finds issues of two and three years old on a particular website when ordinarily such piece of information could have been updated. As a result, many students miss admission owing to this lack of information. This is what informed the website because we want it to serve as a central portal for all universities, polytechnics and colleges of education nationwide. We are also on facebook and our address is www.facebook.com/

edunigeria” The website which, according to him, has been operational since June is free for students to access especially undergraduates who want to be updated on current issues about their respective institutions.

“All such students need do is send us an inquiry using some of the mails we placed on our website; and in the next few hours, we shall get back with a response.”

Oluwatobi who said he is working with three friends on the project, said there are correspondents in each institution who will work with the information unit of the institutions to feed the website with the latest news. He equally called on interested individuals who wish to be correspondents in institution where the website currently has none.

But some institutions

not happen around here but it is not true. If you don’t contract HIV, you can contract STIs such as Syphilis and Gonorrhea. An infected mother can infect an unborn baby.

“At your age you have no business having sex. Even if you don’t contract HIV, you can get pregnant and it will terminate your education,” she said.

Speaking on the essence of the programme, SWN National Coordinator, Mrs Sarah Ajose-Adeogun said the group seeks to mentor young ones by getting them to interact with professionals who can serve as role models.

“We started this programme to empower young ones today for tomorrow. As a follow up, we have started the Shell Women’s Network Ambassadorial programme to follow up and mentor those participants who are doing well academically and behaviourally. We will match the good ones with role models who will monitor their progress,” she said.

Poly students hold convention From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

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•Oluwatobi

might not be too keen to work with the website because many of them have their standby information units, Oluwatobi nonetheless had an answer: “We do not intend to force any institution to work with us.

But what we intend to do is to prove our worth with time and if we can convince some tertiary institution on our performances, I am sure they will want to form alliance and work with us in future.”

HE National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has completed arrangement for a smooth National Convention in Nasarawa Polytechnic Lafia, Nasarawa State next week.

According to a statement by Prince Mohammed Sani Hassan on behalf of NAPS senate secretariat, a new executive that will lead the association for one year will be elected during the convention.

The statement further advised all Students Union leaders of Polytechnics, Monotechnics, Colleges of Education and Agriculture to endeavor to attend the convention slated for the 23rd and 24th.

Hassan said this is the first time in the history of NAPS that a convention would attract over 200 students gunning for various national positions.

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‘Fufu revolution’ at AAUA

Coke thrills at UNICAL

Page 34

Page 31

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE

0805-450-3104 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Student-activists and the senate of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) marked the 18th anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election last Saturday. NURUDEEN YUSUF (200-L Common and Islamic Law, LASU) and SIKIRU AKINOLA (200-L Political Science, OAU) report.

Exciting memories of June 12 in Lagos, Ife HOUGH it was tagged a “student congress”, the venue, Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, was filled with not only students and their leaders, but many dignitaries too. The host was the Senate Secretariat of the National Association of Nigerian Students’ (NANS). It was in remembrance of the late winner of the June 12 presidential election.

In attendance were Dr. Abubakar Momoh, Head of the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University (LASU); Olanrewanju Elegushi, Chairman, Eti Osa Local Government, who represented Oba Saheed Elegushi, the Onikate of Ikate land and Comrade Ayodele Adewale, former Public Relations Officer of NANS and incumbent Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government. There were many students from various campuses and student union leaders, such as Toye Oladuntun, NANS National Vice President (External Duties); James Olukayode, Senate Clerk; Jinad Sodiq, Chairman, Action and Mobilisation; and Olanrewaju Ogundipe, Chairman, NANS JCC Lagos axis, among others.

In his opening address, the NANS Senate President, Ahmed Agbabiaka, said his office decided to hold the event, to remind students of the tenets of true democracy and the need for a truly democratic government.

“Our doggedness to see this achieved prompted our close monitoring of the 2011 general elections, which is believed to be the freest and fairest since the June 12, 1993, election,” he said.

Momoh delivered the main paper. He said he decided to be a lecturer in the university to inspire young adults “because they need to be mentored”.

In his paper entitled: “Democracy 101 Genuine opposition as a factor for the advancement of true democratic values”, he said a nation without idealist youths has no future.

“The youth must be allowed to dream their

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•Participants at the June 12 Place, Ile-Ife.

PHOTOS: SIKIRU AKINOLA and NURUDEEN YUSUF

•Dr. Momoh delivering his address.

•Ahmed giving the welcome speech.

own dreams since the first set of people who led the struggle for independence were youths and majorly students. Any youth who imprisons himself and refuses to be idealistic is doomed. The first major political group in Nigeria, the Nigeria Youth Movement (NYM) was formed by idealistic students and it fought for the decolonisation of Nigeria,” he said.

The lecturer defined democracy as a system that “empowers the people, allows them to express their rights and reproduce their basic needs of life”.

Relating the theme to June 12, he said the late MKO Abiola, winner of that election, won “because he was the only one who could look

into Babangida’s eyes, and because he demonstrated an understanding of our national politics”.

He added that Abiola’s message then was “let’s banish poverty, we must banish poverty” which was well received by many Nigerians “across ethnic and religious divides”.

Earlier, Comrade Ayodele commended the NANS Senate for organising the congress.

“Only students can put Nigeria back on track; this is because you have nothing to lose”. He said people such as Gani Fawehinmi, Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikwe “started making remarkable impact as youths”.

Oba Elegushi, speaking through his brother,

the chairman of Eti Osa Local Government, paid tribute to those he described as the heroes of democracy.

He said: “We can only continue to have democracy if we stand up to it by demonstrating good democratic culture. For democracy to be sustained, there is the need for NANS to be sincere to students and loyal to their stated values. They must also have respect for the rule of law.”

At the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, student-activists also gathered to mark the day. The event was organised by the President of the National Association of Local Government Students (NASLOGOS), Oluwaloseyi Babaeko. He collaborated with the owner of Wale African Aesthetic and Research, Mr. Wale Babatunde. It took place at the June 12 Place, Ajebamidele, Ile-Ife. The event, which started around 4pm last Sunday, was attended by students of OAU, The Polytechnic, Ife; Oduduwa University and others.

Oluwaloseyi, in his welcome speech, said: “Though some states have done well by declaring June 12 a work-free day, we still urge the federal and other state governments to immortalise the late icon of democracy, Chief MKO Abiola, by also making that day sacrosanct. Nigeria’s democracy cannot be complete without mentioning his name.

Schools, streets and government structures should be named after him”.

Babatunde thanked the guests for attending the event. There were also a lot to eat and drink after the speeches which bordered mainly on pressing national issues.

• Snake found under mattress - Pg31•Corps members take free medicare to Bakassi - Pg33

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Maintain our Pushing standard, Out with please Ngozi Nwozor

L

AST Friday, I was harassed. Between 1 and 2pm, many motorists, including me, had the misfortune to be around Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

We were subjected to some indignity that has become alien to Lagosians.

I do not know what the occasion was, but a convoy of vehicles bearing the inscription of one of the Southsouth states did its best to frustrate people. It started with ear-piercing siren that could wake the dead. The loudness reminded me of something one of my lecturers at UNILAG used to say. According to him, from the volume of someone’s music, he always correctly judged the person’s level of education and intelligence.

Smart, exposed people are not loud; that came from people of low intelligence.

A friend who was in the car with me muttered that governors and other “important” visitors to Lagos must be taught that we have passed that stone man stage. But that was before the driving and complete blocking of the road, for close to one hour. To call the driving dangerous would be an understatement. I concluded that if anyone rightly addressed as “His excellency” was the one for that convoy, those drivers must have gone to pick him. He couldn’t be in any of those vehicles at that time. No; he would not be.

I repeat; he wasn’t. That’s the only way to keep my sanity.

But any such person with the prefix of “Governor” to his name needs to see to it that his drivers, security personnel, protocol and whatever else that make up the advance party and co are properly trained.

This is especially when they come to La-

08054503104 (SMS only)

•campuslife@thenationonlineng.net •ladycampus@yahoo.com gos. For readers outside Lagos, here we have a governor and wife who do not use the siren; they do not also drive “anyhow”, if you know what I mean. And, of course, when their excellencies are that decent on the roads, who is that commissioner or aide that will do otherwise? In other words, Lagosians are now used to decency on the roads.

Before now, we have been told that it was impossible for “important government functionaries” to do without the siren. They are supposed to always be in a hurry, to meet with the demands of governance. But for four years – and counting – Babatunde Fashola has made nonsense of that claim.

And in performance, no governor in this country “sees his back”, as we say in the local parlance. That is another way of saying that he outperforms all.

So, like some of us argued before Fashola came, those driving government functionaries can drive like refined human beings and their principals will still perform excellently.

It’s true that Fashola campaigned for re-election in the April polls, but everyone, including children, knew that he didn’t have a challenger. Not for want of ambitious men and women; it was because the man performed in his first term. I didn’t vote for him in 2007, but this year, I campaigned vigorously for him – even spending my hard-earned money

- unsolicited.

Again, we are in an era where words like “change”, “transformation” and the like have become the mantra. We have a President who insists he is out to change the way we do things – for good. We have millions of young people who are dying to see just a few leaders they can model their lives after. When all they keep seeing are acts of brigandage and intimidation from those in office, they behave the same too.

And, as we see happening all over the country today, they do it worse.

Little acts always create ripples that come back in tidal waves.

Sometime last year, former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, ran into troubled waters when the security men attached to his convoy molested a lady driver in Ikoyi, here in Lagos. I’m sure the man did not contend with the bad press that followed. He was held responsible.

Who can forget our naval officer, Harry Arogundade, whose rates not only molested but actually beat up and dragged another lady driver on the streets? This too happened in

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Lagos. Of course the cas was settled by the courts.

My point really is a plea on all public office holders, elected and appointed, to show some consideration to the same public they purport to serve – especially when they are in public. In as much as the governors, ministers and others are not the ones driving the cars in their convoys, they are the principals and what they allow stands.

I’m sure that if permitted, the men driving Fashola’s convoy would show others why Lagos is called “Eko for show!” But their principal clearly stepped his foot down on that.

Let others do the same. This transformation we are talking about is not mere platitude; it is for real. Lagos has shown the way.

Ciao

Re: “Students reject exam time table” The story with the above headline, written by our correspondent, Philip Okorodudu, was published on page 32 in our June 2, 2011, edition. We have since discovered that the development was misrepresented. We hereby retract the publication. We wish to assure the management of Delta State University of our highest esteem.

Essay Competition for Undergrads

HE Nation CAMPUSLIFE, in collaboration with AfricanLiberty.org and Network for a Free Society, is calling for entries into an essay completion. Details are as follows: Topic: Free Enterprise: The Precursor to Economic Prosperity For Who: Students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions Format: MS Word, not more than 1,500 words.

Interested students should please request for the background material from Adedayo at adedayo.thomas@gmail.com and copy Ngozi at ladycampus@yahoo.com.

On the first page of the completed essay, please write your full names, department, year of study and name of institution. Also include your email address and GSM line.

Send to adedayo.thomas@gmail.com and copy ladycampus@yahoo.com.

Entries will be received between June and July 2, 2011.

Prizes: 1st - N50, 000; 2nd - N30, 000; 3rd - N20, 000; 4th - N15, 000; 5th - N10, 000 There will also be five N5, 000 honorary mentions.

All entries will get a free CD “Ideas for a Free Society” containing 100 textbooks on various fields of studies.

Announcement of Winners: July 28.

Presentation of prizes: August 4, 2011.

First to Third winners will be presented their prizes at the Corporate Headquarters of The Nation Newspapers in Lagos. Others will be routed through the Deans of Student Affairs or HOD of winners’ departments.

Living his passion He brims with an unusual passion. A final year student of Political Science, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Ifeanyi Ben-John, has carved a niche for himself in business. ADEIFE ADEBIYI (400L Mass Communication) writes.

•Ifeanyi, with one of his dogs.

FEANYI Ben-John is the chief executive officer of Ben Classic Ventures, but the 400-Level student of Political Science at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) is fast making a name for himself in events coverage, breeding and sale of quality dogs ranging from Rottweiler, Alsatians, South African Boe-boes, and other pure stock breeds. The 27-year-old, who started taking care of pets as a child has been

I

able to successfully channel his hobby into a booming business enterprise.

Blessed with good looks and popular on campus, Ifeanyi utilised of these attributes to establish his business.

He said: “The road to initiating and sustaining this business was a rough one. I started out with events coverage in 2001 through an opening that came in my church, Overcomers World Church Outreach. My pastor, Bishop N.E Moses, encouraged me. He even sponsored me to do a course at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

Today, I have many quality works to my credit. I have managed events like society weddings, church harvests, conventions, award nights and rallies.”

The quality of his event coverage afforded him the opportunity to work with people like Central Bank Governor, Chukwuma Soludo; famous choral director, Mr. Patrick Oke, popular movie producer Lancelot Imasuen, amidst others.

By a stroke of luck, Ifeanyi was advised by a friend to go into the breeding of dogs, because of the large expanse of land in his father’s compound.

“My friend taught me the rudiments of dog breeding which I discovered I actually enjoy doing. Hence, Ben Classic Ventures was initiated in 2005 and formally registered in 2007”.

But challenges, such as the juggling of businesses and schooling from first year to final year, stood in the way of this young entrepreneur.

Reminiscing, he narrated: “I started breeding foreign puppies with just N50,000 which I used to buy one Rottweiler puppy. But due to birth complications, I had to sell it and buy Boe-boes from South Africa.

The puppies were really beautiful and I decided to maintain their beauty by

feeding them with only quality food. I also ensured that they were properly vaccinated and crossed with purely their own kind so I don’t get mixed or adulterated breeds. In any business you do, you have to make some strong sacrifices. In my case, I had to find time to advertise them by walking them regularly. Sometimes, I had to carry them on my head and hawk them (especially the Rottweilers and the boe-boes).

It wasn’t easy to feed 10 vibrant puppies and also attend lectures and run back home again to check on them as they constantly demanded attention.

“Remember at this time, they were just a few weeks old; just like human babies they relied on you for everything. As i wanted them to produce the desired quality – the brand I was working to achieve – I had to give them the attention. I later got someone on contract to watch out for them and give them their drugs when I couldn’t make it as a result of classes.”

What about his academics? Ifeanyi says he is putting in his best. “God’s so good, I am on a good grade point standing (2:1); moreover, my social activities have been reduced to the barest minimum in order for me to balance the elements of my life.

For him, the sky is just the starting point as he aims to “make Ben Classic Ventures a household name in Nigeria and the US as well as diversify into other chains of businesses, such as oil & gas and estate management”.

Where does this drive come from?

He says: “My drive is fuelled by a strong belief in God as well as the Nigerian market terrain which is loaded with great opportunities. What is needed is quality packaging and branding.

Quality and fast delivery are my selling points.”

•Israel (left) receives his prize from the HOD, Prof Adekoya.

‘Poetry speaks’ at Ife

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OR students of the Department of English, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife Osun State, it was a day that poetry came to life. The event, organised by the Oladele Madamidola-led National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies (NASELS), was the finals of a competition tagged: “Poetry speaks”.

The competition attracted about 28 contestants who were pruned to seven at the preliminary stage.

It was not an all-student affairs as eminent personalities within and outside the department graced the occasion. The judges were Arthur Anyaduba, a former best graduating student presently doing his masters, Dr. Chijioke Uwasomba, from the department, and Miss Oyin Longe, a lecturer from Drama department.

Poetomania, a popular poetry group from the department set the ball rolling with the rendition of Femi Fatoba’s “They said I abused the Government”. The interlude, “Every junction police dey! Eh eh police dey! Oga where your paper, Oga where your N20” rendered during their presentation sent the audience reeling with laughter. The main competition was fierce as the

From Hannah Ojo OAU

seven finalists were in their creative best to win over the audience and the judges.

In the end, the judges who confessed to the originality of ‘all the performances’ pronounced Israel Adelaja, a 300-Level student, winner, with 76 per cent. Israel’s performance was enhanced by his baritone voice and the forcefulness of his message.

Adeola Salawu, who came second, wowed the hearts of many with her dramatic performance and her engaging lyrics on the tyranny of time for girls deluded by youthful exuberances. Adejumoke Adeyeye, a 100-Level student, who came third, and got a Vita foam leisure was commended by the judges for her boldness. The first and second place winners got N10,000 and N5,000.

The Head of Department (HOD) of English, Prof Segun Adekoya, expressed delight at the idea, saying the cultural life of the school was being resurrected. He further advised that the scope of the contest should be widened.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

31

CAMPUS LIFE

Coke thrills at UNICAL Youths in four Southsouth states gathered last week at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) to decide the Zone B standard-bearers in the ongoing Coca-Cola COPA championships. CHARLES UDENZE (Law) and EMMANUEL SHEBBS (400-L Political Science) report.

•The coach, Ugbade (right), being introduced.

•The winners, Calabar team. Far left is Mr Adelusi. Right (in suit) is Mr Obetem.

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ALL it end of semester fun, weekend-mania or grassroots’ talent hunt and you may be right. One thing though The COPA Coca-Cola Youths’ Championship needs no lengthy introduction in sporting circles. The Zone B finals took place at the Abraham Odia Stadium, University of Calabar (UNICAL).

Four teams battled for supremacy and honours. They were Calabar, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Yenagoa.

The players displayed flair, beauty and finesse in a bid to be spotted by scouts looking for young talents.

Coca-Cola, the soft drink giant, once again, proved why it is the brand for the youth; this is seen in its desire to develop talents in varied fields, such as entertainment, education, sports and journalism.

The aim of the tournament was to select 16 players that will represent the zone in the final in Lagos. CocaCola picked Nduka Ugbade, former

Super Eagles star, to coach the youngsters from Zone B. The final, played last Friday, June 10, was between the Calabar team and the boys from Coach Samson Siasia’s home state, Yenagoa. Before the finals, there were the semi-finals which took place at the same venue.

Calabar played Uyo in the first semi final, in which they out- played Godswill Akpabio’s boys in all the departments of the game. If not for the agility of the Uyo goalkeeper, perhaps the score would have been outrageous, but, at the end, the game ended 1-0.

The second semi-final saw the Yenagoa boys showing no mercy to their Port Harcourt brothers. From the blast of the whistle to the end of the game, Yenagoa took the game to their opponents’ half and the ball virtually remained there till the end of the game. The score-line stood at 2-0 at the end of hostilities.

Free Coca-Cola drinks were

shared to the spectators who watched the game. There were raffle draws where prizes — footballs, PS 2 games, generator set and others —were given out.

The final day of the tournament was full of drama and suspense. At 3.45pm, the sound system in the stadium started playing the famous R. Kelly and The Soweto Spiritual singers’ song, Sign of Victory. Incidentally, that’s exactly one year the song was used in South Africa to open the last World Cup. It was as if cold water was poured on the spectators as the two finalists filled out from the dressing room in their colourful jerseys.

The final commenced at 4pm. For the first 10 minutes, the Calabar boys played Yenagoa the way Barcelona outplayed Manchester United in the last European Championship. They had the spectators rooting for them as the host team.

Calabar was awarded a penalty in the 10th minute and their goal-

•Spectators watching one of the matches.

keeper came out, took the spot kick and missed. After the missed penalty, their fans lost their voice while the players lost their rhythmic flow of the game as the Yenagoa boys regained their confidence and the game became evenly balanced.

Spectators virtually sat at the edge of their seats till the very end of the first half, as the score stood at a goalless. The second half saw more determined teams as they battled to out-play one another. In the 67th minute, the Calabar team coach brought in his joker, Nnseh Okorn (No 11), to replace No 8.

Nnseh unsheathed his sword in the 74th minute, and with a perfect aim, stabbed the life out of the Yenagoa boys in what spectators described as the goal of the match, a goal fit for the World Cup. All ef-

Auchi Poly gets first woman SU president Judith Ife has made history as the first woman Student Union President at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi (Auchi Poly). TOSIN AJUWON (HND I Mass Communication) was at her swearing-in.

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OMETIME last year, Judith Ife was elected vice-president of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State. But in January, she became acting president.

This followed the suspension and eventual rustication of the former president, Musa Kassim Okhaliosomi (MKO) Alaba, after he was found guilty of “insensitivity and high-handedness” by the Students Disciplinary Committee headed by the Dean of Students Affairs (DSA), Mr. George Umoru.

But, last week, the institu tion

appointed Judith the substantive

SUG President. Her tenure, however, would expire in less than two months, when students are expected to go to the polls and elect a new president.

She is making history as the first girl to lead the SUG. Also sworn in were other members of the SUG. The new officials include Comrade Nicholas Omorogbe, an HND II student of Agricultural Engineering, who is the vice-President. He beat Comrade Suleiman Aliyu, also of the School of Engineering, with 13 votes. It was a thug of war as they slugged it out earlier in a fiveminute manifesto..

An excited Nicholas said: “A dream can only be halted but can never be killed. Today, my

•Judith

•Nicholas

dream has been made real. We have the courage to address those issues that affect our students. My office is in charge of our annual Poly Week. I intend to make this year’s the best so far”.

According to the Auchi Polytechnic Electoral Commission

(APECO) chairman, Sunday Afolayan, 111 students voted. This was because franchise was restricted to members of the three arms of the union: executive, judiciary and legislature. He ascribed the success of the election to the commitment of his commission to

fort by Yenagoa to level score proved futile as Calabar ran home with the hard-earned victory.

The Cross River State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr. Remond Obetem, was on hand to present the trophy to the captain of the Calabar team.

The Project Manager of COPA Coca-Cola 2011, Mr. Femi Adelusi, thanked UNICAL for its support. He praised all those who came to watch the matches for their orderliness. He acknowledged the university security unit for maintaining order.

One of the commentators in the tournament, Solomon Onu, a student, praised Coca-Cola for “reviving Nigerian football”, and the players for “their skills and exhibition of true sportsmanship during and after the matches.” achieving the common goal.

Sunday added: “The new President and Vice-President will be in office for a period of one and half months, as the SUG executive general elections will be conducted in August”.

Earlier , at the event, 65 members of the House of Representatives took the oath of office. They had been elected by their different classes.

Also sworn in were some hostels’ executives. Each promised to discharge his duties effectively.

The oath was administered by the polytechnic’s legal adviser, Mrs. Jane Asinofu. She urged them to be alive to the challenges facing their constituencies.

Her words: “As you take the oath of office today I urge you to steer clear out of all corrupt practices. The primary aim of being in the house is to represent your people, which is the constituency you are from. Try as much as possible to make your voice heard on issues bothering them, because that’s why they voted for you. Keep to your promises and I know God will see you through”.

•Continued on page 34

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

CAMPUS LIFE ABU records week of tragedies TUDENTS and staff of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, will not forget last week in a hurry. It was a week of sorrow. The school lost eight students.

The death of Auwal Shanono, a 500-Level student of Medicine, brought tears to the eyes of many.

While still mourning Auwal’s death another bombshell came: “seven students were crushed to death by a truck”.

Auwal, until his death, was the national president of the Nigerian Medical Students Association. He was one of those hacked to death by the senseless tragedy that gripped Ibadan town recently when factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) went on a killing spree. The student, along with four others, had attended a national conference on preventing

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•Igbo students on Cultural Day.

Students’ week at Pankshin

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TUDENTS of the Federal College of Education, Pankshin, Plateau State, have held their annual week. The theme was: The effect of cultism, drug abuse and indecent dressing on students.

The first day was the opening ceremony organised by the Students Union Government (SUG).

It was attended by the Provost of the College, Prof David Wonnang and some other members of the management. Prof Wonnang de-

From Chidiebere Umeorizu and Ogechi Ajah FCE PANKSHIN

clared the week open.

A lecture, The importance of women education was delivered by Miss Judith Amaechi, the SUG Assistant Secretary-General, after which the SUG officials and some students went for hospital visitation. There was also a bonfire to mark this year’s event.

The second day featured Jersey

Carnival and Opera Night which was organised by the department of Music. A drama competition was equally held with Igbo, Yoruba, Benue and Plateau students participating. Igbo students took the first position.

Miss Culture Beauty pageant had five contestants from different states participating. At the end, Miss Akwa Ibom emerged winner.

The week ended with a thanksgiving service.

New academy for ‘raw talents’

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O promote talented youths, an institution, Afrique Arts Academy, has been established. Speaking at its opening in Abuja, its chief coordinator, Mrs. Chetachukwu Iroegbu, said the main goal was to make young people to develop and nurture their God-given talents.

Mrs. Iroegbu said prospective students would learn artistic; entrepreneurial and leadership skills; adding that the academy would serve as a finishing school for students and graduates of performing

From Tayo Owolabi and Genevieve Ajewole NYSC ABUJA

arts.

She said: “Afrique Arts Academy is an arts institution that nurtures creativity and encourages self-expression through the arts.

We are building a world class academy that will accommodate all classes of students.”

She said the academy was unique because its curriculum has solid educational foundation

comprised basic communication Arts and Social Science in addition to its world class advantage in the performing arts. “We are going to provide a platform for students to grow, which is why we partner other segments of the entertainment industry. This is like a finishing school even after you graduate from the university. We offer what universities don’t offer. The academy is intended to become a full University of Performing Arts or you might say a University of Entertainment,” Mrs. Iroegbu added.

From Dayo Ibitoye ABU

maternal mortality in Osun State.

They had gone to Iwo Road, Ibadan, to board a night bus to Kaduna. On getting there, they were caught in an exchange of fire. Auwal was shot and burnt. The other four students escaped by the whiskers.

Two days later, the other seven students were in a bus on their way home. It was around 8pm and there was a heavy downpour. Their bus collided with a petrol tanker. The accident occurred at a spot close to Muhammad Aminu Square, along the Samaru-Sabon Gari Road.

Among the dead is Idris Umar, a graduate of Computer Science of the school. Idris is one of the sons of Umar Idris, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

OAU Idris was due for service in August.

Students congratulate Kumuyi at 70

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EMBERS of the Deeper Life Campus Fellowship at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and other institutions have congratulated their General Overseer Pastor W.F Kumuyi, on clocking 70.

Extolling the pastor, Tolulope Ewuola, a choir member at the fellowship and 200-Level English Education student, said: “He (Pastor Kumuyi) is my dream Elijah, role model and father-figure.”

Taiwo Ode, 300-Level Chemical Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA), said Kumuyi was a person whose teaching and practice agree. He said: “Pastor is a proof of holiness and model of excellence.”

An OAU student, who is a member of the Pentecostal Fellowship, told CAMPUSLIFE that besides being a custodian of the precepts of God, “Kumuyi is one of the few preachers who have mastered the art of communication.”

James Ogidi, a student of Microbiology at the Adekunle Ajasin Uni-

• Pastor Kumuyi From Samson Ademola OAU

versity, Akungba (AAUA), said: “I have come to see him (Kumuyi) as the reactivated strain of the old Christian sage. In him I see the Bible as a reality. Simple as he may look, he with God has commanded this great army called Deeper Life.”

Snake found under mattress

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ESIDENTS of Room 361, elKanemi block, at the Bayero University, Kano (BUK) ran for their lives last Monday, when one of them saw a snake under his mattress.

CAMPSULIFE gathered that the snake found its way into the room through a wide space between the door and the floor. The student under whose mattress the snake was found Isah Ahmed-Rufai, said: “I was having a wonderful night rest after a stressful day. Suddenly, I heard a big bang on the door.

Before I knew it, a voice from outside shouted my name. It was unusual and at 2am for that matter. But behold, it was a friend of mine, •Some of the students on “Colour riot” day.

English Dept marks Grammarians’ Week

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EMBERS of English and Literary Students Association, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have held their annual week tagged: “Grammarian Week”. It was organised by the body’s Director of Socials, Queen Igbulu.

The programme started with the grammarians dressed in corporate attire made of white and black. The second day was tagged “Colour riot day”. Rules of fashion and colour combination were trampled upon but not without. Between 10 and 11am, the students were all over the Arts Faculty blocks taking pictures.

This as well as the colours on display

From Oladele Oge UNN

drew the attention of many other students.

June 8 was the Jersey Day. Students turned out, decked in the colours of different foreign football clubs, including Chelsea, A.C Milan, Manchester United, Arsenal, Barcelona among others.

The next day, which was called old school day, was the day the university community felt the past come back. The students wore the sometimes crazy attires round campus.

Next came the cultural day. This was a day that the traditions and

customs of various ethnic groups in Nigeria lived again; many students wore native. The title holder in the department in his glorious regalia appeared solely on strictly “Igbo” native attire. The “Okwuchaa ogwu” of the faculty of Arts Traditional Council, Chukwudera Iheanetu, a 300-Level student, did justice to the day. Friday being most times a lecture free day made it obvious that our traditional ethnic dressing is not totally lost to the tornado of civilisation and modernism.

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that these activities are also a prep for the department’s Literary Arts festival which comes up soon.

From Haruna Muhammad BUK

Henry, who told me that it seemed a snake had entered our room.

Immediately, my eyes opened wide. So, I had to wake my roommates. It was dark, but using the light from our phones, we saw the snake, trying to crawl under my mattress. I thank God and I also thank my friend, Henry.”

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the Good Samaritan, Henry, who alerted his friend, was making midnight calls outside the hostel when he saw the snake sneaking into the room. He also helped in getting sticks that were used in killing the snake.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

33

CAMPUS LIFE

Campus journalists induct new members EW members of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Association of Campus Journalists (ACJ) have taken the oath of allegiance.

The programme, which started at 10am, was attended by the Editor of The Nation, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, the representative of the dean, Students Affairs, students and ex-members of the association.

The event was anchored by the duo of Demola Adeyeye and Tola Okunlola, the public relations officer and deputy chairman, Guild of Editors. There was a poetry presentation by Kennedy and Friends after which the winners of the Induction Essay Competition were announced. Foluso Adeboye came first.

In his welcome address entittled: “Objectivity in journalism: A panacea for nation building”, the ACJ president, Joseph Akinyanmi, charged the new members to be objective. He said the rationale behind the induction

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•The campus journalists at the end of the day. Middle is Mr Omotoso From Sikiru Akinola OAU

was to remind members of the qualities and prospects expected in 21st century journalism.

Mr Omotoso, in his lecture entitled “The plausibility of objective journalism in the Nigerian democratic system,” said: Any work that is not objective cannot be called good journalism. The journalist

keeps watch on government officials and high ranking individuals in the society. He exposes the evil of the state. Any media house that wants to make it must be objective.”

He noted that The Independent of London was established by professional journalists without affiliation to political parties.

He likened a democratic system without journalism to “fish out of water.” Getting information by jour-

NANS partners poly on dress code

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HE Kwara State axis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has partnered the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, in the crusade against indecent dressing among students.

The Rector, Dr. Muftau Olatinwo, made this known while inauguration dustbins and corrective signposts that would serve as guide to students at the

From Jane Mfon OFFA POLY

mini campus.

Represented by his deputy academics, Latinwo said the management was happy to be associated with NANS in its desire to eradicate indecent dressing and other vices.

Director of Students Affairs Mr. Leonard Adeyemi, said the part-

nership was timely because the situation is so bad that students defaced and damaged school property with impunity.

Students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, said the move was a step in the right direction because character molding was an integral aspect of tertiary education. Others at the event include the Head of Security, Moshood Ibrahim and officials of the SUG.

nalists is challenging but with the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, things will improve,” he noted.

“As an experienced journalist, when you pursue a story, you must pursue it to a logical conclusion. Do not reveal your source of information because if you do, you may be unable to get another from anybody. You can use your pen to fight injustice in your immediate commu-

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CTING Vice-Chancellor of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State Prof Rosemund Green-Osahogulu has urged students to concentrate on their studies or be expelled. He spoke at the institution’s matriculation 1,350 new students.

“The university will not hesitate to expel students who fail to cope with the high academic and moral standards for which the institution has been known for over the years,” the VC declared.

Prof. Green-Osahogulu added: “Individuals or groups

nity. We have all seen the effectiveness of journalism in Egypt, Tunisia, Iran and Libya,” Omotoso said.

Responding to the students’ plea for assistance towards equipping of their secretariat, the editor promised the association free copies of The Nation daily. He also made a personal cash donation.

CAMPUSLIFE reporter and Secretary General of the ACJ, Samson Ademola, gave the vote of thanks.

‘Face your studies’ From Godswill Odeku and Ignatius Ajuru IAUOE

choosing to constitute a nuisance and security risk to the university community would be handed over to law enforcement agencies. I advise you all to resist all persuasions or intimidations capable of putting you on collision with constituted authority within or outside the campus.”

UNIJOS student presents book

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•An Ikang, Bakassi community, woman being attended to by one of the corps members.

Corps members take free medicare to Bakassi

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HE Health and Free Drug community development (CD) group of the Cross River State NYSC has taken its free medical service to Bakassi.

Explaining the aim of the CD group, the State Coordinator, Mr. Joshua Olowookere, told the over 300 beneficiaries of the free drug and health consultancy to take advantages of the health education and drugs brought to their door steps by discussing confidentially with the corps doctors. The NYSC boss added that, though the drugs were free of charge, the people should guide against drug abuse.

He also called on other

From Tayo Adedapo NYSC CALABAR communities in the state to invite the NYSC Health CD group so as to enjoy its benefits.

Also speaking at the flagging off ceremony, the local council chairman, Hon. Ekpo Bassey, thanked the medical doctor-corps members and pharmacists for the initiative on free health consultation.

Bassey, who is also a medical doctor, solicited for more collaboration between the local government and the NYSC. He added his voice to the

debate on the continued relevance of the NYSC, saying the scheme is “very relevant especially for people at the grassroots who could not have experienced such medical service, and for free”.

Equally speaking, the clan head of Ikang community, Chief Kenneth Effiong, thanked the NYSC for approving Bakassi for the mobile health programme, adding that it would challenge their children to perform better in school as well as meeting the people’s health needs.

In his remark, president of the CD group, Dr. Ayo Oloruntoba, thanked those who donated the drugs and others for the success of the programme

student has underscored the significance abstinence from sexual promiscuity as the solution to the scourge of HIV/ AIDS in the society. This is contained in a book entitled: No need to cry by Simeon Ishar, a 300Level student of English at the University of Jos (UNIJOS).

Speaking at the launch, the reviewer, Prof Uwemedimo Iwoketok, said the book, which is “creatively sound and socially acceptable”, unveiled social and political issues as it affects HIV/ AIDS. Prof Iwoketok, also a lecturer in English, explained that HIV/AIDS would be reduced if unmarried people abstained from sex and the married become faithful to their spouses.

She congratulated the author and encouraged other students

From Esther Mark UNIJOS

to take their studies seriously and discover their potentials.

The author, Simeon, in an interview, said the book was written as fiction to help spread the message of HIV/AIDS. He said reading the book would create awareness of the pestilence in the minds of people “since stories could easily be remembered than boring lectures.”

The event, which was graced by lecturers of the department and other dignitaries, also had students of the department all clad in the departments dress code - green and black. The 200page novel is the first work of the author, who said “more are in the pipeline.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

34

CAMPUS LIFE One does not need to travel to Tunisia, Egypt or any of the Arab nations to witness a revolution. A visit to AkungbaAkoko, Ondo State, will suffice. FOLAKE OLATOKUN (300-L Mass Communication) writes that many students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, in a radical move, have embraced a change in their choice of food, especially after a very stressful day.

•Some students in their room, eating fufu.

A

‘Fufu revolution’ at AAUA

POPULAR food that is in surplus supply in

Akungba-Akoko, the host community of the Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA), is fufu, also called akpu by the Igbo. Students seem to have suddenly woken up to this fact. They are, therefore, taking full advantage of it; many of them no longer pretend they do not like the food.

Investigations by CAMPUSLIFE reveal that majority of them have to come regular customers of the sellers who now give them a discount.

Fufu is made from freshly harvested cassava, after passing through certain degrees of fermentation. One of the producers, Mrs. Rukayat Olaniyan, described the process thus: “After harvesting the tubers of cassava from the farm, we peel them, then

•Another buys the choice meal outside the hostel.

wash them thoroughly with water to remove the dirt. The dirt normally comes from sand and in the course of the peeling. The tubers are then soaked in fresh water, covered properly and left for four to five days. At the end of this period, they have become quite soft and ready for sieving.

When we finish, the sieved cassava is packed in a sack and placed under a heavy stone or wood to drain out all the water”.

The last stage is the preparation, which could take either of two forms, depending on the preference of the cook. These are the cook-and-pound form, or the “semolina” style. Mrs. Olaniyan added that the pounding style

require more time and strength.

“This is why many people prefer the ‘semolina style’,” she stated.

However, many students told CAMPUSLIFE that they prefer the “semolina style” because the “long cooking process will kill any germ that may have come in contact with the cassava in the process of preparation”. They added that such prepared fufu can be preserved for a longer time compared to the pounded type.

In the recent past, foods like rice, garri, beans were high on students’ preference list. But things are changing fast! There is a clear shift from the old rou-

Amara Nwankwo is a 400-Level student of Microbiology at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT). A couple of months ago, she emerged Miss Lekki, far away in Lagos.

CHRIS OKAFOR (class mate) spoke with her.

A

What are your future aspirations?

I look forward to being one of the world’s famous models; this is next to having a good life with my family.

Do you have role models?

Yes I do! They are Tyra Banks and Agbani Darego.

What is special about Amara?

What is special about me? Yes! My smile is what makes me special and this is because you cannot find it elsewhere.

How would you define a beautiful woman?

A beautiful woman is one whose beauty reflects from within. Beauty goes beyond the outward looks; it oozes from within a person.

Are you beautiful?

With the permission of being immodest, I am beautiful because it was endorsed by all the judges at the pageant. Moreover you can see things for yourself.

What is your message to up-coming models like you?

Balance your career with your studies; and most importantly be dedicated to God for He is the main source of our successes. Then, please, I urge you, never ever give up on yourself and never say never, no matter how hard things may seem.

students eat it in the afternoon, while some take it at night”.

She added that she makes more sales in the afternoons.

“You know many of the students, after the day’s, lecture will be very tired to even cook.

At that time, evenings, they tend to resort to what many refer to as fast food,” she submitted.

In all, while the students are quite happy with their new found love for fufu, the sellers are happily smiling to the bank.

As one student put it, “no one and nothing, not even the socalled heavy smell of the fufu, will separate Akungba students from the love of this food!”

Auchi Poly gets woman president

‘My smiles make me special’

S winners were being announced what was going on in your mind?

To a very large extent, I was nervous even though I anticipated carrying the day; and when the result finally came through I felt relaxed, great and fulfilled.

What does Miss Lekki represent?

Miss Lekki beauty pageant is all about projecting young women with talents, beauty and, of course, brains that will help foster development in Lekki.

What pet project have you established so far?

For the time being, I’ve visited a couple of orphanages in Ibeju-Lekki and shared good and quality moments with the children. I’ll still visit more of such homes.

How do you intend to make your reign memorable?

My reign as Miss Lekki will be memorable, I assure you. I am already working on a project, a non-governmental organisation (NGO). It is aimed at reducing the population of children in the streets.

What is your past time?

Modelling is one. However, it is not only something I do with passion. Modelling is my life.

tine, as many students say they are now “more comfortable eating fufu”.

Ayodeji Bamise is a 200-Level Law student. He said: “I like eating fufu because it makes me strong and can sustain me for a long time”.

Another student, Ayodele Lebile, in 300-Level Religious Studies, said: “With just N10 you can get a wrap of fufu and, on a very good day, one should be okay with two wraps. It is like a fast food, all you just need is to get your soup ready, and you are filled and ready to go”.

On the time they take the food, another seller, Mrs. Idowu Kareem, responded thus: “Most

•Continued on page 36

•Amara

The DSA, Mr. Umoru, was also there. He charged the legislators to abide by the tenets of the law and bear in mind that “the management would not hesitate to deal with any unscrupulous student who flouts its rules and regulations”.

He added: “I commend you for your good behaviour during the struggle to become your course mates’ representative. Remain well behaved; shun cultism because it will not make you who you to be; rather it will ruin your life. Make sure you come out with good policies that will affect you colleagues positively and I promise you we will hear it in at the management level”.

Some of the new lawmakers who spoke to our correspondent said their emergence was due to the “solid campaigns” put up by their managers as well as the support of their colleagues.

One of them, Iyrase Unuigbe, in HND I Mass Communication, listed lack of internet facilities as one of the problems facing his constituents. He promised to tackle it. “I feel happy to be elected. I will represent students of Mass Communication effectively by pushing for them to have access to internet facilities at least two hours daily. I intend to liaise with the Director of the ICT Center to see this realised,” he added.

Kingsley Ikekhide represents Civil Engineering. He said: “The only way to thank my fellow students who voted for me is to concentrate on passing motions that will aid their study of civil engineering”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

35

CAMPUS LIFE

For improved academic performance

By Kenneth Udeh kennby2005@yahoo.com

“T

ERTIARY institutions are organisations established to train and impart formal and advanced education in people.

These institutions include the universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, among others.

In the past, graduates of these insti-

D

OMESTIC violence, also known as domestic or spousal abuse, occurs when a family member, partner or ex-partner attempts to physically or psychologically dominate another. It often happens when there is no proper communication in a relationship. Domestic violence is not limited to educational status, sex, ethnicity, religion, race, culture etc. It is perpetrated by both men and women.

Domestic violence has many forms including physical, sexual, emotional, spiritual, economic abuse deprivation or threats of violence. Although emotional, psychological and financial abuses are not criminal behaviours, they are forms and can lead to criminal violence.

Domestic violence is a malaise and a small part of violence perpetrated against women and children. Although men are occasionally domestically abused, it is not as alarming as that of women and children. It is obvious that wife battering is rampant in all societies across the globe and yet people pretend nothing is happening, this historical hypocrisy has not helped any society.

A

LL seemed to be another reign of ambush and terror when the incumbent government was leading in some local governments. What came to my mind was, “Will this man be the next governor of my state come May 29?” Will Oyo State remain an unprogressive one? A state that was pronounced the dirtiest some years ago by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

I thank the people of Oyo for redeeming themselves from the PDP and voting a progressive party which led to the emergence of Abiola Isiaka Ajimobi as governor. The governor should not be carried away with joy and jubilation trailing his victory. He should bear in mind that God has put him in that position to redeem time and make things happen. It’s not by his power, but that of the God Who has spoken through the people.

Even a blind man can see to the deteriorating state of the municipal.

I

T was a wonderful sight to behold, as great shouts of joy heralded the announcement of Chief Rochas Okorocha as the winner of the gubernatorial elections here in Owerri, the Imo State capital. Men and women, old and young, were jubilant, some made open shows of their excitement and many motorists had stunts done with their cars, bikes and kekes all in the excitement of the moment.

Despite the euphoria in the air, I withdrew to the confinement of my room to ponder over the events that had taken place. As thoughts raced through my mind, I remembered the tower of Babel as recorded in the Bible.

Men had come together and said to themselves: “Let us build ourselves a city and a tower whose top is in the heavens, let us make a name for our-

tutions were accorded very high regards in their respective domains; in the labour market, jobs were instantly offered them based on merit.

However, in recent times, these graduates are berated, lampooned and subjected to severe condemnation for their reckless attitudes and non-productivity. The institutions themselves are not spared. The public now lack confidence in them, due to their inability to churn-out worldclass, confident, pragmatic and resultoriented graduates. Succinctly put, ethical revolution means change for good. It can also be defined as attitudinal rebirth.

Unfortunately, a barrage of unethical and social vices which negate virtue and moral philosophies bedevil our tertiary institutions. Research has shown that not one of the tertiary institutions is exempted from unethical flaws. One can describe today’s higher institutions as “citadels of

crimes and corruption”.

Notable among these vices are bribery, sexual escapades, homosexuality, lesbianism, indecent dressing, certificate forgery, examination malpractice, admission racketeering and secret cult activities.

To curb these menaces, there is urgent need for ethical revolution among undergraduates. Unequivocally, poor salary paid to staff members of tertiary institutions and quest to graduate without merit – “graduate – quick –syndrome”, by undergraduates, are some of the causes of the problem.

Consequently, our graduates are bereft of practical experience; do-ityourself skills and ingenuity to facilitate national economic reformation. The implication of these cankerworms called, “ethical flaws”, is lack of public trust in graduates.

Against this backdrop, the recent ranking of best universities in the

world incorporated no Nigerian university, a situation which one may describe as shameful for a country that claims to be “the giant of Africa.”

If we put ethical revolution on the front burner in our campuses, admission racketeering, sexual escapade, cheating and examination misconduct would be things of the past. Ethical revolution also has the clout to sanitise and restore peace on campuses, as spate of cult activities would be reduced, if not totally eradicated.

Every human society is fraught with one ethical flaw or the other. Hence ethical revolution remains the best tool to check, control and fight against these flaws. Again, lecturers must be well paid to enable them steer clear of financial extortion from unsuspecting undergraduates and shun laxity in their duty posts.

Meanwhile, there should be a code of conduct tribunal in all tertiary in-

Curbing domestic violence

By Zilfat Abdulwahab bashadeyi2000@yahoo.com

go, fear of reprisals, fate of children, fear of loneliness, economic independence, the stigma of divorce, etc.

For how long will this continue?

Have we thought about the psychological trauma the victims are prone to?

Even the children of such homes face difficulty in life as a result of the unhealthy family they found themselves.

Most often, delinquents were more likely to have been deprived of love, understanding and moral teachings in their homes. Nearly 90 percent of them began their delinquency by the age of 10; a high percentage came from broken home. All children seem to have a basic need of affection and a sense of belonging and if these are absent, they may suffer painful anxiety. The family is an important part of the social system and a little distortion in its process leads to the destruction of all other social systems. This creates the need to

eradicate domestic violence and restore the noble place of women in the society.

Effective solutions for preventing intimate partner abuse include providing economic opportunity, mentors, role models who are survivors of domestic violence, organising community programmes for youth and families which promote prevention of abuse in any relationship. Adult family members can help prevent domestic violence by being nurturing and by providing consistent and structured supervision.

Domestic violence can also be stopped by providing a “domestic violence centre” where everyone can help find ways either by donating money or time to learn about the problem, teaching children about healthy versus abusive relationships, listening in a nonjudgmental way to victims and giving them information about where to get help. Support of intimate partner abuse victims can also discourage jokes

Open letter to Ajimobi

laptops, wrist watches, phones, money, cameras and left us wounded. Thank God no life was lost.

Mr. Governor, sir, your efforts in restructuring Oyo in four years will determine whether our great people will vote you a second time. The saying that no Oyo State governor can rule twice can be nullified in your administration.

That happened when the garrison commander, late Lamidi Adedibu was in control. Lam Adesina’s second bid was rigged, that led to Rasheed Ladoja being declared winner. Ladoja clashed with Adedibu which led to his removal and Adebayo Alao-Akala was sworn in.

Now Adedibu died. Now there is true democracy.

There is work to be done for a good four years and you can convince them with action and not words. You will be remembered ei-

Wife-battering is an avenue for asserting power though it often results from provocation, drunkenness and even mental imbalance. Men generally feel that they must conserve the old order in the home exert authority.

Martyr complex is a major explanation for the women’s often unquestioning and unchallenging acceptance of the home experience. Here, women see themselves as being “destined for oppression” and therefore they patiently go through the “ordeal of wifehood.”

Studies have it that three-fourths of the wife beating victims reported as depressed while one-third reported feelings of humiliation. Despite the crisis and recurrence of violence in their homes, most women prefer to remain where they are. Reasons often given for this include a hope for reform or change in the home, nowhere else to

The 324 secondary schools and 1,576 public primary schools in Oyo State are not functional. What we saw were goats, lizards, cockroaches and spiders sharing spaces with the students.

Oyo State shelters four universities among which two are private (Lead City University, Ibadan and Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo); one is federal (University of Ibadan, Ibadan) while the other (Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso) is jointly owned. States like Osun, Ekiti and Ondo have their own universities; why is the case of Oyo different? The exorbitant school fee in LAUTECH has made some students drop out and opt for a vocational training.

As an indigene of Oyo, and a final year student in a federal university, I have never enjoyed the benefit of

bursary which my other associates do. And it is certain I won’t till I graduate. I plead on behalf of other Oyo students in various schools that a board should be constituted to see to the payment of bursary.

Also, we Oyo students also hope you will emulate Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and clear street urchins in Oyo State entirely by creating jobs for them and make them responsible citizens.

Many of them have taken to thuggery, crime, rape and murder as professions. I travelled to Ibadan with my colleagues late last year to tour the state; we went with two laptops, cameras and other valuable items.

We never knew our presence in the building we lodged attracted criminals; they broke into our room in the middle of the night and stole our

Lessons in the power of unity

By Ikechukwu Oguadinma chuksoguadinma@yahoo.com

selves lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth”. And the people set to work making bricks and baking them, and the bricks served as stones and asphalt for mortar. The interesting part is that when God saw the tower, he said: “Indeed, the people are one and they all have one language; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them”.

I shivered at the thought of the last phrase. Even God acknowledges the extent to which unity could drive human race. I got inspired by this and decided to share my thoughts in this article. I recalled a story which was

told countless times during my primary school days.

A man had five sons who continuously picked up fights among themselves. Disturbed by this, he called the children together one cool evening and shared bundles of brooms to eac. He then ordered them to break their individual bundles of broom. The boys were quite startled by this but still took turns to test their strength. Their efforts were fruitless as none could break their bundles.

The man quickly took the bundles and gave each a broomstick and gave the same command. Of course it was easy for them as each broke his stick without stress. It was obvious that they broke the sticks easily but could

not break the same broomsticks this time in a bundle.

People always talk about the power of incumbency. I looked up the meaning of incumbency and discovered that it is the holding of an office or the period during which the office is held. That just means that while a particular president, governor or other office holder is in power, he is the incumbent. Of course enormous authority would be vested on this person including the resources of the state which they command. Little wonder it seems almost impossible to defeat the incumbent in an election. One can then say the near impossible occurred here in Imo. It was an uphill task as mount-

structions to try cases of ethical misconduct.

On their parts, parents should not sponsor their children in examination malpractice, through subscriptions to “special centres” for public examinations such as WAEC, NECO or JAMB. And undergraduates should take their studies seriously. They should shun laxity and levity, but embrace dexterity, commitment and dedication in all they do, for better academic performance.

Achieving ethical revolution on our campuses for better academic performance and effective national development is, therefore, a clarion call to everyone, the government, parents, administrators, students and of course, every patriotic Nigerian. The time for change is now.

Kenneth, a serving corps member, NYSC Jalingo and remarks, boycott movies that gratuitously depict intimate partner violence against women, and write legislators to support laws that protect and support victims.

Advocacy can further involve encouraging one’s own health-care providers to post information about the issue. In workplace, those who want to help stop domestic abuse can organize a drive or fundraiser for goods or money to give to a domestic-violence organization.

The society at large needs to shun all forms abuse and rise to the travail of the victims of Domestic Violence to save the generation to come. Women need to be brought to the fore and any attempt to bury their interests need to be look into because they are the society itself.

Children they say are the future of any nation. they are the bedrock through which the future of all society lies. They are like growing seeds which when left un-nurtured dies, the future lies with them and their rights need to be upheld.

Zilfat, 400-L Mass Comm., BUK

By Olalekan Ibrahim Ibrahimolalekan001@yahoo.com

ther for the problem you solved or the problem you created. But we the students people of Oyo State anticipate that you will put an end to our problems.

Wishing you a successful tenure!

Olalekan, 400-L Mass Comm., UNILAG ing tension saturated the whole state; all the same, the loud voice of the people broke the barriers of “normalcy” and “protocol”. I’m not really concerned about the villain in the story or the friends and foes, but in the lessons to be learnt at the end of the day.

The situation in my state has shown how much a united populace can achieve despite all odds; people speaking with one voice, deciding what they want and what they don’t want. Some pessimist say Nigeria can never progress, but I say boldly that this is a thing of the past. The bells are ringing and tunes of change are in the air. We can be a great nation if we embrace that phenomenon called “UNITY”. The voice of the people is the voice of God. Ikechukwu, 200-L Biochemistry, FUTO

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

36

CAMPUS LIFE

Generating great ideas

By Uche Ogbonna uche.ogbonna@fidelitybankplc.com 08055061278

I

DEAS rule the world! Anyone who says differently has no clue. It is imperative that anyone who aspires to conquer the world plans his conquest with ideas in his armoury.

What is an idea? It is a creative thought which when nurtured and developed into a plan can actually be translated from the invisible into a tangible and fruitful venture. Every fruitful venture or project began as a thought or an idea.

Stop for a moment and look around you right now. Every wonder of engineering, every technological gizmo, every art or creative script came from an idea, a thought and infinitesimal spark of light that took hold and became a burning flame and changed the world.

As powerful as they are and as seemingly available, you must realise that some people have developed the art of creative idea generation. There is a way to nurture and generate great ideas.

Our goal at Fidelity Bank is to help you generate and nurture these ideas to fruition. Our brand is the product of a great idea and you and I know how far this idea has come along. It is your turn to be the next idea bank. Read this and have your life transformed.

Look out for problems and challenges: Every idea was a solution to a challenge just as every answer answers a question. You will never have great ideas if you avoid life's challenges. They say that every problem has in itself its solution in much the same way that the antidote to the venom of a viper lies within the viper itself.

You must have a mature approach to problems facing not just you but the environment. Do you want to conquer a particular geographical location? Look for the challenges in that environment. Assess them and seek out which of them bothers you the most. Concentrate on it.

On and Off Campus

Study it. Research it. In that challenge lies the very idea to conquer it.

Time apart: Creative ideas come to many people when they are aside and away from distraction. Every creative thinker is a person who takes time out…much as every scholar is a thinker.

You must take quiet moments apart to think through on the challenges that you wish to surmount. It is said that very great athletes and sportsmen especially mountain climbers complete the course they intend to engage first in their minds. If you cannot go through every turn and dip in the deep recesses of your mind to a point of absoluteness you may never grasp that event changing idea. Take walks, sit by the water side, sit with nature, get away from as much distraction as you can afford and watch the ideas begin to slowly creep in.

Write it: No matter how foolish that thought seems to be, write it down. Every creative thinker carries a script and a pen. Never leave home without it for you may not know when the light may shine upon your consciousness.

Be ready to document it. And when you do, review it again and again. As more ideas come along in your quiet moments just keep writing them down. In this seemingly haphazard manner, great ideas have come to fruition. This is a strange ability of man to make sense out of seemingly incoherent thoughts and patterns. As the thoughts flood in, pen them down. Sometimes it will be in torrents, other times it will be in trickles. It matters not.

Bash that idea: This may be the strangest suggestion yet, but maybe the most critical. You must subject your idea to severe bashing from other people. Let them criticise your idea to solve the problem. How can you test the tenacity of your idea if you do not bash it? Gather around you a few intelligent and trusted comrades. Display the problem and then proffer your idea and then test its efficacy. Subject it to the roughest and toughest critical tests and criticisms. If it fails to answer all the questions then go back to the drawing board. More often than not it will fail a few tests at first, but as you go back and refine it, it will get better and stronger and richer with input of the better brains around. Do not forget that you must allow only positive criticism to come in. Do not be discouraged. Test it.

Bash it, push it to its limits such that when you unleash it, it will fly.

We will be examining more next week. We will always be here as usual, staying true to our dear readers.

For the calls we are receiving, thank you. Keep the texts and calls coming in, but better yet, walk into any of our branches.

By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•Some of the students at the event.

Varsity holds talks with deaf students • Suspected thief caught

T

HE Students’ Affair Department of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has held an interactive session with physicallychallenged students at the Afe Babalola Hall.

The students demanded that their group, Association of Visually Impaired, be allowed to operate in the school. Mrs. A. Asiwaju from the Counselling Unit said any association that will operate on campus must be properly registered with Student’s Affairs. She implored them to get their body registered.

Mrs. Asiwaju said the university could formulate a policy to allow the students bring in their readers to the exam hall. This followed their complaints of unavailability of readers while writing exams. Where they bring their readers, they are not allowed into the exam hall. Babatunde Fadiya, in 100-Level Law, pleaded with the authorities to make provision for them to read in the library and not be compelled to buy books.

Dr. Rebecca Soremekun, Deputy Dean, Students Affairs, said the university objective was to meet with the students and know the challenges they face. “This is the first time we are actually bringing them together. We know that they will have challenges but we have never had a chance to bring all of them together to know what their challenges are and to see how the university can help them,” Dr. Soremekun said.

At the end, Emmanuel Adegbite, told CAMPUSLIFE: “We thank the school authority for giving us this opportunity. It was fully interactive because we expressed our grievances.”

Meanwhile, a suspected thief identified as Tunde Hassan, who allegedly stole a HP Compaq and a Dell laptop at room B109, Mariere Hall, was last Thursday nabbed. In an interrogation with Hassan, he said he was a 200-Level student of Mass Communication and resided in room D123 in Sodehinde Hall.

However, a Mass Communication student, Solomon Samuel, who was at the scene, denied knowing Tunde.

Investigation by CAMPUSLIFE also revealed that there is no such room as D123 at Sodehinde.

Tunde later confessed not to be a student but to be a resident of Iyesi Ota, Sango, Ogun State.

He said he stayed at the pent house of Sodehinde Hall. A visit to the room revealed a mattress, clothes and bunch of keys which the suspect said he used to open padlocks and students lockers.

When asked why he stole the laptops, he said: “This is my first time of coming. Nobody told me to come and steal; I just needed that laptop that is why I came. I just wanted to be using it for academic purpose.” Items recovered from him included two phones, charms, wraps of

•Tunde, with some of the stolen items found on him From Olalekan Ibrahim UNILAG

marijuana and a lighter.

The owner of the laptop, Idris Fadeyi, a 300Level student of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, narrated how he caught the burglar: “Just as I was dozing off, I overheard my roommate talking about somebody fidgeting around B Wing and they couldn’t identify him. Before then, three laptops had been stolen. I later noticed my laptop was missing. I searched my room and locker but couldn’t find the laptop. I went to the last floor and checked the staircase; that was when I saw the thief with the two laptops sitting on the stairs. He actually frightened me and gave me a heavy slap while trying to run away. He also injured another student on the mouth in the process. But luck ran against him as the attention of other students was drawn to him”.

Chairman of the hall, Samuel Ejiwunmi, in 200-Level Mass Communication, described the incident as very unfortunate, adding that it should never have happened in a student environment. The case had been reported to the Security Unit which in turn transferred the suspect to Sabo Police Station, Lagos.

Yala students get new leaders

T

HE National Association of Yala Local Government Students (NAYLOGS), University of Calabar (UNICAL) chapter, has inaugurated a new leadership to oversee its affairs for the next one year.

The event was well attended by students.

The inaugural ceremony took place at the Students’ Union parliamentary hall. Isaac Onah is the new President. Other leaders are

From Clarence Odey UNICAL

John Oglewu, General Secretary; Francis Ochala, Financial Secretary; Maxwell Ebi, Treasurer; George Odey, Information Director and Stephen Oko, Director of Socials.

Isaac promised to take NAYLOGS to new heights; he said his administration would be all-inclusive.

37

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

EDUCATION

Agip donates geological equipment to FUTO

T

O ensure that the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) turns out world-class geosciences students, the Nigerian Agip Exploration (NAE) Ltd has donated a 15-seater bus and various geological field mapping equipment to the institution.

Speaking during the donation at the university campus in Owerri, Imo State, Giovanni Salvini, the Managing Director of NAE, said FUTO was nominated as one of the beneficiaries in the University Partnering Project sponsored in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company and OANDO. Salvini, represented by Ciro, Antonio Pagano, a general manager, also explained that the project was envisioned “as a means of establishing viable and sustained community development activities in human capacity building to improve the quality of geoscience graduates from selected universities in the country.”

He said, N300 million to be spread across three phases within three years has been budgeted for the project, adding that at the end of the programme, students would be expected to develop maps to be published by the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency.

•Pagano and Onwuliri test driving the bus From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

In his speech, Mr Akintunde Carim, another general manager, who gave details of the donated

equipment, said his company would monitor the programme to ensure the production of a standard geological map.

Carim said NAE would sustain the programme and extend the co-

operation to other fields of study.

The FUTO Vice-Chancellor, Prof Celestine Onwuliri, assured that the school would use the equipment to “train students who can hold out anywhere in the world.”

TASUED gets DVC

•Prof Olusanya

P

ROFESSOR Joseph Olusoga Olusanya, an alumnus of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-

Ife, Osun State), has been appointed the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), ljagun, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

Olusanya, a professor of Nutrition, was born on December 29, 1953 in Oru-Ijebu, Ogun State.

He attended St. Andrews Catholic Primary School, Oru-Awa between 1959 and 1964 and St. John Bosco’s Secondary Modern School, in the Oru-Awa Province between 1965 and 1966 after which he was at Isonyin Grammar School, Isonyin from January 1967 to December 1971.

He proceeded to the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, from where he obtained a Bsc in Biochemistry in 1976.

He obtained his Master of Science in Food Technology and Ph.D in

Human Nutrition at the prestigious University of Ibadan between 1979 and 1988.

Olusanya started his career at the Federal Ministry of Health as a Food Inspecting Officer in 1978. He joined the services of the Tai Solarin College of Education, ljebu-Ode in 1980 as a Lecturer and rose to become the Deputy Provost. He was the Director, Centre for Vocational Skills, Entrepreneurship and General Studies between June 2005 and September 2008.

He later became the Director, Centre for Part-Time External Programmes (CEPEP) on October 1, 2008.

A former National Secretary of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, NSN, Olusanya is a member of the New York Academy of Science, USA

amongst others.

He also served as the Chairman, Board of Governors, Our lady of Apostle Secondary School IjebuOde (1997-2000); Member Ogun State Library Board, (1995-1999); Chairman, Laity Council, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Oru-Ijebu and member, Planning Committee, Ogun State 1st Education Submit.

He is a fellow of the Institute of Hotel and Catering Management of Nigeria, has to his credit several published books, journal articles and mimeographs.

Until his appointment, he was the Dean, School of Post-Graduate Studies.

Olusanya loves reading and listening to music in his leisure time and a member of so many clubs and societies.

NB promises National Reading Competition winner job

N

IGERIAN Breweries Plc has promised two-time winner of the company-sponsored National Reading Competition, Miss Chisom Mildred Okpala, employment on completion of her studies at Harvard University, United States.

Chisom has been offered full scholarship to study Economics and Mathematics at Harvard.

Mr Victor Famuyibo, Human Resource Director, broke the good news to Chisom during her visit to inform the company of the Harvard scholarship, valued at $62,050 annually.

Famuyibo praised Chisom for her achievement and noted that Nigerian Breweries Plc was proud of her and will stand by her all the way. He said the employment offer, which includes opportunities for internship during her study and post-study – National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) placement – was to ensure that she concentrates on her studies without having to worry about employment and related issues.

Describing Chisom as a model and worthy example to her generation, Famuyibo advised her to remain faithful to her cherished principles of hard work, determination and focus which have distinguished her.

Nigerian Breweries Plc Managing Director/Chief Executive Mr Nicolaas Vervelde congratulated

UNAAB FILE

VC counsels new students’ leaders THE Vice-Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB), Prof Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, has charged the new executives of the Students Union to be cautious of their conduct while in office.

Balogun spoke of the need for the leaders to be mindful of their actions as they would be holding the positions in trust for over 13,000 students.

He gave the charge when the executives led by the Dean, Student Affairs, Prof Samuel Oluwalana visited him.

He cautioned them not to be carried away by the trappings of office.

“Whatever you do today, two decades after, there may be recourse to it, whether it is positive or negative, therefore you must be wary of your actions,” he said.

He said they would be answerable for properties put in their care, particularly the Union bus.

In his speech, the President of the Union, Bamgbade Abdulkareem, promised to avoid the pitfalls of his predecessors and co-operate with the Management and other organs of the University, in raising its bar of excellence.

Ag Librarian appointed

THE UNAAB Governing Council has approved the appointment of Dr Mulikat Olawanle Salaam as Acting University Librarian.

Dr Salaam will take over from the retired Abayomi Agboola.

According to a statement signed by the Acting Registrar, Mr Adeleke Adeboye, the appointment took effect from May 25.

The statement said, by the virtue of her new position, the Ag. Librarian will be responsible to the Vice-Chancellor, in the administration of the library and the coordination of general library services in the university and its colleges, departments, centres, including those of the Teaching and Research Units.

AMREC partners Ogun, others

•Chisom discussing with Vervelde and Famuyibo during the visit

Chisom for her sterling achievements and wished her well in her educational pursuits at Harvard. He said the company was pleased that its support for education was yielding positive results.

Earlier, Chisom had said that her winning the National Reading Competition twice played a key role

in her admission and scholarship.

She said her visit was to thank and share her success with Nigerian Breweries Plc as a way of encouraging the company to sustain its education support programmes, especially the National Reading Competition, so that others will continue to benefit from it.

The National Reading Competi-

tion is organised annually by Nigerian Breweries Plc for senior secondary school students nationally as part of a broad initiative to support education and promote academic excellence. The competition has been on for six years and has received commendation from various stakeholders in the educational sector.

THE Director, Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre, (AMREC), Prof Carolyn Afolami, has visited the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP), the Ogun State Agricultural and Multipurpose Credit Agency (OSAMCA) and the Ogun State Agro-Services Corporation (OGASC) with a view to reviving and reinforcing existing relationships with them.

The initiative, according to a statement signed by Dr Olalekan Oyekunle, an extension fellow II, will also pave the way for the establishment of new frontiers of organisational cooperation to facilitate quality service delivery in the areas of agricultural extension, credit facilities and tools for farmers in the state.

As part of the tour, Prof Afolami, also visited the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) Moor Plantation, Ibadan, as well as other Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) in the Southwest, including extension villages and towns within UNAAB catchment areas at MolokoAsipa, Imala, Isaga, Orile, Kango, Alabata, Adao, Ajegunle, AbuleOba, among others.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

38

EDUCATION CRESCENT FILE

Better pay for workers

18 Nigerians bag degrees at Harvard

THE Proprietor and Chairman, Board of Trustees of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Prince Bola Ajibola, has increased the salary of the workers.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kehinde Okeleye, following his appointment in January, advocated a raise for workers, after due consultations with the proprietor and the management.

Staff salary was increased by 20 per cent across board with effect from March.

Okeleye, during an interactive session with the workers urged them to work harder, stressing that to whom much was given, much was expected.

New committees constituted THE committees for 2010/2011 have been reconstituted. A statement from the office of the Registrar directed the administrative office to “notify all members of their appointments to respective committees”.

There are 15 committees including: Budget, Student Welfare, Hostel Management, Unified University Time-table, Sports, Ceremonial, Security and Staff Disciplinary committee.

Others are Curriculum Development, Admissions, Students’ Disciplinary, Fund Raising Committee, Long Vacation, Centre for Sub-Degree and External Programme (CESEDEP), Appointments and Promotions Committee of Academic Staff (APCAS) and Appointments and Promotions Committee of NonAcademic Staff (APCONAS).

•Dr Olugbile (middle) flanked by his brother, Steve (left) and a friend, Tunde Ola

E

IGHTEEN Nigerians were among the 478 that recently graduated from the Harvard University.

The graduands: 13 Doctors of Philosophy, two Doctors of Public Health, 57 Doctors of Science, 13 Masters of Arts, 242 Masters of Public Health, and 151 Masters of Science. Students from 61 countries, including 31 from the United States (US), the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico obtained degrees. Six of every 10 members of the Class of 2011 were women.

Dr Michael Olugbile, one of the graduating students, said the experience at Harvard was worthwhile.

“Because of the international nature of the school, there were opportunities to interact with students from several countries. By virtue of my attendance at the school I now have friends all over the world. I was also able to interact with world-renowned professors who are foremost experts in

their field.”

Olugbile, who was elected president of the Harvard School of Public Health, Class of 2011, two weeks to the graduation, also said: “Academically, I was able to acquire both analytical and quantitative skills that will be useful in helping to strengthen the Nigerian health

‘By virtue of my attendance at the school I now have friends all over the world. I was also able to interact with world-renowned professors who are foremost experts in their field’

Students get N213m bursary

Website to wear new look

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

THE university has embarked on repackaging of its website. A statement from the Director of Academic Planning Unit Prof Siaka Momoh said the new website will better showcase Crescent University as a dynamic institution with a serene environment for learning.

Prof Okeleye has directed the Public Relations Unit to inform all colleges, departments and units to provide information about their activities to upload online.

The new website will showcase the physical and infrastructural developments such as the recently installed 53 solar-powered lightings, administrative/senate building, and Wahab Folawiyo Stadium.

S

Workers attend colloquium FIVE members of staff of the university have attended a colloquium on Challenges and Prospects of Islamic Banking organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, at the University of Lagos.

The team, led by the acting Dean of College of Social and Management Sciences (COSMAS), Prof Siaka Momoh, presented copies of the book: “Global financial crisis: Islamic banking as a credible alternative system” to the institute, a paper co-authored

by Momoh, Mohammed Dabiri and Kareem Rasak was presented

by Dabiri, a lecturer in the Department of Banking and Finance.

In his presentation, Dabiri highlighted advantages of Islamic banking to include provision of more job opportunities, eradication of poverty as well equitable distribution of income through effective mobilisation and allocation of capital.

systems and other developing countries in general. I also developed my leadership skills by serving in various capacities within school”.

By virtue of his position as the president of the Harvard School of Public Health, Class 2011, Olugbile served as the Class Marshall at the ceremony, leading the procession of the 484 graduating students including Masters and Doctoral graduands.

He will also be coordinating the reunion of the Class of 2011 globally. In addition, he will serve a three-year term in the Harvard School of Public Health Alumni Council working with the team to coordinate activities of over 80,000 HSPH alumni.

At HSPH, Olugbile who trained to be a medical doctor at the University of Ilorin, mobilised his Nigerian colleagues to establish the HSPH Nigerian Students and Scholars Society with the aim of bringing together Nigerians and those interested in Nigeria to discuss issues relating to Nigeria within the Harvard community.

Another Nigerian, Chiamaka Nwakeze, who was a winner in the oration challenge, said applying for the oration competition, challenged her to distill four years at Harvard into a four-minute speech.

Nwakeze said her Nigerian parents’ “immigrant work ethic,” “significantly shaped who she was,” Over her four years, she has been the vice president of programming for the Harvard Premedical Society, co-editor-inchief of the student-run journal Harvard Brain, business chair of the National Symposium for the Advancement of Women in Science.

•Mr Kingdom Yerri, a Chevron official, administering de-worming medicine on a pupil

Chevron, NNPC de-worm Bayelsa pupils

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HEVRON and its joint venture partner Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have begun the mass de-worming of thousands of school children in Bayelsa State.

The programme, the first by any multinational oil company in the state, is in furtherance of the firm’s health care programme for its host communities in the Niger Delta.

Mainly targeted at children, the programme is also aimed at supporting government’s health care drive for citizens.

“Chevron is committed to sup-

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

porting improvement in health delivery through investments in health and social infrastructure, manpower development in the health sector and provision of other facilities”, said Mr Femi Odumabo, General Manager, Policy, Government, and Public Affairs of Chevron.

Represented by Mr Ngo Kio, Odumabo said the de-worming was targeted at eight to 12-yearolds.

Eight select schools from various LGAs benefited from the programme.

Dr Emily Miefa, a director in the Ministry of Education, said the programme would go a long way in checking the presence of worms in school children. She appealed for more of such programmes.

Mrs. Helen Omare, a Chevron nurse, said de-worming is necessary because worms retard growth.

She also advised parents to deworm children every six months.

“We are here to stop worm from being parasites in our body, in our Children”, noted the nNurse who advised that hands should be watched properly after toilet and before eating food.

OKOTO State Government through its Scholarship Board will disburse over N213 million bursary to self-sponsored students in institutions abroad.

Accordingly, the board said as soon as the necessary arrangements are concluded, the exercise would begin.

The disbursement followed approval for the release of the fund

by Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, who always described education as the basis for advancement.

However, the board explained that in fulfilment of the exercise, beneficiaries would be expected to make available evidence of registration, academic transcripts for 2009/2010 as well as copies of their international passports and stamped entry visa in addition to approved dissertation or comprehensive report from their supervisors in case of Postgraduate students.

The Chairman of the Board, Alhaji Abdulkadir Jelani Kalgo, who disclosed this in a release by the PRO, Isah Abubakar Shuni, said the bursary would cover students currently undergoing programmes in 26 countries which the board interacts with.

“They are those who registered against 2009/2010 academic session and are currently active in their respective institutions.

“Emphasis is placed on higher education as a driving force for rapid development’’, Jelani pointed out.

The chairman, according to the release said the gesture was aimed at imparting qualitative education and training to indigenes so as to meet the stages of professionalism to the individual’s chosen discipline which every progressive society was proud of.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

39

EDUCATION GRADUATION

Mother reaps reward at prize giving •65 graduate at Dowen College

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HE was the cynosure of all eyes. Opeyemi Ajao (16) became the centre of attraction because of her outstanding performance in her academics.

She bagged 10 of the 27 prizes at stake at the graduation of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos. All parents at the ceremony wanted their children to be like her as she became their prayer point. She was the best pupil in core subjects including Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. She has also authored a book entitled: Macy- The thirst for a mother’s touch.

But if parents were to take Opeyemi’s mother’s advice, they would get answers to their prayers for a brilliant child. Mrs Iyabode Ajao, an agriculturist, said she sits with her children whenever they are reading.

“I am happy to see this happening.

Opeyemi is the first born and they are three. I always made sure I sit with them whenever I am available and I see them reading so they ask whatever they don’t understand which has helped. The school has contributed to my daughter’s success,” she said.

The Nation spoke with Opeyemi, whose hobbies are swimming, reading and writing. She said she reads like every other pupil.

By Seun Olalude

Her words: “I’m grateful to Almighty God for all that my eye beholds today, and to the school which helped me to discover the grace of God in me. I read normally like every other pupil, like four hours in a day. This year, I have been to the hospital several times. But the secret is to keep striving no matter the challenges and be hard working.”

The Chairman,Governing Council, Dowen College, Dr Olumide Phillips, described Opeyemi as a book worm.

“There was a day the pupils visited my home and a party was organised. We were all dancing, eating and singing but I discovered Opeyemi seating at a corner with a novel on her laps, so I know she deserves to be honoured,” he said Phillips said Dowen prepares pupils 100 per cent for university admission.

His words: “This is the ninth edition of Dowen College graduation.

Graduating pupils from this school into the university world is 100 per cent. We make sure they are given all they need to be qualified for university admission anywhere. The school has set a record which is six

•Opeyemi with her parents. Inset: Mrs Togonu-Bickersteth

pupils per a teacher.”

The Reverend of Methodist Church Nigeria, Marina, Reverend Ola Onadipe, charged parents to give good education to their wards.

“Education begins from home. Parents learn to spend quality time to educate your children; this will help them to be formidable leaders of tomorrow. Many youths have crumbled because there were no good leaders to counsel them. Parents please stand as good counselors to these future leaders,” he advised.

The Principal, Mrs Olawumi Togonu-Bickersteth, urged the

graduands to make right choices, saying that it goes a long a way to determine their tomorrow.

She said: “The choices you make today will affect your tomorrow, before you take any decision think and seek counsel and, more importantly, always ask God to direct in the way to go. Make good use of the freedom you are acquiring, guard your future jealously and always remember the child of whom you are.”

The guest speaker, Professor of Neurology, Kayode Odusote, urged the graduands to be informed.

“This country does not have many

well-qualified and experienced career counselors, so you should get yourself informed. You should search the internet, talk to students pursuing the same profession and consult those that are practicing them. So that when you finally decide on your future career, your choice will be an informed one that takes into consideration your academic strengths, innate flairs and the information you have obtained,” he advised.

Prizes were given to the best graduands after which a dinner was organized the graduands and their parents.

Seminary graduates 62 From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

A

•Mrs Adamolekun (middle), Venerable Agbelusi (left) and Canon Agbara surrounded by the graduands

69 graduands told to be focused

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EMBERS of the 2011 graduating class of the Supreme Education Foundation (SEF), Magodo, Lagos, and their parents were in high spirits during their valedictory service and graduation.

With the boys smartly dressed in suits and ties and the girls in skirt suits and gowns worn with killer heels, the 69 graduands looked older than their years and were excited that the regimented secondary school life has ended.

But they were quickly reminded that their journey into adulthood and responsibility has just begun.

Mrs Leila Fowler, proprietor of the prestigious Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, whose grandson was one of the graduands, told the teenagers to be prepared for the life ahead by re-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

maining focused.

Mrs Fowler who could not help commenting on the stiletto many of the girls had on, counseled them to build on their education.

“Yes! You are graduating. You are going to have your WAEC, possibly IGSCE certificate. But let me tell you the flip side of life: When we sat for the Cambridge exam in 1948, you got a job immediately and you earned enough to rent a room and get other comforts. Later things changed. In my children’s time, you needed a first degree to get a job. In their children’s time, they are asking for two degrees. You only just started.

When they want to employ cleaners and drivers they ask for School certificate (WAEC). The road is

very far ahead. You have to work hard,” said Mrs Fowler who chaired the occasion.

As a parting gift, Mrs Fowler gave each of the graduands Ben Carson’s book, Think Big, urging them to adopt the “Yes I can” attitude.

The graduands also received admonitions from Guest Speaker, Mr Lloyd Atabansi who warned them of the dangers of losing focus.

“You cannot allow anything to distract you from your goal, destiny. One wrong choice can make you lose focus,” he said.

Those among the graduands who distinguished themselves academically were rewarded with awards during the ceremony. The star of the lot was Emmanuel Akpan, whom the proprietor, Mrs Adenike Adamolekun said had been a star pupil from the start.

In an interview, Mrs Adamolekun appreciated parents of the graduands for allowing the school provide qualitative education for their wards.

She described the set as “a very good set” and not too troublesome.

Though she did not address the graduands during the ceremony, she said she had previously urged them not to stray from her maxim to do the right thing at the right time. She also reminded them not to get carried away by the appearance of freedom.

“When they were in school we were strict with them. Now that they have finished they think that they are free. But I have told them that discipline has just begun. This is a step to the level of responsibility and accountability,” she said.

N Ibadan-based theological seminary, Immanuel College, has churned out 62 graduates.

During the convocation at the college’s ground in Ibadan, the Dean, Venerable Benjamin Adedapo, said the college’s programmes had grown from giving ordinary licentiate in theology certificates to London Theology and later Diploma in Theology.

The college, he said, currently prepares students for Diploma in Religious Studies and Bachelor of Arts of the University of Ibadan.

According to him, 21 of the graduands made Upper Credit in their diploma prgramme.

In his sermon, Rev. Felix Akinbuluma admonished graduands to uphold the will of Christ and condemn all the ills in the society.

“Do your best in condemning all the ills of the society because it is disheartening that some men of God are trailing on the path of destruction with their wrong doings.

Don’t support the church against your superior because whatever you do, there is repercussion awaiting you in the near future. You are the messenger of God. Therefore, do not join the masses to do evil or turn against God,” he said.

Venerable Adedapo lauded the April elections conducted by Prof Attahiru Jega. He said it was an indication that there are still men of integrity in Nigeria like Elijah, who will always abide by the truth.

Adedayo urged all elected office holders to serve the citizens of Nigeria who elected them into office and address the thorny issues affecting our nation.

The occasion was made more glorious by the presence of various men of God such as bishops, reverends and pastors who came to felicitate with the college and the graduands.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

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EDUCATION EDUTALK

with

Counsel for teenage girls

T

HE Shell Women’s Network recently organised an inspirational programme for secondary school pupils at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos Kofoworola which I found very interesting.

Many of the speakers told inspiring stories of their childhood and how they rose to the positions Kofosagie@yahoo.com of prominence they occupy today.

08054503077 (SMS only) I counted the pupils from about 28 schools in attendance fortunate to learn so much at one sitting.

I especially enjoyed the film show that dealt with the dangers of adolescents contracting HIV/AIDS or having unplanned pregnancies.

The Shell Peer Educator did a fantastic job of warning the teenagers to stay off pre-marital sex.

Mrs Jennifer Olorunsola could not have been more right when she said that at this stage of their lives they have no business having sex.

Forget all the admonitions about using protection ‘if you no fit hold body’. For teenagers, the best message is: “Zip up”. Abstinence is the surest way of not contracting HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases(STDs). (Note: People have to be careful when they use the loo as well because they can contract STIs from dirty toilets).

She did well to show slides of the damage that gonorrhea does to the body – including its terrible impact on a baby born to an infected mother. I thought that those photographs would remain imprinted in the memories of sensible young girls so that they would think twice about catching their fun.

In the film we watched, a girl gave in to pressure from her boyfriend, a secondary school classmate because her friends said they had all “tried it”. Not wanting to be left behind, and out of ‘love’ she had sex with him over and over again until she got pregnant, then the fun ended. He ran away and left her to her fate. The blow was when she was diagnosed with HIV. Her world came crashing and she attempted suicide.

This is a warning to teenagers, especially girls, not to give in to pressure in the name of belonging or love. At that stage, love rarely exists. Having once being an adolescent, I know that the changes in the body as well as the emotions make girls (and boys) get easily infatuated. Since it is the girl that gets pregnant, she has a greater responsibility to ensure that her future is not derailed by a careless mistake. She should always have the end result in mind when anybody professes love to her. She should not be afraid to lose a boy or man’s affection. The trade off – losing her virginity, getting pregnant and/or infected is certainly not worth 15 minutes of fun.

The usual trick boys (men) use to get the girls to surrender is to threaten to leave. They say such things like: “if you love me, you will allow me.” Capital No! Any girl that finds herself in such situation should listen to Onyeka Owenu’s collabo with King Sunny Ade. Today’s teenagers were probably not born when the track was made, but it is the apt response any girl should give an impatient lover: “If you love me, you go wait for me”.

I know what turmoil unmarried spinsters who get pregnant outside wedlock face trying to raise their babies alone. This is Nigeria. Despite the times, tongues still wag when a single lady, who has a job and is living comfortably ‘carries belle’. If a full-grown spinster with the financial muscle faces emotional upheavals adjusting to motherhood, how much more a 15, 16, 17-year old who by virtue of her age would only have earned the Senior School Certificate – which Mrs Leila Fowler said can only fetch the bearer a cleaning job or that of a driver?

I feel very sad when I see pregnant teenagers because I perceive it as the end to their innocence; an end to a life without a care – if it is not an end to their education or bright career prospects. Having a baby is not a tea party. Their demands drain settled adults not to talk of an inexperienced teenager who still needs many years of maturity to handle challenges of motherhood.

Gone is the era when girls were expected to remain at the bottom of the ladder. Nowadays, the girl-child is performing wonders in schools.

In many valedictory services and prize giving days I attended, girls outperform the boys. This shows that girls have bright prospects if they work hard and remain focused. Let no girl think that because she is female, then her future must be defined by what her family perceives she can achieve. It is left to her to decide what she wants for herself and go for it. No matter the limitations, she should dare to dream and pursue her dreams – without allowing distractions to take her off track.

Belo-Osagie

• Mrs Fashola (in Ankara) admonishing the pupils to read while inspecting the new school facilities

Pupils celebrate facilities

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EFORE its rehabilitation, the place looked more like a pigsty than a school.

The building was run down, with its roof leaking and the environment unconducive for learning.

Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Mr Rajan Swaroop knew what he was saying when he said only pupils and teachers of Oremeji Primary School 2, Ajegunle, who learnt under the most deplorable conditions, could appreciate its transformation.

Speaking at the inauguration of the new school constructed by Airtel, Swaroop said as at February, the classrooms were run down. Fearing that the building would collapse, the headteacher, Mrs Risikat Animashaun, said they relocated the classrooms under a tree within the premises. She added that when it rained, the dilapidated building provided little refuge for the teachers and pupils.

“We decided to learn under the tree before they (Airtel) came. The building was so bad we couldn’t stay in.

When it rained, we ran helterskelter,” she said in an interview on the day the new structure built by Airtel was inaugurated.

The new u-shaped building housing six classrooms for Primary 1 – 6 pupils, a classroom for the nursery pupils, two offices and toilets bears no semblance with the former pulled down when Airtel started the project on February 11. Each classroom has been furnished with dual desks and chairs for pupils, and tables and

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

chairs for teachers. There are ceiling fans, and white boards have replaced the blackened wall the teachers formerly made do with because even the black boards were gone.

The pupils were visibly excited.

They could not sit still in their new classrooms while the ceremony went on outside. Having spent three months being hosted by another primary school within the Tolu Schools complex while their own school was under construction, they were glad to be back in better surroundings.

A teacher, who did not wish to be named, said since the school was rebuilt, pupils that had stopped coming have resumed while teachers are happy to teach.

“The school before now was nothing to write home about. If not for Airtel we would have continued suffering. The pupils were not happy to come to school. But when we moved here, some children who didn’t come last term have resumed. They call their friends to see their new school.

We teachers feel on top of the world.

We look forward to coming to school and teaching. Before we would come and won’t do much,” she said.

Henry Opara, a Primary Six pupil, said he was happy about Airtel’s intervention, which also included provision of uniforms and school bags.

Same for Blessing Monday who was insistent on registering her thanks.

“I say thank you to Airtel for what they did for our school – for provid-

ing toilets, and books. I say God bless them,” she said.

Airtel MD, Swaroop said the organisation would remain committed to promoting quality education at the school, which it has adopted under its CSR initiative. He said teachers of the school have also been trained to teach better while the pupils have been provided with text books.

In her speech, wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola described Airtel’s intervention as a good example of how public-private partnership should work.

“When the policy of public-private partnership initiative was conceptualized by the Lagos State government, little did we know that the seed would yield a bountiful harvest one of which we are witnessing today – that is, the adoption and completion of Oremeji Primary School II. Airtel Networks Limited has demonstrated in practical terms, what corporate social responsibility should be,” she said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs Gbolahan Dauda, thanked Airtel for training teachers as part of its adoption project.

“I want to thank Airtel Networks Limited for deeming it fit to include the training of teachers in its assisted programme. If we must put in place qualitative education for our pupils, who are leaders of tomorrow, it is imperative to give effective training to our teachers,” she said.

Corona launches press club, magazine

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WO in one event - the launch of the school’s press club, and the unveiling of its magazine The Pulse.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Editor-in-Chief of the rested National Interest, Mr Ide Eguabor, addressed members of the Press Club of Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Ogun State, on the theme: ‘The Role of the Press in Nation Building.’

Eguabor said journalism is not for fortune seekers, but for people of conscience who want to improve the society by telling the truth.

He described journalism as the chord which binds and acts as checks for the three arms of government – legislature, executive and judiciary.

The press, he said, is germane to the development of any nation, recalling how nationalists such as the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe

By Adegunle Olugbamila

and Chief Anthony Enahoro had leveraged on the media to fight for Nigeria’s independence.

Eguabor advised: “Whatever you do, do it well. Wherever you find yourself as journalists, never compromise.”

The Pulse is a 26-page all colour, glossy magazine, packaged with editorial contents about CSS activities for each term. According to the Editor-in-Chief/Co-coordinator of the magazine, Mr Sanjo Fagbohungbe, The Pulse will publish events that affect members of the Corona community.

His words: “‘The Pulse will be published each term. It will sufficiently mirror events that affect members of the Corona community. The pulse will not compete with existing annual school publications, but rather complement such publications,” he said.

The president of the club Uche

Imoka, expressed gratitude to the school management, staff and members of the Press Club for their steadfastness in seeing to the first publication of the magazine.

“The school authority has been very supportive in the publication of this magazine. They have been giving us moral and financial support. In fact, they monitored and supervised the publication; they helped us to produce it.”

Imoka, 15, an SS3 pupil said the reason for the publication of the magazine is for, “the pupils to understand the role and importance of the press in the country.”

Imoka said the only challenge as at now is getting stories ready as and when due. Another challenge, she stressed, is how to cope with stories coming late or better still working on stories written by her colleagues many who according to her, “find it difficult to express themselves in their write-ups”.

‘Since it is the girl that gets pregnant, she has a greater responsibility to ensure that her future is not derailed by a careless mistake.

She should always have the end result in mind when anybody professes love to her.

She should not be afraid to lose a boy or man’s affection. The trade off – losing her virginity, getting pregnant and/or infected is certainly not worth 15 minutes of fun’

41

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

UNAD’s N4.9b loss: Balance of Good and Evil Enron crashed as one of world’s best ten, Andersen crashed out of ‘the big five’; and perhaps it was just as well, that the Ekiti state government ordered its enquiry about now. Nevertheless, it’s a long way yet to renewing the founding Classics to reposition the merchandise of education, not only in Ekiti but in their respective levels around the world. As for Nigeria there is a stirring, muffled voice of a revolution, being led as it were by a dis-organized private sector, all of which run shy of the tenets of Corporate Governance, in fact the universities don’t understand it, according to The Economist, “The world knows less about what makes for good corporate governance than it likes to think” (30/10/10).

• Continued from last week

C

OMPARISON of institutional/individual placement At what point would the University of Ado Ekiti and other stakeholders, viz operators, state government and students meet the tenets of corporate governance to warrant being treated as a specimen in the first place?

Because it takes a cognizant market environment to link a business and the practice. Much as it is odd to restate our doubt about the practice of CG in Nigeria (OYEBODE, Akin on Corporate Governance, 2009) but the impact of the reverberations of trading in the external markets which long hands reach to Nigeria, already obligates our economy; though it be only an impinging influence, typically as it touched UNAD. As far as the administration was concerned they were running a good (corporate) business, not “corporate governance”.

Proceeding from this premise to judgement, the verdict would seem wicked. But ideally can a UNIVERSITY be excused?

Leeds-Met operates from a structured environment. From its stance on the “post 1992” (UK) reforms the university operates a stated preference to remodel her curriculum and modus operandi in line with the new day demands for product by customers who have to divide their time and educational needs between work, family and other commitments.

Perhaps these are familiar to the renewed vision of Dipo Kolawole for UNAD and which he followed like Simon Lee with some doggedness, but why? He probably had inkling of such developments around the world as a good scholar and once he has a chance wants to implement some. But whereas one was institutionally generated and then statutorily enshrined, before the staff began to run with it, in the UNAD sample it was different. What’s the defined value of UNAD to sponsors? What is focus and catchment or niche of market?

These are coordinates that may justify, if the returns on risk enter into variation, or offer to extenuate circumstances if he is found in error of decision making. A professional manager is in conversation with the market.

To date even the detractors of Dipo Kolawole find space to attribute the glory of those initiatives to him. He took a risk, on own terms.

Did he PERSONALISE the assignment? Then, like Job in the bible, if he took the accolades he must equally take the flaks. Corporate governance is essentially about institutions, even though running it will locate the place of persons within it. It is far from a one-man business, even where such had been a source of inspiration or sponsor, they are converted to a motivational capital, panelled into institutional framework. “DK” the local brand at UNAD is not yet Carnegie, neither Rockefeller, nor David Oyedepo. “Men come in sizes and life in phases”. There is a delicate difference between the motivating energy that runs in the two systems, which makes the one-man

mentality susceptible to self-dealing, and stakeholder interests become subordinate, and end up subverting the so-called STRUCTURE, ruining its entire frame, and making that definition ineffectual. Corporate governance is an engaging rapport in the negotiation of value.

Balance of good and evil Professional managers are daily going to jail, convicted of mega-frauds mainly bothering on self-dealing. Vice Chancellors are professional managers, beyond just what they profess in class. According to Nell Minow, in fact it seems the bigger a genius the more the propensity to abnegation: “Just as some people will always be imaginative and aggressive in creating new ways to make money legally, there will be some who will devote that same talent to doing it illegally.” They generally get their acts right and seem to make the structure work, before they add some things underhand.

But corporate governance does not admit a balance of evil with good. Where for instance an assumed good nature of the VC may be overestimated by his applauding public, it is known as a matter of fact, that complying in part with good in order to please the public is often used by culprits to programme the market for self-serving purposes, or evil.

The CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi once excoriated his former colleague, ex-Intercontinental Bank’s CEO, Erastus Akingbola, in exactly this cast, after cataloguing his otherwise meritorious philanthropic gestures, especially to universities where he had funded chairs and built faculties, before his debacle.

But then, Sanusi is the Regulator using the UN (2005) perspective.

In Nigeria the social critic is righteous and tends to align with the UN or other macroeconomic indices without necessarily digesting most underlying assumptions, or confidence to create a tailored response. This connects the other classic mention by internet academics of corporate governance: the Enron scandal. It is a snide allusion to what may have transpired between the VC and his CFO in the UNAD case.

The case of Enron Enron, an energy trading natural gas and utilities group was once a top ten corporation in America. Grossing over S100 billion and for five consecutive years named by Fortune magazine, as ‘America’s Most Innovative Company’, was no doubt world iconic. Ken Lay was the CEO and Andrew Fastow his Chief Financial Officer.

Between them they devised a financial reporting style that fooled the world, inclusive of the American Press, Regulator, other Operators and Investors. But within three months, in December 2001, the company crashed, its market share value melted, and along was its auditor, the legendary ‘Arthur’ Andersen, once of “the big five” in America.

Nevertheless the crash was also the story of a ‘whistle-blower’, who is less often mentioned but was actually the salvage for integrity. She represents what should have been the true voice of corporate governance UPFRONT, not as an after-thought. For Sherron Watkins, the sequence of thought, the courage to act and resilience of character in the face of what is perversely the industry voice, of STRUCTURE and “procedurants”, defines the dilemma of academics about where exactly to intercept the moving train of Corporate Governance. Should it remain as such like a “sword of Damocles”, making everyone to wise-up in hindsight, after it has helped to commit men to jail, forced a suicide or two and ruined the fortune of many?

Sherron Watkins acted to change that sequence.

Watkins was an accountant under Andrew Fastow. By mid August that year, after watching the progression of what her boss and entire America called creative accounting in those series of complex “structures known as special purpose vehicles (SPVs)” she reportedly became “so concerned that she sent an anonymous memo to the Chief Executive, Ken Lay”, alerting him among other things, thus, “I am incredibly nervous that (Enron) will implode in a wave of accounting scandals...the business world will consider the past successes as nothing but an elaborate accounting hoax”.

A crime-adoring world reclines on the fluke of one chance of courage by a minor (in a heavily-stacked odds game) against the STRUCTURE. There are several layers of human resistance against the simple assumption of trust in business. Apart from the cuffs of Regulation, yet a substantive legislation is required in order to enforce what had already been provided in the rules of Corporate Affairs and the respective bye-laws of the company.

Even after that, the apparent failure of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in America to inculcate uprightness in top managers shows the moral dilemma in which the millennial man finds himself. Market competition is compared to the “Art of war”. Integrity becomes the exception, no more the rule. He needs help.

But his problems are compounded by inured writers who already closed the door on hope and righteousness, programmed as they were on the monochrome of the 20th century scholarship. The new market environment provides not only for availability of product or service at the easiest convenience of consumer, as long as he can pay, but such environment is also made conducive for considerations of humanity, the planets, human rights and democracy.

The action of Sherron Watkins to nudge the CEO of Enron was like the hubris of a lilliputian against a behemoth. She could be crushed without as much as a notice, much less an impact, yet she did. Needless to say that Andrew Fastow found out and wanted her fired. “Instead, Ken Lay decided to appoint the firm’s lawyers to investigate.

They had previously advised Enron on setting up some of (those toxic) partnership transactions.” And so what did they have to say?

“The accounting treatment is creative and aggressive, but no one has reason to believe that it is inappropriate from a technical standpoint.”

A well worded wine-r to maintain a hopeless hope in the public.

Ken Lay sent an e-mail to all the employees: “Our performance has never been stronger; our business model has never been more robust; our growth has never been more certain..” Early on, even Fastow was given “the Excellence Award for Capital Structure Management, by CFO Magazine”. Personally he made $30million from managing those partnerships. There was increasing conspiracy culturally to come to the hara-kiri, typical of the organised macro culture.

GBENGA OGUNSAKIN Eat shawarma, don’t blow whistles At UNAD were there no junior accountants, clerks, office assistants who could blow the whistle? In the wake of the inquisition even the CFO sooner came out to contradict the statements of the external auditor, wrapping a sort of shawarma on the Nigerian audience about procedures and accounting standards.

Indeed the whole scenario presents another statement on the quality of practice that comes out of an environment based on exposures and retraining/renewal. Ironically in some newly emerged economies, fidelity is still naturally guarded by the old animist feelings and familial bonding, which the Ekiti enclave seems to be losing fast. The former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, imponderably singled them out for this particular virtue.

If the Greeks built their trans-generational legacy on the craving for intellectual purity, they at least gave the classics and a foundation for western scholarship. But for UNAD it would be tragic because even in the unprepared Nigerian environment, that institution was hoped iconic for a state that was hoped to act a leader in its particular merchandise, as “the fountain of knowledge”.

In the X and Y calculus of Corporate Governance, UNAD does not have coordinates that could make their various holders own a stake, rather than a laissez-faire enterprise where survival instincts mixed with bare-knuckle creativity. And at the end of the day the State remembered her made-unprofitable home investment and therefore wants to exert influence. Was the university really trading in the market? Where is the Greek mentality of Ekiti book-worms?

Enron crashed as one of world’s best ten, Andersen crashed out of ‘the big five’; and perhaps it was just as well, that Ekiti state government ordered its enquiry about now. Nevertheless, it’s a long way yet to renewing the founding Classics to reposition the merchandise of education, not only in Ekiti but in their respective levels around the world.

As for Nigeria there is a stirring muffled voice of a revolution, being led as it were by a non-organised private sector, all of which run shy of the tenets of Corporate Governance, in fact the universities don’t understand it, according to The Economist, “The world knows less about what makes for good corporate governance than it likes to think” (30/ 10/10).

• (Concluded, may follow with response to some of the mails and sms. Thank you) • Gbenga Ogunsakin Email:greenhavenfoundation@gmail.com tel: 08037250343

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

Avis pays $1b to reunite with European arm

U

NITED States car hire firm Avis is to buy its European namesake for an agreed 635 million pounds ($1 billion) to reunite the two businesses after 25 years, amid growing consolidation pressure in the industry.

Avis Budget said on Tuesday it was paying 315 pence per share for London-listed Avis Europe a 60 per cent premium to the stock's closing price on Monday.

The takeover, backed by Avis Europe's

60 percent shareholder, Belgian car dealership D'Ieteren, would reverse a spin-off of Avis's European arm in 1986.

"The car rental market is more and more consolidated worldwide, it is quite a capital intensive market," Avis Europe Chief Executive Pascal Bazin told Reuters.

"It is natural at one point in time to reunite two companies which are running the same brand in different territories."

Avis Budget expects the tie-up to create a

combined group with sales of $7 billion a year across more than 150 countries, while generating cost savings of $30 million a year.

The US business, which has lagged its European counterpart's expansion in emerging markets, also stands to gain access to Avis Europe's fast-growing Indian and Chinese operations.

Avis Budget said it planned to finance the takeover, expected to close in October,

through a combination of its own cash, debt, and the proceeds of a potential $250 million share sale.

Bazin said it was too early to estimate what the impact on Avis Europe's 6,000 strong workforce would be.

Avis Europe shares were up 58 per cent at 310.25 pence by 0855 GMT. Shares in Euronext-listed D'Ieteren, an Avis Europe shareholder since 1989, were up 11 per cent at 49.50 euros.

42

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

Bank of Japan expands growth-sector lending T

HE Bank of Japan on Tuesday said it would expand a programme of lending to companies in growth areas with a new $6 billion credit line to support the post-quake economy.

The BoJ's policy panel voted unanimously after a two-day meeting to keep its key rate unchanged between zero and 0.1 per cent, and expand last June's three trillion yen ($37.4 billion) lending facility to encourage banks to channel funds into sectors such as renewable energy and medicine.

The central bank will offer a new credit line of up to 500 billion yen under a new facility designed to make it easier for smaller firms to access cash from banks without us-

ing traditional real estate collateral.

Each bank can borrow up to 50 billion yen at 0.1 per cent annual interest for up to four years.

"With a view to further encourage financial institutions' efforts, the bank deems it appropriate to focus on supporting their provision of equity-like funds and loans without conventional collateral or guarantees," the central bank said in a statement.

"The BoJ seems to have a clear vision of what it needs to do," said Okasan Securities strategist Hideyuki Ishiguro.

The central bank also slightly upgraded its assessment of the economy, which "continues to face

downward pressure, mainly on the production side due to the effects of the earthquake disaster but is showing some signs of picking up."

The BoJ said the Japanese economy was likely to return to "a moderate recovery path" in the second half of the year.

The world's third-largest economy plunged back into recession in January-March, contracting on the impact of the nation's biggest recorded earthquake, a tsunami and a nuclear emergency that sent Japan into its worst post-war crisis.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, the BoJ injected a record amount of cash into the banking

system and doubled an asset purchase fund to 10 trillion yen, a key policy tool it kept unchanged Tuesday.

It also set up a separate lending scheme for banks in quake-hit areas to ensure financial institutions in disaster-hit areas can meet demand for post-quake reconstruction funds.

The 9.0-magnitude earthquake and a tsunami on March 11 destroyed entire towns and left more than 23,000 dead or missing while crippling the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, leading to radiation leaks and power shortages.

Many of Japan's biggest firms were forced to suspend plants and slow output due to the quake's im-

pact on supply chains and power supply, which heavily disrupted production.

Sentiment among large Japanese companies tumbled to its lowest in two years during April-June, a government survey showed Tuesday, after the impact of the March 11 disasters.

The index measuring the mood among big companies stood at minus 22.0 in the second quarter compared with minus 1.1 in the previous three months, a joint survey by the Finance Ministry and the Cabinet Office showed.

It was the lowest reading since minus 22.4 in April-June 2009, when Japan's economy was struggling amid the global financial crisis.

Apple to pay Nokia royalties HE world's leading mobile phone maker Nokia said on Tuesday its competitor Apple had agreed to pay royalties for using Nokia technology in its devices, ending all of their ongoing patent disputes.

"The financial structure of the agreement consists of a one-time payment payable by Apple and on-going royalties to be paid by Apple to Nokia for the term of the agreement," Nokia said in a statement, adding that the details of the contract were confidential.

The deal constitutes a massive victory for Nokia and brings to an end years of tit-for-tat suits that have seen Nokia file 46 complaints against Apple, which has hit back with numerous countersuits against the Finnish company.

Nokia said both companies had now agreed to withdraw all complaints they had filed with the US International Trade Commission.

"We are very pleased to have Apple join the growing number of Nokia licensees... This settlement demonstrates Nokia's industry leading patent portfolio," Nokia chief executive Stephen Elop said in the statement.

The Finnish company, which has been struggling to maintain its position as global market leader, also said the deal should have "a positive financial impact" on its second-quarter performance.

Just two weeks ago, Nokia warned that its sales for the quarter would be far worse than previously expected and that it could no longer give a full-year forecast,

T

news which sent its share price to its lowest level since early 1998.

Nordea Bank analyst Sami Sarkamies said the one-time payment by Apple will have a powerful impact on Nokia's second quarter, and that the California tech giant would become one of Nokia's most significant patent clients.

"I believe that with the one-time payment we're talking about hundreds of millions of euros, because Apple hasn't paid anything for any of its iPhones that's it's sold (with Nokia technology)," Sarkamies told AFP, adding however that future royalty payments would surely be smaller and less visible in quarterly results.

Sarkamies said he was sure the deal also included concessions to Apple for use of its non-essential patents, such as touch-screen technology, but that these payments were likely considerably smaller than what Apple would have to pay to use Nokia's essential patents.

Ending the disputes, which the companies had been fighting simultaneously in US and European courts, should boost morale at Nokia, which is struggling to reverse plummeting market share at the hands of Chinese manufacturers and smartphone rivals Apple and Google.

In February, Elop announced a radial last-ditch effort to turn around the ailing industry giant, by phasing out its own smartphone platforms in favour of a partnership with Microsoft's operating system.

UK inflation unchanged at 4.5%

B

RITAIN's main inflation rate was unchanged in May at an annual rate of 4.5 per cent, but the Bank of England is not expected to start raising interest rates for a while yet given a tepid economic recovery.

The Office for National Statistics said Tuesday that rising food, drink and fuel prices kept the consumer price index at more than double the official target of two per cent. The unchanged reading was in line with market expectations.

Inflation has been above target for 18 months, but the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has kept its base rate at an all-time low of 0.5 per cent because of concern about the nation's weak recovery. Over the past two quarters, Britain recorded no economic growth.

Inflation is not expected to come down anytime soon, especially as the increase in the country's main sales tax in January to 20 per cent from 17.5 per cent will continue to impact on annual

comparisons for the rest of the year, as will rising utility bills in the wake of surging energy costs.

Despite the upward pressures on inflation, the markets are increasingly moving to the view that interest rates won't be raised for a while yet, with some analysts now predicting that borrowing costs will remain on hold all year.

Jonathan Loynes, chief European economist at Capital Economics, said higher prices for food and energy are likely to push consumer price inflation up to five per cent in the near term.

"But thereafter, we still believe that inflation will drop back sharply as food, energy and VAT (sales tax) effects start to fade and weak activity, spare capacity, slow wages growth and weak money growth bring core inflation back down," Loynes said.

There were some signs that price pressures may be easing in Tuesday's release. Core inflation, which strips out energy, food, beverages and tobacco, fell to 3.3 per cent in May from 3.7 in April.

• South African President Jacob Zuma (middle), King Mswati lll of the Kingdom of Swaziland (left), and Namibia's President Hifikepunye Pohamba sit together at the opening of the tripartite SADC summit in Johannesburg.

Euro zone to mull private sector role in Greek bailout

E

URO zone finance ministers will discuss on Tuesday how private Greek bondholders should be involved in a second financing package for debt-laden Greece ahead of a self-imposed June 20 deadline for a deal.

But no decisions are expected on Tuesday, euro zone sources close to the meeting said.

"There are no decisions expected today, it is just about looking for common ground in view of the meeting on June 20," said one euro zone source involved in the preparation of the euro zone finance ministers' meeting, called the Eurogroup.

"It is going to be a stock-taking meeting on the current state of discussions," a second source said.

"Decisions should not be expected until next Monday."

Euro zone finance ministers will meet again next Monday in Luxembourg, in an attempt to have a solution ready for further financing for Greece in time for approval by a European Union leaders' summit on June 23 and 24.

The ministers will discuss Germany's idea that private investors would be offered a chance to exchange their Greek bonds for new ones, that would be seven years longer in maturity.

Some other euro zone countries back this proposal but the European Central Bank is against it, believing it would entail rating

downgrades from credit rating agencies, which could be as deep as to a "default" level.

Berlin believes such a solution would trigger downgrades, but not to default level.

The European Commission supports a different idea -- to ask banks voluntarily to roll over their existing Greek bond portfolios as they mature and then replace the maturing bonds with longer maturity paper.

Such a solution would honor the terms of existing bond contracts until they expire, making it harder for credit rating agencies to declare this solution a default.

Olli Rehn, the European Commissioner For Economic And Monetary Affairs told Sueddeutsche Zeitung an accord was not as far off as some might think.

"We are preparing an agreement on the basis of the 'Vienna Initiative', whereby banks keep their bonds longer and in fact voluntarily," he said, referring to a debt rollover in which banks that hold Greek bonds are encouraged to buy more as their holdings mature.

"We are prepared to look at a solution, which is based on a voluntary extension of bond maturities and which under no circumstances leads to a credit default," Rehn said.

Euro zone policymakers are des-

perate to avoid a default because it would make Greek bonds unacceptable as collateral in European Central Bank liquidity operations, raising the specter of a Greek banking sector collapse.

French and German banks back private sector involvement in the new financing package for Greece.

Together with some 30 billion euros expected from Greek privatisation revenues, the overall rescue package could total up to 120 billion euros between 2011 and 2014.

This would be on top of the remainder of the loans from the first financing package agreed last year, of which 45 billion euros will remain undisbursed once the EU and the International Monetary Fund pay out the next, 12 billion tranche of loans in early July.

The euro zone meeting will be followed by a dinner of all the EU's 27 finance ministers, who will discuss changes to the 27-nation bloc's budget rules to prevent debt crises in the future.

The changes include more and swifter sanctions for countries running budget deficits and debt above the EU limits of three per cent and 60 per cent of GDP respectively.

The key point of discussions will be on the method of voting when the ministers discuss whether a country breaking the rules has taken corrective action.

MOTORING

43

THE NATION

MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

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

0803-4693-984 tajudeen1423@yahoo.co.uk

email:- motoring@thenationonlineng.net

It is becoming more difficult to design a striking vehicle that will resonate with the car-buying public. Designers are often at odds with their own they because they must meet the stringent standards for fuel efficiency, vehicle emissions and passenger safety. These are the peculiar features of the Honda Acura TL; writes NNEKA NWANERI.

•The 2012 Acura TL

Honda Acura TL goes with soft styling C

onsumers got what they wished for in the new 2012 Acura TL, a true sport sedan that offers a much more reasonable look with its luxury and performance. What starts as a designer’s dream concept for the greatest-looking car in the world can quickly become just another lump of metal with the dismal sales figures to match. This is the story of the Acura TL. The TL comes in two forms: the frontwheel drive version (powered by a 3.5litre V6 engine) and the subject of this piece, the all-wheel drive TL SH-AWD (very short for “Super-Handling AllWheel Drive”), which is armed with a 3.7-litre V6. Both engines have been upgraded for the new model year to generate improved fuel efficiency without impinging on the fun factor.But there’s much more to this sport sedan than just power and efficiency.

What distinguishes it from other cars?

Its heightened cornering prowess and wider grins. As the power transfers to the outside rear wheel, the TL is able to negotiate bends of all type and description at higher speeds.

The TL SH-AWD is one impressive car, especially when the going gets slick. It’s quick, nimble and fun to drive. The steering is nicely weighted, the suspension system does an admirable job of dealing with shifts in momentum and the traction control system allows the driver some room to negotiate before intervening. The more enticing aspect is that the

•Interior of the car

Acura is also a rarity in the modern sport sedan world in that it’s still available with a manual transmission.

The new TL features a number of refinements, including a sound-deadening acoustic windshield, more sophisticated platinum plating on the centre console and door handles, and optional ventilated front seats. As with the previous TL, the interior of the 2012 version is a showcase for top-grade leather and high-

quality materials.

The front and rear have been redesigned to make the car look lower and wider, and it is about 1.5 inches shorter overall while retaining its passenger volume of 98 cubic feet, with a trunk of 13 cubic feet.

For years, Acura approached the evolution of its vehicles with the deliberate patience of a carpenter wielding a sanding block. Rough mechanical or aesthetic

edges were banished not with axe swings, but with small motions that seemed barely perceptible compared to the ranging whims of the competition.

While the automaker had already begun to dabble with its then-new corporate shield grille, the TL took the piece and ran with it in a direction no one else was heading. Ask Acura about the thinking behind the design, and the company will say the look was a product of the times. When the vehicle was penned, the world was preoccupied with ever larger displays of affluence, and Acura wanted a sedan that was unmistakable in every way. Unfortunately, the fourth-generation TL landed right as the housing bubble popped and the rest of the economy began circling the drain.

In order to right the TL’s wrongs for 2012, Acura has put down the chainsaw in favour of the carving knife to build an altogether more attractive vehicle that brings additional fuel economy to the table as well.

Moreover, the trunk has a fairly small opening and there’s a big floor hump in back that welcomes only a midget fifth passenger.

So, it’s best to think of the new TL more as a taut sport/luxury four-door than a family hauler. With front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the TL competes against the likes of the Audi A4 and A6, BMW 3and 5-Series, Infiniti G37 and Nissan Maxima.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

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Abeokuta South LGA, OOU, Ago Iwoye and general public should take note.

IDOWU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Idowu Titilola Kikelomo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Titilola Kikelomo Aluko-Arowolo. All former documents remain valid.

Council of Legal Education, Nigeria Law School, Nigeria Bar Association and general public should take note.

UKPEH

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Sarah Okon Ukpeh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Sarah Udeme Thomas. All former documents remain valid.

University of Calabar and general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

SALIU

YUSUF

CHANGE OF NAME OBI

OLAIYA I formerly known and addressed as Olaiya Damilare Olusegun, now wish to be known and addressed as Oluwasegun Damilare. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc. and general public should take note.

ENESI I formerly known and addressed as Miss Enesi Bunmi Simi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adekanmi-Usman Bunmi Simi. All former documents remain valid. Lagos State University and general public should take note.

KEHINDE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Kehinde Yetunde Olabimpe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ojeyinka Yetunde Olabimpe. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Teaching Service Commission and general public should take note.

IWAHA

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs Yusuf Funmilayo Sidikat, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Ayeni Funilayo Sidikat.All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Primary Education Board Irepodun/Ifelodun Local government and general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Obi theresa Olufunmilayo, now wish to be addressed as Mrs Akinbobola theresa Olufunmilayo.All former documents reman valid.LAUTHECH teachinh hopital Osogbo and general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Iwaha Efemena, now wish to be addressed as Asuquo Joseph Efemena. All former documents reman valid. Supreme Court of Nigeria, Nigerian Bar Association and general public should take note.

ABAH I formerly known and addressed as Miss Abah Perpetua Chinasa, now wish to be addressed as Mrs Ugwu Perpetua Chinasa.All former documents reman valid.IMT, NYSC and general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Dorothy Aitigbemen Osime, now wish to be addressed as Mrs . Dorothy Aitigbemen Ediale. All former documents reman valid. State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and general public should take note.

RAHMON

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Falope Bukola Olasunbo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Daramola Bukola Olasunbo.All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Local government Service Commission, Ado - Ekiti and general public should take note.

OMONIYI

I formerly known and addressed as Aluko Adetola Olubukola, now wish to be known and addressed as Sobande Abigail Adetola.All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Saliu Titilayo Oluwatoyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ayelaagbe Titilayo.All former documents remain valid. Federal Science and Technical College, Ijebu Mushin, Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja and general public should take note.

JIMOH I formerly known and addressed as Miss Jimoh Latifat Titilola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Bashorun Latifat Titilola.All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Rahmon Oladimeji Monsurat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogunbekun Oladimeji Monsurat.All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Omoniyi Adedayo Comfort, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogunsanya Adedayo Comfort.All former documents remain valid. Teaching Service Commission, Abeokuta and general public should take note.

OMONIYI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Omoniyi Adedayo Comfort, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogunsanya Adedayo Comfort.All former documents remain valid. Teaching Service Commission, Abeokuta and general public should take note.

ANARUWE

FALOPE

ALUKO

OMOGOLOR I formerly known and addressed as Miss Obiageli Joy Omogolor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Obinyan Joy Obiageli.All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OSHIBODU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oshibodu Olufunbi Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adegbayi Olufunbi Temitope.All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OLUWASEYI-FADEYI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Francisca Oluwatoyin Anaruwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Obe Francisca Oluwatoyin. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Oluwaseyi-Fadeyi Titilayo Mariam, now wish to be known and addressed as Fadeyi Titilayo Mariam.All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OKPUZOR

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oshibodu Olufunbi Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adegbayi Olufunbi Temitope.All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Okpuzor Franca, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ihiere Franca. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OGHU

OSHIBODU

FAJOBI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss OGHU IIBI Abbot, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ekpete Iibi Marshall. All former documents remain valid.

Abia State Polytechnic, NYSC AND general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Fajobi Iyabo Adejumoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oloyede Iyabo Adejumoke.All former documents remain valid,General public should take note.

ONONIWU

NWABUEZE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ngozi Ononiwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ngozi Chamberlain Iheanacho. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc. and general public should take note.

NNORUO

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Nnoruo Ugochi Clara, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogunleye Ugochi Clara. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

ONUOHA I formerly known and addressed as Mr. Onuoha Iheanacho Okechukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Onwuchekwa Wilson Okechukwu.

All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OPARAH

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oparah Nma Jannie, now wish to be addressed as Mrs Nma Jannie Victor Eluwa.All former documents reman valid. General public should take note.Tutu/ Gbenga

JONAH I formerly known and addressed as Mr. Jonah John Brownson, now wish to be addressed as Mr. Ifada Festus.All former documents reman valid. General public should take note.

UZOWURU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Rita Nwamaka Uzowuru, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Rita Nwamaka Ezeokeke. All former documents remain valid. Oko Polytechnic, NYSC and general public should take note.

EZE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Eze Nneka Mercy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ned Nneka Ujagun. All former documents remain valid.

Nigeria Police Force and general public should take note.

LAWAL

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Lawal Ibitola Eunice, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ojo Ibitola Eunice. All former documents remain valid.

Airtel Nigeria and general public should take note.

OBANOYEN

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Obanoyen Taiwo Fatimat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Kolawole Taiwo Fatimat. All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Ondo State Hospital Mgt. Board and general public should take note.

ITODO I formerly known and addressed as NWABUEZE PAUL EZEATU now wishes to be and addressed as NWABUEZE PAUL NWACHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General Public should take note.

KEHINDE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Kehinde Bolanle Janet, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olajide Bolanle janet.All former documents remain valid. LTH Osogbo and general public should take note.

JOHN I formerly known and addressed as Miss Blessing John, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Blessing Leyira Bright Koki.All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Itodo Grace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Imoisili Grace. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

LONGE I formerly known and addressed as Mr. Longe Saheed Olusegun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Haasrup Ojulope Kelven. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

UKEH

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Helen Chikamnele Ukeh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Helen Chikamnelen.

All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OKE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oke Folashade Toyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Somuwa Folashade Toyin. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

DOSU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Dosu Olabisi Mutunrayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Mamidu Olabisi Mutunrayo. All former documents remain valid. D’BLIS TIT Hotel, Ado-Ekiti and general public should take note.

ABIOYE

UCHE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Uche Udoka Jecinta, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nnadi Udoka Jecinta.All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

ALBERT

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Abioye Olubunmi Augustina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adeneye Olubunmi Augustina.

All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Owonte Ataisi Albert, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oruene Ataisi Ann.All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OLADOKUN

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Mabel Owuopele Manuel, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Mabel Owupele Nnadi.All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oladokun Titilayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Janet Titilayo Awe. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

NWAOGU

I formerly known and addressed as Mr. Nwaogu Emmanuel, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Mark Emmanuel . All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

MANUEL

OSI I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ugochi Ogbonnaya Osi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ugochi Ndubuisi Eze.All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

FALADE

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Falade Omolabake Magret, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs JimmyAkinyan Omolabake Alaba. All former documents remain valid.

Ondo State Teaching Service Commission, Alagbaka, Akure and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NMAE I,formerly known and addressed as Mr. Happy Okon, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Onubi Sunday. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ATTAH

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Nkoyo Etim Attah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nkoyo Onoyom Ikpeme.All former documents remain valid. National Teaching Institute, Kaduna and general public should take note.

IRABOR I formerly known and addressed as Miss Angela Omonye Irabor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Angela Omonye Idiahi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OSIME

NZEREM

We formerly known and addressed as Nzerem Ikechukwu Oliver, Nzerem Obinna Christian, Nzerem Chima Anthony, now wish to be addressed as Mathew Ikechukwu Oliver, Mathew Obinna Christian, Mathew Chima Anthony. All former documents reman valid. Federal High Court, Immigration Officer and general public should take note.

A D V E R T : Simply produce your marriage certificate or sworn affidavit for a change of n a m e publication, with just (N3,500.)

The payment can be made through FIRST BANK of Nigeria Plc. A c c o u n t number 1892030011219 Account Name V I N T A G E P R E S S LIMITED Scan the details of your advert and teller to gbengaodejide@y ahoo.com or thenation_advert@ yahoo.com For enquiry please contact: Gbenga on 08052720421, 08161675390, E m a i l gbengaodejide @yahoo.com or our offices nationwide.

Note this!

Change of name is now publish e v e r y Thursdays and Sundays, all materials should reach us two days before publication.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

45

NATURAL HEALTH

An epidemic of pregnant men, obese women (2) “L IGHTS OUT!” My mind is roving back to 10p.m. in high school boarding house. The bell ringer would be ringing the bell, stopping only for the house prefect to bellow that the bell was for all lights to go off, a reminder that, in about 15 minutes, every bed would be inspected to ensure every-one was in bed, quiet and sleeping, if not snoring! It was a rule good for our health but difficult to enforce. Many students, like adults, fritter the gift of daylight for work, and try to compensate the loss by keeping awake at night when, by the dictates of Mother Nature, they should be fast asleep. This abuse or infringement of a Law of Nature critical for building and maintaining radiant health is worse today. If we lit candles or lanterns to beat electric lighting shut down at ten, our children perpetrate the culture not just to dot the Is and Ts in preparation for examinations, they commit more crimes against the Law of Nature. This being the home videos computer and internet age, they are awake almost all night.

And because most cell phone service providers offer free night calls, our children, like some adults, cannot sleep well at night. I like to keep my phone open 24 hours, against the advice of my wife. One night, a boy under 12 from Enugu woke me up. He only wanted to say “hi,” he said. His parents bought him a phone, and every night, he would randomly call some numbers. On another night, a woman called just to ask me for the Yoruba name of a herb I mentioned in this column. Yet on another night, a young woman called to say she was just reading and enjoying the column. I was amazed to learn she was at a choir practice which had just ended.

Why at that time of the day? I asked. It turned out that many choristers were too busy during the day to make ends meet to make out time for rehearsals. So, they agreed to rehearse between 12 midnight and 4a.m once a week. I am no longer a newcomer to the world of church prayer night vigils as well. People attend them, on the surface, to worship God. No one can quarrel with w orship. But is worship singing and dancing or clapping and begging for favours or, with one’s life, fulfilling His Holy Will? In defence, we are told by the pastors who have a lot to gain from it that the Lord Jesus kept the vigil Himself. To that, I always ask: Did He keep the vigil to beseech the Father for His daily bread, to ask that Holy Ghost fire vanquish his enemies, or to seek to draw strength for the fulfillment of His Mission which was to salvage mankind from the darkness, from Lucifer, through His Message? God is All-Wise, and everything He made has purpose(s) Day is for work, night for rest.!

I AM NOT a “holier than thou” person in this regard. Like many people in Lagos, I, too, run a hurly-burly schedule.

Many people leave home by 5.a.m to beat the traffic and do not get back home before midnight. Shift workers are in a world of their own. When we do not sleep at night or sleep long enough and deep enough, we harm our bodies in many ways. Sleeping long enough has been equated to getting at least eight hours of sleep. Deep sleep means achieving stage four or Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. REM sleep is that type of sleep in which the sleeper is not only oblivious of the world around him, such as someone else opening a door or the air or wind rustling the window blind or bed cover, but may have saliva droop down one corner of the mouth. I got there for three days last week, felt well rested and everyone who saw me observed that I looked fresher and younger, reddened eyes whiten and my demeanour calmer.

One of the things we lack in the body when we do not sleep long and deep enough are growth hormones. They are produced in the pituitary gland, which is situated in the brain. Growth hormones make us grow in the growth years, and support the repair of the body’s wear and tear. That’s why, as should be easily evident, babies sleep and sleep and sleep. Even children would wish to sleep long and deep. In ignorance, many parents are impatient with children who do not jump up on their feet from deep sleep at the knock on the door. As a body, I was a deep sleeper and often incurred the wrath of my parents’ especially when I wet the bed, I was to learn that it is in deep sleep that the body-soul union is so relaxed that the soul is freed to wander aloft in its experiencing, what we call dreams, while the body, freed from its job as a housing for the soul, recuperates its battered, exhausted cells. My wife should recall that I never took kindly to sleeping children being roughly awakened. I’d rather play with one hand or foot, gradually restoring feeling to the physical body which, increasing its hold on the union, makes possible a recall or return of the soul into its physical vessel or cloak.

The importance of growth hormones to physical health has been well researched worldwide. In 1990, the conservative New England Journal of Medicine published what has been described as a “landmark: article, “Effects of Human Growth Hormone in men over 60 years old”. The research team, headed by Dr. Daniel Rudman M.D., and his colleagues at the Medical College of Wisconsin University, they enrolled for their study 21 healthy men aged 31 – 81.

Twelve of the men were injected with human growth hormone (HGH) three times a week for six months while the others were untreated, as the control. The results were that the men who received HGH reported 8.8 per cent increase in lean body mass, about 15 per cent increase in lean fat tissue, seven per cent increase. In yet another experiment, this time at Oxford University, the health status of more than 150 runners was studied. Seventy-five of them were given 5,000mg of the amino acid L-glutamine after a tiring exercise, while the others were given a placebo. The L-glutamine group fared better, health wise, than the other

boast thick, shiny coasts. Their eyes were clear and cataractfree, their digestion had improved and, instead of growing thin and wasted in the manner of the non-melatonin-treated mice, they maintained their strength and muscle tone. The vigour and energy with which they moved around their cage resembled the behaviour of mice half their age” While the untreated mice died at 24 months of age, their melatonin-treated counterparts lived six months longer, which, “In human terms would amount to gaining an extra 25 years of life, or living well past 100 years” Dr Pierpaoli found that the untreated mice died of cancer, “common for their age and breed”, whereas the melatonintreated mice “remained free of disease”. His conclusion is that humans, too, need not be disease-riddled in old age and that “melatonin can stop the spiral”

B

group over the next week. The secret is that L-glutamine, or foods which contain it, boosts growth hormone levels!.

P

EOPLE who do not sleep early, well and long enough were studied in another experiment in which some people slept well before midnight for about eight hours and the rest slept before dawn and all day. It turned out that long daytime sleep is not as refreshing as shorter night sleep.

This, inevitably, will take us to the circadian rhythm or the cosmic clock, knowledge of which the Chinese have preserved. This knowledge teaches that all the stars and planetary formations are not hanging out there in space as decorations. Each of them has specific or peculiar constituents.

Each organ of the body, too, has specific or peculiar driving constituents it impacts upon the earth and organs of the human body specific or responsive to it. The cosmic world beams its radiations of energy onto the earth, and each organ is to access, through the channels of radiations, its kindred cosmic force. This is hardly possible in day time because these organs have no physiological break. Only at night do they. And each hour of the night, goes the hypothesis, is assigned to a particular organ or groups of them. An organ which cannot hook up during its own slot, because we are awake when we should be sleeping, is denied cosmic sustenance or nurture. Over time, it weakens, due to no apparent physical causes, withers and may become dis-eased.

Isn’t this why doctors put their sick patients to sleep? And do we need a lecture about sleep being the best health restorer?

Dr V.C.A.Vogel appeals in his THE NATURE DOCTOR: “When should we sleep and for how many hours? There are may different answers to these two questions and it is better if we ask, not other fellow humans, but nature itself, the most appropriate teacher. Nature sets before us a splendid example in the lively, ever-active world of birds. What can we learn from our feathered friends? When and for how long do these cheerful little singers sleep? …they begin their songs at the break of dawn when the average person is wasting the sunny hours of an early spring morning lying asleep in bed. They are already about their business and do not return to rest until the last traces of twilight have gone.

For the birds this seems to be a natural and, proper way of life and indeed, primitive man adopted it.” Then, he adds: “Our eyes were given to us by our Creator to enjoy and explore the light and what each day unfolds. They are a miracle and we should look after them well. The daylight opens them to the morning, and when night falls it is natural to close them in rest. For what other reason were we given alternate night and darkness. Modern man, however, came along and inverted artificial lighting for himself, allowing him to prolong day indefinitely…Thus, although artificial to us, we have forgotten that we have changed the natural rhythm of life to suit our own transient mood, personal need…”

This has dire consequences for the aging process as Dr Pierpaoli, co-author of the book Melatonin Miracle, says: “In fall of 1985, I began the first of what would be many experiments testing the effect of administering Melatonin supplements to older mice. I selected healthy male mice that were 19 months old (human equivalent of about 65 years); they live about 24 months. I divided the mice into two groups, one given Melatonin in the evening drinking water, the other group regular tap water. Everything else, diet, living condition, was exactly the same.

“At first, I could detect very little difference between the two groups of mice. Within five months, however, the difference was astonishing. The untreated mice began to display the expected signs and symptoms of old age… senescence. They lost muscle mass, they developed bald patches, their eyes grew cloudy with cataracts, their digestion slowed down and, so, generally, did they. In sum, they seemed worn out and tired… they were winding down and becoming old.

“On the other hand, the melatonin-treated mice looked and behaved like their grandchildren. The mice on melatonin had actually grown more fur and continued to

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

UT people who do not sleep early, long and deep enough do not produce enough melatonin! Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland situated in the brain Dr Shari Lieberman Ph.D., and Nancy Burning, in their THE REAL VITAMIN & MINERAL BOOK say “the release of Melatonin – which occurs when our eyes register darkness – is what makes us feel drowsy at night”. Made by the pineal gland from Tryptophan and Serotonin, the authors say melatonin is an antioxidant and neutralizes one of the most dangerous free radicals five times better than glutathione, a well known natural antioxidant made in the body, and two times more effectively than Vitamin E. In one experiment, researchers swapped the pineal glands of young and aged mice. The young mice with the old glands died soon after, but the old mice with young glands lived 30 per cent longer than expected. Another experiment the authors report show that cholesterol levels rose markedly in animals whose pineal glands were removed, suggesting that the cholesterol and heart disease scourge, like cancer, in humans may be partly attributable to underfunctioning pineal gland.

Suboptimal pineal function may, indeed, come from atrophy. Any organ not well used atrophies. Keeping awake for long hours at night makes the pineal irrelevant and may atrophise it. Poor melatonin supply deprives the body of an important antioxidant and quickens the aging process. For people who would like to sleep but cannot because they do not produce enough melatonin, a melatonin supplement will help. A melatonin supplement will be of no value where melatonin output is enough but causes other than a deficiency of it prompt sleeplessness.

INSOMNIA has many causes. Some people deliberately keep awake at night to do one thing or the other, such as my night vigil to write this column. Other people may consume foods which contain caffeine, such as soft drinks, close to bed time. Some people oppose the electric field of the earth in the position of their bed heads. It is better to align the bed head with the geographic North so that the earth’s electric field and the body’s flow in the same direction. A swimmer who swims against the current will tire faster than the one borne along by the tide. Pain from disease or whatever cause disturbs sleep. So does a deficiency of calcium and magnesium, which may also cause leg cramps and ‘restless leg syndrome’, jerks of the leg which wake us up. The same goes for potassium shortage, which may make muscles sore.

A soft mattress stresses muscles and nerves all night, with build-ups of irritating or menacing lactic acid in them. A troubled mind forments insomnia. It over consumes neurotransmitter in the brain, leaving the brain “hot”, as they say. Lights in a bedroom disturb attainment of deep or stage four (REM) sleep.

For people who would like to sleep, help abounds in nutrition. Dr. Don Colbert says pharmaceutical sleeping pills are not meant to be consumed for a long period of time.

Some of the natural sleep aiders are Valerian root, 5-HTP (5hydroxyl tryptophan), L-theanine (an amino acid), Passion flower, Skullcap, St. John’s Wort, Melatonin, Calcium and Magnesium, Lime blossom (Linden) and Vervan. Valerian calms the nerves. 5-HTP, a form of tryptophan, helps in the production of serotonin, a mood balancing brain chemical which, at night, the pineal gland converts to inelatonin, the sleep brain chemical. Tryptophan occurs in foods such as chocolate, banana, peanuts, soy protein, pumpkin, sesame seeds and brown rice. L-theanine attracted me to the proprietary product StressAssist, of which it is a component.

St. John’s Wort, oil, capsule or tea, goes well for stress, sleep and depression. Skullcap soothes headaches and calms nerves. Some of these sleep aiders and others are formulated into proprietary steep products. Examples are Sleep & Relax Tea, Stop Snoring Spray (a spouse’s snores may disturb sleep), Acid Reflux & Indigestion Tea (heartburn is anti-sleep) Stress Release, Calming Chronic Stress Relief, Snoring & Sleep Apnea (Sleep apnea is a feeling of chocking during sleep which some people brand spiritual attack).

We can go on. I am remodeling my bedroom to adorn two framed paintings. One is an artist’s impression of the Temple of great pillars in Paradise where winged knights protectingly encircle the Throne and the King and Ruler of All the Worlds. On the opposite wall will be that of the reeling earth rotating on its axis and revolving around the sun, with stars in the background. These paintings, apart from encouraging me to work on earth to gain a place in Paradise, should tell me, while I am still here, that I didn’t make the world that the Maker of the earth commands that we work during the day and sleep at night, so that, once again, I will learn to respect LIGHTS OUT for my own health benefit.

Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

SLIDING TACKLE

"We are ready to do Nigerians proud on Saturday and this we believe will be our portion as we countdown to that day. Tanzania will be beaten and there is no two way about that.”

Thursday, June 16, 2011

52

INJURY SCARE

Under-23 camp spokesman, saying the team has gone on fasting and prayer session in order to prevail on visiting Tanzania team on Saturday.

Odumadi F returns onThursday

AHEAD OF OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS

Nigeria's Under-23 team holds fasting, prayer sessions

A

C Milan of Italy winger Nnamdi Oduamadi and Nigerian Under-23 player has given assurance that he would be fit for the second leg second round Olympic qualifying game against the Vijana stars of Tanzania slated for the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Saturday. The assurance is coming on the heels of a lateral ankle injury he suffered in training on Monday.

Odumadi who left the team's Prestige Hotel Camp on Tuesday to seek medical attention in Lagos, had shunned an earlier medical report that it might take weeks for the injury to heal.

He said: "“I will be back on Thursday and I have no doubt whatsoever that I will play this match against Tanzania” this game, I will not miss it for any thing” Nnamdi declared after he was told that the Injury will need a couple of weeks to heal."

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)

By Stella Bamawo Deputy General Secretary (Technical) Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme has urged the players not to relent in their efforts by beating the Tanzania side on Saturday, just as he expressed confidence in the ability of team's coach, Austin Eguavoen in ensuring that the boys put in their best.

He said: “As you know I was with the team in Tanzania and I can confirm to you that our team was better but they underrated the Vijana stars.

That’s why I am here early because there is a need to charge the boys. We have what it takes to beat this Tanzanians but we must not be complacent.

“Am happy that the chief coach Austin Eguavoen and the players know what is at stake and I want to believe that if Tanzania was able to beat us one nil, I don’t see what stops us from canceling that one goal advantage and go ahead to win Saturday’s match. As a person I strongly believe in

•Odumadi

their ability individually and as a team so I have no doubt whatsoever that if they put their acts right, relax and put up their “A” game I see no reason why they would not overrun the Vijana stars.”

Dr Ikpeme who commended the Edo state government for their support, stated: “I must use this opportunity to thank the Comrade Governor, for all the support he has given to this team because his gesture has saved the Federation some huge financial burden which ordinarily we would not have had a choice but to pay for, so we are very grateful to the governor for putting us in this first class facility”.

Nigeria must beat Tanzania with at least two goals to get

to the final phase of the Olympic qualifiers in December. The Nigeria Tanzania match kicks off by 4pm, with gate fees pegged at N700 (VIP) N200 (PS).

Meanwhile, the following Players are already in camp: Dele Ajiboye, Theophilus Afelokhia, Olufemi Thomas, Suswan Terna, Emmanuel Anyanwu, Usman Amoda, Nurudeen Orelesi, Obiora Nwankwo, Harmony Ikande, Solomon Okpako, Saka Ayo, Eneji Otekpa, Lukman Haruna, Kingsley Udoh, Dimaku Tochukwu, Edet Ibok, Sone Aluko, Azuka Izu, Osas Okoro, Maduabuchi Josiah, Ekigho Ehiosun, Kabiru Sanusi, Babatunde Mikel, Oseni Ganiyu, Barnabas Imenger.

OR members of the country’s U-23 national team, Tuesday was set aside by the players to hold a fasting and prayer session for Nigeria to emerge victorious on Saturday in the make or break Olympics Qualifier between Dream Team V and Vijana Stars of Tanzania at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.

Revealing this to NationSport, a camp source told our correspondent that, to the players the match against Tanzania was very important and everything possible is being done to ensure the team scores at least two goals in Benin and owing to that fact, the players held meeting among themselves and set aside Tuesday for elaborate supplication to God by the way of fasting and prayer.

“We are really preparing for the Saturday’s match and to show our seriousness, we actually fasted on Tuesday for some hours. It was meant to

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri commit the fast approaching match to God in prayer and fasting since we have done our own bit.

"We are ready to do Nigerians proud on Saturday and this we believe will be our portion as we countdown to that day. Tanzania will be beaten and there is no two way about that.” The source stated.

The choice of Tuesday for the fasting and prayer session NationSport gathered may not be unconnected with the way a section of Nigerian people value Tuesdays as day of victory, hence their resolve to starve themselves of food for some time as part of the sacrifices to be paid for the country’s anticipated triumph over Tanzania on Saturday.

Tanzania holds a 1-0 cushion ahead of the deciding second leg in Benin and was reputed to have eliminated Cameroon, which emerged Olympics Champions in 2000 in the last round of qualifiers.

Heartland’s board rings changes in Technical Crew

I

N its quest to arrest the unimpressive results of Heartland of Owerri this season in the NPL, the Management Board of the

•Udube, Osigwe now chief scouts From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

Naze Millionaires has ring changes in the technical crew of the team.

The duo of Wifried Udube and Emma Osigwe whom until now were Assistant Coaches to the Technical Adviser, Lodewijk de Kriuf have been demoted to the post of the chief scouts for the club while the coach of the victorious Government Secondary School, Owerri which won the NNPC/ SHELL Cup back to back in

the last two years, Ranson Madu has been drafted in as first Assistant Coach albeit without contract negotiations yet NationSport reliably gathered.

Former Green Eagles’ Skipper, Christian Chukwu who was brought in as a stop gap measure for the foreign coach is still very much in the Heartland fold as he has been promoted to the position of the Technical Director assisting the foreign expatriate to change the dwindling fortunes of

Heartland in the domestic league and to avert the club likely flirtation with relegation.

The change which took effect from the Heartland 2-1 win over stubborn, Kwara United had followed with two agonizing defeats in Ilaro against Crown of Ogbomosho (0:1) and at Kano Pillars (0:3) and a source informed NationSport that time will tell whether more changes would be made in the team.

Heartland currently has 34 points from 26 matches and is placed 13th on the log with 7 points clear of relegation.

CAF CONFEDERATION CUP

Ogunbote targets double UNSHINE Stars coach Gbenga Ogunbote is upbeat that his wards will make it double at this year’s CAF Confederation Cup as well as the Nigeria premier league.

Ogunbote’s lads on Sunday in Ijebu Ode saw off the opposition of Libyan Al-ttihad from the CAF Confederation Cup. Godfrey Oboabona’s 50th minute spot kick made the whole difference.

Sunshine are second on the league log with 51 points, two points adrift leaders, Dolphin’s 53 and with a game in hand. An elated coach Ogunbote told SuperSport.com that their victory over the stubborn North African team is a strong indicator that Sunshine could pick the continent diadem of the continental title as well as the league title.

“We are getting closer to our dream, to rule the continent and our position on the league is okay showing that we could make it a double

S

this year.”

Acknowledging the fact that the oppositions are likely to get tougher as the bar is further raised, hinted that more quality players will be deployed to strengthen the team before the start of the group stage. “I know the higher we move the tougher it becomes, we will beef up

•Ogunbote

the squad with quality players before the start of next stage.”

Ogunbote who was shaken by the several misses by his wards in the Al-ttihad game promised to tight that loose end. “Football is all about creating chances and making good use of it, it makes no sense creating several chances and hardly using any of them.

“It is unacceptable, I have take note of that and will work on the lapses before we start the group stage,” he said. The Nigerian CAF Confederation Cup debutants had early added Tiko United of Cameroon and the Armed Forces Sporting Union (USFA) of Burkina Faso to its casualty list.

Sunshine have qualified to play in group B of the continent second tier clubs competition alongside JS Kabylie of Algeria, MAS (Morocco) and winner of the tie between Simba of Tanzania and Motema Pembe of DR Congo.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

53

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

54

MONEY LINK

Credit bureaux lobby NDIC for banks’ debtors’ list

C

REDIT bureaux have reached out to the Ni geria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) persuading it to furnish them with the list of debtors in many of the failed banks in the country.

The credit companies think that getting the right information about borrowers especially where a bank had folded up would stop further borrowing by such customers, The Nation leant.

We don’t have interface with NDIC, yet, we have made a lot of overtures especially, where a bank has folded up.

NDIC has a lot of information about depositors

By Collins Nweze Senior Correspondent

and debtors in such institutions and we have told the agency to pass the list of debtors to us. They are yet to do that,” Managing Director, Credit Registry Services Plc, Taiwo Ayedun, said.

He explained that having access to such information will stop those debtors who refused to pay their debts from going about borrowing from other financial institutions.

But Head of Corporate Communications, NDIC, Sule Birchi, said it is not true that credit bureau approached them for such in-

formation insisting that the agency is committed to ensuring sanity in the financial services industry.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) wants the banks to use necessary tools to reduce bad debts, which explained why the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) was set up.

The banks, by complying with AMCON directives, will have to sell bad loans that exceed five per cent limit.

Despite these challenges, there has been significant growth in the process of pooling credit reports than was the case before

the banking reforms in 2009. However, as a relative ratio to the number of loans being processed, banks are still not pooling credit report from all their transactions and such is the area they need to improve upon.

Ayedun said some banks believe they can only pool reports from certain class of loans, usually loans above N1 million which is a wrong practice.

“All loans have a risk as long as you are parting with your money. Whether it’s N10,000 or N1 million, there is a risk of loss. The banks should pool reports from all loans.

He said his firm receives on monthly basis, requests

from between 25 and 30 financial institutions including but not limited to banks, microfinance banks, primary mortgage institutions, asset management companies and commercial banks,” he said.

He explained that noncompliance among banks has nothing to do with cutting cost as was the case in recent years.

“I don’t think it’s an issue of cost now. We are talking of spending about N1,000 not to lose N1 million. The banks already charge customers certain fees like management fees, processing fees and other fees. Besides, the banks push cost of credit check to the cost of the

loans.

There is no reason for non compliance. He attributed non compliance among banks to internal process problems.

“If the CBN says a bank must use credit bureau and you are not doing so, then we have to question the management credibility to do its job well,” he said.

He explained that despite financial crises that faced many banks and financial institutions across the world, Nigerian banks still lend, although the volume of lending might have declined.

The challenges, he said, is that many of the banks are not pooling credit reports as mandated by the apex bank

CBN denies setting remuneration for banks’ executives

T

HE Central Bank of Ni geria (CBN) has denied setting the remuneration limits for banks’ executives. It also decried that credit rating agencies were free to rate banks.

The CBN in a statement signed by M. M. Abdullahi, Head, Corporate Communications reads that “for the avoidance of doubt, the CBN has no intention whatsoever to dabble into what is purely the purview of the Board and management of the banks.

The CBN has never interfered in the issue of executive remuneration and has no plans to do so.”

Abdullahi stated that Dr. Okwuosah Deputy Director, Risk Management Department who was quoted to have

From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor)

made the remarks spoke “in the context of the global discourse on remuneration of banks’ executives and its impact on the balance sheet of banks which is of concern to regulators, as part of the lessons learnt in the aftermath of the global financial crisis that

saw the collapse of some global financial giants.”

Regarding the issue of rating agencies the CBN stated that the quotation attributed to Okwuosah “is a misrepresentation of the paper presented by the Deputy Director. The only correct statement is: “Given that credit

rating agencies measure the probability of default, they should not be heavily relied upon to validate the health of financial institutions” Abdullahi said.

Abdulahi, said this statement “was made in the context of the wider global debate on the over-reliance on credit rating agencies to de-

T

Export Import Bank (NEXIM) the organisation is also talking to deposit money banks to secure cheap funds for its members.

He said, since it has become difficult for several members of his group who do not have the right collateral to obtain loans, the association

will undertake to guarantee the credits for its members.

But such members will meet the requirement set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for Small Scale Industrialists to secure the loans.

The group is equally working out a Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme (MCGS) where

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

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 15-6-11 SYMBOL OANDO NBC ACCESS ETERNAOIL SKYEBANK REDSTAREX ZENITHBANK GUARANTY BAGCO OKOMUOIL

O/PRICE 50.49 40.54 7,02 4.93 8.03 2.84 14.98 15.93 2.50 15.70

C/PRICE 52.40 41.00 7.29 5.10 8.20 2.97 15.10 16,05 2.60 15.80

CHANGE +1.91 +0.47 +0.27 +0.17 +0.17 +0.13 +1.12 +0.12 +0.10 +0.10

LOSER AS AT 15-6-11 SYMBOL UNILEVER NB ASHAKACEN CADBURY ETI DANGFLOUR NAHCO UBA UPL PHARMDEKO

O/PRICE 29.00 91.00 24.47 18.50 15.00 17.54 8.61 6.15 5.51 4.07

C/PRICE 27.61 90.00 23.50 17.66 14.40 17.00 8.20 5.90 5.30 3.87

He said his group will work out critical minimum requirement for members who wish to obtain loans.

He said the problem of the real sector has been policy implementation, insisting that whatever policies that are set for his members to secure loans will be implemented.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 300m 383m 300m 244m 400m 452.3m

MANAGED FUNDS

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

borrowers guarantee one another in the credit accessing scheme.

Wachuku , told The Nation that NASSI has set up sixmember committee comprising of three men from NASSI and three from NEXIM to work out ways of accessing loans from the bank.

DATA BANK

Tenor

OBB Rate Call Rate

at the Wholesale Dutch Auction System. Traders had demanded for $432 million worth of forex but the apex bank only sold $300 million at N153.25 to a dollar. Also, traders demanded for $22.8 million forex for 30 days and $19.8 million for 60 days for the foreign exchange forward.

NASSI discusses loans with NEXIM, others

HE Nigerian Associa tion of Small Scale In dustrialists (NASSI) is working out modalities that would enable its members obtain loans from financial institutions without collateral.

The National President, Chuku Wachuku, said aside discussing withthe Nigeria

FGN BONDS

NIDF NESF

termine the health of financial institutions, specifically in the context of the aftermath of the global financial crisis that saw the collapse of erstwhile positively-rated financial giants such as Lehman Brother andAIG etc.”

Meanwhile, CBN yesterday, offered traders $300 million at yesterday’s trading

CHANGE -1.39 -1.00 -0.97 -0.84 -0.60 -0.54 -0.41 -0.25 -0.21 -0.20

Amount Sold ($) 300m 244m 400m

Exchange Rate (N) 154.50 153.59 153.4

Date 13-6-11 06-6-11 23-5-11

EXHANGE RATE 30-05-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD NGN GBP

147.6000 239.4810

149.7100 244.0123

150.7100 245.6422

-2.11 -2.57

NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

Name

January ’11

February ’11

May ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.00%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.3%

% Change -0.24% -0.24%

Rate (Previous) 04 MAR, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 24, MAY, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 117.83 119.45 0.84 1,582.15 9.94 1.00 1.39 1.87 9,089.18 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.32 118.70 0.81 1,576.19 9.46 1.00 1.33 1.80 8,807.35 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR

7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

15-06-11 N8.144tr 25,471.59

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS

DISCOUNT WINDOW

Tenor

14-06-11 N8.1646tr 25,533.68

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 MAR, 2011

07, MAR, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

55

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

Tantalizers, Regency, Alex declare N203m dividends

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 15-06-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name ADSWITCH PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 1.79

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,200 2,052.00 1,200 2,052.00

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Company Name FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 2 11 20

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 7.71

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 422,979 211,489.50 14,000 7,000.00 18,008 141,695.68 454,987 360,185.18

Quotation(N) 2.66 8.20

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 15,000 41,850.00 1,890,029 15,545,371.62 1,905,029 15,587,221.62

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.18

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 141,082 70,541.00 973,848 2,131,470.68 1,114,930 2,202,011.68

Quotation(N) 7.29 1.00 5.58 3.35 7.52 2.62 13.00 0.52 16.05 10.20 0.89 1.05 0.73 8.20 0.83 1.80 5.90 2.05 0.88 0.98 15.10

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 27,278,878 190,906,591.14 35,489,931 35,310,144.31 8,335,798 46,225,815.86 601,848 2,016,190.80 1,424,380 10,721,462.00 3,335,609 8,713,497.18 18,059,919 235,419,746.76 2,709,989 1,424,647.79 38,567,161 619,694,668.27 1,307,328 13,340,515.70 13,016,893 11,585,034.77 16,882,155 17,591,180.19 4,776,644 3,486,950.12 862,105 6,953,519.61 1,004,495 833,730.85 4,226,812 7,182,472.24 6,052,272 36,550,957.60 3,007,044 6,154,680.57 5,969,216 5,277,532.87 2,458,361 2,451,765.92 14,545,380 217,829,834.40 209,912,218 1,479,670,938.95

Quotation(N) 245.00 6.42 90.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 167,631 41,069,319.87 94,451 578,719.53 929,369 83,752,732.06 1,191,451 125,400,771.46

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 64 70 AUTOMOBILE & TYRE

Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 22 30 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC AFRIBANK NIGERIA PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC FINBANK PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC BANK PHB PLC SKYE BANK PLC. SPRING BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 327 141 63 39 39 76 812 61 549 36 144 315 69 119 21 39 224 112 68 50 315 3,619 BREWERIES

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 66 12 138 216

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 46 13 30 52 141

Quotation(N) 23.50 10.30 132.00 47.62

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 338,902 8,056,962.78 44,432 469,752.80 1,410,950 186,231,027.60 2,002,854 95,485,452.17 3,797,138 290,243,195.35

Quotation(N) 10.97 30.96 1.52 1.81

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,273 23,707.39 77,307 2,512,477.50 1,000 1,450.00 60,662,500 109,799,125.00 60,743,080 112,336,759.89

T

ANTALIZERS, Regency Alliance Insurance and Aluminium Extrusion (Alex) yesterday recommended dividend of about N203 million to their shareholders.

The Board of Directors of Regency Alliance Insurance, said it has recommended distribution of N133.38 million to shareholders, representing a dividend of two kobo per share.

Also, directors of Tantalizers have recommended gross dividend of N64.23 million, which translates to a dividend of two kobo per share.

Alex would be paying gross dividend of N5 million, indicating a dividend per share of 5.0 kobo.

The prices of the three stocks were not affected by the dividend recommendations as investors continued to gauge the direction of the capital market.

Investors yesterday responded positively to the possibility that rescued banks might succeed in their merger and acquisition bids.

Intercontinental Bank,

No of Deals 3 10 1 3 17

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name COURTVILLE INVESTMENTS PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 12 15

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.97

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 6,225 3,112.50 324,600 941,041.00 330,825 944,153.50

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name OMATEK VENTURES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 900 450.00 900 450.00

Quotation(N) 2.20 7.21 36.11 7.48 0.89 39.80 27.61

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,000 2,090.00 498 3,411.30 115,876 4,192,242.46 388 2,758.68 3,800,855 3,328,648.11 256,640 10,217,835.39 282,158 7,816,740.45 4,457,415 25,563,726.39

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC JOHN HOLT PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC SCOA NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 56 1 39 57 44 199 CONSTRUCTION

Company Name COSTAIN (WA) PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 12 1 20

Quotation(N) 3.49 56.00 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 144,626 504,744.74 73,900 4,139,066.02 1,200,000 600,000.00 1,418,526 5,243,810.76

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 1 5

Quotation(N) 2.18 0.70

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 55,000 116,050.00 100,000 70,000.00 155,000 186,050.00

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 13 74 101 96 73 15 2 83 52 47 14 4 574

Quotation(N) 46.00 17.66 17.00 14.00 90.00 4.55 1.87 6.60 41.00 400.49 0.50 0.63

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,398 201,917.53 4,945,095 88,698,148.32 2,860,338 49,917,149.42 1,039,090 14,549,043.45 356,548 32,090,166.55 71,680 327,826.10 10,200 18,156.00 2,130,662 13,972,631.10 628,719 25,397,688.63 24,015 9,603,898.32 1,203,000 601,540.00 5,710 3,651.14 13,279,455 235,381,816.56

Quotation(N) 1.26 2.00 28.35 3.80 3.87 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 790 948.00 7,746,460 14,877,386.59 2,070 55,838.60 2,679,835 10,265,255.00 50,000 193,500.00 40,000 20,000.00 10,519,155 25,412,928.19

HEALTHCARE Company Name EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. PHARMA-DEKO PLC UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 32 2 32 1 1 69 HOTEL & TOURISM

Company Name CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 15 18

Quotation(N) 3.05 1.38

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,488,824 7,583,413.20 494,080 684,565.40 2,982,904 8,267,978.60

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 1 17 21

Quotation(N) 8.20 0.54 6.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 8,485 66,104.15 1,541 801.32 187,588 1,120,184.00 197,614 1,187,089.47

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name MASS TELECOM INNOVATION NIGERIA PLC STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 16 17

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.52

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 500 250.00 658,043 349,802.36 658,543 350,052.36

Quotation(N) 0.84 1.15 0.50 3.08

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,672,835 3,628,037.02 975,000 1,109,642.15 5,000 2,500.00 486,000 1,492,306.48

which had on Tuesday secured a court judgment to proceed on the process of its business combination, gained 4.7 per cent, while Union Bank of Nigeria, added 4.6 per cent.

Analysts said there was a strong possibility that Intercontinental Bank might trend further upward today.

But the stock market continued on the downtrend with the benchmark index dropping by 0.24 per cent.

Meanwhile, market capitalisation dropped by N20 billion to close at N8.144 trillion, while the index reduced by 62.09 points to close at 25,471.59 points.

It was a mixed performance on the sectoral indices.

The NSE 30 and NSE Food Beverages both dropped further with 4.09 points to close at 1,135.21 and 4.10 points to close at 842.10 points.

The NSE Insurance and Oil/Gas, both appreciated by 1.45 points and 5.04 points to close at 172.35 and 331.04 points respectively,

No of Deals 103 8 1 10

while the NSE Banking closed flat with 386.38 points, the figure it opened with yesterday.

In all, investors traded 333.559 million shares worth N2.481 billion in 5,909 deals.

The banking stocks contributed the largest chunk of 209.912 million shares worth N1.470 billion in 3,619 deals.

Other sectors with significant volume were Building Materials, Food Beverages, Insurance, Health Care and Conglomerates with 60.743 million shares, 13.279 million shares, 11.346 million shares, 10.519 million shares and 4.457 million shares apiece.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 15-06-11 EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

3 1 19 1 2 7 8 8 6 1 19 22 1 1 5 1 2 5 10 244

0.50 0.50 1.60 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.55 0.50 0.50 0.53 0.69 0.50 1.80 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.53

104,139 900 705,765 5,232 8,987 6,093 14,566 845,808 26,016 1,319 915,607 943,465 250,000 19,000 2,500 2,000 88,600 1,023,249 243,491 11,345,572

52,069.50 450.00 1,142,499.00 2,616.00 4,493.50 3,046.50 7,283.00 460,738.24 13,008.00 659.50 478,864.14 661,600.85 125,000.00 35,910.00 1,250.00 1,000.00 44,300.00 511,624.50 129,050.23 9,907,948.61

Quotation(N) 1.13

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,196,124 1,361,802.62 1,196,124 1,361,802.62

Quotation(N) 0.51 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 100,000 51,000.00 221,000 110,500.00 321,000 161,500.00

MARITIME Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 73 73 MEDIA

Company Name AFROMEDIA PLC DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 34 36

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name ABBEY BUILDING SOCIETY PLC ASO SAVINGS AND LOAND PLC RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 0 36 38

Quotation(N) 1.44 0.50 0.50 0.55

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 200 274.00 18,880 9,440.00 0 0.00 2,394,489 1,335,677.71 2,413,569 1,345,391.71

Quotation(N) 2.60 12.71 4.01 1.15

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 915,421 2,321,409.60 2,115 25,549.20 2,509 10,161.45 51,000 58,650.00 971,045 2,415,770.25

PACKAGING Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC BETA GLASS CO. PLC NAMPAK NIGERIA PLC POLY PRODUCTS (NIGERIA) PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 60 2 1 2 65

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name AFRICAN PETROLEUM PLC. BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 42 9 8 37 17 17 191 16 337

Quotation(N) 21.35 0.50 72.00 40.00 5.10 159.00 52.40 195.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 69,259 1,424,718.86 668,200 334,100.00 6,491 461,989.04 200,248 7,876,625.05 125,254 631,509.92 35,077 5,421,962.92 2,166,099 108,929,763.04 8,955 1,750,834.45 3,279,583 126,831,503.28

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 7 11

Quotation(N) 6.60 5.30

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,625 16,458.75 100,559 533,014.75 103,184 549,473.50

Quotation(N) 18.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 45,535 825,038.00 45,535 825,038.00

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 14 14

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Company Name SKYE SHELTER FUND Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 4

Quotation(N) 97.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 9,350 935,000.00 9,350 935,000.00

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 0.60

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 55,573 31,676.61 55,573 31,676.61

Quotation(N) 0.62

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 113,743 70,511.60 113,743 70,511.60

TEXTILES Company Name UNITED NIGERIA TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE CO. PLC. CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC

‘But the stock market continued on the downtrend with the benchmark index dropping by 0.24 per cent’

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC Sector Totals

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

No of Deals 6 6

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 26 26

Quotation(N) 14.40

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 584,657 8,460,029.80 584,657 8,460,029.80

5,909

333,559,305

2,481,236,837.94

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

57

NEWS Continued from page 1

According to Oni and Sunday OjoWilliams, there were strange calls between Justice Salami, some politicians and lawyers to influence the judgment of the Appeal Court on Ekiti and Osun governorship election petitions.

Other allegations against Justice Salami are: *Treatment of Sokoto matter/purported leakage of the judgment of the Court of Appeal on governorship election petition; and *Ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s claim of Justice Salami being a member of the Court of Appeal’s panel on Osun governorship election petition and alleged bias over how Justice Salami constituted panels on election petitions.

Justice Salami denied all the allegations and asked the NJC panel to discountenance the petitioners’ submissions.

He said Oni and Ojo-Williams’ call logs allegations were fabricated, adding that a MTN official admitted that the logs did not emanate from the company.

The address reads in part: “It is pertinent to state that the Petition of Engineer Segun Oni was fundamentally based on the Call Log purportedly obtained from Network Provider MTN Telecommunications which purported to show communications between the PCA and certain lawyers in the course of the election petition appeals in Ekiti and Osun states.

“However, in the course of the presentation of the case of the petitioners, this foundation of the petition was completely knocked off by evidence which became available to the Panel. The authenticity of the call logs “Exhibits 4 and 5” that were annexed to the petition was shown to be substantially flawed.

“Before going any further, we wish to state that the petitioner did not tender any letter requesting MTN Telecommunications to oblige them with the aforementioned call logs. The two Exhibits were not procured from proper custody, the name or logo of the service provider is not inscribed on it, it was not certified at all, there is no serial number on it and there was no endorsement and/ or a covering or forwarding letter.

“The petitioner in his petition and during his oral testimony did not state the source it came from as MTN, the mobile telecommunication company that was purportedly claimed to have produced the call logs has denied the release of the call logs in numerous publication amongst which was the publication in The Nation newspaper of 25 February, 2011 admitted as Exhibit 19 where they stated that “The procedure for the release of information pertaining to calls or data transmitted on our network is rigorous and we will only release customer information that has been

Salami urges NJC to ignore call logs authorised by MTN Executive management, acting further to a court order or a demand by security agencies and by the individual owner of the phone line. Such demands are made with respect to specific phone number and not individual customer names”.

“This fact was buttressed by the Senior Manager Commercial Legal in the Corporate Service Division of MTN, Mr. Rotimi Odusola, when he gave evidence before this panel on the 9th June, 2011. The question begging for answer at this stage is: “Did the petitioner obtain a court order from a competent court ordering MTN to release the call logs to the Petitioner?

“Did the petitioner write to any law enforcement agency to apply for the call logs on their behalf?

“Is the petitioner the owner of the phone lines he claimed to be in the call logs?

“The answers to all these questions are in the negative as there is no evidence before this panel that shows or points to how these call logs attached to the petition were obtained by the petitioner.

“Therefore, we urge my Lords to discountenance the content of the call logs as they are not authentic call logs from MTN Telecommunications but a fabrication by the petitioner and his accolade.

“Also, the Senior Manager, Commercial/Legal in the Corporate Service Division of MTN, Mr. Rotimi Odusola, denies the call logs that were annexed to the petition by the petitioner on the ground that MTN does not produce call logs on A3 papers.

“My Lords, this testimony of a senior ranking officer of MTN, the network provider from whom the call logs were purportedly obtained, is of crucial importance to the determination of this petition. In his testimony, Mr. Odusola categorically and unambiguously stated that the ‘call logs did not emanate from MTN as MTN do not produce call logs on A3 papers’.

“At the hearing of 19th May,2011, Mr. Theophilous Ndubuisi Onyie, a representative of the office of the National Security Adviser (SAN), testified before this panel wherein he gave testimony concerning the source of the content of the flash drive that he forwarded to the secretary of this panel.

“A point worthy of note here is the fact that during cross examination, Mr. Onyie was unable to tender the request letter they wrote to MTN or a forwarding or covering letter from MTN to support the authenticity of the content of what the office of the National Security Adviser received from MTN via email.

“Under cross examination wherein he stated his experience and qualifi-

cation, he admitted that an e-copy (electronic copy) of a document is not safe and that it is prone to alteration. He also admitted that he did not preview the content of the document before he forwarded it to the Secretary of this panel.

“My lords, we urge this Honourable tribunal to discountenance the bundle of documents printed out from the flash drive received by the secretary of this panel from the office of the National Security Adviser as the representative of the National Security Adviser himself has admitted that the flash he gave out was not tamper proof and is very capable of being altered to suit certain clandestine purposes and smear campaigns. We urge my lords to so hold.

“It is also noteworthy to state here that the credibility of the expert witness that was called by the petitioner is highly unreliable as he does not possess the necessary qualifications in telecommunications to give an expert opinion on a field that he lacks requisite knowledge in. Where an expert is summoned to testify in relation to a particular field, such an expert must give his qualification to show his special skill in the relevant field. See MELWANI V CHANHIRA CORP. (1995) 6NWLR (pt 402) at 438.

“Mr. Ademola Oyinlola (the expert witness called by the petitioners), in examination-in-chief claimed to have graduated from the University of Ife in 1993 with a BSC in Engineering Geology, but, however, under cross- examination, he said he obtained BSC Geology and not Engineering Geology. Under cross examination he said that he had never worked with any of the communication outfit both in Nigeria and outside the country and/or has he ever worked on call logs before.

“Furthermore, he claimed to be a Director of an IT firm, Ivory Solutions Ltd, but under cross-examinations, it was proved that he lied on oath as he was subsequently shown not to be a Director of the company nor any IT related company.

“We submit that it is trite that an expert is a person who is specifically skilled in the field in which he is giving evidence. An expert is a witness in a case who is summoned to give an opinion evidence on a fact or fact in issue with in the area of his expertise or specialty. The witness must have made a special study of the subject or acquired a special experience therein. SEE. OGIALE v SHELL PET.DEV.CO. (NIG) LTD (1997) 1NWLR (pt480) AT 148.

“In this case, the supposed expert witness, which the petitioner brought, is a person who has no experience whatsoever in IT Communications and is a graduate of Engineering being brought to testify as an expert in IT communications.

Further, he neither has any practical experience in IT nor has worked in any of the telecommunications companies in Nigeria or abroad.

Rather, he is the Managing Director of a Bureau De Change, a staunch member of the PDP and a nephew of one of the petitioners.

“In the light of these glaring facts, we humbly urge this panel to disregard, discard and discountenance his testimony as he does not qualify as an ‘expert’ and his testimony is tainted, seeing that he lied under oath, is a member of PDP and a nephew of one of the petitioners.

On Oyinlola’s petition, the counsel said: “The first fact that should be noted here, is that Justice Salami was not a member of the panel of justices that sat and heard the Osun State governorship election petition appeal.

“The petition of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola dated 2nd December, 2010 contained on pages 672—875 volume 2 of the working papers is outside the mandate of this panel and it was duly withdrawn by the petitioner. We urge this panel to disregard the petition.

“The second petition by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola dated 7th February, 2011 is contained on page 648652 volume 2 of the working papers also goes to no issue.”

On the alleged leakage of the Court of Appeal judgment on Sokoto governorship election petition, Justice Salami said there was nothing like that.

He said those who made the allegations could not back up their claims before the panel.

He added: “In dealing with this issue of leakage, it is pertinent to state that only two petitions were relied upon by the Hon. CJN in issuing his query to the PCA. As earlier mentioned, the two petitions are those of Yahaya Mahmood, Esq. and Alfred N. Agu, Esq. In none of these petitions is the issue of leakage of judgment mentioned. One is, therefore, at a loss as to how the Hon. CJN came about the issue of leakage of the judgment as it was not mentioned in the petitions and up to this moment, no copy of the judgment said to have leaked has been seen nor brought before this panel.

“Whatever the situation, the deponent to the affidavit of 12th February, 2010, Usman Buhari, never showed up to own, adopt nor was he cross-examined on it. In any event the person who allegedly informed the leakage of the judgment of Sokoto appeal panel – Hon. Justice Dattijo Muhammed, gave evidence which completely denied the content of the said affidavit or any conversation with the deponent.

“Still on this issue of leakage of judgment, it is relevant to recall the

‘Govt not fighting corruption’ Continued from page 2

party, for the party fund and all that and then of course it went beyond 10 per cent to 20, to 25 and at times, it grew so large that in fact, when you were given a job, you would just not care to do it; you would share the money or whatever they called it.

“That was very bad; so when I became president of Nigeria, the first thing I did after my election was to establish an independent body to fight corruption.

Now, that body was so effective, in fact two bodies; one was a commission against financial crimes and they were both so effective that ministers of government, the head of the police and the heads of government departments were put in jail.

However, Obasanjo’s fight against corruption during his tenure was criticised as selective.

On unemployment, Obasanjo said: •From Left: Globacom’s head of Public Sector, Babatunde Amunikoro; Director, Sunway Mobile Ltd , Zhang Ji Gang and Marketing Dept representative of Globacom, Dhirendra Surve, during the signing ceremony of Glo/ “We have all heard what my brother Sunway CUG partnership in which an initial order of 20,000 lines will be acquired for public sector workers in from Yemen has said about the situaLagos,

evidence of Hon. Justice Musdapher, J.S.C. before this panel. Although the Hon. Justice Musdapher, the deposition of paragraph 7(iv) of the CJN affidavit, he limited his admission to just being told by the CJN about the leakage of the judgment. He said it categorically that the petitions were not shown to him.

“Yahaya Mahmood, Esq., in his evidence, gave the PCA a clean bill of health on the issue of leakage when he said that he did not discuss the issue of leakage with the PCA. If he did not, as he himself has admitted, he also did not put it in his petitions.”

Regarding his allegation that the CJN allegedly wanted him to influence the judgment of the Court of Appeal on Sokoto Governorship Election Petition, Justice Salami said he stood by his allegation.

He said: “On the issue of the CJN directing the PCA to deliver judgment in favour of one of the parties, the response of Hon. Justice Musdapher JSC was that he could not recollect.

“That, of course, is different from saying that it did not happen, and we submit that he may not recollect because probably the discussion did not occur in his presence.

From the Record of Proceedings of this panel, Hon. Justice Musdapher is quoted as saying- ‘The issue of the Chief Justice of Nigeria asking the President, Court of Appeal to dismiss the appeal was not discussed in my presence…’

“This situation, therefore, shows that as at 8th February, 2010 when the CJN discussed with the PCA, no petition had emerged against the leakage of the judgment about to be delivered in the Sokoto governorship appeal. Paragraphs 4(I – vi) of the affidavit of the PCA on 31st March 2011 remained uncontroverted. The allegation has to do with the instruction from the CJN to the PCA directing the latter to deal with the Sokoto appeal panel in a particular way, in favour of the incumbent Governor. Somehow, Hon. Justice Musdapher only said that this issue was not discussed in his presence.

“It is instructive to note that the Hon. CJN has not and did not file a counter affidavit to the allegations made by the PCA that he was asked by the Hon. CJN to dismiss the appeal in the Sokoto matter. Hon. Justice Musdapher, in his testimony, only mentioned that the discussions were not in his presence and not that the Hon. CJN did not say it.”

The counsel asked the panel to dismiss the petitions against Justice Salami.

“We urge this Honourable panel to dismiss all the petitions and vindicate Justice Salami of all the allegations against him,” they said.

tion in the Arab countries and North Africa. I want to underline the situation that will signal red alert for us in Africa. I am worried, I am apprehensive about unemployment in our continent that it has not been taken as seriously as it should be.

“I give example of my own continent in Nigeria where we have about 120 tertiary institutions. When I was growing up, there was only one university in Nigeria. Today when you include the polytechnics to the tertiary institutions, we have over 200 institutions of learning. Each institution graduates about 3,000 students every year. You have well over 600,000 graduates every year but we are not creating 100,000 jobs every year. That is the issue that worries me and why we are all sitting here.

“The fuse can be ignited at anytime and if it happens in Nigeria everyone will be affected and I will be the first victim.. The point is that Africa must begin to talk more about job creation,” Obasanjo said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

58

FOREIGN NEWS US names 14 nations with human rights lapses

Pakistan arrests five CIA men for helping to track Bin Laden

T

HE United States has named China, Iran, Libya, North Korea and 10 other nations that it wants the United Nations to hold accountable for alleged human rights violations.

The US Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe said yesterday “too many governments repress dissent with impunity.”

The US list of alleged human rights offenders cited

by Donahoe also includes Bahrain, Belarus, Cuba, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

Donahoe condemned the

A •US President Barack Obama

killing of an Iranian activist and criticised Burma for holding 2,000 political prisoners and Belarus for sentencing three opposition presidential candidates to prison.

Senators press Obama to withdraw from Afghanistan

D

EMOCRATIC and Republican senators are circulating a letter to President Barack Obama pressing for a “sizable and sustained” withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan.

Obama is to make a decision in the coming weeks on how many of the 100,000 American forces he should withdraw from Afghanistan in July. Many war-weary lawmakers are pushing for deep cuts, citing the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden as a game-changer.

In the letter, more than two dozen senators say it makes no sense to maintain a significant number of troops in Afghanistan. They said troop cuts should include combat forces.

The senators say it is misguided for the United States to think it could do nation-building in Afghanistan. They said a shift in strategy is necessary.

Meanwhile, suicide bombings near an Afghan governor’s office and an administrative building killed 11 people Wednesday, while a mortar shell narrowly missed one of the country’s vice presidents at a police training center outside the capital.

PAKISTANI army major, allegedly recruited

by United States intelligence to spy on Osama bin Laden’s Abbottabad compound before the commando raid that killed the al-Qaeda leader, has been arrested, according to US and Pakistani officials.

Neighbours in Abbottabad said that Maj. Amir Aziz, a doctor in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps who has lived in a residence adjacent to the bin Laden compound for several years, has not been seen since shortly after the May 2 US raid. They said that at least four other local residents had been detained, including peasants who farm the agricultural land surrounding the compound.

“Their families don’t have

any idea where they have been taken. Nobody knows what they have done. They are poor people,” said one resident, who did not want his name published for fear of retribution. He said he had been told by soldiers not to speak to journalists.

U.S. and Pakistani officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said that a detained army major was their principal concern, although some said they were not certain Aziz was that person. One Pakistani official said the military believed Aziz had been recruited by the CIA and paid to monitor comings and goings from the compound and photograph individuals and vehicles.

The Pakistani military is-

sued a statement yesterday denying that an army major was in custody in connection with the bin Laden investigation. The statement called “totally baseless” a report published on the New York Times Web site late Tuesday that unnamed Pakistanis had been arrested for providing information to the United States.

A Pakistani security official said that “around 35 to 40 people have been arrested countrywide” on suspicion of working for the CIA on the Abbottabad operation, including “some people who were detained from a house close to Osama’s compound” that was believed to have been “used by the CIA.” Among those arrested, he said, was a milkman who made deliveries to the com-

pound.

US intelligence maintained several locations in the area around the compound prior to the airborne US assault in which bin Laden and several other residents were killed. In recent weeks, top police officials in Abbottabad have been transferred out of the area and the military has seized all land records related to the bin Laden compound. Security services keep a tight cordon around the house and do not allow journalists to come near.

Pakistan has allowed a CIA forensics team to examine the compound and has permitted US interrogations of bin Laden family members that the Pakistanis detained there after the raid.

Al Qaeda members seize parts of Yemen in surprise raids A L QAEDA members were believed to be among the militants who seized several neighbourhoods in Houta, in the Lahj province.

Militants had been engaged in gunfights with government forces in the city, security officials said yesterday.

Bands of militants also opened fire on security and forces yesterday in the southern port city of Aden.

Islamic militants, taking advantage of more than four months of political tur-

moil in Yemen, attacked and seized two other southern cities in Abyan province in late May. Massive anti-regime protests have swept much of the country since February and rival forces are squaring up to each other in the capital, Sanaa, after days of fierce fighting earlier this month.

Ali Abdullah Saleh, the country’s president of nearly 33 years, is in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, undergo-

ing treatment for injuries he suffered in a rocket attack on his compound in Sanaa.

The capture of Zinjibar and Jaar in Abyan province and today’s attacks in Houta and Aden suggest a further weakening of the central government’s authority.

If left unchecked, it could cause the impoverished nation in the southern corner of the Arabian Peninsula to unravel or fall deeper into

chaos.

In Washington, the State Department’s counter-terror co-ordinator Daniel Benjamin said yesterday that the U.S. is worried that the ongoing unrest in Yemen could fuel links between Al Qaeda-linked militants there and al-Shabab insurgents in Somalia.

The American official, Daniel Benjamin, said insurgents in Yemen are operating more in the open and have been able to acquire and hold more territory.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

59

FOREIGN NEWS Mandela’s ex-aide innocent over Naomi Campbell’s gems

T

HE ex-head of Nelson Mandela’s children’s charity has been found not guilty in a South Africa of illegally keeping unlicensed diamonds.

A judge said the case against Jeremy Ractliffe, who was given the stones by model Naomi Campbell, was not proven.

The existence of the gems emerged last year during the war crimes trial of Liberia’s ex-President Charles Taylor.

Prosecutors at the trial said the uncut gems were “blood diamonds” Mr Taylor gave Ms Campbell after a 1997 dinner.

Ms Campbell gave evidence at Mr Taylor’s trial before a UN special court in The Hague last August.

She testified that she was given some “dirty-looking stones” after a 1997 charity dinner hosted by South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela where Mr Taylor was also a guest.

She said two unidentified men appeared at her room and gave her the stones.

She told the court she did not have proof they came from Mr Taylor and had given them to Mr Ractliffe, then chief executive of Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Fund

•Mandela

(NMCF), because she wanted the stones to go to charity.

Jeremy Ractliffe pictured on 15 June 2011 Jeremy Ractliffe said he kept the stones to protect the reputation of Mr Mandela and his charity Mr Ractliffe resigned from the charity’s board after the revelations last August, saying he had kept the stones because he wanted to protect the reputation of Mr Mandela and his charity.

In court on Wednesday, his lawyer read out a statement on his behalf which said he did not know that “possession of the stones, if they are shown to be diamonds, was in any way unlawful”.

Magistrate Renier Boshoff said the court felt the state had “not proved its case”.

Appeal Court clears Egypt’s minister in corruption case

A

N Appeal court cleared Egypt’s antiquities minister yesterday of failing to implement a court order, sparing the international face of Egyptian archaeology from a year in prison.

The earlier ruling had ordered Zahi Hawass to stop bidding procedures for space in a gift shop of The Egyptian Museum, which is home to treasures like Tutankhamun’s gold funerary mask. He failed to comply and was sentenced to a year in prison.

Besides the legal challenge, Hawass has found himself at the center of other trouble since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in February.

Critics accused Hawass of being too close to Mubarak, who elevated the antiquities chief to the position of a Cabinet minister shortly before his ouster in a popular uprising.

Archaeology graduates also held protests accusing Hawass of corruption and seeking publicity for himself.

Most troubling for Egypt’s heritage, many antiquities sites have been looted by criminals amid the country’s political upheaval.

60,000 displaced in Central Sudan

U

NITED Nations officials said yesterday that “there is a growing sense of panic” in the volatile Kordofan area of central Sudan.

Sixty thousand people have been displaced, aid con voys blocked, ethnic clashes erupting and dozens dead — including possibly several United Nations workers.

President Obama urged the Sudanese government to cease “its military actions immediately.”

Kordofan lies at the heart of Sudan and is emblematic of many of the country’s problems, home to myriad militias, rival ethnic groups and contested oil wells. Vicious fighting broke out there last week, and there is fear that an escalating conflict in Kordofan could complicate southern Sudan’s secession into an independent country, scheduled for next month.

According to UN officials and aid workers, the northern Sudanese army has embarked on an aggressive campaign against certain ethnic groups in Kordofan who are aligned with the southern Sudanese.

“They are killing the black people,” said a Sudanese aid

worker who just escaped from a bombed village on Wednesday and asked not to be identified for safety reasons. “The northern army is slaughtering people who supported the SPLM,” the southern-led political party that is active in several parts of northern Sudan.

It was difficult to get a clear picture of what exactly was happening because northern Sudanese soldiers were not allowing UN monitors to travel freely in the area and have severed access to many villages, some of them heavily bombed.

Anglican Church officials said that the violence was spiraling out of control and that Kordofan could become “another Darfur.”

Yesterday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a report, “There is a growing sense of panic among some of the displaced populations who find themselves trapped by the ongoing violence and the ethnic fault lines.”

The statement also spoke of “sectarian violence against civilians” and “widespread looting” and said that local sources had indicated that dozens had been killed in bombing runs by northern Sudanese aircraft.

61

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

NATION SPORT

EUROPEAN TRANSFER...EUROPEAN TRANSFER...EUROPEAN TRANSFER...

Gazidis: Fans will decide Wenger’s future

Napoli joins Roma for Lamela

•Lamela

R

OMA sporting director Walter Sabatini has revealed that he faces competition from Napoli in the chase to sign Erik Lamela.

The 19-year-old River Plate player is considered as a

rising star of the Argentine and South American game.

Sabatini recently flew to Argentina to watch him, but he has told Radio Kiss Kiss that Napoli are keen on the attacking midfielder too.

“I am aware of the interest from Napoli and we are, to a degree, also watching him,” the official noted.

“However, we are aware that perhaps such a swoop isn’t right at this moment in time, especially as it will be very complicated to complete.

“We are talking about a boy with a strong personality who is doing and has already done important things.

“Nevertheless, I can’t rule out the possibility that he will remain in Argentina for at least one more season as he is still very young.”

Lamela is being valued at •12m and has also attracted the interest of Lazio and Milan in recent times.

Zanetti not ready to quit

I

NTER legend Javier Zanetti insists he has yet to ponder retirement despite the fact that he will be 38 in August.

“There is still a lot of time to go by before I start thinking of hanging up my boots,” the veteran told Olè.

“At this moment in time that is just something that I am not even considering. I just want to keep enjoying myself.”

Zanetti, who recently played his 1,000th game as a professional, has been at Inter since 1995 when he arrived with fellow Argentine Sebastian Rambert.

Able to play in defence and midfield, the club captain has won everything on offer with

the Nerazzurri.

Last summer, the Argentine signed a new contract with the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza outfit until June 2013.

A

•Zaluska

Zaluska seeks Celtic talks

C

ELTIC goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska is keen to hold talks with the club's management in order to decide his Parkhead future.

Zaluska began the last campaign as first-choice at Celtic Park following the departure of Artur Boruc but quickly fell behind on-loan Newcastle shot-stopper Fraser Forster in the pecking order.

The 28-year-old, whose contract expires in 2012, has since been linked with a

summer move back to former club Legia Warsaw in order to find first-team football.

"My agent will soon fly to Scotland to talk about the situation with my Celtic contract," said Zaluska.

"My current contract expires next year. I have heard from Polish colleagues about Legia's interest but nobody from the club has called me.

"It may be because I recently returned from a holiday in Dubai and my phone was turned off."

Santana set for Napoli switch

F •Zanetti

AC Milan looks at Schweinsteiger C Milan are looking to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger in the summer.

Il Corriere dello Sport claims Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri met with CEO Adriano Galliani and director Ariedo Braida on Monday to discuss transfers, and he specifically asked for the Germany international.

The 26-year-old is a mainstay at the Allianz Arena and has a contract that runs until 2016, but Allegri is reportedly still interested in the player nonetheless.

The Italians lost Andrea Pirlo to Juventus last month, and Allegri wants a replacement who can play as a defensive

A

midfielder or behind the strikers.

Meanwhile, voices continue to link Santos' Ganso with a 30m euros switch to San Siro.

However, Milan have already used up their non-EU quota in signing Taye Taiwo from Marseille.

Serie A clubs can only sign one non-EU player per season whether it's a loan or permanent deal. It is known as signing an 'extracommunitario', or player who is not a native from any of the countries belonging to the European Union.

Thus the rule normally applies to players from the Africa, South America, Asian, Oceania and American continents.

•Schweinsteiger

IORENTINA midfielder Mario Santana has agreed a deal to join Napoli after turning down the offer of a contract extension in Florence, according to his agent.

The former Argentina international joined Fiorentina from Palermo in 2009 and scored four goals in 28 league appearances for the Viola last season.

But he has now decided to embark on a new challenge with Serie A rivals Napoli and will join as a free agent.

The 29-year-old's representative, Marco Piccioli, says the opportunity to play alongside several of his countrymen helped to influence the decision.

Santana had been linked with a move to Fulham back in April but opted to remain in Italy.

"We have reached a threeyear agreement with Napoli," Piccioli told Corriere dello Sport.

"Before Napoli confirm the deal, they will have to find a placement for (Argentine midfielder Jose Ernesto) Sosa.

"Santana is enthusiastic

•Santana

RSENAL chief exectuive Ivan Gazidis has admitted Arsene Wenger's future at the Emirates will ultimately be decided by the club's supporters.

The Gunners have gone another season without a trophy and the under-fire Frenchman has been given the backing of his American chief executive, who was meeting 200 fans at a Supporters Trust meeting.

Gazidis believes Wenger has done well given the financial circumstances at the club and has backed the coach to succeed again in North London.

He said: "Arsene is ultimately accountable to the fans - they ultimately make judgment.

"If you are ever seeing the relationship between the fans and the manager break down over time then that is unsustainable, but I don't think we are anywhere near that."

•Wenger

"We 100 per cent support Arsene - I 100% support him and feel he has done a fantastic job in a difficult period for this club."

Gazidis added: "You have to remember that we have been up against clubs with unlimited spending power and others such as Manchester United who generate far greater revenue than we do."

Inui on Bundesliga move

C

EREZO Osaka coach Levir Culpi has confirmed there is interest in young attacking midfielder Takashi Inui, following reports he's set for a summer transfer to Germany.

Japanese website Nikkan Sports has reported the 23year-old, who has scored four goals in this season's AFC Champions League, is likely to move to Schalke 04 or FC Cologne.

Both clubs already feature Japanese players, Atsuto Uchida at Schalke, and Tomoaki Makino at Koln.

Brazilian boss Culpi said: "There are many [European] clubs interested in Inui. He will leave as soon as a deal is done, so I am already giving chances to other players."

Inui is a product of the

about playing at Napoli as many of his compatriots play there.

"The fact that Napoli will play in the Champions League next season is just the icing on the cake.

"His priority was to remain in Italy and Napoli's interest in him was an added motivation for him not to leave the country."

•Inui

prestigious Yasu High School and played for Yokohama F. Marinos before transferring to Cerezo in 2008.

The 23-year-old has been capped three times for Japan's senior national team.

•Bas Dost

Smith faces tough decision

T

OTTENHAM youngster Adam Smith is unsure where his future lies after impressing during a season-long loan at Bournemouth last season.

The highly-rated full-back was virtually an ever-present for the Cherries as they qualified for the play-offs in their first season back in League One. However, the 20-year-old is out of contract at White Hart Lane this summer and, despite being offered a new deal by Spurs, he craves regular first-team football having enjoyed his time on the South Coast.

"Spurs have offered me a new contract, but I'm not sure whether I want to stay there or not because I want to be playing regular first-team football and reserve football isn't going to cut it really," Smith told skysports.com.

"Going out on loan again is an option for me, but I've had offers from other teams about making a permanent switch, so I've got a big decision to make between now and the start of pre-season.

"I could stay at Tottenham and go out on loan again or sign somewhere else and compete for a first-team place there, so that is the decision that I've got to make and it is a difficult one.

"If I stay at Tottenham it is going to be difficult to break into the first team there because of all the full-backs that they've got ahead of me in the pecking order, but it is a tough decision as I've been at the club for so long."

•Smith

Agent - Dost on Sporting radar

S

PORTING Lisbon could make a move for Heerenveen striker Bas Dost after already swooping for fellow Dutchman Ricky Wolfswinkel, according to his agent.

The Portuguese giants captured Wolfswinkel in a reported 6m euros (£5.3m) deal from FC Utrecht last week.

They were understood to have turned their attention to FC Groningen forward Tim Matavz to further bolster their attacking resources, but reportedly failed to reach an agreement with the club.

Dost's agent, Henk Nienhuis, claims Sporting could now move for the Heerenveen youngster, but says nothing is concrete.

He said in Omrop Fryslan: "It would perhaps happen, but it is still a long way off."

Dost has impressed for Heerenveen since joining from Heracles Almelo last year, scoring 13 goals in 32 Eredivisie appearances.

The 22-year-old, a Netherlands Under 21 international, has also been linked with a move to Dutch champions Ajax.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2011

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SPORT EXTRA

NSC, NFF meeting dead-locked T

HE face off between the NFF and its supervisory body NSC got to the climax on Wednesday when the Board members of the Football body almost walked

From Patrick Ngwaogu and Andrew Abah, Abuja out on the Director General of the Commission Patrick Ekeji

NESTLE MILO BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Bayelsa coach, Nelson eyes national trophy

A

FRER conquering the Equatorial Conference, coach of St Judes Secondary School, Yenagoa, Torunarigha Tony Nelson has declared that his ambition is to win the national finals coming up in Lagos in September.

Nelson, who sated this after his teams, 44-18 victory over Announciation Secondary, Enugu, said his girls will storm Lagos with the aim of picking the trophy. He expressed delight over his team’s performance and said grabbing the rudiments of the game contributed greatly to the victory. “i am happy we won in Enugu but iur target is to win the national finals in Lagos.

“What we need to do is go back home and continue training hard so that we can become better because the finals in Lagos would be a different ball game. All the teams that have qualified for the finals will also be eyeing the trophy so we need to go back

By Innocent Amomoh home and continue training hard.”

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of Youth and Sports in Enugu state, Uwaezuoke Nwaebiem has enjoined the student to take their education serious while also doing sports in schools. The Permanent Secretary stated that combining both was good as the students would have the opportunity to take to any one in future.

He noted that Nestle Milo was giving them the opportunity to become world stars through the annual basketball competition advising that they become more focus in their career. According to Nwaebiem, the students must aspire to become champions and eschew vioence when they go for competition.

Over 250 students from 18 schools and nine states took part in the week long competition.

over what they termed to be an "arm twisting attitude". The event which could have gone well for a home video started last weekend when the NSC requested the NFF to convey an emergency congress of the body to discuss on the purported crisis in the country's football.

The congress is to involve all former Chairmen/ Presidents, and Secretary Generals of the Federation.

The NSC agreed to fund the congress. This requested was immediately rejected by the NFF quoting relevant sections of its statutes to substantiate its claims.

In an alternative, they requested for an interactive section with the NSC to discuss whatever issue that

may be hanging. This was subsequently accepted by the Director General, who went ahead to invite the past leaders of the Federation to the meeting slated for the Media Centre of the Abuja National Stadium on Wednesday.

The meeting started at exactly 11.00 am, but with the Chairman of NFF Technical Committee Chris Green raising an observation when the DG called for the rendition of the national anthem, saying that the meeting cannot commence, accusing the DG of not informing them that he has invited some of other parties into a meeting that supposed to be interactive between him and the Board of NFF. Another Board member Leye Adepoju accused the NSC of trying to

give them a "hand out" which may not be palatable to the administration of football in country.

However, the DG veto the rendition of the national anthem after which he took the observations raised by the Executive member of the NFF. Journalists were ordered out, which three of the former Secretary General of Fanny Amun, Sani Toro, and Momodu Kadiri were allowed to stay in the meeting.

Though when the DG emerged from the meeting one hour later with NFF Board members, he refused to speak on what transpired, same was the NFF members who later went into long session of meetings that lasted for over four hours.

IGSR organises football tourney

T

HE Institute of Governance and Social Research (IGSR) has organized a sixday Peace and Unity Football tournament from 16th to 30th of June in volatile local government areas of Plateau State to ensure the goal of arresting the cycle of violence in Jos is achieved through the integration of the youths

From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos who always avail themselves as ready tools for destruction during crisis.

IGSR who in the past years had involved more than 2000 youths in different vocational training now delves into sports saying

the objectives are to create a sense of unity and social integration irrespective of their ethnic and religious background, promote peace, unity and friendship among diverse communities in Jos; promote values of sportsmanship among participants; explore the potentials of the youths for positive youths development in the State as well as keep the youths busy after the elections period to prevent them from being used as canon of violence.

According to one of IGSR’s directors, Yakubu Gomos, “The acceptability of football to communicate peace messages to the youths and other community members brings about the idea behind the peace tournament. This will foster unity among the youths as the teams involved were selected from Bassa, Jos North, Jos South, Jos East and National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Plateau State.

FIFA may appeal Kolo Touré’s drugs suspension FIFA ARE considering launching an appeal against the lenient six-month drugs suspension handed down to Manchester City defender Kolo Touré.

Touré, who admitted to taking the banned diuretic bendroflumethiazide escaped a full two-year ban because the Football Association’s independent regulatory commission ruled his intent was not to mask drug use, but rather to control his weight.

FIFA, who are reviewing the case, have until June 18 to decide whether to appeal against the FA decision and conduct their own drugs hearing or refer it to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The case is also being looked at by the UK Anti-Doping. If neither UK anti doping or Fifa appeal, the World AntiDoping Agency also has the authority to step in and refer the case to CAS. It is understood some drugs officials are perturbed that a professional international footballer, who has previously been a face of an anti-drugs campaign, was negligent in obtaining adequate checks about the drugs he was taking.

UK Anti-Doping official said they were seeking external advice and looking at the commission’s decision, but had not yet decided whether to appeal.

•Kolo Touré

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2011

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SPORT EXTRA

Beach Eagles drub Madagascar 5-3

T

HE National Beach Soccer team, otherwise known as Supers and Eagles, defeated their counterparts from the Indian

Ocean island of Madagascar 53 in their first match of the African Beach Soccer Championship in Casablanca, Morocco.

Veteran Isiaka Olawale scored one of the goals, as Victor Tale and new boy Shehu Maijama’a also got on the scoresheet. But the player of the day was forward Musa Najere, who hit a brace to give Nigeria victory.

The 2007 and 2009 champions thereby took

control of the three-team Group B, which also has South Africa.

South Africa will take on Madagascar on Thursday evening while the former will await the fireworks of the Nigerians on Friday evening in Morocco’s commercial and industrial capital.

AFN signs N25m sponsorship deal with SINOPEC

T •Quadri Aruna

HE Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has entered into a $150,000 (about N25m)sponsorship contract with Chinese oil giants.

The deal coming up barely hours after the AFN severed it's 22 years old relationship with Mobil Producing Nigeria was considered a step in the right direction of lifting track and field in the country.

AFN president chief Solomon Ogba was full of

AHEAD OF ALL AFRICAN GAMES

Toriola, Ajetunmobi, Others in for NTTF trials

L

AGOS is agog as top Table Tennis players invaded training centre all over the state in preparation for the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation’s national trial billed to kick today.

NationSport learnt that Lagos got the nod to host the trials after a last minute change from the initial venue, Ibadan, due to foreseen logistic hitches. It also the National Stadium is set to be ignited today with the best of table tennis as players where seen perfecting strategies for a place in the 2011 All Africa Games (AAG).

Led by the foremost Nigerian star in the ping pong game and AAG men’s singles champion, Segun Toriola, other foreignbased players seen around, includes, Monday Merotohun, Aruna Quadri, Seun Ajetunmobi, Bode Abiodun, Bode Kayode, Gbenga Anthony, and Sau Ayemojuba to the trials against the home-based led by Ganiyu Ashimiyu, Kazeem Makanjuola, Kazeem Adeniyi, David Fayele, Seun Oyetayo, Sola Adedeji, and Ojo Onaolapo.

By Innocent Amomoh The Players plying their trade in Portugal, France, Italy, Spain and Germany including their home-based counterparts are certainly ready to book a place in the Nigerian team.

In a chat with the NationSport, Portugal based, Seun Ajetunmobi said he is ready to fight for a place in the Mozambique bound team, but expressed respect for Toriola as the brain behind the success of table tennis in the world.

In the women category, Germany-based Funke Oshonaike-Irabor, Edem Offiong, Ganiat Ogundele, Ganiat Olatunde as well as returnee Cecilia Otu are expected to jostle for places, while expected to compete against home-based stars like Janet Effiom, Halimat Hussein, Nike Aroyewun, Fatimo Bello and Funke Hassan.

For NTTF President, Kayode Abdulwahab-Omotose, any player that failed to take part in the trials should forget about getting automatic shirts in the team to Mozambique.

“No player will be given

automatic shirt and any player that fail to take part in the trials should forget about being part of the team to Mozambique. We want to give all the players equal chance to make the team and we hope that the best will be selected to represent the country at the AAG,” he said.

The trials will be concluded on Saturday with the top ten players in the men and women events invited to camp before the final selection is made for the AAG.

excitements over the deal coming up less than a month of signing a N250m five year deal with Cross River State government for the All Nigeria Open Championship.

'I am delighted we have been able to seal this deal.Sinopec is an IAAF partner and we have been able to convince them to pick Nigeria as one of the countries they want to partner with.It is a big step in our efforts to reposition track and field in Nigeria',said Ogba adding that the signing of Sinopec is just one of the many sponsorship deals the federation is pursuing.

'We have a deal with Samsung and the All Nigeria/ CRS Athletics championships also has an insurance coverage to the tune of $25,000.The Cross River state government is also splashing N50m on our n a t i o n a l championships.These definitely are positive developments and we are glad companies are beginning to have confidence in the AFN again',he further said.

Basketball star takes clinic to states

I

N a bid to contribute to the development of basketball in the country, Ejike Ugboaja has commenced his annual basketball summer clinic across 3 centres in the country.

The annual basketball clinic started in Zaria on Saturday, june 11th, and 450 young basketball players were there to receive basketball rudiments from NBA coaches who were there.

The next phase of the summer camp will commence in Bayelsa on Thursday 16th June, after which the grand finale will take centre stage at

FCT, Abuja on Monday 20th, june.

Ejike who was a member of Nigeria men's basketball team to African Men Basketball Championship in Libya "Afrobasket 2009" said that the aim of the summer camp is to help upcoming basketball players to play and school in the U.S.A. "Last year, we were able to help 17 youths to secure college education in the U.S where they will also play basketball at the same time, altogether. The summer camp has produce players for the National U-16 and U-18.

Lobi better than Kwara United says Iorfa

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HAIRMAN Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi Dominic Iorfa has advised the secretary of Kwara United FC of Ilorin Ademola Kiyesola to learn how to be a good sportsmanship by defeat just as he said Lobi Stars club is hundred time better that the Afonja Warriors.

Reacting to media statements credited to the Ademola Kiyesola that Lobi Stars is not a club that Kwara United will loose match to, Dominic Iorfa said such comment are very unfortunate and it goes to the extend to show that most of the club mangers have poor knowledge of the game of football.

The former international explain that Kwara United is the worst manage club in the Nigeria Premier League and this account for the reason while one season they have been struggling Division 1 and the premier league.

“Don’t forget Lobi Stars has

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi played in the Premier League for 12 years consecutively with relegation but you cant said the same of Kwara United as they struggle between Premier league and Division 1 each season ,so they are no way better than Lobi” said Iorfa.

According to the former Super Eagles who said it is better for the Kwara United scribe to simple accept that Lobi Club is better than his team and stop looking for excuse to pacify his pay master who are mounting pressure on him.

“Lobi is a big club and has played continental many time so it is height of desperation for any one to imagine that Kwara United are the same with Lobi, no the Makurdi side is 100% better than Afonja Warriors” said the former international.

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Chinese Embassy in Nigeria should please note.

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WHO SAID WHAT ‘I have found the President well focused and determined to improve Nigeria’s total potential and he is someone I have a lot of respect and regard for’

THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 6, NO. 1,792

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

GBENGA OMOTOSO

W

HAT is going on?

Five Youth Corps members were snatched away on June 7 by unknown gunmen in Rivers State. They were on their way from the inspection of a library, which they built for a community school in Omademe, Ikwerre Local Government Area, when the gunmen struck. The tears are yet to dry off the wrinkled cheeks of the parents of the “NYSC 10”, the boys and girl who died in the post-election riots in Bauchi. And then, this.

Police Commissioner Suleiman Abba said “all hands are on deck”- the don’t-disturbme cliché usually deployed by our ever dutiful officials - to seize the kidnappers and free the youths. Several days after, the captives are yet to be set free. Their abductors yesterday reduced the N100m ransom they were demanding to N10m. Who will pay?

The Federal Government? Maybe. The Rivers government? I doubt it, strongly. Governor Chibuike Amaechi has vowed never to negotiate with criminals.

Why will this happen so soon after the Bauchi calamity? What logic informed the ransom? Do the kidnappers feel that if the Federal Government could pay each of the families of the dead “NYSC 10” N5m – remember the Bauchi State Government topped it up by N2m for each of the families and it made good its promise yesterday, handing NYSC the cheque – it could pay anything for the living?

Even as we ruminated over this traumatic experience, we learnt of the rape of some Youth Corps members in Delta. What is going on? Are Corps members the delight of criminals now?

The fate of the “NYSC Five” has been struggling for attention in the media, elbowed off the front page, first by the N10b House loan and then by the arrest, detention and trial of Dimeji Bankole for sundry purchases while he was Speaker. Readers gobbled it up, no thanks to the mob mentality oiled by the huge appetite of some of our leaders, who take too much and provoke the people to anger. Despite this, I think we should spare a thought for these youths.

The other day in New York, President Goodluck Jonathan was theorising on how to stop terrorists. “All over the world, issues of terrorism cannot be easily wiped out. You might be the most powerful country, you can only manage terror attack and gradually suppress it. That is what we are doing,” Dr Jonathan told his audience. What do we make of that? I really don’t know, honestly.

Even before he returned from the United States, the dreadful Boko Haram (western education is evil) sect had hurled more bombs on innocent residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. It is yet to stop. In fact, the last of its victims –four beer parlour clients – were shot on Monday. Among earlier victims were policemen and a brother

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

A vote for security

•Ringim

of the Shehu. The new governor, apparently confused by the seeming complexity of the problem, offered the criminals amnesty – a gift they have thrown back at him, even as they are demanding his resignation and justice for their slain leader. Does His Excellency know members of this faceless group? Who are their backers in government?

What happened to the probe of its leader’s assassination in police custody? These are questions Governor Kashim Shettima should find answers to; he shouldn’t seek the easy way out.

Politicians are yet to call their drummers to order, long after the elections. The revelling is yet to subside. So, criminals are also having a ball. They have seized the streets. The crimes range from the very serious, despicable and dreadful to the commonplace and the downright hysterical.

In Oyo State, the police could not stop rival drivers union groups from taking their battle for control of motor parks to the street. Many, including a medical student, were killed.

Now, the police have declared the suspected ringleaders wanted.

Why are members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) so

RIPPLES POLICE DESERT LAGOS-SEME-BADAGRY ROAD– News

That’s good...at least N20 NOTES would REST

violent? Politics? Could be part of it. Cash?

Sure. There is so much money at the parks.

Winning the leadership is hitting the jackpot.

So, the battle for leadership often turns beastly and bloody. There are some striking contradictions in the characters and exotic names of the dramatis personae. The paradox, perhaps, explains the complexity of the issue. The NURTW chief is Abdul Lateef Akinsola, who is also known as Tokyo. Tokyo is the beautiful capital city of Japan, home of fine electronics and a solid tribute to modern architectural designers.

In Ibadan, Tokyo connotes terror.

The rival NURTW boss is Mukaila Lamidi, otherwise known as Auxiliary, who stepped into the shoes of Lateef Salako, alias Eleweomo of bloody memory. He was felled in the deadly rivalry that gripped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo. I do not know how Salako came to be known as Auxiliary, but the appellation sure fitted well his role as second-in-command to Eleweomo. An auxiliary ‘provides supplementary or additional help and support’. Owners of those massive toys called SUVs know what the auxiliary gear can do on a rough terrain. And, according to Oxford, it means “(of troops) engaged in the service of a nation at war but not part of the regular army”. With the death of Eleweomo, Auxiliary has now become the boss and Ibadan people are counting their losses. A newspaper described him as “the new prince of terror”. Eleweomo itself is beautiful in its etymology. It connotes expertise in herbalism, particularly pediatrics. He is seen as the saviour of babies and kids in Yoruba markets. I wonder how many kids would not race madly back home now, if Eleweomo is announced on an Ibadan street.

In those exciting days in the hilly town of Ado-Ekiti in the time of the sage, the late Ewi Anirare, the motor park was bristling with such characters as Apere Ijogbon (Basket of trouble), Oju’na (Fire Face) and others.

For a long time, researchers in the evolution of human behaviour and

HARDBALL

O

N the sidelines of the trial of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and his erstwhile deputy, Usman Nafada, on corruption charges, a controversy has broken out about the place of drama in the judicial process. Former Deputy Leader of the Senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba, has laid into the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for over-dramatising the arrest of high profile suspects.

His comments in Abuja Tuesday at the launch of the Economic and Financial Crimes Law Reports and a book, ‘Doing Business in Nigeria,’ authored by EFCC chairman, Farida Waziri, triggered a spirited response from the Commission’s boss, who denied her organisation was diversifying into the dramatic arts.

She said: “I am not engaging in any drama.

What did you see me dramatising? There is no handcuff on suspects again and I have been relating with suspects with decency. I stopped so many things when I came on board. Look, there is no more handcuffs; there is no dragging of anyone or suspect on the floor again.”

But despite the best efforts of madam and the distinguished senator to prevent the

Bankole’s trial as entertainment Bankole trial from descending into farce, there are clearly other forces at work – determined to ensure that we have a thrilling soap opera that runs for months.

Take the case of the caring father of the exSpeaker, Chief Alani Bankole. Disappointed that the EFCC reeled his son back into the cooler on fresh charges after briefly securing court bail, the old man has cried out that certain people in government are out to kill his son.

To back up this very grave charge, the elder Bankole says he received a “foreign intelligence report” that some unnamed highly-placed individuals in government were determined to get rid of his son in the same manner they eliminated Chief M.K.O. Abiola - winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

To underline the gravity of the situation, Chief Bankole drew parallels with what happened to

TONY BLAIR

psychoanalysis will be struggling to find out how a group of people perceived as roughnecks and never-do-wells grew to become so powerful that even the law is struggling to catch up with their heresies and politicians are fighting to go to bed with them.

When will the NURTW reform?

An ex-militant leader, self-styled Commander Ebi Albert, was killed in Bayelsa last weekend. Doctors are battling to save the life of his police orderly. The other exmilitants are now asking for police protection. Lucky guys. And talking about names. Check out some of the names of the ex-militants: Jomo Gbomo. Tompolo. Togo.

Asara Asara. Kitikati. Notice the alliteration.

The onomatopoeia. Some smooth sweet sounds out of the cacophony. Isn’t that the nature of poetry?

Some ex-militants have joined the battle for the return of Deizani Allison-Maduke as Oil minister. They issued a press statement under the umbrella of what looks like a new group, Peace Keeping Ex- militant Leaders Forum of Niger Delta. It was signed by, among others, Swampy, Bull, Bumo, Otello, Clever, Lagosman, Appearance, Idia Min and Igbigidi. And they are all ex-Generals!

Police chief Hafiz Ringim has assured us all that his men are on top of the situation. I dare not doubt him. When robbers shot their way into a bank in Ado-Ekiti the other day, killing five residents and sending many to the hospital, they had no challengers. Struck with fear as guns boomed, residents, including policemen, rushed indoors and latched their doors. For almost an hour, the robbers seized the town by the throat.

Furious, the governor sent his security aides to confront them. The hoodlums escaped, but one of them was killed. Thankfully, two suspects have been arrested. Police Commissioner Olayinka Balogun said his men could not face the robbers because they had no bullet-proof vests and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs). Pity.

Not so the men in Benin. They seem to be more efficient. Consider the case – widely reported- of a landlord, Mr Victor Idahosa, who put his tenant’s deaf-and-dumb daughter, Abiodun Sanyaolu,12, in the family way. The tenant, a widow, got from the landlord a quit notice because the woman insisted he must accept responsibility for the girl’s situation. He denied any affair with the girl, even as the police discovered, thanks to some expertise in sign language, that the landlord slept with her 11 times, giving her N500 each time. Soon, the investigation will be completed and the matter will go to court or be settled. Isn’t this a damn good police work?

Many are calling for a summit on security.

I join them.

•For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, saying it was the same way that similar intelligence sent to the family of the late minister was ignored by the authorities shortly before he was murdered.

It is unfortunate that Baba did not tell the nation the source of these “foreign intelligence reports.” Did they emanate from the FBI, CIA, M16 or MOSSAD? There is no question that the pedigree of these organisations would have spurred Aso Rock to rush a platoon of soldiers to protect the endangered ex-Speaker. But since the Egba chief is such an expert in the cloak and dagger stuff, and is jealously guarding the details, we must assume it is classified information that must not be revealed on the pain of death.

However, Hardball, cannot help but think that this is one of those scare tactics often deployed by lawyers to gain sympathy, or secure bail for their high profile clients. For instance, a suspect who was in robust health shortly before being apprehended suddenly develops a life-threatening condition for which he must receive special medication that can only be administered far away from EFCC detention cells!

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