The Nation, June 2-2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 6, NO. 1778 THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

520 died in Kaduna, Niger violence, says Ringim

Bankole faults EFCC’s invitation procedure

H

OUSE of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole has faulted the manner of his invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bankole, who has twice snubbed the anti-graft agency’s call, said the EFCC did not state the reasons for inviting him.

In the letter to EFCC Chairman Farida Waziri, entitled “Re: Investigation Activities Investigation Letter”, Bankole, who will round off his tenure today, accused the EFCC of engaging in “sensational prosecution and conviction on the pages of newspaper on an issue as grave as corruption.”

Continued on page 2

N150.00

T •Ringim

HE police unfolded yesterday a picture of how grave the postelection violence in the North was.

Police chief Hafiz Ringim said no fewer that 520 persons including six policemen, died in Kaduna and Niger states. Of this figure, 518 died in Kaduna State alone.

In the two states, 157

From Jide Babalola, Abuja

churches, 46 mosques, 1,435 houses, 437 vehicles and 219 motorcycles were burnt during the mayhem that followed the announcement of President Goodluck Jonathan as winner of the April 16 election. Ringim said 45 police properties were razed down.

Ringim spoke in Abuja yes-

•President Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo with leaders of political parties after the meeting at the State House in Abuja ... yesterday.

terday at an event to review the last general elections.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chair Prof. Attahiru Jega, National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen Owoye Azazi and former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Mohammed Uwais also Continued on page 2

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

Jonathan woos Tinubu, Akande, Onu, others P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is wooing the opposition, in a bid to run a successful administration.

He met yesterday with leaders of opposition parties, promising not to play “politics of discrimination”, but run a “collective government”.

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu warned that the meeting should not be seen as the end of opposition.

At the Presidential Villa, Abuja meeting were representatives of the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ACN, All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), All Grand Progres-

President says he plans collective govt From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

sive Alliance (APGA) and Labour Party (LP).

The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) was not represented.

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari contested on the CPC’s platform. The party is challenging the result of the April 16 election at the tribunal.

ACN National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande led other party bigwigs, including Senator George

Akume, Dr Chris Ngige, the former Anambra governor who is now a senator-elect, to the meeting.

PDP Acting Chairman Haliru Bello led other members of the party.

Victor Umeh led APGA. LP National Chairman Dan Nwayanwu was there. So was ANPP’s Chief Ogbonayan Onu. The meeting also marked the first official outing of Senator Pius Anyim, the Secretary to the Govern-

ment of the Federation, who took the oath of office on Tuesday.

Before the meeting went into a closed door session, the President said Nigeria’s interest was uppermost on his mind.

He urged all the political parties to work with him in building the country, stressing that Nigeria belongs to all and not to one particular person or party.

The expectations of Nigerians from political office holders, irre-

spective of the party, the President said, is to make life more meaningful by providing food, infrastructure, security and good governance.

The President also said that building a great nation requires the cooperation of all the political parties and leaders.

He told the party chiefs: “Let me thank you for the various roles you play in the democratic process. You are the leaders of the parties; those of us who won elections wouldn’t have won without you leaders. You gave us the positions; you are the Continued on page 2

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2

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

NEWS

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and Inspector General of Police Hafiz Abubakar Ringim, during the Governor’s visit to his office in Abuja ... on Tuesday

•INEC adhoc staff in the general elections protesting over non payment of renumerations at INEC PHOTO: NAN Enugu headquarters ... yesterday.

520 died in Kaduna, Niger violence Continued from page 1

spoke at the event.

Ringim’s paper, presented on his behalf by Assistant Inspector General of Police Felix Ogbaudu, is entitled: “2011 General Elections’ Review: Experience-Sharing, Lessons Learnt and the Way Forward – The Nigeria Police Perspective.”

Ringim said 22, 141 persons became internally-displaced in Kaduna State; 77 persons were injured.

He said in Niger State, two persons were killed, four injured. Eight churches, seven mosques, seven houses and seven vehicles were burnt, damaged or destroyed.

The police chief said: “The Police had to contend with a number of challenges ranging from inadequate logistic support and manpower, among others.

“Some of these problems were created due to non-compliance with Section 129 (2) occasioned by the agitation by some politicians who insisted and urged their supporters to stay back after casting their votes to ‘defend their votes’ – whatever that meant.”

He also blamed the high level of illiteracy, unemployment and the culture of impunity for the violence, adding

that late arrival of election materials, use of vehicle headlamps to illuminate vote collation processes, along with the activities of political thugs, created additional challenges for the police.

Ringim urged INEC and political parties to step up voter education to stem the misconception associated with the electoral process. He called for strict legislations, including at least six years’ imprisonment, for crimes, such as illegal possession of fire arms.

The IGP’s statistics did not include other places where violence took place, including Bauchi State where 10 Youth Corps members were killed.

Many public and private houses were burnt in Bauchi.

The chairman of the occasion, Justice Uwais, said although the 2011 elections were not perfect, they were a remarkable departure from the failures of the past.

“Nowhere in the world do we have a perfect election; what we strive to do is to have a near-perfect election. The last election has come and gone, but they have left behind their foot prints which we can use to improve on future elections,” he said.

Jega said INEC had learnt a lot of lessons from the elec-

tions. He said the introduction of inter-agency networking among security agencies significantly helped to curb violence and electoral offences.

“The election was not perfect; we are, however, glad that like we promised, the election was a remarkable improvement over what happened in 2007.

“We learnt lessons in the areas of operation, logistics, planning and preparations.

We know that in the past, there were a lot of issues with both the reality and perception about the activities of staff and ad-hoc staff of INEC.” “For some people, once their party or candidate fails to win, elections are no longer perfect.

Issues of poverty, ignorance and so on are real challenges,” said Jega who also urged recourse to the judiciary instead of violent protests.

He said the commission undertook the training and retraining of its staff within the short time available.

In a paper delivered on behalf of the NSA by a director in his office, Ambassador Lai Olaseinde, Gen. Azazi gave credit to President Goodluck Jonathan for demonstrating the political will to ensure the credibility of the polls.

The acting Country Director of OSIWA in Nigeria,

Bomb kills policeman

A •Yakowa

Oladayo Olaide, praised Nigerians for their resilience and commended development partners and civil society groups for playing active roles in ensuring the transparency of the election.

Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission Alojz Peterle praised INEC for successfully conducting the April polls. He said while international goodwill for INEC and Nigeria would be sustained, the EU EOM hopes that attention will be given to its 50 recommendations aimed at helping Nigeria improve its electoral processes.

Stakeholders, including civil society groups and international partners, reviewed the lessons learnt during the elections.

Speaker Bankole faults EFCC’s invitation procedure Continued from page 1

He said the anti-graft body did not communicate to him.

But EFCC spokesman Femi Babafemi denied this. He said the EFCC had followed the normal procedure it uses to invite people under investigation.

For him to appear before the agency, Bankole urged the

EFCC “to kindly request for such formally and provide information about any specific issues you are investigating to enable me prepare my response accordingly.” ”This is very necessary in view of the fact that the subject matter of your letter does not disclose anything other than “Investigation activities”.

NOTHER bomb exploded yesterday in Bauchi State – three days after the triple blasts at an army barracks in the city.

The Bulkachuwa Police out-post, Katagun Local Government Area explosion killed a yet-to-be-identified male police corporal.

So far, no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the blasts.

The Nation gathered from Police spokesman Mohammed Barau (ASP) that “unknown gunmen hurled a bomb and fired shots at a Nigerian Police Out-station, killing a police corporal”.

On Monday, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-General Azubuike Ihejirika, who was at the scene of the Shadawanka barracks blast, said 13 people died; 40 were injured.

The Bulkachuwa blast is the third, of such attacks on police stations within four years. The first was in July, 2009. There was another last month, all on Dutsen Tanshi in the Bauchi metropolis.

And this at Bulkachuwa.

The development heightened tension in the state, with some non-indigenes threatening to relocate.

The Police said at Bulkachuwa yesterday: “One policeman was listed as missing after the attack on Tuesday night; that came only days after a string of bomb blasts which ripped through a crowded local brew and beer garden at the army social spot.”

“There was a bomb attack on Bulkachuwa police station

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

last night by unknown attackers who also fired gunshots,” Police Commissioner Mohammed Abdulkadir Indabawa said.

The police out-station Bulkachuwa is 182 kilometers from the state capital.

The station has been rendered useless as its structure has been destroyed beyond any form of make-shift.

“Bulkachuwa is a predominantly Muslim town with a sprinkling of Igbo traders,” Onykweruje Ikenna, a nonindigene, who has made up his mind to leave the state due to insecurity said: “For now, even the police said they have no idea who the attackers were.”

A man who identified himself as the deputy spokesman of Boko Haram, said yesterday they are responsible for explosions in two northern Nigerian cities and one city near the capital that left at least 17 dead.

The BBC’s Hausa service said Tuesday that Abu Zaid told them by telephone that the group was also responsible for the killing Monday of the brother of the Shehu of Borno.

The Associated Press could not immediately verify these claims.

Multiple blasts hit beer gardens in three cities hours after Nigeria inaugurated its president Sunday.

Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is sacrilege” in the local Hausa language, has targeted police and clerics in a string of killings over the last year.

Jonathan woos Tinubu, Akande, Onu, Nwanyanwu, Ngige, others Continued from page 1

kingmakers. So, I have to thank you for the various roles you have played.”

“As we want to start a new government, I am going to consult various groups and professional bodies and I think the first group I should consult is the political family.

“No matter who is the President; no matter who is the governor, what Nigerians are interested in is to have food on the table; there should be infrastructure; there should be security and there should be good governance. And I know that not only the ruling party alone can make this possible. For me to succeed, to give Nigerians what they want, we must run a stable govern-

ment. It needs the cooperation of all the political parties, all the leaders.

“That is why I called you, to assure you that I will run a Nigerian government. I want to assure you that our interest is the Nigeria interest and I know that the interest of every politician, irrespective of the political party, is the interest of the country. I am not going to play politics of discrimination.

“I want to plead with you that I will not want to run a government of opposition party or main party; I want us to collectively run a Nigerian government. A government that will take the interest of the country at heart and work towards solving our problems, the problems that are dear to our people.

“As your members of parlia-

ment will be inaugurated next week Monday or Tuesday, I want you to impress it on them that they are coming to work for Nigeria, not necessarily for Goodluck Jonathan. Let us cooperate and work for the interest of this country. Along the line, there will be differences but the President is not God and I believe we can always resolve our differences without acrimony, without rancour and I believe that is the best way we can run the country.

“We are now talking about two countries representing Africa on the UN Security Council and people are looking forward to Nigeria because of the political crisis in Egypt.”

Tinubu said the ACN’s decision to honour the President’s invitation was not aimed at

eliminating opposition, but for patriotism.

To the former governor of Lagos, there is a constructive level of criticism that can be deployed to build the country without necessarily jeopardising the position of the opposition.

In his view, opposition is not about cutlass, axe and guns, but about constructive engagement. Since elections are over, it is time to put the country’s interest first, he said.

Tinubu said the President’s intention would also determine the party’s level of engagement with the government.

He had a separate discussion with the President at the end of the meeting.

Tinubu, who was responding to questions from reporters at

the end of the meeting held at the Presidential Banquet Hall, said honouring the invitation would not stop the opposition from rejecting bad polices and government.

“We are not here to eliminate opposition; we did not come here to eliminate opposition and I am speaking for my own party and not for any other party. If you are invited by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, then what he really wants is a constructive opposition. However, that does not stop you from opposing any bad government.

“The campaign is over. We are all Nigerians; patriotism dictates that you put the nation first before your personal interest. Therefore, you don’t have to look at the political partisan

angle but look at the intention of the President, exactly what he wants to achieve, He is the President until maybe the judiciary says otherwise,” he said.

Tinubu described the meeting as “meaningful” and “successful”, saying that as a “nationalist, you have to respond to the call of the President and he spoke very well today; the meeting was a very successful one but that does not eliminate opposition.”

Tinubu went on: “Opposition is not about axes, cutlasses and dane guns”.

Though he refused to disclose the issues discussed at the meeting, Tinubu said the discussions were “very constructive” as they were about nation building and sustenance of democracy.

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3

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

NEWS

The ABC of FoI Bill

A bill for an act to make public records and information more freely available, provide for public access to public records and information, protect public records and information to the extent consistent with the public interest and the protection of personal privacy, protect serving public officers from adverse consequences for disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorisation and establish procedures for the achievement of those purposes and related purposes thereof, 2011

COMMENCEMENT Be it enacted by the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as follows— 1. This Bill may be cited as the Freedom of Information Bill, 2011.

Short title.

2. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, Law or Regulation, the right of any person to access or request information, whether or not contained in any written form, which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution howsoever described, is hereby established.

(2) An applicant herein need not demonstrate any specific interest in the information being applied for.

(3) Any person entitled to the right to information under this Bill, shall have the right to institute proceedings in a Court to compel any public institution to comply with the provisions of this Bill.

Right of access to records.

3. (1) A public institution shall ensure that it records and keeps information about all its activities, operations and businesses.

(2) A public institution shall ensure the proper organization and maintenance of all information in its custody in a manner that facilitates public access to such information.

(3) A public institution shall cause to be published in accordance with subsection (4) of this section, the following information(a) a description of the organization and responsibilities of the institution including details of the programmes and functions of each division, branch and department of the institution; (b) a list of all classes of records under the control of the institution in sufficient detail to facilitate the exercise of the right to information under this Bill; (c) a list of all manuals used by employees of the institution in administering or carrying out any of the programmes or activities of the institution; (d) a description of documents containing final opinions including concurring and dissenting opinions as well as orders made in the adjudication of cases; (e) documents containing substantive rules of the institution; (f) documents containing statements and interpretations of policy which have been adopted by the institution; (g) documents containing final planning policies, recommendations, and decisions; (h) documents containing factual reports, inspection reports, and studies whether prepared by or for the institution; (i) documents containing information relating to the receipt or expenditure of public or other funds of the institution; (j) documents containing the names, salaries, titles, and dates of employment of all employees and officers of the institution; (k) documents containing the rights of the state, public institutions, or of any private person(s); (l) documents containing the name of every official and the final records

of voting in all proceedings of the institution; (m) a list of files containing appli cations for any contract, permit, grants, licenses or agreement; (n) a list of reports, documents, studies, or publications prepared by independent contractors for the institution; (o) a list of materials containing information relating to any grant or contract made by or between the institution and another public institution or private organization; and (p) the title and address of the appropriate officer of the institution to whom an application for information under this Bill should be sent, provided that the failure of any public institution to publish any information under this subsection shall not prejudicially affect the public’s right of access to information in the custody of such public institution.

(4) A public institution shall ensure that information referred to in this section is widely disseminated and made readily available to members of the public through various means, including print, electronic and online sources, and at the offices of such public institutions.

(5) A public institution shall update and review information required to be published under this section periodically, and immediately whenever changes occur.

(6) Any person entitled to the right of access conferred by this Bill shall have the right to institute proceedings in a Court to compel any public institution to comply with the provisions of this section.

(7) Public institutions are all authorities whether executive, legislative or judicial agencies, ministries, and extra-ministerial departments of the government, together with all corporations established by law and all companies in which government has a controlling interest, and also, private companies utilizing public funds, providing public services or performing public functions Information about government institutions.

4. (1) An application for access to a record or information under this Bill shall be made in accordance with section 2 of this Bill.

(2) For the purpose of this Bill, any information or record applied for under this Bill that does not exist in print but can by regulation be produced from a machine, normally used by the government or public institution shall be deemed to be record under the control of the Government or public institution.

(3) Illiterate or disabled applicants who by virtue of their illiteracy or disability are unable to make an application for access to information or record in accordance with the provisions of subsection (1) above, may make that application through a third party.

(4) An authorized official of a government or public institution to whom an applicant makes an oral application for information or record, shall reduce the application into writing in the form prescribed under subsection (1) above and shall provide a copy of the written application to the applicant.

•President Goodluck Jonathan

•Senate President David Mark

•House Speaker Dimeji Bankole

•Mrs AbikeDabiri-Erewa

Request for access to records.

5. Where information is applied for under this Bill, the public institution to which the application is made shall, subject to sections 6, 7, and 8 of this Bill, within 7 days after the application is received – (a) make the information available to the applicant; (b) where the public institution considers that the application should be denied, the institution shall give written notice to the applicant that access to all or part of the information will not be granted, stating reasons for the denial, and the section of this Bill under which the denial is made.

Time for granting or refusing application.

6. (1) Where a public institution receives an application for access to information, and the institution is of the view that another public institution has greater interest in the information, the institution to which the application is made may within 3 days but not later than 7 days after the application is received, transfer the application, and if necessary, the information, to the other public institution, in which case, the institution transferring the application shall give written notice of the transfer to the applicant, which notice shall contain a statement informing the applicant that such decision to transfer the application can be reviewed by a Court.

(2) Where an application is transferred under subsection (1), the application shall be deemed to have been made to the public institution to which it was transferred on the day the public institution received it.

(3) For the purpose of subsection (1), a public institution has “a greater interest” in information if – (a) the information was originally produced in or for the institution; or (b) in the case of information not originally produced in or for the public institution, the institution was the first public institution to receive the information.

Transfer of application.

7. The public institution may extend the time limit set out in section 5 or subsection 6 (1) in respect of an application for a time not exceeding 7 days; if – (a) the application is for a large number of records and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the public institution; or (b) consultations are necessary to comply with the application that cannot reasonably be completed within the original time limit, by giving notice of the extension stating whether the extension falls under the circumstances set out in paragraphs (a) or (b), which notice shall contain a statement that the applicant has a right to have the decision to extend the time limit reviewed by a Court.

Extension of time limit for granting or refusing application.

8. (1) Where the government or public institution refuses to give access to a record or information applied for under this Bill, or a part thereof, the institution shall state in the notice given to the applicant the grounds for the refusal, the specific provision of this Bill that it relates to and that the applicant has a right to challenge the decision refusing access and have it reviewed by a Court.

(2) Any notification of denial of any application for information or records shall set forth the names, designation and signature, of each person responsible for the denial of such application.

(3) The government or public institution shall be required to indicate under subsection (1) whether the information or record exists.

(4) Where the government or public institution fails to give access to information or record applied for under this Bill or part thereof within the time limit set out in this Bill, the institution shall, for the purposes of this Bill, be deemed to have refused to give access.

(5) Where a case of wrongful denial of access is established, the de-

faulting officer or institution shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N500,000.00 (Five hundred thousand naira) Where access is refused.

9. Fees shall be limited to standard charges for document duplication and transcription where necessary.

Fees.

10. (1) Every government or public institution shall ensure that it keeps every information or record about the institution’s operations, personnel, activities and other relevant or related information or records.

(2) Every government or public institution shall ensure the proper organization and maintenance of all information or record in its custody, in a manner that facilitates public access to such information or record under this Bill.

Record keeping and maintenance of records.

11. It shall be a criminal offence punishable on conviction by a competent Court with a minimum of 1 year imprisonment for any officer or the head of any government or public institution to which this Bill applies to willfully destroy any records kept in his/her custody or attempts to doctor or otherwise alter same before they are released to any person, entity or community applying for it.

Destruction or falsification of records.

12. (1) A public institution may deny an application for any information the disclosure of which may be injurious to the conduct of international affairs and the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), an application for information shall not be denied where the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs whatever injury disclosure would cause.

Exemption of international affairs and defence.

13. (1) A public institution may deny an application for any information which contains— (a) records complied by any public institution for administrative enforcement proceedings and by any law enforcement or correctional agency for law enforcement purposes or for internal matters of a public institution, but only to the extent that disclosure would— (i) interfere with pending or actual and reasonably contemplated law enforcement proceedings conducted by any law enforcement or correctional agency; (ii) interfere with pending administrative enforcement proceedings conducted by any public institution; (iii) deprive a person of a fair trial or an impartial hearing; (iv) unavoidably disclose the identity of a confidential source; (v) constitute an invasion of personal privacy under section 15 of this Bill, however, where the interest of the public would be better served by having such record being made available, this exemption to disclosure shall not apply; (vi) obstruct an ongoing criminal investigation; (b) information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to be injurious to the security of penal institutions: Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, an application for information shall not be denied where the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs whatever injury that disclosure would cause.

(2) A public institution may deny an application for information that could reasonably be expected to facilitate the commission of an offence.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1) (a), “Investigation” means an investigation that— (a) pertains to the administration or enforcement of any Acts, law or regulation; (b) is authorised by or pursuant to any Acts, law or regulation.

Exemption of law enforcement and •-To be continued

4

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

NEWS Lagos Chief Judge frees seven prisoners

By Joseph Jibueze

LAGOS Chief Judge Inumidun Akande yesterday freed seven inmates of the Ikoyi Prison.

In a special court sitting held at the prison, the judge said those released had stayed in prison longer than they would have served had they been convicted of the offences for which they were arrested.

It was part of the activities marking the 2011 Annual Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch.

Those freed are Ayuba Isiaka, Sunday Jonah, Emerson Timothy, Kazeem Lawrence, Olatokunbo Otutulorun, Idris Musa and Alaba Olofin.

They were arrested for various offences such as breach of the peace, loitering and suspected robbery. One was arrested for failing to produce a defendant he stood as surety for.

Justice Akande exercised her powers as contained in Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provisions Act, Cap C 40, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Alleged N10b loan: Bankole not free yet, says EFCC

A

LTHOUGH he has twice shunned its invitation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said yesterday that House of Representatives Speaker Dimerji Bankole is still under investigation.

There are petitions against the Speaker over an alleged curious N10billion loan as well as over the controversial purchase of cars for members.

The EFCC stated this at briefing yesterday by its spokesman Femi Babafemi.

The commission also said that there is no hiding place for ex-governors with outstanding cases before it.

The anti-graft body has recovered about

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

N975billion from accused persons and secured 616 convictions.

The EFCC also condemned the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) for being used by a high-profile suspect to rubbish its records.

Babafemi said: “As far as the Speaker is concerned, we are not silent. I can assure you that investigation is ongoing but we will not open up our line of action. But the matter is not closed.

On some ex-governors, Babafemi said: “Those that have cases with the commission, the commission is on them.

When they needed, they will be invited,” he said.

He said the agency will file an appeal against the ruling of the Federal High Court, Benin that ex-Governor Lucky Igbinedion cannot face fresh trial.

He added: “When the EFCC chairman Mrs. Farida Waziri was briefed on Tuesday, we had our reservations and she has directed that our lawyer should file an appeal while he pursues the trial of ex-Governor Lucky’s siblings.”

On the activities of the commission, Babafemi faulted allegations by the Chairman of the CDHR, Mr. Supo Ojo that the EFCC has not recorded significant achievements since 2008.

He said contrary to the mis-

information of the CDHR, the EFCC had recovered about N975billion from accused persons and secured 616 convictions.

While the Commission’s record of recoveries stood at about $4 billion in 2008, today it is in excess of $11 billion.

While the Commission had about 10 high-profile cases in court in 2008, today there are over 65 high-profile cases at various stages of prosecution before the courts.

This is in addition to over 1500 other cases in courts with a record of convictions already above 600.

While the President of CDHR will want to paint the picture that the EFCC has only recorded the conviction

Reps endorse report on Money Laundering Bill

T

People’s welfare: Senator-elect tasks colleagues From Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

SENATOR Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, who represents Lagos West Senatorial District in the Senate, has urged other senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives to work for the interest of Nigerians.

He said: “My colleagues, including those elected into the House of Representatives, must see their election into the National Assembly not only as a special privilege, but as a call to make judicious use of the people’s mandate in their overall interest. We must ensure that we don’t violate the trust that Nigerians have in us by giving us the opportunity to determine what becomes of their lives as directed by God through the ballot.

“Whether you belong to the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or my great party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), to me, should not matter in the coming scheme of things. We must put aside our individual personal and party preferences and seek improved welfare for our people to the best of our abilities within the confines of constitutional provisions. We cannot afford to fail our teeming people.”

He added: “ We must also not lose sight of the fact that not a few among our PDP colleagues presumably realise the fact that we owe Nigerians a bounden duty to give Nigerians the ideal representation that will justify the mandate given them. So, we are hopeful of a new order.”

of a former Inspector-General of Police, under its past leadership, Nigerians know that a former Governor, a bank CEO and a top leader of the ruling PDP among others, have been convicted and sentenced under the Farida Waziri - leadership of the EFCC.” Babafemi said some civil society groups in Lagos under the guise of holding an Anti-Corruption forum to appraise the nation’s antigraft war, are meeting in Lagos.

“Many of the groups and persons that have been invited to the forum certainly do not know the motivating force propelling the brains behind the forum,” Babafemi said.

•INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega (left), with former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammadu Uwais at the INEC/Policy PHOTO: NAN and Legal Advocacy Centre 2011 general election review in Abuja… yesterday

NYSC should be strengthened, not scrapped, says Jega

M

ORE opposition yesterday came for those pushing for the scrapping of the mandatory one-year scheme of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), as the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, said that the programme, rather than be scrapped, should be strengthened.

Jega spoke against the backdrop of calls for the abolition of the scheme following the post-election violence that erupted in April in some parts of the country and claimed the lives of 10 Corps members, who were on electoral duty.

The INEC boss spoke in

From Jide Babalola, Abuja

Abuja during the donation of some electronic equipment to the NYSC by the European Union (EU) Observer Mission in Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria can ill-afford to dump the scheme which he noted “represents a great national asset and reservoir of human capital”.

Recalling that he was chairman of a presidential committee mandated to review and restructure the scheme in 2003, the INEC chief said the objectives of the NYSC have become more relevant than in its early years.

He urged that rather than

scrap the scheme, it should be strengthened to deliver on those objectives that informed its establishment.

Jega said: “We have heard some people debating whether to dismantle the NYSC or refocus it or re-organize it. I want to say something here that many people do not know.

“In 2003, I chaired a presidential committee for the review and re-organization of NYSC and we made recommendations about how to improve the NYSC. “At that time we did a serious study and we discovered that the objectives under which the NYSC was established were much stronger in contemporary times than when it was established.

“Oh really, we can do nothing but strengthen the NYSC, rather than even beginning to think of dismantling it or reorganizing it.”

The INEC chair expressed empathy with the families of youth corps members who lost their lives in the post-election violence.

His words: “As we have said before and I want to repeat it today, I think the disappointment and the displeasure over the death of the NYSC members should not distract our minds from the very positive contributions that the NYSC makes, and there is tremendous hope for the NYSC to continue the democratization and development of our country.”

HE House of Representatives on Wednesday, approved the Conference Committee ‘s report on a Bill for an Act to repeal the Money Laundering ( Prohibition ) Act 2004 and enact the Money Laundering (Prohibition ) Act 2011.

The amendment was sequel to a Motion moved by Rep. Rabe Nasir (PDP – Katsina) member House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes which was adopted.

He said the Senate passed the same Bill with some differences.

Naisr noted that the Bill was passed by the House on Nov. 2, 2010, and transmitted to the Senate for concurrence.

Nasir added that the two chambers met in Conference on May 25, 2011 and adopted a harmonised version of the Bill.

He said the Bill was important to curbing corrupt practices in the country.

The House also adopted the Conference Committee’s report on a bill for an Act to repeal the Nigerian Accounting Standards Act 2003.

The Bill seeks to enact the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act. Hon. Zakari Galadima (ANPP – Yobe) Chairman House Committee, noted that the bill was passed by the House on Dec. 16, 2008 and transmitted to the Senate for concurrence, adding that the Senate had passed the same Bill.

Galadima said that the two chambers met in Conference on May 25, 2011 and adopted a harmonised version.

He urged the House to adopt the report due to its importance to in Regulating Accounting Standards in the country.

Civil society urges Jonathan to fight corruption

C

IVIL society groups yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to re-invigorate the anticorruption war in the interest of the country’s image.

They enjoined him to restructure the anti-graft agencies; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC; just as he restructured the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by appointing Prof.

•Backs EFCC’s call for independent anti-corruption court

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

Attahiru Jega as chairman.

The representatives of the civil society groups reviewed the Federal Government’s anti-corruption crusade in the last four years, decrying the slow process and penchant for delaying the litigation process by politicians standing trial.

At the one-day forum organised by the Campaign for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR),the President of the group, Supo Ojo, examined the performance of the EFCC under Mrs Farida Waziri, saying that the agency was becoming a shadow of itself.

However, the representatives of the rights groups were divided over the call for the resignation of the EFCC

chairman. While some of them asked her to step down, others disagreed, saying that certain constraints prevented the commission from achieving its statutory goals.

Ojo, a lawyer, decried the attempt by the EFCC to destroy certain Nigerians, including House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole, instead of completing investigation on the alleged N10 billion loan.

He said: “EFCC should complete its investigation and charge Bankole to court. It has not done that, but has condemned him. So many people and governors have been condemned in the media, but they are still working freely on the streets”.

However, the leader of the Coalition against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, disagreed, saying that EFCC has accomplished some feats in the on-going antigraft war.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

5

NEWS Two party supporters killed

Another victim dead as residents T blame Ekiti robbery on police

A

NOTHER victim of yesterday’s robbery attack on a first generation bank in Okeyinmi, Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, is dead, bringing the death toll to five.

Four others were killed by the robbers during the incident.

When Governor Kayode Fayemi visited the victims at the University Teaching Hospital yesterday, the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Patrick Adegun, told him about the death of the fifth victim.

Adegun also said two victims had been referred to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Fayemi commiserated with the victims and their families, promising to strengthen security.

He said: “Our duty is to ensure that the robbers are apprehended and made to face the consequences. Government would take charge of all expenses incurred in the cause of treating the victims and efforts would be made to get in touch with the families of the deceased.

“We have identified three

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

already; we are trying to identify the other two, so that we can commiserate with them.”

He criticised the police for not responding promptly and urged them to wake up to their responsibilities.

Adegun urged residents to donate blood to the victims.

Although commercial activities have resumed, residents have continued to complain about the ineffectiveness of the police.

An eyewitness, Mr. Taiwo Oguntayo, whose Mercedes saloon car was damaged by bullets, said: “The situation would not have been that worse if the police had responded on time to our distress calls. But for God’s intervention, more deaths would have been recorded yesterday.

“They need to wake up to their responsibilities. The police came after the incident and started harassing people and shooting into the air. In the process, they shot another person in the head.”

Another eyewitness, Joseph Ugwu, said one of the robbers sat with him where

he was reading a sports magazine.

He said: “After some time, he came close and put his hand on me. I did not know the boy at all. He bought Compass and we were reading the paper together and discussing events in the north. Two other young men wearing red polo shirts came and joined him.

“After a few minutes, one of them received a call and said ‘no’ to the caller. Suddenly, one of them hit me in the side and I fell. I started hearing gunshots and people scampering for safety.

The shooting continued for almost fifty minutes.

“When policemen came about 20 minutes after the robbers had left, they added to the sorrow by killing one of the protesters who questioned their lateness. They can’t pretend that they did not hear those shots; they were heard everywhere?”

Another eyewitness, Andrew Ogunsakin, said: “We thank God that the papers came early and our vendors had collected the papers and gone. If they were still around, the casualties would have been more as they

would have been hiding in some of the shops the robbers bombarded with gunshots. You can see that the gunshots ravaged our offices and the papers.”

A politician and community leader, Sikiru Babalola, who also witnessed the incident, said: “What happened is a big embarrassment to the Police Command. Policemen were non-existent yesterday, when the robbers held residents hostage for about an hour. The police headquarters is not that far away!

“Signals were sent to the Commissioner of Police from everywhere. He should have sent alerts to the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) to block the six roads into Ado-Ekiti.

“They are Ikare, Ikere, Ilawe, Iyin, Iworoko and Afao roads. If they had blocked them, the criminals would not have escaped so easily.

“To add insult to injury, when the police eventually showed up, they started killing and maiming the people again. It should be expected that people would be angry at the police because they did not live up to expectation.”

Police officer suspended for alleged murder

By Jude Isiguzo

ORMER Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mushin Police Station, Mr. Mohammed Babamala, who allegedly killed a man at Onipanu, has been suspended.

This is following the report of investigations conducted by detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos, where he was held.

It was gathered that the report was forwarded to a panel set up to look into the matter at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

By this suspension, Babamala, who was also released from detention, would not be entitled to his monthly salary until the case is determined.

Babamala allegedly killed the late Femi Olayiwola, popularly known as Femi Best, in front of Onipanu Police Station over a yet to be ascertained reason sometime in December last year.

It was reported that the late Femi and his brother were returning home from Oshodi Day celebration, when Babamala started chasing them.

He was said to have caught up with them in front of Onipanu Police Station and opened fire, killing the late Femi.

F

E

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

The attacks may not be unconnected with the election petition filed by the ACN against the PDP over alleged electoral malpractices during the National Assembly elections.

Commissioner of Police Adisa Bolanta was said to have been informed about the incident, but no arrest had been made as at press time.

Court restrains Ondo PDP Exco From Damisi Ojo, Akure

A

N Akure High Court yesterday restrained the Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Dr. Tayo Dairo, and members of his executive from acting in that capacity pending the determination of a motion on notice before the court.

Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi also restrained them from operating the party’s bank accounts and sending or receiving correspondence on its behalf.

In an affidavit signed by Dele Faboro, the plaintiffs, including Stephen Olemija, Ajayi Bakare and Toyin Aladetoyinbo, argued that the executive members of the party were not legally elected.

They averred that the executives were selected by ex-Governor Olusegun Agagu without recourse to the party’s constitution.

They said: “The defendants have mismanaged the goodwill enjoyed by the party in this state, as well as decimated and totally exhausted the funds and resources of the PDP, such that they have grounded the party to a shocking and emphatic halt to the detriment and interest of hundreds of thousands of party members.”

Election Tribunal rules on Ondo ACN’s petition today

O

ONDO State Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Akure, the state capital, will today rule on an application by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its House of Representatives candidate in Ilaje/Ese-Odo, Mr. Rawa Felix.

Felix, who lost the election to Raphael Nomiye of the Labour Party (LP), is seeking to inspect and make copies of electoral materials used for the election.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ACN’s counsel Titiloye Charles had earlier urged the tribunal to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to produce for inspection all used and unused ballot papers, ballot boxes, voter register and result sheets used for the said election.

The party also prayed the court to allow it file more witnesses, but INEC’s counsel opposed the application on ground of jurisdiction.

Make governors accountable, activist urges Jonathan From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

A

•Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko at the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s Office in Akure, signing into Law a Bill empowering the AttorneyGeneral to review the laws of the state, 33 years after a similar exercise was last done ...yesterday

Fayemi releases N269m, 60 tractors to farmers KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has released N269 million to farmers.

No fewer than 60 tractors with implements worth over N250 million were also released to them to enhance mechanised farming.

Seeds weighing 750,000kg, agrochemicals and several bags of fertilizer were also released to them.

Fayemi made this known at the flag-off of the 2011 farming season at Christ’s

WO supporters of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Igboho, Orelope Local Government of Oyo State, were killed yesterday by suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs.

It was gathered that the thugs were led by a major official in the council around midnight to the homes of the victims.

School in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi, he said his administration would revive cocoa production by establishing a minimum of 1000 hectares of cocoa plantations and 500 hectares of oil palm plantations through Private/Public Partnership (PPP).

Fayemi said the government would work with research institutes to ensure

the success of the project.

He said 400,000 hybrid cocoa seedlings were being raised in the nursery and would be ready for distribution to farmers before the end of this month.

Fayemi said 200,000 trees of various species were available for sale to farmers at subsidised rates.

Various farmers’ associations exhibited their produce at the event.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Develop-

ment Dr. Adio Folayan said the governor has approved all counterpart fund contributions to donor-assisted agricultural projects.

Folayan said loans have also been approved for peasant farmers to embark on large scale farming, adding that over 6000 metric tons of fertilizer had been made available at a subsidised price of N2,800 per bag in Ado-Ekiti, Ilawe, Ikere, Ise, Otun, Ikole, Ido, Ijero and Ilupeju.

CTIVIST lawyer Morakinyo Ogele yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to make governors accounts for monthly allocations.

He advised the President to re-appoint the presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mallam Nuhu Ribada, as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), if he wants to end corruption as contained in his inaugural speech.

In a statement in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Ogele said: “It is a shame that many governors cannot account for allocations collected from the Federal Government. Holding a political office has become a jackpot and this is killing the country gradually.

“It is only somebody like Ribadu that can end this illegal act.

When he was in office, we all knew the effectiveness of that office. Public office holders feared the commission. But now, the EFCC is more or less like a local council’s police station.

The commission should be restructured.”

Scramble for appointments in Oyo

M

EMBERS of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State have besieged the Felele, Ibadan, home of former Governor Lam Adesina, over appointments into the Executive Council of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, it was learnt.

A source said some party chieftains were at loggerheads over the inclusion of the names of some decampees from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the list , while others in-

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

sisted that they contributed immensely to the party’s victory.

ACN State Secretary Mr. Wasiu Olatunbosun said: “As far as the party is concerned, there is no strained relationship with our Governor over appointees. We repose our confidence in him that he would deliver the dividends of democracy to the people. Let us support him in lifting the state to greater heights.”

6

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

NEWS Kwankwaso appoints second HOS in 24hrs

NECOM House not bought with Bankole’s support, says firm T

HE firm, which acFrom Kolade Adeyemi, quired NECOM House Kano in Lagos, yesterday deKANO State Governor Rabiu nied buying the property with the support of House SpeakKwankwaso yesterday er Dimeji Bankole. dropped the Head of Service, The West African Aluminum Dr. Hafizu Abubakar, he Products (WAPP), which is appointed on Monday and iwned by the Speaker’s father, replaced him with Alhaji Chief Alani Bankole, said it Umar Minjibir.

A statement by the Director, bid for the property, which formerly hooused the NigeAdministration and General Services, Government House, rian Telecommunication Limited (NITEL), like othe Abdullahi Mahmud Umar, companies in 2007. said Minjibir’s appointment Its Executive Director, Biobecame necessary following la Bankole, said the sale was the need for productivity, accountability and decorum in done without any external influence. the conduct of public affairs.

Biola, who is Dimeji’s sibMinjibiri was a permanent ling, said the only link besecretary in the Civil Service. tween the company and the Similarly, the Governor has Speaker is that their father is announced the dissolution of the Board of Directors of state WAPP chairman. owned companies, Agencies and other government co operations, directing the Chief Executives of the affected organizations, with the exception of organizations that are statutory in nature, to hand over to the next most senior Directors in the various organizations.

By Eric Ikhilae

He said WAPP went through necessary procedures, like other companies that bid for it in 2007, when the property was placed for sale.

Biola said the purchase was financed through a facility by Skye Bank Plc, adding that it was untrue that the property was undervalued.

He said: “The only connection between the property, its new buyer and the Speaker is that the Chairman of the company that bought it happens to be his father. The property was advertised for sale in March 2007.

“He (Dimeji) was not the

Speaker then. So, he had nothing to do with the process of sale. We had put in our bid before he became the Speaker. It was a process that was ongoing in the system of NITEL and NITEL Pension. So, there was no way he (Dimeji) would have influenced the process. Adekanola had been appointed since 2006.

“In March 2007, there was an advertorial in The Punch, containing a long list of NITEL’s property to be sold.

There were about 100 of them across the country; one of them was the NECOM House.

“The advert, which was also published in some other national dailies, was placed by a

firm of chartered accountants, Olusola Adekanola and Co., engaged as liquidator for the properties.

“We saw the advert, did our due diligence and found out that the firm was the authentic liquidator appointed

by NITEL Trustees, a company to which NITEL had ceded all the properties.

“We went to the Land Registry and found out that the property had been legally ceded to NITEL Pension Limited under a title that was legally registered at the Federal Land Registry at Ikoyi, Lagos.

“So, we were dealing with NITEL Pension, a different entity from NITEL; we never dealt with NITEL. Also, in the course of our investigation, we found out that the ap-

pointment of the liquidator was further supported by an order of a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

“When we became satisfied, we put in our bid of N4 billion. Luckily, our bid was accepted and the property was offered to us; payment was made in 2008. We went back to the Federal Land Registry to register our title, did the deed of assignment that was signed by an agent of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“We went through all necessary and normal processes and then took possession of the property. At the point of taking possession, we realised that a section of the building was being occupied by NITEL. It actually had some of its equipment on the particular floor.”

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A statement by the Director of Press, Government House, Alhaji Usman Chiroma said the appointments took effect from Tuesday.

The governor wished the new appointees Allah’s guidance, urging them to live up to the confidence reposed in them.

MRA’s director re-elected IFEX convenor THE Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Mr. Edetaen Ojo, has been re-elected Convenor of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), the global network of freedom of expression organisations with headquarters in Toronto, Canada. As Convenor, he chairs the 13-member governing Council of IFEX and heads the Network.

Ojo, who was first elected Convenor at the IFEX General Meeting in Oslo, Norway, in June 2009, was re-elected to serve a further term of two years at the ongoing General Meeting and Strategy Conference of IFEXin Beirut, Lebanon. The meetings ends tomorrow.

The General Meeting and Strategy Conference is being attended by over 150 media professionals, freedom of expression and human rights activists, representatives of media professional bodies, media scholars, writers, artists and donors from all over the world for a week-long programme.

•Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Inumidun Akande (middle) flanked by the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Adebamigbe Omole and Assistant Controller of Prison, Aliu Baba Usman, after the Chief Judge freed some Ikoyi Prison inmates...yesterday.

Reps to possess controversial cars, office equipment

H

OUSE of Representatives members are to go home with their controversial N2.3billion Peugeot 407 cars bought in 2008.

In the heat of the row, the House leadership said the cars were given to committees and not members and that they would not be taken away when the lawmakers completed their tenure.

It was gathered that arrangements have been concluded for the cars and other office equipment used by each of the members to be sold to them at about 15 per cent of the cost.

From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

Secretaries and aides of the members were seen yesterday moving about the National Assembly, carrying the equipment used by their principals into some cars.

The sixth Assembly of the House of Representatives end today.

Immediately members arrived yesterday, Speaker Dimeji Bankole called for a closed door session which lasted for about an hour.

After the meeting, Bankole said the members had agreed that their cars and office equipment be sold to them.

He said: “The House met in executive session and passed a resolution on the holding of the vehicles and equipment of the sixth National Assembly, and it was resolved amicably.”

The Nation gathered that the lawmakers agreed to buy their official 407 cars for about N850,000 each.

The format for the sale was said to have been received from the Federal Ministry of Works.

A lawmaker, who did not want to be named, said: “There was a circular from the Federal Ministry of Works, which served as a guide, and what

we were told was that we were going to pay for each car, based on the value and the procedure adopted, the sum of N850,000 or thereabout.”

The Chairman, House Services Committee Yakubu Dogara said they were still working on the valuation of the cars and declined to give details on the sale.

Bankole also announced that the House will today conduct its valedictory session to signal the end of the sixth Assembly.

He said though plenary sessions would end today, “the sixth Assembly officially closes on Saturday, June 4”.

Ogun Assembly nullifies sale of Gateway Hotels

T

HE Ogun House of Assembly yesterday nullified the concessioning of the three state-owned Gateway Hotels by former Governor gbenga Daniel.

It also reversed Daniel’s return of 29 public secondary schools to missionaries and communities about a year ago.

Speaker Tunji Egbetokun said the process that led to the concession of the Gateway Hotels in Ijebu–Ode, Ota and Abeokuta was “fraudulent, against the laws of Ogun State and inconsistent with the government and public interest”.

The reversal, the Assembly said, took immediate effect.

Job Akintan, representing Yewa North 1, moved the motion for House Resolution 250, which sought the rever-

•Amosun swears in SSG From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

sal of the concession of the hotels, arguing that “Daniel had deceived the people of Ogun State” in the manner the deal was sealed.

Deputy Speaker Remmy Hassan, who supported the motion, said it was unthinkable that the hotels, valued at over N1.2billion, could be given away to the concessionaires at barely half a billion naira.

The Assembly approved the renaming of the newly constructed N1.5bilion Ogun State Property Investment Company (OPIC) building in Abeokuta Central Business District (ACBD) as OPIC Towers.

The 12-storey building was

named OGD Plaza few hours after it was commissioned by Daniel.

Egbetokun said the Ibikunle Amosun administration would be law-abiding, adding that reverting the Gateway Television and Gateway Radio to their old names should not be with immediate effect but until their enabling bill is either repealed or amended by the Assembly.

The House also resolved to confer its honorary memberon six Ogun indigenes – including Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, former Vice-Chancellor, Crescent University, Abeokuta; and G-15 Legal Adviser, Mr Abraham Adeoye, whom it said stood behind it in its struggle against the many illegalities of the executive arm

of the government.

Amosun has approved the dissolution of the boards and governing councils of stateowned parastatals and higher institutions.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant Funmi Wakama, the governor directed the chairmen and heads of the parastatals and institutions to hand over to the most senior civil servants in their establishments.

Amosun yesterday swore in the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Taiwo Abiodun Adeoluwa.

The governor, who described Adeoluwa as a silent achiever, urged him to dedicate himself to the service of the state, noting that the issue is neither about the SSG nor Amosun, but the development of the people.

Jang, Aliyu urge lawmakers to be cordial with tiers of govt From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

PLATEAU State Governor Jonah Jang and his Niger State counterpart, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, have urged North Central Zone’s Houses of Assembly members-elect to ensure cordial working relationships with other tiers of government in their states for the transformation of the zone and the country.

The governors spoke at the end of a two-day retreat on legislation and development for Houses of Assembly members-elect of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the zone.

The retreat, which held in Jos, the Plateau State capital, had the theme: Legislating for transformational development.

In attendance were PDP House of Assembly members-elect from Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Niger and Benue states.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

7

NEWS 12 inmates freed From Osagie Otabor, Benin

T

WELVE inmates awaiting trial at the Medium Security Prison, Oko, Benin, Edo State, were freed yesterday by the Chief Judge, Justice Cromwell Idahosa.

Among those freed is 33-year-old Francis Iwezue, who was arrested for robbery and has spent 10 years awaiting trial.

Others are: Fredrick Ipitekumor; Romeo Ikherua; Anayor Akan; Eghosa Joseph; Lucky Osakwe; Okoroafor Ozoemera; Joseph Saliyu; Nosa Osemwenkhian; Francis Iwuzue; Influence Iyawai Osaro; Happy Enakpode and Joseph Godday, who have been standing trial for one year for stealing biscuits, sardines and toiletries.

Justice Idahosa said his visit to the prison was customary, following applications, which he said, bordered on alleged illegal detention, continuous detention without trial and delay in trial.

He appealed to the released inmates to turn a new leaf and contribute positively to the society.

Sea pirates kill one in Akwa Ibom

S

EA pirates yesterday killed one Koko Edet, a native of Adadia, Ibiaku Ishet in Uruan Local Government of Akwa Ibom State.

Edet was a sailor and owner of a commercial wooden boat shuttling between Nigeria and Cameroon.

The deceased was in the timber ferrying business for more than 15 years.

According to Thompson Etim, the assistant sailor, who witnessed the attack,

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

the incident occurred around 2am on the high sea at Abana, which is about 500 nautical miles to Akwa Ibom.

Etim said Edet and other passengers were on their way home with the boat loaded with timber, when about eight sea pirates attacked them.

He said they were attacked as they were trying to navigate their way back home.

According to him, the late Edet died because of loss of blood as they could not get

help on the high sea.

His words: “The sea pirates asked us to surrender our belongings, including the engine of the boat.

“After robbing us, one of the robbers went after Edet and cut him with a machete and shot him.

“Initially, we thought they were militants or the dreaded Cameroonian Gendarmes, but to our greatest surprise they turned out to be Nigerians, who came through Calabar.

“After his death, I had to

summon courage to drive the boat to Akwa Ibom beach with his body.”

Reacting, the Chairman Akwa Ibom Outboard Boat Drivers Association, Nwaniba beach, Ekong Tom, lamented the incessant killings of commercial “boat drivers” by sea pirates.

He appealed to the security agencies for help.

The chairman said a similar incident occurred last week when two Akwa Ibom sailors were killed by pirates, after robbing them.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

T

THE Annual Alao-AkaBashorun Lecture series, organised by the Ikeja branch of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) will hold today.

The series tagged “Deepening Democratic Culture in Nigeria – The role of legal profession”, will hold at Osun Hall, Airport Hotel, Lagos.

Guest Speaker is the immediate past NBA president, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Special Guest is former Chief Justice of Nigeria Hon. Justice S. M. A. Belgore, and the Chairman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo.

NES boss to be adviser

Whereabouts of kidnapped men unknown HE whereabouts of two oil workers abducted in Warri and Aladja towns in Delta State by armed men remained unknown yesterday.

It was gathered that families of the men, said to be workers of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Southern Gas Company (SGC), were working to secure their release.

SGC is a major contracting firm to Chevron Nigeria Limited on the Escravos Gas To Liquid (EGTL) project.

Police spokesperson Charles Muka said the matter was not reported.

It was gathered that Tom Akhidime (SPDC) and Solomon Enamejewan (SGC) were snatched in Warri and Aladja on Sunday.

Sources said the hoodlums cashed in on the concentration of police and other security officials in Asaba during the swearing-in of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to strike.

It was gathered that Akhidime was abducted about 4.30 pm, on EdjebaComplex road, Ekpan.

Enamejewan was abducted on his way to Aladja in Udu Local Government.

Sources said Enamejewan’s abductors contacted his wife, Philo, and asked for N15 million ransom.

However, it could not be confirmed if Akhidime’s kidnappers had contacted his family or employer.

Lecture today

•Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (second right) with a victim of Tuesday’s robbery attack, Ismaila Adeniyi, at the State Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti...yesterday

Court declares Eyiboh PDP candidate

A

N Abuja Federal High Court yesterday declared House Committee on Information chair Eseme Eyiboh the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Eket/Ibeno/ Esit/Onna Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State.

Delivering judgment in a suit filed by Eyiboh, Justice Abdul Kafarati voided the party’s primaries held in Uyo, the state capital on January 28, which returned Bassey Dan-Abia as winner.

He upheld the argument of Eyiboh’s counsel Wole Olanipekun (SAN) that the election was conducted in violation of the party’s guideline that the exercise should be conducted in Eket, the headquarters of the constituency.

The judge noted that PDP did not controvert Eyiboh’s claim that over 90 percent of the delegates at the Eket Township Stadium, the original venue for the primaries, adopted him as the consensus candidate.

Justice Kafarati said: “The primaries held on January 28 at which the third defendant (Dan-Abia) was elected as the PDP candidate for the 2011 election is hereby set aside.”

He ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is the first defendant, to recognise Eyiboh as PDP candidate and the duly elected House of Representatives member, since the party

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

won the April 9 election.

At the last sitting, Olanipekun urged the court to rule in Eyiboh’s favour because the party agreed in its defence to have conducted the rerun election in Uyo. He said: “My Lord, PDP’s counsel said the election was conducted in Uyo on the basis of convenience.

“The Electoral Act said it is mandatory to conduct party primaries to select National Assembly candidates in the Headquarters of Federal Constituencies.

“My Lord, based on this reckless violation of the

Electoral Act, my client is automatically qualified by the provision of the law to assume the seat in the House of Representatives.”

Olanipekun submitted that the defence and counter-affidavit of Dan-Abia’s counsel Goddy Uche was inconsequential, since DanAbia was not the person who violated the Electoral Act to conduct the primaries in a different location.

He also opposed the application for transfer on the ground that all the parties in the matter except DanAbia reside in Abuja.

On the motion seeking the quashing of the suit because

of its wrong commencement, Olanipekun argued that the rule of the court empowered the applicant to approach it with the originating motion.

Uche replied that the suit was not brought properly before the court, adding that his client had already been declared winner of the April 9 election.

He said Eyiboh and all the delegates were at the venue of the primaries in Uyo. PDP’s counsel A. O. Yinka opposed the motion for transfer, saying the court has the jurisdiction to entertain the case.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is to appoint the President of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES) as a Honorary Adviser on Economic Matters.

Also, the NES chief executive is to be co-opted into the National Economic Management Team, when it is constituted.

The President argued that the essence is to build an enduring tradition that will enable the economic body to interface regularly with the government for national economic transformation.

He spoke during a consultative meeting with the executive council of the body led by its President, Dr. Kenneth Adeyemi, at the State House, Abuja.

15 minors rehabilitated The Kaduna State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday said 15 minors were being rehabilitated at its centre in Zaria.

NDLEA Press Affairs Officer Malam Abdulkadir Fakai told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the minors, aged between nine and 16 years were brought tby their guardians.

Fakai said: “Parents, who are concerned about the deteriorating state of their wards voluntarily, bring them and are always happy after the children have been rehabilitated.’’

Edo Speaker bows out as Third Assembly ends •Commissioner-nominees cleared From Osagie Otabor, Benin

•Omokhodion

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PEAKER of the Edo State House of Assembly Bright Omokhodion yesterday bowed out as the fourth session of the Third Assembly ended.

Omokhodion lost his reelection bid and would not return when the Fourth Assembly convenes next

week.

In a valedictory speech, he said the Assembly passed 32 bills and 221 resolutions.

The Speaker said 146 petitions were received, adding that the Assembly will rubber-stamp all policies that would banish poverty and backwardness in Edo. His words: “It is not our wish to part like this. We will gather again. You have all been great men. We came on stage as a result of a revolution.

“We are heroes of our time. We have become part of the heroic process. Edo State is now part of the developed states in the country. Our actions were in the interest of this state.”

Earlier, the lawmakers cleared thecommissionernominees sent by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

The nominees are: Lucky James; Peter Ikem; Ms Jemitola Anena; Mrs. Inumidu Idehen; Donald Osikhena; Chris Ebare and Ekpenisi Omorotionmwon.

Oshiomhole, in another

letter, withdrew the name of Gabriel Oiboh.

According to him, Oiboh’s disqualification is because he is from the same political ward as the Transition Committee Chairman for Esan Central Local Government.

The lawmakers also confirmed the appointment of three transition committee chairmen and approved Oshiomhole’s request to extend indefinitely the tenure of the 18 local government chairmen .

The new chairmen are Silvanus Igbogbo for Igueben; Marcus Shaka Momodu for Esan Central and Anselm Agbabi for AkokoEdo council.

8

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

NEWS Taraba workers suspend five-month strike From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

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ARABA State’s public service workers have suspended their five-month-old strike.

The suspension followed the Joint National Public Service Negotiation Council (JNPSNC) meeting with Governor Danbaba Suntai on Tuesday evening at the Government House, Jalingo, the state capital.

JNPSNC National Chairman Kiri Mohammed said both sides resolved to suspend the strike on the following conditions: · To enable the JNPSNC negotiate the workers’ demands; ·The impending negotiation should be concluded within one month, with effect from yesterday (June 1); and · That no worker should be victimised for taking part in the (suspended) strike.

The resolution was signed by the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Dennis Nev; the JNPSNC National Chairman Kiri Mohammed; JNPSNC National Secretary Omokhuale Markus; SPJNC Chairman Sabudah Mangey; and SPJNC Secretary Tukur Taji.

NBA must participate in SAN selection, says court A N Abuja Federal High Court yesterday ruled that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) should participate in the selection for the conferment of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Justice Gabriel Kolawole arrived at the decision after adopting the terms of settlement agreed to by parties in a suit filed by the Registered Trustees of the NBA where they are challenging the modalities for the appointment of new SANs. The defendants are the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC); the Chief Justice of Nigeria; Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu; and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN).

At the resumed hearing yesterday, Counsel to NBA and National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emeka Obegolu, told the court that parties had agreed to settle amicably.

He urged the court to adopt

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

the May 31 terms of settlement as the judgment of the court.

Counsel to the defendants, Mr. Matthew Echo, concurred.

Following his “no objection” response, Justice Kolawole adopted it as the judgment of the court.

The terms of settlement reads: * “Whereas the parties to this suit, acting through their respective counsel, have agreed to settle this matter amicably on the terms herein set out and have on May 16, informed the court of their intention so to do. * “The plaintiff will submit to the first defendant her confidential references on the applicants for appointment to

the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on or before June 7; and the first defendant will receive and consider the said references so received in accordance with the Guidelines, anytime from the said June 7. * “The first defendant will consider representations from adversely affected applicants in the Appeal process in accordance with the Guidelines, and will decide on whether or not to proceed with their applications. Thereafter, the award can be made anytime from June 21 upwards. * “To abide by these terms of settlement and bear their respective costs. * “That the above terms shall be the judgment of the honourable court.”

In a writ taken out by NBA President Joseph Daudu (SAN), the association said the

LPPC, the CJN and the AGF breached the mandatory provision of Paragraph 12(1) of the Guidelines for the Appointment of legal practitioners to the rank of SAN. The NBA prayed the court to declare the exercise of conferring the rank of SAN on lawyers as null and void, having been done in violation of statutory guidelines.

NBA also prayed for an order of injunction restraining the defendants from proceeding with the appointment of legal practitioners to the rank of SAN for the year 2010-2011.

In an eight-paragraph affidavit attached to the writ and sworn to by Mr. Osita Okoro, a lawyer at the NBA secretariat, the NBA said the appointment of legal practitioners as SAN must comply with the Legal Practitioners Act. He said the CJN, the LPPC and the AGF failed to comply with Paragraph 12 (1) of the guidelines for the appointment of lawyers as a SAN.

123456789012345 123456789012345 123456789012345 Benue Speaker 123456789012345 weeps as Suswam 123456789012345 123456789012345 dissolves Assembly 123456789012345 123456789012345 From Uja Emmanuel, 123456789012345 Makurdi 123456789012345 Agena, read on the floor of 123456789012345 the House. Outgoing mem123456789012345 123456789012345 bers also read their valedic123456789012345 speech.

123456789012345 tory It was unclear why Tsum- 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 123456789012345 ba, who became Speaker in 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 123456789012345 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 could not hold back his 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 123456789012345 2007, emotion but a member of the 123456789012345 123456789012345 Assembly, who pleaded for 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 123456789012345 anonymity, told The Nation 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 123456789012345 that it might not be uncon- 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 nected with his unsuccessful 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 •Suswam attempt to return to the 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 House.

ENUE State House of 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 Tsumba lost the Buruku 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 Assembly Speaker 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 State Constituency seat to Terseer Tsumba could not hold his emotion yesterAction Congress of Nigeria 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 day as Governor Gabriel (ACN) candidate Adugu 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 Suswam dissolved the sixth Gbileve in the April election 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 Assembly. with a wide margin.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 He wept during the valeIt was gathered that Sus- 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 dictory session. wam trusted the Tsumba-led 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 The governor signed the Assembly that he did every- 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 dissolution, which the Clerk thing possible to ensure his 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 of the House, Dr Emmanuel re-election to no avail.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 Police alert to possible breach of 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 peace in Borno 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 HE Borno State Police Command yesterday said it had 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 intelligence report that some fundamentalists and other 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 miscreantswer planning to breach the peace.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer Lawal

B

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Abdullahi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the command had set machinery in motion to track down the miscreants and prosecute them.

It urged the public, especially religious, traditional and community leaders, to cooperate with the government and security agents to reclaim the state’s appellation of “Home of Peace”.

Thanking the residents for their cooperation in crime detection and prevention, the command urged politicians to respect the rule of law and shun acts capable of breaching the peace.

It said security agents had strengthened their operations to rid the state of miscreants, adding that officers and men of “Operation Flush” and “Black Scorpion” had been equipped to quash any act of aggression in the state.

Aregbesola declares June 12 Democracy Day

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said June 12 will be the state’s Democracy Day, describing Federal Government’s declaration of May 29 for the public holiday as an aberration.

Speaking at a democracy lecture entitled: Rapid transformation of Osun State through developmental legislation, Aregbesola said Osun would no longer join other states to celebrate Democracy Day on May 29.

At the lecture, organised by the Ministry of Information and held inside the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor said May 29 was chosen to serve the interest of some individuals and not that of the people and the nation.

He said: “The choice of

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

May 29 as Democracy Day by the Federal Government was unpatriotic and against the interest of the people of this country. We may not abadon May 29, since the federal law superceeds that of the subordinate units but June 12 remains our Democracy Day.” Aregbesola decried the decay in public schools’ infrastructure, urging the House of Assembly to ensure developmental legislation which would set a minimum standard for school establishment and administration.

He advised the Assembly, to be inaugurated today, to use the instrument of the state to improve the lots of the people through good legislation.

* Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Mr. Ugo Kun; Head Teacher, Grace Schools, Gbagada, Lagos, Mrs. Madsuri Saha, with pupils of the school during an excursion to the Chinese Embassy on Victoria Island, Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

Kwara election tribunal warns PDP, Ahmed, others against disobedience T HE Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, yesterday issued a “notice of consequence of disobedience of court order” to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his deputy, Mr. Peter Kishira.

The Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Timothy Ibitoye were also served with the court order.

The order, dated May 30 and signed by the tribunal Secretary, Mrs. Uju MesiobiEmeto, said: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this order, you will be guilty of con-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

tempt of the honourable governorship tribunal/court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

But the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chairman Kayode Olawepo said there was collusion between the PDP and INEC to delay the execution of the court order granted over two weeks ago.

The party said its lawyers, who went to Baruten on Monday for inspection, photocopies copies of materials and scanned copies of polling documents, were denied access to them.

In a statement yesterday in

Ilorin, Olawepo said the lawyers were told by one Mr. Ahmed, the commission’s executive officer in Baruten, that INEC’s local government offices lacked the power to issue Certified True Copy (CTT) of the polling documents, adding that only the state Headquarters can issue it.

He said: “We suspect foul play between INEC and PDP. Why did the INEC State Headquarters’ Legal Officer, one Mr. Salako, direct us to their local government offices when he knew that the local branches have no power to issue CTT in the first instance? Is it to continue to

delay until something sinister is done to the materials?

This only goes to confirm that both the INEC and Kwara PDP are in collusion to disobey or frustrate the execution of the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Ilorin.

“This is what has been happening in Kwara and we are by this means drawing the attention of the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega and, of course, President Goodluck Jonathan, Inspector-General of Police and the international community to these anomalies in the state, despite the claims of free, fair and credible election.

Nasarawa election tribunal adjourns indefinitely

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ECURITY threat has reportedly forced the Nasarawa State Elections Petitions Tribunal to adjourn sitting indefinitely.

Rival youths of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) yesterday clashed at the venue of the tribunal in Lafia, the state capi-

From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

tal, causing panic.

The tribunal’s Secretary, Mr Henry Sekulla Nyior, told The Nation that the stakeholders observed that the venue was no longer secure for the tribunal to continue sitting.

It was gathered that some

party supporters had posed a security threat to the hearings as they clashed at the venue, disrupting hearing.

CPC supporters, mainly youths, had earlier arrived at the venue on Shendam Road, brandishing dangerous weapons.

They said their mission was to chase away PDP sup-

porters from the venue, accusing them of making inflammatory statements about Governor Alhaji Tanko Almakura.

Activities around Court 4, venue of the tribunal’s sitting, were disrupted as the youths engaged in a faceoff that sent many people running for dear life.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

9

NEWS

Obosi community seeks Jonathan, National Assembly’s intervention

Nnamani gets bail after snatching lawyer’s phone •Supporters smash door, boo EFCC operatives

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

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HE troubled Obosi community in Idemili North local government of Anambra State has called for the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly Former Commonwealth Secretary- General Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Governor Peter Obi have set up committees to look into the crisis.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Paul Odenigbo yesterday presided over a meeting at the Government House, Awka.

Former Inspector-General of Police Mike Okiro and Police Commissioner Muhtari Ibrahim also met with the SSG on the matter.

Addressing reporters in Awka, the leadership of the community named the person behind the attack.

A statement by Chief Ernest Ojiaku (the Iyasele Obosi- Prime Minister), Chief Godwin Osakwe (Odu Nkata-Ukwu Obosi), Chief Eze Anthony Nwabude (the Onowu Obosi) and Chief Augustine Nwabude (the Ojiudor Obosi)decried the invasion of the community.

From Chris Oji, Enugu

•Nnamani

F

ORMER ENugu State G o v e r n o r C h i m a r o k e Nnamani yesterday snatched the handset of a female lawyer for allegedly taking his photograph while in the dock.

It all happened at the Enugu High Court where Nnamani and five others are standing trial for alleged corruption. The court granted him bail at the sitting.

The lawyer had aken photograph of her colleagues during the court session with her handset only to be accused later by Nnamani of also photographing him.

Immediately the court rose

after the morning session, Nnamani walked out of the dock and demanded her handset. namani said: “ Let me have that your phone. You were the one taking my photograph while I was in the dock. Didn’t you know the person you were taking his photograph?”

The lawyer said she only photographed hjer colleagues, adding that if Nnamani’s image was captured it must have been in error.

But Nnamani quickly snatched the handset from her. He later gave her the handset following pleadings from a former prison warder.

A former warder at the Enugu prisons quickly intervened and explained to Nnamani the implication of snatching the lawyer’s handset inside the court. Jus-

tice Benedict Agbata on Nnamani’s bail excited the former governor’s supporters who were in court.

Nnamani was granted into bail because he is on bail of a Federal High Court, Lagos.

The second accused, Jacob Nwatu, an Enugu based contractor, was also granted bail based on the conditions attached to the Federal High Court bail granted Nnamani

by Justice E. F. Olayiwola.

While granting them bail, Justice Agbata said he was conscious of the fears expressed by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission(EFCC) lawyer, Mr. Kevin Uzozie, in opposing the bail. He said Nnamani would tamper justice if granted bail.

“I adopt the ruling of my learned brother Justice E. F. Olayiwola, in granting the prayer of the applicant’s

counsel to allow him stand on the existing bail that there has never been a complaint of him breaching the conditions attached to it’’ Justice Agbata ruled.

Mr. Ricky Tarfa (SAN) and Chuma Oguejiofor argued the application for bail for Nnamani and Nwatu.

The former governor was last Thursday arraigned before an Enugu High Court on a 15 count charge of corruption and embezzlement of money.

He was charged alongside with Nwatu; Jac Nigeria Enterprises Ltd; Jetman Nigeria ltd; Rainbownet Nigeria Ltd and Hillgate Nigeria Ltd. After the sitting, hundreds of Nnamani’s supporters smashed one of the glass doors to the reception of the court complex.

They also jeered and booed EFCC operatives.

•Council chief sacked From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

ABIA Governor Theodore Orji has dissolved the state Executive Council(Exco) and sacked the 17 local government chairmen.

This is contained in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Nwachukwu Agonmuo.

According to the statement, those affected are advisers, assistants and senior special assistants, members of Boards and other political appointees.

Following the announcement, lobbyists have besieged the governor’s office and official residence for appointments.

The Nation gathered that about 5,000 political job seekers are jostling for vacant political appointments in the newly inaugurated administration.

Tribunal grants request to inspect election materials From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

Igbo seek more slots in Lagos executive councils

By Musa Odoshimokhe

I

GBO community in Lagos has called on Governor Babatunde Fashola to give more appointments to Ndigbo in his new cabinet.

The Traditional Council of Ndieze Igbo N’ Uzo Ije , Lagos State chapter, resolved at the palace of the Eze Ndigbo of Alimosho, Dr. Emmanuel Ezeokoli that more Igbo people deserved to serve in the administration.

Other traditional rulers expressed satisfaction with the existing cordial relationship among the people. This, they explained, was disobeyed during the last general elections.

“If such awareness should continue, Nigeria will experience dividends of democracy. Nigerians must continue to vote in such a wise manner because the weapon to deliver ourselves from poverty and enslavement finds expression in our votes, “ they said.

Ezeokoli and other royal fathers commended the Yoruba for their love for the Ndigbo and prayed God to give both ethnic groups understanding to further guide the state in its development drive.

The Eze Ndigbo Ikeja, Eze Uche Dimgba, attributed Fashola’s victory at the poll to huis people-oriented projects.

Dimgba thanked Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for laying a solid foundation for successive administrations.

Abia exco dissolved

•Aviation Workers Union in a peaceful protest at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja,... yesterday PHOTO ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

Orji condemns MASSOB •‘I was abandoned at Kirikiri Prison’

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BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has criticised the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

He said the MASSOB’s activities could jeopardise the Igbo” collective aspiration for a political solution, particularly now that the prospect of a President of Igbo stock is more viable than ever before.”

“The victory of President Goodluck Jonathan should serve as a palliative for the activities of MASSOB because the President understands the trauma the Igbo have been encountering and as such should be given the benefit of the doubt in his efforts to carry the Igbo along.

“It is important to note that there is no other way out rather than a political solution to be brokered in the peculiar circumstance of the

From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

Igbo as an aftermath of the civil war,”he said in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Ben Onyechere.

He said he was worried that “the MASSOB leadership is not telling those young men the truth as a result of which they are allowed to engage in activities that contravene the law.”

“We, as leaders are doing everything this time around to get the attention of Mr. President such that infrastructure that can generate employment opportunities can be set up so as to keep our youth gainfully employed and out of trouble,” Orji said.

The governor promised to work for the realisation of an industrialised Abia State where living standards will be better than before.

Speaking at the launch of

a book written on him by Aba-based journalist Ambrose Nwachukwu yesterday, Orji said he was abandoned in Kirikiri prison in Lagos before the 2007 elections. He said he was leased when he started making noise to those who should have acted earlier.

Orji promised to write a book on his ordeal in detention,adding “But what Ambrose wrote about me is just a little of what I told him. One day, the truth will be told and people will have the opportunity to know how I suffered in Kirikiri”.

The governor said what he passed through while in prison should not be experienced by others. He thanked the Kirikiri prison authorities, “who found out that I was innocent and allowed me some dignity, respect and a little freedom”.

Orji said at a time the lawyer handling their case

EBONYI State Election Petition Tribunals yesterday granted the applications of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate during the April 16 National Assembly election Paulinus Igwe Nwagu to inspect election materials used in Ebonyi Central senatorial Zone.

The order followed an application brought by Nwagu, urging the tribunal to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow his counsel or forensic experts to inspect the materials.

Tribunal Chairman Justice H. A. Olusiyi listed the materials to include ballot papers, forms EC8A, EC8C, EC8D and any other result sheets, voters’ register as well as entries and data in the Direct Data Capturing (DDC) Machines.

Ex-Minister regrets death of corps members From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

•Orji

abandoned them because the state government was owing him N20 million.

“I called and told him not to allow me suffer for things I know nothing about, though the money was later paid after much pressure from me”.

Nwachukwu, author of the book: “On the wings of fate’, said he wrote it based on his intention to document the life and times of the governor. He said the proceeds from the book would be donated to the prisons and charity homes.

FORMER Minister of Youth Development Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi has decried the murder of some youth corps members in Bauchi State postelection violence.

Olasunkanmi said he stabilised the National Youth Council of Nigeria within a short time in office.

He spoke yesterday while handing over to the Permanent Secretary, Baba Umaru- Farouk.

He said: “Whatever has a beginning must have an end, I ensured the stability of the NYCN, while in office. I also set up youth development centres in the six geo-political zones in order to curb youth unemployment”

10

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

NEWS ‘NCC can’t make new SIM cards work’

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HE National Communication Commission (NCC) has advised GSM telephones subscribers to register their new Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards with their network providers and not with the Commission.

An official of the Commission, who requested anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that many telephone users had erroneously besieged NCC centres demanding to register their new cards.

The official expressed regret that some telephone users had been complaining that new SIM cards they bought did not work after registration and explained that such observation should be taken to the network providers and not to NCC. “The only complaint that I

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (right) after receiving report of the Contract Review Committee at the Governor's Office, Abere, Osogbo… yesterday. With him are his deputy, Titi Laoye-Tomori and the Committee’s Chairman, Lana Odutola

Bombing: NLC urges Fed Govt to redistribute security personnel

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RESIDENT of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwahed Omar yesterday condemned the lopsided distribution of security personnel in the country.

He decried that the arrangement has no protection for the lives of the ordinary citizens, declaring that “it is unacceptable.”

The labour leader lamented that of the nation’s total security outfit, the illequipped 60 per cent guard about 149 million Nigerians while the remaining well-kitted 40 per cent guard the President, governors and ministers.

Omar, who spoke in Abuja at a press conference on the

Loan: Group exonerates Bankole

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IGERIA Youth Awareness Initiative (NYAI) has commended Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole for representing the youths of the country well.

National Coordinator of the group, Olufemi Akindele, in a statement, said Bankole did not squander N10b .

He said “It is not reasonable to assume that an individual could single handedly secure a N10 billion loan from a bank, as claimed by some people who have been going about with a campaign of calumny against Bankole.”

He added: “In appreciation of the visionary leadership that Hon. Dimeji Bankole has provided for the House of Reps, it is not right for any individual or group to attempt to malign the image of the Speaker for political purposes.

“For any discerning political observer, it would not be difficult to observe the latest desperate attempt by some individuals both within and outside the National Assembly to continuously malign the good image and corporate reputation of Bankole.”

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

wave of violence in the country, urged the government to have a rethink and redistribute the security networks.

He added that every citizen, irrespective of status should feel secured in the country.

His words: “It is lamentable that the entire Nigerian security outfit, about 40 per cent is busy guarding a very few individuals; president, governors, ministers and what have you.

“And only the remaining 60 per cent that are even poorly equipped or that are not even equipped at all are left to guard the remaining 149 million Nigerians.

“That state is really unacceptable. Security for a nation should be such that everybody should feel secured wherever he or she is, not only when those in position of authority are secured the rest of the citizens are left exposed to all sorts of danger.

“That is why we are saying that there has to be a change.

There has to be a rethink over the issue of Nigeria’s security by the government.”

He noted that the conference was to express deep concern at the renewed and heightened spate of violence in the country, adding that the recent one being the heinous bombings that took place in some states during the inauguration of President Good-

luck Jonathan and other governors on May 29.

While condemning the act, Omar urged Jonathan to urgently overhaul the nation’s security system.

He recalled that without respect for the significance of the day (Democracy Day), the bombs were detonated separately and almost simultaneously in Maiduguri, Bauch and Zuba, a suburb of the Federal Capital Terriotory (FCT), culminating in the loss of 15 Nigerians and destruction of property.

Besides, he noted that the congress has “strong suspicion that these groups are not acting alone, therefore their sponsors should be unmasked.”

‘Africa loses N132b to malaria yearly’

I

F the account of the Bauch State Governor Isa Yuguda’s wife, Hajiya Aisa is anything to go by, more than 300,000 children and 5000 expectant mothers die every year from malaria.

She dropped the hint yesterday in Bauchi at the commemoration of the 2011 Malaria Day. Hajiya Aisha, who doubles as the chairperson of the Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) on Social Mobilisation, renewed her challenged to religious and traditional leaders in the state to mobilise the people to avail themselves of medical facilities being offered by government.

Represented by her special adviser, Ms Hope Egwu, the Hajiya Aisha informed that “the state government has provided free Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets to the people and there is free treatment for pregnant women and children below five years.

“Besides there is free Nutritional Food Supplements to pregnant women and children below five years in all government facilities with ACT medication for malaria treatment, genuine malaria testing kits and qualified

From Austine Tsenzughul Bauchi

health personnel.

“Bauchi people should adopt high standards of cleanliness and ensure that our environments are cleared of grasses and pools of water that form breading grounds for mosquitoes’’.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the state Health Ministry, Hajiya Amina Abubakar said: “The Malaria Day provides us with the opportunity to take stock and increase the awareness among our teeming population on malaria control and prevention.”

Describing malaria as the most significant public health problem in the country, she revealed that it accounts for 25 per cent of infant mortality, 35 per cent under five mortality, and 11 per cent of maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa countries.

She said: “Ninety per cent of all malaria cases worldwide and Nigeria with the population of 150 million accounts for a quarter of this burden.

“The state government is disturbed and concerned with the high rate of deaths and committed to providing healthcare service that will reach to every citizen in

the state.”

The permanent secretary however assured that the state and its development partners (WHO, UNICEF, FHI/ GHAIN,T SHIP and SFH ) shall continue to purposefully and consistently work together until the war against malaria is defeated.

In his remark on this year’s theme; “Achieving progress and impact your part” The BACATMA chair Dr Mohammed Liman disclosed: ‘’Nigeria contributes a quarter of malaria burden in Africa and over 90 pe cent of the country’s population is at risk with an estimated 70-110 million cases of malaria yearly.”

Malaria, he said, accounts for 60 per cent of clinical attendance and30 per cent of hospital admissions.

He said: “It is also responsible for30 per cent of childhood deaths and 11 per cent maternal deaths.

“In economic terms, N132 billion is lost annually on cost of treatment, prevention and loss of man hour.”

He urged the development partners, the state government, traditional and religious leaders and civil society organisations to intensify efforts to further reduce the impact of malaria in the state.

get is that new SIM cards did not work after registration.

That is not the fault of the NCC; such telephone users should go to their network providers,’’ he said.

“Many subscribers do not understand the reasons for the registration. Subscribers whose new SIM cards did not work after registration had no business reporting to the communications regulatory body,” he said.

The official explained that part of the objectives of the SIM registration was to develop a database of telephone users in the country and keep a record of them for use whenever the need arose.

He expressed confidence that Nigerians had been registering their SIM cards in hundreds of thousands to beat the NCC deadline which had been drawing nearer every day.

11

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

NEWS Pep talk for law students

By Jude Isiguzo and Joe Agbro Jr.

LAW students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) were yesterday steered on career paths by veterans in the profession.

The students held a ‘Career Day’ to afford them the benefit of learning from veterans in the law profession.

The speakers spoke on various areas of law practice such as aviation, shipping, managing partnership, and challenges of modern day law practice.

Justice Rita Ajumugobia, who chaired the second session, told the students that they needed to package in order to distinguish themselves from their peers.

Ajumugobia, said: “I was very happy with what I saw, the comportment, diction, and grammar. The world is now about packaging.”

Prince Yemi Adefulu, an alumnus of Unilag Law department who graduated in 1971 and is a senior partner in Odujinrin and Adefulu educated students on what it takes to run an effective partnership.

Adefulu advised that it was very pertinent to choose the right partner.

Mr. Alade Agbabiaka (SAN), principal partner of Alade Agbabiaka and Co., said: “You must align yourself with what is going on unless you’ll still be hanging on the old times.”

Ex-Afribank MD Adigwe, others arraigned over N87b theft charges T

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned former Managing Director of Afribank Plc, Mr Sebastian Adigwe and six others for allegedly stealing the bank’s N87.5billion.

They were docked at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on a 36-count charge of stealing, conspiracy to commit a felony, receiving stolen property and cheating.

Adigwe was charged with Afribank’s former chairman, Osa Osunde and former executive directors – Jibrin Isah, Isa Zailani, Chinedu Onyia, Henry Arogundade and Peter Ololo.

Adigwe was accused of converting billions of units

By Joseph Jibueze

of Afribank’s shares belonging to 1,258 subscribers to the use of different companies.

EFCC alleged that he induced Afribank Capital Limited to pay Spring Capital Limited N11.5Billion as the stock market price for Afribank’s 388,346,154 ordinary shares at N29.61 per share.

By doing so, the agency said he got Afribank Capital to pay more than it would ordinarily have paid for the shares “but for the fraudulent device.”

EFCC said he did likewise in respect of Afribank Trustees and Asset Management Company, which he allegedly got to pay Spring Capital N8billion as the stock market price for Afribank’s 360,238,657 ordinary shares at N22.21 per share; thereby inducing Afribank Trustees to pay more that it would have paid for the shares.

The defendants were accused of fraudulently converting various sums of Afribank’s money through Rehoboth Asset Limited, Broworks Limited, Suletical Nigeria Limited, Alsmiths Ni-

geria Limited, Resolution Trust and Investment Limited, Kolvey Company Limited, Petosan Property and Development Company Limited, and Larix Company Limited The money, EFCC said, was converted to the use of AIL Securities Limited, Falcon Securities Limited, Asset Management Nominees Holding Limited, Freeland Petrol Limited and others.

Ololo was accused of receiving Afribank’s N12billion through Resolution Trust “knowing same to have been stolen,” while Os-

unde, while being a Director of Freeland Petroleum allegedly received over N800million stolen units of Afribank’s shares.

The offences are contrary to Sections 390 (7), 516, 427 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 17, Laws of Lagos State 2003. The seven pleaded not guilty.

Their lawyers urged the court to grant them bail on liberal terms. Counsel to Ololo, Mr Femi Falana, asked for time to enable him regularise his client’s bail application.

The presiding judge, Justice Olabisi Ajoke Akinlade adjourned ruling on the bail applications till June 9 and ordered that they should be remannded in EFCC’s cusody.

Tribunal warns politicians, lawyers against inducement

C

HAIRMAN of the National Assembly/ legislative House Election Petition Tribunalin Lagos, Justice Maurice Eneji has warned politicians and lawyers appearing before the tribunal against seeking to influence their decision through any form of inducement.

Justice Eneji also warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against disobeying its orders as there were penalties for such disobedience.

He spoke yesterday at the inaugural sitting of the tribunal at the Lagos High Court,

By Eric Ikhilae

Igbosere. He warned lawyers against unnecessary waste of time.

The tribunal chairman also said should the need arise for a lawyer to meet with the tribunal members outside proceedings; such would be done with the knowledge of the lawyer for the opposing party.

“Money will not work. But addresses, evidence will work.

So, please whatever you have to say put it in writing. We will be guided by the Electoral Act and the practice direction.

“We are not going to be

bothered by what is said on pages of the newspapers but what is said before us in the tribunal,” he said.

He said there shall be no behind- the- door communication between the litigants and their counsel with the Chairman and members.

Justice Eneji warned that any request to see any member of the panel should be channeled through the Secretary to the tribunal and such request must be done with the knowledge of the other party.

He noted that the tribunal has just 180 days to hear and decide all petitions adding that all adjournment sought

by parties would be deducted from the time allotted to them by the Electoral Act. He said the tribunal would sit from Monday to Saturdays if necessary to enable it conclude its work within specified timeframe.

He said section 285(6) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that the judgment should be delivered in writing within 180 days from the day of filing the petition, “therefore, counsel are reminded to avoid request for unnecessary adjournments, as we may not entertain such.”

On preliminary objection,

Justice Eneji added that all objections not challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal would be taken along with the substantive matter because of the limited time available.

The tribunal Chairman noted that the orders made directing INEC to release materials to parties before the tribunal had not been complied with.

He appealed to INEC to allow parties access to all needed materials, noting that they have the right to it. He extended the said orders for another ten days to enable INEC comply.

12

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

NEWS Atiku hails signing of FoI Bill

F

ORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday commended what he called “the courage” of President Goodluck Jonathan to formally sign into law the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill.

Reacting to the “landmark development in Nigeria’s democratic revolution”, Atiku said in a statement issued yesterday by his Abuja media office that “with the signing of the bill into law, transparency and accountability in governance would now be hopefully entrenched in the conduct of public life at all levels”.

From Sanni Ologun, Abuja

According him, there could not have been a better time than now to entrench strenuous ethical standards in public life, especially with the current anti-corruption crusade.

The former vice president argued that transparency and accountability cannot be achieved when members of the public have no access to records and other documents relevant to expose wrong-doings against the people.

He said with the signing of the bill into law, the shroud

of secrecy surrounding government and private sector activities have been lifted.

“Given the nature of our society, the fear of exposure of wrong doings will appear to me to be a far more effective deterrent to public and private officials than even the courts could possibly be”, Atiku said.

He urged media practitioners to up their game and avail themselves of the opportunities and possibilities offered by the new law.

Atiku praised the Sixth National Assembly for not reneging on its promise to make the law a reality.

Okonkwo urges Anyim not to disappoint Igbo

T

HE outgoing senator representing Anambra Central, Senator Annie Okonkwo has urged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim not to disappoint the Igbo race.

He also lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for his quick assent to the Freedom of Information Bill (FoIB).

Okonkwo, in a statement, urged the media, the civil societies and the general public to hold those at the helm of affairs accountable.

The statement signed by his Special Assistant (Media), Mr. Collins Steve Ugwu, reads: “Senator Anyim is a man visibly endowed by nature in stature and sufficient-

ly blessed by opportunities.

He should embrace his new challenge with all the grit of his energy and the flair of his best experiences to post a difference in good governance quickly”.

“The point must be made and earnestly too, that as a competent Igbo man chosen by presidential prerogative to occupy their slot in the commanding heights of governance, he must labour hard to elevate the integrity stock of his kinsmen while serving and work to reduce their lamentations in the Nigerian polity, within the realm of standard National ethics. That way, he reasoned, the impetus to rally around him will be firm and the usual peril of stunted ova-

1/4 page Ad 1/4 page Ad

•Anyim

tion nurtured into loud applause at the end of the day.”

He added: “Now, and not after, must every distinguished or honourable legislator whether at the local, state or National Assembly find a fitting garment of urgency as they step into their hallowed chambers, to confront the acute expectations our people long desired and should ordinarily have.”

13

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi unfolded his agenda for the ‘Pacesetter State’ in a speech he delivered during his inauguration at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan. Excerpts:

W

E stand today at the threshold of history.

About 21,585 days ago, in this ancient city of Ibadan, one of the greatest Black men to ever walk the face of the earth, the late Papa Obafemi Awolowo, took the oath of office as Head of Government Business of the Western Region. That day marked the dawn of a glorious era for the Yoruba race and the pre-eminence of the area that constitutes the present Oyo State in the annals of Nigeria’s history.

Within a very short time of that administration, Ibadan became the centre of pace-setting achievements, not only in Nigeria but the entire black race. The Yoruba man could, thereafter, hold his own among creations of the Most High God. It was from here that free education was baked from the oven of a people’s determination.

This took root to become a reference point in the emancipation of the people from illiteracy. From Ibadan, the capital of Western region, was conceived all those laudable programmes that crystallized in the first television station in Black Africa, the first standard stadium in Nigeria, within whose hallowed four walls we are sheltered this morning; the first industrial estate in Nigeria and the first robust and coherent policy on rural development and integration. Ibadan rightly earned its reputation as centre of excellence and this later justified the reference to Oyo State as the Pace-Setter State.

Except for the strides of the associates of Papa Awolowo, such as the late Cicero of Esa-Oke, Chief Bola Ige and our own Alhaji Lam Adesina, who rekindled the visionary leadership of the great Awo, Oyo State, at different times, fell into the hands of forces who rolled back the landmark achievements of the Awolowo era.

What stare us in the face today are nothing but the ruins of that noble pedigree. Even the most generous commentator on Nigeria’s affairs will not deny that Oyo State is no longer the pace-setter that it used to be. The labour of our heroes past has been lost in the vortex of vanity. Our public infrastructure is dilapidated. Our public institutions have been compromised. The psyche of our people has been bruised. Our State has ceased to be the reference point for laudable programmes for which it earned her nobility. We have, on the reverse, become a staple on reports on violence and brigandage, corruption, street fight and lingering political crises. The duty of government as guarantor of public peace has been performed in the breach.

My good people of Oyo State, I am happy to inform you that our journey to restoration has begun: Today, we begin the journey to restore efficient infrastructure in place of the year-long decay. Today, we begin the journey to restore integrity in our public institutions that have been perennially abused and compromised.

Today, we begin to restore the faith of our people in government,

• Governor Ajimobi at the ceremony

‘We shall restore Oyo’s lost glory’ as against the regime of widespread skepticism and fright in the institution of government.

Our gratitude goes to the Almighty whose unwavering abidance has ensured that we are alive to witness this momentous commencement of our march to restoration. My gratitude also goes to the resilient and good people of Oyo State, on whose relentless sweats the delicate mandate I carry was carved.

The outgone administration had tried to constitute a stumbling block by refusing to release information about the true position of our state. As I speak, we do not know the state of health, the colour, complexion or the contours that shape the account of our beloved state. Is our patrimony, our treasury, in the red or in active health? We do not know the number of commitments that our precious state has been held by the neck to sustain. We do not know the exact number of teachers, students or government commitment to these sectors. But, I ask, should government business be shrouded in such secrecy? The out-gone government, in defiance of time-worn norms and conventions, completely shrouded from our view the number of medical doctors that still remain in the service of the state and why they have been on a needless strike in the last six months.

We do not know the number of projects the government is executing, how much the insufferable tax payers dole out monthly to defray

the cost of these projects. My people, I ask, should government business be shrouded in such secrecy?

The policy thrust of the government shall be guided by the manifesto of our great party, the Action Congress of Nigeria. The priorities of this administration shall thus be : •Human Capital Development encompassing education, skill acquisition and healthcare delivery • Infrastructure development •Rural development and integration •Revitalization and development of agriculture and agro-allied industry •Promotion of security from a developmental perspective, through the provision of social inclusion and rule of law and ; •Democracy and good governance The philosophical framework of this administration shall be the establishment and communication of a clear Vision, Mission and Values that will launch a Restoration Agenda for Oyo State. In doing this, we shall establish an efficient and result-oriented government that will make our State welcoming, safe, secure, business-friendly and leisurefriendly to everyone. To do this, we shall put the improvement of the quality of life of the people at the centre of all developmental plans and agenda of government.

These would be implemented by

an administration that is open, transparent, responsible, responsive and accountable to the ultimate owners of the patrimony – the people. As a way of gauging our strides on this road, we shall institute policies and project impact assessment at every stage of our journey.

The Economic Agenda of the administration will focus on recreating the economy of Oyo State, with a view to engendering the emergence of a New Economy, empower the people for sustainable wealth creation and develop the capacity of all economic agents.

Our vision is to create a state in which every citizen can achieve the best of their potentials. . Coming to specifics, our intention is to achieve free and qualitative education, so much so that no child is left behind. Government shall address the key challenges in the education sector, as exemplified by infrastructure decay; government shall also provide conducive learning environment, instructional materials and expose our teachers to regular inservice training.

We shall work assiduously to achieve a UNESCO student/ teacher ratio in our primary and secondary schools. Our agenda in education will emphasize Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to ensure that we produce students with cutting-edge skills for the needs of the modern world. Let me take time out to commend our teachers who have had

‘One of the greatest accomplishments in political contests in a developing country like ours is to defeat an incumbent. As the late Papa Awolowo had said, the triumph of evil over good can only be temporary. The credit for this feat belongs to the good people of Oyo State. You made it possible. I promise never to let you down. Together, we shall restore the glory of our state’

to work under challenging environments and who were yet expected to turn out our children, not only as productive members of society but also as patriotic citizens. We cannot thank you enough and I pledge that you will not have to wait for the heavens before you receive your rewards.

We shall be partners in this process of restoration and together, we shall restore the glory for which the educational sector of Oyo State got its renown.

We shall explore creative ways and means of significant public funding, so as to make health services in the state free, accessible and suitable for all. Indeed, our administration will pursue a Public Health Policy that will cover every category of people at all demographic levels. Our agenda for social/human capital development is predicated on the need to ensure that we have well-educated, healthy, happy and well-motivated citizenry, with enhanced capacity to make meaningful contributions to the growth and development of the State, while also leading very meaningful and fulfilled lives.

In pursuance of this noble objective, we will start with the provision of free health services to children under the age of five, preand post-natal healthcare for pregnant women, as well as cater for the healthcare of our aged ones above the age of 70. We will work to make our general hospitals true hospitals where the sick will find succor. . Government will establish a primary health centre in every ward of the state, so that we can take healthcare to the doorsteps of our people. We shall review extant regulations on the provision of private health services, so that we can attract more investors into the sector. As I speak, Oyo State •Continued on page 14

14

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

POLITICS Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekweremadu hopes to retain the seat for the Southeast zone in the Seventh Senate. AUSTIN EHIKIOYA reviews his contributions in the last four years and his chances.

Ekweremadu, Southeast and the 7th Senate W

HEN he was elected to represent Enugu West in the Senate in 2003, nobody gave him a chance, especially to become the highest public officer from the Southeast in the then emerging democratic dispensation.

During his second term in 2007, he mounted the saddle as the Deputy Senate President, providing the needed support and loyalty to the Senate President, Senator David Mark for a complete fouryear term.

Unlike in the past Senates before them, which were characterised by sharp differences, scheming and power plays between the Senate Presidents and their deputies, which resulted in impeachments and instability, the relationship between Mark and Ekweremadu has been brotherly. Many believed that this contributed greatly to the stability in the 6th Senate led by Mark/ Ekweremadu in the past four years.

Their tenure so far has “shattered the record” since democratic governance began in Nigeria in 1999, as they have led the Senate through four unbroken years with greater impact on the polity.

This must have informed the decision by various caucuses of Senators-elect from the North-Central, South-East, South-South and the Northern Senators to back the joint ticket of Mark and Ekweremadu for leadership of the Seventh Senate.

In some quarters, however, it has been argued that getting the number four position of the Speakership of the House of Representatives in the present circumstances would be in the best interest of the South-East than retaining the Deputy Senate Presidency.

As the election and inauguration of the Seventh Senate is fast drawing near, coupled with the South Eastern interests and the demands by some other zones for the position of the Deputy Senate Presi•Continued from page 13

does not have a screening facility for blood, thus exposing our teeming population to HIV/AIDS and other terminal diseases, through the transfusion of unscreened blood. Our state does not have a facility for cervical cancer test, despite the rampaging threat of this disease to our womenfolk. Available records show that this state has a total of 120 medical doctors in its employment. These doctors, as inadequate as they are, have been on strike in the last six months.

The transformation that we envision for Oyo State and our people can only be translated into reality with the provision of necessary public infrastructure. We shall embark on extensive rehabilitation of roads and construction of new ones. Our government shall insist on the construction of durable roads. Never again will our people live with the irony of roads constructed over 30 years ago being more motorable than the ones constructed few months back.

We shall address the problems of garages and motor parks in our urban centres. Government shall engage the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and other stakeholders in the sector to guarantee the safety and welfare of all road us-

• Mark

dency, one question has kept observers’ minds busy: Will Ekweremadu retain the position and continue to provide the stabilizing factor in the Senate? Perhaps this question can only be answered on June 7 after election and inauguration of the Seventh Senate.

But those pushing for Ekweremadu’s retention of the seat have already gone to town with the qualities that to them, have positioned Ekweremadu as the best man from the South-East for the Deputy Senate Presidency in the coming Senate.

Against all cynicism, odds and the defeats of several efforts before 2007 to amend the 1999 Constitu-

• Ekweremadu

tion, they believe that Ekweremadu gave a purposeful leadership which resulted in the successful alterations of the 1999 Constitution despite the initial disagreement between the Senate and the House of Representatives over the issue of chairmanship and co-chairmanship of the Constitution Review Committee (CRC).

Wisdom of the committee provided an escape route from the crisis as each Chamber of the National Assembly then separately worked on the 1999 Constitution amendment and later harmonised the various amendment proposals to reach a common ground.

The methodology he adopted is

said to have been responsible for the success of the exercise so far.

He embraced the piece-meal approach, starting with areas of relative national consensus.

To ensure the success of the 2011 general elections, Ekweremadu’s committee embarked on constitutional amendments, backing the desired electoral reforms in the country.

In the amendments, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was given political, financial, and administrative autonomy which greatly contributed to the success of the 2011 general elections.

According to them, apart from

‘He was a committee chairman on and off but he was never discouraged even when he was not in a very important committee or when it appears as if he was not being given a chance he still maintained that calmness and a very courageous person anytime he spoke on the floor of the Senate it was obvious he was very conversant with the rules and was a very knowledgeable, articulate and erudite speaker’

‘I will rule with the fear of God’ ers.

Security of lives and property has been a challenge in our state.

Political thuggery, brigandage and armed robbery have become the order of the day. Our approach to securing lives and property in the state shall be holistic.

On our part, we shall govern in accordance with the rule of law and fear of God. Majority of our people live in rural communities which also serve as our food basket. Our programme of rural development and integration will emphasize the provision of infrastructure that will make life meaningful to our people. The economies of the communities shall be integrated into the state economy and government programme of agriculture development, youth empowerment, poverty alleviation and general prosperity for our people. The search for good life should not necessarily force our people to the urban centres.

This government will pursue a programme of urban development and renewal. We are not happy that Oyo State, Ibadan in particular, remains a recurring decimal in discussions about urban degeneration. We are going to institute a

robust programme of urban renewal for our urban centres.

We are going to address the challenges of our state capital, with utmost urgency, by initiating necessary processes to earn the ancient city the status of a mega city. We are going to partner with the private sector, international development partners and donor agencies, as well as other major cities around the world to transform the state capital to the city of our dream. We will return to the long abandoned initiative of city-twining for exchange of ideas on urban development and renewal and exploitation of opportunities in education, business, health service delivery, youth empowerment, with other major cities of the world.

Beyond the physical development of the state, I promise that our government shall govern in the best tradition of democracy by working in harmony with the legislature and the judiciary. I extend my hand of fellowship to newly elected members of the House of Assembly and implore them to join hands with me to deliver the gains of democracy to our expectant people.

The executive arm of government will depend on the civil serv-

ice to execute its agenda of restoration and transformation. We have been fortunate to inherit a very strong, reliable and professional civil service from the founding fathers of the state. Nevertheless, we shall address the challenges that have emerged in the operations of the civil service in recent years. Our civil servants shall be exposed to in-service training programmes for efficient service delivery. Government will revolutionize the civil service in the ICT for faster, secure and more efficient service delivery. I call on the civil service to brace up for the challenge of the restoration agenda.

The development of agriculture, anchored on a unique agri-business model, is our priority. This will be developed along the most critical value-chains to maximize our comparative advantages, put our people at the commanding height of the local economy and also attract serious local and international players. In the same vein, we will resuscitate farm settlements and redirect our graduates from the shameful scamper after the sale of recharge cards on our streets. Agriculture will play a critical role in the creation of 20,000 jobs within the first 100

being a loyal Deputy in the past four years and helping to stabilize the Senate, they believed that Ekweremadu’s pre-Senate Experiences are one of his greatest assets.

Before 2003 when he came to the Senate, Ekweremadu rose from a community leader to become the Chairman of Aninri Local Government then to become the Chief of Staff (Government House) and later the Secretary to the Government of Enugu State.

Apart from sponsoring several bills and motions in the Senate, Ekweremadu as the highest public officer from the South-East, is said to have attracted several projects to the zone in the past four years.

Recognizing him as a loyal and committed deputy, the Senate President, Senator David Mark is already seeking a joint ticket with Ekweremadu for the Seventh Senate.

Speaking during the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) award to Ekweremadu last week, Mark said: “When I indicated my interest to contest for the presidency of the Senate, this time around, I did not hesitate to ask him that he comes again as the Deputy President of the Senate and I believe that with the joint ticket, we will succeed.” ”I worked very closely with Senator Ike Ekweremadu from 2003 when he first came into the Senate and I recognise him as a very brilliant young man. He was a committee chairman on and off but he was never discouraged even when he was not in a very important committee or when it appears as if he was not being given a chance he still maintained that calmness and a very courageous person anytime he spoke on the floor of the Senate it was obvious he was very conversant with the rules and was a very knowledgeable, articulate and erudite speaker.”

Whichever way the pendulum will swing at last, what happens in the next six days will tell.

days of this administration.

One of the greatest accomplishments in political contests in a developing country like ours is to defeat an incumbent. Thus, my greatest gratitude goes to the good people of Oyo State for the confidence reposed in me as demonstrated by their votes in the gubernatorial election. I salute you all for your resilience. This train of development would have begun in 2007 when you gave me the mandate to administer Oyo State. That mandate was however stolen with a clinical finish that deafened even the ears of the deaf. You would not give up, great Oyo people. That resilience gave birth to the victory of today. As the late Papa Awolowo had said, the triumph of evil over good can only be temporary. The credit for this feat belongs to the good people of Oyo State. You made it possible. I promise never to let you down. Together, we shall restore the glory of our State.

This march to restoration requires a collective resolve to change our attitude, commitment to hard work, patriotism, respect for due process and diligence, as well as our general values. Let me leave you with this exhortation from Winston Churchill who counseled that we do not know whether if we change, things will improve; but for things to improve, we must change.

15

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Airtel Africa seals expansion deal with Huawei

B

HARTI Airtel, a global telecommunications company with operations in 19 countries across Asia and Africa, yesterday announced an agreement with Huawei, a next-generation telecommunications network solutions expert, to modernise and expand Airtel’s 2G & 3G network infrastructure in Africa.

Under the agreement, Huawei according to a statement, will be responsible for designing, planning, modernisation and expansion of Bharti Airtel’s networks, as well as managing operations and maintenance. This business model, pioneered by Airtel eight years ago in India, according to the statement, “will enhance the customer experience through improved voice quality and extended coverage into under-penetrated areas.”

The agreement will enable Airtel Africa to rapidly expand its mobile services and mobile broadband footprint in the region.

Announcing the agreement, CEO (International) and Joint Managing Director, Bharti Airtel, Mr. Manoj Kohli, said: “The partnership with Huawei takes us one step closer to realising our vision of making affordable and world-class telecom services available to Africa.”

Chairwoman of Huawei Board, Sun Yafang, said: “Bharti Airtel is a great operator with tremendous potential and high business value. We understand Airtel’s strategic requirements and will match their fast development to achieve a win-win business success between both parties.”

In business, I loved cars. I couldn’t wait to get to work in the morning. Only in America can you decide to get a good education and pursue what you like.

- Lee Iacocca

shortlists AfDB approves $700m for BPE bids for power privatisation BOI, NEXIM T T HE African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved a sovereign guaranteed Pro-gramme of $700 million, to the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) for financing domestic-oriented Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

The BOI is expected to receive $500 million and NEXIM $200 million.

The funds for the programme will be channeled through the two institutions by way of a multitranche Line of Credit.

A portion of the proceeds of the NEXIM programme will be used to pay for technical assistance for capacity building at both NEXIM and the SMEs.

By Daniel Essiet

The SME sector represents a strategic pillar for Nigeria’s quest to modernise and improve its economy, while diversifying away from heavy dependence on the oil industry.

According to the Nigerian Federal Office of Statistics, SMEs account for 97 per cent of all businesses in Nigeria , contributing 50 per cent of employment and output in the non-oil sector. This compares unfavour-ably with many peers, reflecting a relative underper-formance of the SME sector. One of the major impediments to SME

growth and development is limited access to bank credit.

The proposed programme will contribute to fill this gap at a time when the banking crisis in Nigeria has exacerbated the difficulty of SMEs in accessing bank financing.

This programme, according to AfDB, will contribute to mobilise significant financial resources for export-oriented SMEs operating in various sectors of the economy ultimately contributing to economic development, employment opportunities, foreign exchange and regional trade integration.

In a related development, funds for the BOI programme according to AfDB, will be channeled through banks by way of a multi-tranche Line of Credit. A portion of the proceeds of the programme will be used to pay for a technical assistance for capacity building at both BOI and the SMEs. The funds for programme will be deployed

by BOI towards systematic poverty reduction, employment generation, wealth creation through entrepreneurial, social and economic development.

The financing, BOI said, will be extended for loans to SMEs as well as for capital projects in form of cluster and infrastructure development.

Oil hovers above $102 amid weaker dollar

O

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

HE Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), yesterday said it had shortlisted 525 bids for the next round in the process of privatising its electricity sector, The BPE said in March it had received 174 expressions of interest for four thermal, two hydro power stations, and 157 applications for the 11 distribution firms being offered as part of a multi-billion dollar privatisation plan.

The privatisation agency said some of the bidding companies expressed interest in more than one asset and that the actual number of firms to have made bids would soon be published.

The agency said successful bidders will be required to pay a $20,000 fee for each asset they want to buy and as well sign a confidentiality agreement before receiving bid documents.

BPE said it would require technical and financial details for the bids information to be submitted at the next stage of the privatisation process. The exercise is borne out of the urgent need by Nigeria to increase its power generation and distribution capability to meet industrial and domestic demands.

Nigeria is in dire need of ending constant electricity blackouts, which have long been a brake on growth in subSaharan Africa's second-biggest economy and harness potential returns for investors in a nation of 150 million people.

•From left: Managing Director, CAP Plc, Omolara Elemide; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), UAC Nigeria Plc, Larry Attah and Executive Director, UAC of Nigeria Plc, Abdul Bello at the Dulux unveiling of 2011 Colour of the year, held PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA in Lagos

CBN, SEC, others to fund IFRS Academy

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HE Bankers’ Committee will meet next week to discuss how to raise funds for the establishment of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Academy in Nigeria.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s Governor, Mr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said this in Lagos yesterday.

Sanusi spoke during the N2 billion fund raising dinner organised for the establishment of the IFRS academy.

The academy, an initiative of the Nigerian Accounting Standards Board (NASB), would help in building capacity for the implementation of

By Akinola Ajibade Senior Correspondent

IFRS. Also, the academy will serve as a learning centre and knowledge transfer platform on international financial reporting standards.

Sanusi said, the issue of how much the industry would contribute to the success of the academy would be discussed with the CEOs of banks at the Bankers’ Committee meeting.

He said the idea of setting up an academy is worthwhile, in view of the fact that many operators do not fully understand the philosophy behind

the use of international financial reporting standards.

He said the CBN would play leadership role in soliciting for financial assistance for issues that would improve the industry, adding that the apex bank has taken concrete measures to ensure that banks move expeditiously towards meeting the 2012 deadline set for them to comply with international financial reporting standards.

He said: “We insist that banks must comply with the accounting principles, standards, and frameworks as enumerated in the IFRS codes.

“Let me recall that one of the four pillars of financial reforms cover the strengthening of regulation and supervision through an enhanced disclosure by financial institutions. The ultimate aim is to have a full disclosure regime that would put the banking industry at par with global best practices.

“We have in this respect articulated full disclosure guidelines to ensure compliance by banks. The full disclosure guidelines are primarily meant to further ensure sound corporate governance, accountability and transparency,” he added.

IL prices hovered above $102 a barrel yesterday as traders eyed a weakening dollar and the possibility it could push crude back to two-year highs.

By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil for July delivery was down 23 cents to $102.47 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract added $2.11 to settle at $102.70 on Tuesday.

In London, Brent crude for July delivery was down 58 cents to $116.15 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

Crude has risen from $96 last week as a falling dollar made commodities cheaper for investors with other currencies.

The euro rose to $1.4398 from $1.4378 late Monday in New York. The dollar weakened to 81.41 yen from 81.50 yen.

"The dollar now seems to be on course to test the lows seen at the end of April," Cameron Hanover said in a report. "If that's the case, we could see stocks and oil prices also advance to test their late April highs."

Oil reached near $115 a barrel on May 2, the highest since September 2008.

16

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule

US firm invests $2.6b in Abuja

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

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

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

1.

2.

3.

4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1.

2.

3.

4.

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

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

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

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

2.

3.

4.

5.

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

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

1.

2.

3.

4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

09.15 12.50 12.55 15.55

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

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

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

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

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 1. IRS 11.15 13.15 2. Arik 15.50 18.00 LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

08.00 18.00

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

A

•From left: Chairman, Milan Group, Bamesh Valenhha; GMD, Skye Bank Plc, Kehinde Durusimi-Etti; Chairman, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs Morenikeji Onasanya and Executive Director of the bank, Timothy Oguntayo, during the Skye PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI Bank’s Savers promo press conference in Lagos

Intercellular invests $70m on expansion

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UDATEL-OWNED Intercellular has invested over $70 million to expand its network across Nigeria and plans to re-launch operations by the fourth quarter of 2011.

A top official of the company, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said over one thousand cell sites had already been installed in Lagos in preparation for the re-launch.

“We plan to roll out our network by the end of this year as a Unified Access Service Licence Operator. Plans are at advanced stage, 75 per cent to be precise; with investment running into over $70 million. Already, we

•Re-launches in October

By Adline Atili

have deployed over one thousand cell sites in Lagos in preparation for roll out.”

Sudatel had in 2007 sealed a deal under, which it bought 70 per cent stakes in Intercellular.

The deal was thought of as the needed lifeline to boost the moribund company. It, however, failed to launch almost four years after acquisition.

Intercellular, established in

1998, won a unified access service licence from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in May 2006 at a cost of N260 million. Sudatel beat two other major contenders, Dangote Group of Nigeria , and Mubadala Development of the United Arab Emirates to clinch the deal.

Industry watchers say Intercellular, with 7,609 subscribers according to the NCC’s 2010 Quarterly Summary of Telephone subscribers in Nigeria, faces a tough battle ahead in a market dominated by the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM )technology, with the CDMA companies barely managing to stay afloat.

Intercontinental Bank records N53b profit

F

ROM a loss of N174.49billion in December, 2009, Intercontinental Bank Group has posted a post-tax profit of N53billion for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Audited results released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) also indicated that the Group recorded a pre-tax profit of N65.6billion.

The bank, as a separate financial entity, posted a pre-tax of N62.89billion for the period under review while post-tax profit stood at N52.22billion, indicating a recovery from a loss after tax of N146.86billion posted in 2009.

For the period under review, the Group recorded gross earnings of

By Collins Nweze

N99.19billion, while the bank accounted for N74.71 billion of the total earnings for the period.

A statement from the bank said “the strategy of the bank towards improving the quality of its risk assets and improving liquidity paid off as the group reduced its non-performing loans significantly.”

Commenting on the stellar performance, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr Mahmoud Lai Alabi, attributed it “to the major progress recorded in recoveries as well as the progressive imple-

mentation of Project Transformation put in place by the management to turn around the bank and its subsidiaries.”

He noted that the huge profit level was driven by improved operating efficiency, reduction in administrative overheads, among other costs, which has made more funds available for core investments to boost the economy.

Alabi emphasised that the bank’s Management would deliver on its promise to completely recapitalise before the expiration of the September 30, 2010 deadline stipulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

NACCIMA urges CBN to reconsider lending rate P

RESIDENT, Nigerian Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr John Isemede, has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reconsider the issue of lending rate.

Isemede told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday that the increase in lending rate would retard the growth of the organised private sector (OPS).

In a bid to stabilise the naira and curb inflation, the banking watchdog had last week raised its benchmark interest rate (Monetary Policy Rate) for the third time this year and doubled the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR).

The MPR was raised by 50 basis points to eight per cent. The key borrowing and lending rates climbed by

the same amount to six per cent and 10 per cent respectively, while the reserve requirement on banks was increased to four per cent from two per cent with effect from June 8, 2011.

Isemede expressed regret that policies on interest rates taken in Nigeria usually gave economic advantage to neighbouring countries.

“The last one is that they should reconsider the interest rate because every policy taken here in Nigeria suddenly becomes an advantage to our neigbouring countries.

“The ports are not working. It takes you less than two days to clear goods from Benin Republic ports. Containers are not allowed into the city unless goods on transit to Niger re-

public. In Ghana, it takes you few days to clear goods out of the ports.

“We have a problem here. The port is not even accessible and when you now want to increase interest rate you pass it to the ultimate consumer, and consumers are not fools; they know how to travel to England and America.

“They know how to travel to Benin Republic; they do these days, which is another disadvantage to our already dead industries, creating more unemployment.

“So the issue of increasing interest rate will not be to the interest of the OPS.’’ Isemede also said the banks were not funding agriculture properly, adding that routing agricultural loan through the Bank of Industry (BOI) was a great mismatch.

UNITED States-based group, Balkan has invested about $2.6 billion in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Biodun Nathaniel Olorunfemi disclosed this at a dinner organised by the FCT Administration in honour of a visiting Mayor of Dallas (US) , Mr Dwaine Caraway, in Abuja.

He said the FCT Administration will continue to provide an enabling environment for genuine investors in Abuja especially those in the real estate and infrastructural development.

The Permanent Secretary said the FCT, is a haven for any genuine investor. He noted that the success recorded in the just concluded Nigerian 2011 General Elections will definitely encourage foreign investors to move to the country.

Olorunfemi reiterated that the seed sowed by the former FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed and by extension President Goodluck Jonathan, which led to the huge capital inflow of about $2.6 billion from the Balkan Group based in Dallas (USA) will also serve as stimuli for others to scramble for investment opportunities in Abuja.

He added that the administration will continue to open new frontiers in line with the vision of the Federal Government under President Jonathan.

The Permanent Secretary praised the Mayor for his uncommon show of love by visiting Abuja and also attending all the Presidential Inauguration Ceremonies.

OECD to offer Africa lessons in handling debt

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ICH Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries and South Africa are setting up a training centre for African treasury officials to improve debt management on the poorest continent and deepen its nascent domestic bond markets.

The initiative, which will be most clearly visible in a debt management training centre near Johannesburg, is meant to build on the debt relief granted to many states five years ago and ensure they do not fall into the same trap again.

It is also a recognition of the increasing tendency of African states to look to international markets for financing, and of foreigners to see investment opportunities in high-yielding domestic debt in frontier African economies.Both developments make managing a country's debt a very complicated affair that, if not handled properly, can go badly wrong.

"Debt managers from emerging market countries such as from Africa increasingly face challenges similar to those of their counterparts from advanced markets due to pressures from global finance," the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said.

"Better debt public management and stronger local-currency government bond markets help to reduce the cost and risk of public debt and avoid a build-up of new unsustainable debt burdens in the post-debt relief stage."

The debt management centre, which will host seminars and training sessions bringing African and OECD officials together, should be up and running next month.

With the exception of South Africa, far and away sub-Sahara's most sophisticated economy and capital market, Ghana was the first country in the region to issue a dollar bond, with a 10year $750 million issue in late 2007.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

17

INDUSTRY

Explore investment windows in Turkey, others, NACCIMA urges investors T HE Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has urged Nigerians and corporate bodies to explore investment opportunities in D-8 countries through the group’s Business Forum.

The D-8 member countries are: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.

The chamber made the call during an interactive session with the D-8 Business Forum and Business Council in Lagos.

NACCIMA National President, Dr. Ademola Ajayi, said D-8 is a multilateral body consisting of eight developing countries including Nigeria.

He said the D-8 Business Council will open its door to Nigerian women and young entrepreneurs to join its fold.

Ajayi said although membership of the council encompasses the D-8 Steering Committee and all members of the chamber movement in Nigeria, its doors are still open to women entrepreneurs and young entrepreneurs.

He listed the gains of membership to include regular business forum/exhibitions to

Stories by Toba Agboola

showcase products and services; platform to discuss topical issues on priority economic indicators for member countries; trade missions to D-8 countries, including networking among the countries; and regular consultative meetings with the countries’ embassies/ high commissions.

“As you are aware, Nigeria is a member of the eight developing (D-8) member countries, comprising Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia,

Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.

“In addition, the President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, is the chairman of the D-8 member countries while NACCIMA has been given the chairmanship of the D-8 of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry,” Ajayi said.

He said NACCIMA was organising a business council to encourage and improve business relationship with other members of the D-8 nations.

His words: “This body, was established to

‘This body, was established to enhance cooperation in the economic sector through sharing of expertise in order to improve the position of member countries in the global economy’

enhance cooperation in the economic sector through sharing of expertise in order to improve the position of member countries in the global economy.

“D-8’s objective is to improve developing countries’ position in the world economy, diversify and create new opportunities in trade relations, enhance participation in decision making at the international level and provide better standards of living.”

Ajayi noted that the sixth D-8 business forum was organised to propagate the economic and trade relationship existing between the eight developing countries of the D-8.

He also noted that the D-8 business council would be inaugurated this month in Lagos.

He said members of the council would include corporate organisations, private organisations, government agencies and entrepreneurs.

Alongside the trade exhibition of goods and services, the forum will also be a platform to discuss some topical issues on priority economic indicators for Nigeria to be well exposed and x-rayed for the benefit and contribution of foreign delegates and Nigerians.

New technology ‘ll enhance local fish production

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O boost fish production locally, thereby saving huge foreign exchange on importation, Vitapur Nigeria Limited, a fish farming firm and subsidiary of Vitafoam Nigeria Limited, has introduced a floating fish cage system.

Vitapur Managing Director Mr Oluwole Adisa explained that the cost of importing fish is a cause for concern, saying the new project would reduce fish import, resolve the problems associated with construction and maintenance of earth ponds, which costs is high for fish farmers.

He spoke at the launch of the floating cage system in Lagos recently.

According to Adisa, the floating fish cage will eliminate the cost of power generation in this era of outrageous price of diesel, stressing that the cost for acquiring and maintaining the platform is low compared with the traditional pond system.

He urged stakeholders in the aquaculture industry to use the product to improve fish production.

He called on the Federal Government to take advantage of the water resources across the nation to address food insecurity.

Adisa added that the product would also provide employment for the teeming unemployed youths, alleviate poverty and empower the citizenry.

At the event, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mr Godknows Igali, said the ministry was worried about the rising cost of importing poor quality fish and associated loss of employment to Nigerians.

Igali, who was represented by the Director, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Samuel Ojeka, said the launch of the new horizon for sustainable fish supply will utilise the country’s water masses and engage unemployed people on a scale that is unimaginable.

He added that manufacturers have reduced the price of the product, with a capacity to produce 16 tonnes of catfish annually at a feed conversion of 60 per cent, from N1.5 million to N900,000.

“This means that to produce one kilogramme of fish, you will need only 600 grammes of feed for the fish,” Ojeka said.

According to him, the project is of international standard which only a few countries can attain, saying that the normal rule is one

•From left: Adisa; President, Fish Farm Estate Developers Association, Mr Maurice Ebo; Dr Bamidele Makanjuola and Vitafoam Nigeria Plc MD/CEO, Mr Neale Gordon, at the event.

kilogramme of feed to fish at the very best.

He commended Vitapur and Talon Nigeria Limited which jointly designed the project for being the first in Africa to develop and promote this technology.

Ojeka also praise the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Depart-

ment of Fisheries, for supporting the prototype.

The Chief Executive Officer, Talon Nigeria Limited, Dr. Lanre Talabi, said Nigeria spends about $800 billion per annum to import 1.2 million tonnes of fish to meet its demand.

He said Nigeria has no business

with importing fish if it makes proper and efficient use of its water resources.

Talabi said Nigeria needs to be self sufficient in providing food for its citizenry, stating it will help to prevent and control disease since the country can produce all it needs.

‘Information sharing key to robust drug sector’

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OME foreign and local pharmaceutical companies, under the aegis of the Association of Nigerian Representatives of Overseas Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (NIROPHARM), have identified good networking and sharing of information as a way of boosting drug manufacturing.

They also said the menace of drug faking and other unethical practices needed to be tackled.

NIROPHARM disclosed that it would adopt a common “Code of Promotional Practices” in drug manufacturing as is done in other countries.

Speaking at a business forum in Lagos, the President of the group, Mr Ade Popoola, said the advantages of sharing information far outweighs its disadvantages. He said for the information to be shared, it must be factual.

“For the information shared to be factual, it must be from unassailable source.”

“The reason for this networking evening is to fashion out the best way of making the needed market data available for the benefit of all. “ We need to optimise the unprecedented strides in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by breaking every barrier to accurate and timely information,” Popoola said.

“NIROPHARM has continued to promote the well-being and health standards of Nigerians by providing quality health care products and advocacy, “This networking is designed to bring together a cross-section of health care practitioners to brainstorm on various ways of collaboration towards improving professional standards within the health care delivery system,” he added.

The Chairman, Strategy Committee, NIROPHARM, Mr Clifford Emenike, said the association was set to beam its

•From left: Emenike; Head of Technical Operations, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Bayo Adegun; Popoola and Secretary, NIROPHARM, Mr. Lewis Ekome, at the event.

searchlight on the issue of availability of market data for planning and control of marketing activities.

“It is very disheartening to note that in today’s information and communication technologydriven world where time infor-

mation is king, there is still acute dearth of data on the Nigerian pharmaceutical sector. We are set to break this jinx,” Clifford said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

18

ONELGA PEOPLES FORUM (OPF) His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

Your Excellency,

WRONGFUL ELEVATION OF KINGDOM ELENWA TO THE STATUS OF FIRST CLASS TRADITIONAL RULER to first and foremost, on behalf of ONELGA Peoples I wish Forum (OPF), congratulate you on your historic inauguration as President, Commander-in-Chief of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This event, which is designed by God Almighty, considering your pan-Nigerian mandate, could not have been more timely as it has come at a time Nigerians are in dire need of a sincere, purposeful, and dynamic leader to steer the ship of state to the promised land, galvanise the people to greater heights, and place Nigeria in an enviable position among the comity of truly democratic nations.

We say this because since you assumed full presidential powers following the demise last year of former President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, there has been steady progress in key socio-economic sectors of our national life, including of course, peace and security in the nation, especially in the Niger Delta Region.

It is the need to consolidate on the peace and progress already achieved that the OPF, feeling the pulse of the peace-loving people of Ogba Kingdom that accounts for over 60 percent of the nation’s oil and gas wealth, is compelled to notify you, and more importantly, seek your intervention in the discontent which the elevation to the status of a first class traditional ruler of one kingdom Elenwa of Akabuka in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers state is brewing.

Ordinarily, Your Excellency would not have been bothered with chieftaincy matters in far away Ogbaland, but the manner and implication of the state government action and the critical issues at stake, call for your intervention, considering the fact that Rivers State is very dear to you and those involved in the matter are personally known to you.

His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi had on April 28, 2011, through the former Rivers State Information and Communications Commissioner, Ibim Semenitari, announced the elevation to a first class status of the said kingdom Elemchukwu Elenwa who, claming to be Eze Egi (also known as Eze Ali Egi) was recognized barely a year ago as a second class traditional ruler in the state.

No doubt, the Rivers State governor has the power to appoint and classify any traditional ruler in the state. But that must be done strictly within the ambit of the law and the customs and tradition of the community involved, which is evidently lacking in this case.

Even before kingdom Elenwa’s recognition last year as a second class traditional ruler, a list of traditional stools in Ogbaland and their incumbents had been submitted to the State Government by the Ogba Council of Traditional Rulers for his consideration.

The list which had severally in the past been sent for recognition included the paramount rulers of the four groups that make up Ogba kingdom viz: HRH Eze Paul Odogwu XI, Eze Iyasira Ka Omoku (now late), HRH Eze (Dr) Obieze Okwu, Eze Ali Egi, HRH Eze Innocent Ugada, Eze Ali Igburu and HRH Eze (Dr) A.N. Osoh, Eze Ali Usomini who were recommended for recognition as second class traditional rulers. And rather than consider all cases on their own merit through recourse to Ogba Traditional Rulers Council and the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, the state government went ahead to recognize kingdom Elenwa who was not recommended for the Eze Ali Egi stool which has been a subject

of litigation in Omoku High Court between him (Elenwa) and Eze (Dr) Obieze Okwu.

As if that was not wrong enough, the state government, barely a year after, upgraded him (Elenwa) to a first class traditional ruler in a manner that suggests the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob.

Apparently surprised at the speed of his elevation especially against the backdrop of the fact that such other government recognized second class stools in ONELGA as the Awor of Ndoni and Nzeobi of Egbema have existed for decades without upgrading, an elated kingdom Elenwa was quoted on page 3 of May 4, 2011 edition of The Tide as saying: “As I am speaking to you, I was not expecting 1st class stool, but I thank God for the elevation”. This expression of surprise by Elenwa speaks volume of the anomaly of the elevation.

Sir, it is trite fact that the four groups that constitute Ogbaland, namely, Omoku, Egi, Igburu, and Usomini are children of Ogba who are, and have been traditionally governed by the Oba (Eze Ogba) and his Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs since their migration from the Ancient Benin Kingdom in 1453. So, for any one to be recognized or elevated as a traditional ruler of any of the afore-mentioned groups without due traditional process is sacrilegious and dangerous. In fact, to all intents and purposes, it is a sinister plan to obliterate Ogba history and its kingship system and sow the seed of communal discord which could amplify the discontent now trailing the state government action.

You may wish to know, Your Excellency, that by Ogba customs, the traditional rulers of the four groups are required to be absolutely loyal to the Oba (Eze Ogba) who reigns over the entire kingdom, and are never classified in the same class as him (Eze Ogba) no matter the exigency or pressure. This is to say that creating another first class stool in Ogba kingdom as in kingdom Elenwa’s anomalous recognition and elevation to the status of a first class traditional ruler is to cause disharmony, division, and disaffection among the various groups that have lived together peacefully as a people of the same ancestry. There will then be a divided loyalty which could render the entire kingdom and the people ungovernable for the Oba (Eze Ogba) of Ogbaland, His Eminence, Sir (Dr) Chukumela Nnam Obi II, whose 41-year reign has brought peace, unity and progress in the area even when the people of other oilproducing communities have remained restive to the discomfort of the Nigerian State.

In the light of the foregoing, your Excellency is prayed to graciously prevail on our governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to rescind his recognition of kingdom Elemchuku Elenwa as a second class traditional ruler and elevation to the status of a first class traditional ruler.

May God Almighty continue to shine his light on Your Excellency as you pilot the affairs of the Nigerian nation.

Thank you.

Hon Kingsley Elebachi National Publicity Secretary, OPF.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Unknown soldiers?

• Clashes between soldiers and police officers are often too tragic, so we must stop them

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ORE than one week since at least five police officers were killed in the Badagry area of Lagos, there has been no definitive clues about the murderers. Needless to say that the question of making the killers pay for their actions is still farfetched.

This is sad. It is perhaps sadder that what started as a quarrel between some soldiers and the police at about 8 p.m. on May 22 and claimed only one life degenerated to a situation where four more lives were lost. It all began when some men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command stopped a soldier who was in mufti believed to be escorting goods on a motorcycle, for a routine check at Badagry Roundabout.

According to reports, the soldier engaged the policemen in a brawl and was beaten by them, after which the soldier made a distress call to military men attached to Operation MESA who raced to the scene and engaged the

‘Also, we would not want this matter to end as another ‘unknown soldier’ case. We welcome the joint investigation ordered by both the Army and the police authorities and hope that it would unmask those behind the killings on both sides. This is important in order to prevent a recurrence of this kind of lawlessness with a chain of unsavoury consequences’

police in combat. In the confusion that ensued, the soldier was reportedly shot in the leg and rushed to a hospital where he died.

His death sparked off the reprisal attack by his colleagues on the police personnel on that route, and, two days later, the list of casualties swelled with the killing of the Divisional Police Officer, Badagry Police Division, Salihu Samuel, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) and some other police officers who had gone for a meeting with the Commanding Officer of RECCE Military Cantonment, with a view to seeking lasting solution to the face-off between the soldiers from the barracks and the police.

The meeting reportedly ended well, after which the police officers left.

However, unknown to them, some soldiers had laid an ambush for them outside the barracks. They attacked the police officers and in the process killed the DPO and the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO). The only survivor, Afolabi Taofeek, an Assistant superintendent of Police as well as the Operations Officer who would have been useful in investigations died in hospital last Thursday.

Curiously, the Nigerian Army was quick to deny that the perpetrators of the crime were soldiers. Army spokesman, Brigadier-General Ralph Isa said categorically that “…no Nigerian Army (soldier) was involved in that reported incident in Badagry”.

Yet, this is not the first time soldiers would be clashing with the police.

As a matter of fact, it was a common occurrence, especially in the military era. It is one of the least worries we would like to have in a democratic

dispensation. The October 4, 2005, incident in Ojuelegba, Lagos, when soldiers killed about five policemen and burnt the Area Police Command headquarters along with 60 vehicles, including 20 police patrol jeeps is still fresh in memory. The soldiers also set free 34 detainees who were in cells, including suspected hardened criminals detained in the command’s cell.

We want an end to this kind of lawlessness. No doubt we are aware of the existence of some triggerhappy policemen in the country who kill fellow citizens for no justifiable cause; that in itself is not enough reason why people should embark on self-help whenever they are aggrieved. It was bad enough that a soldier was shot dead by policemen on routine check, but that should not warrant the kind of brigandage that was witnessed in Badagry on May 22 and 24 between two agencies that should be at the vanguard of protection of lives and property.

We are not in a jungle; so whoever is aggrieved should seek redress in court. Good enough, the courts have not been sparing these trigger-happy policemen of late. They are being handed the appropriate punishment to deter their ilk.

Also, we would not want this matter to end as another ‘unknown soldier’ case. We welcome the joint investigation ordered by both the Army and the police authorities and hope that it would unmask those behind the killings on both sides.

This is important in order to prevent a recurrence of this kind of lawlessness with a chain of unsavoury consequences.

Lawless mischief

•What is OGD’s business in Amosun’s renaming of Gateway Stadium after Dipo Dina?

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AN a government cloak the renaming of a public institution in secrecy? That is the yarn now coming from the Otunba Gbenga Daniel former administration in Ogun State.

Reacting to the renaming of the Gateway International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode as Dipo Dina International Stadium, Shina Kawonise, the ancien regime’s commissioner for information and strategy, claimed the Daniel cabinet had earlier renamed the facility Mike Adenuga Stadium, after the Globacom chief, another ethnic Ijebu and eminent son of Ogun State.

Mr. Kawonishe later went ahead to scold the new governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, aside from expressing shock that Governor Amosun could, “in a democracy order my arrest” just because he issued a release rebuking the governor that he had no right to make such a name change without the consent of his cabinet.

To start with, there is something infantile about renaming public institutions, just to score propaganda points. When Daniel came into office eight years ago, he promptly renamed the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation/Television (OGBC/TV) as Gateway Radio/TV. What followed was a rash of expenses to rebrand the station’s buildings, cameras and other facilities, not to talk of money spent on adverts.

Now, with the advent of Amosun, it is return to status quo ante, as the lawyers would say. It is moot point whether anything would change in the day-to-day orientation of the station, aside from the rebranding costs; just as little changed with the station, with its Daniel rebranding. Amosun, of course,

might insist he did the right thing by reverting the state-owned media to its original name – and he could well be right. Still, it is doubtful if, on the balance, the rebranding expenses are not better channelled to other pressing issues.

Still, the Dipo Dina case is different; just as Mr. Kawonise’s claim on the stadium renaming preposterous. Though constitutional lawyers would have to proclaim on what the governor could do with or without the consent of his cabinet, the grandstanding from Mr. Kawonishe is outrageous. When did the former commissioner find his voice on right or wrong?

You need not be a lawyer to tell that a governor cannot unilaterally abolish a parliament, more so in a presidential system of government, which enshrines strict separation of powers among the three branches of government. Yet, when Daniel abolished the state legislature, neither Mr. Kawonishe nor any of his cabinet colleagues protested the outrage. Now, he just found his voice!

Besides, what is Mr. Kawonishe’s locus in the stadium renaming matter? The government in which he served had all the time to announce the purported renaming of the Ijebu-Ode Stadium. Yet, it didn’t. But the moment the new government announced its decision, the former commissioner now came out with a contrary text. If there was any example of lawless mischief, that was it and Mr. Kawonishe should count himself lucky he is not facing charges of trying to set sections of the state against another; and inciting the people against the new government, on a vexatious claim. But then Mr. Kawonishe’s conduct is the sort of distraction the new administration in the state needs

to shun.

The late Dipo Dina was felled in suspicious circumstances, for which the Daniel government stands fairly and legitimately accused. The slain politician eminently deserves the honour of renaming the stadium at Ijebu-Ode in his name. Despite Mr. Kawonishe’s tantrums, there is no public record that that facility was first renamed after anybody. It is ironic justice, though that Dina would, as of right, adorn a legacy Daniel would be proud of. Perhaps it is how his ghost would haunt his killers!

But the new administration in the state should stay focused, having done what it has to do in honour of a fallen patriot. It must work toward a glorious exit, eight years hence, if it is reelected so that the governor could avoid the fate of Daniel who scurried abroad after eight years. The only way it can do that is to hit the ground running.

‘The late Dipo Dina was felled in suspicious circumstances, for which the Daniel government stands fairly and legitimately accused. The slain politician eminently deserves the honour of renaming the stadium at Ijebu-Ode in his name ... It is ironic justice, though that Dina would, as of right, adorn a legacy Daniel would be proud of. Perhaps it is how his ghost would haunt his killers!’

The G-8 takes on the Net

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EADERS of the Group of 8 nations want to govern cyberspace. Good luck with that.

Egged on by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the leaders of the Group of 8 nations announced Friday that the Internet was too important for governments to leave ungoverned. Cyberspace needs a legal framework that promotes human rights, the rule of law, privacy, security and the protection of intellectual property, they declared, and they pledged to work on one. Good luck with that.

The declaration reflects the wrongheaded wish of many foreign leaders to tame the Net, particularly freewheeling Web-based businesses and online speech. Evolving technologies and online services have disrupted not just established industries but governments’ ability to bring transgressors to heel.

Rather than letting the public, entrepreneurs and the courts respond to problems as they arise, these officials want to impose their own brand of discipline. As Sarkozy put it, lawmakers and regulators should wield more control over the Internet because “governments are the only legitimate representatives of the will of the people in our democracies.”

What that “will” is, however, depends on which people you ask. The Internet isn’t some magical environment that makes all the differences between national governments disappear. Instead, it’s a place where the European notion of privacy clashes head-on with U.S. advertising networks’ voracious appetite for personal data, and where a French court’s view of hate speech conflicts with an American website’s hands-off approach to online auctions. It’s the venue where a British gag order barring the publication of an allegedly womanizing soccer star’s name is gleefully violated by Twitter users around the world.

To be sure, the Internet isn’t a law-free zone. A criminal act — fraud, for example — is as much a crime if perpetrated online as it is in the physical world. What’s not clear is how to draw the borders in cyberspace between different countries’ laws.

As appealing as it may be in theory, trying to craft a common legal framework for the Net is a fool’s errand. Even if the G-8 nations could bridge the policy gaps between members, they still would run the risk of enacting strictures that are ignored

by China and quickly rendered irrelevant by changing technology. The G-8 should try instead to come up with mechanisms to resolve the disputes that arise when countries hit Web companies with incompatible legal demands. As the inventor of the Internet, it’s the responsibility of the U.S. to promote freedom and openness, not to try to make the Internet comply with some global behavioral norm.

– Los Angeles Times TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

IR: All that Nigerians clamour for, and which makes them hanker for good governance, is sustainable development, which has been a mirage over the years.

Sustainable development translates into food on the table of every Nigerian, employment for the teeming and largely unemployed youths, quality health care delivery, sound education and other necessary infrastructure. That explains the determination of the Nigerian populace to take their destiny in their own hands, as witnessed in the recently concluded elections.

Leadership in Nigeria, as in other parts of the world, is attained not just through election but also through appointment. In election, the people have the latitude to determine, through the ballot, who their leader will be. In appointment, however, the leader exercises the authority to appoint who will work with him.

But the elected leader is constrained to exercise this authority with the advice of his party men; advice that in many cases are garbed in the compulsion of an order, as the leader, being a good and loyal party man, is duty-bound to toe the line of the decision made in that regard by the leadership of his party.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the quality of governance and the rate of development of any nation are directly proportional to the quality of hands appointed to handle governmental activities in the country. Quality here includes not only educational qualification, but also experience, capability and moral standing, which are personality indices needed to drive the nation to the level of development. While the constitution entrenches some basic qualifications (including academic) of those to be appointed into certain offices, it behoves on those responsible for the appointment to be responsive to the yearnings of the people.

Soon after President Goodluck Jonathan was declared the winner of the April presidential polls, the media in the country became inundated

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EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

Appointments cannot be consolation prizes with calls for the president (and also the governors) to ensure that they appoint technocrats as their cabinet members. There seems be a consensus that only putting the round pegs in round holes can solve the Nigerian myriad socio-economic malaise.

Most of these calls should, however, have been directed to the top brass in the Peoples Democratic Party (and other parties that won the governorship seats in other states) who apparently call the shots on the issue of such appointments.

There is the tendency in Nigeria for elected leaders to compensate party members either for their loyalty or for failing in their election

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bid, with little or no consideration for the vital qualities required to achieve the desired results. If reports in the national dailies of the list of prospective candidates for ministerial posts allegedly sent to President Goodluck Jonathan are anything to go by, then we shall be looking forward to the emergence of some of the defeated governors and their ilk as ministers and special advisers in this dispensation. We shall not be too surprised! It is a tradition we have had to live with, albeit, with eventual regrets. Shall we continue to do things in accordance with the old order and expect a different result?

Appointing party men as a way of

compensating them either for their loyalty or their electoral woes has been the bane of our national development.

I do not mean to cast aspersion on the qualification and experience of some of these prospective ministers and would-be advisers. I do strongly support that only those who are eminently qualified, in all ramifications should be appointed. There is no doubt that some of those who failed to win elections and who are now seeking appointive positions were considered to be liabilities by their people; thus they were rejected at the polls. It must not be forgotten that they spent fortunes seeking (re-

Letter of appeal to Ekiti State Governor

IR: Leadership qualities entail education, endurance, accountability, honesty, humanity, among others. Now that the people of Ekiti state are happy about the “radical” development taking place in the state due to leadership qualities showed by Governor Kayode Fayemi. The peoples’ governor has delivered, he is still delivering and will continue to deliver because of the numerous plans he has for the state.

But peace has eluded the people of Ekiti east local government area of the state due to the enmities and hatred existing within the people which could be traced down to the problem of “Obaship.” An adage says “if a war leader goes to war with a group of warriors and comes back home with a very scanty number of his men, then the battle

is said to be a failure and the leader be addressed as incapacitated. If governor Fayemi is governing a state like Ekiti State and a section of its people are being cheated or not happy with the government that means something is wrong.

Nigerians need your attention governor Fayemi, on this brouhaha which has pushed your people and followers backward in recent years.

The present Ekiti east local government is an old local government in the old Ondo state since its creation in 1976. This local government comprises of nine towns and villages. Omuooke, the biggest and most populous town in the council is an ancient settlement and very historical in Yoruba land.

Its history could be traced to Ile Ife, origin of Yoruba land and it could also be traced down to during the

old Oyo Empire.

The Olomuoke of Omuooke had been on throne before the arrival of colonial masters in 1900 and during southern and northern protectorate.

This royal highness and its council have been actively governing its people effectively before, during and after amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914.

Why should Omuooke community sow and other villagers in the council reap what they didn’t labour for? Omuooke generates 40 percent of Internally Generated Revenue for the government while other villages generate less than seven percent. This town had social amenities like divisional police headquarters, road safety unit branches, local government relaxation centers, filling stations, seven saw mills, 35 churches, two

Re: they are flesh and blood

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IR: I was reading with interest your “exegesis” on power and its power to corrupt, in your article of May 30, as captioned above. Honestly, you were, as usual, doing a good job at it until about the last but one paragraph when you decided to veer off for inexplicable reasons.

Your reference to the former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim on “show of humility of power” was out rightly misplaced.

If you needed an example of

)election. Their priority, if appointed, may not be far from recouping their pecuniary losses on account of the said election. Nigeria teems with personalities of great repute; technocrats who can help to turn the fortunes of the country around, even in the ruling PDP. The president and the governors should understand that they have the moral burden to lift our nation from the socio-economic quagmire and the precipice she now treads. They have been given the mandate to make a change. The whole world is watching, and the Nigerian electorate is still armed with their votes!

2015 is not too far away. The electorate is now better enlightened.

Ask those who had failed their people in the recent past and they will tell you better: They are yet to come to terms with the fact that they have to swallow the bitter pills of their failure. Please, President Goodluck Jonathan and the governors, appoint technocrats in your cabinets.

• Oshim Kelechi Enyi Lafia, Nasarawa State.

humility of power, then Ohakim is the worst example available.

Ohakim’s acceptance of his resounding defeat at the polls was not a show of humility of power; he did not have an option. And for your information, he did not only lose the election, but also a good chunk of his dignity.

As for the issue of legacy, you seem to be either one of those who are hoodwinked by his massive and wasteful media propaganda and advertorials of non-existent

achievements and projects in Imo State, or, you have been settled to sneak in such misinformation into your article. Though you are entittled to your opinion, I do not think the numerous imposing billboards he erected everywhere can go for infrastructure.

If you want to know what infrastructure is, visit Enugu State for instance, where the governor is performing, and see good roads, water projects, rural electrification projects e.t.c. These infrastructures

were not considered as worth spending on by the Ohakim’s administration. As an outsider, you may have been deceived, but we the people on ground were not; that was why he lost.

For the four years that Ohakim misruled Imo State, he was busy working on the pages on the newspapers and magazines, on the billboards and other mass media but did little or nothing on ground.

• Chima Imo, Mbaise, Imo State

central Mosques and private schools.

It also has three government secondary schools, 12 government primary schools, five private secondary schools, 15 private primary schools, four pure water factories, five bakery factories, police office, banks, the biggest market in the council, two drivers’ union, two okada unions, students union, among others.

During the marking of governor Fayemi’s 100 days in office, he toured round all the 16 local government areas of the state and promised the people of the state that his administration will create local government development areas in the state in order to bring dividend of democracy nearer to the people.

He made this promise during the tour to Efon and Ekiti West local government areas of the state.

The first civilian governor in Ekiti State, Adeniyi Adebayo also created additional local government in the state in 2003 before it was canceled.

Governor Fayemi should put those areas that had been penciled down by former governor Adebayo into considerations. Ekiti was divided and Omuooke was announced as the head quarter of Ayeyewa local government in the state.

I am appealing to the governor to follow the plan because those areas really deserve the good plan. I pray and hope that Governor Fayemi successfully accomplishes this plan.

• Fabusiwa Olaoluwa Julius Orozo estate, Abuja.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Politics in Post-2011 Nigeria: Is Yorubaland endangered? - 1

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HE Yoruba number about 45 million people inhabiting the South-Western and part of Central Nigeria as well as the Eastern part of the Republic of Benin and some central districts in Togo especially in the Atakpame district. The Itshekiri of Warri and the Lukumi of Oshimili local government area of Delta state are of Yoruba ancestry. There are also identifiable Yoruba Diasporan groups in Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago and other West Indian and Latin American countries. Their distinctiveness as a cultural group and the late participation in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade which lasted from the 15th to the 19th centuries ensured the survival of Yoruba culture in Diaspora.

They are the single largest ethnic group in Africa. They share cultural ties with their neighbours, the Edo, Igala, the Bariba (Borgawa), the Aja and Nupe. Their origin is shrouded in mystery to the extent that their neighbours, the Nupe claim that the Yoruba originated from the Nupe! Many of the Yoruba claim Ile-Ife a town in present day state of Osun as their ancestral origin and the mythical Oduduwa as their eponymous ancestor. Some like the Ijebu claim their descent from Waddai in present day Chad basin. It is however important to note that there is a difference between the origin of a people and a dynasty which is what the Oduduwa legend represents. Where this Oduduwa came from is not clear. Some claim he mysteriously descended from heaven to Ile-Ife. They refer to Ife as where life began. But it is more likely that the Yoruba came from the area of the Upper Nile valley in the Sudan where iron working culture dates back thousands of years.

Ability to use iron by people of Meroe in present day Sudan for example would have facilitated their domination of the

‘The late Professor Ade Obayemi has in fact identified seven other Ifes in different parts of Yoruba land including one in present day Kogi State close to the BenueNiger confluence which Professor Ryder suggests may have been the location of original Ife’ HEN his name came up in 2001 as one of those interested in the Senate presidency, the question on the lips of many was Anyim who? That political underdog of 10 years ago has become an astute politician today. Never mind the fact that he was in political oblivion for years before he bounced back to political reckoning again. It seems his retreat was a political strategy which has paid off today. He who fights and runs away, according to a saying, lives to fight another day. This is what has happened in this instance.

Anyim Pius Anyim became Senate president at a time many least expected someone like him to lead the Senate.

He was unknown and could not be said to be a fantastic debater on the floor of the Senate. But for once, the Senate was determined to elect a leader of its choice and not one foisted on it by the Presidency. Before Anyim’s emergence, two of his kinsmen - the late Evan Enwerem and the late Chuba Okadigbo - had led the Senate. They fell by the wayside because of the political intrigues of that period.

Anyim knew the circumstances under which he came to office, especially after he was warned by his predecessor, the late Okadigbo, to be mindful of the banana peel under the seat of the Senate president. He took the warning to heart in the over two years that he led the Senate. Under him, the Senate witnessed relative peace. The usual combustion died down and the Senate for once settled down to serious business. This was not of Anyim’s making, it just happened that he was then the Senate president. He was lucky to have led the house when the public had become fed up with its antics and was demanding its money’s worth from its elected representatives.

In such a situation, Anyim himself had no choice than to swim with the tide or be consumed along with oth-

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environment. Meroe was the centre of dispersal of many people to different parts of Africa. When this dispersal took place is not clear. What is clear is that, waves of emigration into present abode of the Yoruba took place before the coming of Oduduwa, the mythical founder of the Yoruba. There were autochthonous people in Yorubaland whom the Oduduwa immigrants met on their arrival. These people had rulers such as Obatala, Obalufon that are referred to in Ifa corpus of divination.

A related people the Bini have in recent times claimed that Oduduwa was a prince of Benin who was either expelled or who wandered away into the forest of Ife and because of his super-human and mysterious powers forced himself on the Ife people who somehow idealized him as a god. The authenticity of this myth is in doubt. It was probably sponsored to anticipate the Ife royalty’s loan of Oranmiyan to Benin people in the absence of an indigenous ruler. Whatever the case may be, myth is not the substance of history. In fact some historians such as Professor Alan Ryder have suggested that ancient Ife may not have been where the present Ife is. The late Professor Ade Obayemi has in fact identified seven other Ifes in different parts of Yoruba land including one in present day Kogi State close to the Benue-Niger confluence which Professor Ryder suggests may have been the location of original Ife. The Ife period in Yoruba history probably started around the ninth century when a stronger civilization represented by Oduduwa conquered the original inhabitants of Ife. This Ife phase of Yoruba history when Ife exercised cultural influence in all Yorubaland extended to the 12th century. It was between the 9th and the 12th centuries that most of the beautiful Ife terra-Cotta and bronze figurines were made. These idealistic images of important personages, kings and queens of the period have been a marvel all over the world. They were in the case of the bronze figurines cast in the cire perdue (lost wax process) that was only found in ancient Greece. The period of Ife ascendancy also witnessed the dispersal of Oduduwa princes to found new kingdom or to overthrow existing kings.

This early part also witnessed the sending of Oranmiyan, a young and martial grandson of Oduduwa to Benin to establish an Oduduwa dynasty in Benin. Even though this prince returned home after some time, he left an Oduduwa prince in Benin and the present ruling house in Benin is descended from Oranmiyan. This same Prince later went to Oyo, Old Oyo that is, to establish a kingdom almost a thousand years ago and his descendants are still on the Oyo throne in spite of the shifting capital of the Oyo empire until the founding of the present Oyo during the 19th century after Old Oyo was destroyed in 1827. By the time the Oyo Kingdom was founded around the

12th century, the crown heads of all Yoruba city-kingdoms related to one another as members of the same family or Ebi. This family connection also extended to all their subjects who regarded themselves as members of an extended family. In spite of this, these Jide kingdoms expanded at Osuntokun the expense of one another in several fratricidal conflicts until the eruption of major conflict that lasted for a whole century from 1793 to 1893.

The Yoruba speak several dialects of the same language.

This language itself belongs to the Kwa sub group of the Niger-Congo family of languages. There was of course no sense of Yoruba nation until recent times, but they all claim to be descended from Oduduwa. They hold Ife in mystical awe as where people’s souls go when they died. They accorded Ife land as a place of sanctity and sacredness and the Oni of Ife as spiritual head of all Yorubas. Several things provide unifying factors for people of Yoruba descent. They worship the same gods who are seen as intermediaries between men and the Almighty, that is, the God of the sky or Olorun or Olodumare. The Yorubas believe in a pantheon of gods but in one Supreme Being. They also have a divination method of Ifa by which they try to seek their paths in a difficult world of spirits and demons. The Yoruba share the Ifa divination process with their neighbour the Nupe in particular. The Nupe and the Yoruba have been in contact with one another and have had mutual exchange of culture over a long period of time and over wide expanse of land. The culture of the Yoruba particularly its cuisine, history politics, art, music, religion, leisure, literature (both written and oral) cosmology, world view and etiquette are shared by all the people speaking various forms of dialects of the Yoruba language. In public governance the Yoruba kingdoms combine monarchical form of government with gerontocracy.

They also operated complex system of political checks and balance in their kingdoms. They have particularly in Old Oyo, a system whereby wicked or unpopular kings were rejected by the Council of notables or king makers who sometimes compelled their rulers to commit ritual suicide.

The return of Anyim ers by its ferocity. But this is not to say that he didn’t do his best. Despite his little experience, he gave a good account of himself. If he played Senate politics well, he seemed not to have done the same at the home front. In his home state of Ebonyi, Anyim and then Governor Sam Egwu were not the best of friends. It was a battle of supremacy between the two men, who should have teamed up for the betterment of their state. They didn’t.

While their state is behind others in every index of development, they were busy flexing muscles on who should be the political leader.

It was an unnecessary and costly battle. By virtue of his position, Anyim was the number three man in the country; Egwu was the number one citizen in Ebonyi and the leader of their party in the state. Anyim as Senate president had clout at the national level but he was at the mercy of Egwu when it came to local politics back home.With the 2003 elections then drawing near, they both threw all they had into the race, but Egwu vowed that over his dead body will Anyim get a return ticket. In the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), governors are kings. Whatever they say is law as regards the politics of their states. They determine who gets what and the Presidency and the party accept their positions warts and all.

Anyim knew what he was up against when he challenged Egwu.

So, he was ready to pay the price of not returning to the Senate in 2003 by daring his governor. In the past years that he has been in political wilderness, Anyim has seen a lot. Besides being stopped by Egwu from returning to the Senate, the former governor also blocked his chances of be-

‘Can an Igbo man be PDP chair and SGF? That is impossible. They have to pick one and they have chosen SGF. With Anyim’s appointment, they have foreclosed their chances of leading PDP, at least, for now’

coming PDP chair when it got to the turn of the Southeast to fill the post. I don’t know the kind of relationship now existing between Anyim and Egwu, but I can swear that it is not all that smooth. Both men have since parted ways politically, but there is the likelihood of their mending fences, if need be, now that Anyim has become a force to reckon with and Egwu in political limbo. This is, however, a long shot.

Anyim’s appointment on Monday as Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF) is a rehabillitation of sort for him. In the past eight years, he has been living on his past glory as Senate president and that as many politicians know is worse than political suicide. While he pined away in political hibernation, many of his contemporaries grew politically. His arch-political foe, Egwu, even became a minister after his stint as twoterm governor. Anyim must have learnt a lot in these past years. I want to believe that he spent all these years taking stock of his past political activities to enable him know where and when he took the wrong step.

But if he didn’t learn anything then they must have been wasted years.As an Igbo man, Anyim knows that his kinsmen are not that happy with the prevailing political arrangement.

Before the last elections, the Southeast was expected to fill the vacant seat of the PDP national chairman following the exit of Okwesilieze Nwodo in no palatable circumstances. The region could not agree on who to pick for the post. The governors, who were expected to play a key role in the emergence of the chairman also could not agree on a candidate. This has always been the problem with the Ndigbo. They never seem to agree among themselves on vital national issues. They tend to take a dim view of such matters because of their own selfish interest.

For now, whether or not they like it, they have lost out in the bid for PDP national chair. They lost the bat-

tle before the last elections when they allowed a northerner, Mohammed Haliru Bello, to lead the party to the polls. Bello led the party to victory. Can such a general be asked to step aside now? The answer to that question is not that difficult because it is no. Even, the President may find it difficult to ask Bello to quit for an Igbo chairman at this stage, except the party is deceiving itself. Any thought of an Igbo chairman has become history with Anyim’s appointment as SGF. Can an Igbo man be PDP chair and SGF? That is impossible. They have to pick one and they have chosen SGF. With Anyim’s appointment, they have foreclosed their chances of leading PDP, at least, for now. Their consolation, however, should be that they have a worthy representative in Anyim as SGF. The Ndigbo may start thinking about the future now. Where does the Southeast want to be in the next dispensation? What are its chances of picking PDP’s presidential ticket in 2015? Will Jonathan run again or will he support his SGF then?

These are some of the issues that should engage the Ndigbo now or else they may lose out again in 2015.

If they play their card well they have someone who is well positioned to champion their cause for a better political deal in 2015 and that person is Anyim, that is if he doesn’t go the way of Babagana Kingibe.Anyim has matured politically and he knows that with his present position he can influence so many things. But he has to tread softly so that he does not overplay his hand and in the process mess things up for his people. All the same welcome back from Siberia, sir.

Who killed them?

I

T was a black day in Badagry last week when some senior police officers were killed. Some of the slain officers were no ordinary policemen.

Even if they were the rank and file, noboby has the right to kill them like that. Among the deceased were the

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net

Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), Badagry Police Station. As I write this on Tuesday night the circumstances under which they were killed remain hazy somehow. Some reports claimed that they were killed by soldiers, others said they were shot dead by unknown gunmen. One thing is certain though; there was an altercation between some policemen and soldiers earlier which led to what could be described as the retaliatory attack in which the police officers were killed.

A soldier was said to have been killed in the earlier attack.

Soldiers and police clash is not a new phenomenon in our country.

In the past, it used to be an everyday occurrence, but we thank God that we have put that behind us. Last week’s incident was uncalled for because the police officers were on their way to a peace meeting with the army commander in Badagry when they were killed. Even in war, men on peace mission are not killed; so why should those on peace mission in peace time be so callously murdered. It beats my imagination. It is a despicable act which should be condemned by all. I don’t know what to say now because the matter is under investigation.

I reserve my comment until the outcome of the probe. I only pray that a thorough job will be done and that it will not end up as another case of unknown killer. You know what I mean.

SMS ONLY: 08056504763

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

‘I

KNOW your pains because I have been there’. That was President Goodluck Jonathan at his inauguration last Sunday. Goodluck Jonathan has always identified with the plight of the masses. He has continued to do this by deeds and actions. To Jonathan political power is service to the people. He has therefore publicly dissociated himself from his colleagues who want to live on the blood of others by declaring that “no Nigerian life is worth losing for his election” Humility is President Jonathan highest badge of honour. He is a very simple man with an equally simple, pragmatic approach to Nigerian socio-economic woes. Thus in the wake of rising cost of kerosene and its perennial scarcity, a few months back, President Jonathan simply summoned the big oil marketers and decreed that kerosene must be made available for the poor and at affordable price too. The oil marketers promptly agreed to bring the price down. The president had his way but the product either as a result of greed or interplay of market forces, is still not readily available, Once again, last week, hearkening to his peoples yearning for cheap cement, the president had cause to summon Joseph Makoju, the President of Cement Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, (CMAN), Chairman of BUA group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Jean Christopher Barbant of Lafarge/WAPCO cement and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, owner of Obajana, Gboko and Ibeshe cement plants to Aso Rock presidential Villa. He gave them an ultimatum.”Price of cement must be crashed within 30 days, if they don’t want to see the wrath of government”.

President Jonathan who always gets what he wants and who never starts a war he cannot win, once again got the reassurance of the cement merchants. They told him exactly what he wanted to hear. Dangote, the leader of the group spoke on their behalf. The travails of Nigerians over high price and scarcity of cement products will soon be over. As part of his personal contribution, in addition to his existing 3000 trucks ferrying 40 tons of cement each daily, Dangote informed the president he would be importing additional 500 trucks. Dangote, as a fair and rare Nigerian business man whose business policy is ‘live and let live’, also reassured the president that he would not undermine the efforts of other truck owners engaged in the business of road haulage. According to him, ‘they also need to survive,’

O

HANAEZE Ndigbo did not support Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential bid in order that the Igbo would be rewarded with the position of Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives. All those commentators claiming that both Ohanaeze and President Jonathan have betrayed Ndigbo will do well to get their bearing right. It is often said that those who miss a burial will start exhuming the corpse foot first, which is abominable in the Igbo worldview.

Unfortunately, the Igbo jeremiad on the “missed” position of Speakership hasn’t come from those unaware of what went on; it is simply the noisy dissembling of the tiny fringe that got told, in effect, to shut up in the matter of which candidate Ndigbo must support for the presidency. We cannot allow this unpatriotic fringe to continue playing spoiler.

Witness: In arguing for Ndigbo to support Jonathan’s presidential bid, Ohanaeze Ndigbo articulated its position in the clearest of terms.

The umbrella body of the Igbo in Nigeria and in the Diaspora took out copious adverts in the media to make its point. To cite two instances, page 21 of Saturday Champion of October 23, 2010, and page 23 of the Daily Sun of Monday October 25, 2010, carried the Ohanaeze Ndigbo advert entitled Presidential Election And zoning: The Position Of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Signed by the organization’s President-General, Ambassador Raph Uwechue, the 4th and last paragraph of the advert stated as follows: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo firmly believes in the reality and absolute equality of the six zones and holds the view that the topmost executive office in the land – Prime Minister or President – which has eluded the two geopolitical zones of the South-South and South-East since the birth of our nation half a century ago, should now go to them in turn in unbroken succession as a matter of national priority, before any other zone can justly claim the right to a second or third turn.

In line with this position, taken after wide consultation over several months, among Igbo people at home and abroad, Ohanaeze Ndigbo confidently urges the Igbo Nation to support en masse a credible, new-generation Presidential candidate that has emerged from the South-South geo-political zone, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan.”

Thus, when an Igbo journalist or an Igbo

Economy at the mercy of conscience Dangote had more good news for the president. Soon cement will become our chief foreign exchange earner. According to him “Cement will definitely be exported. By the first quarter of next year, Nigeria should earn a lot of foreign exchange as I can guarantee you that cement would be one of the major foreign exchange earners in the next few months to come” For the few cynics who may want to question the basis of Dangote’s optimism or his dedication to the plight of the poor, all they need to know is that he is the richest black man and the 53rd richest man in the world.

He owns the Obajana cement plant, the largest in Africa as well as the Gboko and Ibeshe cement plants. By the end of the year, he has said the total output of his plants will be over 20,000 metric tons as against the nation’s requirement put at 14.5 metric tons. His Dangote cement is listed in Nigerian Stock Exchange at a value of 2.1 trillion naira ($13.4 billion. Dangote has similarly cornered all African cement needs to his (DANGCEM.LG) with a projection of 18.5 metric tons of cement to be produced in 13 other African countries.

Except for the incurable cynics, it ought not to have been easily lost on the minds of our people, the immense contributions of Aliko Dangote, a hard bargainer and a patriot, to the successful implementation of economic policies of Babangida, Abacha, through Yar’Adua and Olusegun Obasanjo. His past records in my view, is a testimony to his sincerity on this issue.

It is my view therefore that Jonathan should ignore the ranting of those complaining of the state of the roads and the daily toll inflicted by Dangote’s three thousand heavy trucks. We cannot eat our cake and have it. If government wants cheap cement and if Dangote must help, government should just build more durable roads. As for those mischievous groups that talk of a disincentive to rehabilitation of our rail system, we have no evidence that Dangote and other truck owners derailed our rail system have evidence that the operation of his heavy trucks has impacted negatively on government’s ill maintained roads, we cannot say the same of the mismanaged Nigerian railways. It wasn’t Dangote who directed Ogbemudia to paint old railway coaches under Babangida and paid newspapers houses and television stations to hail them “Spirit of IBB Revolution”.

We have no evidence Dangote derailed the Obasanjo Chinese railway initiative suspended by Yar’ Adua’s administration as a result of abuse by PDP stalwarts.

Equally supporting Dangote in this patriotic war to bring down price of cement in defiance of market forces and activities of Nigerian cement cartel is Joseph Makoju, a first class Mechanical Engineer. He made a success of WAPCO as Managing Director that in 1995, posted a net profit of N5.1 billion. He was head-hunted by the Obasanjo Administration and became Managing Director of NEPA in August 2000. By December 2001, he had moved the 1,750 megawatts of electricity he inherited to 3,700 mw. This was short lived

Ndigbo and the promise of 2015

By Chuks Iloegbunam political leader discounts the above and goes singing the jaded song of “betrayal”, it is obvious that insincerity is writ large. Ohanaeze Ndigbo did not tell the Igbo to support President Jonathan so as to get one of their own put up as House Speaker. What Ohanaeze Ndigbo said was and is this clear: Ndigbo will support the SouthSouth in the “credible, new-generation Presidential candidate that has emerged from the geo-political zone, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan”, so that the presidency will thereafter go to the South-East “in unbroken succession as a matter of national priority, before any other zone can justly claim the right to a second or third turn.”

When Ohanaeze Ndigbo articulated this position, it drew the ire of an amorphous society dubbed the Igbo Political forum (IPF) which plastered the media with negative, but ultimately, ineffective propaganda against the umbrella body of the Igbo ethnic group. The IPF was non-existent until the run-up to the presidential election. As a body, the IPF is not known to have held another meeting or taken any position on anything since the landmark ballot. But elements of the body are clearly behind the current campaign to tar Ohanaeze Ndigbo with the brush of betrayal on account of a mere legislative office. When looked at critically, the IPF covets the same goal as the Ohanaeze Ndigbo to wit: the emergence of a President of Nigeria from the South-East geopolitical zone in 2015. The IPF is peopled by politicians who claimed that Atiku or Babangida or Buhari or Ribadu will serve a single presidential term and hand over power to an Igbo successor in 2015. On the contrary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo convinced the Igbo to take the Jonathan route to 2015. With Jonathan’s electoral victory, he is the only route to the Igbo dream of 2015. When people who should pursue this dream choose, instead, to lament a

phantom betrayal, it amounts to chasing rats when the homestead is on fire. Therefore, a stop should be put to the ongoing media diatribe against the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Key point: Igbo unity is preferable than their being fractious but producing Nigeria’s President. Yet, Ndigbo disunited can never make the presidency. As I said in a previous article, “All the wailing and lamentation regarding a ‘missed’ position of House Speaker should cease. The cynosure of all eyes should not dab their face in charcoal. Ndigbo should rather concentrate on those issues that belong to their eventual escape from the status of second class citizenship. This habit of appropriating the media to hector and holler at the drop of every hat, this shouting from the rooftops every twinkle of an eye cannot solve a thing.” The promise of 2015 will succeed only if Ndigbo present a united front. The time is ripe to solidify the previously shattered but now reengineered and rejuvenated esprit de corps between the South-East and the SouthEast. The time is ripe for the buried bones of the handshake across the Niger to rise again and shine. The time is ripe to look northwards, to explain that what Ndigbo seek can be wrapped up in three ideals: justice, equity and fair play.

The Nigeria of today should have no problems with the theme of justice. If Barrack Obama, whose father was Kenyan, can become the President of the United States of America, only bigots can still insist that the idea of an Igbo president of Nigeria in 2015 is insufferable. Ndigbo fought for this country’s independence. Ndigbo fought to build up this country. They have always been active participants in all positive aspects of Nigeria’s development, except at the apex of its leadership, where they have deliberately been kept out by prejudicial considerations.

Therefore, Ndigbo have got to enjoy all the

as the output soon nosedived to 2500. By 2006, when the electricity sector Reform Act was introduced, he became Obasanjo’s Senior Special Adviser (SSA). During his tenure, government agreed to build new power stations and make new capital investments which some put at N5 billion and others N16 billion.

Surely, the president has his experts. They must have advised him that what he needs to move the economy forward is appeal to the goodness of these two dye-in-the wool successful capitalists. The immense contributions of the two men are after all self evident in the oil, energy and cement sectors.

But the president might wish to know that in spite of goodness on man, democracy breeds the worst form of greed. Elected members only struggle to protect the interests of their group members .In the United States, it is called government of big corporations.

He might also wish to know that the backward integration his predecessors embarked upon in 2002 has yielded dividends as the cement output has now doubled. Tax payers’ money financed this programme, but the same tax payers today pay double the 2002 cement price. Many states claimed they cannot afford to pay a minimum wage of N18,000.

He might also wish to know that when Obasanjo wanted to increase the pump price of fuel from N26 to N37 in 2002, there was a general uproar. The government resolved to carry out the reform of the oil sector. Parts of these reforms covered provision of infrastructures for the oil marketers using the tax payers’ money. Last week while one of the major oil marketing companies was declaring a profit of about N27 billion, the price of a litre of diesel has gone up to N170.

‘The president might wish to know that in spite of goodness on man, democracy breeds the worst form of greed. Elected members only struggle to protect the interests of their group members. In the United States, it is called government of big corporations. rights and privileges attendant to Nigerian citizenship. But Ndigbo must be united. Once all concerned appreciate and respect this imperative, the groundswell for justice in the matter of an Igbo president of Nigeria will gain ascendancy.

The late nationalist, Chief Anthony Enahoro, supported the idea of an Igbo President of Nigeria. (See the New Age newspaper of November 2, 2004.) The late Alhaji Wada Nas, a former Federal Minister from the north, supported the idea of an Igbo President of Nigeria. (See the Vanguard newspaper of Monday July 12, 2004.) General Yakubu Gowon, a former Nigerian Head of State, supports the idea of an Igbo President of Nigeria. (See the Daily Champion newspaper of November 3, 2004.) Dr. Frederick Fasehun, the leader of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), supports the idea of an Igbo President of Nigeria. (See the Daily Champion of Monday July 26, 2004.) Most importantly, the new generation of Nigerians, those who trooped out in the millions to elect Goodluck Jonathan Nigeria’s President, are irreversibly free from the shackles of prejudice and political bigotry. All this means one thing: If Ndigbo gets their act together, the promise of 2015 will be redeemed.

• Iloegbunam is author of The Case for an Igbo President of Nigeria.

‘The Nigeria of today should have no problems with the theme of justice. If Barrack Obama, whose father was Kenyan, can become the President of the United States of America, only bigots can still insist that the idea of an Igbo president of Nigeria in 2015 is insufferable’

Emenalo: Torres missing Ike Uche set for Liverpool midfield Zaragoza exit

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Nation Thursday, June 2, 2011

FREE COPY

RE-ELECTED •

PAGE 23

•Sepp Blatter acknowledging cheers from the audience. inset: congratulated by his daughter Corinne and granddaughter Selena following the result

Amidst allegations of bribery and abuse of office, Joseph Sepp Blatter is elected FIFA president for a fresh 4-year term

S

EPP Blatter has been re-elected as the president of Federation of International Federation (FIFA) in this Wednesday’s presidential election. The results of the election showed 203 out of 208 members voted, with 186 votes for Mr Blatter.

Ahead of the vote, the FA and Scottish FA had attempted to postpone the election, accusing the world football's governing body of a lack of transparency and accountability.

But they then came under attack from a series of federations for 'lying and complaining.'

Even the Welsh and and Northern Irish chose not to support England's failed attempt to stop Mr Blatter's 'coronation' and the motion was defeated by 172 to 17.

Senior vice-president Julio Grondona, the Argentinian head of FIFA's finance committee, told the congress: 'We always have attacks from England which are mostly lies with the support of journalism which is more busy lying than telling the truth. This upsets and disturbs the FIFA family.'

He continued: 'It looks like England is always complaining so please I say will you leave the FIFA family

alone, and when you speak, speak with truth.'

The humiliation continued with the leaders of associations from Haiti, the Congo DR, Benin, Fiji and Cyprus all speaking out against the FA's move.

Mr Blatter was then voted in during a bizarre secret ballot of the organisation's 208 member associations.

One by one, FIFA members entered the wooden voting booths, stuffing the ballot boxes in favour of the 75-yearold - the only name on the blue voting slips.

Mr Blatter's only challenger, Mohamed bin Hammam, withdrew over the weekend before being suspended on bribery allegations.

THURSDAY, JUNE 02, 2011

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NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

COPA AMERICA

Messi, Tevez to lead Argentine squad BARCELONA's Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez of Manchester City spearhead Argentina's 26-man squad announced on Wednesday for next month's Copa America.

Tevez figures in the list despite complaining that he had been left out of his country's 4-2 friendly win against Paraguay last weekend.

Only four of coach Sergio Batista's squad are based in Argentina, which is hosting the July 1-24 competition.

Messi, fresh from guiding Barcelona to Champions League glory, has his sights firmly set on winning the event.

"I'm raring to go," Messi said after touching down here from Spain on Tuesday.

"I was lucky enough to win everything with Barcelona and on an individual level, and now my goal is to play in and win the Copa America with Argentina."

Messi was instrumental in Barca's 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Wembley last Saturday, scoring the second goal as the Catalan giants dominated the English champions.

And he will be looking to turn around Argentina's terrible run in the Copa America, a tournament they have not won since 1993 in Ecuador.

Argentina squad Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar/NED), Juan Pablo Carrizo (River Plate), Mariano Andujar (Catania/ITA) Defenders: Gabriel Milito (Barcelona/ESP), Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid/ESP), Nicolas Burdisso (Roma/ITA), Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan/ITA), Nicolas Pareja (Spartak Moscow/RUS), Marcos Rojo (Spartak Moscow/RUS), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City/ENG), Fabian Monzon (Boca Juniors/ARG) Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona/ESP), Lucas Biglia (Anderlecht/BEL), Ever Banega (Valencia/ESP), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan/ITA), Javier Pastore (Palermo/ITA), Diego Valeri (Lanus), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid/ESP), Enzo Perez (Estudiantes de La Plata).

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona/ ESP), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid/ ESP), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid/ ESP), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli/ITA), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City/ENG), Diego Milito (Inter Milan/ITA)

Ex-Italy striker arrested for match-fixing FORMER Italy striker Giuseppe Signori was among 16 people arrested for match-fixing in a co-ordinated sting by Italian police on Wednesday, Italian news agency Ansa reported.

Amongst those targeted were ex Serie A players and current players from both Serie B and Serie C as well as club directors from the lower leagues.

The investigation was led by the mobile squad from Cremona but also included help from police forces from a dozen other towns, including Rome,

Ajax plans tribute for Van Der Sar AJAX have announced plans to hold a testimonial for their former goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar following his retirement.

The 40-year-old spent eight years at the club between 1991 and 1999, making 311 appearances.

He then moved on for spells with Juventus, Fulham and finally Manchester United, playing his final match before his retirement in their 3-1 UEFA Champions League final defeat to Barcelona last weekend.

Ajax confirmed on their website they will pay their own tribute to the former Netherlands international with a testimonial on 3 August at the Amsterdam ArenA involving former team-mates.

•Van Der Sar

Naples and Turin.

Magistrates in Cremona issued seven arrest warrants and nine orders for detention under house arrest, of which Signori's was one of the latter.

Amongst those arrested were also employees of betting shops, while the investigation concerns around 30 people in total.

Those arrested formed part of a criminal organisation, according to Ansa, in which everyone had a specific role with the view to manipulating matches in their favour.

The suspects managed to fix certain results through verbal agreements and payments.

The investigation was launched six months ago and investigators used a match in Cremona to try to determine who was behind the organisation.

Signori, now 43, was one of Italy's top strikers in the 1990s and was top scorer in Serie A three times with Lazio, with whom he won the Italian Cup once.

He is the eighth highest scorer of all-time in Serie A with 188 goals.

He made his name with Foggia under Zdenek Zeman in what became known as the miracle of Foggia.

He was part of an attacking triumvirate, alongside Ciccio Baiano and Roberto Rambaudi, who were the focal point of Foggia's attacking style under Zeman, which became known as Zemanlandia in the Italian press.

C

HELSEA assistant manager Michael Emenalo believes a lack of service from the midfield explains Fernando Torres' difficulty in settling at Stamford Bridge.

The former Nigerian international said Torres has been woefully out of touch since his £50million move from Liverpool in January, hitting the target just once. Emenalo believes the Spain striker is missing the influence of the Reds' midfield, who supplied him with the ammunition to fire 81 goals in 126 appearances while at Anfield.

"I can say he's still adapting to the pattern of Chelsea at the moment," Emenalo told Goal.com. "This is due to the fact he's still missing the juicy passes being served to him by the likes of [Xabi] Alonso and [Steven] Gerrard, but with time he will adapt."

He's still missing the juicy passes being served to him by the likes of [Xabi] Alonso and [Steven] Gerrard, but with

Ike Uche set for Zaragoza exit

Emenalo: Torres missing R Liverpool midfield time he will adapt.

Michael Emenalo on Fernando Torres Chelsea finished second in the Premier League - nine points behind champions Manchester United - after suffering a midseason collapse in form. Former Nigeria international Emenalo admits the temperament of some members of the squad has been found wanting.

When asked why he thought so many players including Michael Essien, Florent

•Says fan pressure affected Mikel, others Malouda and John Obi Mikel had underperformed, he replied: "High expectations from fans and management made them play the way they played, in the sense that they didn't perform as usual because they were playing under pressure."

Emenalo, who admits his own future hangs in the balance following the removal of Carlo Ancelotti, insists that winning the UEFA Champions League is Chelsea's priority next season and expects Didier Drogba to stay at Stamford Bridge.

AHEAD OF NIGERIA/TANZANIA OLYMPIC QUALIFIER

Haruna,Ujah, Ighalo talk tough

D

REAM Team V captain Lukman Haruna along side his team mates have been talking tough ahead of their 2012 Olympic Games qualifying match away against the Young Taifa Stars of Tanzania this weekend.

Haruna, who led other professionals on Wednesday to the Golden Destiny camp of the national U-23 team was full of excitement on arrival and boasted that the Dream Team will defeat the Tanzanians in their backyard. “with the caliber of players in camp we have what it takes to cage the Tanzanians”.

The AS Monaco star expressed determination in the ability of the team to perform under pressure, saying that playing away from home will not deter the team from excelling.

New entrant and highest goal scorer in the Norwegian League Anthony Ujah who got a late invitation to the team also arrived camp on Wednesday and said: “I am glad to honour this invitation. Words are not enough to express how I feel. This goes to tell that my hard work in Norway is being appreciated and by the grace of God I would transfer my good form in club level to the National team” Ujah stated.

•As 15 Pros. hit camp •Team to travell in Kenya Airways

By Innocent Amomoh Granada of Spain striker, Odion Igalo who along side Lukman Haruna has a goal each to their name in the qualifying series made the list of foreign based players in camp fifteen.

Earlier on Tuesday Astra Ploiesti of Romania striker Fatai Kehinde who could not connect Costa Rica for the International Friendly arrived the Golden Destiny camp of the Dream Team V. According to Team Media officer, Arafat Aliu the Dream Team will have three training sessions before departing for Tanzania en-route Nairobi.

The Team will depart the country from Lagos with Kenya Airways on Friday by 1pm.

The foreign based players in camp includes: Dele Ajoboye, Edet Ibok, Orelesi Nurudeen, Obiora Nwankwo, Solomon Okpako, Odion Igalo, Sone Aluko, Harmony Ikande, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Suswan Terna, Dimaku Tochukwu, Fatai Kehinde, Haruna Lukman, Uchechi Daniel (injured) and Anthony Ujah.

L

•Chelsea's Nigerian first team assistant coach, Michael Emenalo (c), watches the players during a team training session at the club's

Axed Osaze cools off in SA Allardyce lands West Ham job

E

NGLAND-BASED striker Osaze Odemwingie, who was dropped by the Super Eagles from the games against Argentina and Ethiopia this week on disciplinary grounds, is in Johannesburg on holiday.

A top source told MTNFootball.com that ‘Osas’ is putting up with his sister, who he bought a massive house in Johannesburg.

“Osaze is in South Africa. He is taking things easy but will soon fly into Nigeria so as to be part of the Nwankwo Kanu novelty match,” the top source

informed MTNFootball.com.

The Kanu match is fixed for June 11 in Lagos and is aimed at raising funds for the Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF) to build a heart specialists hospital in Abuja.

The Odemwingies, minus daddy Peter, partied in South Africa during last year’s World Cup. “Osaze loves it here in South Africa,” another source informed.

The 29-year-old striker netted 15 goals to ensure English Premier League safety for his club WBA this past season.

SAM Allardyce was on Wednesday confirmed as the new manager of West Ham, the former Blackburn boss taking over from Avram Grant who was sacked after the London side's demotion to the Championship.

West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold have turned to the 56-yearold Allardyce to guide them back to the lucrative Premier League at the first attempt.

"It's a fantastic club with a great tradition and loyal supporters," said Allardyce.

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

Federer to face red-hot Djokovic in semis

THERE will be absolutely nothing lowkey or, it seems safe to say, easy about what comes next for the 16-time Grand Slam champion: a showdown against Novak Djokovic, who is 41-0 this year and unbeaten in his last 43 matches overall.

With attention focused elsewhere, perhaps in part because some assume his best days are behind him, the nofuss, no-muss Federer simply has won all 15 sets he's played so far, capped Tuesday by a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (3) quarterfinal victory over No. 9-seeded Gael Monfils of France.

"For me, the plan is trying to get a step further and into the finals of the French Open," said Federer, who won the 2009 title at Roland Garros to complete a career Grand Slam but lost in the quarterfinals a year ago. "At the end of the day, that's, for me, the big picture, and that's why I entered the French Open. It wasn't to stop Novak."

Nevertheless, their semifinal is sure to be the talk of the tennis world until it's played Friday.

For Djokovic — who didn't need to exert himself Tuesday, because his quarterfinal opponent, Fabio Fognini, withdrew Monday with an injured left leg — a victory over Federer would guarantee a rise to No. 1 in the rankings for the first time. It also would make the second-seeded Serb 42-0 in 2011, tying John McEnroe in 1984 for the best start to a season in the Open era, which began in 1968. And it Advertisement would put Djokovic one win from his first French Open title, the objective he cares most about at the moment.

For Federer, a victory would put him into his first Grand Slam final in more than 16 months, his longest drought since he won his first major title at Wimbledon in 2003. It would allow Federer to make clear to everyone that he's still at the top of the game as his 30th birthday approaches in August.

Plus, it would serve as something of a rebuke to Djokovic, who beat Federer in the semifinals at the U.S. Open in September and Australian Open in

EAL Zaragoza have reached an agreement with Javier Aguirre for the renewal of the contract of the Mexican coach for one season, the club calling the technician the "cornerstone of the new project."

Aguirre, 52, negotiated his continuity at the Spanish club this week after winning the last game of the season. Real Zaragoza avoided the drop and will play in the top flight of Spanish football next season.

Elgrafico.com reports that Aguirre will have to face re-engineering of the squad, as some key players are expected to depart the club in the summer market. Potential sales include the Nigeria international striker Ikechukwu Uche, for which the club could also get revenue needed to restore its battered economy.

While Ikechuwku Uche is linked with a summer exit, he could be replaced at the club by his older brother, Kalu Uche. Spanish media is

January.

"There's less at stake for me than for him," said Federer, who is 13-9 against Djokovic over their careers but 0-3 this year. "He's got a lot of things going on."

Both men surely are well aware who the last player to defeat Djokovic anywhere was: Federer, a 6-4, 6-1 winner in the ATP Finals at London, way back on Nov. 27.

•Federer

"I am determined to get this club back up."

Allardyce added on the club's official website, www.whufc.com: "I wouldn't have taken this job if I didn't think we could bounce straight back into the Premier League.

"More than that, I wouldn't have contemplated the job if I didn't think there was the opportunity to build something substantial at West Ham. "I know there will be West Ham fans asking whether I'm going to abandon the style of play that's been the club's heritage over the years.

"All I'll say is it will be a tale of home and away. At Upton Park we'll try to play the kind of game the fans want.

"We will aim to continue in the same way on our travels but we'll also be tough, hard to beat and utterly resilient."

The new boss at Upton Park has reportedly been offered a huge bonus to guide West Ham back to the big time.

This is Allardyce's first job since he was surprisingly sacked as manager of topflight Blackburn Rovers in December, and it is the first time in 10 years he has taken over a club outside the top flight.

Allardyce began as a manager with spells at Blackpool and Notts County before making his reputation at Bolton Wanderers after taking them into the Premier League via the playoffs in 2001 and establishing them in the top tier of English football.

He then moved to Newcastle in 2007.

But the owners who appointed him sold up soon afterwards and he was sacked by Mike Ashley just six months into his time with the north-east side.

It was a similar story at Blackburn, where he took charge in December 2008 only to be dismissed not long after the club was sold to Venky's, an India-based poultry business.

strongly linking the Nigeria world cup star with a move to Zaragoza in the summer market.

•Ike Uche

All set for Copa Coca-Cola zonal tournaments

AGOS, May 31st, 2011: Fun, excitement and display of talents are some features football lovers can look forward to at the Copa CocaCola zonal competitions which commences in Ibadan between the 2nd and 3rd of June 2011. Taking place at Olubadan Stadium, Iyaganku Quarters, football loving fans and parents will witness young boys from Zone A representing Lagos , Ibadan , Ilorin , Abeokuta and Ekiti compete for qualification to the finals in July 2011.

The two day competition will showcase a total of 75 boys contest for the golden ticket to represent their zone at the finals with Y.S.F.O.N coaches coordinating the matches. The 15 finalists at this stage will form the Ibadan team and will proceed to the Screening/Training camp in Lagos . Victor Ikpeba, former Super Eagles player, ex-international and Copa CocaCola celebrity coach for Ibadan , will be on ground to seek raw talents during the matches.

Femi Adelusi, Project Manager of Copa Coca-Cola said “??We are kicking off the Zonal tournament in Ibadan with a lot of action, optimism and energy. This is not just a competition; it is an avenue to build a lasting legacy of support and exciting football experience at the grassroot level in Nigeria . Ibadan should be set to Open up to the game as Copa Coca-Cola makes your ???football dreams into a reality."

Copa Coca-Cola Youth Football Championship for under 17 is poised to feed the talent pipeline of professional football locally and internationally and connect, engage and promote talents of teens and young adults, on a distinctive platform will provide an opportunity to achieve a successful career in football.

This year’s tournament themed “Open up to the game” promises to be a redefinition of raw talent in the history of grass root football in Nigeria as CocaCola, a leading contributor reaffirms their

commitment to the development of the youth via this platform. Celebrity coaches to be present at the different cities of the tournament include Victor Ikpeba, Waheed Akanni, Douglas Idahosa, Dosu Joseph, Nduka Ugbade, Taribo West, Garba Lawal, and Abdusalam Jere.

Top talents from various teams will be selected and combined to form a COPA Dream Team that represents the country and attends the International Football Camp/tournament in London , and have the opportunity of watching a live English football premiership match.

Sunderland, Newcastle target Yakubu

A

S reported by our colleagues in TribalFootball.com, Leicester City are pulling out of talks for Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni.

Yakubu’s wage demand of 35,000 a week is threatening his chances of joining Leicester on a permanent basis.The striker spent the final five months of the season on loan at the Walkers Stadium, scoring 11 goals.

Sunderland and Newcastle United are monitoring Yakubu's situation.

Chelsea to offer Drogba new contract

•Yakubu

Rooney: Chelsea will be Man United's main rivals next season MANCHESTER United striker Wayne Rooney has insisted that Chelsea will again pose the biggest threat to his side next season, after pipping the Blues to the title.

Following a season of inconsistency for all the big clubs in England, United

•Rooney

eventually won the Premier League nine points ahead of second-placed Chelsea, while neighbours Manchester City finishing in third, one place ahead of Arsenal.

The Blues are set for a summer of rebuilding after a disappointing year that uncovered many frailties, whilst City will continue to spend and United boss Sir Alex ferguson has claimed he will sign at least three players this summer.

Despite that Rooney still believes Chelsea pose United’s biggest threat.

"Chelsea will be our main rivals for the league next season," he told talkSPORT. "They are so strong and powerful and ended the season so well."

"Chelsea, Manchester City, Spurs, Liverpool and Arsenal will all be fighting for top four," he said.

"It makes it even more intense. It wouldn't surprise you if any of those teams finished in the top two.

"The teams in the lower half have improved. Going away from home was so difficult this season."

FIFA CRISIS

Argentina boss blasts England FIFA's senior vice-president Julio Grondona has hit out at England and its media following the FA's failed bid to convince the Congress to postpone Wednesday's presidency election.

FA chairman David Bernstein had earlier proposed to the FIFA congress that the re-election of president Sepp Blatter should be postponed to allow time for a full independent investigation of the governing body to take place in the wake of a series of damaging corruption allegations against several of its senior members.

The motion was defeated by 172 votes to 17, and before delivering a scheduled speech to the Congress as head of Fifa's Finance Committee, Grondona took the time to launch a comprehensive attack on England and its media.

"It cannot be that the problems always come from the same side," he said.

"Since 1974 [When Englishman Stanley Rous lost the presidency], things have changed and it seemed that this country didn't like it... Now, we are in 2011 and they still seem to always have something to complain about."

The English media have published several allegations against FIFA in recent months, with the Sunday Times alleging several members of the governing body's Executive Committee offered to sell their World Cup bid votes in exchange for cash bribes, and the BBC's 'Panorama' accusing several others of unlawfully profiting from the sale of broadcast rights and stadium tickets for numerous World Cups.

Grondona dismissed the stories as "lies" motivated by what he considers to be a malicious agenda which the English media has towards FIFA. "We always have attacks from England which are mostly lies with the support of journalism which is more busy lying than telling the truth," he added. "This upsets and disturbs the Fifa family.

"To present such a project as David Bernstein presented is like shooting a penalty because it cannot be always from the same place that the insults and problems come from.

"I see it at every Congress. They have specific privileges with four countries having one vice-president. I don't know what our president has said.

"But we have seen the World Cup go

around the world, to South America and Africa and it looks like this country does not like it.

"It looks like England is always complaining so please I say will you leave the FIFA family alone, and when you speak, speak with truth."

In an interview with a German press agency on Tuesday, Grondona labelled England "pirates", and added: "Yes, I voted for Qatar, because a vote for the US would be like a vote for England.

And that is not possible.

"But with the English bid I said: Let us be brief. If you give back the Falkland Islands, which belong to us, you will get my vote. They then became sad and left."

Selemani Omari, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's football federation, also chose to condemn the allegations made by Lord Triesman of impropriety against four members of the Executive Committee during England's failed World Cup bid, for which so far no corroborating evidence has been found.

"We are ill at ease with people who wield unfounded accusations - he who accuses must provide evidence," he said.

"FIFA belongs to 208 national associations and not to one association, we must not seek solutions through the media or a Parliament in any third country."

Our provides the best breaking news online and our football fan community is unmatched worldwide. Never miss a thing again!

•Julio

Blazer reports Warner for violating FIFA suspension CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer has claimed that suspended FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has been reported to the organisation for violating his ban.

Warner is suspended from all footballrelated activity pending an inquiry into bribery allegations but Blazer has alleged that he has already breached the terms of his ban.

"We have clear evidence of a violation of his suspension and we have reported that to the FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke,” Blazer told Press Association Sport.

"He has also been meeting with [Concacaf] members, which is against the rules of the suspension."

Blazer, who revealed the bribery claims that led to Warner's suspension, said his maligned boss had been meeting

•Blazer

associations and that a statement from acting Concacaf president Lisle Austin had come from Warner's aide.

Warner himself has released a letter to the Caribbean Football Union urging its members not to protest and to instead pledge their support to Sepp Blatter in the upcoming election, with the incumbent president the only remaining candidate.

He writes: "I, Jack Warner, a servant and believer in the principles of this beautiful game do humbly besiege you, my brothers and sisters from the Caribbean Football Union to desist from initiating any protest action at tomorrow's Fifa Congress.

"I know many of you are hurting and it is only human nature that you would want to demonstrate your anger but despite all we must not fuel a fire set by others to incinerate all that we strive for.

"At our last meeting we agreed as a union to support the incumbent Joseph Sepp Blatter in his quest to regain the presidency. I wish to assure you nothing has changed - our mandate was set then and despite it all we must fulfil it.

"The battles I have fought over the last week are my burdens to bear; my shoulders are broad and skin is insulated to the verbal attacks I am subjected to daily. This is now my battle. I am humbled by all the support I continue to receive. Let us not be detracted for your duty is to football."

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

The expression “beauty and brains” may be heavily clichéd but aptly describes 17-year-old Chisom Okpala, who will join 2,157 others to resume studies at Harvard, one of the world’s best universities, in August.

KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE reports on how the girl from Aba, Abia State, won a $62,050 scholarship

•From Left: Mr Vivian Nkem, CSR/Public Affairs Manager, NB Plc, Chimamanda and Ace broadcaster, Mrs Adesuwa Oyenokwe with Chisom (second right) when she won the National Reading Competition last year

Meet Chisom, the 17-year old destined for Harvard •Girl wins $62,050 scholarship

W

HEN she posed for a photograph after an interview session with The Nation in Lagos, Chisom Mildred Okpala looked like a model destined for a career on the catwalk.

But modelling is not high on the 17-year-old’s list of priorities. Being a president is, though, and with a $62,050 annual scholarship to study Economics and Mathematics at Harvard University, she is preparing for that role.

Chisom was born the sixth of eight children to Sir Michael Okpala, a trader, and Mrs Chinwe, a primary school teacher. She describes herself as a dreamer who follows up on her dreams.

“I am a go-getter. I am someone who dreams a lot and I don’t stop at that, I work towards it. I remember after winning a competition last year, a reporter asked me where I would like to study and I

told him Harvard University – even before I applied,” she said of her being among the 6.2 per cent of 34,950 applicants resuming in August at the Havard University, Cambridge, United States.

Not many 17-year-olds can boast of a two-page CV like Chisom, which details her many laurels and awards won as a secondary school pupil at Dority International School, Aba, Abia State, where she graduated last year.

If her critics snort at her achievements at competitions, then perhaps her WASSCE results would change their minds. Chisom made seven A1 and two B3 in the 2010 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The ‘A’s were in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Igbo and French; and the Bs in English Language and Literature in English. She also made 294

in the Unified Tertiary Matricula- UTME), and 102 in the Test of Ention Examination (UTME) last year glish as a Foreign Language and was admitted to Study Eco- (TOEFL) examination in addition nomics and Statistics at the Uni- to her excellent WASSCE result. A versity of Benin. She had the sec- one-hour phone interview by an Admissions Officer from the uniond best result in her Faculty.

Her journey to Harvard began versity followed her applications with her participating in the Stu- and essays.

However, despite being confidents’ Achievement Programme sponsored by the United States dent that she put in her best to earn a place, Chisom said opening Embassy in Lagos for high her inbox to read the reachievers without the ecosponse from the university nomic muscle to afford Ivy on March 30 was one of the League universities. She most tensed moments of was nominated for the her life. programme by her She said: “Harvard told former school because of us they would send us deher outstanding cisions on 30th of March.

WASSCE results.

On that day, I woke up In what has been deand took my Mum’s scribed as an unprecphone to check my edented admissions email. The subject year at Harvard, on the mail was Chisom was one Application to of the 6.2 per Harvard. I hesicent of a tated in reading r e c o r d because I thought 34,950 apthat whatever is plicants to in there would be admitgreatly influence ted and one my life. So, I of the 60 per prayed. It took cent to get fiabout five minnancial aid. utes after opening To get a place, the mail before I Chisom said she could read it. scored 2,110 out of a “The day bepossible 2,400 marks fore, I read a in the SAT II exami•Chisom newsletter from nation (Nigeria’s Harvard which equivalent of the

said this year’s admission was highly competitive and they could only admit six per cent. I was really scared. I thought about the 94 per cent being rejected and I just didn’t know if I fell into the lucky – no they are not lucky because they worked for it – I mean into the privileged six per cent till the next morning.

“My hands were shaking as I read the mail. I have never been more tensed. When I saw I was admitted, I screamed.”

Harvard was one of four of the seven schools she applied to which gave her admission and scholarships.

She got offers from Wesleyan University, Connecticut, Colgate University, New York and St Laurence University, also in New York.

With her fantastic O Level results, especially in the sciences and Mathematics, Chisom has been expected to go for Medicine or any of the sciences. But she said Economics and Mathematics are her first love.

“From childhood I wanted to be a doctor. But as I grew, my perception changed. I was influenced

by Okonjo-Iweala who helped Nigeria get debt relief. When I watch CNN I also like the ‘Quest Means Business’ programme because I liked the way they discussed about the economy. I am interested in Economics because •Continued on page 26

• UNIPORT TO BECOME ‘ENTREPRENEURIAL’VARSITY SEVEN MONTHS IN PLATEAU - Page 26 •NUC TO LASU: CLOSURE ALL SATELLITE CAMPUSES - Page 37

RUN FILE THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

26

EDUCATION OSUSTECH FILE Training for workers THE Ondo State University of Science and Technology, (OSUSTECH), Okitipupa has concluded its first staff training and development programme.

During the opening of the workshop held at the university’s temporary site, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Tolu Odugbemi, underscored the need for training and retraining for effective service delivery. He reiterated the university’s determination to ensure that capacity building is given adequate attention.

Seasoned university administrators spoke on various topics including: The University’s Organisational Structure; Communication and Human Relations in the workplace; Advance Computer Skills; Safety and Security Measures in the workplace; Work Ethics; Interpersonal Relationship at work; Succession planning for Effective Management; Motivation and job Appraisal and Planning for retirement during the workshop.

NDDC donates generator THE OSUSTECH management has taken delivery of a 375KVA Perkins generator donated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

At the handing-over in Port Harcourt, the Managing Director of the Commission, Mr Chibuzor Ugwoha, said the donation was a demonstration of NDDC’s commitment to encourage teaching and research in state-owned universities in the Niger Delta.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Odugbemi, represented by the Ag. Head, Department of Biological Sciences, Dr. Adegoke Adegbite, expressed appreciation for the donation and solicited more collaborative efforts between the commission and the university.

Students greet Ajimobi THE students of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo have congratulated the Oyo State Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi on his inauguration, praying for his good health and God’s guidance.

In a statement by Abiola Akintayo of the Department of Mass Communication, the students pleaded with Ajimobi to assist in the building of good roads to and within the school.

“We wish him frutiful tenure and God’s blessing,” Akintayo said.

UNIPORT to become ‘entrepreneurial’ varsity

A

S the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) holds its 27th convocation next week, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Joseph Ajienka is drawing attention to plans to metamorphose into an entrepreneurial university, where the benefits of town and gown relationship would be clearly visible.

When he visited The Nation’s head office in Lagos, Ajienka threw more light on the concept. Already, he said the potential of operating as an entrepreneurial university is being demonstrated in the successful collaboration with industry and foreign universities on the operation of the institution’s Institute of Petroleum Studies; the medical research breakthrough that produced a sickle cell anaemia drug, Ciklavit marketed by Niemeth Pharmaceuticals; the Arts – given the growing number of UNIPORT alumni plying their trade in Nollywood; and sports where the university is the unarguable champion even beyond Nigeria.

With regards to sports, Ajienka, the seventh Vice-Chancellor of the institution where President Goodluck Jonathan, Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and other distinguished Nigerians were educated, said the university would build on its dominance of the Nigerian University Games (WAUG) and the West African Universities Games (WAUG) to establish a sports institute. He explained that the dominance has come about because academics specialising in sports, have been given free reign to test research findings.

He said: “Over the years we are lucky to have somebody who read Sports Medicine, a medical doctor, who read sports medicine. He is now practicing sports science and doing research. You find that in this country, there are some sections of the country just good in certain sports. You find that the Kenyans for instance are very good in long distance races. So he has been studying this and grooming talents in this area. So he has been

•Ajienka and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bernard Efiuywevwere at the Conference Room of The Nation PHOTO DAYO ADEWUMI

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

studying this and grooming talents in such areas. What we are trying to do now is to establish a sports institute. We will collaborate with sports institutes outside the country and sports industry in such a way that it will be mutually beneficial to the university and the collaborating partners. This is what we are planning to do. Immedi-

ately after the sports festival, we intend to launch the sports institute.”

The Vice-Chancellor who is credited with successfully running the IPS as pioneer Director prior to his appointment, said with the concept of Entrepreneurial University, research works by lecturers would no longer remain on the shelves unused as they would receive the

‘Research should stimulate and improve teaching. Entrepreneurial University is about bringing research to bear on society and reap the benefit of knowledge’

needed push to attract attention of industry and international institutions.

“Entrepreneurial University is simply this: that you conduct research; industry may not be interested in taking on board the product of research, so the university goes into development and partners with industry to develop; sends it to industry, gives patent the industry license. Research should stimulate and improve teaching. Entrepreneurial University is about bringing research to bear on society and reap the benefit of knowledge – capitalize knowledge so that researches do not remain as theses,” he said.

Chisom, the 17-year old destined for Harvard •Continued from page 25

Nigeria has potential. We just need the right hands to turn things around.

“Economics is something I like because it is practical. You can see it in everyday life because when prices go up, demand reduces. I also love Mathematics. I don’t know which I love more, Economics or Mathematics,” she said.

With distinctions in French, Igbo, English Language and Literature in English, Chisom shows she is a well-rounded student. Her love for literary works is what earned her the first prize in the National Read-

ing Competition organised by the Nigerian Breweries Plc twice – in SS1 and SS3. She has also won essay competitions and an award for a short story she wrote last year.

At Harvard, she plans to do a Minor in Creative Writing so she becomes more and more like her literary mentor, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

“I plan to do a Minor in Creative Writing because I love writing. I am someone who can combine a lot of things. I have written three short stories already. I am a big fan of Chimamanda. I have read all her books so often that I can quote portions of it by heart,” she

said.

A distinction in French also means Chisom is bilingual, which she said is necessary to be a global citizen.

“I decided to do French to sharpen my foreign language skills in this globally competitive world. It wasn’t difficult for me because I have done French right from nursery school,” she said.

Chisom is proud of her numerous achievements, especially the Harvard admission, which she said she worked hard to earn. But she

is not cocky. She smiles easily and likes her images in photographs – a trait displayed by the way she repeatedly asked to see how she looked after every shot taken by this reporter.

Despite her hard work, she attributes her success to dedicated teachers at Dority, who encouraged her to be the best.

And in one short year after completing her secondary education, Chisom has blossomed into a pretty young lady with the world at her feet.

Unionist seeks revival of education

N

IGERIA is yet to enthrone an educational system that is pragmatic and germane to her socio-economic and political transformation.

If this is done, former National President, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Comrade Remi Makinde, said Nigerians would happily contribute their quota to national development.

Speaking at the inauguration of a secretariat built by the COEASU, Federal College of Education (Special), Akinmoorin, Oyo State chapter, Makinde said: “A pragmatic re-orientation will make many Nigerians, rural or urban, to take delight in thinking and doing things which work. It is a refuge of the idle to continue to over-rely on our cultural past.

Nigeria is still basically in the

From Bode Durojaiye Oyo

18th century, notwithstanding isolated skyscrapers and palatial mighty buildings which adorn a few of our cities.”

Makinde who commended the College’s branch of COEASU for its vision, said the building of the secretariat would further enhance relationship between the academics and the management, as well as intellectual capacity of the lecturers.

In his welcome address, the COEASU Chairman of FCE (Special), Oyo, Comrade Salami Ademola Rauf, identified some challenges facing the union, as including maturity period for promotion of senior lecturers to principal lecturers for last year, as well as lateral promotion of instructors

with higher degrees to lecturers.

In his address, the Provost, Dr Olufemi Adeniyi, charged COEASU members to rededicate themselves to the development of the institution.

On the promotion issue, Adeniyi said both matters are receiving the attention of the authority in Abuja.

Highlights of the occasion include the presentation of gifts to retired COEASU members.

Members of the COEASU executives present at the event are Garba Mustapha (Vice Chairman), Hameed Lawal (General Secretary), Femi OJo (Asst. Secretary), Mojeed Oladimeji ( Financial Secretary ), Rafiu Kehide (Treasurer), Owolabi Ogundiya (Auditor), Kazeem Yussuf (Social Director), and Nureni Oladeji (PRO).

“Imagine ... Nigeria-born, Havard-trained, strike-free!”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

27

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

EDUCATION

UNILAG NASU fights management over hazard allowance

T

HE University of Lagos (UNILAG) branch of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), has threatened an indefinite strike, if management refuses to pay hazard allowance to its members.

The union is protesting the failure of the university’s management to pay the allowance which has been signed by the Federal Government since 2009.

The union claimed that the management has been indifferent about its agitation for the allowance which has piled up to 20 months arrears.

Last week, NASU embarked on a three-day warning strike to press home its demands. Its mem-

ACE FILE Council appoints Acting Bursar THE Governing Council of the Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo, has appointed Mr. Ganiyu Olaniyi Abdul Acting Bursar.

His appointment took effect from yesterday.

Abdul was a chief accountant in the Bursary Division. He joined ACE on July 2, 2007 as a Principal Accountant and was appointed Chief Accountant in September 2009.

Abdul was born on July 25, 1965 at Upenmen-Owo in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo state.

He attended St. James Anglican Primary School, Owo from 19711977, New Grammar School, Owo, 1977-1982, Ekamarun Anglican School, Ifon, 1982-1983, Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo, 1989-1991, 1993-1995, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, 19982000 and Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo 2000/2001.

Mr. G.O. Abdul is a qualified Chartered Accountant. He is married with children.

College okays sanitation guidelines TO ensure a clean environment at ACE, the Provost, Prof Adeyemi Idowu, has approved new guidelines for sanitation.

The new guidelines were drafted by the Environmental and Sanitation Committee of the College headed by Dr. R.O. Oloyede.

Some of the guidelines are adoption of a day for general cleaning by clearing and cleaning contractors, and the construction of notice boards at strategic places for use by members of staff and students to discourage posting bills on classroom, administrative block and office walls and walls while inscribing POST NO BILL signs in strategic places.

The college has also provided DILO dust bins.

The Environmental and Sanitation Committee would as part of its activities ensure all drainages are kept clean, toilets are disinfected and refuse collected and disposed on regular basis.

The committee would also give instructions to cleaning contractors on matters relating to environmental hazard, and recommend measures to improve sanitation standards to the College authority.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

bers marched peacefully around the campus from Wednesday through Friday.

The Federal Government signed an agreement with NASU and other academic bodies in October 2009 part of which was the hazard allowance. However, the union’s Chairman, Comrade Ganiyu Adelagun Adeshina, said UNILAG has turned deaf ears, despite several efforts by the union to reach a compromise.

At a congress on May 18, the union took the decision to down tools if the management failed to act after seven days. A statement signed by the union’s Secretary, Comrade Folorunso Alabi, said part of the decision reached at the congress was that if there was no positive response from the university management, members would assemble at the university’s main gate on Wednesday, May 25 to commence a three-day warning strike.

In a phone interview, Adeshina said NASU would not have embarked on the warning strike if the university management had heeded its call for a dialogue. He added that should the management continue to keep mum, the union might embark on an indefinite strike.

Adeshina accused the university’s management of employing ‘divide and rule’ tactics.

He noted that the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), had all been paid the said allowances.

He said: “We presented the signed agreement to the university management for consideration but they never did anything about it.

They just ignored us even when we threatened to go on strike they pretended as if nothing would happen.

“Even the Vice-Chancellor was alleged to have said a strike by the union would ruffle no feather since other unions would be on ground. The VC and few other principal officers of the university are receiving N750,000 as responsibility allowance, CONTISS 13 and above are on N3000, 000 and Heads of Departments are on N250,000.

We even got to know that up till now, the hazard allowance has not been included in the allowance.”

Adeshina also said the union leadership is under fire as some members are pointing accusing fingers of accusation that it has compromised.

“There is an allegation going round the union that the union leadership had been bribed by the university’s management to the tune of N3million. So, we do not have any option than to follow the union resolution-go on strike.”

But a source from the university’s information unit, who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter that the management is not losing sleep over the issue.

“They (management) are ready to hold a meeting with the union but the union has been kind of adamant. The money they are fighting for has not even been released by the Federal Government yet. All I know is that the management is trying to meet with the Governing Council to get the money approved,” he said.

•Members of staff of Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH), Okitipupa during a training at the university.

Landmark Varsity reaches out to host community T

O build a cordial relation with its host community, the management of Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ola-Rotimi Ajayi visited traditional rulers and religious leaders penultimate week.

Ajayi and the Landmark delegation visited the Executive Council of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Omu-Aran Chapter at the association’s temporary secretariat, St. John’s Anglican Church Cathedral, Omu Aran, and the Olomu of Omu-Aran, His Royal Highness, Oba Charles Oladele Ibitoye Adogbajale II on different days.

At the CAN secretariat, the Vice Chancellor said since the university was founded on the core value of spirituality, it was expedient that the first courtesy visit was to CAN. He said the university was making remarkable progress – with the number of students now almost 1,000. He acknowledged the support, peace and tranquility Land-

mark enjoys in the community, while also coveting the prayers of the association. He also urged CAN to suggest ways the university can be of service to the community.

The Chairman of the Association, Rev D.O Omorinoye was happy about the visit which he described as a landmark. He added that the Christian community in OmuAran is grateful to the Chancellor, Dr David Oyedepo for establishing the institution in the community.

He therefore pledged the spiritual support of the Association to the University and charged the Management to always fear God and obey His commandments in the discharge of its duties.

At the palace of the Olomu, the Vice-Chancellor thanked the monarch for his fatherly support to the university opened on March 21 and specially acknowledged him for

the vast land occupied by the university. This, he described as a receptive attitude towards development. He assured that the university would do everything in its capacity to serve the community.

In response, the Olomu charged them to utilise the privilege to write a remarkable history for the university. He also promised that the community as a whole would not fail in its responsibility to render necessary support to the university, adding that it is a sign of progress, which was why the community wholly embraced it.

On both visits the Vice Chancellor was accompanied by the Registrar, Mrs. Mary Aboyade; Dean, Student Affairs, Pastor Triumph Abatan; Dean, College of Business and Social Sciences, Prof Sunday Otokiti; Dean, College of Science and Engineering, Prof Josiah Bello; Director of Financial Services, Dcn Deji Okubanjo; Director of Centre of Centre for Learning Resources, Mrs. Felicia Yusuf; and the Chaplain, Pastor Abiodun Joseph.

Corona produces best IGCSE CRS result

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ORONA Secondary School, Agbara, Ogun State, is celebrating Ejodamen Ikhariale for making the best result in Christian Religious Studies (CRS) in last year’s Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).

In the last year’s IGCSE, former deputy Head Boy of the school, Saddiq Nuru, had the best result in English Language. He is currently on presidential scholarship, studying Engineering at the Manhattan College in New York.

The school Director, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo,made this known last Friday ahead of the school’s annual Valedictory/Prize Giving Day coming up on Saturday.

Ikhariale and nine others made 100 per cent grades in the examination and are among the 55 Senior School 3 pupils graduating on Saturday.

“This set that is graduating sat for the IGCSE exam in October/November (last year), and I am proud to say that 10 of them had 100 per cent results. We just got a letter from Cambridge that one of them Ejodamen Ikhariale, had the best result in the world in Christian Religious Studies. But we are still

By Adegunle Olugbamila

waiting because 10 of them scored 100 per cent and the best results was from Paul Brumeh, one of our pupil ‘s who scored 6A* and 1A,” she said.

On Saturday, Mrs Adefisayo said outstanding pupils would receive academic prizes as well as prizes for good character. Teachers, who have made impact on the pupils, will not be forgotten during the ceremony that will also serve as the inauguration of new prefects.

“The pupils have voted for the teacher who made the greatest impact on their lives, the teacher even does not know. But on Saturday the teacher will be surprised. We don’t choose (the teacher) for them. We only allow them to cast their votes for teaches whom they like best and we on our part give the award to the teacher with the highest votes cast,” she said.

On the school’s programmes for next session, Mrs Adefisayo said Corona hopes to impact more on Adie-Owe Secondary school, a public school it adopted in 2005.

“We want to assist them the more in the area of teacher training and provision of school materials. On our part we also intend to

•Mrs Adefisayo

boost our academic standards the more having universal results.

“Besides, every set has been given some form of charity organisation to support. We have adopted about six charity organisations. Each set has to tell us its plan for next session. For me, I don’t want support in terms of donating used clothes and all that; that is not support. Support for me means like having joint sport day, visit them and doing activities together. We want to have serious partnership with some of these organisations in terms of genuinely impacting on them and not the run-off-the-mill thing that people usually call support,” she said.

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An orientation worth the sweat

ABU students seek union’s return Page 34

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*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

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CAMPUS LIFE

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THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Students seek alternatives to kerosene In seven months, the price of kerosene has increased six times.

Last week in Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, students of Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA) paid N160 for one litre. Many were forced to seek alternatives.

BABATUNDE ALAO (300-L Geology) reports.

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TUDENTS remember well that, as at last October 20, they paid N85 for a litre of kerosene. Before the end of January, the price rose to N95. Many students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), were hopeful that the price would go down. But that did not happen. The price kept rising, until students resumed from the general elections’ break early in May to meet the current N160 per litre price.

No one needed a meeting to seek alternatives. One is firewood, in spite of what one called the “attendant stress and smoke”. This works for those who stay off-campus, said a student.

The student, who didn’t want to be named, added: “As we have trees around us, we are taking advantage of nature. What we do now is to contribute money to get a litre of kerosene for N160 and this will last us for about three days because we use about four corks of the kerosene per day. In fact, we are now used to it as it even makes the meal more delicious”.

Another student, who is one of those using firewood, said: “Cooking with firewood is archaic. The wood releases dangerous gases

• A common scene at gas filling stations in times of kerosene scarcity.

into the atmosphere, but government’s insensitivity to the high price of kerosene has left us with no choice”.

The popular maxim: “A hungry man is an angry man” was ecaptured in this student’s response: “I do not play with my stomach. I know I cannot go to class without having something in my stomach because that would mean lack of concentration. I don’t cook with firewood; what I do is to reduce the number of times I cook. Before the increment, I could cook up to four times a day but now, I cook the food that will last me an entire day. It just means I eat the same thing throughout a day. What can one do?”

Opeyemi Abioye (not real name) stays near the campus. He shared his “survival strategy” thus: “I am not a good cook, so the kerosene scarcity has ended my pretence at cooking. Thanks to my popularity on campus, what I do once my stomach notifies me that it needs something is visit my friends. They share their food freely with me. However, I have also been wise in that they do not know I arrange my

•Some boys cooking with firewood.

visit to coincide with meal times.

Again, I don’t go to a friend’s house more than once except for other reasons.”

Another student with a similar strategy explained: “I ensure I leave home early, even if I don’t have lectures, just to go to my

friend’s house. I will be the one to wake her. We would gist and then she would cook and we eat together and go to school together. But this may not last for long now as she is already complaining bitterly about the price of kerosene”.

Some other students have resorted to skipping meals while others are now completely at the mercy of the canteens.

“I realised that if I buy a litre of kerosene for N160, it can never last me a full day, so I now go to the café where the food is N120. I take it in the afternoon then bear the hunger till the night when I drink garri with sugar, groundnut and milk. That’s how I’ve been coping,” said a final year student of Mass Communication.

This correspondent discovered an interesting development; most of those interviewed said they now like their alternatives such that “even when the price of kerosene gets back to what it used to be” they would still maintain the alternatives. Indeed, these options have become the inventions created by the necessity of the day.

• Students reject exams timetable - Pg32 •Lecturers to sign register at Bida Poly- Pg33 SAVE ON MAC 44 AS CAMPUSLIFE THURSDAY JUNE 2, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

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CAMPUS LIFE

Now, to business

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Pushing Out

HANKFULLY, the politicking is over.

Hopefully, the rollicking of inauguration is also over. Now, to business. President Goodluck Jonathan has made some attempts at indicating interest in changing the fortunes of the education sector which have all but busted.

I said “attempts at indicating interest” because one has seen a lot from government officials to know not to bet on them. As the popular maxim goes, today in Nigeria, “seeing is believing”.

Until then, there is no difference yet between Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua or even Sani Abacha and the rest of them, as far as the education sector is concerned.

I’m actually an optimist, in fact as some of my friends would say, a “faithist”. The point really is that whether “good luck” is following Jonathan or he is following it, nation building is not sentiments. Nation building is realistic vision followed by painstaking commitment to well informed and defined goals. That is what our education sector, and indeed the rest of the nation’s economy, needs.

Some of these “attempts at indicating interest” by the President include an education roundtable and a summit just before and after the nation’s jubilee celebration last October. The latter, tagged “Presidential Stakeholders’ Summit on Reclamation, Restoration and Sustenance of Quality and Ethics on Education,” was capped by the setting up a 30-man presidential task force to look into the issues bugging down the system as well as proffer solutions. This was on January 5, 2011.

At the ceremony, Jonathan handed the “education rescue team” led by former executive director of Universal Basic Education (UBE), Prof Peter Obayan, an eight-point term of reference. They include refocusing and restructuring existing policies at all levels of

schedules for three ministers who would education. be assigned to the ministry. The ministry During the campaigns preceding the elections, had been run by two (a “senior” and a Jonathan had also mentioned that he was going “junior” called “minister of state”) since to concentrate on four “Es”. The first three were the Obasanjo administration. With the electoral reforms, electricity and energy. Later, dissolution of the last cabinet on Monday, he added education. we many now start with three, according I know the elections we had in April were not to the President’s speech. perfect, but we had something much better than with Another good “attempt at indicating we’ve had in almost two decades. Thus, if we are interest” is his explanation that each of to judge by his “attempts at indicating interest” the expected three ministers would be in electoral reforms, then, I daresay there is a given “redesigned job schedules”. These glimmer of hope. The only way to ensure this 08054503104 job descriptions, as human resource glimmer expands is to roll up our sleeves and (SMS only) managers would call it, must be made get to work. First things: round pegs must be put •campuslife@thenationonlineng.net public so that all of us can know who to in round holes. hold responsible for what.

Ciao •ladycampus@yahoo.com Before now, many Nigerians did not education, especially the concept and know which of the two ministers did what exactly. It’s our 7th Workshop this weekend Only few knew that a parastatal like the UBE, for implementation of the 6-3-3-4 system.

HIS is to wish our invited participants The committee was also to determine the best instance, was under the direct purview of the journey mercies as well as an enriching institutional arrangement for the management, “junior” minister. But even at that, he or she was regulation and coordination of education at all somewhat at the mercy of whatever crumbs the time at our 7th Coca-Cola/NBC Campus Journalists’ Workshop. levels and propose sustainable funding “senior” minister dished out.

I can’t wait to see all the new faces!

It is good to know that something different is arrangements and transparent management of resources. It would examine all laws militating being considered for a sector as crucial as against the delivery of qualitative education Essay Competition for Undergrads as well as the ethical issues in education, by suggesting steps necessary to restore ethics and Send to adedayo.thomas@gmail.com and HE Nation CAMPUSLIFE, in collaboration values in education at all levels. with AfricanLiberty.org and Network for copy ladycampus@yahoo.com.

Obayan and his team were equally expected Entries will be received between June and to develop programmes and projects that will a Free Society, is calling for entries into an esJuly 2, 2011. attract talented and brilliant persons to the teaching say completion. Details are as follows: Prizes: 1st - N50, 000; 2nd - N30, 000; 3rd - N20, Topic: Free Enterprise: The Precursor to Ecoprofession at all levels, while re-training and 000; 4th - N15, 000; 5th - N10, 000 nomic Prosperity motivating them.

There will also be five N5, 000 honorary For Who: Students in Nigeria’s tertiary instiOn May 10, they went to submit their report but mentions. were told that it was postponed to May 18; it held tutions All entries will get a free CD “Ideas for a Free Format: MS Word, not more than 1,500 on this date. The submitted report spelt out the Society” containing 100 textbooks on various words. necessary steps that must be taken by the Interested students should please request for fields of studies. administration to move education forward.

Announcement of Winners: July 28.

Expectedly, the President used the occasion to the background material from Adedayo at Presentation of prizes: August 4, 2011. restate his earlier promise to reposition the adedayo.thomas@gmail.com and copy Ngozi First to Third winners will be presented their education sector in the next four years. He let out at ladycampus@yahoo.com. prizes at the Corporate Headquarters of The On the first page of the completed essay, some of his planned reforms in the sector to include improved funding of education and total overhaul please write your full names, department, year Nation Newspapers in Lagos. Others will be of the education ministry. The overhaul, according of study and name of institution. Also include routed through the Deans of Student Affairs or HOD of winners’ departments. to him, would involve redesigning the job your email address and GSM line.

Ngozi Nwozor

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T T

‘Disability is of the mind’ Gloria Ogoamaka Nwogbo, who has just graduated from the Department of Biology Science Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, is the reigning Miss Wheelchair, Anambra State. The make-up artiste and caterer spoke with EMEKA ATTAH (Political Science) on her challenges while in school, and plans for the future.

•Gloria

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AN you tell us the origin of your disability?

I remember asking my mother why I could not walk like other children. Then I was 10 and in primary school. She said it happened when I was a year old and already walking. According to her, I became sick one day and they took me to the hospital but after an injection, I couldn’t stand again. All efforts to remedy the situation proved abortive.

What were the challenges you encountered in school?

They were quite enormous but the most challenging was my inability to move about freely which made me feel inferior among my mates. But, despite all these, l knew that life itself is also a challenge. I told myself that I can make it, since others could also make it. I encouraged myself with the help of my spiritual director, Rev Fr Law Nwankwo, friends and family members.

You seem to be always

happy. How did you conquer your disability?

Really, it wasn’t easy but I thank God through Our Lady of perpetual help who inspired me with boundless hope and courage that all was not lost. So, the moment l accepted it as a cross, everything about me changed for good. Again, being positive to oneself also changed the situation. I so much believe in God and in myself that I will make it in this life. I say it boldly today that I rule my world.

Has anybody ever taken advantage of your situation to exploit you in any way?

No, not at all, I have never experienced such.

What are your guiding principles in life?

My philosophy is that no limitation is insurmountable. It all depends on people’s mindset.

Give your best to anything you do. Responsibility which is your ability to respond comes from the mind. Let good result be the measure of your integrity and don’t allow your inability to become your limitation. As far as I’m concerned, disability of the mind is the worst disability. I believe in moving forward, despite any condition. Greatness has something in common with success but it’s all about determination. Achieving success

and greatness in life depends on how consistent, hardworking and prayerful one can be. Being positive minded is the key to achieving goals in life.

Now you are through with your degree. What next?

While I was in school, I told myself that I must harness all the potentials God deposited in me so I learnt other things apart from my regular academic work. I attended four other “universities” if I may use that word. I went to Creative Minds Academy, where I learnt to be creative; I went to a computer school to upgrade my proficiency in computer. I was also in a fashion/ designing school where I learnt how to sew clothes and, finally, I am a self- trained makeup artiste. I design stages, produce beads and other artworks.

Any word for students who feel overburdened, especially those physically challenged?

They should never allow the their inabilities to become their limitations. Work hard and say yes to yourself all the time. Always be positive in your thoughts and actions. I also advise them to face their challenges and don’t shy away from them.

This is the only way for them to overcome their limitations in life.

Students urge Ajimobi to build studio

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TUDENTS of Mass Communication at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, have called on Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, to implement the proposal on the community transmitting studio pending in the Governor’s Office.

This, according to them, is the only means to equip their department.

The students said it was a shame that the proposal, written over a decade ago, could be pending till now. They said when successive administrations refused to act on the proposal, the University of Ibadan “hijacked the programme and set up the Diamond FM” which trains students who are not studying Mass Communication, but appreciate the use of broadcast studio.

The Polytechnic, Ibadan, is one of the first to run Mass Communication in Nigeria but the insti-

From Jeremiah Oke THE POLY IBADAN

tution does not have modern equipment to train its students.

Olawale Bakare, an HND II Mass Communication student, said: “If the institution has its own standard transmitting studio, it will add to the experience of the students and they will be able to practise whatever they are taught in class before getting into the labour market.”

Another student, Olayiwola Abiodun, said having a transmitter and a well equipped studio will assist students to serve their industrial working experience (SIWES) in the studio as well as add to the credibility of the students who graduate from the institution.

FUTO introduces Igbo, French in General Study

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S part of efforts to make Igbo an international language, the management of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), has concluded plans to inculcate it as part of credit load for 100-level students. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Celestine Onwuliri, said that would go a long way to make young people speak the language and in that way preserve it. He added that the institution would introduce French as well.

Early this year, the Federal University of Technology Women Association (FUTOWA) launched the Igbo language campaign. During the flag-off campaign at the Anglican Chapel of Light, FUTO, Prof Viola Onwuliri, wife of the VC and leader of the group, challenged mothers to use their position in the family to lead the

From Gerald Nwokocha FUTO

effort to restore the dignity of Igbo language and culture.

Mrs. Onwuliri praised the VC and university senate for introducing two credit load for Igbo courses - IGB 101 (Introduction to Igbo Grammar) and IGB 102 (Introduction to Igbo Culture) in the university’s curriculum. She also encouraged members of staff to attend conferences and seminars on Igbo Language and culture.

Some students expressed appreciation for the new courses. However, Duru Princewill, a Quantity Surveying student, said he did not like either of the new Igbo courses because, according to him, “they add nothing to the grade point”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

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CAMPUS LIFE Fresh students of Political Science at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, were treated to a remarkable welcome. SIKIRU AKINOLA (200-Level Political Science) reports.

•The students savouring the touch of nature.

•Members of the NAPSS executive, the organisers. Richard is in the middle (in suit).

An orientation worth the sweat

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OR four days, new and old members of the National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife chapter, were treated to various exciting activities at NAPSS leadership’s orientation for freshers.

It started with an awareness campaign on Wednesday, coordinated by the Vice-President, Taiwo Okeyode, and the Director of Socials, Banke Oyelami.

Held at the Faculty Basement, activities included a rally and games (chess, Play station 2, Ludo and table tennis). DJ Lagere was at the stand to spice up the arena with latest hits.

The next day saw a colloquium which addressed the academic challenges of Political Science students.

This was brought to the fore with the realisation that no First Class student has emerged in 22 years.

Richard Onatunji, in 400-Level and president of NAPSS, urged the freshers to uphold good moral standards.

“I congratulate you on your admission to this great department. I welcome you to a department where laziness and indiscipline are not condoned; a department where you will read to score at least an ‘E’ in some of the courses. You must brace up for the challenges. I’m not intimidating

you but advising you”.

On the job opportunities on graduation, he stated: “Though we are not yet political scientists but ones in the making, I can tell you that as a graduate of politics, you can work in any government establishment, hospital, banks, etc. You can also be a political analyst, administrator, economist, journalist, ambassador or lecturer. Indeed, the possibilities are endless.”

On Friday, there was an excursion. organised specifically for the 105 new students, but as the eight buses rented for the trip filled up, it was realised that no fewer than 174 students were on board.

Venue was Erin Ijesha, host of the Olumirin Waterfalls in Oriade Local Government, Osun State.

The students could not wait to get down and get the party going as the buses got to their destination. There were different points. Not many went beyond the first three. This reporter was among those who made it to the last – stage 6 – also called (point of no return). Some old women were there.

Some students asked them if they lived there or just came around. Responding in Yoruba, one said: “We have been in this place since; we can’t ascertain the years. There are dangerous animals here and the weather is very harsh during Harmattan. We also climb the hills and usually eat

•Another group of the picnikers.

vegetables”.

After about two hours of swimming and generally having fun, the excited students were treated to a sumptuous delicacy prepared by Forks and Fingers, a popular catering outfit in OAU. D J Lagere was on hand to make the trip a “no dulling moment”.

Rachael Victor, an 100-Level student, was crowned the Face of NAPSS in a keenly contested pageant held at one of huts at the waterfalls. She will be representing the department in any beauty contest in OAU. In a chat with CAMPUSLIFE, she said: “I’m surprised not because I won but because this was my first time to contest in any beauty pageant. I give the glory to God”.

Baba Olumirin is the old man in charge of the waterfalls. CAMPUSLIFE spoke to him on the level of development of the place, considering the human traffic it attracts.

He responded: “The government is doing something but we would be happy if more funds are allocated to the site to make it a grade A tourist centre. The gate fee we collect is used for maintenance. We are looking for corporate organisations to come and sponsor events in this place. We also want the government to come to the aid of this community by repairing our roads and connecting electricity to this site for convenience sake”.

At the end of the day, many students agreed that it was a week well spent. In a chat with CAMPUSLIFE,

Winifred Eghe, in 300-Level, said: “The programme is the best since my admission to this department. The organisers did a great job; they should keep it up”.

Olubunmi Akingbola, a 200-Level student, has been around. He was a ward councilor in Ekiti Southwest Council, Ekiti State. He was full of praises for the NAPSS leadership: “I’m surprised with what the executive of this department has done considering the financial constraints.

NAPSS is going places”.

The Assistant General Secretary of the department, Kazeem Tijani, thanked everyone. “You’ve made us proud. We are nothing without you; we’ll never disappoint you,” he enthused.

As internet social networks grow, students have embraced the opportunities offered with both hands. MADUABUCHI IKPE (just graduated from Mass Communication, Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki) examines the world of these students. after teaching many students at a

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VISIT to any cybercafé on or around a campus environment would show many students busy with the desktops. No bets on which of their studies or chat sites many will be on. Such sites, also called social sites, include 2go, Yahoo messenger, Facebook, Naijapals, My Buddy, Twitter and YouTube.

According to a lecturer at the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki, Mr. John Akah, the students rarely care about the amount of time and money they spend on these sites.

During a class recently, as witnessed by this reporter, a lecturer was furious when he asked a girl a question only to discover she was chatting on her Blackberry. He seized the phone and thundered at her: “You are stupid and unserious. Now, get out of my class and don’t come for this phone ever!”

As she stomped off in anger, the rest of the class hollered: “2go, 2go!”

During the last exams in EBSU, a student was caught using the 2go site.

It was discovered that the boy had a friend somewhere sending him the answers to the questions”.

These days, introductions between new acquaintances many not go with “can I have your number?” It’s usually “What’s your name on 2go, Facebook

Social networks and academics

etc”. The rest will be settled once they hook on online Some students are willing to spend close to five hours on these sites daily, meanwhile, such students cannot spend just an hour on their books.

Rarely do they go to news sites.

James Ogu, in 300-Level Biochemistry, admitted he loved the sites. “Once I am on any of the sites, I like 2go a lot; I hook up with friends in other schools.

I also get to meet pretty girls and generally have fun”.

CAMPUSLIFE discovered that while a class is going on, students do not have to “suffer” a boring lecturer. They simply “switch off” as they “switch on to any social networking site”.

For many such students, their care is what picture they have recently uploaded, what their friends are saying about the photos, who is going out with who, who has dumped who and other mundane things that occupy the mind of the idle youth.

The craze for these sites has affected a considerable number of students that even when they are walking on the streets, eating or at home, they are online, engrossed. It’s become an addiction.

•Students browsing at a cyber cafe on campus.

Perhaps to deflect the accusation of misleading the young, some of these sites have added applications to cater for those who might care for activities like poetry, sports and even dating, as

well as others. This seems to be working as a lecturer who did not want to be named revealed that he loves visiting the “Poet room” in 2go, something he said “helps to relieve stress

stretch”.

Another student, John Ogukwe, said a friend he met in one of the site rooms gave him a link where he now goes for shows as an upcoming artist.

Meanwhile, a parent told CAMPUSLIFE that she was “forced to seize my daughter’s phone because it had become a distraction in school and at home”.

Some students said the era of coffee taking to enable them stay awake for night reading is over, as indulging one’s self in this site keeps one awake “and in a good mood for reading”. But not many agree with this. The latter insists that once one gets off the sites and begins to concentrate on one’s book, the next thing is sleep.

Mr. Patrick Nwedu is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication. He lamented what he termed the corruption of English words, a direct result of the influence of chatting.

“These social sites encourage abbreviated spelling of words. You see ‘and’ being spelt as ‘n’; ‘take care’ as ‘takia’; ‘before’ as ‘b4’ and so on. The sad thing is that you see these silly abbreviations in test and exam scripts. It is quite sad and I don’t spare such careless students,” he concluded.

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CAMPUS LIFE Muslim students hail VC

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•A cross section of the new students having a good time at the event.

Freshers get rousing welcome in Edo

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HE National Association of Edo State Students (NAESS), University of Benin (UNIBEN) chapter, has held an orientation for new members. The ceremony, which took place at the Banquet Hall, was well attended.

Present were a former Dean of Students Affairs, Dr. Eddie Erhagbe; Chief Solomon Ogo, a prominent Benin businessman and Prof Omobude Idiabo, the group’s Staff Adviser. There were also the immediate past national president of the association, Theophilus Ibodeme; President of UNIBEN Students Union, Martin-Luther Obeata, who came with two other members of the

From Gilbert Alasa UNIBEN

union.

In a lecture entitled Students and Politics, Chief Ogo urged the students to always endeavour to strike a balance between politics and education.

Dr. Erhagbe held the audience spellbound with his lecture entitled The ideal student. He urged the freshers not to get carried away with the “thrills and frills” of the campus as academics and sound morals should remain the primary goal of every “ideal student”. He warned them to shun cultism, hooliganism, drug addiction and other vices that

are capable of truncating their dreams.

“You must realise early that UNIBEN places high premium on sound character. Hence, your academic success must be given good attention as the school may decide not to award you a degree if you are found wanting morally.”

Many of the students were not happy with the current bursary situation and urged leaders of the association to fight for an increment. Responding, the immediate past president of the association urged students to be patient as plans “are on top gear” to increase the bursary funds.

Students reject exams timetable

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TUDENTS of the Faculty of Engineering, Delta State University (DELSU), Oleh campus, have rejected the timetable for first semester exams. They claimed that writing a semester exam within a week would put undue pressure on them.

Students, upon seeing the timetable after it was pasted on the notice board by the exam officer, immediately mobilised yet to to removed.

From Philip Okorodudu DELSU

It took the timely intervention of the President of the Nigerian Universities Engineering Students Association (NUESA), DELSU chapter, Mandela Ukpe, to appease the students. He assured them that the association will not agree with the management to write exams under one week.

According to the students, writing exams within a week has left them with results that were far below their capacity because rather than ensure good grades, they tried to avoid carryovers.

After a closed door meeting with the Dean of the faculty, Prof. P.A Kuale, with NUESA executive, it was resolved that the examinations will be spread across two weeks, this way students would write one exam per day.

HE Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife chapter, has congratulated incoming Vice-Chancellor, Prof Idowu Omole.

In a May 20 letter, the students said: “At this point in time when our university is facing many problems, we are grateful that Allah, in His infinite mercy, gave us a diplomat as the helmsman. On behalf of the Muslim students on campus, we congratulate Prof Idowu Bamitale Omole for his emergence. We pray that his tenure be peaceful and glorious.”

The letter reads further: “We would like to advise the new VC to embark on students and stafforiented policies which will ulti-

•Prof Omole From Sikiru Akinola OAU

mately lead to peaceful academic calendar. As a diplomat, we enjoin him to make dialogue his major instrument in dealing with the university community; he should be neutral in all issues affecting students and staff.”

First semester exams end

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HE students of the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta, have ended the first semester exams.

The examination began on April 4, but was postponed and extended because of the last elections.

Many of the students are, however, unhappy with management’s decision to resume for second semester a week after the exams.

They said one week was too short.

From Samson Uwala FCE ABEOKUTA

A female student, who pleaded anonymity, said: “The management is too heartless. How can they call for resumption after a week of first semester exams?”

Meanwhile, the department of Social Studies has released the second semester time table even though the students are nowhere to be found.

Students greet Amosun

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HE National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS), The Polytechnic Ibadan chapter, has congratulated the new governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on his inauguration. It also charged him to fulfil his campaign promises.

It sent the message at the end of its weekly meeting through its President, Olusola Kusinmo. The students rejoiced with the governor and reminded him to work to improve the state. They also want the governor to reduce the fees paid at the stateowned institutions.

Olusola, an HND II Public Administration student, prayed for God’s guidance in Ogun State, so that Senator Amosun “can pilot the state to the next level.”

Another student, Abiola Kasali, called on the governor to see educa-

•Amosun From Jeremiah Oke THE POLY IBADAN

tion as an important sector because “Ogun people cherish quality education.”

Fellowship inducts new leaders

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HE Joint Christian Mission (LJCM), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), has inducted a new executive for the next one year.

It was held at a special induction service at the LAUTECH Chape.

The theme was: The Ark Bearers.

The executive is drawn from the various fellowships on campus. The chaplain, Pastor A. Afolabi, anchored the programme.

CAMPUSLIFE spoke with the

•One of the renovated blocks that make up Village Hostel.

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HEN the University of Jos (UNIJOS) management came up with a new levy that compelling students to pay a compulsory N10,000 as “development levy”, it was greeted with protests. The students, however, paid the money and waited, wondering when the “development” would begin.

In a short while, the Naraguta Hostel B Block was renovated and the story is different today. Our correspondent saw minor renovation in Village Hostel and “villagers” as the occupants are called are very optimistic that the repairs

Village Hostel gets facelift Department honours HOD From Ester Mark UNIJOS

would be completed before the second semester.

Adama Ejura, a 300-Level Mass Communication student who lives in Village Hostel, said she was happy with the development as it made the students believe more in the management. A 400-Level Medical student, who simply identified herself as Dami, said it was a welcome development, but ap-

pealed to the authorities to “do something about the cafeteria which is a shadow of itself”.

Dorothy Caleb, in 300-Level Management, urged the management to extend the repairs into the rooms and not only the outside environment.

While the hostels are gradually wearing a new look, many say development should not be limited to the Village Hostel alone but “should go round as all of us paid”.

S

TUDENTS of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), under the banner of Students’ Chemical Society of Nigeria (SCSN), have honoured their Head of Department, Prof Benedict Iserom Ita, who has bagged his

From Seun Oke LAUTECH

outgoing LJCM Co-ordinator, Segun Oparemi, who said it was by God’s grace that his tenure was able to carry out the evangelism alongside their academic engagements. Oluwaseun Imole, the new Publicity Coordinator, said he was surprised to be a member, saying he was grateful to God for the privilege and would do his best to move forward “the work of the Lord”.

From Charles Udenze UNICAL

professorship. The event took place in the HOD’s office.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, SCSN President, Francis Ettah, said the students identified with the HOD because of the numerous students’ orientated projects he has embarked upon since he took office as the department’s helmsman.

Editor of the department’s board, Elijah Ugani, described the HOD as “a father to all who loves excellence”, adding that he “strives to ensure that all his children are well catered for.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

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CAMPUS LIFE Provost tasks on professionalism

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HE Provost, Rivers State College of Health Science and T e c h n o l o g y (RIVCOHSTECH), Rumueme, Port Harcourt, Dr. A. Onyekwere has charged students of tertiary institutions to focus more on making themselves employable after graduation. This, he said, can be done by honing their skills, broadening their knowledge and developing expertise in their areas of specialisation while still in school.

Dr Onyekwere gave this charge

•Some members of the fellowship at the event.

EFCC, NYSC collaborate

T •Another happy group

I

T was another moment of selfreflection and redefinition as students of the Cherubim and Seraphim Campus fellowship, also known as Unification converged at Wasima, Ife-Ibadan expressway for its 2011 national convention.

Tagged: “Beula 2011” and themed: “Thy Kingdom Come”, the convention, rew over 500 participants from the 72 campus fellowships across the country. The convention could be described as a redefining moment for the students who were urged to work assiduously towards bringing back the glory of the church by ensuring the unification of the various “brands” within its fold and ensuring strict adherence to Biblical practices.

‘C&S will shine again’ From Hannah Ojo ILE-IFE

“When we started in the days of our father, we were proud to wear this garment but another generation came and things became otherwise bringing to the fore the saying that when the visioner loses the vision, the angel goes on sabbatical.” Those were the words of Pastor Steve Emmanuel, who gave the sermon, at the event.

Also, Pastor Demola Olusesi, urged the students to be committed to the various projects of the fellowships so that they would be able to

correct some of the shortcomings of the other churches. He also pleaded for support in completing the building of the fellowship’s permanent ground and the sponsoring of other subsequent conventions.

Other highlights of the events include seminars on entrepreneurship, leadership and relationship. There was also a graduate forum luncheon and bible quiz competition which was won by the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) while Osun State College of Education and Osun State Polytechnic, Iree came second and third respectively.

NANS to produce consensus leadership

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ORRIED by the internal strife in the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the Jude Imagwe-led leadership has resolved to invite factional groups to settle their differences in order to produce a consensus leadership.

“If the step is not taken before the forthcoming NANS elections, it could lead to the extinction of the apex students’ body in the nearest future,” Jude said.

He spoke with CAMPUSLIFE in Benin. The factional president of NANS said: “I have already called every party to forge unity because if things are not properly corrected, we all might just be sitting there as lead-

From Nosakhare Uwadiae and Thomas Biniyat UNIBEN and UNIJOS

ers without followers which will lead to the gradual drifting of NANS into oblivion.”

Speaking on how he wanted to go about merging the factions, Jude said relevant security agencies and the media would be invited to observe the election. “Whoever emerged president after the poll would be accepted as the truly national president of the body.”

Jude further said there was no need for wielding of firearms and other dangerous weapons during the election as Nigerian students have come off age. He said the era of violence in

elections has gone.

Meanwhile, the immediate past speaker of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) Students’ Union Parliament, Marshal Jemlak, has disclosed his intention to contest for the NANS presidency zoned to the North Central.

In an interview with CAMPUSLIFE, Marshal, a student of History and International Studies, said: “After consultation with opinion leaders and stakeholders in NANS, I have discovered that some of the aspirants have the zeal but lack the vision and passion to rise above personal interest. With my experience and exposure in campus politics, I offer myself for service.”

HE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), have organised a symposium on “The anti-corruption crusade and the role of Nigerian youths.”

It was held at the University of Jos (UNIJOS).

In a keynote address, Head of Economics department, Prof Ishmael Ogboru, said the youths no longer have the patience to wait for their time, saying youths of today are always on the fast lane. Prof Ogboru said the advent of information technology has exposed the young ones to “all manners of corrupt tendencies”. He added that poverty was not an excuse for corruption.

He urged Nigeria to learn from countries such as China, Brazil and India whose economies are fast developing.

Prof Jamila Nasiru of the faculty of Law, chided the youths for the col-

From Godswill Odeku RIVCOHSTECH

while addressing an emergency congress of the institution’s Students’ Union Government (SUG).

He regretted that majority of graduates are unemployable due to lack of expertise, stressing that students should maximise opportunities of education. He noted that “life continues beyond the lecture rooms.”

The Provost urged students to partner with the management of their respective institutions to fight corruption in the education system, saying “we need whistleblowers among you to check corruption in our educational system.”

The RIVCOHSTECH helmsman expressed optimism that graduates of the college would continue to play critical roles in the health sector.

From Hope Ofobike and Esther Mark UNIJOS

laborating role they play in protecting corrupt officials who steal the nation blind. Prof Jamila said the youths have continued to remain sleepy giants, saying as leaders of tomorrow, there is the need to wake up from slumber.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Peter Dan, a rights activist, said if Nigeria was the to fight corruption, there was need to look into the family values and recognise the place of hardwork in our society, adding that “corruption is caused mainly by laziness.”

The president of the EFCC, NYSC Community Development Service, Mr. Richard Ifamuyiwa and the President of the UNIJOS Students Union, Nantok Dashuwar, said the programme was organised to create awareness on corruption among corps members, students and Nigerians. They advocated for open and transparent government and urged the Federal Government to sign the Freedom of Information Bill into law.

Students hold workshop

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OME students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, have held a workshop on baking and culinary matters. Tagged ‘Baking 101’, the workshop was described as an eye opener even as the convener, Hassan Danladi, in 400Level Microbiology, took time to drill participants on various ways to bake.

The participants were taught how to make cake, cookies and pizzas in a professional way. The convener explained the basics of baking in the first session. Another resource person, Mr Emmanuel Ugo, took participants through the practical process of baking cake.

Hope Mari, a graduate of Economics, taught them how to prepare cookies.

At the end of the seminar, the participants were divided into groups.

They were asked to practise what they had learnt. The first group baked cake, the second group prepared cookies while the third made pizza.

From Maliki Anda ABU

Managing Director of El-Elyon Ventures, Mrs Eunice Ejeh, who attended the workshop, shed more light on the uses and the right combination of ingredients. When asked about the profitability of the baking business, she told CAMPUSLIFE that one good way of maximising profit was by using hand-made ingredients instead of buying everything.

Hassan spoke to CAMPUSLIFE on how he was able to organise the seminar. He said: “After I discovered my love for baking, I developed myself in it and thought of ways to teach others, that is why I put up this seminar and I am so happy it has benefitted lives.”

Shedrack Omale, 200-L Fine Art and one of the participants, said his motivation to learn how to bake was informed by his desire for self employment.

Lecturers to sign register at Bida Poly

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HE SERVICOM unit of the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State, is insisting that workers must sign a duty in line with the management’s directive.

In a May 20 memo, a copy of which was made available to CAMPUSLIFE, the Nodal Officer in charge of the unit, Dr Tonga Audu Nock, clarified his earlier memo, which he said the Association of Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) officials of the polytechnic misquoted and misunderstood in their counter– memo of May 15.

Tonga said the memo earlier released from his office on May 12

From Bola-Ige Alabi BIDA POLY

quoted by ASUP was meant to say that attendance sheets should be kept when academic staff go to classes.

He added that SERVICOM desk officers will go round various classrooms and laboratories from time to time to ensure that teaching is done. He sought the cooperation of all the polytechnic staff and unions for strict compliance to the directive.

The controversy started when SERVICOM released a memo directing all the polytechnic staff, excluding the principal officers to abide regularly with signing of a duty reg-

ister provided in their various departments.

This development led to an ASUP counter–memo, signed by its chairman, Nda–Umar Usman Idris and the Acting General-Secretary, Umar Sule. The memo expressed the union’s disappointment over what it referred to as “counter–productive” on the ability of its members.

ASUP, therefore, informed SERVICOM that the duty of a lecturer is not only restricted to the classroom but also included library, research and other administrative works and said its members would not sign any register from SERVICOM.

•Hassan (right) tasting some of the pastries made by participants (left).

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

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CAMPUS LIFE

OOU’s events’ week It was a week of engaging activities for new and old students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

MODESTUS DIKO (300-L Microbiology) saw it all.

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TUDENTS at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ogun State, have not had it this good in almost three years. Since February when they resumed for the 2010/2011 session, there has been no interruption. The staff unions have managed to resist the itch to down tools even with the immediate past governor’s inability to honour some of the agreements reached with them.

With the new government in the state, they are hopeful that the October date for the end of session will be kept. It is this upbeat spirit that came to the fore recently as the students marked what has been termed OOU’s week of events. Activities started with the orientation of freshmen on Tuesday. Wednesday was for presentation of manifestos by aspirants into the offices of the Student Union Government (SUG). Thursday was election day as well as the new students’ matriculation. The next day’s evening, a gig called “Freshers Night” held.

At the orientation, some freshers told CAMPUSLIFE that the talks were “informative, educative and entertaining”. The outgoing SUG leaders spoke on rules and regulations of the

•Old students voting in new SUG leaders

•Some new students after their matriculation ceremony, same day as above.

institution; they also touched on the social life of a student. There were other lectures, a dance presentation, comedy and refreshment.

The Lecture Theatre at Mini Campus was venue of the SUG manifesto reading. The presentation which was

well attended by students was not without the usual grandstanding of aspirants who tried to outwit opponents by quoting famous American and European leaders, living and dead.

Voting which held the next day was

quite peaceful. Security was provided by the Man O’ War and the police.

Students came out in their numbers to vote. It started at 11:15am and ended at 4: 25pm. Many waited to ensure that nothing untoward happened. Their vigilance paid off as no

one could fault the eventual winners when they were announced.

A 300-Level student of Philosophy who identified himself as Pesinpapa said: “Throughout my stay in OOU, this year’s election is the best I have witnessed and I hope the new government will work as democrats and not miscreants”.

Joel Oyeiola, in 300-Level Biochemistry, emerged SUG president.

Meanwhile, as old students were casting their votes the freshers were basking in the excitement of being called “university students”. The matriculation took place at the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Hall, Main Campus. It was presided over by Dean of Students Affairs, Dr. O. Odunaike. Lecturers and members of the outgoing SUG were also in attendance.

The Freshers Night held at Hogas Hotels Ago-Iwoye. It was sponsored

by Signal Media Limited. Popular campus acts, Sunkanmi Ogunade (Sunky) and Bola Swagga acted as masters of ceremony. Campus dignitaries present included members of the new and outgoing SUG and OOU model of the year. Musicians who performed include DMI, Bush boy, OJ Balle, Baba Nee. There were presentation of awards, done in between performances, like Most Reliable Class Rep won by Seyi Zubair, Miss Personality given to Funke Ayelotan and Miss Fresher which went to Ronke Arigbabuwo. Ayomiposi Lijoka became the new Model of the Year.

In a chat with CAMPUSLIFE, Signal’s founder, Olasunkanmi Asiwaju said the essence of the party was to make freshers experience the social life of the university “as all they have had since their admission had been lectures and classes”.

One of the awardees, Blessing Bolaji, who got the Most Fashionable fresher had this to say: “I am glad to be an OOUITE and happy to be awarded this particular category”.

Others who were honoured include the outgoing SUG president, Bekko Beni, and other members of his executive.

The vote of thanks was given by Babatunde Fayeun. Afterwards it was dancing all through the night.

Students of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, are clamouring for the restoration of their union, which was banned four years ago. DAYO IBITOYE (500-L Chemical Engineering) recalls the incident that led to the ban.

S

OON, it will be four years since an orgy of violence rocked the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, on September 28, 2007.

Students were sent home for almost four months.

The violence, which started as a demonstration the previous night, was as a result of students’ rejection of an increase in school fees. Little did they realise the magnitude of the sorrow, tears and blood that spontaneous reaction would inflict.

The students had marched to the VC’s house the previous night to express their anger. Luckily for the then VC, he was away in Abuja. His family had to be whisked away from the building through the back door to an unknown destination by aides, as the demonstrating students surged and charged towards the onestory duplex. Still not satisfied, they returned in larger numbers and pulled down the entire fence surrounding the building, vandalised the two cars on the premises - a Honda CRV jeep and a salon car before they forcefully entered the house and turned it upside down.

They then proceeded to the residence of the then Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. D.A.Y Adawa. The man, having been hinted, had fled as far as his legs could carry him. The angry students on meeting his absence became more furious; they destroyed his properties and vandalised his house.

The anger of the student heightened the following day when they learnt that the then Student Union Government (SUG) president, Alex Mamchika, agreed with the authorities to increase the fees. The young

•One of the cars that was vandalised during the protest in 2007.

•ABU senate building, where the decisions are taken.

Four years after, ABU students seek union’s return

man was attacked, university properties were destroyed, and those students found in the hostel who refused to join in the demonstration were flogged.

It took the intervention of men of the force to curtail the situation.

Soon, two students landed in hospital having been shot, allegedly by the policemen drafted to the scene to prevent the crisis from spilling into town. The closure was later announced.

A panel of inquiry was set up to look into the disturbance and proffer solutions. One of the panel’s resolutions was a ban on the SUG.

Students were recalled after about four months. On resumption, the SUG was replaced with the Students Representative Council (SRC). Four years on, the SRC has continued to act for a democratically elected SUG. Many students have remained unhappy with this state of affairs.

They insist that the SRC was established to indirectly control students as well as keep them from having a voice of their own. Others are, however, against this school of thought. CAMPUSLIFE spoke to

those who hold opposing views.

Moyosore Oladipo who recently graduated from Chemical Engineering Department said: “The 2007 event is still fresh in my memory. I remember vividly the ugly incident.

But the fact still remains that students rights have to be fully expressed; this SRC is not effective as the members were not elected by the students themselves. They answer to those who put them there. There is an urgent need to bring back the SUG”.

Another student, Wale Job of 400-

Level Geography, shares the same thought. “I want the SUG to be restored; students’ rights are being infringed upon. We need proper representation; so many things are happening that would not have happened if there was proper representation. Though the SRC is trying but I believe it mainly dances to the tune of the management”.

Shekina Adamah, in 300-Level Chemical Engineering, expressed a different view that he didn’t see the SUG do anything different from what the SRC is presently doing. “I believe bringing back the SUG would compound the woes ABU suffered in times past, especially the seasons of strikes which I do not want repeated.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

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CAMPUS LIFE

M

Y pen stood in the grip of my fingers for about 10minutes while I reminisced on how best to frame this piece.

With heavy heart, unfavourable terrain and disconnected network in my domain, I was confined to the four walls of my compound for 24hours as a result of a curfew. Despite that, I could not have a nap for a couple of minutes without blinking my eyes; this was because I was told to be at alert. I am now an inmate in my own house simply because my dear country conducted an election that met international standards, at least for the first or second time in its history.

The aftermath of the 2011 presidential election was met by senseless mayhem and pandemonium in places such as Kaduna where I reside, Kano where I school, Katsina, Bauchi, Yola to mention a few. The reason was an alleged rigging of an election that was

Post-election violence: The pains

By Isah Moshood gunners4real1988@yahoo.com

regarded as free, fair, credible and transparent.

To say riot was as result of do-ordie approach to politics is to restate the obvious. The mentality motivated the followers of the opposition parties to commit atrocities simultaneously in the north. The irony is that the eventual winner of the election did not win in the states where the violence took place.

So why maiming innocent people and property, if one may ask? To make matter worse, lives of 10 corps members were lost in the ensuing crisis and it was reported that the popular Mr. Biggs in Kaduna was

burnt to ashes and its valuables stolen by the rioters. For God sake, can someone point to the correlation between Mr. Biggs and politics?

In Kaduna where this writer resides, 24hour curfew was imposed.

This meant no going out. Thus, for those who have to go out and hustle before they can eat, life became more difficult. With this, the prices of commodities went up unreasonably, making life more difficult for ourselves than the persons for who the miscreants claimed to fight.

I am afraid, the next election might just be greeted with voters’ apathy because the crisis has created a kind of voting phobia in the minds of people. Who would now go out to vote when average voters do not

want to be hurt?

As was said in certain quarters, the post-election violence was as a result of unemployment and ignorance. In order to curb a reoccurrence, methinks providing job opportunities for qualified youths will considerably cast their mind away from vices. Skill acquisition programme will not be a bad idea for the uneducated.

I want to advise the media to jettison sensational reporting as was done when the crisis was still going on. A news media organisation reported thus, “Buhari and Goodluck divide Nigeria”. This can lead to further crisis. The media should serve as mediators or peacemakers and not as troubled instigators. Therefore, information should be confirmed and re-

confirmed before it is released.

As a very patriotic citizen of this country, I want to appeal to everyone, starting from the leaders and other stakeholders, the masses and other persons directly or indirectly involved in this scenario, to detest from any act capable of tarnishing the image of the country. Especially to the politicians, they should remember power intoxicates and enslaves.

At the end, it mocks its unwise victim after he stumbles and falls from grace to grass. To us followers, let us learn the virtue of peaceful coexistence in a just society. In order to know peace, one has to be an agent of peace.

As for me, I am a peacemaker; what about you?

Isah, BUK Kano

The genotype saga: Are we blind?

By Esther Mark markestheronyinyechi@yahoo.com

L

OVE, they say, is blind. But how truly blind can it be?

Does it close its eyes while manning the wheels, heading for the bumps without applying the breaks meant for it? If it parades itself as not self seeking, foolishness and

N

OT until I recently visited www.nysc.gov.ng, the website of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that I discovered another call will soon be made to a new set of graduates in the country to serve their fatherland.

Information on the site has it that: Batch ‘B’ of prospective corps members will proceed to orientation camp between “5th and 26th July 2011” before they are deployed to their various places of primary assignment.

Immediately I saw this, a poser that flashed my mind was whether another time has come for the wouldbe corps member to face yet another trauma. God forbid, I began to imagine looming danger. This is in retrospect of rampant massacre of corps members precisely in the Northern parts of this country.

Ten of them who sought refuge in a police station in Diade, Bauchi State, during the mayhem that accompanied the announcement of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as winner of the April 16 presidential election, were killed. In a police station?! Now I know that the police are really “protecting” us.

We should not forget that in No-

regret will be its rewards.

Why these questions, you may ask. But I ask, why not? Gone are the days when lovers tie the nuptials knots without blinking an eye on issues that could rear ugly heads later and turn their blissful adventure to nightmares filled with unimaginable pains.

It baffles me that in this digital world, people get married without checking out their compatibility in terms of genotype. Others, careful enough to check out theirs’, apply the “faith” engine oil, hoping it would serve as a lubricant to the engine.

What joy could come out of a union in which one sees hot coals, burning as an erupting volcano and yet decides to place hands on them?

Your guess is as good as mine. When these marriages are contracted, they could only be as good as it could

get until the joys (kids) start rolling in then the years of trauma and agony unfolds.

The kid suffers untold pain. The mom too. The series of health setback otherwise called crisis set in. the child feels vibrant for a week or two and for the next three groans in pains on the hospital bed. The mom becomes a shareholder in the hospital with her job or business at the receiving end.

The family spends its income on endless hospital bills.

Life doesn’t seem normal for the child (or children). He feels different from other kids in school and the neighbourhood. His dressing, food and life do not tally with those around him. His education suffers.

Worst, he is called a SICKLER. Very demoralising and self esteem killer.

That’s not all. The husband becomes tired and seeks solace outside

in the hands of family wrecking demons called extra marital affairs. The mom is heartbroken and meant to bear the consequence of life threatening mistake made years ago.

Curses fly the air. Regret becomes the best word in the world. Had I known becomes the favourite cliché.

She becomes a bitter woman. Bitter at life, fate and all that have befallen her. In some cases, the children curse their parents inwardly for bringing them such untold pains. Only if we could read the unspoken thoughts of these kids. It’s there: in their silence, tears and pains.

While for some, the pains partially ends when the child finally dies, for others, they continue till they’re adults, fully grown up. I’m yet to see a sickler who doesn’t have bays of stories laced with pains. Others die at their prime; when their parents are heaving sighs of relief that at last

they made it. Nobody wants this for himself. Yet, we’re doing the very things we profess to hate. Shouldn’t we pause and think a little?

Love is good; yea! It’s sweet: absolutely. It’s intoxicating: you may say so. It’s beautiful: I quite agree. It’s among the best things to happen to one: I hold no contrary view. But must we throw all these away on a silver platter and then curse the day we said “I do”? If your genotypes do not match please let him/her go.

He/she is not for you. There are just some things which cannot be.

Remember, if the risk is higher than the reward, it’s not worth it.

Let’s have a rethink and sail smoothly on this journey of life.

Don’t forget the saying “marry in haste, repent at leisure”. No one wants that.

Esther, 300-L Mass Comm., UNIJOS

Before another fatherland’s call is obeyed vember 2008, three corps members were also murdered during an ethnoreligious crisis in Jos. With all these killings and cases like rape and maiming, one begins to question the underlying motive of the NYSC scheme, created few years after the 30 month Civil War, with the aim to reconcile, reconstruct, and rebuild Nigeria. As a matter of fact, it is not stated in the Decree that corps members should be killed to settle any political or ethno-religion score.

But some chauvinists in the North now take pleasure in killing their fellow human beings. It is reprobating that some people take delight in sowing sorrows in the lives of others.

Of a fact, the day of this gory incident has become a mourning red-letter day, not only for the families of the victims, but everyone with living conscience. Am sure that, families of the deceased will not forget to always ‘pray’ for the perpetrators.

Sincerely, no amount of compensations can obliterate the scars already left in the hearts of the relatives of

the slain corps members. More importantly, the perpetrators must be brought to book.

Now, as the umpires in the NYSC are warming up for another exercise, have they, alongside, the federal and states governments considered the reactions that trailed the April 16 incident?

It is true that a lot of critiques, observations, and recommendations are being made since the incident occurred. Some people immediately called for the scraping of the scheme.

But then, is this the only way forward?

Will this not be tantamount to the genesis of national disunity? Just because of the unscrupulous act of a pocket of people? This reminds me of a Yoruba adage that says: oribibe koni ogun orififo (beheading one’s head is not the medication for one suffering from headache). To some, the scheme needs total review. In lieu of scraping the scheme, many people have also recommended that regional posting system be adopted. A recommendation, which of course I

will want to throw my weight behind, though as a stopgap measure.

Or, better still, we may consider what Sam Omatseye of The Nation Newspaper suggested. He put forward that prospective cops members be allowed to choose five states they can serve, from which the NYSC authorities would choose one.

Some people, however, want the scheme to maintain its present status quo with more attention given to the security of the corps members.

Without mincing words, corps members are tired of roughing it. If the July camp must be opened, if the compatriots must obey the call, if they must serve their fatherland with love, strength and faith, if the labour of our fallen heroes past would not be in vain, if our leaders want the youth to serve with heart and might, if this nation is still to be proclaimed as the one bound in freedom, peace and unity, all the critiques, observations, and recommendations being made by parents, students, stakeholders, and other quarters must be prag-

By Seyi Oluwalade seyioluwalade@gmail.com

matically considered.

Moreover, may the God of creation direct our noble cause and make our leaders to be sensitive to His guide that they may be conscious to always make a stitch in time in order to save nine.

Seyi, just graduated from English, AAUA

The mighty falls to change in Southwest

By Segun Adegbenro segzey4luv2001@gmail.com

W

E are at the peak of the political season- a period that inevitably enriches the political initiatives, styles, aggressive decision for change.

Change is inevitable in our lives.

We must have come to face ululations and unacceptable situation that call for dire change. At a time, we for all wondered if we can ever overhaul the moment. As is known today, “change is the only constant thing”. It means changes are bound to happen in our lives. Life by instance, takes nature to determine what we do for change to come. As most people see change as a beast threatening their status quo and thus dim the hope, at the expense of people’s will. That explained the sudden ill power change that captured the Southwest in 2003 against the wish of the people, which transcends to 2007 before the clarion call to justice.

The landslide revolution that blew

over the Southwest in has brought the domination of the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), the people’s bride, home. Is that not a hard knock for the Ise longunse skeptic politicians? Some notable dogging politicians in the country will sleep and forever remember, perhaps salute the exemplary liberation of western part of Nigeria and abhor the insightful incivility of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The rascality in us tamed and made them insignificant. For years, insecurity, darkness of power sector, rot in education, food insecurity and daily records of death rate have all dashed many hope to affliction, pains and anxiety of people went awry to flush the tyrant out massively with

vote.

Prior to the April 26 election, the biggest party in Africa worked round the clock glittering the exhibition of bitter goodies to capture Lagos and perhaps retain dominance in other states but unfolding commendation goes to the electorate who monitor and protects their votes with prayers to ensure a secure future.

At present, the security of people, standard of education, improved standard of living, revived agriculture, stable health care services, social infrastructure services that will aid the economy and youth empowerment should be articulated.

As governors Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and Kayode

Fayemi of Ekiti are being regarded as role models in Yorubaland, so as the list goes up to the newly elected governors of Ogun and Oyo – Ibikunle Amosun and Abiola Ajimobi. We urge them to always uphold the tenets of good governance, legacy of the party and remarkable goodwill of their mentor in the party since its amelioration from Action group (AG) to Alliance for Democracy (AD) and now Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Beneath the twosome electoral successes, I say viva Southwest and congratulate our individual winners. But above all, remember the power of change and make it your wisdom.

Segun, Accountancy, UNAD

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

36

CAMPUS LIFE

H Twin peaks of success

I

HEAR people talk about getting to the top of their game and becoming successful and wealthy after they leave the campus walls. I have seen so many people work and study hard at their academic pursuits and several years later are still struggling despite their academic exploits.

I have seen many academically sound and proficient students take up jobs, lose them, take up others and lose them still, and I have met many who have set up businesses of their own and after a while fold up.

In the few who have been open and honest, my conversations with them have revealed similar trends and behavioural patterns. As astute as they are in their chosen academic fields, there are certain traits that they lack or are a bit weak at and if worked upon and added to their academic proficiency will find them at the very top of their game…almost guaranteed!

What am I talking about? I am referring to information gathering and processing and relationship networking!

What is information?

It is, in simple terms, any piece of news or data or message that clarifies and updates the recipient. Information is key, and must be sourced regularly. Anyone who does not update himself will become irrelevant after a short while. Remember that the world is full of all kinds of information; hence we must clarify and refer to relevant information only. Information is said to be relevant if it has immediate or future and direct relevance and bearing to your current situation or location. You must learn how to stream and source relevant information which will keep you abreast in your field and this stream must be consistent. This is very important. Gathering irrelevant information will be a huge waste of the scarce resources of time, money, etc, available to you.

How then can I gather and process the information I desire? Much of information today is gleaned from written media. Access to the Internet has made information gathering so much easier. New media, Facebook, Google, Myspace, Twitter, etc, have also shortened the global space and brought a wealth of information to everyone’s doorstep. Books are still relevant and the list goes on. The key is in recognising that information gathering and processing is key to your success… and I refer not only to academic information.

The information gathered must then be sent for processing, in our mind. It is important that we can mentally process and compartmentalize the information we gather. This is crucial.

By doing this actively, we actually strain out

On and Off Campus

By Uche Ogbonna (uche.ogbonna@fidelitybankplc.com)

08055061278 the beneficial and discard the “chaff”. Not every information is useful.

What is relationship networking?

Relationship networking is simply the art of meeting people and benefiting from those relationships. Often, the benefit of these relationships is to obtain information that further grows your advantage in whatever area you so desire. Any successful relationship, whether a personal or a business relationship, is unique and evolves over time. It is this evolution that can be the leverage on which your doors of success are flung open and kept open.

This is a key principle of the Fidelity brand!

We pride ourselves as a people oriented institution and we are determined to leverage on every relationship we are a part of and this has been one of the secrets of our growth and relevance.

You cannot be a nasty person, unfriendly person or a person with low integrity and expect to grow your Relationship Network among relevant people. You can neither be ignorant nor uninformed about the world around you and expect to grow a thriving network. So how can I grow a rich relationship network?

Tips to building network relationships: 1. Provide genuine assistance to others . It helps to show that you care.

2. Be open-minded. Your view must not be the only view.

3. Remember personal details. Names, faces, dates of birth etc draw people closer to you 4. Respect cultural differences. When in Rome, act Roman! Learn cultural saluta tions.

5. Research people. Know their goals and interests. Be interested in what inter ests them 6. Reciprocate. When people do a good deed or help out. Never forget and look for a way to do good to them 7. Introductions. You do not have a second chance to make a first impression. When introducing yourself, make sure it is an unforgettable experience. You do not need to set yourself ablaze, but do your best to leave a good taste in the mouth of the person you are meeting for the first time.

Take these two principles to heart. Practice them now and as you leave the campus you will be well on your way to success. Be unforgettable.

Fidelity Bank Plc… True to You!

AVING the right attitude to work is a determining factor in the success or failure of an individual. Often, people find themselves in jobs that may not have been their initial choice. Let’s consider the case of Ade, as an example, By Atinuke Badejo who has a degree in Busi- e-mail:atinuke@badejo.com ness Administration. He expected a job that involves managing a department in an international business. Having jobhunted for one year without success, he is forced to take up the only job on offer with a local business that sells flowers and cakes.

Ade hopes that he would only have to do this for a few months before he gets a more attractive offer. This is the experience of many young people lent spirit and passion with which they pursue today. They have worked hard to study and pay their work. I heard of a woman who was a housefor a university education only to graduate and help and has now moved on to become an executive wardrobe arranger. She has become known have to face unemployment and all its pain.

In a situation like this, the tendency is to take and there is a demand for her services. Demand any frustration out on the people around and for your service means the privilege to name also on the job. The result is that someone in the your price and to choose what you want to do, shoes of Ade would consider the job he does sub- how you want to do it and when it is convenient.

There is also the story of the man who is the standard and would give it “substandard commitment”. His attitude would be “When I get a “king of small chops”; he is at every notable party job that suits my qualifications, I would give it as he serves his small chops hot. They are cooked at the venue to ensure top quality service; his my best commitment.”

Such people lose out in the end as they may not dedication has paid off after many years of conget the dream job sooner enough and they also sistent effort and he is now a very comfortable lose out on the opportunities that may open with gentleman. He has arrived at this point in his chosen career not by chance or just because “God the present job.

My point is “there is dignity in labour”. What- had chosen him”, but because he has passion for ever vocation you may find yourself in, it is im- his work and took dignity in it.

There are makeup artists who have excelled to perative that you give it the best attitude and effort. Far too many people lose out on further the point that they are now makeup artists to top opportunities and promotion because they con- people in society who require their services almost every week and are generously rewarded sider some jobs beneath them.

The reality of our country is that there are not to the extent they have become very wealthy just enough white collar jobs to go round all the people because they work well with their hands.

My advice is as follows: Whatever your hands who will graduate from university each year. To compound this, there is also stiff competition find to do; do it well. Do not regard any vocation from people who have graduated from foreign or job as beneath you, there are untapped opporuniversities and are coming back home to seek tunities in our economy. Work is better than handemployment. Therefore, many people would outs; do not put down anyone that is trying to need to follow in the footsteps of successful en- eke out a living whatever they may be doing trepreneurs of our time by going out to start busi- provided it is legal and moral.

If you start small, and are devoted to excelnesses and become employers.

There are examples of people in our society lence, you will strike it big one day.

Don’t just copy other people, identify a need who have gone from nothing to owning successful businesses. The common thread amongst and go for it.

We all benefit when we do things right! them is the hardwork they put in and the excel-

Take pride in your vocation

By Solomon Izekor 08061522600 •The students at the Idumebor’s place last Wednesday. Inset is the late Cynthia.

Students angry with LUTH over girl’s death

By Ayodeji Adesina UNILAG

L

AST Monday, May 24, started as any other for Mass Communication students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). No one had a premonition of death.

But soon the news came: Cynthia Osaremie Idumebor, in 200-Level, is dead.

The tragedy cast a dark cloud over the celebration of the final year students’ costume day as well as the sweet victory of winning the 2011 Interdepartmental Debate of the faculty of Social Sciences. The entire department was in a sober mood. People gathered in groups to discuss the incident; some making phone calls to reconfirm the authenticity of the news.

Cynthia died at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in what many students believed could have been averted.

The student association expectedly expressed “utmost despair” at what it called “a deliberate negligence on the part of LUTH authorities”.

The students’ release further stated that “something drastic must be done to orientate medical practitioners on the need to respond to emergencies at the speed of light”. It called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Cynthia’s death.

An elder sibling of Cynthia told

CAMPUSLIFE that Cynthia, a sickle-cell patient, was not attended to on time at LUTH. “Cynthia was transferred to LUTH earlier that morning after she had been treated at your university’s health centre. And the health centre sent a nurse to accompany her to LUTH, hoping that the nurse’s presence would speed up things for her at LUTH; but LUTH failed my sister,” she sobbed.

She said Cynthia was unattended to for close to four hours. The hospital said it had no free bed space. “Even when she was finally attended to, she was placed on oxygen but shortly after, the light went out for several hours thereby rendering the oxygen machine ineffective,” CAMPUSLIFE further learnt.

Samuel Bakare, Cynthia’s classmate and governor said: “Although Cynthia suffered from sickle-cell anaemia, I know she would today had LUTH been determined to save her life”.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the MCSA visited the Idumebors last week Wednesday in Lagos.

The mother was inconsolable. She kept muttering what it took the family to see the girl, a very intelligent student, through the UNILAG International School Lagos (ISL) before her admission as an undergraduate.

Cynthia was buried at the Yaba Vaults, formerly Atan Cemetery, the following day.

37

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

EDUCATION

NUC to LASU: close all satellite campuses

T

HE lingering crisis between the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Lagos State University (LASU) over satellite campuses may soon come to end.

Despite the institution’s management visit to NUC Headquarters in Abuja, the commission is insisting on LASU’s closure of the campuses The NUC and LASU have been quarrelling since 2007 over the establishment of nine external campuses in parts of Lagos outside the institution’s main campus at Ojo. NUC Executive Secretary Prof Julius Okogie told the LASU management led by Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello all the campuses must be closed to facilitate the resolution of the matter.

A statement by NUC Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations Malam Ibrahim Usman Yakasai said the LASU delegation held a closed door meeting with Okojie, who expressed delight at the change of strategy by the institution towards resolving the dispute.

The statement quoted Okojie as lamenting the fallen standards in LASU which he attributed to a compromise academicworks..

He noted that, for any programme to be recognised by the NUC, it must meet set criteria and warned against mounting any illegal programmes that would naturally attract the wrath of the law.

Okojie made it clear to the management that all illegal satellite campuses should be closed after

•Deputy Executive Secretary NUC, Mr. A. S. Agbaoye, Prof Okojie; Prof Olatunji- Bello, Registrar LASU, Mr Lateef Animashaun and Visiting Professor to NUC, Prof Bassey Essien.

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

which the university could present a formal application to kick start the process of establishing recognised campuses, and, if need be, review its regular programmes to identify and provide the minimum requirement for programmes and embark on massive recruitment of academic staff.

Okojie frowned at a situation whereby universities drag the NUC to court over denial of accreditation rather than taking steps to address identified deficiencies. He said such

action was an aberration as the commission has the mandate to regulate academic programmes in the university system.

He commended the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fasola (SAN), for his commitment towards bailing the institution out of its current challenges by setting aside N4 billion, of which a seed fund of N900 million has been released. He said he would visit the institution to ascertain the level of its facilities and preparedness to resume normal academic activities.

Earlier the Prof Olatunji-Bello said

UTME to hold in 2, 823 centres nationwide

T

HIS YEAR’S Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will hold in 2,823 centres nationwide, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof ‘Dibu Ojerinde, has said.

He said at least three members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) would operate in each of the centres.

Speaking in Abuja at a meeting with the NSCDC Deputy Commandant-General, Evans Ewurum, Ojerinde said he believed in the corps’ capability to ensure hitch free examination.

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

According to him, there are experienced personnel in the corps who are familiar with the rule of engagement before, during and after examinations.

A statement signed by JAMB Public Relations Officer, Timothy Oyedeji, said the Registrar challenged the corps personnel to be involved in the exercise to master the art of using hand-held scanners as some ot them will body scan candidates before they are allowed into examination halls.

He enjoined them to attend the forthcoming briefing with the UTME coordinators and other preparatory sessions as it would afford them the opportunity to understand the biometric ‘thumb-printing system which would be used for this year’s examination.

Ojerinde also informed Ewurum that JAMB would stream-line responsibilities between it and the Nigeria Police Force adding that the Police have shown positive response to the Board’s request to help prosecute any examination cheat caught.

the delegation was at the commission to solicit for mutually beneficial means of working together to better the university system. She said the institution had constituted an 84-member committee to harmonise issues that border on the smooth running of the university, following the interest shown by the governor in reviving the institution.

She said the institution was working assiduously to upgrade its facilities in preparation for the accreditation of its 26 academic programmes by the NUC Visitation Panel, which was due since last November.

•Prof Ojerinde

Music scholars excel in American varsity

Council supports WAUG preparation THE Governing Council of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has set up a Committee headed by its chairman, Alhaji Tukur Mani, to raise funds for the 13th West Africa University Games (WAUG) holding in September.

A statement by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mrs Olufolake Oyeyemi, said the step was taken given the huge financial resources required to host the games.

The statement reads: “Having duly noted the heavy financial and material requirements for the successful execution of the games, particularly the provision of physical facilities which is capital intensive as well as challenges of time constraint, Council decided to intervene by raising a Committee to assist the administration mobilise financial support for the Games. The Committee is also to work assiduously to ensure that the N340 million pledge made by the government towards the Games is promptly released to the university.”

Guest houses revitalised The UNILORIN Guest House, Ramota Karim, has been reorganised and its facilities upgraded, its Acting Chairman, Dr Ramota Karim, has said.

In a memo to members of the university community entitled: “New face of UNILORIN Guest Houses,” Dr Karim urged members of staff to patronise the guest houses located on the university’s mini campus, promising them value for money.

“The re-organisation of the University of Ilorin Guest Houses had brought a major upgrading and added value of the house to serve the community better. It is in this vein that I am proud of inform you of the facilities available for your esteemed patronage, most especially on lodging of your external examiner, guest, adjunct and visiting lecturers, conference, seminar and workshop participants and all other official a and personal guests in the house,” she said.

Centrepoint Journal rebrands THE premier journal of the university has been renamed Centrepoint Journal.

The decision was reached at a meeting of its Editorial Board, chaired by former Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof Y.A. Quadri.

Apart from unveiling the Volume 13 number 1 edition of Centrepoint (Humanities Edition) and Volumes 15 and 16 of the Science Edition of the journal, Quadri said Centre point Journal would henceforth be published bi-annually.

The first edition of the rebranded journal is due this month while another edition will be released in December.

Unlike the past, one feature of the journal is its national and international dimensions. The 2011 edition attracts articles from several Nigerian and foreign universities.

T

HREE products of the MUSON School of Music, Onikan, Lagos, sponsored by the MTN Foundation in 2008, Paul Ogunboye, Olufemi Ogebule and Ezeuko Anuli, have graduated with honours from the University of Dayton, Ohio, United States.

The students, who benefitted from the MTNF/MUSON Scholars programme, bagged post-diploma certificates in music from the institution, becoming the first Africans to achieve this feat at that university.

The trio upon completion of their course at MUSON School of Music, where they obtained full credits, secured admission into the University of Dayton, on scholarship.

“We are, indeed, happy to be part of the success story of these bright young Nigerians who have made Nigeria proud by excelling,” said Mr Akinwale Goodluck, Corporate Services Executive, MTN.

UNILORIN FILE

•Ogunboye, Anuli and Ogebule at their graduation

According to Goodluck, the three students have justified the introduction of MTNF/MUSON scholars programme which began in 2006 with the aim of giving opportunities and support to students with musical talents who lack the financial wherewithal to achieve their dreams.

So far, 74 graduates have emerged

from the programme and have either proceeded for further studies abroad or gone into fruitful practice, he said.

Ogunboye, Ogebule and Anuli were admitted into the MTNF/ MUSON scholars programme in 2006 where they began with a pre-diploma remedial programme before moving on to the diploma

programme from which they graduated in 2008 with full credits.

Under the MTNF/MUSON programme, each student undergoes a two-year musical tuition and exposure to the best local and international standards of music. Of the 220 students sponsored by the foundation over a five-year period, 74 have till date graduated with honours.

Diaries available THE Deputy Registrar of the Establishment Division of the UNILORIN Registry, Mr. E.D. Obafemi, has invited senior members of staff to obtain a copy of the University Diary.

Interested senior members were urged to get limited copies from Obafemi’s office for free.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

38

EDUCATION CHILDREN’S DAY DAY CELEBRATION

Orphans seek govt’s scholarship

“A

ND our best pupil in this quiz competition is Ibrahim Adijat …”

From the manner she fidgeted on her way to the stage, it was easy to perceive that Adijat had never found herself in the spotlight before. She seemed to tilt her head away from the cameramen and photojournalists scrambling to take shots of her.

Adijat won a quiz competition organised by the Dave Enechukwu Foundation for orphans and vulnerable children to mark the Children’s Day last Friday at Ijeshatedo, Lagos.

When asked to speak, Adijat said: “I want to thank the organisers of this competition, may God continue to bless them. But I want to particularly beg our government to provide us orphans with good books and assist us with tuition fees and scholarships, we too can do better like other well-to-do children.”

The Primary Six pupil of Animashahun Nursery Primary School, Ijeshatedo, won the hearts of the audience with her emotionladen appeal. She did not stop there as she enjoined others in attendance to join her in singing her school anthem.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

Adijat was not the only winner.

Shobowale Afusat, a Primary Five pupil of Duro Oyedoyin Nursery and Primary School and Dairo Tope of Imam Shuaib Nursery and Primary School as well as Azeez Adebayo, a Primary Six pupil of Aguntasoolo Nursery and Primary School all within Ijeshtedo, equally came tops in the competition, winning various gift items such as education materials, dictionaries and certificates of participation.

But beyond the quiz were other side attractions such as games and sumptuous meals.

The event which held at the foundation’s Ijesha office had orphans from four public schools in Ijesha participating, said the Founder/Executive Director, Mrs Meg Aipoh.

Mrs Aipoh said the foundation was established to imortalise her immediate elder brother, Dave Enechukwu, who passed on in 2002.

Despite its laudable aims, Mrs Aipoh said funding has been very poor.

She said: “Funding has been very bad but for the fact that I have passion and love for what I’m doing.

You can see the children are happy.

•From left Dr Teddy Aipoh (left) Adijat Ibrahim, Mrs Aipah and Mr Pat Enechukwu at the event PHOTO DAVID ADEJO

That alone gives me joy from seeing these children happy and putting smiles on their faces. When we wanted to have this party, we wrote some individuals, but didn’t get any good response. Unfortunately, a lot of people do not like doing things that they will not get

financial rewards. It only takes a selfless person to do a thing like this. Some even think I might eat their money.”

“We are able to run this place (pointing at the office) with three workers and seven volunteers, but we need more funding to do more.

Orphans need help. Our Nigerians moneybags should come out and help orphans. You don’t need to be a super rich to help; but if you are comfortable, you can assist. All we need is just a smile on their faces and Children’s Day is one of such days this can be achieved,” she said.

Pupils learn about hand hygiene

I

T was not all about eating, dancing and having fun at last Friday’s Children’s Day celebration organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) at the Police College Ground, Ikeja.

The pupils – drawn from public primary and secondary schools across the state – also picked up one or two lessons about keeping their hands clean from Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited, makers of Dettol soap.

During the event, they were entertained with special cultural dances of the three major tribes by pupils from select schools, they wined and dined, and enjoyed turns on the bouncing castle.

When it came to the hand washing, they were also excited to try out the six-step routine demonstrated by the Permanent Secretary, WAPA, Mrs Risikat Akiyode, at a special stand designed for the purpose. Once she was done, many lined up at the dual-tap sink to test their knowledge.

The steps include: washing of hands and applying soap; rubbing of hands together; scrubbing the front and back of hands; scrubbing between fingers; scrubbing for 20 seconds; and rinsing of the hands well under running water.

The pupils were counseled to keep free from germs by washing their hands after coming into contact with dirt – like when they touch garbage bins or dirty naira notes, while playing, sneezing into the hands or touching any other open surface materials before meals, and after using the toilet.

The hand washing activity was in line with MDG goal to make the world safer for children and Dettol’s Good Health is in Our Hands initiative which was launched in 2009 and has reached some one million school children in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Ibadan.

The pupils also got free samples of Dettol soap, Dettol liquid and copies of the Good Health is in Our Hands green book which documented the steps.

•Mrs Akiyode demonstrating the six steps of hand washing to some pupils during the programme

Toys, books for pupils

A

•The pupils raise their toys distributed by Mrs Jaja (standing behind with a carton)

CORPORATE organisation, the Century Group Limited, last Wednesday, distributed over 850 units of ‘Lego’ educational toys to children of the African Church Primary School, Ajegunle.

Pupils of nearby Temidire Junior and Senior High Schools, Tolu Complex, Ajegunle, also got prescribed text books covering all subjects.

On arrival at the African Primary School premises, the toys were distributed to the pupils according to their ages for effective and meaningful use.

Speaking at the occasion, the company’s representative, Mrs Data Jaja, said her organisation, which markets the toys in Nigeria, embarked on the initiative to boost the pupils’ development as part of the Children’s Day celebration.

Mrs Jaja said the choice of ‘Lego’ was to serve a dual purpose of entertaining the pupils while helping to develop their psycho-mo-

tor skills since the toys require constructing objects.

“We are celebrating with these children today, to make a positive statement that we are a socially responsible corporate organisation that is sensitive to youth develop, and this is one way we can express this. These toys would excite the children and also help them strengthen their mental ability while they get creatively engaged,” she said.

The school Head teacher, Mrs Risikat Iyabo Adegbite, thanked the donors for the gifts.

She said: “The school appreciates your kind gesture of celebrating this year’s Children Day with us.

It is highly fulfilling that you have considered each child in his capacity for these wonderful gifts. I use this occasion to enjoin other organisations to also work with schools at times like this, to give the children a sense of belonging by supporting government with supplementary learning aids.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

39

EDUCATION CHILDREN’S DAY DAY CELEBRATION

Fashola advocates training of school drivers

W

ITH the way it rained last Friday, one would have thought the weather would spoil of the Children’s Day parade organised by Lagos State Ministry of Education at the Police College, Ikeja.

But, the reverse was the case as the event was well attended by pupils from various primary and secondary schools who braved the drizzle to participate in the march past.

Apart from schools from the six education districts, filing past, members of school-based clubs, such as Boy’s Scout, Girls’ Guide, Boys and Girls’ Brigade, Brownies, Red Cross, and the Road Safety Transport Advocacy Club also marched.

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola was there to take the salute in his Boy’s Scout uniform.

He thanked the children for the role they played during his first tenure which ended on Sunday.

He, however, regretted the death of some pupils in an accident on their way to school in Lekki recently. To avoid such reoccurrence, he said the government has established drivers’ institute where schools could train their drivers. He added that activities of the Lagos State School Traffic Safety and Advocacy Programme would be expanded to reach more schools to teach pupils traffic rules with the aim

•Fashola taking the salute as Brownies marched past

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

of making the roads safer for school children.

“We will organise road safety programmes for school children.

Road Safety clubs are being introduced in schools. The deaths of

the pupils are regrettable. We have established five drivers’ institute across the state. Private schools and others should avail themselves of the institutes so that

PHOTO: MOSES OMOSEHIN

we can prevent such carnage on our roads,” he said.

Fashola said the Children’s Day also coincided with the establishment of Lagos State on May 27,

1967).

In her speech read by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, the Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, said the state has recorded impressive achievements in education as a result of the programmes introduced by the Fashola administration in the past four years.

“Many of the programmes are designed to give opportunity for every child in Lagos State, irrespective of his social background and physical condition, access to quality education. Programmes such as the re-launch of the uniformed clubs and organisations, reading time, career talk and youth forum, BRF Quiz, Schools debate, skill acquisition during long vacation, among others, were introduced by the current administration to imbue in our children the right values necessary to become great leaders,” she said.

The rain let up in time for the pupils to enjoy the rest of the day after the parade. They were entertained by organisations, such as Dangote, Ovaltine, and the like who set up stands for dancing competition, and other gains. The pupils got lots of food to eat as well as souvenirs to take home.

Tax essay winners on tour

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EACHERS have been urged to motivate pupils to participate in competitions to prepare them for future challenges.

Mrs Martina Agu, a teacher at Idi Araba Junior High Sschool, Idi Araba, Lagos, told The Nation during a Children’s Day tour organised for winners of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) tax essay competition held last November that such competitions are rewarding.

“Competitions at any level are rewarding because they help the pupils to engage in extra work and research. The girl from my school (Damilola Fasanya) was given scholarship of N200,000 and a set of computer for the school – that is one of the rewards. Teachers should encourage pupils to participate in competitions because they will also benefit from it,” she said.

The winners of the competition in senior and junior categories visited various landmark areas within Ikeja and Surulere with their classmates courtesy of the LIRS to demonstrate what revenue from taxes are used for.

They visited the Surveyor-General of Lagos State, Dr David Olatunbosun, at Alausa, who urged them to be serious with their studies and enlightened them about surveying as a profession.

“Most students these days run away from Mathematics and Geography. If you love to be a surveyor, you must endeavour to love these subjects because without these ones you can’t be one,” he said.

The Executive Chairman, LIRS, Mr Tunde Fowler, who was represented by the Director of Special Duties, Mr Tajudeen Oseni, said the programme was organised to expose pupils to how taxes are used and counselled them to be good tax am-

By Seun Olalude

bassadors.

“You have discovered why taxes are being collected. This should help you to be LIRS ambassadors wherever you found yourself and you also must make sure you pay tax when you are in the position to do so, this will help us to do more and those coming behind will benefit.”

The pupils who where asked to discuss on ‘Tax payers money on the Lagos State of our dream’ where six pupils emerged winners representing the junior and senior schools in the IRS competiton held November last year.

Some of the winners spoke with The Nation on thier perspective concerning the tour.

The second winner in the senior category who received N200,000 and a set of computer for the school, a pupil of Top Grade School, Surulere, Raphael Chinwuko said he was convinced that tax is a neccesity through the contribution of IRS. “Tax payers money goes a long way in rebuilding the Lagos of our dream.

My education has received help through IRS, I am conviced that tax is a must for every one so when I grow I will pay my tax,” a pupil, Margret Babatunde from Vivian Fowler said she is confided that tax money is been spent the right way.

The pupils who had an exciting time visited Shoprite Surulere and Teslim Balogun Staduim Surulere in order to showcase some of which the tax collected are spent on.

The schools that participated where Saint Jude Private Seconday School, Festac Town; Idi Araba Junior High School, Idi Araba; Vivian Fowler Secondary School, Surulere; Top Grade Secondary School, Surulere and Ogba Junior Grammar School, Ogba and Command Day Secndary School, Ikeja.

•Mrs Daodu (second left) registering Boluwatife who is standing by his mother (right)

Lagos SUBEB registers new pupils

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HE Children’s Day last Friday marked the start of the registration of pupils into public nursery and primary schools in Lagos State.

After the Children’s Day parade at the Police College, Mrs Gbolahan Daodu, chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB), flagged off the 59day registration at the nearby Ikeja Local Government Primary School.

Mrs Daodu took down the details of six-year-old Master Boluwatife Abdullahi Sanni, the first pupil to be registered. He was enrolled into Lagos State Model Nursery and Primary School, GRA. Boluwatife’s mother Mrs Mayowa Sanni, a civil servant, told The Nation that she decided to register him there because she loved the way teachers taught in the school. She added that she noticed marked improvement in her son

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

who had attended a private school before spending three years in the Early Child Care and Development Education (ECCDE) classes of the Model Primary School.

“I really appreciate the teachers and everybody there. They teach well. Even the cleaners clean well.

My son tells me stories anytime he comes from school. He has improved. He is getting better everyday – better than when he was in a private school,” she said.

Mrs Daodu said registration into public nursery and primary schools is free and compulsory for all school-aged children under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) law.

“Today, May 27, marks the day we start the registration of all school-aged children who are six years old. According to the UBE

Law, it is free and compulsory that all school aged children be registered. All that is required is for the parents to fill the application forms, and come along with the child’s birth certificate,” she said.

Insisting that the registration was free, she urged parents to inform the Board of any monetary demands by head teachers in the schools of their choice.

“There should be no hidden charges. Any teacher or head teacher or anybody that demands money should be penalised. The state government has voted a lot of money to education. The government has provided textbooks in four core subject areas for all primary classes. Even the children in the ECCDE classes have textbooks. The only thing for parents to do is to buy their school bags and make sure they feed the children before they come to school,” she said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

40

EDUCATION EDUTALK

with

Investments in brain gain S President Goodluck Jonathan is fresh in the saddle, he may be thinking of ideas he could implement that Kofoworola will be remembered long after he has left office as President.

I have one for him. If as an academic, he can reverse the Kofosagie@yahoo.com brain drain that has become the 08054503077 (SMS only) lot of this country he will leave a legacy we will forever appreciate.

Every year, we lose the best of our brains to foreign countries where their talents are exploited to move their own societies forward. With advances in technology and knowledge making the world more compact, we have realised it is an imperative for us to gain globally competitive skills and we are making efforts to do so. However, gaining the skills is not enough. There has to be opportunities to use the skills in Nigeria. Unfortunately, we do not have many of such opportunities at home so our talented people go elsewhere.

Migration is an issue across the world. The developed countries, where these opportunities abound, are straining under the burden of supporting outsiders so they do everything to restrict entry into their domains. While they have no patience for no-do-gooders, and are quick to deport them, they welcome foreigners who have what they seek to further develop.

I was still fresh on the job when I learnt about Oluwatosin Otitoju, who graduated from Queen’s College, Yaba with the best SSCE result in Nigeria in 1996. She went ahead to study Electrical Engineering at Howard University in the United States on scholarship, where she finished with a First Class. She was immediately accepted to do a doctorate in Control and Dynamics System at the California Institute of Technology, the first Howard alumnus to win the Poincare Fellowship, sponsors of the scholarship.

Many more were before Otitoju and even after her. Philip Emeagwali, a major contributor to the speed of the Internet works today, also readily comes to mind. It was here in Nigeria that he attended primary and secondary schools, where he was cajoled by his father to solve loads of maths questions in seconds. These two are among the thousands, we have applying their knowledge and skills abroad.

They may be passionate about the country they left behind. But remaining outside there, I wonder how much they can do to improve the fortunes of the country.

Chisom Mildred Okpala, is about to join them. She resumes at Harvard in August on full scholarship to study Economics and Mathematics. She would love to contribute to Nigeria’s economy, like former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Uweala. She hopes to return someday to do so. I hope she does.

This piece is not to disparage anybody for seeking greener pastures but to call the attention of our leaders, particularly President Jonathan to find a way to keep our most talented people at home to develop the country.

Our education system is not as bad as we make it. The trio I have mentioned in this piece started out in this country, studying at primary and secondary schools where the education curriculum used was wholly indigenous. They did not attend international schools.

They wrote our public examinations on the basis of which they earned scholarships to study abroad.

For instance, it was because Chisom made seven A1 and two B3 in the 2010 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) that she was nominated for a programme organised by the United States to identify talented students for American schools. It is this same examination, which the examining body, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) battles with exam cheats to ensure its credibility every year that produced the 17-year old who got a slot among the 6.2 per cent of 34,950 candidates admitted into Harvard for next session. Her admission affirmed the decision by WAEC to give her the grades she earned.

It also shows that there is nothing wrong with our curriculum and instruments for testing knowledge; that if we improve on them, we will compete even better with the best around the world.

However, more important is how Chisom was discovered. In her country of birth and origin, it was the embassy of a foreign country that thought it expedient to seek out talents like her. If the United States can have a programme for the best brains in Nigeria, how much more the government of Nigeria, which has a greater responsibility to its citizens.

I know that the Federal Government has various kinds of scholarship programmes. There is one that provides undergraduates of Federalowned tertiary institutions who have Cumulative Grade Point Averages(CGPA) of 3.00 points and above and scale through tests with funds every session. I know there are postgraduate scholarships as well that provide funding for foreign education – e.g the PTDF scholarship.

However, unlike the United States programme, where the initiators are only interested in what you have to offer, our own programmes are dogged by inconsistencies, nepotism, corruption and favouritism.

Rather than accept talented people, we consider things like catchment area, which means some not-so-qualified people are accepted at the expense of brilliant people. If President Jonathan wants to put an end to brain drain, this has to stop.

He also has to evolve programmes to encourage academics and other talented people to return to work in the country. That means he needs to fix the energy problem, provide infrastructure such as good roads, potable water and health facilities, and engage them in areas where they will excel in place of politicians and sychophants.

A

Belo-Osagie

•The lecturers undergoing training at Mobil Staff House

Oil firm provides mini-workrooms for varsities A

CADEMICS know the frustration of teaching without requisite equipment. That is why geosciences lecturers from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA) and the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) are excited about the endowment of mini-workrooms in their geosciences department by the Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL).

The donation came under EEPNL’s University Assistance Programme (UAP) which aims at improving the quality of geosciences training in universities by endowing equipment and training lecturers.

The package EEPNL, in collaboration with joint venture partners, NNPC and SNEPCo, provided to each of the benefiting universities are: four Sun Blade Unix Machines, one DLT tape drive, one 3com 16 port switch, one HP Design Jet Plotter, one Dell 19" flat screen, one high end PC, one APC 1.5KVA UPS and a 30KVA generator. This is in addition to furniture for the equipment.

Schlumberger provided software applications and their licences to power the systems, including four GeoFrame Runtime licences, two IESX licenses with synthetics, two Geology Office licences and Solaris Operating system, while CBC Computers Limited took care of the installation and maintenance of the equipment.

Lecturers from the three universities spent the whole of last week at Mobil Staff House, Ikoyi, Lagos, learning how to deploy the facilities in imparting practical knowledge of geosciences in their students.

Dr Mary Taiwo Olowokere, Head

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

of FUTA’s Geophysics Department, was full of appreciation to the donors at the opening ceremony of the workshop last Monday and assured that the university would ‘repay’ them by winning the prestigious African Association of Petroleum Geologists/Imperial Barrel Awards Competition which would qualify them to meet the best universities from other parts of the world.

Working with previous donations, including a Petri licence donated by Schlumberger, Dr Olowokere said the university won the pioneer edition of the competition in 2008 and came seventh overall on the world stage.

Last year and this year, the university came second in Africa. She said these feats were achieved working with laptops, whose screens, she explained, were too small to meet the demands of practical exploration work. With their new mini-workroom, Dr Olowokere assured that FUTA students would greatly improve their knowledge of the discipline.

“We are promising that Nigeria is going to come tops in the AAPGIBA competition with your support. There is little that a Geophysicist can do without a work station. As we are trained, we will train lecturers who will train the students,” she said.

Alhaji Bukka Shettima from the UNIMAID said the donation was a big boost for locally-trained geoscientists who have had no international exposure.

“I am a trained seismologist. I found out that most of the things

we do are manual, tedious and time consuming. A work station is something we heard from people who went abroad. Without this donation, most of us, especially in the north and those that don’t have opportunity to travel abroad, would not have learnt anything,” he said.

In his speech, Ufuoma Ewherido, GM Operations, Technical Geosciences for Mobil Producing Nigeria, who was represented by Mr Andrew Ejayeriese, Manager, Operations, Tehcnical Geosciences – Deep Water, said as a follow-p to the training, the sponsors would install and inaugurate the project in each school – with the university authorities and officials from the National Universities Commission (NUC) present to ensure they understand the need to support the optimal utilisation of the facilities.

He added that the UAP initiative had in the first and second phases provided the same support in eight universities including OAU, Ile-Ife, ABU, Zaria, NAU, Awka, UNIBEN, UNILORIN, UNICAL, FUTO and DELSU. Also speaking, Dr David Nwabor, Business Development Manager of Schlumberger, who said the software deployed to the universities cost over $4.5 million, added that the gift would aid practical understanding of oil and gas exploration activities.

Project consultant, Mr Lambert Akhionbare thanked the donors and urged the beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity the have to turn out well-trained geoscientists.

“The benefit of this exercise comes when the students graduate and they can fit in when they get to the work environment,” he said.

Book publishers get awards

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ITERAMED Publications Nigeria Limited, publishers of Lantern Books, and its chairman, Otunba Yinka Lawal-Solarin, were among organisations and individuals honoured at the 2011 Nigeria International Book Fair (NIBF) at the University of Lagos.

Literamed Publications was rewarded for participating in previous book fairs, while its chairman, who once chaired the Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT), organisers of the annual fair, was honoured for his support.

The awards held on the second day of the five-day fair at the Afe Babalola Auditorium.

Mr Dayo Alabi, past chairman

By Queen Akatu

of the trust who presented the award, said its essence was to acknowledge individuals and corporate bodies who stood by them in the past 10 years.

Receiving the award, Otunba Lawal-Solarin promised more support for a worthy cause such as the fair since the government had failed to lend its support.

“I am most willing to sustain my support for this and I also call on individuals and corporate bodies to support them since government has failed to,” he said.

Lawal-Solarin further harped on piracy as one factor stunting the growth of pulishers and artists in

Nigeria, saying all hands must be on deck to tackle the malaise.

Literamed’s Communication Manager Mrs Solape Farotimi, who received the Award for Punctuality on behalf of the company, reiterated the company’s mandate which is to: “enhance literacy in the African child”, which she said informs the firm’s focus on children educational books.”

Other outfits that also received awards included the University Press Plc; Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Limited; Longman Nigeria Plc; Evans Brothers Nigerian Publishers Limited; Bounty Press Plc, and Africa First Publishers Plc, among others.

SLIDING TACKLE

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

42

Eguaveon happy with Dream Team V’s progress N

ATIONAL U-23 coach Austin Eguavoen has declared that his team for the All Africa Games and London 2012 Olympics is near completion.

Eguavoen made the declaration upon the Dream

Team V arrival from Costa Rica where they lost one nil to the National side of the Central America country.

“I have waited for a game like this for my team, an opposition that would bring out the best in my players and

from what the boys put up in San Jose I can beat my chest to say we are just inches away from producing a team that would favourably compete in the All Africa games and London 2012 Olympics” Eguavoen asserted.

• Lukman Haruna

B

UKOLA Babes’ technical adviser Festus Allen is not worried by the three-game ultimatum issued to him by the management of the team.

The newly-promoted side made a storming start to the 2010/2011 season that saw them temporarily occupy second spot on the NPL standings.

Other big teams in the Nigerian top flight sat up and took notice as Allen steered the unheralded side to a 14 match unbeaten run which only came to a shuddering end at

FRENCH OPEN

Sharapova, Li sweep into French Open semis

L

i Na became the first Chinese player to reach a French Open semifinal with an upset 7-5, 6-2 win over fourth seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus on Wednesday.

She now stands just one match away from a second straight Grand Slam final, having lost to Kim Clijsters in the Australian Open championship match at the start of the year.

On that occasion she was the first Chinese player to have reached the final of a Grand Slam event.

The 29-year-old Li, seeded sixth on her fifth appearance at Roland Garros, will play Russian seventh seed Maria Sharapova on Thursday for a place in Saturday's final.

Azarenka, the highestranking and, at 21, the youngest player left in the tournament, procured the first break of the match in the third game, but she gave that back immediately with a poor service game that ended in a double fault.

Li, who converted to tennis as a nine-year-old after an early grounding in badminton, saved two break points in a marathon seventh game before finally taking a 4-3 lead.

The Belarusian was being made to work hard by her Chinese opponent who varied her shots to great effect in order to pull Azarenka away from the baseline where she was able to dominate with her heavier hitting.

Those tactics worked a treat in the 12th game when she twice wrong-footed the fourth-seed to get to 0-40 and then clinched the set with a

rasping backhand crosscourt drive.

The second set opened in identical fashion to the first with Azarenka breaking in the third game to take a 2-1 lead only for Li to hit back immediately with a break of her own.

The Chinese player was clearly the quicker about the court of the two players and it was footwork again that let down Azarenka in the sixth game with two unforced errors setting up a break point which Li took with a forehand passing shot down the line.

The sixth seed held serve to zero as Azarenka's confidence fell away and she finished her off in the next game, converting her third match point when the Belarusian hit a backhand wide.

Sharapova moved to within two wins of a career Grand Slam when she defeated Germany's Andrea Petkovic 6-0, 6-3 to reach her second French Open semifinal.

• Sharapova

Bukola Babes coach Murray reveals details of injury A unfazed by ultimatum league leaders, Dolphins.

The half of the season has seen the new boys endure a harrowing run that culminated in two home defeats against Kano Pillars and Sunshine Stars. This did not go down well with the management of the club led

by Abdul Adama as they promptly read out the riot act.

Bukola Babes have now been charged with the unenviable task of winning their next three games against champions Enyimba (away), Plateau United (home) and Enugu Rangers (away).

Amoo feeling pressure at 3SC P

RESSURE is building up on 3SC head coach, Fatai Amoo, with the club management breathing down his neck following the inconsistent display of the team in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) this term.

SuperSport.com was informed by a member of the club’s backroom staff that the situation at 3SC has degenerated to an all-time low.

Amoo has also been stripped of the freehand of selecting his squad players for league games since the commencement of the second half of the NPL.

He also expressed satisfaction with the performance of his players considering that only fourteen players made the trip to Costa Rica.

“I must give kudos to these players, after traveling for such a long distance they were outstanding. I must confess I am satisfied despite the challenges we faced; injury and shortage of players on the bench, these boys stood tall. You need to watch the tape; we were just unlucky not to have scored.”

“Even though there are a lot of things I would not like to discuss on the pages of newpapers, I think now is the time for the Football Federation to begin to treat this team as second only to the National team” Coach Austin Eguavoen also revealed that preparation would start in earnest for this weekend’s game against Tanzania.

“There is no time to waste. We would resume training immediately in preparation for the game against Tanzania. As you know they eliminated Cameroon from the Olympic qualifiers and that alone is a testimony that they are a good side” he said.

The Dream Team V will resume training this evening at the main bowl of the National stadium, Surulere.

The Team is due to leave the country on Friday June 3rd for Dares-Salam.

The Tanzania Nigeria game holds on Sunday June 5th.

“There is no time to waste. We would resume training immediately in preparation for the game against Tanzania.

As you know they eliminated Cameroon from the Olympic qualifiers and that alone is a testimony that they are a good side” Dream Team V coach, Austin Eguavoen restating there is no time to waste for the preparation of the team against Tanzania

“It is not the same again here (at 3SC). The coach is harassed by this board member every now and then. Things are just not the same as it was when we had Mutiu Adepoju in charge.

The coaches had a freehand in doing their jobs before now but now they are told which players will make the team for a game and which one should not,” the club official.

SuperSport.com also learned that Adepoju, who is the club’s technical director, has little or no input in the selection of players for 3SC’s league

games.

“He (Adepoju) has been relegated to the background. You know he is not that kind of person that drags issues. So he has decided to keep quiet and watch as things unfold,” said our source.

Amoo's side will play host to Kano Pillars in a Week 24 game on Wednesday. 3SC are currently placed on 13th position on the Premier League log and seven points adrift of the drop zone.

“I will do my best as always, get the boys prepared and fired up and see how things go,” Allen told SuperSport.com.

The gaffer also explained the rationale behind their rash of poor results in the league. He noted that home losses to Kano Pillars and Sunshine Stars were down to ill luck as his boys had the better of clear cut opportunities in both games.

“We played well in those two games and only hard luck saw us fail to take the numerous goal scoring opportunities we created in those games. Besides, lets also not forget that those teams are sides that have represented Nigeria in the CAF Champions’ League and Confederation’s cup so they are not bad sides,” he explained.

Bukola Babes have already arrived Aba for Wednesday’s NPL clash.

Enyimba have been in resurgent form, picking up seven points from their opening four games in the second round.

NDY Murray should have been on crutches two days ago but he will continue to put aside the worry of an ankle injury when he faces Juan Ignacio Chela for a place in the French Open semi-finals on Wednesday afternoon.

The world number four somehow emerged victorious from his delayed fourth-round clash with 15th seed Viktor Troicki on Tuesday and he is now looking to reach the last four at Roland Garros for the first time.

The Scot damaged his right ankle in his previous win over

• Murray

Michael Berrer and revealed on Tuesday he suffered a tear to one of the tendons. He spent 48 hours trying to recover as much as possible but the pain and the threat of further injury are very much there. Murray said: "I don't think many people recover from a sprained ankle and a tear in a tendon in two days."

Having battled back from two sets and a break down to level the match before play was called off on Monday night, Murray trailed Troicki 5-3 and 30-0 in the one-set shoot-out before hitting back to clinch an unlikely 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5 victory. He added: "I was told to stay off my feet totally the day in between the matches.

"I was given crutches which I didn't use because I didn't know how to. I didn't know how it was going to be until I went onto the court. The fact that I recovered well enough to play was probably the best point for me. I managed to come back from a situation that on another day or another tournament I might not have been able to, so I was proud of that."

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

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INTERVIEW A US-based payment processor, Clickbank, some years ago banned transactions involving digital information products originating from Nigeria on its platform. While information marketers in other parts of the world make money daily either as affiliates selling other people’s digital products promoted by Clickbank or by floating their own products as merchants on the same platform, their counterparts in Nigeria are not allowed to enjoy any of these privileges. But information marketers under the auspices of the Association of Information Marketers of Nigeria are set to challenge the ban. Dr. Sunny Obazu- Ojeagbase, in this interview, explains why the association is taking such a step. Excerpts:

‘Clickbank ‘ll lift ban on Nigeria’ L

ET us know a bit more about Clickbank?

Clickbank is simply a payment processor. It is a US based company involved in the reselling of information products and affiliate promotion of digital products from subscribers across countries of the world. Such digital products usually come in the form of e-books (usually in PDF format), software etc. One major advantage of digital products is that once payment has been made and confirmed, it can be downloaded by the buyer almost instantly without further delay or additional expenses such as shipping etc.

What is all this fuss about Clickbank over?

Those who are not new to information marketing business in Nigeria would have heard that one of the platforms from which you can start making money almost immediately is through Clickbank. You can be an affiliate or a merchant. Apart from that, it has a market place where you can buy an array of information products and software that will help your business. The bad news, however, is that Clickbank does not accept Nigerians to participate on their website. I know a lot of Nigerians go through the backdoor to register but the trouble is that you have to get a foreign address and also you have to find a way your earnings will get to you here in Nigeria. We, the members of The Association of Information Marketers of Nigeria (AIMN), have, therefore, taken the bold step to petition Clickbank so they can do business with Nigeria.

How does Clickbank work?

A lot of Internet marketers use Clickbank both to sell other people’s products and to promote their own. Those that promote others people’s products are called affiliate marketers. Affiliate marketing is a marketing practice in which a business rewards its affiliates for each visitor or customer brought about by the affiliate’s own marketing efforts. Clickbank actually pays you a commission for promoting and bringing a customer to buy other people’s products on Clickbank.

As an affiliate marketer, you sign up for any of Clickbank’s products you feel you can promote and sell. You can join Clickbank as an affiliate free of charge.

They have a general marketplace where you can search for or browse products to sell.

The process is very simple: for each product you want to sell, you create a “hop-link” to the product’s sales page, which then attaches a cookie to the reader’s browser, so that when they visit the page, Clickbank records that the visitor has come from you. If they subsequently buy, you are awarded your commission.

Selling your own products through Clickbank is a little more complicated. They have a pretty detailed approval process which takes up to five days, but it does

ensure that you’ve done everything correctly.

There is also a one-time activation fee of $49.95 for your first product, and Clickbank takes a commission of 7.5 per cent plus a dollar from every sale you make.

Are there no alternatives to Click bank?

The major reason most affiliate marketers prefer to patronise Clickbank is because of their high rate of commission; their commission is as high as 50 per cent. And because they deal with digital products, it is very easy to download, once payment has been made. Now, what most Nigerians do is to register with Clickbank using the “back door strategy”. They do this by having a virtual address. Meaning, they might use a foreign address of one of the countries Clickbank accepts, the address of a trusted relative or friend or graphcard.”

Why is Clickbank not accepting Nigerians?

What a lot of Nigerians do not realise is that a few years back, Nigeria was part of the countries listed under Clickbank but was nullified due to some reasons. One of the reasons is the issue of corruption and fraudulent acts. Fraudulent acts on the Internet are known as Internet scams. Nigerian scammers exist and it is the main reason many of these networks ban Nigerians from using their services. But the acts of a few people should not mean all Nigerians are scammers; “Does it mean that 150 million people or less than a quarter of that number that go online are scammers?

What would you say are the consequences of continuous ban by Clickbank?

It may surprise you that Clickbank could be shutting Nigerians out due to ignorance. Some people don’t want to investigate anything whatsoever before they come out with their policies.

They could have blacklisted Nigeria without any cogent reason other than the fact that the whole world thinks all Nigerians are crooks. We share a totally different view. Indeed, Clickbank may be shooting itself in the leg by maintaining its ban on Nigeria. I have many reasons for saying this: They need to know that Nigerians do business with Google through the adwords and ad sense programmes and Google actually sends cheques to Nigeria. They need to know that Nigerians are interested in affiliate marketing than Americans according to

Google Insights (Go to http:/ www.google.com/inshghts/ search/ and search for affiliate marketing). They also need to know that according to alexa.com, the highest users of Getresponse.com is USA followed by Nigeria with Lagos being the highest users (per city) in the world followed by Los Angeles.They need to know that they are missing out on a lot of money by refusing to work with Nigerians.

What approach would your protest take?

We have decided to write a letter, signed by thousands of Nigerians, which we will then courier to their office in the US. Since our annual conference is coming up, we have decided to use that day to gather Nigerians to sign the petition.

At the conference, we will not just talk about the restrictions on by the Clickbank; we are also going to be sharing with old members of the association as well as those that would be joining that day three hot cash generating strategies that people can use. We believe that Clickbank will ultimately lift the ban on Nigeria and we are trying to prepare our members ahead of it. What we are actually doing is to place in people’s hands quality information guaranteed to make them money.

It is a three-in-one conference.

Let me share with you some of the things that would happen that day. One of our officials, Akin Alabi will be sharing with people how they can make money also as a Clickbank Affiliate Starting with little or no money. He has made good money from that strategy himself.

Like I mentioned earlier, one of the fastest ways to start making money on the Internet is through Clickbank affiliate marketing. He will show them among other things the following:How to open a Clickbank account from anywhere in Nigeria without paying for a foreign address. How to start making money within days using only articles others have written for you. How to set up blogs that will attract cash-inhand visitors that will buy your affiliate offers and how they can cash their’s without stress Another official of the association, Ronald Nzimora, will be sharing with participants how to create a new source of income in addition to their existing businesses. His view is that any business can start to make extra money starting almost immediately. So Ronald will be showing

•Ojeagbase

them how to identify the hidden gem in your business that you can sell for cash and how to leverage the power of information marketing to create a windfall of cash to your business.

Of course, I will also be sharing with the participants some of the income generating strategies I have used over the years to generate tons of cash. Specifically, I will be sharing with them how to generate business ideas and take such ideas to the market place in record time.

This is what I have done for years with visible results to show for it. Here are some of the golden nuggets I will be sharing with the participants that day. There will also be profit generating business ideas that are guaranteed to sell.

The things you must know before you start any kind of business whatsoever. If you don’t know these things, you will be devoured in the market place. Profit generating marketing tips (they are dirty cheap) that have turned his business into national brands.

We also have a bonus presentation by the President of Association of Internet Marketers of Nigeria, Mrs Olakitan Wellington. She will present a heart rending story of how the Clickbank policy against Nigerians had robbed many of a golden chance to make it on the internet.

Is attendance free?

I would say: “Yes” and “no”.

This is why. Even though the con-

‘Clickbank may be shooting itself in the leg by maintaining its ban on Nigeria. I have many reasons for saying this: They need to know that Nigerians do business with Google through the adwords and ad sense programmes and Google actually sends cheques to Nigeria. They need to know that Nigerians are interested in affiliate marketing than Americans’

ference is free, we want to ensure that only those that are truly interested in what we are offering get seats. I’m sure you know what I am talking about.

Once an event (especially a quality one like this) is free, the whole world will want to be there.

Time wasters will be there.

Those that just want to sell their junk materials to you will be there as well. We don’t want that to happen, so we want to make sure only people with genuine intentions, get seats. We have put some conditions in place.

People must send a text to the association’s headquarters so we can reserve seats for them.

They only need to text their full names to 08035208000. That is the way we can be sure they are interested.

They must be ready to sign our Clickbank petition. That means they wholeheartedly support what we are doing. A form will be made available for people to sign on that day. This is very important. Who knows, it could be that Clickbank will accept only those that sign this petition.

Those intending to attend must get a copy of the DVD of the information marketing seminar our association organised last year. It is a very important resource.

Five Information Marketing heavy hitters gathered at the main hall of the Presbitarian Church Yaba, Lagos to reveal to those in attendance three ways to launch their information marketing business and seven ways to start making money from it right away. We recorded and it is on sale for N5,000 but participants will get a copy at a discounted rate of N1,500. That is a ridiculously low sum to pay for such quality information.

As I said, at the seminar, hundreds of information marketers will be signing a joint petition, which will be sent directly to the US headquarters of Clickbank.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

44

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

N4.9b loss at UNAD: Managing the risk of temptation According to Nell Minow, “One factor that can make the difference between smart and dumb choices is corporate governance. In essence CG is the structure that is intended to make sure that the right questions get asked and that checks and balances are in place to make sure that the answers reflect what is best for the creation of long-term, sustainable value. When that structure gets subverted, it becomes too easy to succumb to the temptation to engage in self dealing.”

O

F all the peoples in Nigeria the Ekiti tribe, found in the land-locked hilly reserves of the Western region sports a Greek mentality. They read books. About Greeks, the surrealist book, the bible once noted them for their rigour of reasoning and the craving for intellectual purity, including in matters that hardly lend themselves to such approach, like integrity. In the hands of those Merchants of classics, all the effort to entrap integrity turned out to be like the boa-constrictor’s act, a difficult task that forced them to resign to drama and finally consoled themselves with the Greek tragedies. They teach man that he is simply condemned to the vagaries of life. And, the gods are not to blame.

In Ekiti state presently, a raging situation in their premier varsity shows that stark distinction between life and drama; also whether a long cherished base of their values will remain. The University of Ado Ekiti, their iconic institution defines a sociological placement of the 15-year old state within Nigeria, a.k.a “the fountain of knowledge”. Lately the state has also added to her alias, “a land of honour”: all integers of integrity. Art or drama is a depiction, while integrity is reality virtually, a cyber reality. Without it men perish, definitely. Greek dramas once made human attempt at living integrity to end in failure.

Gradually it became etched in the minds of generations (through Drama) that integrity was a mirage, and Sociology called it a typology.

By the time the Nigerian met western education, a third generation intellectuals, he already had his lessons cut out. But when Wole Soyinka entered he shunted that line. And went ahead to churn his (own) works from an imagination struck with the animist gods of the South-West’s forest. That gave him the licence of intrusion into the Nobel pantheon in Literature. He could no longer be held by the Form or Content of Greek imagination. This was no less done in music by Fela Anikulapo Kuti, he broke the classical code and formed his own symphony, based on sonic African motifs.

In real life, both of them, cousins, became bond-servants of the social conscience. Icons, they have a small tribe of disciples, who though lack the temerity to forge further. Integrity is a pre-condition of human interaction in the oral culture where they grew, a language of the cosmogony with animist gods; quite unlike the paganist rituals of the Dionysian variant that fomented Graeco-Roman world, the beginning of western education. Ekiti belonged in the former, where once integrity was a prelim for honour, including in their exchanges of the market place. Incidentally that is the global language of the market today. Without it the market crashes, like it did in the 1990s and 1st decade of 21st century, and signalled another round of re-

forms all over the world, including Nigeria’s by the CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Collision of ideas Back to the moment, about the frauds and sack in UNAD. Already the bayonets are flashing and media is awash with versions and perspectives on the news. The community of Nigerian scholars, professors at large among whom Ekiti state boasts an unfair proportion, are freely-giving of their opinions in corporate governance terms, but most ending up shatteringly simplistic or pre-school. That on its own is a statement about uneven grounds on the state of Education around the world, especially the increasing gulf that between the micro and macro environments, for sure with a peculiar slant in Nigeria’s own case.

Already in Ekiti state the Government, rising from a summit on the subject issued a communiqué on the deplorable situation of her own education, along with bullet points on how to address it. But, a pervasive lack of colour and character that has subsumed not only the Nigerian university but provoked even Havard (Harvard Business School) and UK elsewhere to entertain unusual inspirations, will prove that all that Ekiti state can effect right now is a prophilaxis (OYEBODE, Akin on Corporate Governance, 2009). After all UNAD’s amount to little when compared with the dimension of confusion and scandal now about the IMF boss, Dominic Straus Khan, all bothering on integrity.

Therefore this review will attempt to analyse the UNAD frauds as reported, and juxtapose it with at least two classic cases from the macro environment which are easily quoted by some of the academics to flog inadvertently their own fraud (of ideas) on the people, essentially because Corporate Governance is still regarded in some quarters like the social networking instrument for flocking with the enlightened in public arena, no more.

Apart from using templates, Corporate Governance thinks conveniently in meta-narratives; to create expanded latitude that enhances choice and options before the decision-maker in today’s stakeholder scenario.

The template of that Greek era is not much different from what obtains in the world economy today, which believes that market forces have inexorable surge power to go up or down, or sort things out by themselves, willy-nilly. That is to say, short of the natural disasters which can be insured against, or any calamity of a large scale that can be taken over by governments or multi-lateral institutions when they happen, Nell Minow & A.G. Monks their frontline apostles say, “If the rising tide of a bull market lifts all the boats, then when the tide goes out some of those boats are going to founder on the rocks. That’s just the market doing its inexorable job of

sorting.” The duo went ahead to cite for instance, “Some companies (and their managers and shareholders) got a free ride during the 1990s due to overall market buoyancy. If the directors and the executives were smart they recognised what was going on and used the access to capital to fund their next steps...”

They did not denominate any further, but in that self-style and daring experimentalism, in the absence of any stronger occidental view (at least before Schumpeter: Corporate Institutions, The Economist 30/10/10) - voice of the proponents of financial breakthrough that comes with a cut-throat sense of opportunism. They advance as their only excuse the extreme stretches of Capitalism; and easily lead to “419”, as was the case with Nigeria about the recent “wonder-banks” that defrauded many innocent people: NOSPEKTCO, WEALTHZONE and co. It was definitely one way not to groom a people or business of integrity. An individual’s integrity, shared in common with people of like-values is prescient and effectual against the nuisance copy of today’s cosmopolitan epidemic, sexed up as “the conundrums of capitalism”.

Thus in Ekiti state the issue of the sack of Professor Dipo Kolawole, till recently the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ado Ekiti by Dr Kayode Fayemi the State Governor, lends to Nigeria once again the classic scenario to interrogate some of the familiar issues in Corporate Governance, often that come with frightening conclusions. The uniqueness of Corporate Governance is that for the first time in a long history a discipline is bringing to its purview the three vital components of the political economy: Private sector, the Establishment (inclusive of public sector) and Academia, to consciously interrogate one another on any issue and to locate an answer. Its methodology though is different from the typical-classroom setting its ultimate aim is to guide to a flaw-less decision making for leaders. And, integrity is its fulcrum. But as the popular saying, what you don’t have you cannot give. CG is not a new subterfuge by academics. For instance where did the UNAD obscenity emerge from?

Smart and dumb choices Dipo Kolawole assumed office as UNADVC in 2006. His era coincided with a surge of infrastructural projects which changed the phase of the university from a once docile environment of tutors cast in the worse form of a Nigerian civil service mentality (preSERVICOM, at least), as a hood of wheelers and dealers and notorious student cults. Prof Kolawole, a.k.a “DK” brought a cosmopolitan, functional approach that believed in the upgrading of facility in order to add value and to increase the business volume; a perfect setting for the new market environment. He is no doubt an apostle of the new order. Till date DK is remembered fondly for a number of those projects which he initiated, including a private lift installed in his office, and a university main-gate that was thought befitting.

He was charismatic and enterprising, an example of an inspirational leader but also not without their uncommon flaws- the disposition to self-dealing, when the ultimate test (of integrity) comes calling. This was Aristotle’s suspicion about ‘tragic heroes’, the

GBENGA OGUNSAKIN cast European mindset. DK raised the IGR of UNAD to an all time high, some of which obviously went into paying the bills of those projects. And among them, by the unrevealed account of the Commission’s findings, some that cleaved to his fingers!

According to Nell Minow, “One factor that can make the difference between smart and dumb choices is corporate governance. In essence CG is the structure that is intended to make sure that the right questions get asked and that checks and balances are in place to make sure that the answers reflect what is best for the creation of long-term, sustainable value. When that structure gets subverted, it becomes too easy to succumb to the temptation to engage in self dealing.” Hence according to him, the whole essence of writing his book, jointly authored with A. G. Monks, and far ahead of any other(s) in the field is simply “about managing the risk of that temptation”.

In other words man cannot trust himself, will not tame himself, nor even conceive integrity! This is the ultimate bind, the eternal prison-house of a model professor (?). But no, perhaps only within the hide-bounds of the un-renewed, un-reinvented, 20 th centuryended western scholarship. Rather, in the second decade of the 21st, Better Corporate Governance (the “need for better corporate governance has never been clearer or more pressing”- Minow) says, integrity is a Leadership character, it is pliable; it is merchandise in the 21st century global market, it is purchase-able.

Update on N4.9billion loss As at the last count (May, 2011), N4.9billion was alleged to have been cleaned out of the coffers of the university. Both the internal and external auditors are not agreed on what verdict to announce. Ordinarily there are a number of issues to observe, such as: which Accounting standards to respect; which preferred style to favour by the respective auditors within or without; what functional roles were played by the V.C. and/or the C.F.O. in the unfolding saga; what are the laid down precepts of accounting to observe..? All the above are simply the associated sub-structural facts under the working definition that corporate governance is: “a set of principles, policies, procedures and programmes by which an organization is governed”, etc. But what does the higher dimension, about power say?

• To be continued

• Gbenga Ogunsakin Email:greenhavenfoundation@gmail.com tel: 08037250343

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

Dell explores acquisitions to widen lead in market for Internet servers

D

ELL Incorporated said it is exploring acquisitions to bolster its data center business, as the company aims to widen its lead in supplying computer servers that run the Web services of clients such as Google Incorporated (GOOG) and Baidu Incorporated “We want to continue to bring innovation through acquisitions,” Amit Midha, Head of Dell’s operations in the China and South Asia regions, said at a briefing in Hong Kong today. Dell is interested in buying “everything around data centers,” an area of business that

is contributing half the company’s profit, he said.

Dell is gaining orders from Chinese Internet companies including Baidu, Tencent Holdings Ltd. (700), and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. for computer servers underpinning search-engine, online commerce, and socialnetworking services, Midha said. Round Rock, Texas-based Dell is parlaying its experience in supplying technology to Google and Facebook Inc. in the U.S. to win in China, the world’s biggest Internet market by users.

Dell has about 70 percent of the market for

servers running the data centers of so-called cloud services in the US, and about 60 percent of the market in China, according to Midha.

Demand from data center operators helped Dell more than double net income last quarter to $945 million from $341 million, the company reported this month. Dell bought data- storage company Compellent Technologies for about $800 million in February.

Dell, the world’s second-biggest maker of personal computers, plans to double the number of service centers in China this year

to 2,000, Midha said. The company will also expand its sales network in the Asian country, at present comprising of about 15,000 outlets, Midha said.

China recently became Dell’s biggest market outside the US, Midha said, without specifying when that happened.

Dell will start selling a larger version of its “Streak” tablet computer later this year in China, where the company offers a model with a screen measuring about five inches, Midha said. Dell also plans to offer more smartphones in the country, he said.

45

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

BUSINESS

CHANGE OF NAME AGBABIAKA

Apple’s IPad faces Intel’s challenge

I

NTEL Corporation, the world’s largest chipmaker, is promoting a new type of thinner laptop called an ultrabook, seeking to help the personal-computer industry fend off a challenge from Apple Inc. iPad and other tablets.

The new machines will be less than an inch thick, have days of battery life on standby, start up in just seconds and retail for less than $1,000, according to Intel Executive Vice President Sean Maloney, who will discuss the products at a speech later today.

Intel aims to convert 40 percent of consumer laptops to the new category by the end of 2012.

Intel is trying to help the PC industry beat back the iPad, which has attracted consumers seeking a thin, affordable computer. Until now, ultraportable devices from PC makers haven’t sold well because of high prices and chips that didn’t deliver enough performance, Maloney said in an interview.

“We want to find new ways to propel the PC forward,” said Maloney, who is taking on a newly created position

as chairman of Intel China.

“With what has happened in the tablet space, there is a ‘hurry-up’ to the PC industry.”

While Intel also is developing new chips for tablet computers, the company has struggled to translate its PC dominance into success in that market. Apple’s device runs on mobile-phone chips, rather than Intel processors.

Tablets from Samsung Electronics Co., Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. and Research In Motion Ltd. also rely on non-Intel chips.

Intel, based in Santa Clara, California, expects to have 35 tablets based on its chips on sale by the end of the year. It will demonstrate 10 of them during Maloney’s speech, which happens today at the Computex industry show in Taiwan.

Maloney will be joined on stage by Asustek Computer Inc. Chairman Jonney Shih to demonstrate that company’s UX21 ASUS ultrabook computer. Later generations of ultrabooks will be based on Intel’s new processor design, called Ivy Bridge.

Intel fell 29 cents, or 1.3 per cent, to $22.21. The stock has climbed 5.6 per cent this year.

Nokia drops targets and shares slump to 13-year low

M

OBILE phone maker Nokia abandoned hope of meeting key targets just weeks after setting them, raising questions over whether its new boss can deliver on the turnaround he promised in February.

Its shares tumbled 18 per cent to their lowest in 13 years, wiping some 3.8 billion euros ($5.5 billion) off its market value as investors worried the company, once the leading force in its industry, was losing so much market share it may never regain its footing.

Nokia has been losing ground in the smartphone market to Apple Inc's iPhone and Google Inc's Android devices, and at the lower end, to more nimble Asian rivals.

The company is switching to Microsoft Corp's software from its own Symbian platform as part of an overhaul of its phone business set out three months ago by new Chief Executive Stephen Elop.

But it continues to suffer from mounting competition and warned on Tuesday it expects net sales from its devices and services business in the second quarter to be "substantially below" its previous forecast, set in April, of between 6.1 billion euros ($8.7 billion) and 6.6 billion.

Elop, brought in last year to help revive Finland's flagship technology company, blamed both weak sales and price cuts, noting competition was particularly tough in Europe.

"Android is gaining strength. Apple is Apple, of course," he told analysts on a conference call. He also said management issues had also hurt business in China, where Nokia faces challenges from the likes of ZTE Corp.

"Given the unexpected change in our outlook for the

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ADEGBOLA

second quarter, Nokia believes it is no longer appropriate to provide annual targets for 2011," the company said, though it would still provide quarterly updates.

Nokia forecast its non-IFRS operating margin for devices and services to be around break-even in the second quarter, rather than previously expected range of six per cent to nine per cent.

The new outlook implies a loss is likely for third quarter, analysts said. They also said the warning showed Nokia's market position worsening much faster than expected, with lower-priced Asian rivals grabbing a bigger chunk of markets such as China.

"What does strike us as quite surprising is the level to which the markets have dropped, we're talking about break even now, which is quite a slide," said Lee Simpson, an analyst at Jefferies & Co. "I think this level of shareholder destruction is now starting to look dangerous.

What can these guys do to reverse this?"

Nokia shares closed at 4.75 euros, having briefly fallen as low as 4.716 euros, their lowest in more than 13 years and compared with a peak around 65 euros set in 2000.

"Given the internal turmoil that will be generated by this news, it is increasingly difficult to see that Nokia can leapfrog one handset generation and be on par with the competition in early 2012," said WestLB analyst Thomas Langer.

In February, Elop had compared Nokia with a burning platform in a widely leaked memo when he unveiled a shift in strategy in smartphones by choosing Microsoft's unproven software over its own.

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47

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Diabetes mellitus is an ailment most sufferers don’t know how to detect or what to do when recognised. A naturopath and Provost, Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Nigeria, Lagos, Dr Idowu Ogunkoya, tells WALE ADEPOJU how to detect and manage it.

Obesity, lifestyle trigger diabetes D

IABETES mellitus is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in people aged 20 to 74 years.

In the kidneys, diabetes can lead to nephropathy (the inability of the kidney to properly filter toxins from the blood). About 40 per cent of new cases of end-stage renal disease (kidney failure) are caused by diabetes mellitus.

Blockages of large blood vessels in diabetics can lead to many cardiovascular problems, including high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Although these conditions also occur in non diabetic individuals, people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disorders.

According to a Naturopath, Dr Idowu Ogunkoya, diabetes mellitus as a disease in which blood levels of glucose (sugar) are high because the body does not produce or properly use insulin. There are two types of Diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. “In Type 1 diabetes, formerly called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and juvenile-onset diabetes, the body does not produce insulin or produces it only in very small quantities. Symptoms usually appear suddenly, typically in individuals under 20 years of age. Most cases occur around puberty— around age 10 to 12 in girls and age 12 to 14 in boys,” he said.

Explaining the basics, Dr Ogunkoya said in Diabetes mellitus, low insulin levels or poor response to insulin prevent cells from absorbing glucose. As a result, glucose builds up in the blood. When glucose-laden blood passes through the kidneys, the organs that remove blood impurities, the kidneys cannot absorb all of the excess glucose.

“This excess glucose spills into the urine, accompanied by water and electrolytes—ions required by cells to regulate the electric charge and flow of water molecules across the cell membrane. This causes frequent urination to get rid of the additional water drawn into the urine; excessive thirst to trigger replacement of lost water; and hunger to replace the glucose lost in urination. Additional symptoms may include blurred vision, dramatic weight loss, irritability, weakness and fatigue, and nausea and vomiting,” Ogunkoya said.

Explaining further, Dr Idowu said Type one diabetes is an autoimmune disease, a condition in which the body’s disease-fighting immune sys-

tem goes awry and attacks healthy tissues.

“In the case of Type One diabetes, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells, known as beta cells, in the pancreas. Scientists believe that a combination of genetic and environmental factors somehow triggers the immune system to destroy these cells. Scientists have so far identified 20 genes that play a role in Type 1 diabetes, although the exact function of these genes is still under investigation.

Environmental factors, such as certain viruses, may also contribute to the development of the disease, particularly in people who already have a genetic predisposition for the disease.

“In addition to causing a buildup of glucose in the blood, untreated Type 1 diabetes affects the metabolism of fat. Because the body cannot convert glucose into energy, it begins to break down stored fat for fuel. This produces increasing amounts of acidic compounds in the blood called ketone bodies, which interfere with cellular respiration,

‘Prone factors are overweight or physically inactive adults above 45 years of age and individuals who have a diabetic as an immediate family member’

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By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

life expectancy and improve quality of life.

Onyebuchi reaffirmed that the Ministry has not relented in its efforts to deliver quality health care to the people adding that the Ministry has upgraded four Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) in Abakiliki, EbutteMetta,Gombe and Keffi to take care of sickle cell anaemia patients. He added that the 54 tertiary hospitals scattered across the country also treat people suffering from the disease.

He regretted the stoppage of production of NICOSAN, which created a huge vacuum in the management of sickle cell anaemia, noting that the resumption of production of the drug will give hope for sickle cell sufferers.

In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Roberts U.Orya expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in the members of the committee and thanked the Minister for his efforts in ensuring that the production of the drug is resuscitated to quickly address the plight of sickle cell sufferers in Nigeria and across the world.

He said the Committee will place special emphasis on the promotion of technical and managerial excellence adding that result-based and evidence-based management and accountability will also be emphasised as well as mobilisation of human and material resources to ensure that production is commenced and sustained.

Orya noted that diseases such as sickle cell are retardants against

•Prof. Chukwu

socio-economic growth stressing that finding cures, treatments and preventive medicines for these diseases are not only life saving interventions but also catalysts for pegging down poverty.

He assured that that the committee members will give all their efforts, energy, expertise and commitments.

The Director-General of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD),Prof.K.Gamaniel, said the resuscitation of the NICOSAN project was a welcome development because it will give hope to sickle cell patients. He assured that the commitment of the institute is total.

ADDENDUM: Dear readers, please your informative and educative Clinic Day will be published next week Thursday. Keep a date.

•Ogunkoya

quires the expertise of a practitioner that knows his onions.

But it is not immediately that the diabetic will be placed on the preparation. The Naturopath said some Type 2 diabetics can include diet, exercise, and weight reduction as part of treatment regimen initially, but if eventually this regimen does not help control high blood sugar levels, they will be switched on to the preparation.

Prone factors are overweight or physically inactive adults above 45 years of age and individuals who have a diabetic as an immediate family member.

Briefly

Why men don’t discuss sexual dysfunction

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Govt revives project HE Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu has inaugurated an interim management committee to resuscitate the NIPRISAN Project. It is to begin production of NIPRISAN. The drug is known for its unrivaled efficacy in the management of Sickle Cell Anaemia.

The Minister, who was represented

by Director Special Duties, Dr Folake Ademola Majekodumi, said the government has taken concrete steps towards the resuscitation of the production of NIPRISAN. He recalled the unfortunate incident which led to the withdrawal of the production licence of NICOSAN (as the drug was then called) culminating in the cessation of production of NICOSAN and the attendant legal actions instituted by stakeholders in a bid to recover their investments as the then producers of the drug, XECHEM Nigeria, could not meet their loan repayment agreements.

Chukwu noted that while this was going on, millions of Nigerians, young and old, living with Sickle Cell disorder that were being managed by the drug, were left to suffer excruciating pains and avoidable deaths.

He said the ugly scenario drew the attention of the Federal Ministry of Health which intervened by calling a meeting of stakeholders with the aim of resolving the contending issues and resuscitating the production of the drug.

The Minister said the ministry is highly committed as encapsulated in its vision and mission to make sure Nigerians live well and to increase

the energy-producing process in cells.

“In Type 2 diabetes, formerly known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and adult-onset diabetes, the body’s delicate balance between insulin production and the ability of cells to use insulin goes awry. Symptoms characteristic of Type 2 diabetes include those found in Type 1 diabetes, as well as repeated infections or skin sores that heal slowly or not at all, generalised tiredness, and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet,” said Idowu.

And because Mother Nature has answer to anything that ails man, Idowu said the herbal treatment for the condition involves a preparation of a mixture Expandof unripe banana known botanically as musa sapientum, Ogede Agbagba dudu (Yoruba) bitter leaf ewuro (Yoruba) and Vernonia amygdalina botanically, Ejirin (Yoruba) and Momordica charantia, Rauvolvia vomitoria, Asofeyeje (Yoruba). The dispensation of this preparation which will be in liquid or powder form re-

EXUAL dysfunction is a problem men hardly want to discuss. But by playing the Ostrich more damage is being done.

According to the Director of Viewden Adult Products, Bukola Fawole, sexual problem or sexual dysfunction, refers to a problem during any phase of the sexual response cycle that prevents the individual or couple from experiencing satisfaction from the sexual activity.

“While research suggests that sexual dysfunction is common, 71 per cent of men report some degree of difficulty. It is a topic that many people are hesitant to discuss. Fortunately, most cases of sexual dysfunction are treatable, so it is important to share your concerns.

Many men feel inadequate when they discuss these issues.

“I must warn that they must be wary not to be ripped. The need for sexual satisfaction has led to one of the largest and fastest growing markets. All sorts of phony natural sexual enhancement products have taken the tall order to provide men

with the stamina, strength and length to keep them from being found wanting. These products vary in application, dosage, ingredients and intended use. However, in the end, all of these products promise one thing, improved sexual performance and the ability to satisfy your partner’s needs which may not be.

“Age, low testosterone levels and stress can all be factors for erectile issues. These can all be overcome with adequate rest and counsel. It should be mentioned that sexual enhancement supplements work to combat these problems so that you can perform at your best every time.”

Fawole, maker of herbal Vigrx capsules, V-plant, Vigrx and Maximus cream, said these products are not prescription medicines, meaning they tend to be free from any harmful side effects. While they are gentler on your system than prescription medicines, natural enhancement supplements may take longer to work as they have to create natural improvement and

Multipurpose herbal tea

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AVE you heard of tested GP6 (General purpose herbal tea)? It is an immune booster. All treatment is done within 30days. It also purifies blood.

According to the maker, Pastor Robinson Ike, the herbal tea named Odumegwu herbal tea is a revelation from God for global healing which was revealed to him in 1988.

Odumegwu herbal tea has been tested and found to have no side effects. The herbal tea is a remedy for

staphylococcus and other sexually transmitted diseases and diabetes.

He said it is recommended for bone marrow in men, low sperm count, poor erection, quick ejaculation. What does it offer for women, you may ask?

Pastor Ike said, “It is excellent for the treatment of fibroid, miscarriage, menstrual complications, liver and kidney treatment, heart failure, high blood pressure, infertility, cancer and acute arthritis. All treatment is done and results achieved within 30 days.”

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NATURAL HEALTH

The Stone Man… calcium deposits in soft tissue E

not in the bones and teeth but elsewhere, especially in the soft VER seen or heard of a Stone Man or Stone Woman? I tissue. am not talking about the sadistic stone-faced man or of R Chakib Hammoud, Ph.D, who designed the Bell Cal the Stone Age man, but of that modern man or woman whose internal organs are hardened as if cast in Plaster of cium Build-up, for removing calcium deposits in the Paris(PoP)… the man or woman who is dying instalmentally, wrong places, and Bone Density Recovery, for women that proverbial walking corpse. Father and daughter Paul and who are losing calcium in menopausal years, says: Patricia Bragg, who, arguably, brought the first health shop to “Fifty per cent of all deaths in North America are caused by the United States, to ignite the wellness revolution in that councalcification and hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis, high try, paint a vivid picture of the Stone Man in their book, THE blood pressure) and calcification of heart valves (aortic nerve MIRACLE OF FASTING. stenosis). Calcium build-up also affects our brain (AlzheimThey begin: “Stand on any street corner and watch the averer’s), tendons, muscles, glands, ducts, eyes, liver, kidneys, in age person hobble along. Their feet, knees, hips, spine and fact all soft tissues in our body. Calcium build-up in knees head seem to be cemented. There is no free swinging moveshoulders and other parts can be very gritty and painful”. ment in their locomotion. Let’s look at the feet. They seem to He advises that calcium deposition in soft tissue is distinct pick up their feet heavily and lay them down flatly. Their from arthritis, in which joint cartilage surfaces are worn and knees seem to be completely cemented and stiff. There’s little inflamed and “can be treated more quickly with shark cartimovement in the swinging hip motion, their spines are rigid, lage in two to three weeks”. Vitamins D3, K2 and five other and so are their heads, all of the elasticity and resiliency seem substances power Calcium Build-up by activating “calcium to to have gone out of what should have been a free, swinging bond to your bones where calcium is needed while preventing body.” it from spreading into soft tissue where it is the singulae health As a boy, I always heard my father rebuke anyone, women hazard”. It would appear that the powerhouse of this remedy in particular, who appeared unable to lift their feet such that, is Vitamin K2 which, like a filter, “keeps calcium on your dragging them along as they walked, an ugly, irritating sound bones instead of scattering like accumulating dust” into soft accompanied them. As an adult, I learned that this problem tissue. may have transcendental origins. Man is not bone, blood and Paul Bragg saw many stone men and women in his childflesh. He is spirit. Bone, bone and flesh form the earthly cloak hood. As he recalled in his book which promotes the use of or vessel of the Spirit on earth. The Spirit forms the body and distilled water, juice fasting and plain water fast as a means of blades, the shoulder joints, the neck and the elbows… eventuanimates it, causing the first kicks of pregnancy at about middestoning the blood and various calcified organs. As he really creeping into the wrists and fingers. Some people are so term upon its incarnation in the growing fetus, and leaving calls: full of toxic acid crystals that they cannot close their hands or the body prostate, cold and lifeless upon its exit in what we call “For years I have heard people say that certain waters were make fists. They all seem to falsely blame one thing: “All my earthly death. Thus, a body not well animated by the Spirit for rich in all the minerals. What minerals are they talking about? aches and pains are due to the fact that I am getting old.” whatever reasons is a heavy, powerless body which drags. The Inorganic or organic? These are inorganic and they are burT is important to note that a toxic body, such as the Braggs weight of the body is immaterial in this situation. Some heavdening their bodies with these inert minerals which may cause have mirrored, is a paradise on earth for all kinds of germs ily-built people are known to bear their bodies aloft so effortstones in the kidneys, gallbladder and stone-like acid crystals which feed not only on the toxins but on toxic human tissue lessly while some people with very slight frames just cant in the arteries, veins and other parts of the body. as well, as in arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and even cancers. move or plod along.

“I was reared in Virginia where the drinking water is called When rheumatoid arthritis is described as an autoimmune Well, this is a matter for another day. I am concerned today hard water. It is heavily saturated with heavy inorganic mindiseases in which the body’s soldiers (immune cells) are in more about wrong deposition of calcium in the body which erals, especially sodium, iron and calcium. I saw many of my error fighting the body, and not the enemies (germs), it is little can lead to all sorts of painful physical conditions from which elders die of kidney troubles. Nearly all the people were prerealised that these soldiers may have pursed the enemies right many people suffer. Among such ailments may be all forms of maturely old because the inorganic minerals would collect on into whenever the toxic crystals are stored. The cells try to arthritis, heel spurs, lower back pain, sciatica, cataracts, the inner walls of their arteries and veins, causing many to die overcome germs attracted to them by toxic crystals with englancoma, hardened liver and heart. Before I am told I am from hardening of the arteries, strokes and heart attacks. One zymes and free radicals firepower. The germs open free radibecoming illogical, let me quickly explain that, while the spirit of my uncles died at St. Johns Hopkins hospital when he was cals firepower in self-defence. The immune system deploys its animates the body, so it can use it as a transport vehicle during only 48. The autopsy doctors stated that his arteries were as enzymes and free radical firepower… and everywhere is on its sojourn on earth, care of the healthy human body also imhard as clay pipes because they were so stiff and corroded with fire. Everywhere is inflamed and hot and painful. Understandportant for the union of body, soul and spirit. Its like a marinorganic minerals”. ably, the sufferer expects an impossible magic-bullet remedy riage in which the spouses make varying contributions pecuThere is antropesy over distilled water being “dead water” that in one day will clear all the rubbish that took many years liar to their nature. in that no minerals exist in it. But there is no doubt that it is like to set up. The therapist must be unaffected by the anxiety and The Braggs continue to expand our picture of the Stone Man: rain water, which is also distilled water, one of the most reacpatiently pursue the healing objectives of detoxification, free “Between the movable joints of every bone in the human tive forms of water which dissolves and evacuates stone crysradical effacement (antioxidation), oxygenation, pH balance, body, Mother Nature has put an abundant supply of a lubritals from the body. It is frightening to think that Nigeria’s immune boosting and overcome any healing crisis while, at cant known as synovial fluid. Take a look at a youngster who drinking water is not only chlorinated but laden with inorthe same time, trying to heal whatever damage may have is, say, 10 years of age, and watch the easy movements of every ganic minerals. No bottled water producer in Nigeria states occurred. movable joint in his body. Why is this? I know your answer the percentage composition of these inorganic minerals on the EQUALLY MENACING to health is wrong deposition of calwill be, “this child is only 10 years of age. I am 66. I can’t have bottle label, one of the reasons, perhaps, why they are not cium. That means the deposit of calcium in the wrong place. the same freedom of motion in my joints as a child of 10 does.” members of the International Bottled Water Association There are about three major places where Nature provides for My answer to you is, “Why can’t you? Years have nothing to (IBWA). One can overcome their hazards with fruit end vegcalcium to be deposited. The bones and the teeth take up about do with the amount of synoval fluid that allows the joints to etable juices, which are rich in organic (that is, plant made) 99 per cent of the body’s calcium stock. The remaining one per move freely and easily. There is just one thing that cements minerals. Another way is to take quality calcium supplements, cent is kept in the blood where, among other things, it supyour body’s movable joints and that is the build-up of toxic balance them with magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese and ports healthy nerve and muscle function and a buoyant heart acid crystals. Age is not toxic. Just because you live 50, 60 or 70 phosphorus in the right ratios. Many authorities suggest the rhythm.

Calcium is so important to health that practically alyears, there should be no diminishing of the supply of synointake of Vitamin D3 Boron and Silica to make the calcium fix most everyone has heard about it. Pregnant women are given vial fluid due to your calendar years”. in the bone and teeth. Lately, I have seen the value in using calcium supplements by their doctors. If they don’t take enough The Braggs, whose book I do not hesitate to recommend to homeopathic calcium cell salts. In this regard, calcium fluoride calcium during pregnancy, the growing body in the womb people who enjoy fasting, ascribe the acid residues to build6x and calcium phosphate 6x the former taken before meals, will extract all it needs for its own bones and teech, and she ups of the wastes of unnecessary food intake, eaten “by habit” the latter after, are my favourites. The are readily absorbable. may suffer a deficiency which causes pregnant women not and not “by hunger”, especially when the eliminative organs Absorbability is crucial, cheap calcium is often not well abwell kitted to lose some teeth. Calcium aids contraction everyare too weak to expel them and these organs are not helped by sorbed and coats the intestinal lining, causing problems there. where in the body, while magnesium, its opposite number, fasting, tonics and exercise. What then happens to the buildDr. Robert Atkins thought that calcium hydroxyapatite and facilitates relaxation. Contraction and relaxation forces food ups? The body turns them into acid crystals and plugs them calcium citrate are the most readily absorbed. European studalong in the intestines. That’s what makes the heart to beat. into spaces in the joints and elsewhere, to keep them out of the ies suggest the hard-to-find calcium orotate has a special affinToo much muscle contraction causes the pains of menstruariver of life, the blood circulation. ity for bones. Dr. Atkins gives the credit for popularising caltion, which magnesium tablets or magnesium oil massage Before the section entitled Back Pains – The curse of Hucium AEP (colamine phosphate) to the German Dr. Hans Nieper may calm. A racing, palpitating or hypertensive heart can also manity, Paul Braggs offers his own testimonial as a man free of who treated more than 4,000 autoimmune patients with it. Dr. be calmed by magnesium. When constipation occurs, calcium toxic acid crystals when he says: Atkins himself gave it to more than 1,000 sufferers from muland magnesium may help. And now that many studies are “Despite the fact that I am way past 85, I pride myself on tiple sclerosis, insulin-dependent diabetes and cancer, with showing that calcium may help in colon cancer therapy, the having the most flexible body, regardless of my age, and I feel impressive results, it is reported. To know if your favourite reputation of this important mineral is growing by leaps and ageless!. I can perform difficult yoga postures with ease while calcium supplement is readily absorbable, and will not be rebounds. Any wonder that, over many years, there has been an standing on my head. Few people in the world can do this jected by the body and deposited in soft tissue, it may be placed orchestrated campaign worldwide for everyone to take calregardless of age. Mother Nature can’t stiffen and cement one in a glass of vinegar. If it doesn’t dissolve into crystals within cium supplements every day. The typical recommended daily person’s body as they age and yet allow me to have the flex30 minutes, it has absorption problems. My other favourite is allowance (RDA) in some countries is ibility of a youngster”.

IONYTE, the ionic brand of calcium with more than 80 organic • Children and teenagers… 1,300mg Back Pains – The Curse of Humanity is a mirror he provides minerals attached to it for proper balance. Placed under the • 10 years to 50 … 1,000mg for every-one of us to examine himself or herself in. That mirtongue, it goes straight into the blood. But it doesn’t, like all • Over 50 … 1,200mg ror says: good things, come cheap.

Children who do not take enough calcium may not grow “The toxic crystals first attack the feet, which have more than We are all Stone Men and Stone Women, in one form or the well, have weak bones and/or rickets, malformed bones often 26 movable bones in each foot. The force of gravity sends the other, all of us who complain of bone and muscle ache and called “bow legs”. Menopausal women deficient in calcium toxic crystals down into the feet. Gradually, the feet and the pains, whose arteries and veins are hardened, whose kidneys may have osteopenia (softening of the bones) or osteoporosis ankles start to stiffen, because the toxic acid crystals are taking and livers are no longer soft, whose eye lens are hardened (loss of calcium in the bones). To understand, osteoporosis and over and replacing the lubrication in the joints of the feet in(cataracts) and suffer fading vision, who cannot sit, legs folded why it causes pain and, sometimes, fractures, one may imagstead of having flexible feet, they become stiff and tire easily. like babies, who cannot climb the stairs with ease, who… ine a big bone from the thigh of a cow kept on a table for some They ache and burn and cause tremendous misery”.

I went on a special machine the other day to check how hard or time. Soon, holes appear here and there, as bone mass is lost.

As the feet fill up, the toxic crystals move upwards, first to soft my heart arteries were. It has green, yellow and red bands.

Old people who suffer calcium loss in the spinal bones suffer the knees and later, when the knees are done with, to the hips.

Green is for good arteries, yellow a warning to that hardening is height loss and curvature, such as lordosis. Calcium may also I have seen many people who have to rehearse how to get up starting, red that the situation is dangerous. My diagnosis? Last be lost if the diet is heavily loaded with proteins, carbonhydrates from a chair in public lest the pain in their hips and lower marking of green! or toxic substances. These food factors make the blood acidic, backs makes them cry like babies. Getting out of bed may be Let us all resolve today, as the Braggs teach, to eat only when and calcium, like magnesium, manganese, iron, selenium, zinc equally traumatic for many people sometimes, the sciatic nerve we are hungry, even then not to fill the stomach to the brim, to and potassium, are called out from the cells to neutralise the is affected and a leg or both are on fire as it were drink lots of quality water, fast at least one day in the week on acidosis. When this goes on for a long time, deficiencies of Say the Braggs: “Few people escape an aching or a stiff back. waters or reasonably diluted fruit and vegetable juices, spring these substances may occur, causing states of disease.

All these, Watch middle-aged people bend over and notice the agony on clean the various crucial organs, say, quarterly, taking kidney serious lead as they may be, would be like child’s play, where their faces when they straighten up day after day, they cry out cleanse tea, intestinal cleansing tea, lung decongestant tea, Prosthe body is not deficient in calcium but calcium is depositing in anguish, Oh my aching back! But the toxic acid crystals don’t tate cleansing tea, and take quality, organic calcium supplements. stop in the lower back, they go up into the spine, the shoulder e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

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MONEY LINK

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HE Nigerian stock market returned N360 billion in the first five months of this year as returns to average investors picked up strongly in May. Market capitalisation of quoted equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), which had opened 2011 at N7.91 trillion closed May at N8.27 trillion, indicating a year-to-date gain of N360 billion or 4.55 per cent.

The stock market rally had picked up in May riding on the back of gains by manufacturing companies.

Month-on-month analysis showed that investors’ value appreciated by N271 billion in May as against N130 billion recorded in April. Market capitalisation had closed

Investors gain N360b in five months

By Taofik Salako (Assistant Editor)

April at N8.0 trillion.

The year-to-date fivemonth performance of the market represented a stable outlook for the stock market recovery, building on the four-month gain of N90billion posted by April.

Market value of quoted equities had risen exceedingly to close January at N8.6 trillion but declined gradually to N8.32 trillion in February and subsequently to N7.87 trillion in March, indicating a loss of N0.04trillon in the first quarter.

Index, NSE Oil and Gas Index, and the NSE Insurance Index fell by -0.5 per cent, 1.25 per cent and -0.39 per cent respectively within the five-month period.

On the average, the All Share Index (ASI), the common value-based index that measures price changes on all listed companies on the Exchange, supported the bullish outlook of the market capitalisation with a gain of 3.29 per cent in May to push the overall average yield so far this year to 4.43 per cent compared with about 1.1 per cent by the

The performance of the market was driven by food and beverages stocks and some highly capitalised manufacturers. Two of the five tracked indices at the NSE closed May with positive yields. The NSE 30 Index, which relates value changes within the 30 most capitalised stocks, posted a year-to-date return of 6.6 per cent, indicating the uptrend within the large-cap stocks.

On sectoral basis, the food and beverages sector has led the market rally with a yearto-date return of 9.2 per cent.

However, the NSE Banking

NEXIM Bank records N260m profit

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HE Nigeria Export Import Bank NEXIM has re corded a profit of N260 million in 2010.

Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, Managing Director, Robert Orya, said the bank, “in December, 2009, recorded a loss of N4.2 billion, but we are happy to report that by end of 2010, we made a profit of over N260 million.”

He said management was able to halt the deterioration of the bank, supported non-oil exporters with about N10.14 billion, and gave risk bearing facilities of $27.3 million to three projects.

Orya attributed the success recorded in 2010 to “robust enterprise, wise risk management, good corporate governance structures and adherence given to the utmost priorities.”

Under the sesame seeds and cassava initiative started during the regime of President Olusegun Obasanjo, the

By Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor)

NEXIM boss said: “the sum of N1.2 billion was disbursed to 17 participating banks and beneficiary projects under the sesame programme, which however, were for merchant exports with no value addition.”

On the cassava initiative, the bank provided about N1.1 billion to five companies for value added processing of cassava to flour, chips and glucose syrup.

He said: “Some of the projects are doing well with off-take arrangements with multinational companies, thereby conserving about $5 million in foreign exchange annually in inputs that would otherwise have been imported.”

These projects, he said, have created a lot of jobs for Nigerians and the bank expects that

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KYE Bank Plc has stressed the need for Ni gerians to develop savings culture to enable them build enough funds to meet their needs.

Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Skye Bank, Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, said poor savings culture is a disadvantage to any economy as it will not help in building the right wealth structure that needed to lift the living standard of the population.

Speaking during the bank’s launch of its ‘Savers Promo,’ in Lagos yesterday, the Skye Bank boss said the economy of any country would not grow if its citizens fail to develop the habit of putting aside some part of their income for the future.

“Saving is vital, no matter how little you make it. You just have to try and keep something aside, even though we all know it is one

more would be done in that regard.

The bank he added, “is interested in supporting this because the demands for these products locally is quite amazing and we believe that our continued support will be able to sustain those jobs that are there and even create more.”

Orya, said the bank had since inception, provided over N63 billion and $280 million in funding intervention to over 400 beneficiaries, adding that it provided non-funded risk bearing facilities of over $36 million and •11 million.

With regards to installed industrial capacity, the bank he disclosed, had intervened in the creation of over 50,000 tonnes of additional cocoa processing capacities, 30,000 tonnes of rubber processing capacities and the facilitation of the acquisition of over 60 industrial fishing/shrimping trawlers.

Tenor

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

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 01-6-11 SYMBOL NIWICABLE GLAXOSMITH CAP MAYBAKER IKEJAHOTEL BAGCO AP NIGERINS NB FIDELITYBK

O/PRICE 0.6 26.02 24.28 3.86 1.44 2.4 20.5 0.77 89.01 2.6

C/PRICE 0.63 27.32 25.49 4.05 1.51 2.5 21.35 0.8 92.35 2.69

CHANGE +0.03 +1.3 +1.21 +0.19 +0.07 +0.1 +0.85 +0.03 +0.34 +0.09

LOSER AS AT 01-6-11 SYMBOL PRESTIGE AFRIBANK REDSTAREX BERGER VITAFOAM RTBRISCOE BETAGLAS JBERGER ETERNAOIL UBN

O/PRICE 2 1.6 3 11,7 5.85 2.43 13.37 58.49 5.55 2.77

C/PRICE 1.9 1.52 2.85 11.12 5.56 2.31 12.71 55.61 5.28 2.64

By Collins Nweze Senior Correspondent

thing that is very difficult,” he added.

The Skye Bank boss explained that the promo is meant to increase the number of savings accounts, rate the volume of the savings accounts as well as generate enormous goodwill for the bank.

He urged members of the public to take advantage of the promo to embrace the savings culture.

He noted that the promo would help in building wealth for savers and the nation. He assured the customers of rewards and benefits during the period of the promo, stressing that quality prizes had been set aside for those who participate in the programme.

Durosinmi-Etti said the

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 467.7m 400m 452.3m 500m 499,8m

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Skye Bank CEO reiterates need for savings campaign is targeted at both existing and potential customers of the bank. He said it has presented an opportunity to reward customers.

He added: “We are hoping that at the end of the campaign, our customer base and savings account volume would have increased significantly. We are also using this opportunity to promote our product. What we are trying to do at Skye Bank is to create a relationship with our stakeholders.

“As you know, we are one of the banks that are not under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) management and we are one of the best banks in terms of customer satisfaction and partnership and this is one of those ways in which we want to strengthen that partnership.”

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

per cent last February and further depreciation of 5.36 per cent in March, dropped the Nigerian average return for the first quarter to -0.60 per cent, indicating that investors had lost N0.04trillion over the threemonth period or a loss of N730billion given the market capitalisation of N8.6trn in January.

ASI had jumped to 26,830.67 points by January month-end but subsequently sloped to 26,016.84 points and 24,621.12 points in February and March respectively.

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS

NIDF NESF

fourth month.

ASI closed May at 25,866.62 point compared with its opening index for May of 25,041.68 points. The main index had opened this year at 24,770.52 points.

The stock market had closed January with a yearto-date return of 8.2 per cent, indicating a gain of more than N690billion for equities investors. Global stock market returns then indicated that Nigeria was second on the returns table, trailing India, which recorded average return of 10 per cent. But a decline of 3.04

CHANGE -0.1 -0.08 -0.15 -0.58 -0.29 -0.12 -0.66 -2.88 -0.27 -0.13

Amount Sold ($) 400m 400m 499.8m

Exchange Rate (N) 153.59 153.4 153.45

Date 25-5-11 23-5-11 16-5-11

EXHANGE RATE 30-05-11 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

31-05-11 N8.271tR 25,866.62

01-06-11 N8.273tR 25.875.31

Name 152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

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%

NIBOR

7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

% Change 0.024% 0.034%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS

DISCOUNT WINDOW

Tenor

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

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 1.00 117.35 119.45 0.84 1,582.15 9.94 1.39 1.87 1.87 9,171.70 193.00

9.08 1.00 116.81 118.70 0.81 1,576.19 9.46 1.33 1.80 1.80 8,887.66 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND FIRST INTERSTATE UNIT 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

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 MAR, 2011

Current 07, MAR, 2011

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

57

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

Market cap adds N2b

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 1-06-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 16 17

Quotation(N) 0.50 7.99

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 220,000 110,000.00 77,755 606,887.50 297,755 716,887.50

Quotation(N) 2.10 8.63

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 500 1,050.00 555,084 4,847,709.59 555,584 4,848,759.59

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.31

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 49,999 24,999.50 738,582 1,719,491.08 788,581 1,744,490.58

Quotation(N) 7.72 1.52 6.00 3.91 7.76 2.69 13.47 0.62 16.28 10.39 1.29 1.68 1.11 8.27 2.08 6.24 2.64 1.05 1.04 15.00

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 7,999,842 61,862,435.20 229,481 348,811.12 6,070,977 36,132,881.71 498,760 2,005,884.94 9,888,153 76,663,245.33 10,372,638 27,207,972.70 19,810,456 267,021,060.28 8,696,501 5,419,271.88 8,713,601 141,859,027.78 952,503 9,885,350.91 6,777,005 8,765,813.16 7,251,141 12,187,458.38 1,268,000 1,407,480.00 10,081,056 84,380,549.11 4,749,344 9,605,929.35 19,768,220 123,342,938.27 4,611,142 12,371,850.01 4,642,223 4,838,033.50 1,194,415 1,266,285.00 40,962,745 614,307,095.74 174,538,203 1,500,879,374.37

Quotation(N) 4.05 253.50 6.17 92.35

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 5,000,000 20,250,000.00 1,797,257 464,269,011.11 145,060 892,815.10 1,616,355 148,391,994.51 8,558,672 633,803,820.72

Quotation(N) 23.42 10.90 131.08 44.99

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 968,618 22,783,953.37 396,978 4,350,658.50 326,949 42,860,822.81 775,661 34,595,959.39 2,468,206 104,591,394.07

Quotation(N) 11.12 25.49 1.52 10.53

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 189,355 2,112,798.92 194,935 4,968,893.15 777 1,126.65 1,000 10,010.00 386,067 7,092,828.72

AIR SERVICES Company Name No of Deals AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 1 NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC 67 Sector Totals 68 AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 28 32

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. 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 229 14 92 33 61 123 600 58 501 48 73 60 15 151 45 297 151 50 34 321 2,956

Company Name CHAMPION BREWERIES PLC GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 128 29 174 332

Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 74 28 31 56 189

Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC NIGERIAN-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 18 11 1 1 31

BANKING

BREWERIES

BUILDING MATERIALS

CHEMICAL & PAINTS

T

RADING on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday continued on its upward movement with the key indicators appreciating marginally by 0.02 per cent and 0.03 per cent respectively.

Market capitalisation added N2 billion to close at N8.273 trillion, while the All-Share-Index (ASI) increased by 8.69 points to close at 25,875.31 points.

Yesterday’s performance, revealed some blue chip stocks pulling at the different direction on the price movement tables.

The gainers table, with 22 stocks, has Niwicable and Glaxosmith as lead gainers with five per cent apiece.

Also, Nigerian Breweries, Guinness, Dangote Sugar, Dangote Cement and Flourmills, recorded increases of 3.75 per cent, 1.00 per cent, 0.96 per cent, 0.06 per cent and 0.01 per cent respectively.

On the losers table, another set of blue chip stocks recorded price drop, pulling the indicators southwards.

These include Stanbic IBTC, Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa, GT Bank and First Bank, with price drop of 1.05 per cent, 0.66 per cent, 0.16 per cent, 0.12 per cent and

No of Deals 20 20

Quotation(N) 2.85

No of Deals 1 1 2

Quotation(N) 0.50 3.42

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 20,000 10,000.00 2,920 9,490.00 22,920 19,490.00

Quotation(N) 2.20 7.21 34.00 7.48 0.90 38.68 27.52

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 103,500 217,721.24 2,430 16,645.50 1,271,471 43,242,160.85 368 2,616.48 6,954,400 6,262,648.00 2,817,098 108,667,315.97 2,544,848 70,387,648.73 13,694,115 228,796,756.77

CONGLOMERATES Company Name No of Deals A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC 12 JOHN HOLT PLC 3 PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC 58 SCOA NIGERIA PLC 3 TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC 54 UAC OF NIGERIA PLC 92 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC 61 Sector Totals 283 CONSTRUCTION Company Name COSTAIN (WA) PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC ROADS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 13 2 1 17

Quotation(N) 4.72 55.61 0.50 3.31

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 3,000 13,470.00 88,267 4,909,834.20 229,000 114,500.00 29 100.63 320,296 5,037,904.83

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 2 3

Quotation(N) 2.00 0.63

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 2,000 4,000.00 252,500 159,000.00 254,500 163,000.00

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 NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 33 55 115 50 72 21 2 59 21 65 4 5 13 515

Quotation(N) 45.50 20.75 18.50 13.70 90.01 4.51 1.87 6.40 36.00 400.00 29.20 0.50 0.66

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 196,764 8,927,080.94 983,344 20,596,572.38 765,584 14,170,414.58 2,556,118 34,500,785.50 1,051,831 94,704,578.69 159,880 735,853.00 90,550 169,328.50 1,277,821 8,209,742.37 69,208 2,482,855.84 773,871 309,487,178.76 1,610 44,661.40 183,630 91,815.00 193,069 127,425.54 8,303,280 494,248,292.50

HEALTHCARE Company Name FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 13 19 43 75

Company Name IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 36 36

Quotation(N) 1.95 27.32 4.05

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 345,550 671,622.50 605,936 15,888,116.82 428,065 1,636,430.25 1,379,551 18,196,169.57

Quotation(N) 1.51

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 2,530,226 3,815,877.26 2,530,226 3,815,877.26

HOTEL & TOURISM

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC VONO PRODUCTS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 1 29 4 38

Quotation(N) 8.20 0.54 5.56 3.18

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 500 3,964.60 1,000 540.00 787,857 4,380,484.92 60,000 181,800.00 849,357 4,566,789.52

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 42 42

Quotation(N) 0.60

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 15,627,391 9,375,946.60 15,627,391 9,375,946.60

Quotation(N) 0.83 1.01 0.50 2.85 1.60 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 2,208,246 1,784,724.02 32,370 34,064.80 75,995 37,997.50 950,100 2,726,195.00 740,000 1,206,190.00 23,000 11,500.00

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE CO. PLC. CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC.

No of Deals 52 6 2 39 28 2

‘These two sets of ten stocks according to available data, have been the major drivers of the key indicators of the market since the year began’

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 1-06-11 Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 851,725 2,447,471.25 851,725 2,447,471.25

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name OMATEK VENTURES PLC TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

0.07 per cent in that order.

These two sets of ten stocks according to available data, have been the major drivers of the key indicators of the market since the year began.

The presence Dangote Cement and Nigerian Breweries, is attributable to the positive report recorded by both firms. The stocks occupied the first and second position since January till May on the top twenty most capitalised stocks of the NSE. However, eight banking stocks made the top 10 most traded in the market yesterday with Aso savings and Starcomms completing the list. Zenith Bank recorded the highest number with

40.963 million shares followed by Aso savings with 37.125 million shares.

Others were FirstBank, UBA, Starcomms, Fidelity Bank, Skye Bank, FCMB, GTBank and FinBank, with 19.810 million shares, 19.768 million shares, 15.627 million shares, 10.373 million shares, 10.081 million shares, 9.888 million shares, 8.714 million shares and 8.697 million shares.

In all, investors traded 285.724 million shares worth N3.141 billion in 5,351 deals.

The banking stocks were the most sought after with 174.538 million shares, Mortgage Companies (38.159 million shares), Information & Communication Technology (15.627 million shares), Conglomerates ( 13.694 million shares), Breweries (8.559 million shares), Food Beverages (8.303 million shares) and Insurance (7.924 million shares) respectively.

On the sectoral indices, the NSE 30 and NSE Oil/Gas, both closed on a positive note at 1,156.54 points and 335.68 points from an opening of 1,153.75 points and 334.61 points respectively, while, NSE Food Beverages, Banks and Insurance closed on negative at 847.04 points, 396.12 points and 167.43 points.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

By Tonia Osundolire and Eshiet Uyoatta

LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

6 1 18 14 1 4 1 1 1 2 3 181

0.55 0.50 0.50 0.80 0.50 1.90 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

1,109,914 3,000 2,105,560 393,458 500 101,250 23,375 10,000 50,000 84,200 13,500 7,924,468

611,691.89 1,500.00 1,074,785.95 298,958.92 250.00 192,375.00 11,687.50 5,000.00 25,000.00 42,100.00 6,750.00 8,070,770.58

Quotation(N) 1.24

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 119,372 147,827.56 119,372 147,827.56

Quotation(N) 1.28

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,720,770 3,463,985.75 2,720,770 3,463,985.75

Quotation(N) 0.51 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,000 2,040.00 36,000 18,000.00 40,000 20,040.00

LEASING Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 77 77

Company Name AFROMEDIA PLC DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 7 9

MARITIME

MEDIA

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name ASO SAVINGS AND LOAND PLC RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 1 25 29

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 0.60

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 37,124,500 18,562,250.00 100,000 50,000.00 934,468 548,974.24 38,158,968 19,161,224.24

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 5 5

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 250,195 125,097.50 250,195 125,097.50

Quotation(N) 2.50 12.71 3.60 1.33

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,195,217 2,922,577.47 80,665 1,025,252.15 3,930 14,127.12 3,466 4,401.82 1,283,278 3,966,358.56

PACKAGING Company Name No of Deals NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC 57 BETA GLASS CO. PLC 1 NAMPAK NIGERIA PLC 3 POLY PRODUCTS (NIGERIA) PLC. 3 Sector Totals 64

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 32 8 16 42 23 23 115 13 272

Quotation(N) 21.35 0.50 72.00 41.89 5.28 163.49 52.98 195.50

Quantity Traded Value 261,677 665,200 18,887 72,016 394,242 150,998 392,934 8,033 1,963,987

of Shares (N) 5,532,765.43 332,600.00 1,383,820.60 2,994,895.59 2,081,597.76 24,591,508.75 20,735,825.60 1,571,289.00 59,224,302.73

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 11 14

Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 14 14

Company Name UNITED NIGERIA TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 6.84 4.99

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,450 22,425.00 80,442 402,961.32 83,892 425,386.32

Quotation(N) 17.30

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 207,162 3,580,425.62 207,162 3,580,425.62

Quotation(N) 0.65

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 14,291 9,289.15 14,291 9,289.15

REAL ESTATE

TEXTILES

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name No of Deals ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED 25 Sector Totals 25

Quotation(N) 14.91

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,530,853 22,869,755.61 1,530,853 22,869,755.61

Overall Totals

5,351

285,723,665

3,141,409,717.47

58

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

59

60

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

61

FOREIGN NEWS

NATO extends mission in Libya

N

ATO has extended its mission in Libya by a further 90 days.

The extension was unanimously agreed by the ambassadors of Nato’s 28 member states meeting in Brussels.

“We are determined to continue our operation to protect the people of Libya,” said Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

The mission was mandated by the United Nations, and led

by France, Britain and the US until 31 March, when Nato took over.

The mission was given an

initial 90 days, which would have run out on 27 June.

Aside from Nato members, the talks at alliance headquarters included ambassadors from the five non-Nato countries participating in the Libya campaign; Jordan, Qatar, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.

The decision was practical in part; to accommodate the military planners of the contributing forces.

“Nato, our partners, the whole international community, stand with you,” said Mr Fogh Rasmussen.

Street battles in Yemeni capital leave 41 dead

G

OVERNMENT forces and tribal fighters exchanged gun and artillery fire in Yemen’s capital early yesterday, sending the crackle of gunfire and resounding booms over the city in fresh fighting that killed at least 41 people. The fighting spread to new areas, with tribesmen from the powerful Hasid confederation seizing buildings in neighborhoods in the city’s south and northwest.

The urban battles over the last week have posed a new threat to President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s 33-year rule. For nearly four months, thousands of Yemenis have filled the streets daily, calling for democratic reforms and Saleh’s ouster. The mostly peaceful protests gave way last week to violence between Saleh’s security forces and fighters loyal to Sheik Sadeq alAhmar, head of the country’s largest tribal coalition.

Fighting in Sanaa raged until 5 a.m., and witnesses said units of the elite Presidential Guard, commanded by one of Saleh’s sons, shelled the headquarters of an army brigade responsible for guarding sensitive government institutions.

Army officers who have defected to the opposition said the government suspected the brigade commander was about to join forces with the movement to oust Saleh.

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Odumegwu now has a machine to diagonise blood sugar, gynecology,pancreatic function, cardiouascular and cerebrovascular etc.

ROBIN IKE CONCEPT: No1 Animashaun Street, Ijesha by St. Paul Anglican Church,Omilani,Ijesha Lagos.

Tel:08038205243, 07031347161 Email:robinsonike@gmail.com, Website:-www.odumegwu.com

STOLEN VEHICLE This is to notify the general public that Toyota Corolla was stolen at No. 36 Adeyemi Adeoye Street, Wasimi, Maryland, Lagos with the Registration No. LP 918 AAA. Engine No. EIZZ2950372 and Chasis No. JTDBR 22E600293859 REG. Please anybody who find the Vehicle should please contact Mr. Salami of No.26 Adeyemi Adeoye and call this no.

08023772980, or the Nearest Police Station.

PUBLIC NOTICE MARIAN SOLACE FOUNDATION The general public is hereby given notice that the above named organisation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act,. 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Rev. Fr. Anthony Nyong 2. Augustine Onyeka Okereke 3. Anthony Okure 4. Kim Emmanuel Eseka 5. Jude Chinonye Ohaeri AIMS & OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide Medicare for the poor 2. To care for the homeless 3. To care for abandoned and street chUdf”en 4. To provide home for orphans 5. To provide home for the aged Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission,P .M.B. 198, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: CIC Chikwendu Esq.

Libya says Nato air raids ‘killed 700 civilians’

L •Gadaffi

T

HE Libyan government says Nato air raids have killed more than 700 civilians since bombing began in March.

Spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said more than 4,000 people had been wounded, but gave no evidence to confirm his figures.

Nato has denied killing large numbers of civilians, saying its air strikes are to protect Libyans from Colonel Gaddafi’s forces.

Four powerful explosions

Oil minister defects

IBYAN Oil Minister Shokri Ghanem has defected from the Government of Col. Moammar Gadhafi, he told Dow Jones Newswires on the sidelines of a briefing in Rome yesterday.

Ghanem said he has left the Gadhafi regime because the “continuous killing” in Libya has become unbearable, although he said it hasn’t yet been decided what future involvement he could have with the rebel forces that control the eastern part of the country.

The western part of Libya, still under the control of forces loyal to Gadhafi, is suffering serious shortages of fuel and even the armed forces have been unable to produce enough fuel to meet their needs, he said. were felt in the centre of Tripoli on Tuesday night, Libyan state media reported.

Planes were heard flying over the capital, but it was not possible to determine the targets of the raids.

Speaking at a news conference in Tripoli, Mr Ibrahim accused Nato of killing and injuring hundreds of Libyan citizens.

“Since March 19, and up to May 26, there have been 718 martyrs among civilians and

4,067 wounded - 433 of them seriously,” Mr Ibrahim said.

He said the figures did not include military casualties.

Foreign reporters in Tripoli have not been shown evidence of mass civilian casualties.

Asked why not, Mr Ibrahim said casualties had not been concentrated near the capital but scattered across the country.

He also denied that South African President Jacob Zuma,

Ratko Mladic appears in court tomorrow

P

ROSECUTOR Serge Brammertz says former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic will be formally charged with genocide at the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague tomorrow.

Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general facing trial for genocide and ethnic cleansing during the war in Bosnia, is being “very co-operative” with the international war crimes tribunal and requires no urgent medical attention, court officials have said.

A doctor and nurse examined Mladic, 69, at a jail near the Hague after his extradition from Serbia on Tuesday night and decided he needed no immediate care beyond the standard medical examination for inmates, according to John Hocking, registrar of the

UN international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

The absence of any pressing medical issues will boost hopes among the families of victims of the Srebrenica massacre and other atrocities with which Mladic is charged that the former commander of the Bosnian Serb army will stand trial rather than claim he is too ill.

Before Mladic left Serbia, his lawyer, Milos Saljic, had insisted he was not well enough physically or mentally to face the court. Mladic also told a Serbian court he did not recognise the authority of the Hague tribunal.

Hocking stressed that Mladic would have access to specialist medical care in prison if he needed it.

“We had no problem understanding each other and he

was clearly paying attention and listening to the information that we were providing him with,” said Hocking who met Mladic as he arrived from Belgrade. “He asked instructive questions and understood the material being presented.”

Mladic is due to be arraigned on 11 charges including genocide and crimes against humanity tomorrow at 10am.

He will be asked to enter his pleas in front of judges Bakone Justice Moloto of South Africa, Christoph Flügge from Germany and Alphons Orie from the Netherlands, who have been selected to preside over the trial.

Mladic is yet to appoint a defence lawyer and will spend the coming days meeting court officials and deciding how he wants to proceed, Hocking said.

who met Col Gaddafi in Tripoli on Monday, had discussed an “exit strategy” with the Libyan leader.

“If Gaddafi goes, the security valve will disappear. His departure would be the worst case scenario for Libya,” he told reporters.

Moussa Ibrahim denied that Col Gaddafi had discussed a strategy for his departure A statement released by Mr Zuma’s office after he returned to Pretoria said Mr Gaddafi would not leave Libya, despite growing international pressure.

“Col Gaddafi called for an end to the bombings to enable a Libyan dialogue,” the statement read.

“He emphasised that he was not prepared to leave his country, despite the difficulties.”

After initially backing Nato’s involvement, Mr Zuma and the African Union have called for a halt to air strikes, arguing that Nato has overstepped its UN mandate to protect civilians.

700 immigrants trapped on fishing boat

T

UNISIA’S coast guard launched yesterday operations to rescue some 700 would-be immigrants trapped on a fishing boat that stalled off the country’s coast, the official TAP news agency said.

The boat is believed to have set sail from Libya and was en route to Italy, the report said.

Its passengers, which include women and children, are mostly of sub-Saharan African origin.

Passengers alerted Tunisian coastal authorities after the boat stalled some 20 miles off the Kerkennah islands in southern Tunisia on Tuesday, TAP said. Because of difficult weather, the rescue operations couldn’t begin until yesterday morning.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

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NATION SPORT

A

N inspired Super Eagles of Nigeria got an unprecedented victory when they walloped world power house, Argentina in the much publicized international friendly at the Abuja national stadium last night.

Siasia’s men who have a Nations Cup qualifier to play against Ethiopia on Sunday, got off to a good start in the first half when Joel Obi got the better of

Nigeria wallops Argentina 4-1

By Olusoji Olukayode two Argentines on the right flank before sending a pass into the penalty box for Real Zaragoza’s Ike Uche to put the ball beyond Argentine goalkeeper.

The Eagles were back on song

• Ike Uche bags brace • Eagles lift trophy in the 27th minute. Victor Anichebe had been fouled in the 18-yard box to earn the Eagles the spot kick and Obinna Nsofor

stepped up to notch his side’s second goal of the night.

Anichebe could have increased the tally later on but saw his effort

thwarted by the Argie’s safe hands.

However, Ike Uche completed his brace of the night and Nigeria’s third in the 40th minutes when he headed home the ball from the right off Taye Taiwo’s cross.

And while the South Americans were still making

efforts to reduce the tally substitute Emmanuel Emenike struck. The Turkey-based striker hit the bull’s eye in the 53rd minute when he lobbed the ball over the Argentine goalkeeper.

However, Mauro Boselli got one back for Argentina in added time but the goal prove to be mere consolatory as the final score stood at 4-1.

AFN jackpot : Only five athletes now in contention

T • Nigeria's Uche Ikechkwu, centre, celebrates after scoring a goal against Argentina during an international friendly match at the National stadium in Abuja, Yesterday.

No apologies for Ekeji—Effiong Johnson

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FF Chairman of Chairmen Effiong Johnson has insisted that he has no apologies over his allegation that the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Patrick Ekeji is responsible for all the crisis engulfing the country's football in recent times. Effiong who was answering question at the end of a meeting in Abuja of all the state FA chairman, said the Director General should be held responsible in all the crisis. The FA chairmen rejected any attempt for NFF to revert to its old name, saying that the issue of change of name is before the National Assembly, and urged the assembly to hasten on it. They said a letter had been dispatched to president Goodluck Jonathan on the

From Patrick. Ngwaogu, Abuja matter, while giving full support to the board of NFF.

HE fourth leg of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria Golden League slated for this weekend in Lagos will further determine athletes who are going to share the N2million jackpot prize as only five are now left in contention.

Already, this leg sponsored

by Desicon Ltd promises to be full of fireworks as most of the athletes in contention have promised not to let any slip up at the event scheduled to hold at the Sports Complex of Yaba Colleague of Technology.

And topmost in the list of those in contention is 100m champion in the first three legs, Ogho Oghene Egwero.

Baba Ibrahim (men Hammer), Shola Anota (men Long Jump), Justin Agu (men 800m) and NSCDC 4x100m women

• As Calabar stadium gets certification team are the rest four battling to have a share in the prize at stake.

Sunday Bada, the performance/technical director of the federation said yesterday that he was really impressed that the introduction of prize money and the jackpot has revived serious interest in the sport.

Meanwhile, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) yesterday certify the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar fit to host the All Nigeria Athletics Championships for the next five year.

The Memorandum of Understanding expected to be signed between the AFN and the Cross River State Govern-

250 golfers for Jaji ladies open

T

HE sleepy town of Jaji will wake up to life come June 10-12. The Ladies Golf Open will happen here within the period and over 250 golfers from across the nation have signified interest to be part of the Carnival. The event will hold within the premises of the Armed Forces Staff College where the 18-hole golf course is situated.

Already, the Lady Captain of the Club, Mrs Florence

Johnson, still wear looks of shock that such huge number will storm the Club for the event for this is unprecedented. But she would cope fairly since the Defense Ministry have thrown their total weight behind hosting such huge number of Nigerian golfers in their premises. The Commandant of the Jaji Staff College, AVM Muazu is particularly thrilled that the game of golf is bringing

Nigerians to such quiet Armed Forces location.

"In the past, the Ladies Open is just a little affair between Jaji and cities within our territory", Mrs Johnson said. "But our sitting Captain, Col Ezugwu prompted and urged that I widen the horizon. I sent out invitations and am shocked that those who responded are coming from the South. The long distance, notwithstanding.

ment at the Governor’s Office in Calabar this morning is to spell out the modalities for the hosting of the prime brand of the federation.

President of the AFN, Chief Solomon Ogba who broke the good news yesterday confirmed that the stadium met all technical details necessary to host any international track and field competition.

“We did final inspection of the Calabar stadium yesterday and are satisfied that it can successfully host the All Nigeria Championships or

any other international competition. So, tomorrow, (Wednesday) we are going to the Governor’s Office to sign the MoU of the hosting,” observed the former Delta State sports commissioner.AFN officials who accompanied Chief Ogba on the inspection of the stadium facilities yesterday include scribe of the federation, Mrs. Maria Wophil and board member, Navy Captain Omatsheye Nesiama.

Ex international athlete, Bruce Ijirigho who is sports consultant to Cross River State was also on the entourage.

AHEAD ETHIOPIA TIE

Beating Argentina, good for our confidence—Ike Uche

N

IGERIAN forward, Ikechukwu Uche has said that beyond

winning the international friendly against Argentina, the victory will boost the confidence of the Super Eagles when they confront Ethiopia on Sunday in the African Nations Cup qualifier slated for Addis- Ababa.

In a post match interview at the Abuja National Stadium, the Real Zaragoza striker said he is happy to be part of the match and the team, saying it will prepare the Super Eagles for the challenge in Ethiopia.

“We are still building our game and thank God we are meeting up with people’s expectations for the team. I am happy that the fans were impressed and happy with us

By Innocent Amomoh today,” he said.

On the secret behind his goalscoring form for the Eagles, Uche said the entire team should be commended for the feat, adding that without them, it would have been difficult to achieve it alone.

“I am happy I could score again and that is the most important thing. If other players score it will be good, but the most important thing is that I was able to contribute my quota, trying to help in the defense and attack,” Uche explained.

He said the Eagles have the caliber of players that can turn the tide against any team in the world, while adding that the team will keep working hard for the future.

TOMORROW In The Nation ‘This is the cold hard truth that you’d pay to avoid. Covey and Tracy et al may not be frauds but Nigeria’s increasing band of psycho-babblers constitutes the worst form of fraud’

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 6, NO. 1,778

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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ATURE was kind last Sunday. It was sunny and bright. Members of the Armed Forces, resplendent in their ceremonial uniforms, mounted colourful parades in Abuja where President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe – courtesy of his granny- Jonathan was being ushered into office and all the 26 states where governors took the oath of office. The calisthenics was wonderful, an exhibition of the creative potentials and agility of our youths and their teachers.

All was smooth and quiet, except for some overzealous security agents who harassed reporters and barred from the Eagle Square venue of the President’s inauguration ordinary Nigerians whose votes ensured the day was a reality. Dr Jonathan enjoyed it all. All smiles – who wouldn’t be? He shook hands with the foreign leaders, including South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, who must have been thinking about his impending trip to Tripoli to prevail on Col. Muammar Ghaddafi, stubborn as a mule, to stop shooting his own people. Yoweri Museveni, who has just grabbed a new term of five years, after being in office for 25 years, was there with his wife. He must have been envious; his inauguration was a canvass of protests and stone hurling.

A few hours later, just as we were congratulating one another for a seamless ceremony, the news broke that bombs had gone off in Zuba, near Abuja and in Bauchi at a mammy market inside an army barracks. Maiduguri. Zaria. In all, 15 people died.

As usual, the government has vowed to fish out the architects of these despicable acts. We are anxious to know them. It will be interesting to find out why they are so galled. Who are their backers? Why attack innocent folks drinking in a beer parlour, perhaps to suppress their disenchantment with the system? But, as in many of such situations, probing for the answers may remain an ineffectual academic exercise.

Then, more bombs will go off and the government will vow to catch the culprits.

A brief lull. Then, more bombs. And the cycle goes on.

It was so difficult catching up with Inauguration Day events in various states.

One switched from one television channel to another and then another. In Bauchi, Governor Isa Yuguda announced a N2m donation to each of the families of the 10 Youth Corps members who died in the post-election madness. Ever since he was said to have been misunderstood on this matter, Yuguda has been battling to tear off the cloak of cynicism in which he has been decked. The point is, this is not a matter of cash. No. It is a time for deep empathy. A visit to the families would have done the magic. Did His Excellency

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

Memories of May 29

•Okorocha taking the oath...last Sunday

speak with them?

Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha’s disquisition was like a campaign tirade, full of bile and biting sarcasm, but obviously lacking in depth and dignity as required on such an occasion.

The communities will be more powerful than the state government and governance will be run on a bottom-top approach, he said. Isn’t this a mere display of superfluity? Will the communities, for example, hold the key to the treasury and dictate who gets what?

Okorocha plans to open a Black Book for criminals- a flashback to those primary school days when kids were threatened by headmasters who swore they would have their names in a black book. It will be exciting to find a library stocking such books now. Come off it Your Excellency, today’s criminal is so hardened he will laugh at such amateurish proposition.

The governor said his predecessor, whom he kept referring to as his good friend, laid landmines for him. He said Ikedi Ohakim suddenly announced that the government

RIPPLES ONLY RIGHTEOUS LEADERS WILL SAVE NIGERIA– Cleric

When would that be?....ETERNITY?

would pay the N18,000 minimum wage, issued 10,000 letters of employment and introduced 106 traditional rulers. Despite the landmines, Okorocha said, he would deliver free education and all the other things he promised, even as the treasury, according to him, has been mortgaged to creditors. Now, people are asking: where will the cash come from?

Talking about landmines. Former Oyo Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, just before he showed up in an Ogbomoso church for a thanksgiving service (everything ends up in the church) after being rumoured to have fled the state, declared the N18,000 minimum wage bonanza and elevated some traditional rulers, even as he decreed that the Council of Obas will no longer have a permanent chair. The traditional rulers were smart; they rejected the poisoned chalice.

Senator Isiaka Ajimobi promised to restore the state to the path of glory as set by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

King Sunny Ade, the juju maestro, was on the band stand, bringing back memories of the funky days of the Oyato himself.

Senator Ibikunle Amosun was decked out in an Aso-oke, which was given to his father by his grandfather in 1941. He promised to examine many decisions taken by his predecessor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who was also said to have fled to London – an allegation he dismissed as mere balderdash. Why should people begin to suggest that a governor has fled, hours before the expiration of his tenure?

Politics? I doubt it. Hatred? More like it.

Daniel’s administration, which had a remarkable first term, was hobbled by an avalanche of problems. Rituals. Assembly crisis. Strikes. Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. And the fall of the big-fornothing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Even for a man as strong as Samson and covered by the spiritual aura of the biblical Daniel, these were gigantic problems. His Excellency has said he is taking his well deserved holiday. He should enjoy it all

HARDBALL

A

DIPLOMATIC incident is often front page news; but then the disagreement is usually between two countries. In Kenya, at this time, Nigeria is making headlines on account of the war in the home of our High Commissioner in Nairobi, Dr. Chijioke Wilcox Wigwe.

The diplomat allegedly beat his wife, Tess Iyi Wigwe, to a pulp following a matrimonial disagreement. Bruised and battered, the woman checked herself into a hospital and filed a petition with the police. With the story becoming tabloid fodder in the Kenyan press, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs speedily recalled the alleged assailant for questioning.

In first few days after the story broke, print and online media platforms have been awash with the pitiful account of the wife.

Her interview in local Kenyan tabloid, The Star, as well as gory pictures of her bloodied face – have been generating a tsunami of condemnatory blogs.

Wigwe is now telling his own story. In a presentation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kenya he denied all charges levelled against him by his wife. He has equally re-

The ambassador and his wife leased a lengthy defence that traces the history of a turbulent and often violent marriage.

By his account, the injuries sustained by Mrs Wigwe on the fateful night were accidental.

His wife claims two of their children were witnesses to the assault. Wigwe, on the contrary, says the children have spoken to the diplomatic police in Nairobi to refute their mother’s allegations. Who do we believe?

Predictably, the whole sorry mess has become a cause célèbre for women and rights groups, with many virtually calling for the High Commissioner to be drawn and quartered. Typical of their position is one put out by the President of Women Arise (WA), Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin. She said: “The gross misconduct by the ambassador apart from being a shame for a man of his exposure and education is also a national embarrassment to us as

OLATUNJI OLOLADE

while it lasts, but he should keep it in mind that these problems have borne some fruits that are ripe for harvesting.

Right in the presence of his predecessor, Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso said he was handed an empty treasury. He wondered how he would meet the people’s expectations without cash. There is a $209m foreign loan and N77bn local debts. He accused Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau of “fiscal irresponsibility”. Shekarau kicked. He said he left N4.6bn in the kitty. Who is telling the truth? We may never know.

After the inauguration, a huge crowd of party supporters and thugs followed Kwankwaso to the State House. There was a mad rush to enter the exclusive facility.

Some miscreants, according to reports, pulled down a section of the wall, stormed the mansion and lunched into an orgy of looting, undeterred by the tear gas fired by exasperated security agents. Why will some people despoil the Government House, which is supposed to symbolise the authority to which everyone – good citizens and criminals – must show respect?

And on a day of renewal of hope? There is so much disenchantment in the land, with many wondering what goes on behind those huge, barbwired walls and heavy gates of government houses. Out of anger and sheer criminality, they will plunder such places, if given a little chance to go in. This is what failure of governance has brought to us.

In Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, grabbed his former boss Dr Peter Odili’s hand with both hands as they exchanged greetings. Her face wreathed in smiles, Odili’s wife, Mary, watched with excitement. It was, hopefully, the closing of a four-year-or-so chapter of muscleflexing and divisive politics. Former Governor Rufus Ada-George and Dr Odili also reconciled. Now, will there be good politics, geared towards the interest of the masses?

Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang promised to bring back the peace that has taken flight from Jos. Good talk. But His Excellency forgot to tell his people how he planned to do this, thereby repeating an old song they seem to have been tired of hearing. Their despair remains.

The Inauguration Day bombings have clearly shown that Nigeria’s biggest problem is security. The corollary of this – some insist its precursor – are hunger, joblessness, disease, injustice and collapsed infrastructure. These problems are to be tackled with grit; not rhetoric. Dr Jonathan surely has his job well cut out for him. He should put his hand on the plough right away.

•For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above a people because the offender is the face of Nigeria in Kenya.”

The rush to judgment is as condemnable as the alleged act of domestic violence. Whatever happened to the legal concept that assumes a man is innocent until proven guilty?

The diplomat must accept, though, that his failure to manage his domestic affairs in a proper fashion has now put him in the position of newsmaker in a service where he’s just meant to be his master’s voice. Even worse, his failing is now the source of unwanted negative publicity for a country in desperate need of positive press.

The war in the house of Wigwe is a tragedy. His long Foreign Service career is on the line, his marriage in tatters, and the children produced by that union torn between two parents.

That is why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should conduct its investigations in a sober environment – far removed from the heated emotions of the moment. It should establish the truth and mete out commensurate punishment where it is deserved. In arriving at that point, all sides deserve a fair hearing – not a media lynching.

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