The Nation June 22 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

Seven soldiers for court-martial

NEWS

Page 3

Man lynched for stealing N150 NEWS

Page 4

•Accused of aiding Boko Haram suspects

•Youths set suspect ablaze

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 6, NO. 1798 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

G

OVERNORS met last night in Abuja over the Boko Haram menace.

They urged dialogue and investments in intelligence as well as technology to resolve the crisis in which many have been killed.

The governors met at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge. The meeting was chaired by Governors’ Forum chairman Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Riv-

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

How to tackle Boko Haram, by governors From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

ers.

They also discussed the N18,000 minimum wage, resolving to pursue a new revenue formula, which will give the states the financial muscle to pay and avert strikes. The meeting rose at about 11p.m.

•Security meeting at Villa Also yesterday, President Goodluck Jonathan had a long meeting with the top echelon of the nation’s security yesterday.

At the meeting were heads of security agencies, service chiefs and the Inspector

General of Police.

The objective was to fashion out ways to halt the killings by Boko Harm and stem the bombings and general insecurity in the country, it was gathered.

The Aso Rock Villa ses-

sion prevented Police chief Hafiz Ringim from meeting Commissioners of Police at the Police Headquarters – scene of last Thursday’s suicide bombing.

It was learnt that the Presidency wanted the security egg heads to battle bombing, described as “alien to the country”.

N150.00 How to sustain the relative peace in the Niger Delta, it was also learnt, dominated the other meeting between the President and governors from that region, also at the Villa.

The President had a long meeting with governors from the Southsouth.

Akwa Ibom Governor Godswill Akpabio was absent.

Amaechi (Rivers), Adams Continued on page 2

Cabinet crisis deepens T

HE President is battling to stave off pressure from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors who are pushing their nominees for the cabinet.

Dr Goodluck Jonathan is insisting on merit, but the governors maintain that they should have a say on who represents their states.

Some of them met with the President at the Villa in Abuja yesterday, but it was not immediately clear whether the meter came up.

Besides the tension in the ruling party, the Goodluck/ Sambo Campaign – the

Jonathan, PDP governors Conditions Okonjo-Iweala gave President after pressure disagree on nominees From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

President’s vehicle for the April 16 election, which he won – is shocked that its leading lights are not considered for ministerial slots.

A member of the National Working Committee (NWC), who spoke in confidence, said: “I won’t pretend to you, there is tension in most states over the ministerial list.

Okah gets trial date

“The roots of the problems are the governors themselves who are trying to impose ministerial nominees. You ask them this: Have they been allowing people in their states to choose their local government chairmen?

“When these governors want to nominate ministers, they go for those who are incompetent because of their ambition.

“But the President said he will not accept any imposition. He has promised that he will not fail this country and in order to fulfill his pledge, he has to choose impeccable candidates.”

On what the party is doing to douse the tension, the source added: “The party does not make noise on such a thing; there is a way it is making its input.”

There is also disquiet among co-ordinators of the disbanded Goodluck Jonathan/Sambo Campaign over ministerial slots.

A source said: “Most of the co-ordinators are not happy.

Some of them had anticipated ministerial appointments, but things are not working out as expected.

“Take the case of Kano State, a former Director of

Publicity for the campaign organisation, Alhaji Abba Dabo, was recommended as ministerial nominee, but he has been dropped.”

Another source said that security reports on the activities of some of the coordinators accounted for their removal from the ministerial list.

Continued on page 2

MANDELA’S GUESTS

•Oct. 1 bomb suspect to call 103 witnesses

M

ILITANT leader Henry Okah has told a Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court that he would call 103 witnesses from Nigeria to testify in his defence.

Okah is facing terrorism charges in relation to the October 1, last year twin bomb blasts in Abuja.

Okah is slammed with charges of delivery, placement and detonation of explosives, which occurred during Nigeria’s 50th Independence Day celebrations, as well as an alternative count of conspiring with others to do so.

The prosecution, at the last adjourned date, told the court of plans to bring additional charges relating to terrorism, terror financing and possible money laundering against Okah in connection with the March 15, 2010 explosions in Warri, Delta State.

Okah’s counsel Rudi Krause told the court yesterday that Okah needed the witnesses to be subpoenaed to South Africa where they could testify free of intimidation.

Continued on page 2

•US First Lady Michelle Obama and her children, Malia and Sasha, visiting former South African President Nelson Mandela at his home in Johannesburg ... yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

•MONEY P16 •SPORTS P23 •LIFE P29 •INVESTORS P43 •POLITICS P49

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

NEWS Okah gets trial date in South Africa Continued from page 1

•Managing Director of Lagos Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA) Mr Tunji Bello (second right), Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Managing Director Ola Oresanya (right), Perm Sec Ministry of Environment Mr Muyideen Akinsanya and Lagos musician Daddy Showkey PHOTO: MOSES OMOSEHIN (left) at the World Environment Day celebration in Ikeja ... yesterday.

Jonathan, others meet Continued from page 1

Oshiomhole (Edo) Timiprie Sylva (Bayelsa) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River) were present.

It was learnt that the meeting might have discussed the implementation of the amnesty programme and its aftermath.

Kwara State Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed told reporters at the State House that security is paramount in the country now.

He said: “We had a private discussion on Boko Haram.

We know that it is not a good sign and a good omen for Nigeria.

“What I think we should look at is the factors that led to it. We must look at factors that are leading people to be engaging in suicide bombing.

“I think it is going to be more in our interest to look

at it from that angle.

“We should look at the social problems that are leading to people engaging in suicide bombing and other allied issues.

“I think it is going to go a long way in giving us the solution. It is a very unfortunate situation, but I think it requires a lot more look from every angle.

“All stakeholders should come together and look at it, to understand what is bringing this trend.

“It is a foreign trend. It is un-Nigerian. It is un-African.

So, let us look at it from the critical angles of what it is. I think that is going to help us a lot better and lead us into getting a lasting solution and to getting to the root of the problem.”

Amaechi spoke on the bombing of the Police Headquarters. “The people of Riv-

ers condemn the bomb blast; it is disastrous and I think we should do something to ensure that it does not repeat itself. It is becoming a little bit worrisome that our brothers who call themselves members of Boko Haram can go to the extent of making us lose innocent lives. So, we condemn it in its totality,” the governor said.

•Dr Jonathan

He urged the court to make a note on his detention warrant to indicate that he be given medical attention.

Krause also urged the court to rule that the case will no longer be adjourned at the Magistrates’ court again after the prosecution urged for more time to finish investigation and bring proof of indictment against him by August 24 ahead of the January 30, 2012 trial date.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Shaun Abrahams, told the court that the state required more time to conclude its investigation as it was awaiting some information from service providers and two unnamed countries.

He said the trial date had tentatively been set for Jan. 30, 2012 and that the state was not delaying the matter.

Abrahams also told the court that Okah had lost a bid for a leave to appeal against denial of his bail at the High Court last week and had indicated that he may approach the Supreme Court of Appeal.

He said measures had been put in place to enable Okah have access to medical help after the doctor earlier assigned to him withdrew.

Abrahams said the list of witnesses presented by Okah’s counsel was so long that if followed through might make the trial take up to between three and four years.

He assured that proof of indictment will be served on Okah by August 24, which is still within the nine-month period from February which the prosecution promised to

Krause presented the list to the court.

The counsel told the court that the list he presented was a preliminary one, but was brought early to give the prosecution sufficient time to prepare as Okah needed them to testify in the court.

He said the witnesses might not be able to testify freely in Nigeria, adding that at a later stage, he would provide further details of the witnesses to the court.

Krause also told the court that Okah was ready to go on trial and would not want the case delayed, adding that the conditions in which he is now being held were harsh.

He said that since cell phones were recovered in his cells in February, he had been moved to a punitive cell where he could not communicate with people and did not see sunlight.

Krause said Okah was alone in a cell which was for over 40 people, noting that his requests for medical attention had continued to be ignored by the prison authorities and his condition was progressively getting worse.

“He can’t speak to anyone, he sleeps on a concrete slab with a little mattress provided in the cell with no windows, no sunlight and his injury is getting worse,” the lawyer said.

Krause said he was told that a doctor who was assigned to see him had withdrawn his services after he was told that the person he was to see was a security risk.

conclude its investigation.

Magistrate Hein Louw refused to rule that the adjournment for more investigation requested by the prosecution must be the final one.

He said he could not do so since they were still awaiting information from two countries, which was not within their control.

Louw, however, said this did not mean he would allow further adjournments for investigation as he could decide to order the prosecution to go to trial, even if they claimed they were still investigating.

He said in all likelihood, the trial would proceed on January 30, 2012.

Louw said since both parties had agreed on medical treatment, he would endorse the warrant to reflect that Okah be granted access to it.

He adjourned the case to August 24 to allow for further investigation by the prosecution and serving of proof of indictment.

The Southern Africa correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria reports that Okah was arrested on October 2, last year in Johannesburg. He appeared in court on October 4.

He applied for bail but was denied as the South African authorities said they had a good case against him and were sure they could get a conviction, even though Okah argued to the contrary.

The state, during the bail application said they had evidence of phone call and email contact between Okah and suspects held in connection with the explosions in Nigeria.

Okonjo-Iweala gives Jonathan four conditions to return to govt Continued from page 1

He said: “Imagine a coordinator that was given N250million and could not account for it. If such a person becomes a minister, the treasury will be the first victim.

“The President has said that this is the time for action, not grandstanding.”

World Bank Managing Director Mrs. Ngozi OkonjoIweala accepted a ministerial appointment to help salvage Nigeria’s troubled economy, it was learnt yesterday.

The former minister was said to have been convinced to come on board by international lenders and financial institutions, following pressure from President Goodluck Jonathan’s request.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, it was learnt, demanded a free hand, among other conditions, from the President before joining the cabinet.

Also yesterday, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello said exPresident Olusegun Obasanjo, her father, has not recommended her for ministerial appointment as being speculated.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala asked the President for free hand to operate within a functional system.

A source close to the negotiations said: “It was not easy convincing Okonjo-Iweala to return to the cabinet, but international lenders and financial institutions, like the World Bank and the IMF, are

Ministerial list with portfolio better, says Mark •LP chair Nwanyanwu nominated

T

HE President yesterday sent names of leaders of two political parties for security screening as ministers-designate.

Nominated are leaders of Labour Party (LP) Mr. Dan Nwanyanwu and Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN) Shittu Mohammed, it was learnt.

The presidential action is in line with Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to form an “all-inclusive” cabinet. Those already nominated for security screening are more than 30. The cabinet is expected to be made up of 42 ministers.

As the list of nominees is being awaited at the Senate, its President, Chief David Mark, said yesterday that the upper legislative chamber would prefer to have attached to the ministerial list, the portfolios of the nominees.

Mark said this will make for ease of screening and to ensure that those picked could fit into the positions they were listed for.

Mark, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Paul Mumeh, said however that no law makes its mandatory for the President to attach portfolios to his list.

He said: “That may be the preferred option so that specific questions could be asked but that is not the constitunot too comfortable with the nation’s economic indices.

“They joined forces with the President to prevail on the World Bank MD to be part of the government to sustain international investors’ confidence, including oil firms, in the nation’s

From Sanni Ologun and Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

tional requirement.

“The Constitution wants Mr. President to forward the names of the nominees to us and once he does that, he has fulfilled the Constitutional requirement.

“The 1999 Constitution provides that Mr. President forward names of ministerial nominees, one per state, to the Senate for screening and confirmation as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and nothing more.”

Some state chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have protested against those said to have been nominated by the President from their states for minister.

The states are Bornu and Anambra.

According to a source who spoke in confidence, major stakeholders from the states are not happy that their nominees are being dropped in preference for others.

The source said the Bornu state PDP would have loved a situation where its ministerial nominee would be a strong party man since the state is at present dominated by the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

economy.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala’s conditions include: •efficiency; •a free hand to redirect the economy; •respect for her advice; and •the demonstration of political will to implement re-

Alhaji Bukar Tijjani’s name is said to have been forwarded for screening.

The Anambra PDP is believed to have kicked against the nomination of ace sprinter Mary Onyali-Omagbemi.

Mark said the Senate will make laws that will ensure good governance at all levels and bring democratic dividends to the citizenry and stabilise the polity.

On his re election by his colleagues, he said: “We worked hard for it and our colleagues saw reasons to vote for me. I campaigned to be re-elected; I spoke to every senator-elect. I spoke to them in their caucuses. Some of them expressed reservations and I explained my position to them and they understood.

“One thing that I maintained is that, I will not make a promise to individual senators but I will be just, fair, transparent and do things I can defend before my God when there will be no witness but only David Mark.”

On the perception of the Senate by Nigerians, he said: “We know most Nigerians have wrong mindsets about the National Assembly. I think with time and as we do things more positively in the interest of all Nigerians, they will come to realise that the legislators are not the devils people think they are”.

forms.

“All these conditions were accepted by the President because they fall within his agenda to accelerate Nigeria’s development within the next four years,” the source said.

Obasanjo-Bello yesterday

said her father did not recommend her for ministerial appointment.

She also said the Court of Appeal has quashed charges against her on alleged N10million fraud when she was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on

Health.

Senator Obasanjo-Bello, who spoke exclusively with The Nation, said some people were only out to blackmail her because of what she described as ministerial nomination politics.

She said: “I was not involved in any N10m fraud because the charges against me have been quashed by the Court of Appeal. The court said I had no case to answer.

The records are there in the court.

“My father at no time recommended me, not to talk of lobbying for a ministerial appointment for me. If you know the kind of person he is, he won’t do such a thing.

He has done his best to give me a good education to face challenges in life and I have done my best with the quality education that I had received. I do not need him to do things for me again.

“At 44, my present age ... my father had already retired as Head of State and why do I need him to press button for me?

“As a matter of fact, I did not want to contest for senatorial election in April because I had won a fellowship in Harvard. I felt I should engage in something different from politics. But some leaders and the people of my senatorial district wanted me to return to the Senate.

“I know where this is coming from. Some people are out to blackmail me for nothing.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

NEWS

Nigerian found guilty of sham marriage in UK

Seven soldiers for court-martial in Jos • Accused of aiding escape of Boko Haram suspects

F

OR allegedly aiding the escape of more than 100 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect in Bauchi Prison cells last year, seven soldiers of the 3 Armoured Division, Mazwell Khobe Cantonment Jos, Plateau State are to be court martialled.

The Division’s General Officer Commanding (GOC), Maj. Gen. Sunday Idoko, disclosed this yesterday at the Rhino Officers Mess in Jos, the Plateau State capital. It was during the inauguration of the court martial.

The seven accused are from 33 Artillery Brigade, Bauchi and 21 Armoured Brigade Maiduguri. The two military formations are under the 3 Armoured Division, Jos. There was a jail break in Bauchi last year in which over 100 Boko Haram suspects

Panel on Oyo NURTW to ‘step on toes’ From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

THE judicial commission of enquiry on the crisis rocking the Oyo State branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) yesterday said it was prepared to step on toes to resolve the lingering crisis.

At the inaugural sitting of the panel yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, its Chairman, Justice Olagoke Ige, and other members, spoke about their resolve to avoid partiality in getting to the root of the crisis.

Justice Ige said despite the nature of the assignment, no one with useful information should fear to tell the truth, adding that such persons would be protected.

He said respondents would be treated with fairness and objectivity, promising that the panel’s activities would end killings by the drivers’ union.

Nigeria commited to peace in Sudan From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has assured the government and people of Sudan of Nigeria’s continued support for the peace process in that country.

He said peace is central to freedom and development the world over.

He is to hold further discussions with President Omar al-Bashir later this month at the AU summit in Malabo.

The Sudanese peace process formed part of President Jonathan’s discussions with President Obama in Washington recently where both leaders expressed commitment to ensuring peace in post-war Sudan.

He spoke yesterday when he received in audience, the outgoing Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Award Mursi Taha, in State House, Abuja.

• To be sentenced on July 20

A

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

awaiting trial escaped. Other inmates in Maiduguri prisons fled in similar circumstances this year.

The accused were said to have aided the escape of the suspects in their custody in Bauchi and Maiduguri prisons.

Gen. Idoko said: “The action to court-martial the accused became necessary in view of the fact that preliminary investigation carried out by the police clearly indicted the accused soldiers”.

“The action is also in consonance with the Act setting

•Chief of Army Staff Azubike Ihejirika

up the army, which is aimed at instilling strict discipline in the military profession”.

The President of the General Court-martial, Brig. Gen. Donald Orji, will lead other senior military officers in the trial, which is expected to begin soon.

Gen. Idoko did not, however, give the trial date.

NIGERIAN has been found guilty of attempting to organise sham marriages in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.

Abiola Abdul Kareem was arrested by UK Border Agency officers as he arrived for a wedding ceremony at Abingdon Register office in May, last year.

He had helped arrange the ceremony that was due to take place between Nigerian Idowu James Ojomu, 36, and 20-year-old French national Maria Deroff.

Kareem, 32 of Woodfarm Road, Oxford, will be sentenced on July 20.

Ojomu hoped to gain permission to live and work in the UK as a result of the marriage and in the months leading up to the ceremony he had transferred around £5,000 to Kareem, the UK Border Agency said.

Following his arrest, evidence of involvement in a number of other suspicious weddings was discovered.

At earlier hearings, Kareem had admitted four

charges of assisting unlawful immigration, including a charge relating to the Ojomu marriage, and one charge of bigamy.

However, following a trial at Oxford Crown Court, Abdul Kareem was also found guilty on Monday of another count of assisting unlawful immigration and money laundering offences.

John Donachy, from the UK Border Agency, said: “Our main aim is to identify the organisers like Abdul Kareem, who profit from and fuel the demand for sham marriages and destroy their criminal business.

“We are working closely with registrars to identify marriages that may not be genuine, and where we suspect that may be the case we will investigate.”

At previous hearings last year, Ojomu had pleaded guilty to charges of perjury and overstaying his visa. Deroff had admitted perjury and assisting unlawful immigration.

They were sentenced to 11 months and eight months.

Ojomu has since been deported.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

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NEWS Ekiti to summon contractors From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

EKITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi will soon invite contractors allegedly involved in contract irregularities under former Governor Segun Oni administration.

This followed a communiqué by the Commissioner for Information, Communication, Civic Orientation and Strategy, Mrs Fola RichieAdewusi after the Steward/ Accountability Forum in Ado Ekiti, the capital.

Fayemi, represented by Chief of Staff Yemi Adaramodu, said the programme was aimed at holding public officials accountable.

The commissioner said large amounts of money were paid to the contractors, noting that only few justified their receipts.

Mrs. Richie-Adewusi said the government would explore all options to recover the money lost.

She said the forum was more of a village meeting where the people could participate.

“Community leaders would be made to assume an automatic supervisory role on road projects in their domains.”

The Commissioner for Works, Sola Adebayo, said the 11-kilometre AdoIworoko-Ifaki Ekiti Road, awarded by Oni at N7.5billion would be completed by December.

He said the contractor handling the project had been mobilised to the tune of N5.5 billion and that he has signed an undertaking to deliver as scheduled.

Man lynched for allegedly stealing N150

A

FTER years of alleged several high profile robbery operations at the notorious Enerhen Junction area of Warri, Delta State, a robbery suspect yesterday met his waterloo.

He reportedly snatched a handbag containing N150 from a woman.

The yet-to –be identified suspect was set ablaze by irate youths in front of Igbudu Primary School, Warri, at about 9:10am.

Sources said the hoodlum met his end few weeks after he was released from the prison for the fourth time.

An eyewitness said nemesis caught up with the suspect after he snatched the handbag of his victim, who was on her way to work.

His words: “As he usually did, he ran into a nearby waterside, where he usually stores hang bags and other valuables collected from his victims.

“But he was surprised this

One- year-old killed in Ondo From Damisi Ojo, Akure

A

ONE-year-old girl, identified as Dada Akingboye, was yesterday reportedly murdered by unknown persons in the riverine area of Ondo State.

The father of the deceased, Akin Akingboye, said the incident occurred at Okoriwo, a riverine community in Ilaje Local Government.

Akingboye said the hoodlums struck around 11pm when they entered his home and abducted the little girl, who was sleeping with her mother.

He said the incident had been reported at Igbokoda Police Station and that her body was later recovered in a bush, without the eyes.

Akingboye added that the remains have been deposited at Ayemafuge Private Hospital in Igbokoda.

Police spokesman Adeniran Aremu said three suspects had been arrested and have confessed to committing the crime.

The police command has directed its officers to ensure safety of the people.

It also urged owners of abandoned accident vehicles at police stations to remove them.

A statement by the Police spokesman Aremu noted that the police have begun the evacuation of abandoned vehicles at the command and other police stations.

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

time that he only found N150 in the bag.”

“However, unknown to him, his victim, unlike others, refused to leave the

scene but alerted some of the youths and commercial motorcyclists, who ambushed him.

“As he was returning back to his usual post where he usually dispossesses his victims, mostly young girls of gold accessories, on the Warri/Sapele Road by Marine Quarters, the woman identified him as her attacker.

“The man also recognised the woman and he attempted to escape.”

It was gathered that residents and traders chased him and beat him, until a bystander suggested that they should ensure that he never returned to terrorise the area.

A trader said: “We know that if he is handed over to the police and taken to court, he would be back in a few months, possibly weeks, to continue his activities.

“So, someone brought abandoned tyres and we gave him the treatment that he deserved.”

Ondo, Labour to resolve minimum wage impasse From Damisi Ojo, Akure

THE Ondo State Government yesterday said the current disagreement between it and civil servants over N18,000 minimum wage would soon be resolved.

Head of Service Ajose Kudehinbu told reporters after a meeting with labour leaders, that the government has nothing to hide.

The organised labour, under the auspices of the Public Service Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) had last week, issued a seven-day ultimatum, which had necessitated meetings between the two parties.

The workers, who converged on the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade, mandated the leadership to embark on an indefinite strike from tomorrow if the government did not meet their demand.

The JNC expressed displeasure over the government’s lukewarm attitude over the matter.

It described government’s action as a time-buying attitude.

“If the government declines to consider and approve the salary scale agreed upon by workers and consequently issue an enabling circular to back up its immediate implementation between now and midnight of June 22, all workers in the public service of Ondo State shall proceed on an indefinite strike with effect from June 23,” the JNC said.

• From left: Dental Consultant Dr. Bayo Adeniyi; Fayemi; Coordinator, Development Support Initiative Dr. Dolapo Fasawe and Commissioner for Health Dr. Wole Olugboji, at the programme in Aiyedun-Ekiti... yesterday.

PDP lacks moral justification to criticise us, says Aregbesola O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lacks the moral authority to criticise his administration.

He said the atrocities perpetrated by the PDP in the state “cannot be forgotten in a hurry.” According to him, only the PDP leaders had failed to see the hope that his government had been restoring to the state.

The governor spoke in a statement yesterday by his media chief Semiu Okanlawon.

It was against the background of criticisms of the Osun state PDP on why the state executive council has not been constituted.

Aregbesola said the executive council is yet to be constituted because “Nigerians cannot forget the evil intention of the PDP-controlled House of Assembly shortly after our assumption of office in November 2010. The attempt to remove the governor, through the instrument of the legislature, the obstinate posture of the Assembly over the list of caretaker committees of local government councils submitted to it and other clandestine moves were enough indications that all the PDP was out

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

to achieve was manacle the administration to prevent any record of performance.”

The statement reads: “With that scenario, political expediency dictated that the governor and his modest team continued delivering quality services to the people while awaiting a more conducive time to appoint his commissioners.

“The PDP had hardly allowed the House of Assembly to be inaugurated barely two weeks ago before it went to town crying foul over non-appointment of commissioners.

“Do they read the constitution at all to know what it says about the appointment of commissioners by a governor? If they have been reading their constitution as claimed, they should tell us the time frame within which a governor must appoint his commissioners without which he would be seen to have violated the laws of the country.

“Apart from these, what moral right has the PDP and its idle leaders got to comment

on the affairs of Osun State again after seven and a half years of desecration of the state?

“This is a party whose government brought the state to its knees through ridiculous loans; the most absurd of which was an N18.3bn that was squandered on phoney projects that had no bearing to the lives of the ordinary people.

“It is to the credit of the Aregbesola administration that it has found an ingenious method of repaying these loans through another financial institution without allowing its burden to kill the people of the state.

“Reports of the Contract Review Committee have indicted many PDP leaders with findings that show that all they were out to do here was milk the state dry.

“We have employed 20,000 youths who would otherwise have been jobless and for this we pay out N200 million monthly.

“We have launched an agricultural revival programme

that will position Osun State as the food basket of Nigeria.

The Urban Renewal Project which was launched recently is aimed at changing the face of the state from the current state of dilapidation to modern cities.

“We are re-branding education in the state. Before the end of this year, Osun will be branded as the most educationally-friendly state in Nigeria.

Don’t forget the PDP government established a university sustaining it through illegal funding formula!

“We have finalised arrangements with the Nigerian Railway Corporation on the movement of agricultural produce from Osun to Lagos and move goods from Lagos to Osun all in the bid to create a healthier and robust economy in the state.

“The people of Osun State appreciate the transformations that are going on and that is why it is the likes of Sunday Ojo-Williams (the acting PDP chairman) and his co-sojourners in the fruitless journey that are making noise over the issue. We are focused and they should not employ their routine style of doing things as a yardstick for judging others.

Saraki may return to Kwara PDP From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

T

HE Chairman of Northern Union (NU), Dr Olusola Saraki, may be on his way back to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State.

Saraki, the strongman of Kwara politics, had some months to the April elections led his supporters out of PDP to form the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN).

Sources said arrangements had been perfected for ACPN members to return to the PDP alongside their leader, the elder Saraki.

It was learnt that the ACPN leader would arrive in Ilorin, the state capital on Sunday and would, after a special prayer, declare the return of members of the party to the PDP. The planned return might not be unconnected with ongoing reconciliatory moves between the frontline politician and the PDP. Sources also said the reconciliation team raised by the PDP yesterday headed for London for reconciliatory talks with the elder Saraki, who had left the country immediately after the elections.

The team is said to be led by ex-Governor and the son of the politician, Bukola; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; the Secretary to the State Government, Isiaka Gold and some other government and PDP officials.

The elder Saraki, who facilitated ascendancy of the PDP to the state government’s seat in 2003 and 2007, had last year left the party and adopted then relatively unknown ACPN. The second republic senate leader claimed he was leaving PDP because the party’s doors had been shut against him, however it was widely believed that he left because of opposition against the governorship ambition of his daughter, Gbemisola.

Fayemi flags off free health mission From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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KITI State, Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday flagged off the second phase of his administration’s Free Health Mission.

Speaking in Odo-Ayedun in Ikole Local Government after the official flag-off of the scheme, Fayemi said arrangements have been concluded to commence a general free health programme next month.

This quarter’s free health mission, which is targeted at the people of Ekiti North Senatorial District, is expected to go round the five local governments in the zone with about 30,000 expected to benefit.

The proposed general free health programme, Fayemi said, would not interrupt the free health mission, which is held quarterly and taken to rural communities in the 16 local government areas.

He said the free health mission is aimed at those suffering from malaria, diabetes, hypertension, eye and dental problems and other health problems.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

NEWS

‘Lying in the pool blood... my dear Patience was gone’ A widower, Sunday Samuel, recalls his last days with his wife who was shot dead by a gang of robbers who invaded a bank in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

SULAIMAN SALAWUDEEN met him

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HE atmosphere was somber and the faces of the four people in the sitting room of the three-bedroom apartment wore a similar visage of sadnes.

This reporter sat and endured the silence. It was a silence laden with meanings because someone very dear to heart had been taken away from them for good.

Her sudden exit has inflicted on them wounds that may take the entire lifetime to heal.

Mama Ola was among the many that wore the gloomy faces. She is a relation who had come to show empathy. After a while, she broke down in tears. She just could no longer bear the whole riddle about the loss of Patience. She left hurriedly.

This was the situation when this reporter visited the family of the late Mrs. Patience Samuel, who was killed by a gang of robbers who invaded a bank in Okeyinmi, AdoEkiti.

To say that Sunday Samuel, the 40-year-old widower, was sad is an understatement. Samuel was repeatedly asking himself why he approved her wife’s shopping trip to the market on that ‘Black Tuesday’ morning.

Sitting on a fairly worn cushioned settee in the apartment located somewhere in the Ekiti State capital, the bereaved husband left no one in doubt that he was still battling to come to terms with a strange reality that the woman with whom he had shared the marital vow, had passed on.

The marital bliss phase of his life had been cut short by the dare-devil robbers, who killed his beloved and four others in the Fountain of Knowledge.

Staring askance at the environment, Samuel raised his head and brought it down again like someone trying to fathom a befuddling riddle.

His situation was understandable, as, according to him, he did not believe that that Tuesday when she took permission to go to the market to procure some food items would be the last he would see of her alive. He had no premonition; no barest inkling of the fate that was lurking around.

The late Mrs. Samuel, who had four children, was said to be an astute businesswoman, who could make money out of anything she laid her hands on.

She had told her husband that some of her customers made some orders that she had to supply. She planned to embark on a journey to access the needed items and fortify her business. Ever since Samuel lost his job as a petrol station man-

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

ager in Ibadan a few years back, he has been unable to secure another.

But his spouse filled in the gap by placating the needs of the family.

She would buy things and get receipts issued in the name of her husband. She would settle many bills even before allowing her husband to know she had done them. So, the way the bereaved husband felt was understandable.

He said: “Patience was loved by every member of my family. She was like mother, sister, friend and confidant to me and my siblings as our mother is late. She was every virtue a husband could desire from a wife.

“She would not pester you for money when you did not have; neither would she trouble you for more than whatever you could afford any time.”

Samuel had a testifier in his father, who Mrs. Samuel had branched off to greet at Okeyinmi where she was shot.

Recalling the event of the day, Sunday said: “We had been inside the house together when she thought she needed to make some purchases from the market. She had told me the day before (Monday) that some items would be needed in the house and that the soup had also been exhausted. When she finished dressing up, I gave her the little amount I had and she left.

“I recall she forgot her handset and rushed back to take it. She went out almost immediately. This was around 9.30am.

“It could not have been more than five minutes after she went out that second time when I called her to come back that I had something to say but she said she could not come back again as she was already on the way. Perhaps I should have insisted on her coming back.

“I too went out a few minutes later to keep an appointment. Not quite 20 minutes after I went out, calls started coming that I should come to Okeyinmi where my dad had a business. But then I could not go as there were no movements.

“When the situation calmed down a bit, I made my way there to see the body of my beloved wife, killed by some soulless bandits.

There she was lying lifeless in the pool of her blood. Dear Patience was gone’’.

The septuagenarian in-law disclosed that contrary to reports, Patience was not there to make calls.

She had come to see him as I he has his vulcanizer’s stand opposite the First Bank.

His words: “When she came, I needed to visit the restroom. I then

•Samuel

•The late Mrs Samuel

told her to sit down and wait for me. I had not even got to where the toilet was when the volley of shots took the air. But I could not come back again. It was after the robbers had left that the people started calling me to come.

“When I came I saw the dead Patience. I could not even look at her.

It was people who organised how her remains was moved from the spot.

“I would miss in her not just as wife to my son, but as my own daughter and a strong support of my entire family. Patience would cook and bring my own food. She would sit down and play with me.

“She would ask, Papa, why are you looking like that, do you need anything?,’ Some who might not know her would even think she was my concubine. Oh! I have been afflicted’’. The old man broke down in tears.

Another family friend, simply identified as Mrs. Akomolafe, spoke glowingly of the deceased.

Her words: “She never discriminated. I remember when I was doing my part-time programme at the University of Ado-Ekiti; she would take my child, just a few months old at the time and would nurse her till I returned later in the day.

“She did that continuously for about two years. I don’t know how to describe such a person who would take up your problem as her own”.

The remains of Mrs. Samuel, 38, an indigene of Isua-Akoko, in Ondo State were buried the following day.

She is survived by her husband, Samuel and four children, all girls, the eldest being 13 years old and the youngest, six.

REC criticises nomination of ministers by governors THE Resident Electoral Commissioner ( REC) for Cross Rivers State, Mr Mike Igini has criticised the nomination of ministers by their governors, saying such process would lead to abuse of power and undue allegiance by the ministers to the governors.

He said some ministers in previous dispensation refused to obey the provision of Section 144 of the Constitution because they were under the control and direction of their governors.

Igini, in a statement yesterday called for caution and regulation, saying the power invested in the governors should be controlled so as not to jeopardise a democratic project which Nigerians have sacrificed so much to attain and maintain.

Part of he statement reads: “Why should governors alone determine who can contest election as councillors, local government chairmen, state legislators, House of Representatives member, senators, commissioners at the state and also choose for a President who should be his ministers? Why should we concentrate so much power outside the contemplation of the Constitution in a body of persons through collective acquiescence?

“As a midwife of the leadership election process and an advocate for the good leadership and governance of Nigeria, I proffer my opinion based strictly on the ramifications for leadership and good governance given the recent history of Nigeria’’.

Ban Ki-moon gets second term United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has been re-elected to serve a second five-year term, in a vote at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Mr Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister, was the only candidate after the UN Security Council unanimously recommended his re-election.

Critics say he is too deferential to major powers, but he has won praise for his policies on climate change and the protests sweeping the Middle East.

He took over at the UN in 2007.

His second term will formally begin on January1, next year and run until the end of 2016.

Mr Ban smiled and bowed to ambassadors and diplomats gathered at UN headquarters, who backed the reappointment through applause without a vote, the AFP news agency reports.

When he announced his candidacy two weeks ago, Mr Ban pledged to keep leading the world body as a “bridge-builder” in a time of unprecedented global change.

When Mr Ban was first elected, powerful nations in the Security Council seemed to want a lowprofile leader after the schisms of the 2003 Iraq war.

ICPC quizzes five Customs officers over disappearance of N15b PHCN equipment HE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is interacting with five senior Customs officers including an Assistant Comptroller over their alleged involvement in the issuance of fake documents to release containers with transformers and other items belonging to the Power

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From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Holding of Nigeria (PHCN).

The PHCN equipment, worth N15 billion were said to have been donated by the Iranian government to boost power generation in the country It was gathered that, about10

containers were off-loaded at Ikorodu Terminal warehouse before their onward distribution to generating stations.

Sources said the development led Customs management to set up an in-house panel of inquiry to fish out those allegedly behind the act.

The panel, according to the sources, had submitted its report to

the management of the customs which in turn handed it over to the Federal Government.

But the government was said to have been dissatisfied with the report and thereby ordered the ICPC to take over the matter in order to unravel the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the items.

It was gathered that the affected senior Customs officers had made statements in connection with the matter.

When contacted on phone, Mr. Folu Olamiti, a consultant to the anti-corruption body confirmed the development. He said the affected officers had been quizzed for their alleged role.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

NEWS No Boko Haram in Kano, say Police •‘Monday attack was robbery’

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HE Police in Kano State yesterday debunked reports that Monday’s attack by some gunmen in Kano, the state capital, was masterminded by the Boko Haram religious sect.

The Katsina State Police Command also said an incident in Katsina metropolis was a robbery case.

Addressing reporters at the Police Command Headquarters in Kano, its spokesman Musa Magaji Majia, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the Monday incident at Gwunduwawa in Gezawa, Kano metropolis, was a case of robbery.

Majia said the robbers, at about 5pm, invaded a shopping mall and stole an undisclosed amount of money.

According to him, three

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

civilians were injured by stray bullets and a policeman, identified as Umar Sufi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), died during crossfire between a Police patrol and the robbers.

He said when the robbers attempted to escape, the residents chased them, making the hoodlums to abandon their motorcycles.

But the robbers reportedly escaped with their loot.

Majia said Kano had not recorded any Boko Haram attack, adding that the Police were on alert in case of any eventuality.

He described as unfortunate the rumours making the rounds that Boko Haram had entered Kano, saying the Police would continue to protect lives and property of the residents.

Uduaghan decries high turnover of lawmakers From Sanni Ologun, Abuja

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ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday regretted the high turnover of lawmakers at the state and federal levels.

Uduaghan, who spoke at an induction course for newly elected state lawmakers in Abuja, also urged the legislators to strike a balance between their functions of law making and other expectations of the people.

According to him, legislators should be allowed to stay longer in the House because it is through experience and contacts that elected representatives would be able to attract the needed developmental projects to their constituencies.

He also advised elected lawmakers to implement constituency projects that would rub off meaningfully on their constituents and which they could point to and be proud of.

The governor told the lawmakers to avoid the temptation of tinkering with budget proposals sent to them by the executive for scrutiny and passage in such a way that they become un-implementable when passed into law.

Makarfi’s petition to be served through substitution

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HE candidate who defeated former Kaduna State Governor and exChairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, in the April Senatorial election, is to be served a petition challenging his election through the wall of his house in Abuja, the tribunal ruled on Monday.

The National and State Assemblies’ Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Kaduna, granted Makarfi leave to serve Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed the petition challenging his victory at

the April 28 Senatorial election through substituted service: pasting it on the wall of his last known address.

Tribunal Chairman Justice Obie Daniel Kalio ordered that the petition be pasted at a conspicuous place at the respondent’s last known residential address within 48 hours after the ruling.

Makarfi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, is challenging the declaration of Baba-Ahmed as the senator representing Kaduna North Senatorial District at the National Assembly.

Lamido warns politicians

By Olamilekan Andu

•Lamido

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IGAWA State Governor Sule Lamido yesterday cautioned Nigerian leaders against making statements that could cause chaos.

In a statement in Dutse, the state capital, the governor noted that recent statements by some of the nation’s political leaders advertised Nige-

ria’s failures, adding that the nation could face dire consequences as a result of such statements.

Lamido said some political leaders needed to “rally round the leadership to strengthen capacity for confidence-building and consensus among and across the various divides”.

The statement reads: “Many Nigerians must have noted with apprehension recent statements from some very senior citizens of the country. In particular, the statement that the current leadership lacks the capacity to tackle corruption suggests a lack of circumspection that could further threaten an already fragile democracy and an inchoate national security of today.”

•From left: Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN); British Deputy High Commissioner Robin Gwynn; representative of United States Consular-General Carl Cockburn; and Dr. Newton Jibunoh at the 2011 World Environment Day lecture at Blue PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES Roof, LTV 8, Agidigbin, Ikeja, Lagos…yesterday.

Army officer, others killed in Benue Tiv-Fulani clash F IVE persons, including an Army officer, identified as Lt. Chinedu Anyanwu, were yesterday killed in the continued clash between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv tribesmen in the border communities in Guma Local Government of Benue State.

Many others were declared missing by displaced persons quartered in camps to save them from further attacks by the herdsmen, who reportedly raided in the communities at night.

Among the missing is a soldier with a patrol team deployed to the area.

The herdsmen have also burnt down more than 1,000 homesteads in about 100 compounds, near Udei town, the largest settlement in the area.

Hundreds of displaced persons are now quartered

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

in camps in Ortese, Daudu and Yelwetta, where the Benue State Emergency Management Agency has provided relief materials and health care service.

An eyewitness, Maureen Tar, who fled with her children to Makurdi, the state capital, to stay with relatives, said the herdsmen invaded Udei Sunday morning, overpowering the soldiers and mobile policemen deployed to the area.

She said there were about 100 herdsmen on horsebacks and foot on their way to the villages.

Benue State Deputy Governor Steven Lawani yesterday visited the displaced persons’ camps in Daudu

and Yelwetta, assuring them of government’s assistance.

Lawani said the government would liaise with its Nasarawa State counterpart to resolve the border crises, which have led to deaths and loss of property.

Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor Ejembi Ogwuche said the government had received information about the death of the Army officer and the case of another missing soldier.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr Alaribe Ejike confirmed the clash at the Benue-Nasarawa boundary.

He said the area of fighting was not within the jurisdiction of the State Command.

Ejike said people on the Be-

nue side of the border have fled their homes for fear of attacks from neighbouring Nasarawa State.

The attacks are believed to be reprisal attacks by the herdsmen after armed farmers killed the herdsmen traditional ruler, Ardo of Kardarko, Alhaji Habibu Dono and four others last month during the armed conflict.

Soldiers were drafted to assist mobile policemen to restore peace to the area.

The herdsmen were said to have served notice of reprisal attacks to the communities around Udei.

More than 100 persons have died in four Benue State local councils since January, following conflicts between herdsmen and farmers. Residents of Makurdi are now living in fear as the conflict draws closer to the Benue State capital.

Fayemi to Oni: it’s a shame you cheated Ekiti

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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday said former Governor Segun Oni should bury his head in shame for ripping off the state of billions of naira through contract awards during his tenure.

The governor was reacting to Oni’s reaction on the White Paper by a panel that scrutinized the contracts the Oni administration awarded for about four years.

Addressing reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Fayemi, through his Senior Special Assistant on Project Monitoring, Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua, noted that Oni’s public arrogance after the White Paper indictment

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

showed the usual trend of some privileged few who boast about after misappropriating the people’s commonwealth.

He said the alleged contract scam by the Oni administration would be revealed soon.

The governor said it would be unprecedented for Transparency International (TI) to be involved in the probe of corrupt governments, adding that TI’s role was to collect information from countries and used certain criteria to rate countries’ scale of transparency and accountability.

Fayemi said: “But as the say-

ing goes, beware of what you pray for; your prayers might just be answered.

“Now, we have facts; we have figures. We have witnesses; we have contractors, who attest to the claims that were published in the White Paper. There is nothing dark about the whole thing. It is an open thing. It was not done by political appointees of this administration.”

The governor said reputable individuals were chosen to serve on the Contract and Consultancy Review Committee (CCRC), which produced the White Paper.

He said: “The facts are there to see for anyone. If Oni wants to ridicule him-

self, let him go ahead. What the government wants to avoid is a circus or jamboree or anything that will portray Oni in bad light at the end of the day. The intention was just to mend the wrongs and correct them.

The government thought it proper to be accountable to the people. This is what it met when it got to office, which should be cleared before moving forward.

“But if he (Oni) wants to sensationalise the whole thing, then let him take it to the pages of the press or Transparency International, or whichever international bodies he believes can be an arbiter in this case.”

How to curb cancer, by UN Deputy Secretary-General

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NITED Nations Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro yesterday said cancer and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) could be curbed, if governments, the private sector, academia and scientists join forces against them.

Migiro spoke at the UN Secretariat, New York during a Media Forum on NCDs, which was organised by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the UN Department of Public Information, for reporters from over 20 countries.

From Olukorede Yishau, Assistant Editor (News) in New York

She said without stakeholders joining forces, the fight against NCDs could not be won.

Migiro said: “Unlike sicknesses caused by a mosquito, a virus or an infection, NCDs are linked to factors, such as food, tobacco, environmental pollution and a lack of exercise. These may sound like matters of individual habits. After all, people can decide for themselves whether they smoke

or drink too much or whether they fail to get exercise or over-eat. Changing individual habits is essential, yes. A major part of our campaign will be to promote exercise, reduce excessive consumption of alcohol and cut the use of tobacco products. But this is not only a campaign for individuals.

“Governments can take decisions that reward and encourage healthy habits.

Equally, they can raise the financial cost of unhealthy habits. Governments can also strengthen health care for people with NCDs. They

can fund research. Academics and scientists can foster progress. And the private sector can make sure that while they pursue profits, they also protect health.

Companies can adjust formulas of their foods to include better ingredients and ban those that are known to be harmful. Companies can also act responsibly when marketing products to children. And all of us can take measures to keep harmful chemicals out of our environment. Raising awareness is a simple and economical way to prevent NCDs.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

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NEWS Ekiti lawyers on strike From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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AWYERS in the Ekiti State Civil Service have gone on strike over non-implementation of the harmonisation law enacted during the administration of former Governor Niyi Adebayo.

Adebayo had introduced the law to equate lawyers in the state Ministry of Justice with magistrates to stem the trend of lawyers angling to cross over to magistrate’s courts to pursue their career.

The Chair of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Kola Olaiya, yesterday justified the lawyers’ decision.

He said it was an appropriate response to government’s insensitivity to their earlier plea for implementation.

Olaiya, who accused the government of partiality, said the magistrates under JUSUN (Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria) were given 27.5 per cent salary increase last year and in January received an additional 27.5 per cent.

This, he said, made it 55 per cent increment leaving out lawyers in the ministry.

He said the harmonisation law had been the stabilising factor that had kept the ministry intact and that the legal officers of the ministry cannot be excluded from any benefit accruing to judicial officers.

CONTISS: Kwara approves 50 per cent subvention

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HE Kwara State Government has increased its monthly subvention to its tertiary institutions by 50 per cent to enable them implement workers’ demand.

Workers in the stateowned tertiary institutions have been on strike, demanding for 100percent implementation of Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS).

The Head of Service, Alhaji Dabarako Mohammed, denied that he was responsible for the non-implementation of the salary increase as demanded by the striking workers.

According to Mohammed,

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

it is not government’s responsibility to dictate to authorities of the institutions to either increase or decrease salaries since they are at liberty to employ their own staff.

“Sometimes in January, a letter was written to my office by the union leaders asking for full implementation of CONTISS. “I wrote back to the union leaders informing them that if government must go by full implementation, the union will lose about 60% of their members,” the Head of Service said.

Gunmen kidnap Rivers REC’s daughter

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NKNOWN gunmen yesterday abducted the daughter of the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Utobeabasi Ikoiwak.

The 11-year-old daughter of Aniedi Ikoiwak was abducted during a church service at Abundant Life Ministry on Ikot Idung Road, Eket, Akwa Ibom State.

A source said the hoodlums, who were in police uniform, tried to kidnap Aniedi, but when the attempt failed, they took his daughter away.

•Demand N100m ransom From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

The pastor was held at gun point by the kidnappers, who demanded Aniedi’s whereabouts. The REC escaped.

Ikoiwak said the abductors have contacted the family and they are demanding N100 million ransom.

His words: “They have contacted the family and they are demanding N100 million ransom.

“I think security agents are aware. I just want her safe and back home.”

The police said they are closing in on the kidnappers, adding that it had launched a manhunt for the hoodlums.

The Commissioner of Police, Felix Uyanna, confirmed the abduction, but promised to release details later.

Uyanna said: “I can give you the details later. I am currently in Abuja for a meet-

Four killed in Delta communal crisis

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OUR persons have been killed in a communal clash in Ekpan community in Uvwie Local Government of Delta State.

Youths yesterday called for an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the clashes that have continued in the past two weeks.

Fresh tension hit the restive community, following the killing of two youths and two passers-by, including a wom-

•Youths seek Fed Govt’s intervention From Shola O’Neil, Warri

an labourer, who was hit by stray bullets.

A councillorship aspirant, Edigbe Ikpesan and Paul Pupu, were shot dead in the wake of the latest violence in the community.

Their deaths have led to fears of reprisal attacks.

A youth spokesperson, Ogakpor Lion, said he blamed the crisis on the activities of the police and members of the ruling party.

Ogakpor accused the police of taking sides with a faction, adding that unless the federal and state governments waded into the crisis, more people would be killed.

Commissioners get portfolios

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DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has assigned portfolios to the seven commissioners sworn in last week. Two others were redeployed.

The commissioners and their portfolios are: Mrs. Inumidun Stella Idehen (Women’s Affairs); Ekpenisi Omorotionmwan (Education); Lucky

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Egwegiemokhai James (Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs); Aanena Elizabeth Jemitola (Arts & Culture) and Peter Onyekewem Ikem (Special Duties, Oil & Gas).

Others are: Chris Osoba Ebare (Budget & Economic Plan-

ning) and Osikhena-Boih Donald (Commerce and Industry).

Those redeployed are Abdul Oroh, former Commissioner for Arts and Culture, now Commissioner for Agriculture and Victor Enoghama, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, now Commissioner for Transport.

ing.”

Police spokesman Onyeka Orji said the command had launched a manhunt for the kidnappers, and hoped that the girl would be rescued soon.

Orji said: “You know, we don’t play with matters like kidnapping. We have already launched a manhunt for those hoodlums.

“We want to ensure that the innocent little girl is released unhurt. We are not happy about this development.”

Kidnap victim rescued in Delta From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

THERE was excitement in Okpara community, Ethiope East Local Government of Delta State, following the rescue of a kidnap victim by men of the vigilance group and some policemen.

The victim, identified as Mrs. Veronica Obakponovwe, was said to have been abducted on the Warri/ Sapele Road.

Chairman of the vigilance group, Ovoke Uvuara said he was on his way out when he got a call from the victim’s husband, Dr. Peter Obakponovwe, that his wife was kidnapped.

He said: “I alerted other vigilance groups and the deputy commissioner of police. This led to the rescue of the victim at a bush around Odiete village after a gun battle with the hoodlums.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

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ELECTIONS 2011

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

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NEWS Jonathan urged to woo ex-leaders NON-governmental socio-political group, Omoilu Foundation, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to allow those it described as “idle and expired political jobbers” to come between him and his predecessors.

The group, in a statement, advised Jonathan to tap from their rich experience and exposure.

This, it said, is imperative because “irrespective of whatever anybody says, experience cannot be bought, you have to undergo it. You cannot wave aside the experience of people like Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, just to mention a few. That is why people like our own Chief Obasanjo and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar are being sought after internationally. “ In the statement signed by its Vice-Chairman, Alhaji M.B Idris, the group advised Jonathan not to allow anyone to disparage any of his predecessors before him, adding that sooner or later, he would join the class of the nation’s past leaders.

Part of the statement reads: “We call on the President to woo his predecessors and tap from the pool of experience available to him. He is lucky to have around him an array of past leaders as enumerated above. He should make conscious efforts to court them as the nation’s former leaders, beyond their being members of the National Council of State.”

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NPHCDA gives conditions for release of funds to states

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Bomb blast: Canada won’t help Nigeria yet A GAINST the backdrop of incessant bomb attacks in Nigeria, Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Chris Cooter, yesterday said his country has no plan yet to assist Nigeria tackle the security situation in the country.

Cooter, who stated this yesterday while addressing reporters in Benin, Edo State, said bomb attacks in Nigeria was unacceptable.

The High Commissioner advised President Goodluck Jonathan to concentrate on power supply and the education sector.

He hoped that the two areas would solve most of the country’s problems.

Cooter said he was in the state to see how other re-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

gions and states are developing at their own pace adding that Canada will strengthen its relationship with the Nigerian government.

“Nigeria is a federation like Canada. Our activities is not only limited to Lagos and Abuja, we are interested in seeing how each state is developing, “ he said.

His host, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, solicited the cooperation of the Canadian Government in the development of infrastructure, especially in vo-

cational education.

Oshiomhole made the appeal when Cooter at the Government House.

He told his guest that his administration has made some progress in the areas of education, health care delivery and road construction and rehabilitation.

“Even though the government has established a uniform standard in the construction of schools, there are still some schools yet to be renovated in the rural communities, Oshiomhole said.

“We also have a few challenges in the provision of potable water to communi-

ties, erosion control and even security despite the fact that it is the responsibility of the Federal Government.

But we have been able to make some progress in these areas.”

The governor called for the support of the Canadian government to re-equip the Benin Technical College.

He regretted that one of the challenges of the Nigerian educational system is the lack of skill acquisition noting that the revamping of the technical college would help provide training for middle level manpower and make the youths self employed.

Oshiomhole got Cooter’s assurance for Canada’s support in developing the relationship with the state.

HE National Primary Health Care Development Agency has said only the states that have constituted their Primary Health Care board as stipulated in the

National Health Act will be allowed to access the Primary Health Care Development Fund.

Executive Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate said at a two day Primary Health care quarterly review workshop in Zaria that the National Health recently signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan mandated every state to have a Primary Health Care Board.

CAN leaders for anniversary HE annual Founder’s Anniversary of Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide, Lagos District Headquarters, will hold on Sunday, at the church auditorium in Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.

The Primate, Founder and Supreme Head of Motailatu Organisation Worldwide, Archbishop I.M. Akinadewo, assisted by the District Chairman, Superintendent G.F. Akinadewo and the Minister-in-Charge, Special Apostle James Akinadewo, will preside at the event.

Expected are several men of God, including Prophet G.O. Fakeye of the C&S Church Movement; Baba Aladura Niran Aluko of Saviours Ministries C&S Aladura; Superior Evangelist Olaolu Kadiri of Celestial Church of Christ (CCC).

Others are Rev.C.O. Adeyemo, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ojodu Council; Rev.Igbasan, CAN Chairman, Onigbongbo Council and Bishop Taiwo Ajose, CAN Chairman, Ikeja Council.

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•First row: Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (middle), Head of Service Princess Iyabo Odulate (second left), Deputy Governor Prince Segun Adesegun (second right), and Secretary to the State Government Taiwo Adeoluwa, during the weekly Keep-Fit-Exercise at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.... yesterday

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NDLEA foils attempt to export cocaine to London

N attempt by a 36year- old man, Obani Saheed, to export 800 grammes of cocaine to London had been aborted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The development followed the detection of the drugs concealed in the metal handle of his luggage by officials of the anti-drug agency during the outward screening of passengers on an Arik flight to London on Sunday.

The suspect was arrested and transferred to the Airport command’s room for further investigation. Two others were also apprehended.

NDLEA Airport Commander, Alhaji Hamza Umar, who confirmed the arrests, said preliminary checks by the agency showed that Obani last travelled to London in June last year.

•Arrests two others

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

He named of the other two suspects as Kehinde Akinsola Hassan , 42 and Umeh Ogbuefi Sunday, adding that the suspects had given useful information narcotics investigators. “Obani Saheed was arrested based on suspicion by the screening officers at the luggage desk. Our preliminary checks on him shows that he last travelled to London in June last year. Meanwhile, all the suspects have given useful information and we are on top of the situation,” Hamza said.

Chairman of the NDLEA Ahmadu Giade said the activities of drug traffickers shall

be checked. He ordered a full scale investigation of the cases.

He said: “Drug barons must understand that we are prepared to nip their evil plans in the bud. This is a clear warning that they will continue to be arrested and prosecuted.

The cases are currently under investigation.”

Obani, who worked as a caterer at Obalende area of Lagos has two wives and three children. The Epe indigene admitted collecting part payment of 1,000 pounds, saying he was to get the balance upon delivery of the drug in London He said: “I am a caterer. It

was greed that pushed me into drug trafficking. I now understand that it does not pay to get involved in crime”.

Hassan, a printer, resident in Abeokuta, Ogun State, ingested 80 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.295kg and was to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London when he was intercepted. He, attributed his involvement in drug trafficking to financial hardship.

Sunday, the only suspect heading to Washington in the United States, ingested 90 wraps of heroin weighing 1.310kg. He is married with four children and resides at Ajangbadi area of Lagos.

Umeh. An indigene of Anambra State, he said he has no helper and decided to smuggle drugs to make ends meet.

The suspects will soon be charged to court.

Army chief challenges soldiers on discipline, security HIEF of Army Staff, LtGen Azubuike Ihejirika has urged the soldiers to be alert and more responsive to security issues in the country.

The Army chief spoke yesterday in Calabar while on a visit to the army formation in Cross River State. He addressed the officers and men at the 13 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Auim Barracks.

He said it was needful for Nigerian soldiers to be more

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From Kunle Johnson, Calabar

alert and improve on their level of discipline, especially as it concerns security awareness.

The Chief of Army Staff said his advice became imperative in the wake of the recent spate of threats to the internal security of Nigerian state.

He said: “Let me advise that you must be proactive to improve on your present state

of alertness and security awareness for yourselves and those of your wards.

“Because of the nature of evolving challenges, the usual trainees are going to be modified in a number of ways.

These had been worked out and are going to be implemented.

“We want every soldier to concentrate. This is an era where the soldier must use his head. We have got some training packages to ensure that

this new trainings are fully implemented,’’ he said.

He also warned soldiers against engaging in inter service rivalry, saying that any indiscipline within the army would not be condoned.

“To maintain peace, we are assisting the service and assisting the government. I do not want any inter-service rivalry be it between the army and navy, or army and Air Force or Army and the Police or Customs.

11

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Business is recognizing the role it can play in combating climate change.

Thank God, is all I can say, for there is a desperately urgent need for business to play that role. Your lobbying influence can be substantial, but together, united and in large enough numbers it could prove decisive in turning the tide.

–Prince Charles

Nigeria to reduce exports of Agbami crude

Money supply rises at fastest rate, says CBN

By Akinola Ajibade

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M

ONEY supply (M2) rose 11.5 per cent in May, the fastest rate in seven months, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said on its website yesterday.

This indicates a tremedous increase when compared with the provisional data presented at the last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting (in May), which showed that the growth in M2 during the first four months of 2011 was 3.24 per cent, or 9.72 per cent when annualised.

Aggregate credit on the otherhand, had continued to decline largely as a result of reduction in credit to the core private sector, and to state and local governments. Net foreign assets, which posted positive growth in February and March, declined in April 2011.

“The huge growth in credit to government against the backdrop of continuing decline in private sector credit clearly indicates that government borrowing is crowdingout private sector credit. Besides, in the post-crisis period banks in their bid to rebuild their balance sheets have become increasingly risk-averse, and have preferred to channel their funds into the relatively risk-free government sector.

The Committee, therefore, urged that efforts be sustained to de-risk the real economy through appropriate reform measures,” the banking watchdog had said.

The CBN had noted the interbank market rates fluctuated at the various segments since the beginning of the year. Key interbank rates moved in tandem with the upward revision of the monetary policy rate (MPR) to 7.5 per cent from 22nd March, 2011.

Between March 22 and May 13, 2011, the inter-bank call and open buy-back (OBB) rates fluctuated, increasing to a high interbank call rate of 11.95 per cent on April 12, 2011.

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

• From left: Chairman, Royal Exchange Plc, Mr. Kenneth E. Odogwu; Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Group Managing Director, Royal Exchange Plc, Mr. Chike Mokwunye; Director, Royal Exchange Plc, Chief Uwadi Okpa-Obaji and Director, Royal Exchange Plc, Chief Anthony I. Idigbe, SAN, during a visit to the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

NERC annual revenue hits N300b

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HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday said available facts and figures indicate that its annual revenue generation from electricity is between N350 and N400 billion.

As soon as the reform in the energy sector is completed, the commission said it is targeting a revenue of N1.5trillion from the industry in the next four years.

The Commissioner for Market Competition and Rates (MC&R) in NERC, Mr. Eyo Ekpo disclosed these yesterday at a seminar on business opportunities for Information Communication Technology (ICT) and metering professional in the emerging Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) in Abuja.

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

He said the major determinants of the success of the revenue projection are the generation, distribution and transmission segments of the industry such as the metering, billing, payment and power infrastructural developments.

Ekpo, however, added that despite the notable challenges, the industry is witnessing an increasing revenue base .

NERC, said Ekpo, is making efforts to encourage local service providers to take up identified opportunities in the electricity industry to further boost its revenue base as soon as possible.

Besides, he noted that plans are underway for the com-

mission to invest 10 per cent of the N1.5 trillion expected revenue from the industry in acquisition of ICT related infrastructure for the industry.

His words: “Even with the fact that the industry has not favoured the interests of Nigerians for a very long time now, it is generating revenue to the tune of about N350 to N400 billion annually and we project that about N1.5 trillion will be generated annually in the next three to four years by the industry when all pending reforms in the sector are successfully concluded.”

Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi , who explained the essence of the seminar, noted that the Commission has in recognition of the emerging po-

tentials in the outsourcing of services in the industry, decided to introduce the practice of local content in the electricity industry.

He said this was to compel local service providers to take up identified opportunities that exist in the industry, especially, an emerging market for the outsourcing of services. ”Demand for efficient service delivery in the industry will come with the conclusion of reforms in the industry and outsourcing of services will then come to play. We do not want a repetition of what has happened in the oil industry for the electricity sector and so local content will be encouraged in the sector,” he said.

Lafarge acquires more stakes in Ashaka Cement

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AFARGE has acquired additional 8.45 per cent equity stake in Ashaka Cement Plc to increase its majority shareholding from 50.16 per cent to 58.6 per cent.

The cross deal for 189.28 million ordinary shares worth N4.54 billion was struck on Monday. Ashaka Cement has about 2.24 billion ordinary shares with a paid up share capital of N1.12 billion.

Lafarge yesterday confirmed the acquisition, stating that the additional equity stake showed its commitment to Nigeria .

Lafarge Nigeria Country Manager Jean-Christophe Barbant, said the increase of its equity stake confirms the company’s belief in the potential of AshakaCem and reinforces its commitment to the economic development of Nigeria .

He added that Lafarge has

Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

long term interest in the economy and would continuously explore opportunities to increase operations with a view to meeting the cement demand of Nigeria . ”Lafarge will continue investing more time and expertise in further supporting AshakaCem’s leadership in the North of Nigeria,” Barbant said.

He said the foreign core investor would support AshakaCem with the resources to enhance service delivery for customers, increase production volumes to meet the growing demand for cement, deliver additional value for shareholders and further develop the skills of employees.

The acquisition has already received the approval of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange

Commission (SEC) in line with Rule 111 of the Investment Securities Act. As at close of business yesterday, Lafarge WAPCO stood at N47.58 while Ashaka Cement closed at N23.99 per share.

Lafarge places its optimism on the emerging markets, noting that emerging markets will continue to be the main driver of demand and group would benefit from its well-balanced geographic spread of high quality assets.

Lafarge said it continued to see cement demand moving higher and estimates market growth of between 2.0 to 5.0 per cent in 2011 compared with 2010.

The group expects its businesses in developed markets would also continue to recover.

“The Group is positioned for 2011 earnings growth and is on track to achieve more than •2 billion of deleveraging and

•200 million of structural cost savings in 2011,” Lafarge stated.

First quarter report showed that Lafarge sales rose by 9.0 per cent to •3.56 billion while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) stood at •514 million.

Current operating income however dropped by five per cent to •224 million.

The cement group said the first quarter report reflected seasonality, which traditionally leads to lower net results relative to other quarters in the year noting that it has not been indicative of activity for the full year.

Lafarge is the world leader in building materials, with top-ranking positions in all of its businesses including cement, aggregates and concrete and gypsum. With 76,000 employees in 78 countries, Lafarge posted sales of Euros 16.2 billion in 2010.

IGERIA plans to export 7.7 million barrels of Agbami condensate, or light crude, in August, 1.3 percent less than July, a loading schedule obtained by Bloomberg News showed.

Agbami’s shipping programme comprises seven cargoes of 975,000 barrels, one of 500,000 barrels and one of 375,000.

Nigeria will also export one consignment of 700,000 barrels of Abo crude and three 950,000-barrels of Yoho shipments, according to the plan.

It will export 12 cargoes of Qua Iboe, nine Bonny Light, eight Forcados, six Bonga, five Erha, four Brass River, three EA, two Okwori, one Okono and one Antan in August, according to the programmes released on Monday. Cargo sizes range from 300,000 barrels to 1 million barrels.

Schedules of Akpo, Amenam, Escravos, Oso, and Pennnington grades will be released in coming days.

Nigeria plans to ship 77 cargoes totaling 70.2 million barrels, or 2.27 million barrels a day, in July, according to the schedules.

Loading programmes are monthly schedules of crude shipments compiled by field operators to allow buyers and sellers to plan their supply and trading activities.

Obasanjo seeks global action on energy

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ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for partnership among developed and emerging economies to address the energy crisis impeding the growth and development of African nations.

Obasanjo made the call in Vienna, Austria yesterday, at the 2011 Vienna Energy Forum.

He said: “The cause of energy deficiency for domestic and industrial use in Africa is lack of fund.

“If three or more developed and emerging economies in a joint collaborative effort among them and their private sector work seriously together for 10 to 20 years, I strongly believe that the world will achieve a breakthrough in renewable energy,’’ Obasanjo stated.

He said a revolution in renewable energy through cost-sharing and burdensharing among those who could afford the initial cost of research and development was the solution to the problem.

“In Africa, we believe our salvation for adequate energy supply for domestic and industrial use lies in fast and revolutionary development,” he said.

Obasanjo, who observed that energy deficit was a major indicator of poverty, said sources for renewable energy were however, limitless in the continent.

12

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

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

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

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Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1.

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

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

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

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 11.15 13.15 15.50 18.00

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

Editor), Abuja

The apex bank made this clarification yesterday in a revised guidelines for the regulation and supervision of non-interest financial institutions (NIFI).

In a circular number FPR/DIR/ CIR/GEN/01/017, titled “Re: framework for the regulation and supervision of institutions offering non-interest financial services in Nigeria,” the apex bank stated :”This revised guideline includes an amendment in the interpretation of non-interest banking to the extent that the previous guideline could have been interpreted as defining non-interest banking as solely Is-

lamic banking.”

The circular, signed by the CBN’s acting director, financial policy and regulation department Mr. Chris O. Chukwu, clarified :”Islamic banking is not the only type of non-interest banking contemplated under the new banking model, which categorised non-interest banks as part of specialised institutions.

“It recognises that Islamic banking is a form of non-interest banking and that there are other forms of non-interest banking than Islamic banking.”

Consequently, the CBN listed the categorises of non-interest banking and finance to include - the provision of non-interest financial prod-

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

ucts and services based on principles of Islamic commercial jurisprudence and the provision of noninterest financial products and services based on any other established rules and principles.

The amended guideline the CBN said, governs the provision of Islamic financial services. Accordingly, the CBN said it will “issue guidelines governing the provision of non-interest financial services based on established principles other than Islamic finance.”

The circular added that the CBN remains committed to reviewing and evaluating applications for banking licenses for non-interest financial institutions based on other principles.

‘Our operation’s safe from fire’

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12.15 12.45

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From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant

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

1. Dana

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HE Central Bank of Ni geria (CBN) yesterday clarified its stance on Non-Interest Banking, saying it was not only Islamic banks that were contemplated under the new banking model, which categorised Non-Interest Banks (NIBs) as part of specialised institutions.

This clarification stemmed from the outrage by Christians who felt that non-interest banking was the same thing as Islamic banking.

But the banking watchdog said it “recognises that Islamic banking is a form of non-interest banking and that there are other forms of noninterest banking than Islamic banking.”

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40

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

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik

CBN clarifies stance on Non-Interest banking

• From left: Marketing Manager, Lager Nigerian Bottling Plc, Tony Agemonmen; Corporate Affairs Adviser, NB Plc, Yusuf Ageni and the National Under 23 coach, Austin Eguavoin, during the press conference of Gulder 5PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA Aside football season 2 held in Lagos…yesterday.

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China woos ECOWAS with $525m for projects

JOINT delegation of officials of the ECOWAS Commission and some member states, began talks on Monday with Chinese leaders and Public-Private sector actors on ways to strengthen economic and trade relations between the Peoples’ Republic of China, the ECOWAS Commission and its member states.

A statement issued at the ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja yesterday, revealed that an initial $525 million Chinese funding support for projects in Ghana and Sierra Leone is part of the discussions between ECOWAS leaders and senior Chinese officials.

The ECOWAS team at the project finance talks, the statement said, included the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassa-

From Jide Babalola, Assistant Editor, Abuja

dor James Gbeho and other senior officials, as well as representatives of Ghana and Sierra Leone.

The delegation is holding discussions with officials of the China Council for The Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the China-Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce, the Export-Import Bank of China, China Development Bank and China-Africa Development Fund (CADFund), among others.

The meeting between the Joint Delegation and the Export-Import Bank of China, is aimed at “fast tracking” of the funding requests/

loan applications submitted by the governments of Ghana and Sierra Leone, and supported by the ECOWAS Commission to secure funds for the financing of projects that have advanced to the financing stages.

They include the $320 million funding request submitted by the Government of Ghana for the Trans-West African Highway Network, especially the Eastern Corridor, as well as the $100 million and $105 million funding projects submitted by the Government of Sierra Leone, respectively, for the implementation of Phase I of the Makeni-KamakweiFintonia-Guinea Border road and the construction of a new Terminal Complex, a Presidential Lounge and related infrastructure at Sierra Leone’s Lungi Airport.

Micro Satellite for launch in July, says NSRDA HE National Space Research loans from the bank. The satelboss and Development Agency lite will be able to provide ad-

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(NSRDA) is to launch a micro-satellite into space in July, the Director-General, Dr. Seidu Oneila Mohammed, has said.

Mohammed said the move would give the government an opportunity to map the whole country and protect the health of our environment, adding that it would be a major tool for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS).

He spoke at the Engr. Charles Mbanefo Distinguished Lecture tagged, ‘The Role of Advanced MicroManufacturing Technology for Space Applications,’ organised by the Abuja branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in collaboration with the Center for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD)

From Tayo Owolabi, Abuja

yesterday.

He said: “The government gave a challenge to engineers to build a micro satellite and we are proud to say that we have designed a micro-satellite and we are going to be launching it into space in three weeks time. We built it in the UK because we don’t have the facilities to build in Nigeria.

“Certainly this satellite will be a major tool for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. It will give us an opportunity to map the whole country and protect the health of our environment. From here, we can do carbon auditing and in the area of agriculture, it will enable farmers to have land titles and this will ease securing of

equate information to tackle issues in health delivery services, security and other areas of development.”

On the disappearance of the NIGMOST satellite 1 from orbit, the Director of CSTD, Dr. Spencer Onuh, said: “It was not a failure. It was our first experience.

We have learnt our lessons and before the end of the year, there would be a replacement. We are not paying anything for the replacement because insurance already covers that.”

He stated that there are challenges confronting the center which include, lack of equipment to work with and facilities like assembly and integration center, among others.

ANAGING director/Chief Executive Officer of Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc, Mr Yinka Bolarinwa has assured the insuring public that the fire incident at the company’s head office last Saturday had no effect on the company’s operations.

A statement signed by the company’s Head of Corporate Strategy and Communication, Mr. Mayokun Ireigbe, noted that the fire at the company’s basement caused by power surge around 2:30am last Saturday was put off with the assistance of the fire services of the Federal Fire Service, Lagos Fire Service, Nigeria Ports Authority, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. The CEO stressed that the fire only got to the company’s archives and damaged some of the old files, which are now being rectified through the official back-up of the company.

Nevertheless, he said the operation of the company is not affected in anyway and that the company is fully open for business as usual.

He thanked all that helped in curtailing the spread of the fire and said this show of support for the company is very emotional and promised that the company will not disappoint them in discharging its duties.

Oceanic Bank ATMs accept Mastercard

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CEANIC Bank has said its ATMs can accept Euromoney MasterCard and Visa at all its Points of Service terminals. It said in a statement that by the development, all foreign and local cardholders in Nigeria can now take advantage of the bank’s ATM Network for their daily transactions such as cash withdrawals, bill payments, mobile recharge and other non financial transaction.

The bank, said its ATM network is available to all card holders, including those without existing account relationships with Oceanic Bank.

“The beauty of the EuroMoney Master Card and VisaE(MV) platform, is that any Chip, PIN card, foreign or local, can conveniently access their bank accounts on EMVcompliant ATMs like those of Oceanic Bank.”

It added: “ A bank customer from the UK can conveniently withdraw the Naira equivalent of funds in his foreign bank account from any of Oceanic ATMs in Nigeria. Similarly, any other local bank customer can use his Visa Card and MasterCard/Verve Combo to withdraw cash from an Oceanic ATM,” This development, the bank stated, has assisted the e-payment sector to restore customer confidence and promote the associated benefits of embracing alternatives to cash transactions in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

13

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

14

ISSUES

Will NITEL ever be sold?

In the past 10 years, the government has tried to sell the Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) all to no avail. The transaction has always been collapsing. Now another attempt is being made to sell the First National Carrier, but its preferred bidder has lost out to the reserved bidder.

How will this exercise end?

ADLINE ATILI asks.

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ROM about 400,000 fixed lines before the coming of the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), when it controlled a sizeable percentage of the country’s telephony market, NITEL (Nigeria Telecommunications Limited) has been enmeshed in sale controversies that have adversely affected its fortunes.

When it was split into terrestrial (NITEL) and GSM (MTEL) components, it was for it to be viable and increase coverage of network further across the nation’s cities and towns.

The GSM system then was plagued by myriad of difficulties ranging from interconnectivity (to other GSM networks), corruption and mismanagement.

All efforts to revive NITEL through privatisation have failed so far, provoking debate that the firm is jinxed. The latest

• NITEL building

sale also appears to be following the same trend. But there appears to be a little hope as the reserved bidder, Omen International Consortium, is said to have paid $150 million into the escrow account of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in its first step towards acquiring NITEL. BPE may have invited Omen following the failure of the preferred bidder, New Generation Telecommunications Consortium, to pay the bid price before the expiration of the deadline for doing so.

The New Generation Consortium emerged the preferred bidder in February, last year, during the opening of financial bids in Abuja.

According to BPE, the firm must pay a bid security of $750 million not later than 10 days after the issuance of the demand letter.

The $1.750 billion balanced, will be paid not later than 60 days after or the transaction becomes invalid.

For close to a decade, the sale of

THE FAILED BIDS YEAR

FIRM

PRICE

2001

Investors International London Limited (IILL)

$1.317b

2005

Orascom

$256.5m

2005

Transcorp

$500m

2010

New Generation Consortium

$2.5b

2010

Omen International

$956m

NITEL and its subsidiary, MTEL, has remained a puzzle.

In 2001, during the first attempt at privatising it, Investors International London Limited (IILL)

emerged the preferred bidder with an offer of $1.317 billion for 51 per cent equity in the company.

The exercise ended in disaster after the firm failed to meet the pay-

ment commitment for the bid and it lost its deposit.

In 2003, the government tried to use strategic investor sale through a management contract with another European firm, Pentascope. This also failed.

Another attempt saw Orascom of Egypt emerging highest bidder with a $256.5 million offer.

But the Federal Government felt the offer was too low for a 51 per cent stake in the company.

The transaction failed yet again.

Industry watchers then blamed NITEL’s predicament on the Federal Government and the BPE’s sale of the company to Transnational Corporation (Transcorp).

They said the government did not follow due process in NITEL’s sale, alleging that the firm was sold to Transcorp for selfish reasons.

• Continued on page 15

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

15

ISSUES

Will NITEL ever be sold?

• Continued from page 14

Senior Analyst, Informa Telecoms and Media, Thecla Mbongue, at a conference in Lagos, blamed the stunted growth of traditional fixed broadband on NITEL’s woes, which she said led to the predominance of fixed wireless, while hampering fixed broadband growth.

Before the sale to Transcorp, MTEL GSM lines (The 0804 number series) were in existence and were gradually being embraced by subscribers alongside the 0802 and 0803 belonging to Airtel and MTN. By 2005, NITEL had nearly a million active subscribers on its GSM network.

Subscribers recalled that 0804 had the cheapest tariffs in the country then, especially for international calls. They said if not for its illfated sale to Transcorp, NITEL would have been in the league of networks with very large subscriber base in the country.

They argued that if MTEL were on board, teledensity may have increased and the telecommunications market would have been better for it.

When the going was good, NITEL/MTEL was credited with a lot of ‘firsts.’

Aside from being the First National Operator, the Telco introduced the first lowest-priced GSM recharge card; the MTEL Multicard—an everyday lowspending initiative —which was sold for N250, at a time when recharge cards could only be afforded by a few.

It was also the first to introduce a product that enabled subscribers ‘transfer credit’ to other MTEL users named Share the Talk.

Share the Talk arguably paved the way for other ‘credit transfer’ initiatives by the other operators. We now have Dash me credit, Share and Sell and so on.

It was also the first to acquire the Mobile Base Transceiver Station (MBTS) to complement the existing traditional base stations. The MBTS is a base station on wheels which can be mobilised to locations of urgent needs.

When the IILL deal was revoked in 2006, another sale process began with the pre-qualification of three companies: Transnational Corporation Limited (Transcorp) Nigeria, Telkom (South Africa) and Etisalat (United Arab Emirate).

Transcorp was eventually selected as preferred bidder. The company, with technical agreement with British Telecom, promised to inject N8.9 billion into NITEL and N6.3 billion into MTEL. But barely six months after, things were not moving smoothly anymore. British Telecom disengaged because NITEL was unable to fund the organisation as agreed. The •1 billion to be sourced by Transcorp from the European Union Development Council, to revive the company as promised was not forthcoming.

This had dire consequence for the company’s operations. Staff salaries could not be paid regularly, technical equipment became difficult to maintain. Eventually, subscriber base dropped.

According to NITEL workers, the firm’s connected lines were 400,000 before the take-over by Transcorp.

These later dropped to less than 100,000. They added that the 250,000 Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) lines that were at 90 per cent completion before the takeover were abandoned.

In a letter to the Human Rights Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), made available to The Nation, the workers attributed the company’s problem to bad management of its privatisation process.

They explained that during the first attempt to sell the company to IILL, NITEL had over 10,000 employees, 500,000 functional lines and generated income in excess of N53 billion, before the deal with Pentascope made it incur a debt of over N40 billion.

The deal which they described as “criminal,” was later revoked and Transcorp took over in 2006.

Transcorp, they alleged, failed to keep its promise of injecting $500 million into the company, a situation that led to the gradual destruction of all that the company stood for.

According to them, NITEL’s connected lines were 400,000 before the take-over by Transcorp. These dropped to less than 100,000, adding that the 250,000 CDMA lines that were at 90 per cent completion before the take-over have been abandoned.

In 2009, the government revoked the sale of NITEL to Transcorp, citing the core investor’s inability to transform the firm as well as nonadherence to the terms of the Share Sale Purchase Agreement (SSPA).

After the revocation of Transcorp equity stake in the company, fresh bids were called for and New Generation Telecommunications Consortium emerged preferred bidder.

But the acceptance of New Generation Consortium’s bid came with its own controversies. Fourteen prospective investors, including New Generation Consortium were said to have met the deadline for the submission of technical and financial proposals to BPE. Of the 14, five were later prequalified to stand for the bid. These included New Generation Telecommunications Consortium, with an offer of $2.5 billion for 75 per cent equity in NITEL; Omen International emerged reserved bidder, with $956 million offer.

Though advertisement for expressions of interest from investors for the acquisition of and controlling shares in NITEL was published locally and internationally last year, controversies still trailed the emergence of the preferred bidder.

After the emergence of the preferred bidder, there were reports that the bid process was manipulated and that due process was not followed in the transaction.

There were reports that China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited, which was named as technical part-

• DG, BPE, Bolanle Onagoruwa

ners for the preferred bidder during the bid had a relationship with the consortium which contradicted the terms of the bid.

China Unicom denied the claims.

It said it had not begun any negotiations with the relevant parties, with respect to any substantive and legally binding agreements and had not participated in any direct discussions or negotiations with any relevant parties involved.

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP), however, recommended that the bid be approved and that the preferred bidder be issued with a confirmation letter. According to NCP, the transactions followed a very transparent bid process in accordance with international best practices and standards.

But the entire bid process was cancelled last week.

After New Generation Consortium failed to meet up with payments on its winning bid last year, BPE invited Omen International to revalidate its bid bond in March.

Omen had bid $956 million for the company in February 2010; New Generation’s was $2.5 billion offer.

Omen had asked for an extension until June 10, which the BPE further extended till June 15, after which it cancelled the bid following the company’s failure to pay the $105 million down payment. ..

“Following the inability of Omen International Consortium … to revalidate its bid bond of $105 million at the deadline of June 10, the BPE has terminated the privatisation of the telecoms utility which began in 2009,” BPE said in a statement.

BPE spokesperson Chukwuma Nwokoh added: “The bureau is exploring various options to consummate the sale of the telecom-

• Adebayo

munications company.”

He said the options “included amongst others, liquidation and negotiated sale,” but that “the Federal Government had not yet taken a decision as to which of the options to pursue.”

Chief Executive Officer of Pinet Informatics Mr Lanre Ajayi believes the time lag that existed before the reserved bidders were invited to revalidate their bids may have made the offer become unattractive to them.

He said: “The extensive time lag that existed before the reserved bidders were invited to make commitment may have caused some problems for them, remembering that the amount quoted by the reserved bidder was the value they placed on NITEL at the time of submitting their quotes.

“When there is extensive delay before they are invited to revalidate their bids, the price quoted which they are not allowed to alter may not make the deal attractive again, because the value of NITEL is being eroded daily due to intensive competition in the market and lowering of Average Revenue Per User (ARPU).”

President of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Mr Gbenga Adebayo, however, thinks NITEL is too ‘heavy’ for one buyer. He recommended breaking it up into components and selling it in bits.

Adebayo added that government should create more incentives to motivate investors, in the face of the harsh operating environment.

He said: “NITEL is too heavy for one buyer. Government needs to break it down into components and then sell it. The current price is too high considering the challenges in the Nigerian telecoms

‘Without incentives or assistance from the government to attract investors, it might be difficult to find investors who will invest in terrestrial network infrastructure which we require as an industry. This is because to enable high speed Internet access across the country, last mile is important which requires fibre or copper infrastructure’

terrain.

“If NITEL was sold at that price years ago, maybe it would have been bought. But in today’s market, the price is unrealistic. Government should be more realistic in pricing considering that the capital outlay required to build terrestrial network is heavy.

“Incentives are also necessary.

All over the world, government provides incentives to motivate fixed line operators because of the huge capital outlay and the length of time for Return on Investment, unlike mobile.

“Without incentives or assistance from the government to attract investors, it might be difficult to find investors who will invest in terrestrial network infrastructure which we require as an industry.

This is because to enable high speed Internet access across the country, last mile is important which requires fibre or copper infrastructure.”

An industry boss who does not want his name disclosed, however, holds an opposing view. To him, the amount the Federal Government is asking for the ailing Telco is fair, adding that NITEL cannot be broken down into components because it is a First National Operator.

He said: “NITEL cannot be broken down into components because it is a First National Operator; owning a licence, and not a pack of licences. A First National Operator cannot be broken down. What does it mean to be a national operator? It means that apart from the fact that it is a ‘carrier,’ it also provides subscribers services.

“You cannot separate such licence without going through another process first. That licence is worth $2 billion, I have said it before.

People are looking at NITEL as if it’s a transmitter here, building there, computer here. That is not the NITEL we are talking about here.

“The NITEL we are talking about here is the value of the licence the Telco is holding. It’s a First National Operator licence which I have valued for about $2 billion; to now turn around and say $500 million is too expensive is ludicrous.

“Licences are not valued the way buildings are. Ten years ago if I am asked to value NITEL, I’ll take into consideration the licence it holds, rights of way and other facilities.

“Did you know there are some ducts dug by NITEL some 20, 30 years ago? They cost a lot of money.

You can put fibre there now; you wouldn’t need to dig ducts again.

People are not looking at those things; they are only looking at the physical things they can see.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

16

MONEY

Banks to spend N8.5b on cash handling, says CBN

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HE banks will spend N8.5 billion in handling cash this year, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said.

As the volume and value of currency-in-circulation (CIC) grows, the cost of cash management will also grow, CBN said.

Speaking during a cash management seminar in Lagos, CBN Director, Currency Operations Department, Muhammad Nda, said direct cost of cash to the entire financial system is estimated to reach N192 billion in 2012. He explained that being a cash-based economy with retail and commercial payments primarily made in cash, the cash transactions represent over 99 per cent of customer activity in banks.

CBN statistics showed that about 86 per cent of in-branch bank cash withdrawals are less than N100,000 in value, while less than 10 per cent of transactions are more than N100,000. But only 10 per cent of branch cash transactions are above N150, 000, but make up 86 per cent of the volume of cash handled.

Nda, said there is need to reduce cost of banks’ operation by at least 30 per cent and reducing high cost of cash management is a viable means of achieving that.

He explained that in the wake of the banking industry intervention, analysis indicated that the high cost structure of the banks was partially responsible for their preference for lending to the capital mar-

By Collins Nweze ket and oil and gas industry which led to asset bubbles Embedded within lending rates and cost of banking services are operating expenses arising from inefficiencies in the provision of banking services. This, he said, prompted the Bankers Committee in conjunction with the CBN to commission a study which identified cost drivers in the industry and the possibility of achieving 30 per cent cost reduction with the attendant positive impact on lending rates and bank charges.

“On average, 30 per cent of branch physical space and employees are deployed to cash logistics, handling and storage. Cost of banking services to customers includes the appropriation of this cost of cash and related expenses,” he said.

According to him, the N150,000 maximum daily cash withdrawal policy of the CBN was not meant to place limit on cash transactions, but provide that the 10 per cent of customers that make high volume cash transactions will bear the associated cost.

He said the policy has a direct impact on banking industry efficiency and cost structure. For instance, it will reduce the cost of cash to the financial system; will result in significant savings that can be passed on to customers in form of reduced cost of banking services and lower lending rates to bor-

• CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi

rowers.

Nda, said the Bankers Committee has also agreed to an aggressive deployment of Point of Sale (PoS) Terminals. “Agreement reached with telecommunication networks to provide dedicated channels for POS transaction data Non-acceptance of cards over POS due to interoperability impediments by service providers has been out-ruled with strict compliance, he said.

He said in the wake of the banking industry intervention, analysis indicated that the high cost structure of the banks was partially responsible for their preference for lending to the capital market and oil and gas industry which led to asset bubbles Embedded within lending rates and cost of banking services are operating expenses arising from inefficiencies in the provision of banking services.

This, he said, prompted the Bankers Committee in conjunction with the CBN to commission a study which identified cost drivers in the industry and the possibility of achieving 30 per cent cost reduction with the attendant positive impact on lending rates and bank charges.

According to him, Five Cost Reduction/Shared Service Initiatives were identified and included cash management services, retail payment systems, Information Technology Infrastructure Services and back office operations.

“On average, 30 per cent of branch physical space and employees are deployed to cash logistics, handling and storage. Cost of banking services to customers includes the appropriation of this cost of cash and related expenses,” he said.

According to him, the N150,000

maximum daily cash withdrawal policy of the CBN was not meant to place limit on cash transactions, but provide that the 10 per cent of customers that make high volume cash transactions will bear the associated cost.

He said the policy has a direct impact on banking industry efficiency and cost structure. For instance, it will reduce the cost of cash to the financial system; will result in significant savings that can be passed on to customers in form of reduced cost of banking services and lower lending rates to borrowers.

Meanwhile, in order to drive down the cost of cash operations and engender healthy competition among DMBs, CBN is promoting the use of shared facilities. The process will be private sector-driven to enhance the efficiency and costeffectiveness of currency management, among others.

The apex bank has also commenced the process of registration of companies providing cash-intransit and currency sorting in Nigeria. In addition to enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of currency management, the policy is aimed at facilitating the generation of fit notes for payment and ensures product quality, integrity and standardisation.

Bank of America weighs sale of $21b stake

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ANK of America Corporation (BAC) may sell part of its $21 billion stake in China Construction Bank (CCB) to bolster capital before new international standards take effect, that people briefed on the plans.

Bank of America may try to retain about half its CCB shares because it intends to remain a strategic investor in the Chinese bank, said two of the people, who declined to be identified because the plans are private. The sale may take place later this year, they said.

Selling the shares could help Bank of America raise capital to comply with tougher minimums that may be imposed by regulators as they try to prevent a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis.

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision is considering plans that may include a surcharge on the largest lenders, people briefed on those talks have said. “The real issue for Bank of America that will start to engender confidence is some of the big capital-raising transactions planned for the second half of the year, like selling off China Construction Bank,” said Charles Peabody, an analyst at Portales Partners LLC. Bank of America may try to sell the whole stake and raise $10 billion in regulatory capital, said Peabody, who has a “buy” recommendation on the company.

Bank of America owned 25.6 billion shares of CCB valued at $21 billion as of March 31, the Charlotte, North Carolina-based lender said in a May regulatory filing. The stake equals about 10.6 percent of CCB, according to Bloomberg data.

A lockup period, in which Bank of America is prohibited from selling most of its shares in Beijing-based CCB, expires in August.

“It’s a strategic relationship and it will continue to be one for a long time,” said Larry DiRita, a spokesman for the U.S. bank. Yu Baoyue, a spokesman for CCB, declined to comment.

Bank of America has been selling assets including its Balboa in-

surance unit, First Republic Bank and BlackRock Inc. to boost capital and focus on core clients. The firm can build capital through earnings and doesn’t need to issue stock, Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan, 51, said last week. Capital surcharges on the largest banks may crimp lending and drive off investors from financial firms, he said.

China Construction Bank, the world’s second-biggest lender by market value, had annual profit growth of 33 percent since 2007 and is forecast to increase net income by 23 percent this year to $25.6 billion. Bank of America was the second-biggest shareholder in CCB at year-end, trailing only the Chinese government’s 59 percent stake, according to Bloomberg data.

Temasek Holdings Pte is the thirdlargest investor with a 7 percent stake.

• L-R: Regional Head, Standard Chartered OCC Africa Stephen Priestley; Vice Chairman, Standard Chartered Capital Markets Ann Grant; Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, AfDB Dr. Nkosana Moyo; CEO Standard Chartered South Africa Ebby Essoka, and Global Head, Development Organisations, Standard Chartered Bank, Vibhuti Sharma, at the AfDB annual meeting in Lisbon, Portugal.

‘Why banks’ savings rate is low’ T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said interest rates on customers’ deposits are shrinking because banks take into consideration their running and overhead costs.

Head, Financial Policy Regulation, CBN, Chris Chukwu, said at the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) International Education conference in Lagos that CBN has discussed the issue with bank operators. He added that the bankers often complained of inadequate infrastructure such as power which increases their high over-heads.

He also identified competition among the operators as another issue responsible for the low interest paid to depositors, saying that it would be difficult for banks which operate in the same harsh environment to pay high rates on deposits.

He said: “The CBN at the Bankers Committee Meetings engaged

By Chuks Udo Okonta the banks on issues on interest rate, but the bankers would always complain of inadequate infrastructure which increases their over-heads. For instance every bank branch has a generator to power its operation in the absence of power from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

This indeed affects the operations of banks.

“More so, I have observed that in some streets across the nation, banks are sited close to each other, and they all have almost the same challenges, this also affects them as they have to compete for business. When the issue of infrastructure is address, banks’ operations would improve.”

He noted that individuals are denied loans due to insufficient collateral.

“According to the World Bank, the primary reason why individu-

als do not apply for or are denied loans is insufficient collateral, which is the result of both an inefficient registration system for moveable assets and lack of adequate documentation for ownership claims. In fact, collateral requirements in Africa are extremely high in comparison with other regions. According to the Africa Competitiveness Report 2009, it is the second highest in the world at 137 per cent of the value of the loan,” he added.

Meanwhile, Nigerian interbank rates were broadly flat at an average of 12.5 per cent this week as banks anticipate the distribution of May budgetary allocations to the three tiers of government next week. Nigeria, distributes revenues from oil sales and taxes among its three levels of government each month, part of which comes to the banking system and helps lenders fund their operations.

The secured Open Buy Back (OBB) closed flat at 10 per cent, 200 basis points above the central bank’s benchmark rate and 4.0 percentage points over the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate.

Overnight placement and call money were unchanged at 13.50 per cent and 14 percent respectively.

“We had expected that a portion of the budget allocation would have been posted by now and help boost liquidity, but so far the money is yet to be released,” one trader said.

The indicative rates for the Nigeria interbank offered rate (NIBOR) rose with seven-day funds, rising to 13.95 per cent from 13.54 per cent last week. The 30day funds climbed to 14.42 per cent from 14.0 percent, the 60-day closed at 14.79 per cent against 14.41 per cent, while the 90-day inched higher to 15.07 per cent from 14.87 per cent.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

17

MONEY

Amendment of tax policies in Africa coming P

RESIDENTS of Professional Taxation Institutes, Heads Revenue Agencies and Executives of the newly inaugurated West African Union of Tax Institutes have agreed to adopt a uniform tax policy that would be investor friendly within the African continent.

The President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), John Jegede, said the newly formed body of African Tax Institutes is meant to kick start the processes that would lead to the formation of a united tax institute for Africa.

He said given the efforts made in the past by various tax institutes towards advancing the taxation profession in their respective jurisdictions, the step would help in identifying challenges within the industry.

“It becomes expedient therefore

Stories by Collins Nweze for us to evolve a platform by which member institutes could harness the experiences and gains garnered in the course of executing the dictates of our rules and regulations, charter or law so that Africa, through a unified body can work together for common purpose,” he said.

He said the association will devise strategies to encourage countries that do not have professional tax bodies to establish one so that the potential gains of such could spread throughout the continent.

The Cote D’ Ivore representative, Traore Bakari, said there is need for all the countires in Africa to work together to promote policies that will help them harmonise tax system to benefit investors. He said that the Africa tax policy needs per-

manent amendment.

Past President of CITN, Kunle Quadri said the first issue to be addressed will bbe to have a professionalised tax body in Africa. This, he said will help to drive the benefits of prompt tax payment among citizens of the continent, especially when the benefits of such actions becomes more visible.

Quadri had earlier said that Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation with great potentials. The country offers a low cost labour pool, abundant natural resources, and the largest domestic market in Sub-Sahara Africa. These are perhaps the advantages the country has over its counterparts within the region. With these credentials at hand, Nigeria should be the haven of investors desiring to operate with the aim of building profit over time.

He said that the 1999 Constitu-

tion of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that the National Assembly is the competent authority for levying of taxes in the country. The National Assembly is however empowered to delegate the collection of any tax to states which may in turn delegate to the local governments.

“It is pertinent to mention that while the Federal Government has retained to itself the exclusive authority over the direct taxation of incorporated organisations, the state government is responsible for the taxation of individuals and the local governments to levy and collect local rates. However, the State governments do not have powers to bring into existence legislations that are at variance with the provisions of the Personal Income Tax Act, 1993,” he said.

He explained that the increasing cost of running government coupled with dwindling revenue has left various state governments in the country with formulating strategies to improve their revenue base. More so, the near collapse of the nation’s economy has created serious financial stress for all tiers of government.

The need for states and local governments to generate adequate revenue from internal sources has therefore become a matter of extreme urgency and importance.

This need underscores the eagerness on the part of state and local governments and even the federal government to look for new sources of revenue or to become aggressive and innovative in the mode of collecting revenue from existing sources.

BPP harps on due process in use of public funds

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• From left: Marketing Director for Africa, Moneygram, Sabine Bauchau; Group Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe; Vice President for France/Benelux and Africa, Moneygram, Guillaume Dewael and Regional Director for Anglophone West Africa, Moneygram, Feyi Adebayo at the agreement signing ceremony on Money Transfer between Access Bank and Moneygram International in Lagos.

Deloitte carpets banks on compliance with IFRS

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ELOITTE Akintola Will iams has said banks’ com pliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) needs to be strengthened.

Speaking during a media parley in Lagos, Partner IFRS Services, Deloitte Oduware Uwadiae said banks needed to speed up their compliance level to achieve the January 2012 deadline.

He said the level of compliance as regards international Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), in the country so far is encouraging especially for the regulated industries, but for non regulated industries, it is a bit low, as some complain that it is expensive. On our part we are doing our best to ensure that no one is left behind, because we believe that it is important that everyones is business is carried along.

Deloitte also urged businesses in the country to always ensure that they come out with a true picture of their financial disclosures. They said this would go a long way in enhancing the quality and value of their businesses.

Speaking during the media chart , a management staff of the firm, Joseph Olofinsola said Deloitte is a leader as long as IFRS is concerned. “We started it , because we realised the importance, and

the enormous benefits and value, it could add to businesses and the economy as a whole, that was why, we were quick to launch an academy, at that time we realised that most businesses were not strong for it, so we supported them in giving them the necessary tools that will help them,” he said.

According to Olofinsola , transparency is important for every business all over as it enables investors, creditors, and market participants to evaluate the financial condition of an entity. In addition to helping investors make better decisions, transparency increases confidence in the fairness of the markets.

Further, transparency is impor-

tant to corporate governance because it enables boards of directors to evaluate management’s effectiveness and to take early corrective actions, when necessary, to address deterioration in the financial condition of companies. Therefore, it is critical that all public companies provide an understandable, comprehensive and reliable portrayal of their financial condition and performance.

He went on to say,’’ if the information in financial reports is transparent, then investors and other users of the information are less likely to be surprised by unknown transactions or events. Investors and creditors expect clear, reliable, consistent, comparable, and transparent reporting of events.

HE Bureau of Public Procure ment (BPP) has highlighted the need for government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and all arms of government to dispose public properties in line with Section 55 and 56 of the Public Procurement Act. Director-General of BPP, Engr.

Emeka Ezeh who monitored the disposal through public tender of unserviceable properties including cars and a power generator at the BPP premises, emphasised the need to comply with due process in the interest of transparency, probity and the judicious use of public funds.

The BPP had placed for sale four vehicles and a power generator purchased under the World Bank Economic Reform and Governance Project (ERGP), in line with the Sections of the Act which reiterates need for transparency and accountability in accordance with Due Process.

Engr. Ezeh told bidders that the bureau as custodians of the procurement law has to live by example in the course of the exercise in strict compliance with the law since “we cannot afford to do any less’’.

He warned all MDAs and all arms of government to strictly follow the provisions of the Act as they dispose their unserviceable properties.

Speaking after the bid opening, one of the winners, Hon. Agboola Ajayi who won the only power generator put up for sale, commended the BPP for making the bid transparent. The legislator speaking through his media assistant, Mr. Samuel Ogunmusi, said they are “very impressed with the way the exercise went, and the way the Director General ensured everything went well. We recommend that other agencies should emulate the BPP’’.

T

Anglo American Plc (AGL) and AngloGold Ashanti Limited, the continent’s biggest producer of the metal, said Patrice Rassou, who helps manage about 330 billion rand ($48.6 billion), including AngloGold and Anglo American shares, at Cape Town’s Sanlam Investment Management.

South Africa has the world’s biggest deposits of platinum, chrome and manganese. Standard Bank is Africa’s largest lender, while First National is owned by Firstrand Limited (FSR) Barclays Bank Plc holds a stake in Absa Group Ltd. “I expect the financial markets to counter track the rise and fall of Julius Malema’s political fortunes,” Nic Borain, an independent political consultant, who advises companies including London-based Religare Capital Markets Limited, said on June 17. “The financial markets are deeply concerned about nationalisation.”

Standard Bank, others may be nationalised

HERE have been calls for the nationalisation of banks including Standard Bank Group Limited, Nedbank Limited and First National Bank (FNB) to help fund a state takeover of the country’s mines.

Julius Malema, youth leader of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress, called said the group’s demands to nationalise the country’s mines could not be met unless banks came under state control and provided funding.

“We must fight to control FNB, Standard Bank, Nedbank. Without these banks nationalisation will not succeed. If you do not nationalise the financial sector, the financial sector will hold back resources,” he said.

Under Malema, the Youth League has called for the nationalization of mines, banks and land to combat youth unemployment, poverty and inequality in Africa’s biggest economy. Their drive has helped depress shares in companies such as

US sixth largest bank pays $3.6b for Canadian bank

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NC Financial Services Group Inc. (PNC), the sixth-largest United States bank by deposits, agreed to pay $3.62 billion in cash and stock for Royal Bank of Canada ’s retail banking unit and credit-card assets.

PNC has the option to pay as much as $1 billion of the purchase price in stock, Pittsburgh-based PNC said in a statement. The deal is expected to add to PNC’s earn-

ings by the end of 2013 or sooner depending on how much of the transaction is paid in stock.

The acquisition will help PNC expand its retail business beyond a foothold in Florida. The RBC Bank unit, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, has more than 420 branches in six states across the region. The bank said the deal will result in a C$1.6 billion ($1.6 billion) loss this quarter, which includes a goodwill

write-off of C$1.3 billion.

“The addition of RBC Bank provides PNC a great opportunity to enter attractive Southeast markets in a way that will create value for our shareholders,” PNC Chief Executive Officer Jim Rohr, 62, said in the statement. PNC has retail operations in 15 states and Washington, D.C., including more than 2,500 branches, according to the bank’s website.

The firm acquired National City Corp. in 2009 for about $3.9 billion in stock.

“There’s an appetite for acquisitions given their capitalization and the lack of organic loan growth,” Tom Lewandowski, an analyst at Edward Jones & Co. in St. Louis, said of PNC in a June 17 interview.

“They’re looking to go out there and purchase that loan growth.”

18

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

THE NATION WEDNESDAY ,JUNE 22, 2011

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Police Headquarters’ bombing Our casual approach to this enigma will not work NDEED, Nigeria is going through a turbulent period. Last week’s bombing of national headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, Abuja, is a confirmation of this reality. That incident marked another anti-climax in a recurring decimal of bombings. What a sad thing that it caught the security agencies napping. We never mull over the fact that the headquarters of the entire Police Force housing its top brass offices can be easily vulnerable to such miscreant attacks.

The explosion is a national embarrassing strike at the very heart of the country’s security establishment. That the blast occurred within the sprawling premises of Louis Edet building, setting dozens of cars in its vast parking lot ablaze patently underscores the porous security lapses in the nation.

According to reports, the Mercedes Benz car harbouring the instrument of destruction came into the Force compound undetected with the convoy of Hafiz Ringim, the Inspector General of Police; but it was directed to the car park where the blast occurred. Olusola Amore, Police spokesman, attributed the incident to a suspected “group that goes by the name Boko Haram that have (sic) been issuing threats upon threats for which the police are rising up to that challenge.’’ Unfortunately the police failed to rise up to the last blitz of the group.

In the end, 33 cars were reportedly damaged beyond repairs while 40 got partially damaged by the explosion. Six

I

persons including the suspected suicide bomber and a traffic warden reportedly died from the bang.

We consider it inexcusable that the national headquarters of the police could fall so cheaply to the plot of this unscrupulous group called Boko Haram. After all, the group has been targeting security personnel, especially police stations in Borno State since last year. Just last week after Mr. Ringim promised to decisively deal with the group by sending more troops and equipment to the north, the group reportedly boycotted a peace parley with government officials. It subsequently threatened to widen the scope of its attacks to “all the northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja)”, using Jihadists (warriors)”.

Boko Haram also claimed responsibility for the series of bombings in Bauchi, Zaria and Zuba (near Abuja) hours after President Goodluck Jonathan was inaugurated president on 29 May. All these should have put the police authorities and other security agencies on red alert so as to effectively ward off all incendiary activities of the group in high risk zones across the federation. If the police headquarters of the federation is not safe, it will be difficult to pontificate that anywhere is safe in the country. If Louis Edet that is just outside the Three Arms Zone, a precinct of the Presidential Villa, National Assembly and Supreme Court can be bombed, nowhere is then safe from the prying eyes of the rampaging Boko Haram.

Something drastic has to be done

quickly to stem the ugly tide of Boko Haram. This is because the astronomical rising profile of its bombings casts serious aspersion on the country’s intelligence network. President Goodluck Jonathan should henceforth take the security and welfare of Nigerians very seriously. So far, nothing has shown any meaningful step in that direction.

No external aid can better help him in solving this enigma than the President’s will power and creative commitment to nipping it in the bud. Nigerians should not take rhetorical affirmations regarding government’s intention to bring the culprits to books. Those behind this heinous act are not ghost but human beings goaded by yet-to-be unravelled powerful rich elements in the society.

We demand that all those unscrupulous elements and their destructive agents to be enemies of Nigeria and as such must be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

‘Something drastic has to be done quickly to stem the ugly tide of Boko Haram. This is because the astronomical rising profile of its bombings casts serious aspersion on the country’s intelligence network’

JAMB’s scores • Despite Saturday’s hiccups, the board gets pass mark

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OR the over 1.4 million youths who wrote last Saturday’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), it must have come off as a mixed grill of sorts. Apart from the tragic accident which claimed the lives of five of the applicants along the Ahoada-Abua road in Rivers State, there were reports of logistic hiccups trailing the exercise across the board.

Most notable were the reports of late arrival of the biometric machines which the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) had introduced to forestall examination malpractices. In Abuja in particular, the body had to dispense with the use of biometric machines in favour of manual verification of the candidates due to late arrival of the device.

There were other challenges too.

There were cases of students whose names could not be found on the lists in the designated centres; others who

‘Our expectation from JAMB at this time is for the board to go back to the drawing board to identify areas of its strengths and weaknesses to enable it reposition itself to do a better job next time’

could not be admitted into the examination halls because they presented fake e-slips – luckless victims of unscrupulous cyber cafe operators.

In Lagos, there were tales of candidates not being provided with writing materials contrary to the pledge by JAMB, with those affected later required to source for writing materials at examination venue. On the whole, there were no reported cases of cheating and other forms of examinations malpractices.

Like every human organisation, there will always be room for improvement.

However, some of the observed lapses – such as the cases of missing names – are inexcusable for an examination body.

Indeed, some of the lapses could have been dealt with before the examination day to save the student-applicants the unnecessary trauma. We are certainly convinced that the board can do a better job with better planning and organisation.

Having said that, we are nonetheless satisfied that the examination went smoothly. Despite the hiccups, the deployment of biometric technology deserves to be lauded for offering a near fool-proof solution to examination practices particularly in places where they were used. No wonder this year’s examinations appear a vast improvement on previous exercises, in terms of confronting the challenges that have threatened to call the integrity of the examination into question.

We continue to make the point however that JAMB’s position would remain an unenviable as long as government neglects to take necessary measures to increase the capacity of our higher institutions for more intakes. This is because, getting the 1.4 million applicants to sit for the examinations is nothing compared to the pressure and the attendant frustrations faced by our young ones in their bid to secure placement in the nation’s tertiary institutions. With every cycle of JAMB examination, the number of applicants continues to outstrip the capacity of the institutions. A better picture is to appreciate that only an estimated 25 percent of the applicants stand any chance of being offered admission in the current year. That seems to be the crux of the matter.

Our expectation from JAMB is for the board to go back to the drawing board to identify areas of its strengths and weaknesses to enable it reposition itself to do a better job next time. It seems to us that the rewards of its investments in capacity building is reaping for it bountiful harvests. As the sole body charged with conducting examination into our tertiary institutions, it cannot afford to rest on its oars; at least not now when the salvaging hands of all stakeholders are needed to rescue the educational sector. Saturday’s outing has merely highlighted the possibilities. The underlying lesson is that a lot can be achieved with proper planning, discipline and determination.

Unaffordable Roaming

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N a plugged-in, hyperglobalized world, one might expect that our communications networks would allow us to roam widely, cell phones and tablets connected to the matrix, no matter the location. But when it comes to telecommunications pricing, globalization stopped at the border.

A new survey found that international data roaming among the industrialized countries (members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) costs, on average, $6 to $10 per megabyte — about the amount needed to email a few low-resolution snapshots.

Talking isn’t much cheaper. A similar study two years ago reported that the average price of a three-minute local call in an O.E.C.D. country while roaming internationally was $6.76.

These exorbitant prices have little to do with the cost of moving a byte or a sentence over telecom networks, which has fallen sharply in recent years. Rather, the O.E.C.D. suggests it reflects a lack of competition among wireless carriers offering cross-border roaming services.

This has likely been compounded in the United States by a lack of regulation of the interconnection fees that telecom operators charge each other to let data flow across their networks.

American wireless customers roaming in other industrial nations pay about $8 to $22 per megabyte, on average. In Europe, where interconnection rates are capped, roaming is still expensive but substantially cheaper.

French and British roamers pay less than $7.

These prices deserve the attention of policy makers. Roaming is not a niche market. It is a basic tool in an increasingly interconnected world.

In North America, 17 percent of wireless subscribers use international mobile roaming, as do one-third of Europeans. At these prices, one wonders how they can afford it.

• New York 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

• Controller (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu • Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho

•Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

•Pre-Press Manager Chuks Bardi •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: kindly permit our organisation to use your medium to offer a word to President Goodluck Jonathan on the impending choice of the next Minister of Power, which, to us, is key to determining the future of this country’s economy.

The Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NIEEE) is an association of professional Electrical/Electronic Engineers in Nigeria and a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

Our professional coverage includes power, electronics, telecommunications, control systems, computer, instrumentations, etc. The NIEEE has been around for a few decades in Nigeria with chapters across the country making relevant contributions to national development and persistently acquainting the government with recommendations and advice of national interest through

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EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 1000 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.com

New Minister of Power: Advice for Mr. President communiqués borne out of our annual conferences.

Nigeria’s over 150 million people are the most deprived of electricity.

With just over 3,600MW of available power generation, the country is one of the least served in the world per capita of electricity generation at 22.74W per person, compared to South Africa’s 890W. Today, electricity is generally equated to “life” itself since most human activities are anchored on it.

As a matter of fact, electricity makes life itself worth living as the modern world cannot even dream of living in its absence. Its applications revolve

around all facets of human life.

Our annual conferences had since 2005 attained a status where national and international issues relating to electrical power and telecommunications are professionally deliberated on at global level. The 2011 ICEPT (October 11 – 13, 2011) is titled “The Impact of REFORMS on Power and Telecommunications”. This is to assess the aftermath of the Power Reform which we clamoured for in 2005.

We had articulated our views on the Power Sector Road Map in an earlier release. While the nation had

in the past experienced “square pegs in round holes”, a situation which had brought our electric power system to where we are today, applying the same medication to the same problem will surely result in the same negative results. The Nation therefore, at this critical state of emergency in the power sector needs a change of approach in tackling the problem. As long as we apply the same medication on the same problem, surely the result will not change. At this moment, when our electric power sector is at critical state of emergency, let us change our approach in tackling the problem.

Nigerian leaders, tackle corruption now!

IR: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo openly declared at the International Labour Conference in Geneva recently that his successors had failed the nation in their inability to doggedly fight corruption.

Every advanced thinker knew several years ago that what our “father,” OBJ said would come to pass.

Several factors contributed to this. OBJ himself was a principal factor. Even as an ex-military leader, he knew how tough it was for him to rule Nigeria first and second times. He knew how much sacrifices he made to achieve so much for the country. While leaving the office, OBJ put President Yar’Adua who he knew was invalid. Same he did in 1979 when he declared that the best candidate might not win the election. He ensured that the best candidate actually did not win the election! National Party of Nigeria (NPN) that took over from OBJ in 1979 institutionalised corruption in Nigeria. Is there any moral justification for our father OBJ to condemn his successors, when he had all the opportunities to install better successors?

Even OBJ’s detractors knew that Obasanjo’s regime was the best. He achieved so much for the nation. He fought corruption by establishing EFCC and ICPC His success was partly due to his gamut of experience and his military iron fist which neither Late Yar’Adua nor President Goodluck had.

Again, the military regimes that ruled the country nurtured the seedlings of corruption to fruition.

Today corruption has become a way of life in Nigeria. The entire world is asking: Will corruption ever come to an end in Nigeria? Of course that is not the question as there is no nation that is completely immune from corruption. The right question then may be can democracy drastically reduce corruption in Nigeria? The answer is no; at least, not with the present constitution which provides protection for principal officers

who steal until they are out of office.

The magnitude of corruption in Nigeria is capable of causing an earthquake in some other countries.

Fighting corruption after the loot is medicine after death. Fighting corruption in Nigeria after Obasanjo is a process. The person who has looted runs out of the country for the tension to douse. He returns home and EFCC arrests. He is quizzed for a few days. The court grants the bail.

Then the culprit steps into freedom to enjoy his loots. The case may never be referred to again. There are several

of such cases.

With this, how can corruption come to reduction? Everyday the youth read in the newspapers about embezzlement of millions and billions of Naira. Even children unborn are eagerly looking forward to how to corrupt themselves as soon as they come out of the womb.

We hereby call on President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly to remove the immunity clause from our constitution.

• Dr. Wale Omole, National Coordinator, People Problems and Solution.

NIEEE strongly believes that as part of the efforts to strengthen the economy, the Ministry of Power should be created as a full-fledged ministry empowered to resuscitate the dilapidated electric power sector.

As Mr. President is shopping for experts to form his new ministerial cabinet, the NIEEE joins other professional voices clamouring for technocrats-flavoured cabinet. We do not support the choice of bundling the office of the Minister of Power with that of Mr. President. At this critical period of our power system, the tasks before the office of the Minister of power are so challenging that they cannot be merged with the office of President or Vice President’s. We look forward to a new administration that will respect the voice of the experts as in other developed nations of the world in building a new Nigeria, where power failure will become history, a new Nigeria with functional utilities, where SMEs begin to thrive.

In view of the foregoing, The NIEEE hereby calls for the appointment of a seasoned Electrical Engineer who has an in-dept understanding of the entire sector from generation to distribution, even to maintenance, as the Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Let not professionalism and quality service to the nation be sacrificed on the altar of partisan politics and favouritism any longer.

This is the best opportunity that the Nigerian nation has to get it RIGHT! • Engr. Hafeez A. Ajibade, the General Secretary of NIEEE, wrote from Lagos.

Edo SSG and dark horse syndrome IR: The rumour of his emergence as Secretary to Edo State Government was skyscraping. Its spread could be likened to wild fire, when Dr. Simon Imuekemhe resigned from office as Edo State Head of Service in February 28th 2011. It was suspect that he was going to assume the position of the Secretary to the State Government.

But Comrade Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole disappointed rumourmongers. He rather chose to appoint Imuekemhe as Chairman, Task Force on Revenue Generation.

And that immediately put paid to the rumor mill.

Who then would emerge the Secretary to Edo State Government?

This was the reverberating question in Edo Government House for over

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three months. The former occupant had resigned to contest for the Owan Federal Constituency seat and as a field marshal, Pally Iriase of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) defeated Johnson Abolagba of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to clinch the seat at the April 2011 National Assembly election. This created the vacuum.

This gave rise to political permutations as some prominent names came up. Among such names is Chief Oseni Elamah, the Gimba of Auchi Kingdom and ‘the anticorruption wizard’ of the Oshiomhole led administration.

Very unassuming Gimba was the Chairman of the Asset Verification Committee set up at the outset of this administration and Special Adviser, Fiscal Governance, Project

Monitoring Office (FGPMO).

Other names peddled around Government House and other social gatherings during this interregnum included Hon. Prince Clem Agba, the Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities who is also a member of the State Economic Team. Not known to shy away from responsibilities, Clem’s potentials blossomed and he excelled in his academics as well as in other extra-curricular activities he partook in.

Arguments were advanced in support of the former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Bright Omokhodion who lost his bid to return to the House of Assembly.

While some claimed that the Comrade would compensate him with the position, others believed

he would clinch the position to fill the political vacuum in the Esan extraction since the zone could not make the Speaker’s slot. Others argued that the former speaker’s bold step of crossing to the ruling ACN party could earn him the seat.

Others are Chief Tom Uloko; Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon and Chief Lucky James. Though, there was no official collection or submission of resume by these ‘presumed candidates’, but it is clear that their intimidating resumes will speak for them. But the governor is taking his time as he wanted the best for himself and Edo people. Who then will get the job? We are watching.

• John Cephas Benin-City

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

GAVI Alliance, Rotary Int ; Bomb Blasts Vs development; CSR; write to the politician

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HE over 20 bomb blasts to date in Nigeria should concentrate the wondering and greedy politicians, police and civil servants on the need Tony to improve lives. Unseen Marinho eyes are watching, judging and taking action, violently wrong action. We need positive development activity.

Congratulations to the GAVI Alliance, and The Bill and Melinda Gates’ $1b, for collecting $4.3b for a Global Alliance for Vaccinations and Immunisation. Let it not be an excuse to reduce the V&I budgets. How many Africans nay Nigerians with huge war chest donated? Yet many children benefiting will be Africans deprived by corruption and incompetence.

Our rich people are not wealthy, as wealthy suggests ‘wisdom with riches’. Many Nigerian rich are greedy. Look at sums involved in EFCC trials and even rehabilitated former IGP Tafa Balogun paradoxically seen at a Police Microfinance Bank? There are many good Nigerians, like late legal giant, Gani Fawehinmi, who shared with the less privileged. They keep Nigeria going while others steal from the plate. If officials spent our money on making life better, much more would have been accomplished. These days, they ‘officially’ steal it as N14-100 million non-taxable ‘allowances’, reproduced at State Assemblies and LGA Councils’ levels that amounted to billions a month while your pittance is taxed into nothingness.

Like GAVI, Rotary International (RI) is in the Polio fight to save lives and prevent disabilities. RI does this while developing the world but politicians and civil servants prefer to amass ‘mil-billions’ abroad. Meanwhile, the private sector bleeds the developing countries’ families dry with stupid promos and ‘instant millionaire’ offers that rake in hundreds of millions for every millionaire made. It is not scientifically possible to ‘cheaper to talk more for less’ than to ‘not talk at all’ in the first place. Even Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), is false and needs more sincere thought than being a

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OR Nigeria, this is the season of bombings designed to inflict maximum political violence. And nothing signposts this more poignantly than the series of bomb-related incidents that have occurred in the last few months. Since the October 1, 2010 bomb explosion in Abuja, more than a dozen bombs have exploded in several parts of the country, especially in the Northern axis.

It is bombs, bombs everywhere with each detonation carrying the mean intentions of the sender or planter and delivering a terminal end for the victims. And last Thursday in Abuja, the explosions at the Force Headquarters indicated that the ‘war of the bomb’ may be intensifying.

For Hafiz Ringim, the incumbent Inspector-General of Police, IGP, the day was just like any other day. As he made his way into the police headquarters that morning to resume duties, little did he know that danger was lurking in the corner. His four-vehicle convoy had hardly zoomed past the sentry at the entrance when an officer was detailed to escort a strange car to the parking lot.

Minutes later, tragedy struck. A bomb exploded in the car with the deafening echoes of the roar crying far and wide. The bomb explosives ripped through several vehicles parked at the Police Headquarters.

The intensity of the blast was so devastating that it shook the buildings around to their foundations, causing panic and confusion everywhere. The explosion left the car bearing the bomb mangled and ignited a heavy fire that consumed several vehicles within the vicinity.

The attack came barely 48 hours

‘Corporate Promo’ thinly disguised as a ‘CSR Project’.

Negligent LGAs and State governments do not do adequate budgetary allocations to health and education projects. They know that some ‘stupid’ foreign aid programme will fill the huge gap left by stolen money.

Indeed, if we force governments to spend more on visible projects there will be so much less to steal. Civil Society should research the budget headings in other countries and compare them to budgets in Nigeria. So many Headings are ignored allowing maximum fraud.

How many governments have allocation headings for laboratory equipment, library books, magazines, journals or sports equipment for schools? Without headings, those items will never be bought and any excess funds will be stolen and the children will remain at 20% pass rate. You do not spend money on things not in the budget. So we must use the FOI bill to check the budget and make sure our needs are inserted in those budgets at LGA, State and Federal levels.

This is not an amateur Civil Society programme. No. Civil Society now needs to move from election monitoring to the highly professional work of governance monitoring and financial evaluation. Civil Society needs budgetary access and experts to squeeze the best out of this government. It must move to reaction. Nigerians cannot afford to wait for 4 years to ‘see if’ governments are ‘doing well’. Wellness tomorrow depends on our immediate reaction to bad governance.

The monthly NBA ‘State of the Nation’ is great. A serious State of the Nation, State of the State and State of the LGA address by each professional body from Accountancy to Zoology will bring democracy dividends. This will allow assessment of government activities as related to various disciplines. No one is safe from government activities. Just last week Saturday 12th June 2011 at 9.30am LAWMA or some other State government group in green and yellow closed off one of only two lanes on the Ibadan Lagos Expressway at Ibafo with a rubbish truck supposedly clearing the rubbish dump. The truck should have parked off the road. The resultant 15 km five lane traffic mayhem added one unnecessary agonising hour to the Ibadan Lagos journey for

a million travellers. Is that not abuse of power and should they, their supervisor and head of organisation, not be dismissed for incompetence and obstructing a Highway?

The unfilled pothole could kill 20 people or cause 10,000 hours of delays in four years or none if filled in now! You must make a difference by demanding the filling now. Write, research, get signatures and contact officials and the media.

Send a letter weekly about every pothole. Public officials should have public e-mails and telephone numbers. If a pothole harasses you, harass government officials.

More of government funds must be spent on simple lifechanging issues, not bullet proof jeeps. One NASS jeep can equip 100 school libraries. Civil society must force a cut in political allowances by 100% to put all money in the budget.

How many boreholes, toilets, beds, doctors, nurses, lab scientists, police, schools, teachers, library books per a population of 100,000 are recommended by MDGs? The health issues –potable water and sanitation, treated mosquito nets and free health, health and education programmes on the media and better equipped and higher quality health centres and hospitals which have remained in the 19th century. In addition to Vaccines and Immunisations, the more money spent on preventive health, clean hands and life skill messages the more children will survive to a happy adulthood without bomb blasts. Disgruntled citizens are prey to terrorists seeking bombers.

‘Indeed, if we force governments to spend more on visible projects there will be so much less to steal.

Civil Society should research the budget headings in other countries and compare them to budgets in Nigeria. So many Headings are ignored allowing maximum fraud’

The Boko Haram gambit after the IG visited Borno State to commission about a dozen Armoured Personnel Carriers, APC, donated by the state government to check the menace of the Boko Haram sect fingered as the brain behind the recent spate of bomb blasts in that part of the country. At the ceremony, the IG had reiterated the readiness of the security agency to fish out members of the sect who have been giving the government sleepless nights.

But while the IG was engaged in the usual rhetoric, the sect moved a step further by targeting the headquarters of the service itself.

From the way the attack was planned, the IG himself only missed death by the whiskers. This is because if the strange car had not been diverted to the parking lot, it is possible that the driver or bomber could have detonated the bomb at the point the IG was disembarking from his own vehicle.

Since 2009 when the group staged a bloody confrontation with law enforcement agents in Kano, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states, the insurgent religious fundamentalist sect seems to have become more emboldened each passing day. Its leader, the late Uztaz Mohammed Yusuf, had been in and out of detention and the courts before his alleged murder by the police in 2009. Several times his release from detention was reportedly facilitated by high-ranking politicians. At various times also, the group had been urged by

‘Government must muster the political will to unmask the sponsors of these renegades who are influential members of the society. Without exposing them, any security operation will merely postpone the evil day. We must kill the disease and its symptoms’

politicians, including some state governors, to perpetrate violence on political opponents. It is the combination of these factors that have sustained the group who depend on these politicians and other top government officials who showered them with gifts for their survival. The ideology of the group, “Western Education is bad”, from where the name Boko Haram is derived, has spread like wild fire in that part of the country because of the low literacy level of the indigenes. Most of their foot soldiers are the almajiris or homeless children who are left to fend for themselves by their parents or relations who dump them with Islamic clerics who often brainwash them and even hypnotise them with the promise of a better life in the hereafter. The clerics also introduce them to alms begging as a means of survival, thereby sentencing them to a life of penury and hopelessness.

The adoption of the Islamic law called Sharia by some governors in the Northern states a few years ago has only worsened the situation.

Some of them turned a blind eye to the ‘heresy’ being preached by the sect until the issue became a cankerworm which has become difficult to extricate. At the threshold of global technological advancement, some of the states are unable to decipher between the mundane and the spiritual.

Total submission to the will of Allah is the bedrock of Islam.

Therefore, the Islamic law is seen

by Muslims as the expression of Allah’s command for Islamic communities. By implication, the Sharia constitutes a system of duties that are incumbent upon a Muslim faithful by virtue of his religious inclination.

Literarily, Sharia means “the path leading to the watering place”. It is this symbolic meaning that

Muslims interpreted as a divinely ordained code of conduct that must guide every Muslim towards a more practical expression of his religious belief here on earth. It is equally regarded as the only vehicle capable of attracting divine favour in the hereafter.

Unfortunately, the introduction of Sharia is borne out of political expediency rather than out of the spiritual. Today, many years after, the Sharia states are still battling with corruption and other vices both in public and private lives of the citizens. In its natural sense, to declare an Islamic State, there must be an Islamic environment in place.

Islam encourages people to seek knowledge and be educated. In an environment where Sharia is to be operated, the state must be able to cater for the needs of its citizens.

This is because Sharia is not only about punishment but more about the reformation of the society.

Punishment comes in only as a last resort, except, of course, that some of the modes of punishment have, over the years, become archaic and mundane.

Last Thursday’s attack underscores the ineffectiveness of our security agencies. Only about two weeks ago, the Presidency decided to set up a task force to engage the Boko Haram sect in Borno State. Members are drawn from the security agencies such as the army, police, State Security Service and operatives of the moribund Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) among others. The agencies involved were still recruiting members for the task force when the sect allegedly took the war to the doorstep of the IG. Properly viewed, task forces in Nigeria are an avenue for greedy officers to make quick money under the guise of security operations. How many task forces will be set up before the nation

Dele Agekameh returns to sanity? Most of the nation’s security outfits are in a sorry state. Take the DIA for instance. It is a shadow of itself. In the whole of Borno State, the service allegedly has less than 10 personnel. Most of the operatives have been sacked while the few ones left are just marking time. The huge votes given to the service is allegedly being shared among the top echelon and their godfathers elsewhere.

The only way out is for the relevant services such as the army and the air force to rise up to the occasion. They need to bring the full force of their apparatchiks to smoke out members of the sect. In addition, government must muster the political will to unmask the sponsors of these renegades who are influential members of the society. Without exposing them, any security operation will merely postpone the evil day. We must kill the disease and its symptoms. I am quite sure that the ranks of this Boko Haram sect must have been swelled by satanic individuals, including probably serving security personnel who probably have an axe to grind with the system. That is why it is time for decisive action to stamp out this monster called Boko Haram.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION FROM THE CELL PHONE ‘Dear Prof., in your column ‘’The Day They Couldn’t Bury’’ you did not mention one Debo Harstrup, or something that sounds like that; who was Master Planner/Strategist of the ABN. Well, the good thing is that, nemesis had caught up with some and will soon catch up with the rest of all those who carry the ‘June 12 Albatross’. Temitope Vincent, Akure’

• M.K.O. Abiola For Segun Gbadegesin That was a very good write-up on The Nation’s backpage today sir, I agree with you completely. Anonymous When Akala was leaving, he set bombs and land mines for the unsuspecting incoming governor Ajimobi. Baba Bolanta is to detonate the bombs. Already three had been detonated: students unrests, workers’ salaries palaver, present topic, the N. U. R. T. W. Adisa Baba My dear Segun, some times I begin to wonder whether the effort you make to talk to us, as it where, through your very cerebral column is ever read by those you think should read it - the political class, the judiciary, the elites of whatever hue or colouration. Some times I begin to think how much you agonise as if no body cares, as we continue our journey to only God knows where. But don’t be demoralized, continue the good crusade. Does the holy book not say, he who perseverest to the end shall be saved. Your bits these few weeks have been great. God is with you and the holoi poloi. Continue the good work. We appreciate. Uwalaka Val, Porthacourt.

Prof., you are quite correct, we must confront the appostles of unitary system in this country if we must make progress. Many of these people supporting system enjoyed true federalism in the first republic, yet they are supporting unitary because it profits them.

Alh. Adeboye Lawal,Felele Ibadan.

Dear Sir, I beg to respectfully disagree with a part of your assertions on ‘A question of structure (4)’. The real enemies of a truely federal structure in Nigeria are not the ‘idealists’ or the ‘egoistic pretenders ‘ but the Yoruba’s cuning ways and the Ibo’s excessive love of money. If the negative traits are removed, a concrete mutual trust will be in place to guarantee a meaningful protest against the present disagreeable structure and achieve the desired structural reform. Adegoke O. O. Ikhin via Auchi, Edo State.

Good write-up. We need a true federal system where states will have thier destiny in thier hands.

But,who leads the campagn.Thanks. Anonymous.

Segun, thank you for your piece of wrightup. It is now left for us to read the hand wrighting on the wall. This country needs nothing but disintegration. The time is now.

Bassey Effiong. Eket.

Prof., you are deep into my heart please keep it up. From Olasunbo Olalekan Olakunle, Ibadan.

Sir, I just finished reading your article on “A question of structure 4” and it was insightful sir. If Boko -Haram wants an uneducated, backward, illitrate, un-civilised five states called the north, because Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarrawa, Kogi, Kwara are not in the mad defination of Boko-Haram as northern states, then they can go ahead. Or else, we shall start a violent agitation that will make this nation called Nigeria ungovernable. Anonymous Dear Segun, I can’t but agree with you wholly on the issue of federalism. For us to avert the doom that might come, we must do all we can to pressurize the 7th National Assembly to re-visit the issue of true federalism or out right Co-federation. Hon Andy Egbadon.

My dear ‘Sege’, I have been diligently following up your very well thougth out write-

ups and down to earth submissions, especially, the present serial ‘A question of structure’. When I read from you and a couple of other great writers, I have hope that Nigeria will get better some day. Please don’t loose steam, so we don’t loose faith in Nigeria. Tony Iheanacho - Silverbird, Jos. Rather than using this as the basis of the union; I feel that there are certain fundamentals that can make a union work and these are equality, equity, justice and for the constituent units to have the strategic say/lion over the exploration and exploitation of resources found within the area. Power should devolve from the centre to the constituent units as operated in the US. - Abdulmalik Ibrahim.

The masses are now acquiring nihilistic tendency like Boko Haram. This message has been made known to all our Presidents since 1999 even Oputa Panel. S P C Aniamaka. Delta State.

How do you mean by elementary truth?

Mind your language! Anonymous On your fourth article, “A question of structure,” one is tempted to ask that is there anybody listening to the clamour of intelectual people like you, Segun, calling for the restructuring of the country along true federalism since 1999, when democracy first came newly after the disengagement of the military from the political scene after about 38 years in power imposing a unitary system of goverment on the country? It is a pity that former President Obasanjo who took power in 1999 was also a military product who once ruled the country and was relunctant to dismantle the structure the military left behind.

He was not favourably disposed to the convening of a genuine national sovereign conference where the question of structure would have been thorougly discussed, instead he selfishly organised an unproductive national conference and barred members not to discuss about true federalism. He also attempted to teleguide members aiming at amending the constitution to perpetuate himself in power. With this scenario, if President Goodluck Jonathan will want to go down in history as the best President Nigeria will ever had, let him acceed to the request and clamour of the Progressives in convening a genuine National Sovereign Conference where the restructuring of the country and other national issues will be trashed and ironed out without any restriction as was the case during Obasanjo so called national conference. I quite agree with you that this nation will not know genuine national unity or make real progress until we are able to confront and defeat the enemy of progress whose power is to appropriate as much of the national patrimony as they can. From Prince Adewumi Agunloye.

For Olatunji Dare June 12 is a “spiritual force” that cannot be wished away with a wave of hand. Like Martin Luther King’s Days in USA so shall June 12 be in Nigeria. TER AKAA, Abuja.

You guys at The Nation are doing good, please keep on giving your facts and blunt issues.God bless you all. Anonymous ‘June 12’ a national issue, now Southwest ‘shrine’. Thanks to politics in a plural or ethnic/tribal society. Joe in Lagos.

Dare, “It is at it were” all captured in one.

Charles Onowu From PortHarcourt.

Nduka Irabor did the dirty job not Nduka Obaigbena.

Dear Prof., in your column ‘’The Day They Couldn’t Bury’’ you did not mention one Debo Harstrup, or something that sounds like that; who was Master Planner/Strategist of the ABN. Well, the good thing is that, nemesis had caught up with some and will soon catch up with the rest of all those who carry the ‘June 12 Albatross’. Temitope Vincent, Akure It beats my imagination for somebody like IBB to turn around to declare june12 as the

fairest and freest election ever conducted in this country and expect Ngeria to declare him the hero or devil genius of democray. He wll be honoured in hell. He should. be ashamed for talking about politics in this country.

Good bless the King of our democray - President M.K. O. ABIOLA. Thanks for your writeup. Danny kay.

Dare, your backpage comment in The Nation on June 12 pricks my heart. How I wish Nigeria leaders would appreciate the force and reality of June 12. Thanks. Hon. Fred Akpad.

No force can wish away June 12, its God’s own making. Try to obliterate it at ur own perile. Anonymous Don’t worry, nemesis will catch up with them one by one especially the evil genius.

Yaba Kano Maybe you forget or you are afraid to say that even the great AWOLOWO family is walking into oblivion because of their action or inaction on June 12. Anonymous They don’t have power to bury ‘June 12’ because they can kill the messanger but they canot kill the message. Adewumi, Iragbiji, Osun State.

I just finished reading your piece on the day they couldn’t bury. It was a masterpiece.

Without June 12 which MKO sacrificed himself for, their wouldn’t have been democracy today. After darkness there is light at end of the tunnel, and the light is the ACN control States. Hope Ondo will join soon. From Oladapo Komolafe, Felele, Ibadan.

I strongly believe that the same fate of june 12 had befallen May 29 in 1999. It would have since replaced June 12 in priority. Let not the Yorubas, d most dynamic ethnic group in Nigeria inadvertently rubbish this priceless democracy they fought so hard to attain for us all. Chris Onu, Unijos.

Nice write-up, though you southwesterners are so selfish when it comes to agitation for your tribesmen but others no way.Why do you think the Federal government would make June 12 democracy day, when actualy our democracy didn’t take place that day.

May 29 is our democracy day and june 12 a special day in our heart/calenda. Let’s teach the younger generation that June 12 gave birth to May 29 and Abiola should be imotalised, yes! Case dismissed. Anonymous Your comment and debate article on June 12 really satisfied me, I felt great because it reminded me of all that happened then. Nemesis on the actors. Anonymous Oga, June 12 is a Yoruba affair so let them celebrate it the way they want it.Victor Okeke Thank you Dare! I remember this evening when Nduka Obeigbena first raised this objection! Unfortunately this has never been pointed out until today! His was the first voice of discent.! What were the forces behind this act? Anonymous For Gbenga Omotoso Your piece, ‘A vote for security’ is simply brilliant. Keep it up. Anonymous Good morning Gbenga please I beg to digress from today’s topic. Let the senate president and all those seeking political solution for those who stole our money not to play on the intelligence of Nigerians. Let them face trial. There should be no plea bargaining too as this encourages more people to steal.

Anonymous Gbenga, thanks for ‘A vote of security’, welldone. Yes, many are calling for summit on security I also join the league please the IGP should resiged for the bombing of police headquaters in Abuja. What a shame!

Damn it, that has shown claims that Nigeria has no security. Mr Jerry from Benue State.

Dear Gbenga, it is time to empower the Police and redefine its functions. Police orderly for an ex-militant leader! It’s disgusting! From: Liz, Aba You have continued to show the usual bias

•Awolowo in your reporting of events W. R. T. the Niger Delta. You blind your eyes to the daily criminal activities in Lagos but turn your searchlite on PortHarcourt. No wonder the I. G. R. of Lagos state is up from N2b To almost N20b.

While Rivers state is down from N10b to N2b.

Igo owhonda. PortHarcourt My brother Gbenga, I just finished your piece and the nxet thing am hearing is bomb blast at Police headquaters. You were right on target we need more than a summit on security. We must rearrange this country.

MSB Mahmud Lagos Mr. Gbenga, thank you for making my day.

‘A vote for security’ is another master-piece.

It is a pity that as a nation we never get anything right, as long as we run away from true federalism the more we postpone our evil days. Our so called governments are only paying lip service to the issue of security.

American police were well funded and they are reaping it. Police barracks, equipment, logistics and welfare can attest to how careless we handle the issue of security in this corruption inflicted country called Nigeria.

May God save us. Timson Adedire from Ile ife.

Oga Gbenga, I have just read your piece titled, ‘A vote for security’, it is very dis-heartening the alarming rate of crime in this nation, when America listed us among the terrorist nations, we were ranting and raving, now it is manifesting. From Maryann in Lafia.

Gbenga, Your comment on 16/6/11 refers.

Where lies the security when those to secure Nigerians are only interested in extorting money from motorists all over the country rather than secure lives? Unless there is power devolution at the centre, whereby each state of the federation has its own local police, the same old story as regards security will keep on recurring. Only God will save Nigeria.

God bless you.

Olasunkanmi Oyewole, Ibadan.

I join also in the call for a summit on security. Indeed we cannot continue to roast one another in the name of bombing. Our lawlessness has got to stop! Anonymous Ah, egbon,-as your article, ‘A vote for Security’ was going to bed. The sons of dog were bombing the Police Headquaters Abuja. Egbon Gbenga Omotoso, what a timely writeup.Thanks, keep it flowing. From Uba Styvn Igwe @ Badagry,Lagos.

Your article was not just brilliantly written, funny and incisive but so timely. Did you know that a bomb exploded today at The Police IG office in Abuja? The criminals no dey fear nobody! Yawa don gas as they say as they don carry the battle to the gate of police. May be this will put life(?) in police. Anonymous Gbenga, I suggest Nigeria policemen are sent to military barracks for retraining, including their officers. Anonymous Dear Gbenga, My reading of your piece today on ‘A Vote for Security’ coincided with the freightening and embarrassing news that there have been bomb explosion inside the Police headquaters with serious damages.

How manage. The issues you really need to address as a follow up are 1. Adequacy of current police training. 2. Method of Recruitment. 3. Level of Alertness some read newspapers at duty posts. 4. What is the job of C. I. D. And the check points. Our police need serious retraining at home and abroad. Nonyelu Nweke, Abuja

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

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NATION SPORT FOOTBALL TRANSFER...FOOTBALL TRANSFER...FOOTBALL TRANSFER...

Branca: Andre Villas-Boas Barca ready to seal £32m won’t be Inter coach Sanchez deal B ARCELONA appear to have won the race with Manchester City and Manchester United to sign Alexis Sanchez. The Chile winger is expected to complete a £32m move to the European champions from Udinese this week.

Delegations from both Manchester clubs met Gino Pozzo, the transfer supremo at Udinese, last week to begin discussions over the 22-yearold as the Serie A side looked to establish which suitors

•Sanchez

were prepared to meet their asking price. Pozzo also held talks with two Italian clubs -believed to be Juventus and Inter Milan -- as well as meeting Barcelona's sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta and vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Sources in Chile and Spain have suggested it is the Catalan side who were first to offer Udinese an acceptable proposal, agreeing to pay around £25m up front and a further £7m in performancerelated clauses.

Sanchez has spent the past few days in Santiago training with his national side in preparation for next month's Copa America, but is reported to have been granted permission by Chile manager Claudio Borghi to travel to Barcelona to complete his move, if necessary.

Borghi, whose side faced Estonia in their final warmup game last night, has made clear his preference for the player to move to the Spanish champions, while Sanchez is believed to have already been congratulated on joining Pep Guardiola's side by his Chilean team-mates.

Roma’s Jeremy Menez open to PS move

T

HE France international has revealed that he’d be open to a move to PSG and added that he does not consider a return to Ligue 1 to be a step back Roma attacker Jeremy Menez has confessed that he could be interested in a move to ambitious Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

The France international is eager to leave the Italian capital, with his contract due to expire next summer, and PSG are reportedly keen to lure him back to his native country.

The Paris side were recently taken over by a Qatari investment group and they’re determined to add some high profile names to their squad this summer.

“The project that has been started at PSG is one that pleases me. If they have the means to become a big team, it could be interesting for me

to come and play in Paris,” Menez was quoted as saying

by France Football.

“I do not see a return to Ligue 1 as a step back from Serie A. That is something from the past. There has been a lot of talk about my future, but I have not made my decision yet.”

•Menez

Coentrao restates love for Benfica

R

EAL Madrid target Fabio Coentrao has indicated he will play for Benfica if his transfer to the

•Coentrao

Spanish club does not come to fruition.

The Portugal international has been the subject of criticism from Benfica's fans after publicly voicing his wish for a move to Real Madrid in the summer.

Benfica will start preparing for the next season on 27 June, and reports in the country have suggested that Coentrao will not join up with the rest of the squad on that day.

However, Coentrao has declared he will report for duty and was extremely coy when questioned about a potential transfer to Real Madrid.

"I'm a player of Benfica. I have a contract until 2016 and, if God wants, I will join the team on the 27th," he told the Portuguese press.

"I have always said I love Benfica. If someday I leave, I hope it will be a good deal for me and the club, but I will always think about returning."

I

•Astori

AC Milan, Cagliari fight deadlocked over Astori

S

ERIE A champions AC Milan and fellow Italian side Cagliari are deadlocked in talks over the transfer of defender Davide Astori, and the centre-back’s future could now be decided by a blind auction, Sport Mediaset reports.

The 24-year-old is a product of the Milan youth academy, but failed to break into the first team at the San Siro outfit.

He joined Cagliari on a coownership deal in the summer of 2008 and has since developed into a key player at the Sardinians.

His development has not gone unnoticed at Milan and they are eager to lure Astori back to the club ahead of the 2011-12 campaign.

Nevertheless, Cagliari want to hold on to the stopper and are looking to extend the expiring co-ownership deal by one more season rather than selling their 50 percent of the player’s rights, thus making a blind auction a realistic option to decide Astori’s future.

Co-ownership deals can be resolved or renewed before the June 24 deadline. If no agreement is reached, the teams involved usually go to an auction. Offers for the remaining half of the contract are written down and placed in envelopes, making it a surprise for the player who is then shipped off to the highest bidder whether he wanted to go there or not.

Neymar happy at Santos

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ANTOS starlet Neymar wants to remain in Brazil for now but is refusing to rule out a move to Europe in the future.Neymar, 19, is reportedly being heavily courted by Real Madrid and Chelsea after an exceptional 2010 Brazilian Serie A season with his Brazilian club in which he scored 17 goals.

The flashy striker already has plenty on his mind given Santos will contest the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final against Penarol on today.

But pressed for a hint as to his whereabouts in August, Neymar said he is happy to put off the lure of Europe and the Champions League for the time being.

“At the moment my thoughts are only on winning the Copa Libertadores,” he told AS. “My first thought is to stay here (with Santos) as well because happiness is everything, for the club, for my family, for the fans – the

most important thing is to be happy.”

Asked if he wants to play in the Champions League, he said: “Of course it is (a dream), just like it is for all the players in the world.”

C

•Mihajlovic

•Villas

combined with the coach's affinity with the Portuguese champions is why the former Inter assistant will not be in the club's dugout next season.

"It is already known to the world of football that the tie between Porto and Villas-Boas is strong and the presence of the very high buy-out clause in his contract excludes the possibility of him joining Inter," he added.

Draxler extends Schalke deal

S

CHALKE 04 said on Monday that 17-yearold Bundesliga wunderkind Julian Draxler has signed a four-year contract to stay at the German club until 2016.

Draxler first came to prominence in January by coming off the bench to score a spectacular winner in the quarter-finals of the German Cup, and has since won attention from Germany coach Joachim Loew, who called him a "great talent".

In the cup final against MSV Duisburg in Berlin last month, Draxler unleashed an unstoppable half-volley from just outside the penalty area in the 18th minute, which put his team on the path to their fifth cup success.

Since February, he has been combining football training with school studies in the shadow of Schalke's Veltins Arena stadium in Gelsenkirchen, western

Germany.

Schalke had a disappointing season aside from their cup triumph, finishing 14th in the league and parting company with coach Felix Magath and with Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who is moving to Bayern Munich.

•Draxler

Negredo set to stay with Sevilla

S •Neymar

Mihajlovic ‘dreams of Inter’ OACHING Inter has always been the ambition for Sinisa Mihajlovic, says Catania’s Pietro Lo Monaco.

The Fiorentina tactician is a contender to replace Leonardo

NTER technical director Marco Branca has confirmed that Porto coach Andre Villas-Boas will not be taking over at the world champions.

The club's CEO, Ernesto Paolillo, stated on Friday that Inter were searching for a new coach as Leonardo had left Italy, with his appointment as Paris Saint-Germain's new general manager imminent.

However, Branca has stated that Villas-Boas will not be the Brazilian's replacement, despite the director flying to Porto to meet the Portuguese tactician and his representatives in an attempt to lure him to San Siro.

"Andres Villas-Boas will not be the coach of Inter, and not just because of the buyout clause that would cost •15 million which ties him to Porto," Branca told ANSA. The former striker was keen to highlight that the buyout clause in Villas-Boas' contract

with the Nerazzurri and Lo Monaco believes he’d be a great appointment.

“Mihajlovic is very determined,” said the official who hired Mihajlovic at Catania back in December 2009.

“He’s always stated that his dream was to one day take charge at Inter,” continued Lo Monaco on Monday morning.

“If that does happen then the Nerazzurri would get a very motivated guy. He’s great at handling players and I’m convinced he could do well.”

Mihajlovic left the Sicilian club in May 2010 and was appointed by Fiorentina just a week later on a two-year deal.

PANISH international Alvaro Negredo will not be moving back to Real Madrid, according to club president Jose Maria del Nido.

Sevilla paid a record £13 million for Negredo in 2009 in a deal which saw Real Madrid insert a clause where they could buy the player back within two years.

Speculation that Negredo could be returning to the Bernabeu mounted as the 25year-old hit 26 goals in all competitions last season.

However, Del Nido believes no such transfer will take

place and that Negredo will remain at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán next season.

"In the last conversation we had with Real Madrid, they told our director general that they didn't intend to use the re-buy clause," Del Nido said.

"The player has also said publicly that he doesn't want to leave Sevilla. I don't think there is a chance he won't be a Sevilla player in the coming seasons."

Negredo’s 20 league goals last term saw Sevilla finish 5th, four points behind fourth placed Villarreal.

•Negredo

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

24

NATION SPORT

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OGER, last year was the first time in eight years that you were not involved in the final weekend at Wimbledon. What was that like for you?

A Honestly I did not even think of that. First you're disappointed you lost, then you move on and then you're like, 'OK, I'm going on vacation.' Then you don't think about it. Only later did I hear so many people telling me, 'Uh, a final without Federer is not the same.' That's just the Federer fans or my supporters who felt that. I didn't think about it too much and it hasn't come to my mind much this year. What you play for is really to be in a Wimbledon final, walking out on that Sunday, that's so special.

I've been fortunate enough to be there so many times.

But [Tomas] Berdych played a great match against me and deserved to be in that final against Rafa.

Obviously it hurt a bit but it didn't hurt not being in the final. It hurt not winning that match against Berdych.

When you see that people are not talking about you as a potential champion of an event, as was the case in the build up to Roland Garros, does that irritate you?

A I felt I was [in contention]. I was quite surprised [how people] said, 'Oh you have no pressure.' I would have had less pressure anyhow because I wasn't defending

Federer eyes Wimbledon final A Wimbledon final without Roger Federer almost seemed unthinkable 12 months ago, but the unthinkable happened last July when the most gifted player to have picked up a tennis racquet discovered he was no longer on the guest list for the showpiece match at the grass-court Grand Slam.

But the man who enjoyed the privilege of opening Centre Court proceedings at the All England Club for seven successive years - including 2009 when Rafael Nadal was unable to defend his title - is now back to reclaim his crown. He chatted with Reuters reporter Pritha Sarkar after his practice session on Saturday. champion, Novak [Djokovic] was on an [unbeaten] streak and Rafa was defending champion .

It surprises me a bit and it seems sometimes people are very short sighted and they look at only the last three weeks instead of looking at the last three years. That's unfortunately how tennis is, it's very volatile in terms of

•Federer

the rankings, and that can change a few things. I know I have a chance for world No. 1 if I play well from now till the U.S. Open. The players know that but sometimes people tend to forget.

Out of all the records you have achieved, which is the one you are proudest of? wait and see when I A Let's

finish. Then maybe I'll say, 'This one is my favourite one.' I'm still going and I'm still able to re-write history.

But I guess it's the ones [streaks] that last five or seven years, that you know you only get one chance in a lifetime to do, like Sampras's six straight yearend No. 1 rankings. You're not going to miss one year and then get another six. It's almost impossible to do. You only get one chance for those kinds of things.

I have short term records, like at one point I think I beat 24 top10 guys in a row. Or once I made the finals, I won 24 finals in a row. Those kinds of records are also unbelievable for me when I look back. There are many of them but I don't know which one to choose from.

Lots of people have said they wished they could have played like you. Is there any player or a particular shot of a player past or present -that you are envious of.

A I am very happy with what I have. Sure I cannot hit a double handed backhand, I wish I could.

But it's fine. I wish I had a serve like Sampras but I'm happy with mine. I wish I had volleys like [Tim] Henman or [Stefan] Edberg or [Pat] Rafter but I'm happy with what I have. I have tried to become the best player I can be over all these years and I think I did really well.

I'm surprised how well I actually did.

In less than two months you turn 30? Are you dreading it?

A No, no problem. I can only smile about it. Do I feel 30? I guess I do. I feel ripe like a grape for [a good quality] wine. I feel like I'm in a really nice place right now. Everybody who's 20 wants to stay 20 and everybody who turns 30 wants to stay 30. That's the feeling I get. It's a wonderful age to be. You've already experienced a lot but there's still a lot to come. It's a wonderful age and I'm looking forward to the next

•Federer

10 years.

What has been your lowest point in your tennis career?

A I have had a few tough losses and the other night I was having dinner and [my friends] were saying, 'Oh I remember that loss, and this one and that one and this one,' and I was like, 'Oh God, we're only talking about my losses.' With all the 950-plus matches I have

played, I've had a lot of losses and a lot of heart breaks. To pick the toughest one, was it here against Nadal [in the 2008 five-set final described as the best ever tennis match]?

Possibly, but at the same time it was such a special match to be part of it doesn't hurt as much down the stretch. In the very moment it hurts but not later on.

•Federer

KANO

BRAINSTORM

Foundation to provide 50,000 jobs

Tackling desertification

Climate change at the caliphate

.

SERVICE

Lagos

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Kano

37

Sokoto

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

WEDNESDAY JUNE 22, 2011

Page 25

When bombs rocked Ringim’s office

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I-G Ringim

A

COALITION of nong o v e r n m e n t a l organisations, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has celebrated Nigerian children as part of activities marking this year’s Day of the African Child. The event took place in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

But the celebration was more than gathering children and giving them food and soft drinks; organisers called on the state authorities to implement the child rights law.

The NGOs are the Centre for Youth, Women and Community Action (NACWYCA) and Child Protection Network (CPN), a network of NGOs. June 16 is set aside every year by the United Nations to draw attention to the plight of millions of African children most of whom are struggling to survive in the streets without the necessary support.

The Day of the African Child commemorates a 1976 march in Soweto, South Africa, when thousands of African school children took to the streets to protest the inferior quality of their education and to demand their right to be taught in their own language.

Hundreds of young boys and girls were killed in the two weeks of protest that followed, more than a thousand injured.

In honour of those killed, and the courage of those who marched, the Day of the African Child has been celebrated every year since 1991, when it was first initiated by the defunct Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

The fortunes of children have scarcely improved. The number of street children in the country is growing by the day. In the northern parts, the number of vagrant children as well as the Almajiri or those who seek alms and food in groups, seems to outnumber those in school.

In Nasarawa, the sight of these

HE time was 11:00 a.m. Then the deafening explosion, the ball of fire, and the confusion! School children wailed.

Teachers docked under writing desks. Police officers scaled the fence with their hairs standing erect ontheirheads.Othersfledinvarious directionsnotknowingwhere.

This was the situation following the bombing of the Nigeria Police Force headquartersinAbujabysuspected membersoftheBokoHaramsect.

From Sanni Ologun, Abuja

Much as it is no longer news that bomb blast has become a recurring decimal in Nigeria, the bombing was confounding because it happenedundertheverynoseofthe agency charged with the responsibility of securing lives and propertyinNigeria.Ifitcanhappen at the force headquarters, where elseissafe?

The devastation that followed the

bombing cannot be said to have come without warning. After all, the Boko Haram had warned that they were now ready to export death and destruction far away from their enclave in Maiduguri.

Yet, when it came three days after the Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Ringim said the days of the sect were “numbered,” the police were caught napping. The incident was not a national embarrassment butatragedy.

Manygroupshavecondemnedthe attack even as others have called on Ringimtoresign,sayinghenolonger has the moral and professional rectitude to remain as the InspectorGeneralofPolice(IGP).

According to them, the police boss has “shown gross incompetence in the way and manner he has handled the incessant cases of bomb attacks and kidnapping, and must not be allowedtocontinueinoffice.”

Continued on Page 38

NGOs celebrate children Call for child rights implementation Nasarawa Chief Judge promises support

Children at the event From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

children draws little attention these days as it has become part of everyday life.

Day and night Almajiri children are seen clutching their bowls.

The state was one of the first in the federation to pass the Child

Rights Law but it has yet to implement it.

In collaboration with UNICEF, NACWYCA has taken 100 children out of the streets, putting some in school, others in skill acquisition centres. But more needs to be done still.

That was why Mr Nawani Aboki, Managing Director of

NACYWA, took the message of this year’s theme “All together for urgent action in favour of street children” to the Nasarawa State Chief Judge, Justice Badamasi Maina, seeking to get the authorities to implement the Child Rights Law. NACWYA wants urgent action on the plight of children before it is

too late.

“All those who care about children,” Aboki said, “must stand up at a time like this or else the future generation we want to build to take over leadership from us may not be prepared enough to take over leadership when the time comes”.

Continued on Page 26

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

26

NGOs celebrate children •Continued from Page 25 The implementation of the act, he said, will help protect the children not only from the hazards of the environment but also from the manipulations of some adults too. Aboki called on the office of the CJ to begin the process of implementation of the law for the sake of the children and of the state.

Aboki said that apart from the platform which NACWYCA has already provided, the Child Right Protection Network which is a network of all NGOs, government Institutions and other private organisations which are interested in child rights will offer additional support to the office of the CJ in the course of implementing the law.

The CJ thanked NACWYCA and UNICEF for their concern on children, adding that there is the need to work with all stakeholders to ensure that the challenges facing children are comprehensively controlled.

“You go to the streets this day, or to the supermarket to buy something and before anything, you see these children up to 10 to 15 of them around you just doing nothing,” the CJ said.

“I know they will say they are there seeking for alms but they should equally be seen

to be doing something that will help their future and not to get N1,000 today, and finish it, while their parents are there and do not know how they live, what they eat and whether they go to school or not.

“All these things are not being taken care of but I think with this establishment, something much better will come out of it and so, I want to assure you that I will give you all the cooperation you need to make you succeed”.

Aboki also visited the state Ministry of Justice with the same message, and later the Chief Imam of Lafia Central Mosque, urging the cleric to advise guardians to protect children in their care.

The Chief Imam, Dalhatu Dahiru told the NACWYCA team that he has always preached that children should not be neglected.

The Imam also criticised some politicians whom he accused of inducing children with all manner of drugs to cause trouble in their opponent’s camp. Dahiru condemned the maltreatment of children, describing it as injustice.

A statement from the UNICEF D’Field Office said the Day of the African Child is a good opportunity for collective and strategic action to be taken by all stakeholders to

•NACWYCA Direcotr, Nawani Aboki presenting child right documents to Nasarawa State Chief Judge, Badamasi Maina “Street children are vulnerable to all sorts of promote the rights of street children. risks: the reckless motorist; the abusive police “Life in the streets is hard and dangerous, officer; the drug, crime, and prostitution synespecially for a child who, in the first place, dicates; even the bigger and older street chilhas no business being there - begging, selldren who taunt or intimidate them.“ ing, sometimes even their bodies,” it said.

Foundation to provide 50,000 jobs

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N Islamic economic empowerment group, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) has disclosed plans to reduce unemployment in the labour market by providing 50,000 jobs within a year.

ZSF Executive Director, Alhaji Abdullahi Shuaib said this during a press briefing ahead of the forthcoming workshop on Zakat management for Nigerian professionals jointly organised by the foundation and Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI), Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The workshop, Shuaib said, will assist Nigerian professionals in developing their human capital potentials and also equip them with the right skills of managing private and public fund.

He added that the three-day programme will also facilitate a network base for professionals working in Zakat organisations and related financial institutions with a view to contributing positively to the socio-economic well-being of the less-privileged.

•Shuaib flanked by chairman of the foundation, Prince Sulayman Olagunju (left) and ZSF Administrative Secretary, Mr Ahmed Ma’aruf

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

“Going by our short-term plan, it is expected that one of the outcomes of the workshop is the ability of the participants to generate jobs for 50,000 unemployed Nigerian youths within a year in the country.

“The workshop is also expected to be an eye-opener for professional managers

working in microfinance institutions desirous of exploring zero per cent interest banking that will stimulate growth and development of small-scale enterprises in the country, among others,” he said.

The theme Zakat Management for Professionals, Shuaib said, was chosen to address the paucity of Nigerian professionals in Islamic economics, banking and finance and the dearth of professionals in Zakat management.

Residents petition police over noise pollution

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NITY Residents Association, Olowoora, a suburb of Lagos, has decried what it called environmental and noise pollution in the community by the Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) Church located in the area.

In a letter signed by the Chairman, Sam Idowu, the asociation warned the church to desist from causing noise and environmental pollution in the area.

A copy of the letter was sent to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in the area and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ikosi/ Isheri Local Government Chapter.

Part of the letter reads: “You would recall that this association has approached you on this issue on many occasions in the past. Rather than you taking appropriate action to reduce your noise making level both day and night, the situation has gotten worse to the extent that during the day no meaningful work or peaceable enjoyment can be attained in the area; we cannot sleep.”

It said further: “Many residents, including men, women and children have been exposed to life-threatening hazards and effects of the noise that comes through your loud speakers everyday and night. Yet your attitude to date has left much to be desired.”

The residents said they took the matter to the police because the church failed to heed their calls to curtail their noise and environmental pollution.

There are other churches in the same com-

By Amidu Arije

munity and mosques but none of these worship centres disturbs the community as the MFM allegedly does.

It is also said that residents of the community who are mainly Christians, Muslims and traditional worshippers maintian a cordial relationship with one another.

Mr. Adeleke Adeyemo, a member of the association, said he has spoken with the church pastor, Gbenga Adeyemi, on the issue of improper drainage which breeds mosquitoes, reptiles and dangerous animals in the community.

“I have complained about the environment to the church but there was no response; the environment is breeding mosquitoes, reptiles, all of which are hazardous to health,” Adeyemo said.

“We cannot open our doors and windows because of their unmaintained drainage, and more importantly when they eventually cut the grass they drop it on the drainage which prevents free flow of water, thereby causing bad odour which make life uncomfortable for us,” he added.

Adeyemo said they cannot sleep well during the day and night due to the ceaseless disturbances from the church, saying they have become a nuisance in the area.

“There are many churches and mosques in the area but they never constitute a nuisance as the MFM does,” he said.

“This church is attended by the elite in the

society; it is the district headquarters of the MFM, yet they are a nuisance to the environment,” he added.

The association’s secretary, Jide Adesanya, echoed Adeyemi’s sentiments.

“They don’t allow the residents to sleep well both day and night,” he said. “We are not complaining about their Sunday services but other things which they do everyday do disturb people,” he said.

He called on the Lagos State government particularly the Ministry of Environment to do something about the issue.

“We are appealing to government to help us on this issue,” he said.

In reaction, Pastor Adeyemi said the church had been trying to maintain good environmental and hygienic standards.

“We have put chemicals on the bushes to dry them off,” he said. “We have also tried to construct drainages in the area but the houses around there do not allow proper drainage, but we shall do something about it.”

Adeyemi also said that the church has been doing everything to reduce noise generation during programmes, including shutting its doors.

“We have reduced our programmes most of the time when we are having vigils; we close our doors and reduce our sound system each time we are having vigils to prevent it from disturbing people,” he said.

Pastor Adeyemi promised to make more effort in reducing the noise level still.

“The urge to put in place an effective and functional mechanism that will enhance the capacity building of Nigerian professionals on acceptable global practices of Zakat management and other related halal fund management in order to put a smile on the faces of the less-privileged and vulnerable Nigerians living in the midst of abundant human and material resources cum ensuring a sustainable socio-economic empowerment of our people informed the choice of this workshop.

“The event is expected to have a minimum of 11 sessions to cover topics such as Economics/Principles of Zakat; Accounting Issues for Zakat Institutions; Governance Issues in Zakat Institutions; and Role of Government in Zakat Mobilisation and Management.

Others are Role of Non-Governmental Organisations in Zakat Management; Integrating Zakat with Islamic Microfinance and Zakat Institutions in Nigeria.

“To ensure that quality delivery of paper presentations are achieved, experts and specialists on the aforementioned topics have been invited from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Nigeria among others,” he said.

The workshop, Shuaib said, will be coordinated by Senior Economist and Training Specialist, Dr Mohammed Obaidullah from the Islamic Research and Training Institute of the Islamic Development Bank Group with assistant of the Senior Administrative Secretary of ZSF, Mr Ahmed Ma’aruf.

Participants are expected from highly reputable NGOs, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria, professional bodies, State Government Zakat Commissions/Boards, Micro finance Banks, Religious organisations among others.

Among eminent personalities invited to grace the opening session of the event includes the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar; Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Secretary-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Dr Abdul-Lateef Adegbite among others.

Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation is a nongovernmental and non-profit making organisation registered with the Corporate Affairs Corporation, Abuja to provide humanitarian and welfare services to Muslims and mankind in general.

It also engage in human capital development of Nigerian youths to be selfreliant and to enhance their socio-economic welfare.

On the other hand, the Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) is an affiliate of the Islamic Development Bank Group responsible for leading the development and sustenance of a dynamic and comprehensive Islamic Financial Services Industry that supports socio-economic development in Member countries.

Nigeria, being a member of Islamic Development Bank Group, hence the need for her to maximally tap from the resources of IDB for the economic benefits her citizenry.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

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Ministry laments poor implementation of Child Rights Act From Bukola Amusan

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•From left: Mr. Victor Olomu, Customer Care Manager, MTN; Miss Lydia Obot, 400 level, Mass Communication; Miss Onaeko Ifeoluwa, 300 level, Building, both students of the University of Lagos and Ms. Yoyin Familusi, Customer Experience Manager, MTN at the company’s Customer Forum held at the University of Lagos

HE Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has lamented the poor implementation of the Child Rights Act in some states of the federation. About 22 states have so far passed the Act into law.

But the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Idris Kuta who spoke at the 2011 celebration of the Day of the African Child said some have not addressed the cases of street children provided for under the Act. He said the theme of the celebration which is “All Together for Urgent Actions in Favour of Street Children” was chosen to draw the attention of all concerned in order to fight the epidemic.

Kuta said: “Policymakers, parents, children and other stakeholders should be mobilised on the need to work together to ensure that the rights of all children are protected.

“Children are gifts from God and they bring joy and happiness. Unfortunately, some children are most susceptible to many development crises because of their birth and the realities of their lives,” he added.

He said street children are not criminals but victims of circumstances who have been deprived of their rights. Therefore, they should be catered for.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Prof. Nkechi Damachi said in tackling the menace in the country, the Ministry has, through the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act 2004, made education free and compulsory at the basic education level.

Street kids savour children day

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AVEN for the Nigerian Child, a nongovernmental organisation, has organised a party for the less privileged children in the Kuramo Beach area of Lagos State.

Over 30 children, including adolescents, came together to eat and drink, gyrating to the sound of contemporary Nigerian music.

On that day, those kids would have been busy doing odd jobs like cleaning car windshield during heavy traffic at Victoria Island to be able to feed themselves.

Some of those hopeless kids narrated their challenges. Twin boys, Taiye and Kehinde Agboola have a mentally retarded mother.

They are 10 years old and look terribly malnourished.

Another one, Kehinde Adeleke left home last month because his frail grandmother couldn’t take care of him and his siblings.

His parents are late and he wants to go to school hoping the government will come to his aid.

Mrs. Yemisi Wada, founder and executive director of Haven for the Nigerian Child is like an angel to these kids and she is happy caring for them.

The mother of five said: “We don’t care for them on children’s day alone though it is on that day we actually bring a cake and food packs. We come here from time to time. We have actually taken 28 kids off the street and they are being sheltered.

Over the last four years, some have completed learning some trades and some are still in school. We come here regularly because they need to earn our trust. This would be the fourth children’s day party organised by our NGO.” Ezekiel is another Kuramo kid. The 15year-old boy left his home four times to make the beach a haven, albeit temporarily. His reason for leaving home, he said, is the frequent fights he witnessed at home between his parents which led to a separation when he was seven years old. His mum now lives in Kaduna and his last class was primary four.

Mrs. Wada would want government to compel corporate bodies to partner with NGOs in delivering their corporate social responsibilities by helping in taking more kids off the street. She narrated how she developed interest in the Kuramo hopeless children.

“I found out by accident that there were so many children living on the streets of La-

•Children at the event

By Kehinde Falode

gos. During one of my birthdays, I was distributing food packs on the street as I always do to mark my birthday. On this day, I went to do it myself as against sending people. I was actually attacked by some young children in Victoria Island.

“That was about six years ago. Ever since, the passion to find out why they are on the street and try and make a difference has not stopped.

“And then after doing my research, I found out that they were not area boys, prostitutes, criminals but victims of circumstances at home. From my rapport with them, I found

out that the extended family system is disappearing in Nigeria.

“Because of the harsh economic situation in the country, many families cannot feed themselves, let alone take care of other children. You also discover that even in the rural areas, marriages are breaking down and the children are feeling the effects of it.

“A lot of ignorance is being exhibited. The woman who is marrying a new husband won’t be able to take care of children from the husband’s first marriage and those children are left with stepfathers and stepmothers who invariably sometimes maltreat them.

Whether it’s real or imagined,

From my rapport with them, I found out that the extended family system is disappearing in Nigeria...Because of the harsh economic situation in the country, many families cannot feed themselves, let alone take care of other children

the children don’t feel like the children of the home. So, the standard of living changes for them.

“Some of these children yearn to go to school. I have the case of an 18-year-old boy who has been in Kuramo Beach for five years when we met him. We took him back home to learn how to cut hair and how to shoot videos.

“When it was time of his freedom, he broke down in tears, saying to one of my volunteers that he would like to go to school. He was so adamant that I had to take a step of faith and now he is in JS3 in a private school and doing very well.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22 2011

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Kano tackles desertification

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• Kwankwaso

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OVERNOR Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has directed the state Ministry of Environment to provide 2 million seedlings for planting as part of measures to check desertification in the state.

The governor gave the directive when officials of the African Desertification Control Initiative comprising Nigerian and Chinese environmental experts, paid him a courtesy call in Government House in Kano.

Kwankwaso expressed dismay over the failure of the immediate past administration to produce seedlings in the last two years.

“It is disheartening to note that the last administration did not plant a tree in any part of the state in the last two years. This is a disaster.

“I have directed the state Ministry of

Kwara directs renovation of school

WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has visited the state School for Special Needs in Ilorin,the state capital and directed its immediate renovation.This was 12 years after it was last visited by any governor.

The governor, who was visibly touched by the deplorable state of the hostel buildings in the school, directed that a comprehensive report on the school’s renovation requirement be submitted to his office immediately.

Alhaji Ahmed,who was accompanied by top government functionaries, disclosed that his visit to the school was to enable him have first hand information on the school and the areas of need that require urgent government attention.

He said government would create a platform for skills acquisition so that students can be taught to acquire various vocational skills.

“I have come to see what is available in the school to make life meaningful for the students and get them fully integrated into the society” he said.

Kwara The governor, who promised that teaching facilities would be improved upon, urged the teachers to train the students in a way that they would be capable of facing future challenges.

According to him, renovation of the school would begin immediately with the critical areas such as the hostel, classroom and laboratories, adding that a substantial part of the renovation work was expected to be ready for commissioning within the first 100 days of his administration.

“I assure you that before the year runs out, you will have a brand new School for Special Needs,” the governor disclosed further, promising that his administration would do everything humanly possible to make the children feel like Nigerians.

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Kano

HE Taraba State government has voted N12.4 billion for the rehabilitation of the 72km SunkaniGarba Chede Road. The contract was awarded to PW Construction Company,

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

Environment to produce 2 million seedlings either this planting season or next.

“I am happy that you have come to meet the right government that is environment friendly.”

He also revealed that funds for the procurement for the seedlings have been made available to the state Ministry of Environment, a move aimed at tackling the problem of desertification in the state.

Kwankwaso, who described desertification as a global problem, called for collective responsibility on the part of government, corporate organisations and the citizenry to reverse the trend, in view of its serious implications to human existence.

He, however, lamented the indiscriminate felling of trees and over grazing, assuring that his administration would explore means by which the problem can be minimised if not completely tackled.

Earlier, the Executive Director of the African Desertification Control Initiative, Alhaji Umar Dalandi Dahiru, explained that the initiative is a non-governmental organisation dully registered with the Federal Government to tackle the problem of desertification in the country.

He said the NGO has signed a bilateral agreement with the Chinese Desertification Control Organisation with funding from United Nations Water Agency to tackle the menace of desertification in six African nations, including Nigeria.

Governor summons contractor

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• From Left: Majority Leader, Plateau House of Assembly, Gyang Fulani; Legislative Officer, Timothy Jato and Deputy Speaker, Johnbull Shekarau, during the passing of 2011 Appropriation Bill at the House in Jos

Shettima promises enhanced corps members’ welfare

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ORNO State Governor Kashim Shettima has promised an enhanced welfare package for National Youth Service Corps members serving in the state.

Speaking at the passing out parade of 2011 batch ‘b’ NYSC members held at the orientation camp in Maiduguri recently, Shettima said: “my

HID convenes Yoruba Unity Forum

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HE 2011 maiden meeting of the Youruba Unity Forum, the umbrella body for the Yoruba at home and in the Diaspora, will take place tomorrow at 12.00 noon at the Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s residence, Efunyewa Hall, Ikenne in Ogun State.

The meeting, which is being convened by Chief Mrs. H.I.D. Awolowo is expected to be attended by all Yoruba irrespective of their political, religious or professional callings. Its aim is to foster unity and re-position the

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race for continued peaceful co-existence and progress among other tribes in the nation.

The body has been a veritable platform to ventilate ideas on some national issues as they relate to Yoruba nation. It has also been a forum that formulates strategies that promote the dignity of the race.

The convener is expected to use the meeting to stress the need for all to bury the hatchet and genuinely work for the common good of the race and Nigeria.

Journalists told to restore glory

EDIA practitioners in the country have been told to at all times uphold their professional ethics and bring to bear their innate qualities as well as writing and reporting skills in order to guarantee the confidence of the reading public.

The Cross River State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Patrick Ugbe, gave the admonition while declaring close the two–day-in-house professional training, targeted at sharpening the news writing and reporting skills of information officers in state.

Ugbe said restoring the past glory of the profession was very critical, emphasising that the situation where practitioners of the profession are looked down upon because of

From Kunle Johnson, Calabar

improper conduct does not augur well for its image.

The commissioner pointed out that in times past, media practitioners were held in high esteem, among members of the society, maintaining that they were not only dreaded but seen as important personalities that are very necessary in promoting the image of any individual or organisation He bemoaned the current trend where some practitioners be-little their personality while on the job and called for a change of attitude in order to be role models in the society as it was the case in the past.

• From left: Mr Chinedu Aham-Neze General Manager Sales and Marketing, Mr Agbojo Dotun, Chairman, Lagos State Poultry Association of Nigeria and Dr Ayoola Oduntan, Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria, South West Zone at a press briefing on the state poultry industry at the Renaissance Hotel, Alausa, Ikeja Lagos.

• Director-General, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria , Badagry, Mr Ajibade Peters presenting a certificate of participation to Mrs Roseline Obara-Sanni, one of the 117 who graduated at the college

Doubts over MDG goals

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HE Federal Government has expressed fears that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) may not be achieved by 2015 if cases of child abuse are not checked.

Executive Secretary of National Agency for Prohibition in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP) Mr Simon Egede who spoke during a workshop against stigmatisation of witches and wizard children, said the Federal Government condemns acts that expose children to abuse and exploitation.

According to him, “it is unfortunate to note that, regrettably, the institutions that have the primary responsibility to care for children have closed ranks against them and are the ones victimising them”.

The NAPTIP chief alleged that the escalation of the problem is closely tied to the proliferation of religious or spiritual organisations, which are independent of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).

He regretted that the institutions that have primary responsibility for the care of children are actually instrumental to their abuse and exploitation, thereby leaving

Taraba to spend N12.4b on road

Abuja From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

them with no escape route, no hope and no where to turn to.

Speaking further, Egede noted that when the various human rights conventions pertaining to the child’s rights are considered, they appear applicable to human beings but not necessarily child specific and therefore fail to address the peculiar needs of children in their entirety.

Every child he said, is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person and accordingly, no child should be subjected to physical, mental or emotional injury; abuse, neglect or maltreatment including sexual abuse.

Also, no child should be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment as well as to be subjected to attacks upon his or her honour or reception.

Declaring the two-day workshop open, the Permanent Secretary,Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Idris Kuta who conveyed the event, decried that the alleged child witch or wizard is being subjected to all manner of abuse ranging from stigmatisation, discrimination, ostracism, severe beating, cutting and starving.

N apparent fulfillment of zero tolerance for non-adherence to contractual obligations, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has summoned the contractor handling the Eruku-Koro road project in Ekiti Local Government Area, Bal Engineering Limited, to report in his office over the company’s inability to complete the project on schedule.

The governor gave the directive in Eruku after an inspection visit to the project site to ascertain the level of work on the project.

Alhaji Ahmed, who expressed great disappointment on the handling of the project, said the contractor has no excuse for inefficiency.

His words: “As far as we are concerned, you are giving us an excuse for inefficiency. It is an excuse and there shouldn’t be an excuse”.

Taraba From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Emmanuel Bello,has said.

The approval was made at the maiden State Executive Council (SEC) meeting.

The Sunkani-Garba Chede Road is a Federal Government project that is now in total disrepair. The state has opted to rehabilitate it, with the understanding that the Federal Government would later reimburse it.

“It is a partnership between our state and the federal government”, said Bello.

Governor Danbaba Suntai was quoted as

saying the state government is shouldering responsibility because the main users are residents of the state and its environs.

Experts challenge corporate bodies on blindness

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EDICAL practitioners have urged the government and private organisations to support the global efforts at combating diabetic retinopathy, a disease that causes blindness.

Speaking recently at a workshop on “Diabetic Retinopathy as an Emerging Public Health Problem, held at Deseret Community Eye Institute in Ijebu Imushin, Ogun State, a division of Eye Foundation Hospitals, eye specialists,

Borno From Joseph Abiodun

administration would ensure that the welfare of corps members in the state is seriously considered as a way of appreciating them”.

He praised the out-gone corps members’ developmental efforts towards the upliftment of their host communities, stressing that their contributions in the areas of primary healthcare delivery, campaign against HIV/ AIDS and charity services are in the right direction.

Governor Shettima added: “There is no doubt that these contributions had positive impact on the lives of members of your host communities”.

He urged them to respect and adhere strictly to the tenets of the NYSC scheme where they may find themselves and as ambassador of NYSC, they should continue to keep the flag flying.

The governor explained that the focus of his administration among others, will be mainly on youth empowerment and skills acquisition.

He then congratulated them and urged them to remain loyal, patriotic and be in the vanguard of enlightening Nigerians against all social vices capable of derailing the democratic system.

The state’s Coordinator, of NYSC Alhaji Habibu Kurawa, in his address, praised the state government for its support to the scheme especially the new administration of Governor Kashim Shettima whose impact is already being felt across the state.

During the event,NYSC members who distinguished themselves during the one year mandatory service got the state honours award of cash of N100, 000 and N50, 000 respectively, while staff of the NYSC secretariat who also were excetional in their official duties were presented with gifts.

• Suntai

comprising ophthalmologists and optometrists, said there was need for increased corporate sponsorships of diabetic retinopathy control programmes towards the realisation of Vision 20:2020’s Right to Sight.

Such sponsorships, the medical doctors said, should be built on public-private-partnership policy and group practice system of ophthalmologists.

A consultant ophthalmologist surgeon, Dr (Mrs.) Mildred Ulaikere, said that huge investments in well-equipped eye hospitals would “serve to move the diabetic retinopathy control forward to a safe level as stipulated by the Vision 20:2020 (the right to sight).”

Ulaikere said that most cases of reported blindness in the country resulted from diabetic retinopathy. She raised the alarm that negligible attention had been paid by government and private establishments to combat the pervasive disease.

She lamented that most blindness resulting from cataract/diabetic retinopathy was treatable and preventable, but for sheer negligence by Nigerians authorities.

BRIEFS

Igbinedion University opens IT academy •Deputy British High Commissioner, Robin Gwynn; President, Nigeria Britain Association (NBA) Tunde Arogunmati; Managing Director, Promisador, Keith Richards and NBA Vice Patron, Mr Sammy Olagaju, during NBA Enterprise Dialogue held at Kingfisher Club, Ikoyi.

Shekarau advises Jonathan on Boko Haram

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HE immediate past Governor of Kano State Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to as soon as possible tackle the threat posed to the stability and unity of Nigeria by the Boko Haram Islamic Sect.

The former governor also condemned in strong terms the bomb attack on the Louis Edet House Police Headquarters.

In a press statement issued in Kano by his spokesman, Malam Sule Ya’u Sule, and made available to Newsextra, the former governor said the bomb attack should be condemned by all lovers of peace and tolerance in the country.

Shekarau described the suicide attack as callous and expressed his condolences to the

Kano From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim and the families of those who died in the bomb blast.

He called on President Goodluck Jonathan to do everything within his power to ensure that the Boko Haram threat is nipped in the bud as soon as possible.

The former governor urged the police and other security agencies to intensify their vigilance and intelligence gathering efforts to defeat people, whom he noted are threatening the security, unity and stability of Nigeria.

THE Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, has opened its state-of-the-art Information Technology (IT) Academy in Okada Town.

The centre will offer more that 700 courses in information and communication technology (ICT).

Speaking at the university’s 12th Foundation Day ceremony and commissioning of the academy, the ViceChancellor, Prof. Egosa Osaghae said it would open “a window of endless opportunities and lucrative careers for our students.”

He added: “I will advise all students to take full advantage of this IT academy driven towards international certifications in Microsoft, Oracle, CompTIA and others.”

The academy was set up in partnership with the United Global Resources Limited/ karROX Nigeria.

Ondo spends N2.1b on community projects

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HE Ondo State government said it has expended about N2.1 billion naira on community-based projects in all the 18 local government areas in the state.

Apart from this, the government said that 180 out of 230 communities in the rural areas have fully benefited from its community based projects.

Disclosing this at a new conference in Akure, the state Commissioner for Cooperatives and Community Development, Engr Clement Faboyede said on-going projects in about 50 other communities are at different stages of completion.

The commissioner added that government had approved N305 million to equip about 70 basic health centres located at different councils in the state.

According to him, the money would be used to procure furniture, drugs and other necessary equipment. He added that no fewer than 161 deliveries had been carried out in the basic health centres by medical practitioners employed by

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

government at the councils.

Faboyede, however, lamented dearth of medical personnel at the local level, saying that efforts by government to employ more able hands to work at the basic health centres had been inconsequential.

‘Government is trying its best to ensure that the basic health centres are well equipped but the medical personnel including doctors and nurses are not readily available for employment.

‘There was a time we wanted to employ about 122 health workers to fill our heath centres, we only managed to recruit just 22".

The commissioner, however, said that the demand for basic health centres was increasing daily from different communities with the people from the riverside communities topping the list.

• From right: Comrade Ayodele Adewale, Chairman, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area; Alhaji Nurudeen Eyinfunjowo and Alhaji Dotun Adegbola at a welcome party organised by Comrade Adewale at the council secretariat in honour of Hon. Prince Sultan Adeniji-Adele, after his swearing - in ceremony

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

Life

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The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Text only: 08023058761

• Prince Ponnle cutting the tape to open the house... last Sunday. Watching are Mrs Awofisan (3rd left) and Princess Ponnle ( right)

A bond of friendship The age-old prayers of a 66-year-old retired widow was answered on Sunday when she got a newly built well-furnished three-bedroom bungalow from her secondary school friend. – SEE PAGE 32 Solanke leads actors to London for Soyinka

Queen Nefertiti’s branding of folklores

Nigeria’s beauty on stage

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

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The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

• The three-bedroom bungalow presented to Mrs Awofisan.

PHOTOS: ADEJO DAVID

A bond of friendship •Industrialist’s wife gives her friend a home For 34 years, they lost contact. Princess Funke Ponnle, wife of golf enthusiast and MicCom Cables and Wires chair Prince Tunde Ponnle, and Mrs Oluremi Awofisan were friends in school decades ago. Following their reunion last year, Princess Ponnle deemed it fit to build a house for her friend and chief bridesmaid at her wedding 44 years ago. The house was dedicated in Ibadan, Oyo State on Sunday. SUNDAY OGUNDUGBA reports.

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HE had a dream - to live in a beautiful home with her gradnchildren. As age advanced, her dream became shaky. She had lost her husband. Besides, she is retired.

But fate had a good deal in store for Mrs Oluremi Awofisan, 66.

Just last Sunday, she got, arguably the biggest gift of her life a new three-bedroom bungalow built in the heart of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State - courtesy of her friend while in secondary school decades ago, Princess Olufunke Ponnle, wife of the Chairman, MicCom Golf Hotels and Resort.

“Having lost my husband a long time ago and with the fact that I am a retiree, I never for once thought I would own a house in life, even though I always pray that God should help me. Living in a rented apartment for 12 years brought shame, insults and ridicule but here is a wonderful gift. This is wonderful,” Mrs Awofisan said as she was handed the keys.

It was a moving ceremony witnessed by relations and friends.

Mrs Awofisan, mother of four, who retired from the Army Children School, Iwo Road, Ibadan lost her husband in 2005.

Since then, taking care of her children has been her responsibility. According to her, her wish has always been to have a good home for her children and to avoid the problems she faced as a youth.

“I did not enjoy while growing up, because my mother died when I was young, at 11. I grew up under the care of relatives.

My youthful days were full of ups and down but God saw me through. It was when I got to the college that I experienced some level of freedom. I made up my mind to work hard and leave a good legacy for my children. But my husband also had other wives, and we parted ways later due to some circumstances,” she said.

Foot wears competed for space at the entrance of the house, as guests, relatives and friends rushed in.

In the crowd, one guest stood out. She is Mrs Adenike Oni, who taught Princess Ponnle and Mrs Awofisan at Anglican Girls Secondary Modern School, Ile-Ife, Osun State. She described the two friends as “very good and very clever girls when I taught them.”

The house, painted in bright yellow and brown, has Oluremi House boldly emblazoned on it.

Princess Ponnle said she was directed by God, adding that everything went well because of the support she got from her husband.

On how their friendship started, Princess Ponnle said she met Mrs Awofisan in Ile-Ife in 1959 when they were students at Anglican Secondary Modern School.

“She was a very brilliant girl and we loved each other very well. In the school, we swapped the first and second positions in class. Sometime, I clinched the first position while she took the second. Sometime, also I came second while she came first. But, while she was the quiet type who would get on easily with anybody, I was the ‘troublesome’ type and I think this balanced the equation.

“Later, we both went to the United Missionary College in Ibadan for our Grade 2 Teacher’s Education. When I got married in 1966, she was my chief bridesmaid. When she got married later in 1967, I was her chief bridesmaid. We were together until I travelled abroad and we lost contact. We didn’t see each other for a long time, from 1972 to 2010. When I got back, I couldn’t trace her. But she was able to trace me.”

She went on: “The land upon which this house was built was initially bought for my ex-teacher but God instructed me to divide the land into two. I didn’t know why. After building for my teacher, I was wondering what God wanted me to do with the remaining land. Later God told me the land was meant for Oluremi, that I should do what I did for my teacher for her. I took her there for the foundation but she didn’t know it was her house. We commenced building in May last year, and as we completed the building, I handed over the documents, written in her name, to her first child. When she got to know the house belongs to her, she nearly fainted, thanking God.” Prince Tunde Ponnle, decked in a blue agbada, said he wanted to leave a legacy of giving because of his background and the support he got from God when he was suffering.

His words: “The motivation for my philanthropic gestures

• Mrs Oni; the friends’ teacher

was because I grew up in penury. My father was not too poor but he had so many wives; so, you had to pick what was available. At that time, I had no mother; I grew out of self help.

That was why I went to a teacher training school and not a secondary school. I had to finance myself all through. I made a promise to God that if he helped me to get to the top, I would not forget the poor. This is why I cannot close my eyes to the plight of the poor. This is what I have been doing all my life.

“I want to advise people to share. Because if they share, Nigerians will not be as poor as they are now. Unfortunately because of greed, not many Nigerians are willing to share, but I am sure that if you have millions in the bank and you pass on, the money belongs to somebody else.”

Mrs. Awofisan’s first son, Dr. Kayode Oremakinde, who delivered the sermon, described giving as a virtue, saying the hallmark of blessing is to be a blessing to others. He urged other well-to-do people to emulate the Ponnles.

His words: “My mum is a wonderful woman. She faced a lot of challenges when she and my dad parted ways. I was very young then. In the midst of all these problems, she is still smiling. That is why we are not surprised that God visited her.

There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. The friendship of my mother and Mrs Ponnle has stood the test of time. The last time I saw Mrs Ponnle was when I was a child. But today, her gift to my mother shows that God never forgets anybody.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

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• Bamtefa

•Solanke

Solanke leads actors to London for Soyinka’s birthday

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ENOWNED actor and musician Jimi Solanke will lead other actors — Kunle Bamtefa, Teni Aofiyebi and Taiwo Obileye — to London for the Ayo Oluwasanmi-directed play, Dance of Liberation. It is co-produced by Henry Foluso and Sir Peter Badejo andwill hold at Theatre Tabernacle Nottinghill, London on July1and 2. It is part of activities marking Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka’s 77th birthday tagged: Project WS7728086.

For the two days, Tunji Oyelana and Niyi Coker Jnr will perform the music of Wole Soyinka while international cultural discourse moderated by Sir Peter Badejo will hold at the Theatre Tabernacle. Other plays lined up for performance during the event include: Ajantala Pinocchio, directed by Prof. Bode Sowande, Ricee and Etike Revo Wetin? directed by Dr. Tunde Awosanmi, and The waiting room, directed by Wole Oguntokun.

According to a statement by the organisers, ZMirage Multimedia Limited, Ben TV is the exclusive television broadcast partner for the event in London, while the Voice newspaper has also signed on as a partner. It added that some companies with high sense of corporate social responsibility are also identifying with organisers in making available gifts for the essay competition, which is part of the celebration.

On the home front, there will be final rehearsal on July 12, while essay competition and advocacy night will hold on July 13 at the Muson Centtre, Onikan, Lagos and Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos respectively. On July 14, the participating students in the essay competition will have lunch with Kongi at Abeokuta followed by sight-seeing and drama presentation of Ajantala Pinocchio between 6 and 9pm. At the National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos, on July 15, there will be dance, dance drama and night of theatre to be produced by Mufu Onifade.

A team of young musicians like Baba Dee, Sound Sultan, Nomoreloss, African China and Guitar Man will be on stage at the Freedom Park between 7 and 9pm. Wole Oguntokun directed drama, The Waiting Room, will be on stage at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos from 7pm to 9pm on July 17.

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

Already, State winners are emerging from across the country in the on-going essay competition organised as part of activities marking the Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka’s 77th birthday tagged; Project WS7728086. The new winners from the states are Fasanya Oluwaseun of Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Faje Elijah Kashope of Harmony Secondary school, Lokoja, Ajayi Mosinmileoluwa of Queens School, Ibadan, Brenda Michael Asotibe of Concordia College, Yola, Samuel Precious of Aunty Ayo Girls Comprehensive and Adebisi Oluwatobiloba of Lead City high School, Ibadan, Oyo State. These bright youngsters are as eager as the first set of winners reported last week to meet the Nobel Laureate on July 14 at his Abeokuta country home.

Last year, ZMirage Multimedia Limited staged Preemptive, a play written by US-based Niyi Coker and directed by Segun Ojewuyi, in the Barbados, the UK, US and Nigeria between June and July as part of activities marking Wole Soyinka’s 76th birthday.

‘Already, State winners are emerging from across the country in the on-going essay competition organised as part of activities marking the Nobel Laureate Prof.

Wole Soyinka’s 77 th birthday tagged; Project WS7728086’

• Aofiyebi

Graham Foundation awards $500,000 grants

T

HE Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, Chicago, US has announced its 2011 grants to individuals. Over its 55-year history, the Graham Foundation has awarded more than 3,900 grants to individuals as well as organisations, totaling over $32 million.

For this year, 69 grantees, who represent a diverse national and international community, were selected after a highly competitive application process from a pool of over 500 submissions. The awards, up to $15,000 each, will support publications, exhibitions, installations, films, new media initiatives, conferences and lectures, public programs, and research.

“The direct support of individuals has been an important part of the Graham Foundation’s grant programme since its inception,” says Sarah Herda, director of the Graham Foundation. “It is thrilling to

carry on this long tradition of support for individuals, whose projects both expand and strengthen the scope of contemporary architectural discourse by engaging a broad range of socio-political, technological, environmental, and aesthetic issues.”

Founded in 1956, the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts makes project-based grants to individuals and organisations and produces public programmes to foster the development and exchange of diverse and challenging ideas about architecture and its role in the arts, culture, and society.

Entries for 2012 grants to individuals will be available on the Graham Foundation website (www.grahamfoundation.org) on July 15, 2011. This form represents the first stage of a two-stage application process. The deadline to submit the inquiry form is September 15, 2011.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

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•Different shots of Adunni & Nefertiti her group members

Queen Nefertiti’s branding of folklores The singing group, Adunni & Nefertiti, is becoming the rave in entertainment. With the classical way it blends traditional folksongs into music to suit contemporary audience, the group is set to go places, according to its leader, Adunni. EVELYN OSAGIE writes.

L

IKE the historic Queen Nefertiti of Egypt, Adunni & Nefertiti, a Nigerian singing group, hopes to rule its world.

The all-women troupe is sure to catch the audience fancy anytime it is on stage. Aside the members’ colourful costumes and makeup, their voices and genre of music will captivate you. They thrill fans with folksongs from across Nigeria in a capella style or sometimes to the accompaniment of traditional instruments. With the media hype that follows the troupe’s performances, no doubt, the group is gradually becoming a household name in the entertainment industry.

But is that all it takes to become a major brand in the entertainment industry?

When asked what it takes to establish a major brand and compete, aside outplaying other brands in the industry - talent, money, audience flavour, stage power, and strong creative push? Adunni, the colourfully dressed leader and founder of the group, said: "You need to have guts… really strong guts. And that is what has kept us going."

She calls her group 'culture ambassadors' that seeks to represent Nigeria and the beauty of womanhood through music. "We are culture mediators and prophets. We pierce into people's hearts, soul and homes through our song. Essentially, we promote the African culture, music and womanhood through singing."

Her name is Adunni Motunrayo Abiodun Ayokunmi Orobiyi from Ogun State. But she prefers 'Adunni as her stage name', saying "it is symbolic". After graduating from the Theatre Arts Department, University of Lagos, the quest for uniqueness led her into establishing the traditional singing group. She said: "The idea had been on my mind for sometime. One can easily get dance, drama troupes and classical music groups, but folklore singers are hard to come by, especially an all-women one. I don't think we even have any. And so, I thought it wise to try something new and unique. Music has always been my area of interest and what I love doing. So, I called for audition and started. This was between 2006 and 2007.

I started with about six girls then. Some have left and others have joined; and the group has since increased. I recruit members by auditioning those with good voices and some level of commitment."

The group's name, she said, was inspired by its first manager. "While I was trying to put the group together I

told by my first manager, Toyin Ali-Balogun, that I needed to create a name for it. He came up with Nefertiti.

After researching into the name, I decided to merge my name 'Adunni' meaning 'pleasant to have' with that of the ancient Egyptian queen, Nefertiti, which means 'the beautiful one has come'. And the combination to me is symbolic - pleasant to have the beautiful one that has come' and that was how 'Adunni & Nefertiti' was born."

Before this, Adunni said she had established herself as a singer. "I was known as ‘Ayo Orobiyi’. That part of me is still alive, but the group has got my utmost attention."

Keeping up with the pace of developments in the industry has been her major challenge. However, the group seems to be on top of its game.

"It is no secret that folksongs and other traditional theatrical songs and singing on stage is gradually going out of fashion; and is seen by many as local and primitive. This in itself is a major challenge. But it has challenged me to be more creative. I have repackaged the concept to match with what is in vogue and contemporary style of music. So, it is pleasant to the youth and appealing to parents and all age group. I now have fans from all walks of life demanding our services, including in high places. Our dream is to go beyond Nigeria and reach the world with our music. And to become one of the leading brands in the music industry," Adunni said.

On how she seeks to achieve this, Adunni said: "I am focussed. With determination, creativity and, above all,

‘I have repackaged the concept to match with what is in vogue and contemporary style of music. So, it is pleasant to the youth and appealing to parents and all age group. I now have fans from all walks of life demanding our services, including in high places.

Our dream is to go beyond Nigeria and reach the world with our music. And to become one of the leading brands in the music industry’

•Adunni

God's favour and grace, we will get there.

“It is not all about the voice but total repackaging of the art. Our costumes play major roles in the repackaging process - the loud makeup with catchy outfits and fashionable colourful beads to blend - we play with colours

to make it flashy and appealing. Whether off or on stage, I strive to be in control. I enjoy myself but watch my audience to get the response I need and I love putting them in

•Continued on page33

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Ezeigbo revisits the civil war

EMORIES of the NigeriaBiafra Civil War will reverberate at the Abuja Writers Forum on June 25, when Prof.

Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo reads from her latest novel, Roses and Bullets. It will hold at the Pen and Pages Bookstore, White House Plaza, Plot 79, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja. The event will include the usual side attractions of poetry performance, mini art exhibition, and a raffle draw will also feature live music.

A professor at the University of Lagos, Adimora-Ezeigbo is a prolific writer with publications in poetry, fiction and children’s literature. These include five novels, The Last of the Strong Ones, House of Symbols and Children of the Eagle (a trilogy), Trafficked and Roses and Bullets; four collections of short stories, Rhythms of Life: Stories of Modern Nigeria, Rituals and Departures, Echoes in the Mind and Fractures and Fragments; three poetry collections, Heart Songs, Waiting for Dawn and Cloud and Other Poems for Children; and twenty children’s story books. While two of her children’s novels have been translated into Swahili and Xhosa, two of her unpublished plays, Hands that Crush Stone

and Barmaid and the Witches of Izunga, have been performed by the students of the Departments of Creative Arts and English at the University of Lagos.

In a recent interview, she explained that the Civil war has been part of her life in various ways and writing a novel about it was inevitable. “I started writing it in 2003. I got all the materials I needed from writing my thesis; it was not difficult writing the novel but I did not have time.

It was when I got a one-year fellowship at the Royal Holloway University (London) in 2006 that I had time to write. I completed the book in 2007. I have been reworking it and giving other people to read, and now it is ready for publishing.

“It is basically about two important characters, a young man and a young woman in a period of war. The war affected their love; it actually destroyed it. It is about their lives and their families.

The girl is the most important character.

“The story widens to bring in the war experience and other characters that were affected by it. Roses and Bullets is a love story set before and after the war. I have read everything on the Nigerian civil war.

Apart from witnessing it, I have been able to transmute ideas and facts into fiction.”

•Akachi

Sonia in Toronto world concert

B

ATUKI Music Society and the Gladstone Hotel will on July 1, present Nigerian-born songwriter, singer and actress Sonia Aimy (Aimiuwu) at the Melody Bar, Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. West, Toronto, the next in the world concert series that takes place on first Friday of every month between 7 and 10 pm. Sonia will be backed by a lineup of Toronto’s top African players including guitarist Pa Joe, bassist Ebenezer Agyekum, keyboardist Suleiman Juma and Kwame on drums.

The concert will feature a diverse lineup of performers with a strong focus on African music. Guest DJ Apollo will spin from his extensive collection of African popular and classic hits.

With a velvety voice comparable to the greats, the singer is the quintessential virtuoso of world music. Her CD, Mother, evokes highlife, Afrobeat, jazz and the call-and-response of African griot tradition; her style is effortlessly ‘Afrojazz’. Fluent in English, Italian, French and other African languages, Sonia enjoys exploring Toronto’s diversity, which, already knee-deep in African music, will be much richer once she

takes the stage on Canada Day. Sonia is a singer, actress choreographer and writer. Her work experience in the arts led her to work with the National Theatre of Turin, Rome, Alma Theatre as well as RAI Radio Television Italia. She has performed at numerous concerts throughout Europe and often accompanied by artists from Africa. The multi-talented Sonia has also starred in several Italian films.

Her work in the media includes writing, directing and presenting multicultural programmes for radio.

Sonia’s music career started when she was in her teens, singing at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Benin City, Edo State. She developed interest in folk, traditional music and storytelling. She later enrolled in the Esigie Cultural Group to pursue further education in traditional music and dance. When she came to Italy, she studied jazz music and interpretation as well as theatre arts.

This extra music education as well as practice through performances has allowed her to craft a sound solely her, which is a beautiful amalgam of folk, Afro-pop and jazz.

Queen Nefertiti’s branding of folklores •Continued from page 32 suspense. That is the joker for me."

The troupe has performed before a-list guests and at prominent cultural and artistic events across the country. Its ability to thrill the audience with folksongs from the locality of its hosts has become its major selling point. In her view, it would be hard for people to mime their songs, therefore, her copyright is somewhat protected. For this reason, she sees her group as a pioneer of a sort.

She said: "We are different, unique and classic. Singing in other languages, our voices, the costumes, appearance, name it. We are the pathfinder of an all-women folklore singing group in Nigeria. I have not seen any around here, there may be in other parts of the world, I don't know, but I know of Nigeria we are ruling. We are still the best because you can easily get others anywhere but it is difficult to do what we do because we learn other people's languages and we communicate to them through singing.

At The Nation's Editorial Board Chairman Sam Omatseye's 50th birthday cum books launch, the group entertained guests with Itsekiri songs that drew the the celebrant

and other guests, such as the wife of the former governor of Lagos State Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Hon. Temi Harriman, to the dance floor.

It was the same experience at an Arthouse Forum organised by Committee For Relevant Arts (CORA) to mark the 50th birthday of Yeni, the first daughter of the late Afrobeat's legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

Adunni & Nefertiti treated guests to traditional Abeokuta songs. They included the popular Egba anthem, Lori oke o'un petele composed by Yeni's great-grandfather.

The group is usually arranged into the parts of music - alto, tenor and soprano. This, she said is to create melody. Aside Adunni, other members of the group are Yetunde Mausi Whesu-Balogun, Oyedokun Bukola Hephzibah, Stella Abednigo, Deborah Ohiri and Folashade Orobiyi, among others.

"The arrangement is meant to create melody. As the lead singer, I usually have two, three or four melody singers to one side and alto and tenor singers on the other end to allow for melody."

The group is also into live musical performances. This unique feature has also become its selling point. But has the venture

into music been financially gratifying, she was asked.

"It has, to some extent. But, sometimes, it feels like cutting off somebody's head with what some people are willing to pay. It’s as if they do not want me to feed my family.

But I make them understand we are giving them a professional job. I tell them ‘if Dbanj is invited to play on stage, you know how much you would pay him and it is not like he will come with his equipment. He would mime his CD while performing.’ Yet, people find it difficult to pay someone that will come with girls to do a live performance.

And a capella is the most challenging, you have to project well. However, the price depends on what we are called for, distance and venue, and how big the programme is.

Because we do band stand; we do a capella and with traditional drumming also, among others."

The group's first album entitled Ayeraye, which is a deviation from what it preaches, is currently in the market.

"What we sing for stage performances is quite different from what we have in our album; but it is in praise to our maker. Our next album is going to be different and unique. It would like when we are on stage."

POETRY

Law

By Bolaji St.Ramos I call law not just an ass, It is the world’s only compass Pointing its many fingers To all the fields of man’s life.

I call law the Devil’s advocate Yet, God’s only syndicate— A bow in the hands of Devil; An arrow in grinding grip of God. Advocatus dei Advocatus diaboli The Alpha of the flame The Omega of the Paradise.

Law is Themis With the blindfold hovering over Just one eye, And freeing the other for the initiates.

Yet, sword and scales in hands To pass a judgment fair.

I call law the master and slave, A phenomenon with double standard With all kinds of chameleonic brands .

Green is thy colour in Spring Yellowish brown is it in Autumn.

Father of stability Father of instability The certain that is uncertain The uncertain that is certain.

Law is the inseparable Siamese twins A wound that digs deep Into the innocent heart of Peter To revive Paul from his guilty sleep.

Its fact could sum up to its fiction Its fiction could add up to its fact.

I call law the pendulum Of all times of existence— A determiner that will not determine, A verb that hangs its action, An adjective that postpones its qualification, A hypocrite pronoun that shields identity; Until it has conspicuously seen Whom its object to act upon be.

Law a confusion Law a commotion Law a dispute conciliator Law an arbitrator…

A sentence without a full stop.

A question with double question marks??

Law a hangman Law an executioner Law a technician Law a politician A creator with exclusive right to kill A bow in the hands of the Devil An arrow in the grip of God.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

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Is Nigeria truly beautiful? With the wave of killings, bombings and kidnappings across the country, what sort of beauty is the theatrical poet, Odia Ofeimun, referring to in his dance drama, Nigeria the Beautiful. Such thoughts followed guests into the AGIP Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, where it premiered last Friday.

EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

Nigeria’s beauty on stage

O

DIA Ofeimun’s Nigeria The Beautiful paints a unique, yet, colourfully in-depth picture of the political voyage of the Nigerian state – pre-independence till date. Where others may see chaos and inequality in her amalgamation story, the poet/playwright sees beauty as depicted in his play premiered last Friday in Lagos.

“The title did not appear to fit the rude reality of everyday politics in Nigeria…it offers a distance from the common view of Nigeria as home to a discordance of not only tongues and cultures but where nothing works or anything goes. It addresses what I have loved and still loved most about my country: enduring beauty, so much beauty in the diversities and cultural differences that many people consider the national albatross,” he explained.

And so, for about two hours, Ofeimun took the audience into the conflicts that characterise the political terrain from colonial era to the present time. The leaders – from Lord Lugard, Nigeria’s first Governor-General to the nationalists (Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Awolowo), the military dictators to the present administration – are the major characters, alongside the chorus. As his other dance dramas, Under the African Skies and A Feast of Return, Ofeimun blended poetry, dance, music and drama in the new play directed by Felix Okolo.

He brings the political stand of each leader to the fore through poetic speeches by the symbolic characters which are accompanied by electrifying dances and chants from across the country. The audience, comprising people from all walks of life, was entertained by the poetic speeches of the ‘nationalists’ – “We shall be partners where our humanity is not compromised,” by Sir Ahmadu Bello.

The audience was able to identify the leaders, their administrations and roles through the speeches, dressing and the accompanying dances.

Each scene and character is ushered in by chants and dance displays. And the displays, particularly those in between scenes, help to sustain the attention of the audience. The scenes come and go as platforms of expression where each leader is allowed to express his thoughts while the audience is given the freedom to draw its own opinion.

This, Ofeimun said, is deliberate. “It is a way of inviting the audience to participate in resolving the crises. Since, we are trying

to address, through the play, the central issues of a country that is so eminently saveable but have never managed to put it together. We want people to see why the things have not come together. There are so many different positions and rather than present the interfaces and conflicts, we just presented positions so that at the end of the dance drama the audience can decide for themselves how things have not quite held together. And if we managed to achieve that at the end, we would see the play as a success.”

Hearing the dance drama’s title, at first, his fans said, they felt they could predict what its main concern is and also how the drama would end. However, Ofeimun’s piece that began on a predicable note, ended on a somewhat unexpected note owing to the change in the characterisation of the present president.

They (his fans) had watched Ofeimun’s A Feast of Return, a play that highlights the liberation struggles of the African State in the South African experience where the Priestess of Memory, the setter of scenes and narrator, helps resolve the conflicts in the play. A large number had also seen the sneak preview of Nigeria The Beautiful during Odia Ofeimun’s Day for Lagos of the Poets held on March 16.

And so, they were not surprised when women played forward-looking positions in the new play. The play saw women playing active roles that help propel the nation forward. And as the audience followed the journey into the thoughts that ruled each era, one could see that the playwright made a conscious effort to paint women in a prominent light in the preservation struggle for the nation’s unification. They (women) seem to understand the problems and root of the conflicts more than their male counterparts.

The audience expected that just as they were able to know the past leaders, the current president would have would have come naturally following the sequence.

The play ended with a shocker. Ofeimun presented President Goodluck Jonathan as a woman. Efe Mayford Orhorha acted the president and as well as other women in the different eras. This, the poet said, is also deliberate and meant to show that women have a key role to play in developments that would shape the nation. She was able to unite the people. Although Ofeimun did not

•Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe addressing his supporters

•President Jonathan and other cast

•Dancers entertaining Lord Lugard and his colleague

‘It addresses what I have loved and still loved most about my country: enduring beauty, so much beauty in the diversities and cultural differences that many people consider the national albatross’ seek to proffer solution to Nigerian problems, the play’s resolution is what makes Nigeria’s story beautiful. “It is the beauty of unity in diversity. It is where we ought to be.”

But why a woman as Jonathan, Ofeimun was asked. “Is that not wonderful that you don’t have to be a man to make the point that you need to make to move your country forward? Seriously! It is a wonderful picture to have that woman represent all that eventually changes everything – change in itself. You would notice she represented the forward-looking positions.

And we hope that Nigerian women would

•Biafra soldiers displaying their flags.

somehow help propel us into that future,” he said.

The work, according to him, is one-inprogress that will have new things added and subtracted.

He said: “It is not quite a complete story.

You can actually complete the story. But while you are at it, this is our own story whether we tell from the front to the back or from front to back I am sure we all know the story very well, what we need to do is to add to that story. We don’t know what the last of leader who spoke (President Jonathan) would do but we hope that what they do would be for the good of all of us.”

PHOTO: EVELYN OSAGIE

2, 2011

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From Africa, nature as victim, muse

I

T says something about the stunted cosmopolitanism of the present New York art industry that while Neo-Retro-Abstract Expressionism is finding a giddy audience in the city, you have to travel three hours upstate to Skidmore College here to see an exhibition called Environment and Object: Recent African Art. The show, at the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery, is worth the trip, even though the names on its roster offer few surprises if you follow new African art at all. And, of course, the very term “African art” can mean different things: art made in Africa, or by someone from Africa living elsewhere, or by someone not from Africa but of African descent and so on.

All of these definitions apply here, as do various readings of the other terms in the exhibition title. This is very much a show of objects, though it also has several environments or installations. At the same time, the environment itself — meaning the natural world — is the subject of much of the art.

It is in many cases a difficult and unhappy subject.

For decades, the ecological destruction of the oil-rich Niger Delta region, through unregulated drilling, corporate exploitation and profit-driven territorial warfare, has been on international lists of environmental catastrophes. Unsurprisingly, artists who have roots in the region focus on that disaster in their work.

Sokari Douglas Camp was born there, and her metal sculpture of a woman pointing a rifle into her own mouth is a furiously conceived funerary monument to what Ms. Camp views as a cultural suicide in progress in the region. The photojournalist George Osodi records the prolonged demise in pictures of oil spills and flaming wells, and makes specific reference to the activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was executed in 1995 by the Nigerian military government for accusing both the government and multinational companies (specifically Shell) of environmental crimes. (A few years ago Ms. Camp designed a memorial sculpture, in Saro-

•An exhibit From Holland Cotter

Wiwa’s honor in London.)

Two artists in the Tang use abstract painting as a medium of political protest.

Jerry Buhari, who lives in Nigeria, evokes images of oil spills by pouring black acrylic paint over pristine canvases. And Yinka Shonibare, in a widely seen piece called “Black Gold I,” turns a wall full of small paintings into one giant, explosive dark stain.

In much of the world, making art about art, as opposed to art about life, is an unaffordable luxury, and much of the work in this show is topical in content.

Industrial slavery has a long and continuing history in Africa, and artists study it.

Sammy Baloji, from Congo, does so in digital photographs that merge images of now abandoned copper mines with vintage pictures of black miners who once worked them under European supervision.

Zwelethu Mthethwa has produced a powerful series of portrait-style photographs of migrant coal miners in South Africa today.

By no means does everything in the show — which was organized by Lisa Aronson, an associate professor of art history at Skidmore, and John Weber, director of the Tang — adhere to what the art historian Okwui Enwezor has called “Afro-pessimism.” Several artists conscientiously transform industrial and commercial waste into aesthetic gold. El Anatsui does in his gleaming, fabriclike wall hangings made from crushed bottle caps. So does Romuald Hazoumé in his witty “tribal” masks, pieced together from discarded cans and obsolete telephone parts.

Viye Diba assembles semi-abstract, walk-in evocations of Senegalese street markets. Bright Ugochukwu Eke, assisted

by Skidmore students, has turned thousands of plastic water bottles collected around the campus, along with pieces of found wood, into a translucent enclosure that brings the recyclable and biodegradable into visual harmony, much as the artist Nnenna Okore does in a wall sculpture, woven from plastic shopping bags, that looks like an immense piece of openwork lace and could probably, folded up,

‘For decades, the ecological destruction of the oilrich Niger Delta region, through unregulated drilling, corporate exploitation and profit-driven territorial warfare, has been on international lists of environmental catastrophes. Unsurprisingly, artists who have roots in the region focus on that disaster in their work’

fit in a shopping bag itself.

So, Africa as the Peaceable Kingdom? No one goes quite that far in a utopian direction. The South African Garth Meyer appears to in his photographs of forests in Zimbabwe, Gabon and Rwanda, though underlying the images is awareness that these environments are constantly threatened by degradation.

That threat is also a subtext — but only one of several — in Georgia Papageorge’s 2001 performance piece “Africa Rifting: Lines of Fire, Namibia/Brazil,” which took place in two parts, one in Africa, the other in South America, and is documented in photographs and video.

On Atlantic-facing beaches in two countries, Ms. Papageorge, who lives in South Africa, set up long banners of blood-red fabric to represent the line of breakage that formed, many millions of years ago, when a single great southern land mass split into separate continents. The divide was, Ms. Papageorge suggests, geologically definitive, but culturally, spiritually and politically, it was far from complete. Reasserting connections through art is the task she has given herself.

Environment and Object: Recent African Art continues through July 31 at the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, 815 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NewYork.

It then travels to the Anderson Gallery of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond (September. 9 to December. 11) and to the Middlebury College Museum of Art in Vermont (January. 27 to April 22, 2012).

•Culled from New York Times

Fresh strokes from Croatia, Italy

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IGERIAN fine artist, Miss Victoria Udondian was among fourteen other artists from across the globe that participated in a one-week international painting workshop in Vukovar, Croatia. It was part of build up activities to the First World Arts Games (WAG), in Croatia initiated by Peter Weisz.

They included Ssmiljan Popovmiljan Popovic (Croatia), Irfan Hozo Irfan Hozo (Bosnia), Herzegovina Aanna Berthelnna Berthelsen (Norway), Victoria Udondian offer (Liechtenstein), Mai Refky Mai Refky (Egypt), Svetoslav

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

Nedsvetoslav Nedeva (Bulgaria), Bogdan Aleksabogdan Aleksandrov (Bulgaria), Peterpeter Weisz- (Israel,Bikkel Bikkel (Netherlands), Tymon Ferenc De Laat Tymon Ferenc De Laat (Netherlands), Dušan Todoroviæ Dusan Todorovic (Serbia), Nessma Elaassar Nessma Elaassar (Italy) and Qkosovoqendrese Deqqwwendresa Deda (Kosovo). The world games will hold in Croatia towns of Osijek, Vukovar, Ludbreg, Krizevci and Fuzine in 2012.

The project was supported by the Republic of Croatia’s Ministry for Science, Education and Sport and Ministry for Tourism, and also the International Peace Bureau (IPB) in Geneva, Switzerland. Paintings from the project were exhibited in May at the partner cities of the Games in Croatia, as well as other cities of Vukovar. Slike ostaju trajno vlasništvo Grada, kao baza

za buduæi muzej Svjetskih umjetnièkih igara u Vukovaru.The collection remained the permanent property of the city as a base for the future museum of world art games in Vukovar. According to Udondian who was the only Nigerian, aSvjetske umjetnièke igre iz Osijeka (bivša Olimpijada kulture) u suradnji s gradom Vukovarom, partnerom Igara, organiziraju meðunarodnu umjetnièku slikarsku koloniju u Vukovaru od 8.do 15.rtists were selected by the National Committee of World Art Festival in 40 countries. “Umjetnici æe slikati na

‘As a visiting artist, I will have the opportunity to participate in studio activities and also interact with other local artists and participate in other cultural activities organised by Fondazione di Venezia’

raznim lokacijama Vukovara i okolice.The artists painted at various locations of Vukovar and the surrounding area for a week and on the last day, May 15, there was an exhibition, which was declared open by the Mayor of Vukovar, Mr. Zeljko Sabo.Udondian who recently won a residency at Fondazione di Venezia’ in Venice, Italy will be part of the project “Art Enclosures- confini d’arte Residency for visiting visual Artist in Venice. It is a special purpose art entity of Fondazione di Venezia, with the aim of promoting works of young emerging artist from Africa.The first part of the residency that involved four African artists ended in December 2010 and the initiative is continuing with new residency beginning from June 1to July 31.

“As a visiting artist, I will have the opportunity to participate in studio activities and also interact with other local artists and participate in other cultural activities organised by Fondazione di Venezia. During the period of the residency, a number of meetings will be held to introduce and showcase the artists’ works in university centers, local arts galleries and arts institutions,” she added.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

36

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

‘African religion key to continent’s growth’

A

S part of efforts to bring new orientation and perception towards African nay Yoruba culture and values, an international conference is being organised by the Department of African Languages, Literatures and Communication Arts, Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo, Lagos.

The conference, which will run for five days (July 25-29) at the university auditorium, is themed: Traditional Religious Festivals in Yorubaland and in Diaspora: Documentation for Preservation and Protection.

The Head of Department, Dr Harrison Adeniyi, said the conference is meant to honour one of its assets, Prof Adeyinka Folorunsho, the first Professor of Yoruba in the department.

“We discovered that our culture institutions and traditions are dying and we felt there is a need to revive it notwithstanding that we have Christianity and Islam. We still believe that there are cultures that are beneficial to our society”, he said.

Speaking on its theme, Dr Adeniyi said: “Before we came up with the concept, we knew that nowadays people assume that everything pertaining to traditional religious festival is evil and satanic whereas there are many of the festivals which are merely for entertainment. For instance the Kayokayo Festival in Epe (Lagos State) to an extent is a religious festival, but most importantly it is an annual festival just for celebration of the people’s culture in the environment. We also have the Gelede Festival in Egbado Yewa which thrives more on its entertainment aspect than the core festival.”

Some of the topics to be discussed will dwell mainly on traditional religious festivals in addition to a number of current issues. Such topics include: Traditional Religious Festivals and Modernity;

By Adegunle Olugbamila

Traditional Religious Festivals and Documentation; Traditional Religious Festivals and Orature; Traditional Religious Festivals and Popular Culture; Traditional Religious Festivals and spirituality; Traditional Religious Festivals and African Literatures; Traditional Religious Festivals and Social Capital; Traditional Religious Festivals and Imported Faiths; Traditional Religious Festivals Tourism; Traditional Religious Festivals and Gender Issues; Traditional Religious Festivals and Medicine and Healing; among several others.

Adeniyi, however, lauded the Centre for Black African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) that is partnering with the department particularly in funding.

“Remember, one of the cardinal objectives of CBAAC is to revitalise some of the African culture that people despise and jettison.

When the partnership was struck, we knew we’d found a good partnership with CBAAC. They are supporting us financially and we appreciate their efforts.

“We have started informing educated people about it, and we want people to come and talk about traditional religious festivals with tourism for instance. Sometimes last October I was in Osaka, Japan where I saw shrines that have now turned into tourist attractions, and I was amazed. So, there are so many of our shrines like the Osun Osogbo, Ifa where we can also turn into tourist attractions which can fetch Nigeria money and affect out economy positively. These

•Adeniyi

are some of the things we feel as scholars, we can discuss, document, which can eventually form part of our national policy,” Adeniyi said.

Speaking on behalf of CBAAC, Dr Ayo Yussuf, lamented the erosion of African values owing to religious leaders who often describe some African religious practices as fetish, thus discouraging their members from indulging in such acts.

Dr Yusuf, who is of the Department of Linguistics, African &Asian Studies, University of Lagos, advocated a means where religious leaders strike equilibrium between modern religions and African traditional values.

He said: “There are so many beautiful values inherent in our values in Africa. When you look at the Yoruba system for instance, we have folktales all over the place; proverbs that have been enhancing the lives of our people all over the time. And we want a

‘There are so many beautiful values inherent in our values in Africa. When you look at the Yoruba system for instance, we have folktales all over the place; proverbs that have been enhancing the lives of our people all over the time. And we want a situation where our religious leaders can have a way of blending the modern system with those values in our culture’

•Yusuf

situation where our religious leaders can have a way of blending the modern system with those values in our culture.

“There are values that have been assisting our people in the past in terms of environmental protection, moral values all of which we threw away. We have been telling them (religious leaders) that they should be able to strike a distinction of foreign religion and those values we can cherish and add to our system to ensure they become great in the world.

“Even starting from nursery, we have foreign nursery rhymes that teach our children how to play. We don’t need the Western Rain Rain go away; Come again another day…” , but if we had things like Ojo nro; Sere nuu lee; Ma wo’nu Ojo… Ise loogun ise; Mura sise oreemi; Ise la fi n deni giga… by J.f Odunjo that can be translated into English and read to our pupils daily on the assembly hall can uplift them and make them work harder.

“This conference is trying to say we have a lot of things that can make Africa great.

We should look backward, see all of those things and put them ahead. The world has a lot to gain from us. It’s a common market place, we have been going there to purchase. We should also have things to sell and we have a lot to sell to the outside world,” he said.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK WHAT A CRASH!

•A car accident at Acme Crescent, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO:EVELYN OSAGIE

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

38

ABUJA REVIEW NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation (NGO), Al- Muhibbah Foundation has donated a motorised borehole worth N1.3m to Karu Children’s Home as part of its contributions towards addressing the problem of water scarcity in the orphanage.

The National Coordinator of the NGO

A

Foundation donates boreholes to orphanage From Bukola Amusan

which focuses on the less privileged, orphans and the vulnerable in the country, Mr. Salisu Gorko, while making the donation said that “the decision to provide

The decision to provide the borehole is to support the efforts towards solving the challenges which water shortages pose, even as the population of the children in the home increases

the borehole is to support the efforts towards solving the challenges which water shortages pose, even as the population of the children in the home increases.”

Speaking on behalf of the Chairperson/ founder of the organisation, Hajya Aishatu Bala Mohammed who is the wife of the immediate past FCT Minister, Gorko disclosed that the borehole project, approximately 70 meters deep, had been embarked upon since May 2, 2011.

In order to ensure proper functioning of the borehole, the NGO, he said, has provided a pumping machine, iron tank stand, two over head water storage tanks, stand and pump casting etc, adding “in all it cost us about N1.3m to execute this

project.”

Although, he noted, a lot has already been done by NGOs, Gorko said the need to further complement their efforts could not be over emphasised, just as he appealed to well-meaning individuals, corporate bodies and other NGOs both local and international to do more.

The coordinator further urged the management of the orphanage to ensure proper use of the borehole for the benefit of the children.

Reacting to the gesture on behalf of the management, a staff of the orphanage, Oni Samuel, a Pharmacist, thanked the NGO for the assistance, promising that the borehole would be properly taken care of and utilised to achieve the intended purpose.

When bomb rocked Ringim’s office •Continued from Page 25 But the sacking of Ringim seems not to be the preoccupation of President Goodluck Jonathan for now. He is doing his best to douse the fears and tension in the land as a result the incident.

Jonathan, while on an on-the-spot assessment of the level of carnage at the Force headquarters on Friday told newsmen that terrorism is a global malaise and anybody could be a target.

He urged Nigerians not to panic, saying the ugly situation which has become a global phenomenon will soon be over. The President said the police boss was not the target of the explosion as being claimed by the masterminds of the blast, even as he said terrorists could target anybody even the President.

“First and foremost,” Jonathan said, “let me commiserate with those people who lost their lives and properties. Some vehicles were burnt and some people must have been victims of the explosion. Let me use this opportunity to assure Nigerians that it happens all over the world, no country is free. Nigeria is also having some ugly incidents lately but surely we will get over it. People should not panic at all; soon most of these things will be a thing of the past.”

On claims that the bomb was aimed at the IG, Jonathan disagreed, saying: “No. It is not just the IG. Everybody is a target of terrorist attacks. I don’t want to make reference to what happened in the United States. The terrorists had to crash a plane into the White House. So, terrorists will aim at the top. If they can bomb the President, they will do it.”

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ayo Oritsejafor have equally condemned the attack.

Sultan Abubakar, who spoke through the Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Dr Abdullateef Adegbite said: “The NSCIA condemns all forms of violence including the spate of bombings in different parts of the country.

We note with deep sadness the latest bombing at the police headquarters which caused destruction of lives and property.

“The Council calls on all Nigerians to seek redress for all grievances through dialogue and peaceful means, not through violence.

Muslims are advised strongly to let unity reflect in all that they do; be it social, economic, political or religious.

•Security personnel and fire fighters at the scene of the explosion “The attitudes and relationship between the leadership and the followership constitute a major setback to the peaceful development of As a way out, both the national intelligence and the security agenNigeria.”

Oritsejafor on his part said he was devascies under the watch of determined leaderships at all levels must tated by the incident, even as he blamed the blast on compromised intelligence or outright brace up and live up their collective challenges in this infiltration of the Force by criminal elements. regard for common good. This is because peaceful co-existence is “The way and manner it happened showed that some of our intelligence security operaa prerequisite for any meaningful socio-economic and tives have either compromised or their ranks political development. Surely, rampant incidences of insecurity and file already infiltrated by enemies of our peace and unity in Nigeria. Targeting places can only further delay or slow down efforts to develop the country like the police headquarters is indeed a bad omen of insecurity in the country.”

He called for a complete re-engineering of ing ineptitude to stem this violent conflagrafrontiers of peace, unity and national security. the nation’s security system to forestall future tion and the bombers seem to know this worEven while a democratic dispensation facilioccurrence. rying impotence, hence, the unceasing audactates the enjoyment of many freedoms, it is “I sincerely advise that the entire security ity of their continued actions. only proper that segments of our society that arrangements in Nigeria need a complete over“Lagos ACN is greatly worried that Nigeriharbour any kind of disaffection must imbibe hauling,” the Cleric said. ans are becoming targets of ceaseless bomb the new ideal of due process and the rule of To address the problem, Senate President attacks and other forms of violence, while the law in the resolutions of grievances.

David Mark urged all the security agencies to government feels so overwhelmed to do some“A situation where innocent citizens are inrise up to the challenge and end the orgy of thing to stem this ennui. timidated and murdered does not serve the violence in the land. Mark said: “No nation “We are disturbed that there is demonstrainterest of the aggrieved or that of the society has ever progressed or survived in the midst ble perception that the government can do for that matter.” of terror. No matter the grievances or anger in nothing to stop this predilection to violence The Lagos State chapter of the Action Cona man’s mind, resort to violence, terrorism or that is threatening to swallow the entire coungress of Nigeria (ACN) described the infiltrawanton destruction of lives and property cantry in one huge ball of insecurity and we insist tion of the police headquarters by the lone not be a way out.” that something urgent and radical must be suicide bomber as a clear indication that the He was emphatic that “those who are comdone to re-take Nigeria from the hands of these nation’s security is fragile. mitting these heinous crimes do not live in bombers and restore security of lives and propThey also urged the Federal Government to the moon. They live among erty. wake up from its prolonged slumber by reus.” He said the Senate and “We demand that a special security task force taking the nation from those who now seized indeed the National Assembly be set up to purge the security forces of their it by the jugular through unmitigated violence. on its part would make adembarrassing incompetence in dealing with The party, in a statement by its Publicity Secequate budgetary provision the worsening security challenges of the counretary, Joe Igbokwe said: “We had been inunfor the security operatives to try. dated by sterile and empty threats and vows carry out their legitimate as“We demand a proper audit of security perto arrest the master- minds of every bomb signments unhindered. sonnel to weed out bad eggs that have comblast. But such vows have always ended as rituThe Speaker of the House of promised the nation’s security. We need a comals, which are kept in store for another bomb Representatives Aminu plete overhaul of the security system to face blast and the violent circle goes on unhindered.

Waziri Tambuwal also conthe present challenges posed by ceaseless “We are not amused that security agencies demned the attack. bombings, armed robbery, kidnapping, killhave failed woefully to track bomb blasts tar“The incident is most unforing and other forms of insecurity. geted at Nigerians, such that nowhere is contunate,” Tambuwal said, “com“We demand that the perpetrators of the sidered safe again. We’re peeved that the Feding at a time when all hands eral Government has demonstrated a worry•Continued on Page 39 are on deck to enhance the

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

39

ABUJA REVIEW

Corps members bag award

H

AVING satisfied the requirements, 11 of the 5,030 of the 2010 Batch B corps members deployed to the FCT have won awards.

The FCT Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Linda Amugo announced this at the passing out parade of the corps members held at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Kubwa.

Amugo however disclosed that 15 corps members were found wanting in the course of the one year national service, saying “they will all face punishments such as extension and repetition of the national service programme.”

The awards, which were handed over to the deserving 11 corps members by the Permanent Secretary of the FCT, Dr. Biodun Nathaniel Olorunfemi, were in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the development of the respective host communities where they did their primary assignments.

Amugo also revealed that 13 corps members would be given certificates of recommendation for distinguishing themselves in their respective areas in the course of the national service.

She urged the corps members to be vanguards of peace wher-

As you are being honoured and rewarded for your selfless services to the nation, you must not relent on your patriotic zeal of helping the less privileged in the society wherever you find yourselves ever they find themselves, adding “wherever you find yourselves in all your endeavours, show care and love for the less privileged.”

In his remark, the FCT Permanent Secretary congratulated the winners of the FCT Award

•Corps members

on their concerted efforts towards uplifting their host communities.

“You have done a wonderful job and I am sure the residents

of FCT will never forget you because you have positively touched their lives.

“As you are being honoured and rewarded for your selfless

services to the nation, you must not relent on your patriotic zeal of helping the less privileged in the society wherever you find yourselves,” he added.

Permanent Secretary urges increased revenue generation

T

HE Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Biodun Nathaniel Olorunfemi has lamented what he described as “over-dependence” of all six area councils of the FCT on the Federation Account. He also urged the councils to evolve measures of increasing their internallygenerated revenue (IGR).

While declaring open a two-day revenue summit organised by the Services Secretariat of the FCT for the area councils, Olorunfemi said the IGR would assist in funding projects in the councils to enhance the living condition of the people.

According to him, the summit, aimed at re-awakening the consciousness of the councils towards boosting their IGR cannot be overemphasised.

This, he said, is so because it is a fact that the FCT area councils operate under “a very tight and lean budget as a result of their over-de-

Stories from Bukola Amusan

pendence on revenue from the Federation Account.”

He lamented that this makes it rather difficult to deliver the dividends of democracy and enthrone good governance at the grassroots level.

“This scenario which is unacceptable and should not be allowed to continue, means that the area coun-

cils must sit up and look inward in a more aggressive manner to improve on their revenue generation,” he added.

According to him, this will require the rejuvenation of the system of revenue collection “which has proved to be archaic and porous.”

He stressed that the shortfall of revenue accruing to the councils calls for more buoyant and strong

We are very optimistic that the digitisation of the internal revenue administration process will greatly improve service delivery and build trust among stakeholders in this direction…We also believe that this development will usher in a new era of transparency and accountability in the process

revenue collection machinery to bridge the gap that often exists between statutory allocation and actual financial needs.

Olorunfemi said that the reforms advocated should be designed to ensure effective collection, accountability and plugging of any loopholes.

He disclosed that the administration has engaged the services of a revenue e-service consultant which will deploy ICT as a strategic enabler in the administration of internal revenue process in the councils.

The Permanent Secretary stressed that the summit was expected to sensitise all stakeholders on how the e-payment system works and explore means of har-

When bomb rocked Ringim’s office •Continued from Page 38

•Anambra State Governor Peter Obi (microphone in hand) inaugurating equipment meant for the state’s PHOTO: OBI CLETUS FADAMA project

nessing untapped revenue sources in the councils.

Speaking on behalf of the council chairmen, the Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), FCT chapter, Hon. Danladi Etsu Zhin, pledged the unflinching support and partnership of the area councils with the FCT administration in its effort to reposition them for effective revenue generation.

“We are very optimistic that the digitisation of the internal revenue administration process will greatly improve service delivery and build trust among stakeholders in this direction.

“We also believe that this development will usher in a new era of transparency and accountability in the process,” he said.

present siege of insecurity must be apprehended and adequately punished.

“We demand that the Federal Government wakes up from its prolonged slumber and takes very radical steps to address the worsening security situation. We deem this as one of the most basic needs for which the people look up to government in Nigeria, as elsewhere,” he stated.

For the northern socio-political organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the explosion right inside the force headquarters was a sad development. The spokesman of the ACF, Anthony Sani while reacting to the blast said: “The spate of violence and bomb blasts across Nigeria in recent times have been very sad developments and a serious source of concern to Nigerians, as well as serious challenge to national intelligence that comes with leadership, especially when regard is paid to the fact that the perpetrators and their motives are still not well known. Consequently, finding a lasting solution to these unsavoury acts has been far-fetched.

“As a way out, both the national

intelligence and the security agencies under the watch of determined leaderships at all levels must brace up and live up their collective challenges in this regard for common good. This is because peaceful co-existence is a prerequisite for any meaningful socio-economic and political development. Surely, rampant incidences of insecurity can only further delay or slow down efforts to develop the country.

“While it is trite that security of lives and properties of the governed is the first responsibility and task of any government, the people must also see maintenance of security as shared responsibility for effect and national interest.”

For fear that the security situation might degenerate further; most Nigerians have called for the reorganisation of the country’s security apparatchik even as they urged the Federal Government to seek help from developed countries that have the requisite experience on how to deal with the menace of terrorism and suicide bombings.

Specifically, the ACN has called on the Federal Government to engage Boko Haram rather than resort to force.

40

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

We are still grappling with the issue of resettlement of displaced persons. We have awarded contracts for the construction of 1,000 units of houses for the victims in Goronyo, Gada and Silame local governments with modern facilities

Sokoto in climate change workshop

S

OKOTO State which was severely hit by floods last year, has sent a delegation to a workshop on climate change.

But the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) which organised the workshop had some cold words.

It said: “If we have not already taken measures to either prevent another incident of flood or mitigate vulnerability to the hazard, it could happen again this year with the same devastating consequences or even worse.”

Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammadu Sani Sidi made the observation at the opening of the three-day regional workshop on climate change adaptation and disaster risk management in Nigeria in Sokoto, seat of the Caliphate.

The workshop which was held at the ultra-modern Shukura Coral Hotel, attracted dignitaries and formidable delegation from the state.

Governor Aliyu Wamakko was represented by the Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Sahabi Isah Gada who noted that climate change with its attendant consequences was becoming more real to politicians, bureaucrats, the business world, the academia and then ordinary citizenry.

While recalling the devastating effect of last year’s flood disaster that displaced over 100 villages across the state, Wamakko said “the challenges posed by the impact of the ravaging flood were still being felt and attended to.”

He reiterated his call on the federal government to expedite action on the rehabilitation of the bridge linking the Sokoto metropolis with Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and Niger Republic through Illela.

According to him, the scale of devastation was monumental.

“We are still grappling with the issue of resettlement of displaced persons. We have awarded contracts for the construction of 1,000 units of houses for the victims in Goronyo, Gada and Silame local governments with modern facilities.”

Wamakko further disclosed that over 23,700 families were rendered homeless in addition to the loss of 32,853 hectres of farmlands with various crops, among others.

“These communities had lost almost all of their cumulative savings, grain storage, among, other challenges” he said.

The NEMA DG said: “Scientific evidence has shown that as a result of climate change, extreme weather events become more frequent and severe.”

Alhaji Sidi further said while the world was struggling to agree on how best to pursue the four building blocks of mitigation, adaptation, technology and finance, Nigeria has to look inwards and take steps to contain the adverse effects of cli-

T

HE Gbong Gwom Jos and the Chairman, Plateau State Joint Traditional Council, Da Gyang Buba has drawn the attention of Nigerians to the fact that the state has made sacrifices for the development of the country.

The traditional ruler also urged unity among the people in order not to bring the sacrifices made by past heroes to nought.

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

mate change in the country.

“Communities are more vulnerable and cannot cope with the adverse effects of climate change on their own which is why they rely on us to provide answers to risks and threat they face.”

According to him, the capacity of this category of people to adapt to the changing climate has been undermined by lack of assets such as land, livestock, income, social networks, among others.

“This has inspired the agency to encourage viable disaster management at the grassroots level like Grassroots Emergency Volunteer(GEV) and Emergency Management Vanguards(EMV), among others,” he maintained.

The Director-General explained that

with this strategic effort, the agency would have identified and reduced the vulnerabilities of people and communities in the country to climate related hazards in particular and disasters in general.

Professor Adeniyi Osuntogun in his goodwill message observed that awareness creation, sensitisation and training are critical in meeting disaster and climate change challenges.

“We have to cooperate in achieving the goals to ensure our people are protected against such preventable disasters,” he added.

He acknowledged the efforts of NEMA, describing them as being in the right direction.

Participants were drawn mostly from the Northwest zone.

•Wamakko

•The floods that devasted Sokoto

Gbong Gwom urges peace From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

Da Buba was speaking to the family of the late Col. James Yakubu Pam who was killed in the 1966 coup whose widow Elizabeth died recently.

The traditional ruler and his council of chiefs invited the family to sympathise with them over the death of their mother, saying the late Mrs. Pam represents a unifying force to the people of Plateau

The Gbong Gwom said though the death of the brilliant and promising officer was painful to the people of Plateau, the state on the other hand considers itself great to have contributed to the survival of Nigeria as a nation through sacrifices made by the likes of the late officer.

The traditional ruler and his council of chiefs invited the family to sympathise with them over the death of their mother, saying the late Mrs. Pam represents a unifying force to the people of Plateau.

He said though the late Elizabeth Pam was from Kano State, she was quick to embrace the ways of her husband’s people in a way that indicated that she was not only married to the man but to his entire people.

The Gbong Gwom said that was why even when she was appointed to serve at the Plateau peace conference, nobody remembered she was not from Plateau and she went ahead to give a good account of herself by courageously standing for the truth.

He eulogised her for deeply respecting the tradition of the people, saying her conduct and principles should be emulated by all to make for peaceful living in the country.

The eldest son of the late Elizabeth Pam, Yusuf Pam, responded on behalf of the family.

Yusuf was accompanied by members of the family including his brother Ishaya, who is the chief medical director of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH. He thanked the Gbong Gwom for inviting his family and for his kind words, promising that the virtues of their mother will not be allowed to die.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

41

NATION SPORT

•Zenga

Zenga: I’ve dedicated my life to football On 28 April, the players of UAE club Al Nasr surprised their coach Walter Zenga by presenting him with a cake on his 51st birthday. Perhaps an unwelcome reminder that he was now into his sixth decade, the touching gesture was nonetheless a fitting tribute to the Italian’s belief that such occasions are as important to coaching as picking players and honing their technique. Building good relationships with the media, the club’s administration and support staff, not to mention fostering team spirit and friendships between players, are among Zenga’s top priorities. Known as Spiderman for the incredible shot-stopping reflexes that allowed to him to keep a clean sheet for a record 518 consecutive minutes of FIFA World Cup football, Zenga finally hung up his goalkeeping gloves at the age of 39 to pursue a career as coach. His new career has taken him to six countries in three continents, with the latest stop at Dubai’s Al Nasr Sporting Club. Here, Zenga talks to FIFA.com about the achievements of a life in football and the challenges to come in Dubai and further afield.

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ALTER, how are you enjoying life in the Gulf?

Of course it’s different to anywhere I’ve lived before. Every place has its own character and atmosphere.

Life in Saudi Arabia and the UAE is similar to Turkey, where I lived for a while. Football itself tends to stay the same no matter where you are. I try to bring European professionalism to the players, because that is what they are lacking. Everyone has their own unique skills and talents; my job as coach is to bring out the best in the players I deal with and help them put in good performances on the pitch.

Did you ever think that football would bring you to this part of the world?

Sometimes you don’t get enough time to stop and think. Football took me to the United States as a player, for instance, and that’s where I retired and started out as a coach with New England Revolution. I went back to Italy, where I coached an amateur side in Milan called Brera Calcio, and then I went wandering: lots of different countries and clubs.

Was it easy for you? As a former goalkeeper, didn’t people assume you should stick to training goalkeepers?

There’s no such thing as an easy job.

The belief that goalkeepers don’t make good coaches is just one of those silly myths. There’s no basis to it. There are a lot of superstitions like that in football and people repeat them unthinkingly until they become the truth. For instance, there are players out there who are labelled 'crazy' because they once lost their heads on the field, but the label sticks with them for life. It’s the same as saying a goalkeeper can’t coach. I always ask these people: 'Why not? What’s stopping him?' They’re forgetting that some great goalkeepers went on to make great coaches, people like Romania’s Valentin Stanescu, or Michel Preud’homme from Belgium. These two alone are proof that goalkeepers can do it.

The belief that goalkeepers don’t make good coaches is just one of those silly myths. There’s no basis to it.

How would you describe your career to date?

I’m pleased with what I’ve achieved. I

live for football: it’s given me 40 years so far, with more to come, and in return I’ve dedicated my life to the game. It feels like I’m doing the right thing. If I were only involved in football for the money that would be a mistake. Like everyone, there have been wonderful moments in my career and bad times, too, but the one thing life has taught me is not to look back. I don’t keep any photographs of myself as a player at home and I’m not one for swapping memories with former team-mates.

What’s done is done: it’s in the past now.

There’s no point in chewing over things that happened 20 years ago. I think about the present and the future. I’ve played a lot of football in my life. I’ve seen happy times and tough times, and it has all helped make me more experienced. I was nine when I started, and I went on to play at the highest level. Now I coach teams at the highest level. If I was pressed I’d say being part of the Italy squad at the 1990 World Cup was a highlight, but as I say, it’s all in the past.

Is there anything in your career that stands out for you?

I truly believe that God gave me a

talent, and I’ve looked after it: I haven’t wasted it. I achieved a lot as a player: I took part in the World Cup and represented my country on numerous occasions. Then there are all the clubs I played for, including my hometown team Inter Milan, where I won titles.

Do you dream of coaching Inter one day?

If I was offered the job I certainly wouldn’t refuse, but I don’t like to live in a dream world. I don’t sit around waiting for things like that to fall in my lap. I love my work and that’s what I prefer to focus on. Right now I’m with Al Nasr and I’m doing my best to make the team better.

Some people say that working out here in the Arab world could affect your chances of being offered a coaching job in Europe. What do you say to that?

People might think like that, but I don’t. If there are those that reckon I’m a poor coach or a failure because I’m not in Europe, I couldn’t care less. My life is where I am, not where I’m supposed to be. I enjoy my life here and I’m not thinking of anything else. Right now I work for a big club; all the clubs I’ve

coached have been big clubs. Let me list them: Steaua Bucharest and Dinamo Bucharest in Romania, Red Star Belgrade in Serbia, Al Ain in the UAE and Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Then there’s Italy: Catania and Palermo are both top clubs.

Anyway, that’s not the way I measure my success.

So how do you measure it?

Not by where I work, but rather how I work. The names of the clubs aren’t enough: it’s what I’ve managed to achieve with the staff and players. I’ve coached three of the biggest clubs in Romania. I won the 2004/05 league title with Steaua and in the 2005/06 season I won the Jelen SuperLiga in Serbia with Red Star Belgrade, but even so, it isn’t all about titles. When I took over at Catania they had just avoided relegation the previous season, but in my first year in charge they rose to the middle of the table and in the process got a reputation for playing attractive football. Even with the clubs where I didn’t stay long, like Palermo, Al Ain and Gaziantepspor in Turkey, I still left my mark. My departure from Al Nassr came in unfortunate circumstances but under me, the club came second in the league and never lost a match against the other big sides, despite the fact I was fielding a young and inexperienced team.

What is the biggest problem you have faced as a coach?

Language. At Catania and Palermo things were easy because I communicated with the players and media in Italian. I speak English but it’s not my first language and all my teams have included both local players and overseas signings from all over. At Al Nasr, for instance, my instructions are translated into three languages: French for Ismael Bangoura, Spanish for Leo Lima and Arabic for the junior players in the squad. It’s tricky to wait while each phrase is translated then try and pick up your train of thought. It’s made me use simple phrases to communicate my ideas directly to the players.

We love living here. Although we were only in Riyadh for six months my wife cried when we left. She spent the whole day in tears.

How do you spend your time in Dubai?

Preparing training sessions, training and matches. I work long hours, between five and six hours a day on average. Away from the football I spend my time with my family. I play with my daughter Samira and occasionally I’ll have a meal with friends or the support staff.

Do you ever see Fabio Cannavaro?

We’re friends. We live in the same part of the world and our wives get on well.

Why did you choose to give your daughter an Arabic name?

My wife speaks eight languages including Arabic. She studied it in Romania. We love this part of the world and decided to give our daughter an Arabic name. In Italian, Samira means 'my sweetheart'. If we’re blessed with another child we’ll choose an Arabic name for them, too. We love living here.

Although we were only in Riyadh for six months my wife cried when we left.

She spent the whole day in tears.

Is the United Arab Emirates different to Saudi Arabia?

Not so different, I think. The customs and traditions are all the same. The football is a little different, perhaps: there’s a different atmosphere to the matches. In Saudi Arabia the terraces are packed, the fans are very vocal and it’s quite normal to have thirty or forty thousand spectators at a game. In the UAE the stadiums are a little emptier.

What were your impressions of the Riyadh derby between Al Nassr and Al Hilal?

At Al Nassr we had some big games against Al Hilal, Al Shabab and Al Ittihad and we didn’t lose one. The fans were fantastic and supported the team wherever we played.

Do you think Inter Milan will win the scudetto this season?

I’m not in a position to guess. I haven’t followed Serie A because of the time difference and the schedules clash with some of my games here. Generally speaking, though, the winner will deserve it. To win the title you need to keep winning all season long, and if you end up on top you’ve earned it.

Add your comment

SLIDING TACKLE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

42

NIGERIA PREMIER LEAGUE...NIGERIA PREMIER LEAGUE

CAF CONFEDERATIONS CUP

“We know we are playing against formidable opponents in African football. Clubs like ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast, Club Africaine of Tunisia and Inter Club of Angola. I know that ASEC are very good and the North Africans are always a force to reckon with but I don’t know much about the Angolans” Kaduna Uniteds technical adiver, Maurice cooreman, speaking on the chances of his club to clinch a ticket for the CAF Confederation Cup

Iorfa’s Lobi Stars dominate Team of the Week

Cooreman plots semi-final M ticket with Kaduna Utd A

FTER guiding his team to the group stage of the CAF Confederations Cup at the club’s premiere outing on the continent, the Technical Adviser of Kaduna United, Maurice Cooreman is already thinking of what his team

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri must do get to the semi final of the competition.

Cooreman in an exclusive chat with NationSport stated that he was targeting three

home victories and an away draw to get one of the four slots in the semi final.

“We know we are playing against formidable opponents in African football.

Clubs like ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast, Club Africaine of Tunisia and Inter Club of Angola. I know that ASEC are very good and the North Africans are always a force to reckon with but I don’t know much about the Angolans. We know we have three matches at home and at away and because we know that Nigeria rarely loses at group stage I will ensure I do the same for Kaduna United.

“We have a chance to get to the semi final because we will ensure we win all our three matches in Kaduna and maybe a point in one of our matches should guarantee a berth in the last four.” The soft spoken manager noted.

Though Kaduna United is

marking their first outing on the continent, the Belgian hinged his confidence on the young players he has recruited stating that this and the motivation he gives to his players on regular basis is another factor that will guide them to the semi final.

“I have very young boys who are raring to play according to instructions. I also motivate them on what they need to do if they actually want to make career out of football. I have started telling them that the group stage will provide the platform for them to sell themselves since it will be live on Television. My players are always happy to play owing to the support they have from all and sundry.”

Kaduna United defeated Foullah Edifice of T Chad, Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia and Entente Sportive Setif of Algeria before getting to the group stage.

Sunshine to hold seminar for players, club officials

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•Cooreman

Wolves ‘ll finish very high ARRI WOLVES head –Aigbogun coach, Paul

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Aigbogun, has made it clear that he wants to steer his side to a very high finish in this season’s campaign of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) .

Aigbogun was happy to watch his side from the bench beat fellow title contenders, Sunshine Stars, 2-0 on Sunday at the Warri City Stadium in a thrilling encounter.

“I have always said it that this team has quality. We are not ruling ourselves out of the contest because we want to finish very high on the table this season,” the Wolves’ manager told SuperSport.com.

Aigbogun is confident that his men can push closer to the summit of the log after they trimmed the gap between them and leaders, Sunshine Stars, to five points from eight.

SuperSport.com has learned that Warri Wolves handed Aigbogun a target to win the league on resuming as head coach this term.

Wolves finished sixth last season with 58 points behind Enyimba, Kano Pillars, Sunshine Stars, Kwara United and Enugu Rangers in that order.

NIGERIA PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE Team P Sunshine 27 Dolphins 27 Wolves 28 Pillars 28 Enyimba 27 Sharks 28 Rangers 27 Lobi Stars 27 Kaduna Utd 2 6 Kwara Utd 2 8 Bukola Babes2 8 Tornadoes 28 3SC 28 Heartland 27 Gombe Utd 2 7 Ocean Boys 2 8 Crown FC 28 Plateau Utd 2 8 Zamfara Utd 2 8 JUTH FC 27

W 17 17 14 14 14 11 13 13 12 13 10 9 10 10 10 10 8 7 7 5

D 3 3 7 5 2 11 4 4 6 3 6 9 5 4 4 4 3 6 6 7

L 7 7 7 9 11 6 10 10 8 12 12 10 13 13 13 14 17 15 15 15

GF 35 33 34 34 32 29 31 23 26 30 27 25 26 24 32 28 23 26 20 18

GA 18 20 20 23 18 28 20 26 19 25 28 31 28 25 29 35 34 42 42 37

GD 17 13 14 11 14 1 11 -3 7 5 -1 -5 -2 -1 -7 -7 -11 -16 -22 -19

Pts 54 54 49 47 44 44 43 43 42 42 36 36 35 34 34 34 27 27 27 22

FTER the huge impact the initial seminar had on the output of the team and officials of the Nigeria CAF Confederations Cup hopeful, Sunshine Stars of Akure, plans are underway to organize another one as the race for the Group Stage of the African second tier club competition starts next month across the continent.

Making this known to NationSport was the Executive Director, Ondo State Football Agency, Mike Idoko who disclosed that the successes recorded by the seminar had before the Mimiko Boys started their matches in the competition has prompted another one which will shortly be held so as to acquaint the club to what should be done for the team to make good representation in the six matches to be played both at home and away in the group stage.

“The last time, we laid our plans with the management on what should be done to get to the group stage.We started by having a seminar where we brought experts in various fields like Paul Bassey, Linus Mba, Arthur Kwame, Professor Asagba and so on.

We brought them in to tell us what we have to do to make sure that we get to the group stage. We even talked with Enyimba, Heartland and Pillars to get their ideas and they were helpful. They all gave us tips which were very useful to us.

“Having got the group stage in our kitty, we are not going to sit back we are planning another seminar before the commencement of the Group

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri Stage. The experts will come to tell us what it will take us to get out without worry out of the group. What shall we be expecting? This will be done very soon. Idoko stressed.

Sunshine Stars in their debut outing on the continent have exceeded expectations. The club defeated Tiko United of Cameroun, USFA of Burkina Faso and Al Ittihad of Libya to book a passage among the elite eight football clubs on the continent coupled with the fact that the team now tops the NPL at the expense of second placed Dolphins.

The Nigerian representative is grouped in Pool B alongside MAS of Morocco, JS Kabylie of Algeria and Motema Pembe of DR Congo which piped Simba of Tanzania 2-1 on aggregate to get the last ticket just over the weekend.

ODEST SIDE, Lobi Stars, got four mentions in the Team of the Week for Matchday 28 announced by the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) on Tuesday.

Lobi Stars’ head coach, Dominic Iorfa, who also doubles as the general manager at the club, leads goalkeeper Danladi Isa and two outfield players, Ezekiel Bassey and Tony Okpotu, into this week’s team.

Two players from Warri Wolves, ThankGod Ike and Michael Egbeta break into the side with the former making an appearance for the second week.

Others in the team are Alhaji Mohammed (Kano Pillars), Victor Ezuruike (Dolphins), Babatunde Yusuf (3SC) and Anthony Okemiri (Kwara United).

The duo of George Akpabio (Plateau United) and Adamu Mohammed (Gombe United) completes the team as a twoman attack.

HOW THEY MADE THE TEAM Goalkeeper: Danladi Isa (Lobi Stars) Isa just edged Ambrose Vanzekin of Warri Wolves to claim the number one position.

His performance against Crown on Sunday stands him out for mention.

Right-back: Alhaji Mohammed (Kano Pillars) The Kano Pillars right-back was full of running against Plateau United and caused the opposition all sorts of troubles down the flanks.

Centre-back: ThankGod Ike (Warri Wolves) Ike makes the team for the second week running after his defensive and attacking style came to the fore against Sunshine Stars at the Warri City Stadium on Sunday.

Centre-back: Victor Ezuruike (Dolphins) The former Heartland, who has been for a longer part of this season due to injury, was one of the talking points when Dolphins got a point at Kwara United in Week 28.

Left-back: Ezekiel Bassey (Lobi Stars) The Lobi left-back is once again named in the team for the second consecutive week.

His judgement off and on the ball in the game against Crown ensured his side left Ilaro with all points.

Right midfielder: Tony Okpotu

(Lobi Stars) He scored the winner for Lobi at Crown over the weekend.

Okpotu also kept Crown’s backline busy all day and that’s why he claims the right side of midfield.

Central midfielder: Babatunde Yusuf (3SC) Yusuf returned to the 3SC side to steal the show with a goal that earned his 10-man team a point at Sharks.

Attacking midfielder: Michael Egbeta (Warri Wolves) Against Sunshine Stars he was the smallest man on the pitch. But Egbeta posed Sunshine troubles with his darting runs and combined well with other players upfront.

Left midfielder: Anthony Okemiri (Kwara United) The youngster ran Dolphins almost ragged on the left channel and capped his display with a goal. Kwara United dropped points but he finds his way into the team.

Attacker: George Akpabio (Plateau United) He is no longer new to getting mentions in the team of the week. Akpabio netted twice against Kano Pillars in their 22 and that took his goals’ tally for the season to 11.

Attacker: Adamu Mohammed (Gombe United) Mohammed’s two goals against Bukola Babes earned him a place to pair Akpabio upfront. Many will say an unlikely mention but he worked hard to earn his place.

Coach: Dominic Iorfa (Lobi Stars) For the first time this season he gets mentioned as coach of the week on the back of leading his men to a win at Crown.

THE TEAM GK: Danladi Isa (Lobi Stars) RB: Alhaji Mohammed (Kano Pillars) CB: ThankGod Ike (Warri Wolves) CB: Victor Ezuruike (Dolphins) LB: Ezekiel Bassey (Lobi Stars) RM: Tony Okpotu (Lobi Stars) CM: Babatunde Yusuf (3SC) AM: Michael Egbeta (Warri Wolves) LM: Anthony Okemiri (Kwara United) ATT: George Akpabio (Plateau United) ATT: Adamu Mohammed (Gombe United) Coach: Dominic Iorfa (Lobi Stars)

FALLOUT OF FEDERATION CUP ROUND OF 54

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Police Machine hailed despite loss to Heartland

HE Police Zone 9 Sports Officer, DSP Kefas Go’ar has praised the fighting spirit of the Police Machine of Enugu despite losing narrowly to Heartland FC of Owerri in the Federation Cup Round of 54 played over the weekend at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba Heartland had on Sunday halted its three-match loss with a 2-1 victory over Police Machine and in a chat with NationSport DSP Go’ar told our correspondent that the Police Force would continue to

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

advance the growth of sports and football in particular in the zone which is made up of Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo States while hailing the Enugu reps for setting a benchmark for other states to follow.

He added that though the team lost but feelers got from the match reported that it was a closely fought contest and that if not for their early minute’s naivety the tie could have swung in their favour.

“I am proud of the

achievement of achievement of The Police Machine, they fought like a true champion and they gave Heartland a very good run for their money. I learnt it was a very close one and that the referee denied us a penalty. We will continue to advance the growth of sports in our zone and by the next upcoming competitions we are sure to further give a meaningful representation.” DSP Go’ar said

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

THE NATION’S INVESTORS Briefs

Shareholders back rescued banks’ recapitalisation

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HAREHOLDERS have endorsed on-going efforts to negotiate new core investors and inject fresh equity capital into the rescued banks.

A founding member of the Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA),Alhaji Gbagbo Olatokunbo said recapitalisation of the banks offers the best value for shareholders.

He urged shareholders not to frustrate the planned mergers and acquisitions, saying they would lose in the event of liquidation.

According to him, shareholders should see ongoing negotiations on business combinations by the rescued banks as signs that they would retain their shareholdings, thus standing the chance of earning returns as the banks consolidate.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had given a September 2011 deadline for the conclusion of recapitalisation by the rescued banks failure of which the apex bank might consider other options including liquidation of the banks.

The seven rescued banks included Union Bank of Nigeria, Intercontinental Bank, Spring Bank, Bank PHB, Afribank Nigeria, Oceanic Bank International and Finbank Plc.

Multinationals seek more control of Nigerian firms

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OREIGN partiners in multinational Companies are seeking majority shareholding to enable them be in charge without being challenged by their Nigerian counterparts.

Most quoted multinationals where the foreign parent companies hold core but less than majority shareholdings have sought to increase their shareholdings in recent years.

Foreign core investors have increased their shareholdings in Cadbury Nigeria Plc, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc and First Aluminium Nigeria Plc so that they can take major decisions including mergers and acquisitions.

Extant laws require 75 per cent of shareholdings to approve mergers and acquisitions.

Cadbury Schweppes, the foreign core investor in Cadbury Nigeria has gradually increased its equity stake form 46.3 per cent in 2005 to 50.02 per cent and further took advantage of renounced rights by Nigerian shareholders during the 2009 rights issue to increase its shareholding to 74.99 per cent.

PZ Cussons UK has also increased its equity stake in PZ Cussons Nigeria from 38.6 per cent in 2005 to 62.65 per cent currently.

Also, Alucon Holdings SA, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Inlaks Group, had increased its shareholdings in First Aluminium

Stories by Taofik Salako

Nigeria from 51 per cent in 2005 to 64 per cent by 2008 and recently acquired additional stakes from the renounced rights of Nigerian shareholders to increase shareholdings to 75 per cent.

The quest to have absolute majority shareholdings that could push through key structural decisions last week led to the unraveling of the foreign partnership at Longman Nigeria Plc penultimate week.

Pearson, which had established Longman Nigeria five decades ago, penultimate week announced plan to divest its 51 per cent stake in Longman Nigeria and establish a new company in Nigeria later this year citing constraints of being a majority shareholder rather than being outright owner.

According to Pearson, it had undertaken comprehensive review of Longman Nigeria including market positions, structure and characteristics; growth prospects; investment requirements; business practices, financial metrics and synergies with other parts of Pearson and found that it could not push through far-reaching restructurings given its shareholding.

“We also reflected on the con-

straints that being a majority shareholder rather than outright owner of the company had and concluded that we were more comfortable having complete visibility and control over these considerations,” Pearson stated.

Longman Nigeria has confirmed the divestment noting that the company was poised to become a wholly owned Nigerian business with the right to explore opportunities, not only within Nigeria, but also the neighbouring West African and other African countries.

Coca-Cola Hellenic, which already has 66.21 per cent equity stake in Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Plc, is currently seeking to buy out dissenting Nigerian shareholders and delist the shares of the company from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as a precondition for an N45bn investment programme.

The foreign investor said it plans to invest N45 billion in Nigeria towards modernising NBC’s infrastructure, enhancing its supply chain capabilities, strengthening its commercial platform and an expansion of its corporate social responsibility programme.

But the investment programme would be preceded with cancellation of part of the paid up share •Continued on page 44

Prestige Assurance GROSS PREMIUM: N3.025b PAT N381m CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED GROSS PREMIUM: N7.140b PAT: N1.836 BILLION STANBIC IBTC BANK GROSS EARNINGS: N15.446b PAT: N2.525bn DIAMOND BANK GROSS EARNINGS: N26.025bn PAT N1.362b SKYE BANK GROSS EARNINGS N69.500bn PAT N11.880b UACN TURNOVER N42.355bn PAT N4.064b

NESTLE NIGERIA TURNOVER: N21.040b PAT N2.358bn

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•MD/CEO, NSE, Oscar Onyema

AIICO Ins Gross Premium: N8.086bn PBT N2.936b

UPDC TURNOVER: N5.949b PAT N895.87m

Tight security at Stock Exchange HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has tightened security at its headquarters following what a source described as unfavourable security report.

Security guards were seen conducting extensive checks and screenings at all the entry points to the Exchange.

In a message to operators, NSE said the measure was to protect the Exchange from people that might want to undermine the market.

According to the Exchange, it is important to protect the NSE as the hub of the stock market and means of livelihood for operators and many other stakeholders.

The security alert came on the heels of the bombing of the Nigerian Police Force headquarters in Abuja.

NSE has also been embroiled in leadership crisis that has left the bourse without an independent council and management.

Forecasts Q3

GTAssurr GROSS PREMIUM N7.578b PAT N1.047b GOLDLINK INS GROSS PREMIUM N3.375b PAT N522.54m

•From left: Mr. Ken Odogwu, Chairman, Royal Exchange Plc; Mr. Oscar Onyema, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange; Mr. Chike Mokwunye, Group Managing Director, Royal Exchange Plc; Chief Uwadi Okpa-Obaji, Director, Royal Exchange Plc and Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) Director, Royal Exchange Plc, during a courtesy visit to the new DG/CEO of the NSE by the board and management of Royal Exchange Plc.

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First half earnings may lift stock market

HE Stock Market may benefit from Prospects of improved earnings and good returns indicated by corporate earnings forecasts for the first half of this year by banks and non-banking quoted companies might halt the decline at the stock market and set the momentum for steady recovery in the second half.

Sustained declines in share prices in recent weeks brought the average return on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) down to 2.51 per cent by the start of this week.

The NSE All-Share Index depreciated by 1.52 per cent last week to close at 25,309.17; the market capitalisation of quoted equities dropped to N8.1 trillion.

Investment analysts said expected new corporate earnings reports might rally demand for many stocks in the third quarter as companies release their interim report and accounts for the first half ending June 30, 2011.

Forecasts for the second quarter by financial and non-financial companies showed that in spite of the apprehensions over the general

elections during the period, most of the companies expect to end the period with substantial distributable earnings.

Reports by major multinationals including Unilever Nigeria, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria, Nestle Nigeria and Cadbury Nigeria and many other Nigerian companies also showed that quoted companies were optimistic about the prospects of the Nigerian economy, which motivated many companies to further invest in production facilities.

The board of Nigeria Bottling Company Plc said the company expects net profit of N708 million on sales of about N28.2 billion during the second quarter.

Also, Beta Glass Company Plc, a related company to NBC, is expected to earn profit after tax of N203 million on sales of N2.7 billion during the same period.

Also, Eterna has estimated that sales would surpass N8.4 billion while profit after tax would be about

N853 million in the second quarter.

Directors of Oceanic Bank International Plc have also indicated that the board would sustain its profitability with net earnings expected to be about N5.7 billion on gross earnings of N57.2 billion during the period.

The board of AG Leventis Nigeria Plc estimates that the company would record net profit of about N170 million from total sales of about N3.5 billion in the second quarter.

Chief Joseph Babatunde, executive chairman, AG Leventis Nigeria, said that the economic outlook for Nigeria was encouraging for new investments noting that potential exists for expansion of existing new businesses and establishment of new businesses.

“We believe that Nigeria’s future is bright and the success of the elections that took place recently underscores this fact. With that belief, we still seek business opportunities for the good of the group,” Babatunde said.

REGENCY ALLIANCE GROSS PREMIUM N943.77m PAT N187.6m TRANS-NATIONWIDE TURNOVER N474.74m PAT N42.51m 7-Up TURNOVER N13.198b PAT N271.77m ABC TURNOVER N1.477b PAT N58.83m UTC NIG TURNOVER N1.164b PAT N54.55m CADBURY NIG TURNOVER N24.981b PAT N1.318bn OKOMU OIL PALM TURNOVER N1.370b PAT N212.11bn

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

44

THE NATION’S INVESTORS

Investors’ apathy scares companies from public offer

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ANY companies are considering issuing bonds to raise additional funds as investors’ apathy in primary market is scaring from resorting to Initial Public Offer (IPO) public equity issues.

No fewer than four companies have indicated that they may float bond issues to meet their financing requirements, following last year’s pattern when bond issues dominated the market.

Besides the lull in the primary equity market, the recourse to corporate bonds was also spurred by inability of many companies to access adequate credit facilities from banks. Market analysts said issuance of corporate bonds by companies would further deepen the market and provide alternative investment opportunities to investors, thus enhancing the investors’ base and participation in the market.

Already, the management of Nigerian Aviation Handling Com-

•Firms may opt for bonds

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

pany (Nahco) Plc has said the company was still intent at raising additional funds through a N5 billion bond issue.

Also, Fidson Healthcare and May and Baker Nigeria had said they might consider issuing bonds. UACN Property Development Company (UPDC) Plc, Flour Mills of Nigeria and Guaranty Trust Bank had issued bonds in 2010 to raise funds. All the issues were highly successful.

Mr. Kayode Ojo, acting managing director, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (Nahco) Plc, said the company has continued to process the bond issue and may soon complete the pre-offer process and open the offer to bid.

Shareholders had on August 21, 2009 unanimously endorsed a resolution empowering the board of

Nahco to float a N5 billion corporate bond.

Ojo said the company still requires additional funds to harness existing opportunities and position for emerging opportunities.

According to him, the company expects new political dispensation to bring new challenges which it hopes to convert to successes.

“We expect a heightened flow of cargo and passengers with the inauguration of new governments due to some political exigencies,” Ojo said.

He said ongoing transformation exercise would address key issues that would enhance the cost efficiency and capacity optimisation of the company, thus improving its profitability.

He added that ongoing initiatives would initiate business expansion and diversification plans that will have positive impact on the overall performance of the company.

Multinationals seek more control of Nigerian companies •Continued from page 43

capital of NBC and the subsequent delisting of the company from the NSE, which effectively take away the company from Nigerian investing public.

The board of NBC last week increased the scheme price for delisting of its shares by 9.3 per cent from initial proposed price of N43 to N47 per share and has already indicated its resolve to pursue the scheme.

According to the board, an application will be filed before the Federal High Court requesting an order summoning a meeting of the shareholders of the company for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, approving the transaction.

With its existing 66.2 per cent equity stake, Coca-Cola Hellenic only needs additional 8.8 per cent equity stake to secure the three-quarter approving mandate for the scheme of arrangements. Many analysts said

the company could use shortterm capital gains and the prospect of illiquidity after delisting to entice minority shareholders.

Mr Ola Ogedengbe, group executive director, GTI Capital, sounded a note of caution that the economy might experience capital flight if care is not taken adding that government regulatory machinery should be more focused on espousing the benefits and disadvantages of such moves.

He said delisting of companies for the sake of absolute control might adversely affect the stock market.

He however noted that the increasing foreign interests in Nigerian companies mean that improving confidence in the Nigerian economy, which could translate into opportunities for better management, expansion and stability.

Facts to Facts

Dancem vs Wapco: Similar products, different performance

D

ANGOTE Cement (Dancem) Plc and Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc are the two largest cement manufacturing companies in Nigeria.

Similar products, same operating environment but different ownership and management, Lafarge Wapco is the oldest and the Nigerian subsidiary of Lafarge Group, world-leading building materials group. Dancem is a Nigerian company and Africa’s largest cement manufacturer.

The performances of the two companies over the years varied significantly. In all indices, from sales to profitability to returns, both Dancem and Lafarge Wapco are threading different path-one on the course of continuous improvement and the other conversely losing ground.

With current performance ratios above its averages, Dancem appeared to be stronger against Lafarge Wapco, which has largely fallen below its averages.

Sales generation Dancem achieved modest sales growth of 6.8 per cent in 2010 compared with increase of about 110 per cent in 2009. Average sales growth in the past two years thus stood at about 58.3 per cent for Dancem.

Lafarge Wapco on the other hand witnessed a marginal contraction of 3.8 per cent in sales in 2010 compared with modest increase of 5.4 per cent in sales in 2009. The reversal in 2010 saw that the change in the top-line of Lafarge Wapco in the past two years was almost negligible.

Profitability Lafarge Wapco suffered declines in all key actual and underlying profitability measurements, a sharp contrast to improvements witnessed by its competitorDancem. Dancem grew gross profit by about 41 per cent in 2010 with its gross margin of 58.1 per cent some six percentage points above two-year average of 52 per cent.

Actual profit figure rose by about 60 per cent in 2010 as against an increase of 86 per cent in 2009, indicating that Dancem’s actual profit growth fell below two-year average of about 73 per cent.

Pre-tax profit margin meanwhile established stronger profitability for Dancem in 2010 at 50 per cent, well above 38 per cent recorded in 2009 and two-year aver-

ing two-year average of 4.95 per cent and 2009’s return of 5.8 per cent. Also, return on equity dropped from 11.6 per cent in 2009 to 10.1 per cent in 2010, a percentage point below two-year average of about 11 per cent.

By Taofik Salako

age of 44 per cent. Profit after tax increased by 72 per cent in 2010 as against an increase of 163 per cent in 2009, putting average net profit growth in the past two years at a double.

On the other hand, Lafarge Wapco’s gross profit dropped further by 11.3 per cent in 2010, continuing the downtrend that saw gross profit down by 19 per cent in 2009. Gross profit margin dropped below two-year average to 27 per cent in 2010 as against about 30 per cent in 2009. Profit before tax dropped by 8.4 per cent in 2010 as against decline of 29 per cent in 2009. Pre-tax profit margin dropped below average from 20.3 per cent in 2009 to 19.3 per cent in 2010. Profit after tax however contracted by 3.4 per cent in 2010 as against a decrease of 55 per cent in 2009, indicating a two-year average decline of 29 per cent.

Turnover growth Gross profit growth Pre-tax profit growth Gross margin Pre-tax profit margin Net profit growth Return on Assets Return on Equity

•Osunkeye, Chairman Lafarge Wapco

•Dangote, Chairman, Dancem

Actual returns Dancem continued to show better efficient management of assets with actual returns on total assets and to shareholders in 2010 surpassing two-year averages. Return on total assets increased from 15.4

per cent in 2009 to 25.2 per cent in 2010 while return on equity rose above two-year average of about 42 per cent to about 50 per cent in 2010.

Lafarge Wapco returned 4.1 per cent on total assets in 2010, trail-

Dancem 2010 % 6.8 40.5 58.9 58.1 50 71.6 25.2 49.8

2009 % 109.7 86 46.7 38.1 163.1 15.4 33.2

Average % 58.25 20.25 72.45 52.4 44.05 117.35 20.3 41.5

Pre-tax profit margin (Dancem)

The bottom-line Dancem’s consolidation of its cement operations undoubtedly created competitive advantage of economy of scale.

However, Lafarge Wapco, as a member of world-leading cement group, also has comparatively similar competitive advantage. The extent to which this is applied appears to be a major difference.

Cement manufacturers generally suffer from epileptic public power supply, which has necessitated recourse to costlier self-generated power supply. From the two perspectives shown by Dancem and Lafarge Wapco, Dancem appeared to have gotten the good mix of breaking into new market and sustaining profitability.

Wapco 2010 % Turnover growth -3.8 Gross profit growth -11.3 Pre-tax profit growth -8.4 Gross margin 27.3 Pre-tax profit margin 19.3 Net profit growth -3.4 Return on Assets 4.1 Return on Equity 10.1

2009 Average % % 5.4 0.8 -19 -15.15 -29 -18.7 29.6 28.45 20.3 19.8 -55.1 -29.25 5.8 4.95 11.6 10.85

Pre-tax profit margin (WAPCO)

45

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

THE NATION’S INVESTORS Corporate Score Board

N

ESTLE Nigeria Plc harnessed opportunities in new markets and improved cost management to achieve a rounded performance in 2010, bolstering its figures to record-highs.

Audited report and accounts of Nestle Nigeria for the year ended December 31, 2010 indicated significant growths in actual profit and loss figures as well as underlying performance indices.

With less financial leverage, improved profit margin, higher productivity and a more liquid financial position, Nestle Nigeria’s 32 per cent increase in pre-tax profit in 2010 was underpinned by strong fundamentals.

The performance trickled down to shareholders with combination of cash dividend and bonus increase of 20 per cent in shareholdings.

However, the company’s top-line costs remained tight and represented a tough challenge without the moderating impact of reduction in financing expenses.

Financing structure The balance sheet strengths of Nestle Nigeria firmed up in 2010 with lower gearing ratio and better equity supports for business expansion.

Nestle Nigeria’s shareholders’ funds rode on the back of retained earnings to about N15 billion in 2010 as against N10.5 billion in 2009, representing an increase of 41 per cent. Paid up share capital had remained unchanged at N330.3m.

Total assets rose by 28 per cent to N60.35bn in 2010 as against N47.3 billion in 2009. Long-term assets had increased by 58 per cent while current assets declined by eight per cent. Total liabilities meanwhile increased by 24 per cent from N36.7 billion in 2009 to N45.5 billion in 2010.

Nestle Nigeria: Getting better

By Taofik Salako

With these, shareholders’ funds now amounted to about 25 per cent of total balance sheet size as against 22 per cent in 2009 while the proportion of debt to equity reduced from 46.5 per cent in 2009 to 23 per cent in 2010. Current liabilities dropped to 32 per cent of total assets in 2010 compared with about 47 per cent in 2009.

Efficiency Nestle Nigeria’s headcount increased in 2010 with average number of employees rising from 2,038 persons in 2009 to 2,113 persons in 2010.

The increase meanwhile boosted productivity, with employees justifying increase in remuneration with higher return. Average contribution of each employee to the bottom-line increased from N6.8 million in 2009 to N8.6 million in 2010.

With total staff cost rising from N8.27 billion in 2009 to N9.33b in 2010, average staff cost per employee had increased from N4.06 million in 2009 to N4.41 million in 2010.

However, total cost of businessexcluding finance costs, stood at 77.1 per cent of total turnover in 2010 as against 77.0 per cent in 2009.

Profitability Nestle Nigeria recorded appreciable improvement in profitability in 2010 as expansive sales growth and internal cost management pushed key profit and loss figures to record-highs.

Turnover rose by 21 per cent from N68.32 billion in 2009 to N82.73 bil-

Fiscal Year Ended December 31 2010 Nmillion Profit and Loss Statement Main Business Segment Total turnover Cost of sales Gross profit Operating expenses Interest and other incomes Finance expenses Pre-tax profit(loss) Post-tax profit (loss) Basic earnings per share(kobo) Gross dividend Cash dividend per share (kobo) Net Assets per share (kobo) Balance Sheet Assets: Fixed assets Total long term assets Trade debtors Current assets Total assets Liabilities: Trade creditors Bank loans Current liabilities Long-term liabilities Total liabilities Equity Funds: Share capital Total Equity Funds

•Martin Woolnough, MD Nestle Nigeria

lion in 2010. Cost of sales however increased by 16 per cent to N46.5 billion in 2010 as against about N40 billion in 2009. With this, gross profit increased by 28 per cent from N28.4 billion in 2009 to N36.2 billion in 2010.

However, operating expenses rose by 37 per cent to N17.3 billion in contrast with N12.6 billion in 2009.

A 63 per cent decline in finance costs mitigated a 34 per cent decrease in non-core business income and lifted profit before tax by 32 per cent to N18.2 billion in 2010 as against N13.8 billion in 2009. Profit after tax also increased from N1.48 billion in 2009 to N1.91 billion in 2010.

With earnings per share increasing from N14.81 in 2009 to N19.08 in 2010, the company still retained the cash payout rate of N12.55 per

2009

12 months

% change

12 months

82,726 82,726 46,495 36,231 17,297 64 753 18,244 12,602 1,908 8,290 1,255 2,250

21.1 21.1 16.4 27.7 37.0 -33.7 -63.2 32.4 28.8 28.8 0.0 0.0 41.0

68,317 68,317 39,957 28,361 12,628 97 2,046 13,783 9,784 1,481 8,290 1,255 1,596

40,242 40,242 4,970 20,105 60,347

58.4 58.4 154.7 -8.0 27.7

25,405 25,405 1,951 21,847 47,252

4,085 3,398 19,454 26,027 45,481

-0.7 -30.7 -11.6 77.1 23.9

4,114 4,901 22,013 14,695 36,708

330 14,865

0.0 41.0

330 10,544

share in spite of 29 per cent increase in earnings per share, thus improving the sustainable future outlook of dividend. Dividend cover improved to 1.5 times in 2010 as against 1.2 times in 2009. A scrip issue of one for five shares declared alongside the cash dividend would increase the outstanding shares of the company by 20 per cent from 661m ordinary shares to 793m shares, thus providing further liquidity that could improve secondary values for shareholders.

Key profitability ratios affirmed the positive outlook of the company. Gross profit margin improved from about 42 per cent in 2009 to about 44 per cent in 2010.

Pre-tax profit margin also rose from 20.2 per cent in 2009 to 22.1 per cent in 2010, the second highest margin in the past five years. Real return on total assets increased from 29 per cent in 2009 to 30 per cent in 2010.

However, return on equity declined from 93 per cent in 2009 to about 85 per cent in 2010.

Liquidity Nestle Nigeria’s ability to meet emerging financial obligations given the extent of readily available liquid assets improved in 2010 with current ratio improving from 0.99 times in 2009 to 1.03 times in 2010.

The company achieved a positive working capital in 2010 as against negative position in 2009. The proportion of working capital to sales improved to 0.8 per cent in 2010 compared with -0.2 per cent in 2009.

Debtors/creditors ratio stood at 122 per cent in 2010 as against 77 per cent in 2009.

Fiscal Year Ended December 31

Governance and structures Nestle Nigeria is a member of the Nestle Group, which holds about 62.76 per cent equity stake mainly through its Ghana-incorporated Nestle CWA Limited.

With just 30,515 shareholders, the high-end market consideration of the company makes it a coveted holding. The largest category of shareholders holds between 101 and 500 ordinary shares. The board composition reflects the multinational status of the company with four expatriates making the eight-man board.

There were no major changes in the board and management of the company.

Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, who was recently reappointed, still chairs the board while Mr Martin Woolnough, an Austrian, directs the executive management team. Nestle Nigeria subscribes to many international codes as well as Nigerian code of corporate governance for public companies.

The annual report also contained corporate governance report detailing key principles, methodologies and actions.

Analyst’s opinion The performance of Nestle Nigeria in 2010 reflected the inherent values built over the course of recent restructuring exercise and new investment programmes.

Nestle Nigeria has invested N30b in its manufacturing operations in Nigeria in recent years, and the company has said it decided to retain substantial net earnings from 2010 to reinvest in the operations.

With the company continuously innovating its route-to-market and product categories and differentiation, there is a reasonable basis to assume that the company can build on the 2010 performance.

2010 %

2009 %

Financing structure Equity funds/Total assets Long-term liabilities/Total assets Current liabilities/Total assets Debt/Equity ratio

24.6 75.4 32.2 22.9

22.3 77.7 46.6 46.5

Profitability Gross profit margin Pre-tax profit margin Return on total assets Return on equity Dividend cover (times)

43.8 22.1 30.2 84.8 1.5

41.5 20.2 29.2 92.8 1.2

Efficiency Pre-tax profit per employee (Nm) Staff cost per employee (Nm) Cost of sales, operating exp/Turnover

8.6 4.41 77.1

6.8 4.06 77.0

Liquidity Current ratio Working capital/Turnover Debtors/Creditors

1.03 0.8 121.7

0.99 -0.2 47.4

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

46

INSURANCE

NIA explains delay in issuing electronic certificates T

HE Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) has not started issuing digital insurance certificates to motorists because it is yet to perfect arrangements for the initiative, The Nation had learnt.

NIA Director -General, Mr Sunday Thomas, said fears of sustaining the effort, errors and inadequate data were some of the reasons for the delay.

Thomas told The Nation that the initiative billed to start last month will now take off next month.

He said some companies had sent their data to the NIA’s centralised data unit, adding that the association will start the process with the data presently available with it.

Thomas said: “When the concept came up, we seem to underestimate what is actually required to commence operations. But no sooner than we got into it, we observed that deeper documentation has to be made to ensure sustainability.

“Right now we are almost getting to the stage of test running the project to ensure that it works as it ought to.

It is not just enough for us to start, for it is not a project that we can afford to start and not continue. So, sustainability is our major concern.

We are trying to do all that is necessary to reduce human error in the process.

“We have gotten data from some

Stories by Chuks Udo Okonta

of the members, but I can tell you that we have received data from all the members. I do not have total control on the members, but we are talking to them and they are responding but the response is a bit slow.”

Chairman NIA Mr Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi, said despite the identified challenges, the NIA would use some companies as a pilot project to test run the efficiency of the initiative.

He noted that most insurance firms have uploaded their customers’ data base to the industry’s data base, which would help in the enforcement of the initiative by the security agencies. He added that some firms failed to upload the engine and chassis number of the vehicles they cover.

Ladipo-Ajayi said such lapses would affect the enforcement of the scheme, noting that the engine and chassis numbers of insured vehicles are key component in the enforcement of the scheme.

He said: “There is no insurmountable problem. It is just that every beginning is difficult. NIA Council decided last week to use a few companies in a pilot project immediately.

It is important the data base contain adequate information that captures all members.”

He said the data is fraud proof and will curb the menace of fake insurance, which has eroded billions of naira from the industry.

Ladipo-Ajayi added that the initiative will boost the premium income of the industry and reposition operations.

President, Lagos Area Committee of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) and Managing Director, Lectern Insurance Brokers Limited, Mr Tunde Oguntade, said the brokers will support the initiative through engage-

ments and sensitisation of the public on the benefits and penalties attached to the initiative.

“What we have decided to do at the NCRIB Lagos Area Committee is to get on the streets and the ports on a given day, with the help of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Vehicle Inspection Operation (VIO) and the Police. And we are going to assisted them to identify fake licences. Not just motor insurance certificates but marine as well.

“We are going to ensure that every

motorist is stopped and the papers are checked to ensure that they are valid papers. There is a law that says if you have fake insurance, you would go to jail for six months or pay a fine of N20, 000.”

“We are going to explore the possibility of enforcing that law, also we are going to get the government to appreciate that insurance is a tool to alleviate poor. We would make them appreciate that as institutional investors that the death of insurance means a total collapse of the economy,” he added.

‘Insurers have weak customer identification system’

I

NSURANCE firms have a weak identification system, Head Compliance, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Mr Giwa Sechap has said.

He said insurers remained a weak link in the Anti-Money laundering/ Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).

According to him, no insurance firm has ever filed Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) to the NFIU. He said the filing of incomplete Customers’ Transactions Report (CTR) by operators was a reflection of their poor identification of their customers.

Sechap said: “The outcome of the Monetary Evaluation Report (MER), particularly on recommendations relating to the financial sector clearly shows that, financial institutions, particularly, insurance operators must do more to meet international AML/CFT region.

“No insurance company has ever filed Suspicious Transactions Report (STR) to NFIU, most insurers file customers’ transactions reports monthly of weekly.

“Incomplete information on customers’ transactions reports filed is a reflection of poor knowledge on their customers. And most operators do not conform to NFIU reporting format.”

Insurance guideline states all insurers and re-insurers shall display visibly in all their operation cen-

tres nationwide the provisions of the money laundering (prohibition) Act 2004 regarding their duty to file cash transaction reports (CTRs) and suspicious transaction reports with the NFIU and forward copies to the commission.

Sechap said: “In line with the provisions of the money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004, it is mandatory for all insurers and reinsurers to identify their customer and their customer’s businesses before entering into or establishing any business relationship with the customer. ”Customer identification shall be in compliance with the provisions of the Know Your Customers Guidelines (KYCG) issued by the NAICOM and other guidelines/ regulations, which may be issued or made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from time to time.

“All Insurers and Re-insurers shall report to the NFIU within seven days any single cash transaction, lodgements or transfer of funds in excess of: N1,000,000 or its equivalent in the case of an individual, or N5, 000,000 or its equivalent in the case of a corporate body.

“All suspicious transactions, the amount involved notwithstanding, shall be filed with the NFIU within seven days of such transaction.

“It said failure to file STR will attract various penalties as contained in the relevant laws.

• From left: Vice President of Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) Mr Ayodapo Shoderu; President, Dr Teslim Sanusi and Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, at the opening of the NCRIB 2011 CEOs’ Retreat, in Osogbo.

Operators decry inadequate infrastructure

P

OOR infrastructural development has hampered insurance growth, the former President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mr Sunny Adeda, has said.

Adeda, who spoke at a forum organised by CIIN in Lagos, said the country’s bad roads has pushed claims up, adding that beside every pot hole there is a vehicle involved in an accident for which insurance claims are filed.

He called on the government to improve on infrastructure, adding that the industry can never thrive in the midst of poor infrastructure.

Adeda said: “The state of infra-

structure in the country has remained a major challenge to sustainability and this has continued to constitute cause for concern for us as an Industry.

The attendant risks in poor and insufficient infrastructural facilities such as roads, water supply and transportation cannot be overemphasised, and, as an Industry, we should begin to champion constructive campaigns for the development of the nation’s infrastructural base.”

The operators, he said would continue to explore ways of improving their skills to enable them align with trends in the business, adding

that the CIIN has made efforts to evolve courses that will equip operators with emerging challenges.

“As an Industry, we will continue to explore risk improvement measures by means of the technical capacities of our workforce. Today, enterprise risk management has become sine qua non for both business success and sustainability. Our efforts in ensuring a continually skilled workforce will remain in front burners of the skills and talent development agenda of this great Institute. This is the only way we can ensure sustainable growth in the Insurance sub-sector of our national economy,” he added.

Drivers face more insurance hikes

M

OTORISTS are facing further hikes in premiums as insurers try to recoup huge losses racked up last year, a new report claims.

Premiums went up by 10 per cent on average in 2010 but losses at the UK's motor insurers still topped £2billion as claims soared, the accountancy firm Deloitte said in an analysis of the UK car insurance market.

James Rakow, an insurance partner at Deloitte, said the latest blow to the industry will mean higher premiums in 2011 as firms try to claw back the losses, which have been sparked by the surge in no-

win-no-fee personal injury claims.

With motorists already under pressure from record petrol prices, the AA recently reported premiums on new car policies could rise by as much as 30 per cent, though the average may be lower as customers with good records get cheaper deals to encourage them to renew.

The scale of the problems facing the industry are illustrated by Deloitte's estimates that, with costs, insurers paid out 120p for every 100p worth of premiums received last year, with some having to pump millions into their reserves to meet the rising claims.

• From left: Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Ms Anne Ene-Ita, and Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Richard Aisebeogun, at the West African Aviation Wildlife Hazard Management workshop in Lagos.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

47

INSURANCE HINTS

Firm pays N300m claims

I

NTERNATIONAL Energy Insurance (IEI) Plc said it paid claims amounting to N300million in six months.

Its Acting Managing Director Mrs Roseline Ekeng, said the company has intensified its commitment to the development of the oil and gas business, adding that one of the claimants is an oil producing firms which got $450,000.

She noted that the prompt response to paying claims is the hallmark of the company’s core business values, adding that here is no compromise when it comes to claims payment.

Mrs Ekeng stated that though the insurance business is af-

fected by low premium collection and poor patronage dictated by the down turn of the Nigerian economy, but there is hope for things to become better now that there is increased faith in democracy with a new and promising government under president Goodluck Jonathan.

She emphasised: “If adequate premium collection is secured, there will be a healthy pool of funds to settle claims.” She pointed out that poor rate tariffs precipitated by sharp under cutting, is not helping the business.

“No matter the harsh economic times, IEI is poised to grow bigger, stronger and better,” she added.

Oil, gas seminar in Lagos

L

ASACO Assurance Plc has concluded arrangements to organise two training courses on oil and space insurance.

The event which holds today in Lagos, is in collaboration with Afram-Tech International Inc. Houston Texas, United States and Claims International Limited.

Its Managing Director, Mr Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi, said the event is the first training course

on non-technical introduction to upstream petroleum operations, specifically for insurance industry, adding that it is targeted at all registered insurance institutions that are offering special risks insurance.

He said the course would give participants a broader understanding of operations in the upstream petroleum industry to aid the risk assessment capabilities as a foundation for sound underwriting.

IGI boss to lead NIA

T

HE Executive Vice-Chairman of Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc, Mr Remi Oluwude, will on June 30 become the chairman of Insurers Association of Nigeria (NIA).

A statement by NIA Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr Davis Iyasere, said four retiring governing council members, namely Messrs GUS Wiggle, Fatai K. Lawal, Shakiru Oyefeso and Mrs Yetunde Ilori will also contest for positions.

He noted that to ensure that the election into the vacant positions are keenly contested, the

secretariat has sent out nomination forms to all chief executive officer of member companies.

Director-General of the association, Mr Olorundare Sunday Thomas, said: “In accordance with Clause 6(3) of the Association’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, a person shall not be eligible for election into the Governing Council unless he occupies the position of not below the grade of Chief Executive in a member company and such a company must have transacted insurance business in Nigeria for a period of not less than five years.”

UK brokers seek review of scheme

T

HE British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has petitioned the UK Government with the signatures of nearly 7000 of its members to accelerate its review of the UK’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

BIBA submitted the petition to the Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Insurance and Financial Services, Jonathan Evans MP, who will formally present it to the House of Commons.

Mr Evans will also apply for an adjournment debate on the subject in the House of Commons in an extra bid to increase pressure on the Government.

A review into the funding of the FSCS was announced by the Financial Services Association (FSA) in late 2009, but was subsequently postponed due to European Union compensation reviews and until a wider review of UK regulation by the UK Government is completed next year.

UK brokers have faced a succession of huge increases in

their levies payable to the scheme, due to the mis-selling of payment protection insurance by credit brokers, who are in the same funding pool as general insurance brokers.

BIBA CEO Eric Galbraith wants the funding review completed by April next year, so that general insurance brokers can avoid another increase in their FSCS levies for the 2012/ 13 financial year.

But FSA Conduct Policy Director Sheila Nicholl told the parliamentary group that it’s unlikely the levy review will be completed in time for brokers to avoid further levy rises.

She says the review is being held up by slow progress on revisions to EU directives which govern financial services compensation schemes.

The time required for consultation and transitional arrangements means it’s unlikely a new funding model could be in place by April next year.

“We don’t want to do a rush job on this – we want this to be sustainable,” she said.

• From left: Chairman, Nigerian Insurance Association (NIA) Mr Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi; Chairman, NIA Customer Complaints Bureau, Justice George Oguntade (rtd) and former Chairman, NIA Prof. Joe Irukwu, at an event organised by the association in Lagos.

NAICOM, insurers disagree over statutory deposit

A

ROW has broken out between the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and insurance companies.

They are quarrelling over the management of the companies statutory deposit fixed at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Insurers are demanding the release of the deposit to boost their operations, but NAICOM is saying the funds would not be released because they are meant to cushion liabilities when the companies liquidate.

Commissioner for Insurance Mr Fola Daniel told The Nation that the Insurance Act stipulated how insurance firms should operate and there

Stories by Chuks Udo Okonta

is no way the fund can be released to the operators.

He said: “Why would they call for the release of their statutory deposit? Are they liquidating? Statutory deposit is required in the event that an insurance company fails and is unable to meet its liabilities. The regulator would use the deposit to upset its liabilities. It is a deposit against possible failure or distress by insurance company.

“When a company is to be floated, a specific amount is deposited and once a certificate is issued to the company half of the deposit is given to back to the company.”

He said insurers are statutorily

required to deposit 10 per cent of their capital with the CBN. Chairman of Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) Mr Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi, at the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) 2011 International Education Conference, in Lagos, called on the CBN to talk to the government to release the fund to operators to boost their operations.

He noted that the fund should be made available to operators as it is not serving any purpose being with the CBN. He said: “The CBN as organ of government should help us talk to the government to release our funds as done to the banks to enable us enhance our operations.”

‘Recapitalisation will encourage PFAs’ mergers

T

HE proposed recapitalisation for Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) will encourage their merger, Director-General, National Pension Commission (PenCom) Mr Muhammad Ahmad has said.

Ahmad, who spoke in Abuja, said operators who could not meet the proposed capital should either merge or surrender their licences.

He said: “Of course it is not all the 24 PFA’s that will have the N1 billion. The implication is that they would seek to merge, seek to bring in additional shares or surrender their licence to us. In the past, there were talks of merger but it would appear the initiative, except for one of them that completed the process, the initiative wasn’t pursued with the vigour with the way it should be pursued perhaps because it was moral suasion, appealing to them to please come together and merge. Now that there is a statutory requirement, we want to be-

H

OW to solve operational risks in organisations will top the agenda of the forth

coming workshop organised by the Risk and Insurance Managers Society of Nigeria (RIMSON), a member of the International Federation of Risk and Insurance Management Association.

The event billed for July 21 and 22 at NECA House, Alausa Ikeja, is to find ways of ensuring that firms remain in business, make profit and give adequate returns to shareholders.

Its Executive Secretary, Maria

lieve that it would compel them to merge if they so desire.

“Those who cannot merge are likely to surrender their licence.

PFA business is not like banking business. The greatest risks in banking business lies in credit risk, PFAs don’t have that risk because they don’t grant loss.”

The withdrawal of the licence of any firm that fail to meet the new capital will not affect the contributions of employees, he said.

“As an industry, you can afford to withdraw a licence of a PFA and nothing will happen to the pension fund because the fund is a separate entity from the PFA and it is also kept by a custodian.

So the impact in terms of possible erosion of public confidence is limited; therefore even if some of them decided to say they want to surrender their licence because they don’t have N1 billion, they can afford to do that without adverse impact on retirement sav-

ings account (RSA). For instance, one of the pension fund administrators, Standard Alliance surrendered their licence but it did not affect the integrity of their pension funds. “PFAs are like investment managers and largely it is not a business that requires huge capital but gradually as they grow depending on their size of business, they capital base may have to increase.

“There are PFAs today with shareholders’ fund up to N1 billion. I think they are about five of them. We have those who are close to N1 billion and they should get to N1 billion in six months. We have quite a few that except they merge or shareholders inject more money, they may have to surrender their licence.

Of course, we are watching them and we will be engaging them regularly to see their progress. We will supervise the merger process all though,” he said.

Risk managers to hold workshop Samali, in a chat with journalist on the workshop noted that operational risks need to be managed effectively through proper identification, analysis and treatment.

She said a crop of highly skilled professionals have been assembled to demonstrate current trends and practices in the management of operational risks.

According to her, the programme is meant for chief executive officer of banks, oil and gas, manufactur-

ing, financial directors, risk managers, internal auditors, safety managers, operational managers and insurance managers.

Others expected include Insurance underwriters, insurance brokers, loss adjusters, risk surveyors and engineers among others.

Prelude to the workshop is the Chief Executive Officers Forum billed for July 20 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, with a keynote address to be delivered by Folusho Philips of Philips Consulting.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

48

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION with

Succeeding through effective communication BOOK REVIEW Author: Arch Lustberg Publisher: Pinnacle of Grace Reviewer: Goke Ilesanmi

GOKE ILESANMI

O

NE of the ways to excel in life is to know how to effectively position, sell or market yourself in every situation.

And communication is very critical to success in this area. That is why I want us to examine this text entitled How to Sell Yourself.

It is written by Arch Lustberg, a communication expert who taught Speech and Drama at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. for 10 years. Lustberg owns Arch Lustberg Communications.

He says communication means transfer of information from one mind to another mind, or to a group of other minds. Lustberg adds that it can be in the form of an idea, a fact, an image, an emotion, or a story. This author then submits that the premise of this book is therefore to stress that every time you open your mouth, in order for communication to happen, you have to sell yourself.

Lustberg asserts that if you do not sell yourself, communication is nearly impossible.

According to him, we think of selling as being product-oriented.

Lustberg adds that this is only one aspect of selling. In the case of product sales, the factors are usually the salesperson and the price, he expatiates, stressing that even when there is a slight price difference, we rarely buy any big-ticket item from someone we really dislike. Lustberg stresses that ideas are not much different, especially that the only time we pay close attention to an idea being commu-

nicated by someone we do not like is when we have a heavy personal or emotional investment in the subject.

He says you can have the best message in the world, but if you do not present the message the way you intended it, you are probably communicating the wrong message.

Structurally, this text is segmented into 14 chapters. Chapter one is entitled Selling yourself.

According to Lustberg here, there are three things you need to sell yourself, and these are competence, likability and luck. He says the first two will almost always deliver the third, adding that having competence and likability is not enough. This author stress that most of us already have them, adding that what is needed, and what this book will emphasise, is the audience’s perception that you are competent and likable.

In Lustberg’s words, “It isn’t about faking it, or fooling the audience… Real people like you and me need to learn some basic techniques that will let us be our real selves in the presentation situation.”

Chapter two is based on selling your competence. The author educates that there are four communication tools available to everybody, and these are the mind, the face, the body and the voice. He says, “I’m going to oversimplify matters by calling the way you use your mind the audience’s determination of your competence; and your face, body, and voice your like ‘likability’. We can call your mind your ‘substance’. Your face, body, and voice your ‘style’. Or we can refer to your mind as ‘what you say’, and the other three as ‘how you say it’.”

He adds that only very few people are wonderful when they are winging it. Lustberg explains that some are “naturals” while

most are not. “Never forget that you know more than anyone else about certain things… You are unique. Use this to your advantage. Only you can put it all together in your particular way. But do it with care…,” he educates.

In chapters three to eight, Lustberg X-rays concepts such as selling your likability; selling with confidence; selling with the right signals; selling yourself as a speaker; selling yourself in confrontation and media interviews; and selling yourself in the classroom.

Chapter nine has the subject matter of selling your product.

Here, this author discusses how to sell your product by selling yourself. Lustberg says over the years, he has trained thousands of Merril Lynch financial consultants. He stresses that at first, the people he trained were professionals with several years of experience and above-average sales records. “They reported that their sales shot through the roof after understanding the open face, eye contact, gesture, storytelling, personalising, and appearing not as sales professionals, but as loving family members,” illuminates Lustberg.

He adds that for a sale to take place and for customer satisfaction to be the final and enduring result, some basic principles must apply. These, according to him, are: first, you must know your product; second, you must believe in your company, your product and yourself; and third, you also know the territory.

In chapters 10 to 14, the author examines concepts such as selling yourself in the job interview; selling when testifying; selling yourself in meetings; selling yourself in negotiations; and the ‘selling yourself’ handbook.

Stylistically, this text radiates some uniqueness. This is expected given that Lustberg is a communicator. The language is simple and standard, and the presentation very logical. Lustberg uses a lot of didactic illustrations, analytical details, autobiographical effects, classical/literary allusions to achieve analytical ampli-

fication, as well as understanding and conviction on readers’ part.

What’s more, he employs visual textual distinction by making areas of conceptual emphases bold to attract attention. The outer front cover is non-verbally communicative and the inside pages well laid out.

However, Lustberg can still improve on this text by harmonising the chapters for compactness.

Doing this will even reduce the problem of repetition and redundancy noticed in the text, which

he admits in chapter nine. A grammatical error noticed in this book is Real people like you and me need …(page 15) instead of Real people like you and I need.... The Me is supposed to be in the subject case ( I ) because it is not serving as an object to any antecedent or subject.

In spite of all the shortcomings, this text is a good one. It is a mustread for anybody that is prepared to showcase his or her competence and achieve success through effective communication strategies.

Using communication to achieve workplace harmony

C

OMMUNICATION is one of the non-material tools of building productive relationships in the workplace. This is because partnering for performance is based on building relationships and communication is one of the key elements critical to building relationships.

When you are speaking with a co-worker, you need to think of yourself sitting on a seesaw with him or her on the other end. When you dominate a conversation therefore, you appear to be a bigger person, sitting on the seesaw with a powerless person. The lighter person will not like being suspended in mid-air. It makes him or her feel powerless and small. The heavier (more knowledgeable) you are, the closer you have to move towards the other person, to balance things out.

Motion, questions and listening When you are trying to move closer to the other person, the conversational seesaw should move up and down, so that both of you can contribute to the experience. If you are doing too much pushing, it will be too much work

By Goke Ilesanmi for you, and an out-of-control ride for the other. Joan Lloyd, a specialist in leadership development and organisational change says during the conversation, you should ask questions and listen to the answers. Asking a person questions, makes the other person feel valued and a part of the conversation. Just being the listener makes the person feel like a passive audience of one.

Negative communication Beyond the issue of participatory communication is the need to discourage negative, misguided or toxic communication in our workplace because it is a threat. This type of communication is metaphorically defined as an organisational cancer that kills trust, respect, understanding, collaboration and job satisfaction. By taking firm steps to avoid negative communication, you will contribute to a better work environment where people will trust and respect you more, and offer you more of their goodwill.

Misguided or toxic communi-

cation can be disguised in various ways, such as indirect communication; character assassination; public re-dressing and estabbing. At this juncture, let us look at these segments.

Indirect communication This is the use of non-verbal messages, disapproving attitudes, critical humour or public teasing to send a veiled message to someone, instead of having a direct, face-to-face conversation with him or her.

Character assassination, public re-dressing and e-stabbing Character assassination is simply a deliberate attempt to rubbish somebody’s reputation. Public re-dressing is about exposing someone’s private issue in the public because it is uncomfortable for you to go face-to-face with him or her. This could be reprimanding a person in front of his or her peers. E-stabbing is the distribution of a scathing email.

This can also happen when you request someone’s help by email, and then copy your supervisor so that the person is forced to comply.

Elimination However, toxic or misguided communication can be eliminated through a lot of ways. One of these is to resort to direct communication and avoid sending messages that leave ambiguity in the mind of the receiver. Brady Wilson, co-founder of Juice Inc. says, “Stop character assassinations. Avoid becoming a character assassin by using this simple rule: When you speak about someone to others, picture them beside you and only say the things you would say if they were present.”

Another thing is to interrupt public re-dressing. If you are a manager, you should not discipline people in front of their peers unless the issue absolutely must be addressed publicly, in the moment, to avert a greater disaster.

Another thing to do is to let estabbers understand the implications of using technology as a fault-broadcaster.

Solution Communication is very crucial to the day-to-day interaction in the workplace. However, certain

misguided communication styles can spell danger in the workplace. To ensure effective workplace communication, it is good to abide by the rule of participatory communication, so that disaffection that can arise from monopoly of communication, with its attendant know-it-all impression, can be avoided.

NOTE: The duration of the public speaking seminar has been greatly reduced as requested, in addition to other adjustments. You will find the programme on the right side at the upper part of my website. Click on the text and see details. I appreciate your suggestions and requests.

•GOKE ILESANMI, Managing Consultant/CEO of Gokmar Communication Consulting is a Communication Specialist, Motivational Speaker, Career Management Coach, Book Reviewer, Corporate Leadership Expert and Editorial Consultant.

Tel: 08055068773; 08056030424 Email: info@gokeilesanmi.com Website: www.gokeilesanmi.com

49

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

ONDO 2012

• Farunkanmi

• Abayomi

• Mimiko

• Iji

• Akinterinwa

• Agunloye

ACN, PDP, LP battle for Ondo Govt House As Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and others warm up for the governorship election in Ondo State, their aspirants are on the track. Who will emerge as flagbearers?

Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU asks.

P

OLITICS is in the air in Ondo State. The three main political parties; the ruling La bour Party (LP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); have returned to the drawing board. Where will the pendulum of victory swing?

Members of the three parties, it can be rightly argued, have tasted power in the state before.

They retain the memory of earlier connections and relationship. Between 1999 and 2003, Alliance for Democracy (AD) produced the late Adebayo Adefarati as governor. He was a colleague of his successor, Olusegun Agagu, in the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), where he served as deputy governor. In that Olumilua Administration, and much later, under Adefarati government, the LP leader, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, was the Commissioner for Health.

Between 2003 and 2007, Agagu and Mimiko also worked together. Under the Agagu Administration, he was Secretary to Government. Later, he became Minister of Housing. Since then, members of AD, who refused to jump boat, have remained in opposition. They are now fighting for power under ACN. LP, led by the former Education Minister Olaiya Oni, is not leaving anything to chances. The governor, who went through a protracted litigation process to reclaim his stolen mandate, is battle ready. Basking in the euphoria of the party’s victory in the last state and federal parliamentary elections, he declared that the poll was a good mid-term assessment for him, his administration and the ruling party. He said he had used the power conferred on him at the 2007 polls to perform to expectation.

The boasting is not amusing to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Dr Tayo Dairo.

The members of the party perceive the LP as a split of faction of the PDP in the state, which went to take refuge in the LP, following deepseated argument with former Governor Olusegun Agagu. In the recent elections, the party made spirited efforts to bounce back, but without success.

In Ondo State, PDP is a wounded lion seeking whom to devour. But it is a handicapped giant.

Now, as 2012 draws near, PDP is baring its fangs; aptly relying on its old glory and battling with its stigmatisation as a rigging machine. How to reclaim the lost ground is a big challenge, especially at a time when it is more risky to rig.

However, ACN appears to be in a vantage position to package an offensive against both PDP and LP. Its feats in the remaining five Southwest states of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Lagos is inspiring to the Ondo branch to take the bull by the horn. The profile of the party is rising as the dominant platform in the Southwest region and leading opposition party at the centre.

Politics of zoning

Zoning is the strength of party system and electoral politics in Nigeria. It is reinforced by the

plurality of the country and component units; the states and local government. During electioneering it is a veritable weapon deliberately employed to whip sentiments. But in 2012, it is going to be a weak mechanism in the Sunshine State. The governorship is open to the North, South and Central Zones.

The reason is that the governorship had gone through the three zones. The first civilian governor, Adekunle Ajasin, was from the North District. The third governor, Adefarati was from the same zone. His successor, Agagu, hails from the South. Mimiko is from the Central. Except Ajasin, none of them had the second term privilege. 2012 poll is, therefore, a free contest.

The aspirants:

LP

The sole aspirant in the LP, for now, is Mimiko, the party leader. It is unlikely that he will have a challenger in the party. Sources said that there are few LP chieftains, who are interested in the number one position, but they know that the coast is not clear because the leader is in the race.

“It is not strange to hear that, if they are bent on trying their luck, they may have to leave for another party”, said an LP source, who could not rule out such possibility. Since the aspirants are too few, the post-primary crisis, which usually assail parties, is nipped in the bud.

Mimiko, the Iroko of Ondo politics, has ruined the chance of Agagu to bounce back to reckoning. There is a hot competition for the exercise of influence over the choice of minister from Ondo between Agagu faction of PDP and Mimiko, who is more popular with PDP in the state than Agagu.

If Agagu camp does not get the ministerial slot, the group is liquidated. It will face extinction.

PDP

There is no shortage of governorship candidates in the chapter. The only snag is that many credible people, who are interested in politics outside the party are afraid to associate with PDP because of negative perception.

Currently, governorship aspirants in the party include Chief Tayo Alasoadura, former Finance Commissioner under Agagu Administration, Senator Olorunnimbe Farunkanmi, PDP National Legal Adviser Olusola Oke, Dr Benson Enikuomehin, Dr Tayo Dairo , and Dr Agagu, who lost his deposit at the recent senatorial election in Ondo South, his former deputy, Omolade Oluwateru, and Prof. Agbi.

However, PDP insides confided that

Alasoadura and Farunkanmi are also holding partisan meetings with the ACN leaders regularly.

ACN

The party has the highest number of governorship aspirants for now. Since the gates of LP appears closed and the PDP has a bad image in the state, the only credible alternative is the ACN. Both LP and ACN would now move swiftly to get the remaining mushroom political parties on their sides for strategic reasons.

ACN governorship aspirants include Dr Tunji Abayomi, Hon. Segun Ojo, Comrade Sola Iji, Mrs Jumoke Anifowose, Dr Olu Agunloye, and Hon. Wale Akinterinwa. Hon. Ojo, Alasoadura and Farunkanmi may later defect to the party.

They are eminently qualified to run the affairs of the state.

The contenders would be subjected to various tests outside the constitution and party guidelines. For example, the searchlight will be beamed on the chronological age of the aspirant, in conformity with the push for generational shift. Currently, the average age of the ACN governors in the Southwest is 48. Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola is 53. His Ogun counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, is barely 50. Governor Babatunde Fashola is 47. Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi is 46.

At a rally in Lagos last year, the National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, hinted that ACN would groom youths to take over from the men of the old order, who have been playing politics since the days of Awolowo. “We will give opportunities to youths and women and we will stay back as their advisers’, he said at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan.

If the unofficial criteria of age is employed, there is instant political weeding. Agunsoye is 62 and Anifowose is 61. Iji is around 50. The odd could only favour Akinterinwa. But this is not the only criterion.

Abayomi

Abayomi is over 60. But he is fit and his ideas are not outdated. A human rights lawyer, he holds a doctorate degree in Law. The history of pro-democracy crusade and titanic battle against military rule is not complete without mention of his name. For five years, he was kept behind bars by the military over his defence of democracy and liberty. He is from Okeagbe, Akoko Northwest Local Government. In 1998/99, he had warned the freedom fighters of the conse-

‘In Ondo State, PDP is a wounded lion seeking whom to devour. But it is a handicapped giant. Now, as 2012 draws near, PDP is baring its fangs; aptly relying on its old glory and battling with its stigmatisation as a rigging machine. How to reclaim the lost ground is a big challenge, especially at a time when it is more risky to rig’

quence of their apathy to the transition programme of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, pointing out that if they refused to participate, military apologists would fill the vacuum. He was a member of AD and AC. He is a principled politician.

Akinterinwa

The young politician is from Ile-Oluji, Ile-OlujiOkeigbo Local Government. When Mimiko’s stolen mandate was restored, he was appointed commissioner for Finance. He was the key to explosion in LP. he enjoys the loyalty and support of many members of the cabinet. Last year, he left LP for ACN. Immediately, there was also a change in perception. Many started to see the difference between LP and ACN, which, previously, they ignorantly perceived as the same. A chartered accountant and administrator, he has a comparative advantage in terms of age, exposure, experience and expertise.

Akinterinwa is not a baby politician. But before he ventured into politics, he had worked and made fortune in Lagos. He was the Special Assistant to the chairman of LSDPC. He had resigned in 2002 to contest for the senate in AD. The old politicians in the state, who relished seniority, advised him to step down and run for the House of Representatives. He campaigned with vigour, mobilised for personal victory and secured the ticket. But that was in 2003, when there was a political earthquake in the Southwest.

Akinterinwa lost to the PDP rigging machinery.

When he joined LP, he was a dependable ally of Mimiko and an outstanding member of his cabinet.

Iji

Iji is from Igbogini, Ose local government. He is a lawyer and unionist. Until last year, he was the chairman of Action Congress and an ally of Akinterinwa, who he is indebted to for his ascension into the party leadership. he is a consistent politician. Iji is an ex-officio member of ACN National Executive Council (NEC). But he lacks enormous resources to run a state-wide campaign.

Agunloye

He is a household name in the country. A former university don from Erusu-Akoko, he came into limelight as the boss of the Road Safety Commission. A close associate of the late Bola Ige, he, in fact, was his Special Assostant, when he was a minister. When Ige was murdered, Agunloye was made minister by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. At that stage, he also defected to the PDP, which his boss, Ige, jhad wanted to fight, when he hinted about his resignation from the federal cabinet. When PDP lost out in the state, Agunloye defected to LP. He contested against the Akoko leader, Prof.

Borofice, at the senatorial primaries, but kissed •Continued on page 50

50

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

POLITICS

Abia: Orji unfolds programmes

A

BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has unfolded his agenda for the state, saying that he would focus on security, health care, education, employment generation, infrastructural development and agriculture.

The governor also said that he would implement the Aba mega city project in a bid to restore the glory of the commercial city and boost internally generated revenue.

Orji, who spoke through his media aide, Ugbochukwu Emezue, in Lagos, emphasised the need for accountable and transparent government, promising to be a symbol of good governance in the Southeast region.

As part of plans to create jobs, he told reporters that the famous Golden Guinea Breweries would soon be back on track with full production capacity.

He said: “We are making concrete arrangements to increase the productive capacity of the company.

We after talking with the management on how to boost this massive investment. Our youths would benefit maximally from the fruits of the investment and revatalisation efforts. In this second term, job creation is our cardinal goal”.

Orji disclosed that no fewer than 1,000 youths, comprising graduates and non-graduates, would be employed into the civil service before the end of this month.

The governor explained that, when the state cement company, which foundation was laid before the electioneering, is completed, it would generate additional jobs for qualified youths across the state.

He said the civil service would be reactivated and highly professionalised for better service delivery, adding that government would also focused on training and re-training of personnel.

• Orji

By Emmanuel Oladesu

Orji added: “We have laid the foundation of the new Abia State Secretariat. This is the first step in creating a conducive atmosphere for workers in this state. When workers operate in a conducive environment, high productivity is guaranteed. Today, workers are not been owed salaries, unlike in the past and we want to sustain the better working relationship between the workforce and our administration in the interest of our state.”

The governor reiterated his commitment to the Aba Mega City project, which he said, would reinforce the commercial strength of the city and create multiplier effects.

He said: ‘The beautification project is on in the city and the major aspect is the construction and reconstruction of the roads. There is an independent power project in Alaoji, near Aba done by the federal government. The state government is providing logistic support.

When it is completed, it will help

in generating power to Abia and large and medium scale businesses would not be functioning at a low capacity”.

Orji promised to sustain the tempo of security in the state by partnering with security agencies in the state in terms of supply of security gargets, motor bikes and other tools for effective surveillance.

He thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for the recently commissioned Army Barracks, Ohafia, saying that it would boost security network in the state.

Orji said that Abia is safe for serious investment in all the sectors, following an end to the orgy of kidnapping and abduction, which tormented many areas in the Southeast.

He promised to re-invigorate the health sector by improving on the primary health facilities at the 165 health centers across the state.

Orji said: “Our projection is that every community should have its own health centre; well equipped, before the end of this second term.

For now, we have two modern ultra-modern diagnostic centers; one in Aba; another one in Umuahia, the state capital. These have reduced the penchant for travelling outside the country for medical attention. People come from all over the country for services. ewe have expatriates working at the centres and there is optimum service delivery”.

The governor said the free tuition and scholarship for students would be sustained, adding that the rehabilitation of primary and secondary schools would also continue.

Orji said his administration would make public schools more attractive than private institutions in the state. Abia State University will also be more funded and equipped so that it can become the first among equals, he added.

JDPC sets agenda for Jonathan

A

GROUP, Justice, Develop ment and Peace Commis sion (JDPC),has set an agenda for President Goodluck Jonathan, urging him never to disappoint Nigerians.

The commission said the President should focus on anti-corruption war, transparency, electricity, security and electoral reforms.

Other areas include education reforms, passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), and adaption of the Millennium Development

By Emmanuel Oladesu

Goals (MDGs).

JDPC Executive Director, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Fadele, told reporters in Lagos that Dr Jonathan would also impress Nigerians, if he broadens democracy and implements the Freedom of Information act with vigour.

“In our opinion, these are the irreducible minimal expectations from the Jonathan Presidency”, he added.

JDPC hammered on the importance of managing success, saying that the onus is on the President to revisit the recommendations of the Uwais Panel on Electoral Reforms in a bid to deepen electoral democracy.

The group also condemned the call for a Government of National Unity (GNU), sayingb that the advocates are enemies of democracy.

Fadele said: “GNU has one hidden motive, which is the emasculation of the opposition, resulting in one party system”.

•From left: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Justice Alhaji Pedro Lawal receiving an award on behalf of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola over his re-election for the second term as the executive governor of Lagos State from National Vice President, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Aare R. Ade Sanni during PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE a ‘Special thanksgiving prayer andhonour at the Surulere, Lagos.

Mamora calls for devolution of powers

F

ORMER Senate Deputy Minor ity Leader Olorunnimbe Mamora has called for constitutional amendment that would guarantee devolution of powers in the spirit of federalism.

He also canvassed increased functions and funding for the states, stressing that the second tier is closer to the people than the federal government.

Mamora, who was a member of Senate from 2003 to 2011, said that the review of the constitution has become imperative to foster true federalism and consolidate democracy and the electoral process.

He spoke at a valedictory press conference at his Ogudu, Lagos Constituency Office, where his successor, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Senator Gbenga Ashafa, hailed his contributions to democratic consolidation and promised to live up to expectation like him.

Mamora suggested the expunging from the constitution powers of the National Assembly to list newly created councils in the country, arguing that it conflicts with the power of the Houses of Assembly to create local governments.

He also called for the elimination of “fringe political parties,” saying that they constitute opportunistic political pathogenes seeking relevance through the back door.

Mamora stressed: “The mushroom parties have no offices. Their membership comprise of family mem-

By Emmanuel Oladesu

bers. They came together to endorse president Goodluck Jonathan and some governors. I call for multi-party system, with five vibrant and valiant parties” The ACN chieftain also asked the Senate to reduce its committees from 54 to 40 for efficient management.

He added: “There is need for continuous capacity building for senators and legislative staff for better service delivery. Senate should request from the President the portfolios of ministerial nominees for efficient confirmation hearing exercise.”

Hailing Mamora for offering quality representation, Ashafa said: “posterity would continue to hold him in high esteem, particularly for the Tobacco Bill he sponsored, which became law.”

He added: “So much was done by him and they cannot be too much in the quest to meet the yearnings of the electorate. I am particularly honoured to witness the rendering of account of stewardship. I am carrying on from where he stopped.

“The fulfillment that comes with creditable service encourages and inspires me to build on his accomplishments”.

At the press conference were the former Special Adviser of Environment, Hon. Sesan Olanrewaju, chairman of Ikosi-Isherri council, Kunle Soname and vice chairman of Kosofe council, Gbenga Aka-Bashorun.

ACN, PDP, LP battle for Alagbaka House •Continued from page 49

the dust. He campaigned vigorously for endorsement, but the constituents turned down his request. After that, he defected to ACN. When he moved from one party to another with the speed of lightening, his critics labeled him a political harlot. He fought back ,saying that he was a victim of lack of internal democracy in those parties.s

Anifowose

She is a daughter of a legend, who served humanity without blemish. His father, Ajasin, was the leader of progressives in his life time. Jumoke, a lawyer, has never departed from his path, unlike the children of the first modern leader of Yoruba. Under Adefarati Administration, she was the Attorney-general and Commissioner for Justice. She has a name to protect.

She has a positive public image. Mrs Anifowose is the chairman of ACN in the state.

Alasoadura

He is a strong politician in the state. in fact, it is said that he is the leader of the strongest bloc in Ondo PDP. he also know what to do to achieve political results. Under Agagu, Alasoadura was Commissioner for Finance. Those who deride say that he wants to be governor by all means and at all costs, adding that he does not mind the platform.

But his supporters have always replied that they are jealous of his popularity and political prowess. He controls 50 percent of PDP crumbling forces in Ondo State.

Alasoadura is full of energy and drive.

He is a firm person. He understands the language of politics. He is also a controversial operator. His political foes deride him as a violent politician. he has denied this, urging them to come up with evidence. When tribulation arose in Iju and the monarch, Oba Farunkanmi, had to flee from the ancient town, he fingered the supporters of the politician in his predicament.

The former commissioner from Iju has been discussing defection plans with the ACN chieftain, Ade Adetimehin, the chairman of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee. It is ironical that one of those who either collapsed or weakened the progressive platforms in the state to pave the way for the PDP is now returning to the

progressive fold to fight for governorship. The question is: can ACN trust Alasoadura?

Farunkanmi

At 68, Senator Farunkanmi, is still on the firing line. He is a prince who declined to mount the throne of Iju, when there was a vacancy. He had risen to fame in the Second Republic, when, after completing his first term in the House of Assembly, he was elected a senator at a tender age. He was a vocal and vibrant legislator like his colleagues; Alex Adedipe, Bode Babatola and Kayode Iwakun. in 1999, he was a founding member of PDP. He dazed his compatriots, when he defected to the PDP. Later, controversy dogged his steps , when, as a PDP card-carrying member, he became an INEC Commissioner. The feeling was that former President Obasanjo had retired Farunkanmi from politics with the appointment, which demanded neutrality. It was also widely believed that he had buried his governorship ambition.

If Ajasin were alive, he would have preferred people like Farunkanmi, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) senator and now, the personification of the old order. He is principled and credible politician; highly disciplined, frugal and incorruptible. However, he has no political structure today. His only supporter is his devoted wife. He lacks the financial resources to oil any political machinery. Many have complained about his temperament, but defensively, it is attributed to his no-nonsense figure. If he defects to ACN, he will be re-united with his old colleagues in the UPN, including Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua, Senator Bode Olowoporoku, and Senator Lawrence Agunbiade, who now play advisory roles as esteemed party elders.

Ojo

Segun Ojo was Finance Commissioner in Adefarati government. A native of Emure, Owo local government, he is a tested and trusted politician. He is not a daft who suffers fools gladly. Nicknamed a ‘General’ in Ondo progressive fold, he has a considerable followership.

Zonal distribution of aspirants: Iji and Akinterinwa are from the South District. Alasoadura, Mimiko, Agbi and Dairo, are from Central. Agunloye, Abayomi and Ojo are from the North.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

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MONEY LINK

Lease operators target SMEs to boost growth

T

HE Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) remain a ready market for lease business in the country, Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN), Chairman, Mr. Kehinde Lawanson has said.

In an interview with The Nation yesterday, Lawanson noted that the N538 billion recorded in leasing business in 2010 can be increased if the SMEs are given more attention.

Lawanson said that the Nigerian leasing industry continued to make remarkable progress, and that oil and gas maintained its lead, achieving about 40 per cent growth, followed closely by transportation (37 per cent), which has benefitted from public private sector partnership.

He listed the most commonly leased assets to include medium, light and heavy duty vehicles, production machinery, power generating sets, house hold utilities, industrial and office equipment with vehicles topping the list as the most commonly leased asset in the country.

Lawanson explained that leasing is a creative finance option that broadens product range in the financial services industry without necessarily deploying huge sums of capital that have competing needs.

Lawson noted the global economic recession and numerous banking reforms in the country resulted in restrictions in credit lines by banks for productive ventures.

Stories by Collins Nweze Senior Correspondent

He said access to adequate funds has remained a major challenge in the leasing industry being a credit driven activity.

The ELAN boss regretted that notwithstanding the relevance of leasing, it is still being treated with apathy by the government. “Leasing as a special, convenient way of

financing, has not been adequately catered for by laws in the country, rather it is trapped in arbitrary laws and regulations,” he said.

Lawanson said the current regulatory regime does not clearly define the relationship between the lessor and the lessee.

The ELAN boss stressed that the leasing bill if enacted will do away with the

current confusion and uncertainty surrounding the regulation and practice of leasing in Nigeria. “The business of leasing would then develop clear and understandable legal relationship with appropriate structure that will bestow numerous benefits to various business interest groups,” he said.

For the ordinary Nigerians, he said leasing is one of the easiest ways to acquire

P

LANS by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to testrun its cash transaction limit policy in Lagos has compelled banks to prepare for the implementation of the policy in the state.

The Nation’s findings showed that banks have started deploying Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point of Sale (PoS) terminals to strategic points such as shopping malls, airports, higher institutions of learning, and busy markets to make cash readily available to customers.

Speaking on the African In-

dependent Television Money Show yesterday, Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said the bank is putting in place everything that is needed to achieve a ‘Cashless Lagos’.

Part of the measures, he indicated, includes massive deployment of ATMs, PoS terminals and other electronic payment modems needed for the project. He said other countries including Uganada have improved on their e-payment platforms and hardly use cash in transactions.

Emefiele, therefore insisted

that Nigeria should not be an exception in the drive to increasing the use of electronic modems in payments. Aside the deployment of ATMs, banks are also improving on their banking soft wares to support the new policy, he added.

The policy, which seeks pegs cash transactions at an initial N150, 000 and N1 million for corporate organisations, takes effect from June 2012.

“What we are going to do for the next six months... we have what we call a project, `Cashless Lagos.’ We’ll bring Lagos up as a model; you’ll see the

U

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has emerged winner of the 2010 “Best Trade Finance Bank in Nigeria in recognition for its role in facilitating trade in Nigeria and on the African continent.

The award, which was announced last Friday” by Euromoney International; the

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

global investment and trade finance magazine, according to a statement, would be presented to the bank at a ceremony scheduled to hold next Wednesday at Parklane Hotel London.

According to the awards committee, UBA Plc emerged the winner of this award through a highly competi-

tive voting process by global industry leaders in recognition of its leadership role in facilitating International Trade in Nigeria . ”UBA has continuously leveraged its African footprints, knowledge and appetite to originate trade mandates from corporate and financial institutions across its presence and non

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 21-6-11 O/PRICE 54.00 89,20 47.11 2.08 2.84 4.21 1.16 0.94 1.10 1.24

C/PRICE 56.50 90.00 47.58 2.18 2.93 4.30 1.21 0.98 1.14 1.28

CHANGE +2.50 +0.80 +0.47 +0.10 +0.09 +0.09 +0.05 +0.04 +0.04 +0.04

LOSER AS AT 21-6-11 SYMBOL NBC GLAXOSMITH DANGFLOUR GUARANTY ETI FIRSTBANK CCNN NAHCO LONGMAN NASCON

O/PRICE 42.50 28.35 16.40 15.85 12.60 10.20 13.20 7.83 5.67 5.71

C/PRICE 40.90 26.94 15.60 15.10 14.35 11.97 9.75 7.45 5.39 5.43

ing Intra – Africa Trade which it drives using various products such as Afritrade, Africash and AfriCard; Import Finance vis-à-vis LC issuance, advisory, confirmation and discounting; Pre and post shipment finance; Commodity Export Finance; Trade loan syndication and Risk participation.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES

SYMBOL JBERGER NB WAPCO RTBRISCOE REDSTAREX NAMPAK OCEANIC INTERCONT AFRIBANK CILEASING

presence countries, including leveraging on its trade finance and processing capacities in Lagos , New York and London “ a statement on the magazine’s website said.

UBA, in recognition of the evolving development of Africa, plays a visible intermediation role in the formal and informal trade sectors includ-

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 467.7m 400m 452.3m 500m 499,8m

MANAGED FUNDS

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

cussions that will lead to appropriate measures being taken to ensure a seamless implementation time.

He said the policy was one aspect of the programme of mordernising the financial system in the country, adding that the only way to move the nation from cashless economy, is to invest in it and make regulation to support it.

He said: “This policy will take effect from June 2012; we did not say there is a limit to N150 000, we simply said that if you want to cash more than that, it is just more expensive.

DATA BANK

Amount N

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

ATM density; we are going to work with telecoms companies and you find that you go to Lagos and do your business with cards,” CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said at the inception of the policy in May. Sanusi stressed that measures must be put in place to fight money laundering and corruption to transform the economy.

He said the CBN would continue to sensitise the people about the policy and be flexible about the limit. The apex bank has also assured there would be regular public dis-

UBA is ‘Best Trade Finance Bank in Nigeria’

Tenor

OBB Rate Call Rate

ices offered by leasing companies.

Mr. Lawanson assured that notwithstanding the obvious challenges thrown up by the absence of a clear cut leasing law, the Association would continue to evolve proactive strategies aimed at stimulating and sustaining a viable leasing culture in Nigeria. He called for the support of all its stakeholders.

Banks fortify ATMs, PoS to achieve ‘Cashless Lagos’

FGN BONDS

NIDF NESF

assets, enhance quality of life, more business and job opportunities. For SMEs, he said leasing is also the easiest ways to acquire productive assets for growth and job creation.

He said the appreciable growth in leasing activities was an indication of the increasing penetration of leasing business in Nigeria. He attributed its growth to unique products and serv-

CHANGE -1.60 -1.41 -0.80 -0.75 -0.70 -0.63 -0.45 -0.38 -0.28 -0.28

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 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD NGN GBP

147.6000 239.4810

149.7100 244.0123

150.7100 245.6422

-2.11 -2.57

NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

17-06-11 N8.0322tr 25.119.41

Name

January ’11

February ’11

May ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.00%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.3%

NIBOR

7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

20-06-11 N8.0923tr 25,309.17

% Change -0.74% -0.74%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS

DISCOUNT WINDOW

Tenor

NSE CAP 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 1.00 117.77 122.45 0.84 1,575.41 97.64 1.00 1.39 1.87 9,039.76 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.28 121.55 0.81 1,567.25 92.88 1.00 1.33 1.80 8,759.24 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 MAR, 2011

Current 07, MAR, 2011

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

54

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 21-06-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES

Shareholders approve delisting of Nampak Nigeria

S

HAREHOLDERS of Nampak Nigeria, have voted overwhelmingly for the take-over by the parent company of the Nigerian subsidiary.

This puts the foreign investor in a position to cancel the minority shareholdings and delist the firm from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

At the court-ordered meeting of shareholders held in Lagos, 95.65 per cent of shareholders present and voting at the meeting supported the resolutions, far above the 75 per cent majority consent statutorily required for the approval of the scheme of arrangement.

Nampak International, which had 57 per cent, would pay the scheme consideration of N5.50 per share to minority shareholders for the cancellation of their shares held in Nampak Nigeria Plc. Matthew Akinlade, Chairman, Nampak Nigeria Plc said the company may be delisted from the NSE as a result of the scheme but assured that Nampak Nigeria remains a Nigerian company with majority Nigerian employees.

He said shareholders should continue to support the company.

Yinka Sanni, Deputy Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, the financial advisers to

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

Nampak Nigeria, expressed satisfaction that the scheme received overwhelming support from shareholders.

He said the success of the scheme was due to hard work and effort that had gone into preparation of the scheme and engagement with shareholders.

Mr. Nornah Awoh, a market commentator, also commended the engagement process with shareholders pointing out that shareholders were satisfied that they were consulted and their opinions were accommodated in the arrangement.

Mr. Charles Bromley, Nampak International’s representative, said that the company would make significant investment to upgrade and expand Nampak Nigeria’s existing facilities.

He reiterated Nampak International’s commitment to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, three deals were struck for 137,888 shares of Nampak worth N597, 089 on the NSE yesterday. Total turnover at the NSE stood at 312 million shares worth N1.7 billion in 6,190 deals. The banking subsector dominated with 158 million shares worth N1 billion while the insurance subsector followed with

81.2 million shares worth N50 million in 371 deals. The conglomerate ranked third with 17 million units worth N46 million in 224 deals.

However, the downtrend at the NSE worsened yesterday as the market capitalisation dropped below the N8 trillion mark to N7.958 trillion. The All Share Index also dropped by 229.67 basis points to close at 24,889.74.

On price movement, 33 companies depreciated while 20 appreciated. First Bank led the losers’ table with five per cent to close N11.97 per share while GlaxoSmithKline followed with 4.97 per cent to close at N26.94 per share.

Longman lost 4.94 per cent to close at N5.39 per cent while National Salt Company of Nigeria shed 4.90 per cent to close at N5.43 per share.

Dangote Flourmill and Paint manufacturing company lost 4.88 per cent to close at N15.60 and N1.56 per share respectively while United Bank of Africa traded with 4.87 per cent, to close at N1.56 per share.

Other losers included Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, Honeywell flourmill and May and Baker Nigeria, which lost 4.85 per cent, 4.85 per cent and 4.74 per cent to close at N7.45, N4.12 and N3.62 respectively.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 21-06-11

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SPORT EXTRA

O

POKU Agyemang will play no part in Ghana's first leg game against Nigeria in the qualifying for the 2011 AllAfrica Games.

The winger is out due to a leg injury.

Coach of the Olympic team, Kwesi Appiah on Monday confirmed Agyemang's absence for the final round of qualifying on June 26 in Benin State for the sole ticket from Zone III. "Opoku Agyemang is out of the weekend game with a leg injury," Appiah said.

The Black Meteors coach, who is overseeing Ghana's two-leg tie against Nigeria also confirmed that Andre Ayew has been excused to attend to pressing matters back in France, while Jonathan Mensah is yet to arrive from his base.

"We have allowed Andre (Ayew) to attend to urgent matters back in France.

"Jonathan (Mensah) was with his club, Granada, over the weekend for the Spanish second division play-off. He is yet to arrive."

"Despite their absence we have a strong squad to call on for the challenge ahead."

The winner over two legs gets to participate at the Games in Mozambique.

Meanwhile, Spain-based midfielder Mubarak Wakaso and defender Daniel Addo say they are confident Ghana will eliminate Nigeria from the All Africa Games qualifiers.

Wakaso, who excelled with Spanish top flight side Villarreal last season, wants the team to make amends by beating their arch rivals. “It’s painful that we couldn’t

Ayew, Agyemang out of Nigeria qualifier qualify for the Olympic Games," Wakaso, the tough tackling midfielder said.

"But what is important now is we are playing against Nigeria and we must take the game seriously.

"The team is together and we are focused. I have absolute confidence of victory.”

Addo, 21, a member of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup winning team, is optimistic they can scale the hurdle.

“It’s going to be very tough but I look at the players in camp and it gives me massive hope that we’ll win the game,” he said.

“Both countries have been rivals over the years and the game is not going to be any different but we need to qualify for the game in Maputo.”

Matches between Ghana and Nigeria are taken seriously at any level.

•Andre Ayew

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 6 NO.1798

Tomorrow in THE NATION ‘The festering sore of the severing of Ilorin from mainstream Yorubaland has continued to bedevil the relation between the Fulani and the Yoruba. In order to overcome the fissiparous tendencies in Yorubaland, we must understand and reconcile with the past’ JIDE OSUNTOKUN

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

S

INCE the shocking bombing of Louis Edet House, the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Abuja, by the now much dreaded Boko Haram Islamic sect, the issue of terrorism has become the pre-occupation of just about every Nigerian.

The big question, of course, is how to deal with it.

There are many people who think the solution is to go after the sect’s members with a sledgehammer, regardless of the rights and wrongs of their motives. Such people obviously believe that any attempt to discuss the root of their terrorism is an attempt to justify it.

They couldn’t be more mistaken. This, I believe, is the big lesson of the failure of the attempt by the authorities to crush the sect two years ago. Apparently, what the military counter-insurgency merely succeeded in doing was to drive the sect underground temporarily, only to resurface in a more monstrous form.

On the occasion of the first anniversary of the attempt to crush the sect, I said as much in the piece dated August 4, 2010, whose edited version I’ve decided to reproduce below because it looks to me that the authorities still have not learnt the right lesson about their failure. This is simply that you can only solve a crime – which is what the actions of Boko Haram are – by being as hard on its source as you are on the crime itself.

From all indications, especially from President Goodluck Jonathan’s statement that he regarded the bombing as a personal attack, which itself is a far cry from his attempt at exonerating the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) from the even more horrendous 50 th Independence Anniversary bombing close to Eagle Square, Abuja, it seems two years after the first Boko Haram insurgency what is being contemplated as solution is merely more of the same arbitrary use of power in the name of security.

Obviously, the sect’s wholesale rejection of modernity and of the West is unreasonable and untenable. Their methods of bombings and killings are even worse.

But its attacks on the police, except for their audacity of going right into the police headquarters, are no more criminal than previous attacks on security forces by ethnic militias, such as MEND and Afenifere.

At any rate, the fact is that there is no problem on earth that genuine dialogue cannot solve. On the other hand, repression as the opposite of dialogue has never solved any society’s problems.

However, the question, as the President of the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Reverend Sam Kujiyat, asked the other day, is “Who are they that you want to go and dialogue with?”

RIPPLES Cabinet: Okonjo-Iweala Accepts Jonathan’s offer-News

People and Politics By MOHAMMED HARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

Boko Haram: two years on

•Yusuf

It is a valid question but it is not a difficult one to answer in spite of the fact that the sect’s top leadership was eliminated through extrajudicial killings two years ago.

Obviously, the vacuum it left has since been filled. There is a chance, no matter how slim, that if the outcome of the panel that looked into those killings are published, the new leadership would come out in the open, change its attitude of disdain for the authorities and accept the offer for dialogue that had been made by at least the authorities in Borno State, the sect’s home base.

Boko Haram: one year on Penultimate Tuesday saw the presentation of an 188-page book, titled: The Paradox of Boko Haram by Abdulkareem Babangida Mohammed, a Kano-based television journalist and media consultant. The presentation at Bolingo Hotel, Abuja, coincided more or less with the first

anniversary of the uprising by Boko Haram, the Muslim sect, which has denounced Western education as evil.

The uprising started in Bauchi, capital of Bauchi State on July 26, 2009 and within four days spread to the neighbouring states of Borno, Yobe and Kano. Failure of the police to put down the uprising led to the order by late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, then on his way out to Brazil, to the army to crush it.

The army did but in the process, anywhere between 800 and 1,000 lives, mostly innocent civilians, were reportedly killed.

Among those reportedly killed were the sect’s leader, Sheikh Mohammed Yusuf, his deputy, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau, his father in law, Ba’a Fugu Mohammed, and the sect’s chief financier, Buji Foi, a former commissioner of religious affairs in Governor Ali Modu Sherrif’s Borno State Government.

All four, it soon transpired, were victims of extra-judicial killings by the security forces.

At first, the police claimed Yusuf was killed in a shoot-out attempting to escape capture.

The army promptly put the lie to this claim when it released a transcript of its interrogation of the man, which showed it handed him over to the police in one piece and in handcuffs.

Within days of the end of the uprising, a 40second video clip also surfaced, which showed Foi, dressed in long white gown with both hands and legs in chains, being taken out of a white Toyota Hilux pick-up van by an unidentified policeman. Seconds after he was left to walk away from the van alone, gun shots rent the air, with voices shouting “kill him” , “ba an bada oda ba?” in Hausa, meaning haven’t orders been given (to kill him?)

Fugu Mohammed seemed to have suffered a similar fate to Foi’s. According to his children he reported himself to a police station following the crushing of the uprising when he heard he was wanted by the police. He never returned home alive.

Recriminations soon followed these revelations. President Yar’adua, on his return from his trip to Brazil early August, promised

HARDBALL

F

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo had his legion of critics frothing at the gills last week. This follows comments he made at the 100th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, to the effect that his successors’ efforts in fighting corruption had not been up to scratch.

He accused the present government of lacking the will to fight corruption because those involved were deeply entrenched. He equally asserted that whoever was going to confront graft in Nigeria would come under tremendous pressure, and must be willing to lay his life on the line.

Coming from a man, whose record of fighting the corruption monster was a bundle of contradictions, it was no surprise that his comments were greeted by a hail of critical bullets. Obasanjo established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

However, once out of office even he became a target of accusations of corrupt enrichment.

The critics reminded Obasanjo that under his watch, the corruption war was selective - mainly devoted to hounding his enemies

to order an investigation into the alleged extra-judicial killings. More than six months later, there was no investigation. Or if there was one the public was not told.

Last February, al-Jazeera, the English channel of the Doha, Qatar-based global television station, aired a shocking footage in its news bulletin, which showed the security services going on an arbitrary houseto-house-search-and-arrest of presumably Boko Haram followers and then lining them up and shooting them in the back.

In the course of this monstrous killings, one voice was heard, saying: “Shoot him in the chest not the head...I want his hat.” Other voices were heard shouting “No mercy, No mercy.” It was a mark of the impunity with which the security forces indulged in the killings that the officers, who appeared to be in charge of the operation did not bother to hide their name tags on their chests.

Expressions of outrage in and out of the country soon followed al-Jazzera’s story. An apparently very outraged Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Adetokunbo Kayode, screamed blue murder and gave marching orders to the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the killings.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria,” he said, “unequivocally condemns all extrajudicial executions and all other unlawful killing.” This was in early March.

About six months on not one word has been heard from the authorities about this blatant act of cold-blooded murder.

Perhaps Mohammed, the author of The Paradox of Boko Haram, chose to present his book penultimate Tuesday, the first anniversary of the sect’s bloody uprising, as a reminder to the authorities that the world still awaits their reaction to their heavyhanded handling of a rebellion. From the look of things, it would be a miracle if the world ever gets the answer.

All the same, the author’s effort in chronicling the rise and fall (?) of the sect early last month the “dead” second-incommand of the sect, Imam Abubakar Shekau, emerged in a video claiming he has assumed its command and would continue from where Yusuf left off - cannot be in vain, if only because it contains lessons on the central paradox of why a sect, which shows no qualms in using the fruits of Western civilisation – cars, cds, cassettes,, mobile phones, etc, would condemn it as an unmitigated evil.

It should be obvious to the authorities that if they wish to stop the re-emergence of the like of Boko Haram, they must, like the author of our book in question says, evolve and implement policies that end the poverty and ignorance, which breeds recruits for such dubious sects.

•For comments, send SMS to 08054502909

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Obasanjo’s homily on corruption

cheer in the so-called war against graft.

A couple of cases have been brought to court by the EFCC but successful prosecutions that have ended in convictions have been few and far between. This is in spite of overwhelming evidence that the culture of corruption remains deeply entrenched in the public sector.

It is equally true that whoever sets himself up as an anti-graft warrior will come under sustained pressure. In the days before Bankole was granted bail, mounting calls had been coming for a political solution to his trial. This prompted President Jonathan to publicly disavow any attempt to intervene in the judicial process.

Whoever will fight corruption in Nigeria must have an iron will. He must also be ready for a lonely walk. He would, to all intents and purposes, be laying down his life because there are forces that could go to the extent of eliminating him.

Seen from from this perspective, Obasanjo’s observations were spot on. He may not be Thanks...but will Madam’s SALARY be the most credible person to deliver the status in DOLLARS? report, but that does not in any way make his assessment less correct.

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos. and keeping troublemakers in the National Assembly in check.

They also claim that the former president bears responsiblity for the current state of affairs because he foisted the very regimes he now condemns on Nigerians.

While it is difficult to fault the position of the critics, their dislike for the person of the former president does not discredit the central plank of his comment: the anti-corruption war is going nowhere.

Even before his sad demise, late President Umaru Yar’Adua was coming under sustained attack for his clear lack of enthusiasm for the anti-graft mudfight. He even managed to saddle himself with an Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, who was clearly irritated by overzealous foreign partners, who kept pressing for prosecution of high profile political figures. In the end, the administration just sat on its hands and did nothing.

Goodluck Jonathan has only fared slighty better. But for the drama surrounding the prosecution of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and his deputy, Usman Nafada, there is very little to

Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Editor Daily:01-8962807, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302.

E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO