The Nation-June-8-2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

News IG Ringim hands over six gunboats to Lagos Police P5 Sport Argentina seeks rematch to settle scores with Eagles P24 Business NNPC goes tough, to flood outlets with kerosene P15 http://www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 6, NO. 1784 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

N9b contracts: Bankole faces 16-count charge EFCC opens ex-Speaker’s trial today Bankole urges court to protect his rights

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ORMER Speaker Dimeji Bankole will be arraigned today before a Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged mismanagement of about N9billion, it was learnt yesterday.

He will be arraigned before Justice Donatus Okorowa.

The N9billion was allegedly spent on split contracts, including the pur-

THE CHARGES Bankole and other principal officers were said to have approved contracts for the purchase of various items at inflated prices. Besides, they allegedly refused to follow due process under the Public Procurement Act. The contracts include: •400 units of 40-inch Samsung TV sets at N525,000 each instead of N295,000 •800 units of HP Compaq Desktop Computers at N330,000 each instead of N160,000 •100 units of Sharp Digital Copier 5316 at N270,000 each instead of N160,000 •400 units of HP Laserjet at N150,000 instead of N60,000 •Two units of Range Rover Bullet-proof vehicles •Two units of Range Rover vehicles without bullet-proof •Three units of Mercedes Benz S-600 cars •400 units of DSTV Systems From Yusuf Alli and Kamorudeen Ogundele, Abuja

chase of two Range Rover bullet-proof vehicles; two Range Rover vehicles (without bullet proof); three Mercedes Benz S-600 cars; 400 units of DSTV systems; 400 television sets; 800 units of desktop computers; 100 units of Sharp Digital Copier; and 400 units of HP LaserJet 2600N.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which filed a 16count charge against Bankole, alleged that most of the purchases were contrary to Sections 17 to 56 of the Public Procurement Act No.14 of 2007.

Besides, said the agency, some of the alleged actions are contrary to Section 58(4) (e) of the Public Procurement Act, No.14 of 2007 and pun-

ishable under Section 58(5) of the same Act. The ex-Speaker will be prosecuted by a private counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo.

But the arraignment of Bankole is the first phase of a three-dimensional trial as he is expected to account for about N25billion.

The Head of Media of the EFCC, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said: “We are set for the trial of Bankole as from Wednes-

day. We have filed a 16-count charge, which he is expected to respond to.

“The ex-Speaker is still in our custody, pending his arraignment and the decision of the court on his bail.”

It could not be immediately ascertained whether Bankole will be prosecuted with all former principal officers.

In the charge sheet, the Continued on page 2

CBN to guarantee rescued banks 100% From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

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ANK depositors scared of losing their cash were yesterday told to set their minds at rest.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will provide 100 per cent guarantee for depositors and creditors of any of the rescued banks that fail to meet its September recapitalisation deadline.

CBN’s director of Banking Supervision Sam Oni told reporters after the Bankers’ Committee meeting in Abuja that it would pursue recapitalisation to its logical conclusion.

Continued on page 2

Jonathan, Ki-Moon seek global action against HIV/AIDS From Vincent Ikuomola and Adeola Fayehun, New York

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon yesterday called for a global action against the spread of HIV/AIDS. They spoke at the UN headquarters in New York during a Security Council meeting on the scourge.

Jonathan, who pledged Nigeria’s unalloyed support to a multilateral action in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS, warned of the danger of the world failing to take action.

The President urged the UN Security Council to include HIV/AIDS as part of its security programmes.

Jonathan said he had begun among the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-regional transport corridor project.

He said the action was aimed at halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS among the military and paramilitary.

It was the second time the issue had been brought for discussion at the council meeting since Resolution 1308 was adopted in 2000.

Jonathan said: “As the largest contributor to peace keeping in Africa and fourth largest in the world, Nigeria has a Continued on page 3

•President Goodluck Jonathan greeting Prof. Joy Ogwu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN and Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs at JFK International Airport in New York during the President’s arrival for the meeting on HIV/AIDS in New York ... yesterday. With them is First Lady Patience Jonathan (left). PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

•POLITICS P13 •SPORTS P23 •LIFE P29 •MONEY P43 •INSURANCE P50

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

NEWS CBN to guarantee rescued banks 100% Continued from page 1

•Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Ringim cutting the tape to inaugurate the Marine Police gunboats he donated to the Lagos Police Command in Ikoyi ... yesterday. With him are: Governor Babatunde Fashola (second right), Chairman of State Security Trust Fund Chief Remi Makanjuola PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES (right) and State Police Commissioner Mr Yakubu Alkali.

He however, warned that if the lingering court cases stalling the recapitalisation of the eight rescued banks are not brought to an end on time, the CBN might be compelled to withdraw the guarantee those banks enjoy.

The eight rescued banks – Afribank, Oceanic Bank, Intercontinental Bank, BankPHB, Finbank, Spring Bank and Union Bank – that benefited from the N620billion bail-out in 2009 were last week given four months to fully recapitalise or be liquidated.

This followed the collapse of merger talks between the managements of these banks and potential investors, as well as the delay in their recapitalisation efforts.

Oni advised shareholders with negative asset value to

begin to think of other better ways to amicably resolve the matter.

He noted that the warning had become imperative “because they (shareholders) don’t own the banks, the banks are gone, those banks are surviving today because the CBN is keeping them afloat through the CBN guarantee. That is why they have been able to approach other banks to source for money”.

He said should the CBN “pull out the guarantee today, those shareholders who think that they own the bank will realise that they do not own any bank anywhere”.

The rescued banks he said, need about N1.5 trillion to fill the hole created by their eroded capital, besides the required capital adequacy ratio.

Managing Director of Ze-

PDP frowns at Speaker Tambuwal’s emergence

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EADERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were struggling yesterday to rescue zoning – its power sharing formula – which collapsed on Monday, with the election of Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker.

Tambuwal, though a member of the PDP, declined to step down from the race. He defeated the party’s candidate, Mrs Mulikat AkandeAdeola, with 252 votes to 90.

By zoning, the Southwest should have produced the speaker.

A highly-placed source said the PDP did not congratulate the Speaker because he flouted zoning.

“We don’t need to congratulate him. He has emerged. The good thing is that he is a member of our party,” he said.

After an emergency meeting, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling party yesterday said it noted “the unfolding development with great concern”.

The three-hour session at the National Secretariat dis-

From Sanni Ologun, Abuja

cussed the House of Reps and how to manage the yawning gap created by the action of the anti-zoning members.

The PDP, in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, said zoning is still an integral part of its constitution.

Baraje said the NWC was consulting other organs of the party to re-assess the situation and would soon “come up with an appropriate policy in due course”.

The statement reads: “The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) notes with great concern the unfolding developments in the House of Representatives, especially the outcome of the election of principal officers on Monday, June 6, 2011.

“While the Party believes in, and indeed encourages the exercise of freedom of choice for all Nigerians, including members of the National Assembly, it is important to reit-

erate that the principle of zoning is still an integral part of the PDP Constitution.

“The idea of zoning is a well thought-out philosophy for national stability and integration. It is the only guarantee that every segment of Nigeria enjoys a sense of belonging by being represented in all the decision making organs of the government of Nigeria.

“Consequently, prior to the election of principal officers that took place in the Senate and the House of Representatives on June 6, the NWC in collaboration with other decision making bodies of our party, made spirited efforts to build a consensus around the zoning formula.

“The NWC is currently consulting other organs of the party to re-assess the entire scenario and will come up with an appropriate policy in due course.”

When a top member of the PDP was reminded that President Goodluck Jonathan and some highly-placed members of the party congratulated

Tambuwal, he said: “These are all members of the PDP. They are not organs. That is why for now we cannot say ‘yes, congratulations’. Because when you say ‘party’, it is not NWC that is the party.

It involves so many stakeholders. State chairmen, NEC, national caucus, BOT, it is all of them you put together and say this is a party. So, at NWC, you can’t just ride on like that, so that the cane you prepared for the junior wife, you don’t use it to beat the senior wife.”

On how soon the various organs of the party would meet to decide on the way forward, he said: “The leader of the party is out of the country. However, we will consult and we are doing that already.

On what the emergence of Tambuwal portends for the much-talked about discipline in the party, the source said: “You know what happened.

Apart from being orchestrated by many interest groups, it is still a part of the reaction to what happened in the case of the presidency. Some people’s

•Tambuwal ... on Monday

interest is to say ‘ok, if you are not respecting zoning, we too will not respect it.’

“So, it is something you don’t just run into and start fighting it. You may do more harm than the good you will achieve. Yes, you talk of discipline, but that is why we need time for passion to cool down.”

Again the source blamed the party leadership for hobnobbing with the opposition, who “don’t want to see the PDP succeed”.

nith Bank, Godwin Emefiele, said the meeting also dwelt on how to reduce the volume of cash transaction in the system.

To achieve that, banks he said, will be deploying Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Point of Service (PoS) terminals in various locations as well as on-site and off-site locations for the banks.

He said banks will aggressively procure PoS terminals that customers will use anytime they visit Points of Sale either at shopping malls, airports, factory halls or even where there are key distributors of various companies who normally carry out transactions with the aid of cash.

He said the pilot scheme of the controversial cashless banking, which seeks to peg the daily cumulative withdrawals and lodgments at N150, 000 and N1 million for individuals and companies, will take off in Lagos where about 40,000 ATMs will be deployed per 100,000 persons in different parts of the state by December.

Managing Director of Stanbic IBTC, Mrs. Shola David-Borha said the Bankers’ Committe discussed ways by which the capital market can be deepened in such a way that banks can provide support for infrastructure development particularly through infrastructure bonds.

Specifically, she said: “We looked at the payment support package for the power sector for which the World Bank has issued a partial risk guarantee to cover the default of distribution companies.

Managing Director of Diamond bank Alex Oti said 1,000 crop farmers in Nigeria have had their names and addresses circulated to all the banks in Nigeria preparatory to having the banks support them to ensure that food production is increased.

He said banks’ commitment to funding agriculture is currently 2 per cent of their total loan portolio but the CBN intends to raise it to 5 per cent before the end of the year.

Alleged N9b contracts scam: Bankole faces 16-count charge Continued from page 1

EFCC also indicated that Bankole committed the offences with others, who were not named, but said to be at large.

Some of the charges against Bankole are: “That you, Dimeji Bankole and others now at large on or about the 28th of May, 2008, within the jurisdiction of Federal High Court, being Body of Principal officers of the House of Representatives responsible for the approval of contracts in the House of Representatives, with intent to defraud, did conspire amongst yourselves to inflate the cost of 400 units of 40-inch Samsung (LNS. 341) television sets by approving the purchase of the said item at the rate of N525,000.00 per unit, instead of the prevailing market price of N295,000.00 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58(4)(a) of the Public Procurement Act No. 14 of 2007 and punishable under Section 58(5) of the same Act. “That you, Dimeji Bankole and others now at large, sometime in 2008, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, being Body of

Ex-Speaker’s aide alleges psychological torture

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HE EFCC has been accused of subjecting Bankole to psychological torture by refusing him access to his team of lawyers and family members, since he was arrested on Sunday night.

“This is against his fundamental and constitutional rights,” a statement by Bankole’s media aide Idowu Bakare, said yesterday.

The statement added: “Information at our disposal indicates that pressure was mounted on him throughout Sunday night to get him to write a statement implicating some members of the House of Representatives.

“As we earlier alerted, the manner EFCC has gone about the invitation of the former Speaker and the subsequent media trial and prosecution with EFCC feeding the unsuspecting public with such fiction of the former speaker resisting arrest, under house arrest and attempting to flee the country, even as number four citizen of Nigeria, shows that the agency is engaged in political witch-hunting and vendetta against the former Speaker.

“So far, the anti graft agency even without concluding investigation has portrayed Principal officers of the House of Representatives responsible for the approval of contracts in the House of Representatives, with intent to defraud, did inflate the cost of 400 units of 40-inch

•Files suit seeking freedom Bankole as guilty from its utterances and selective persecution, and is refusing to charge him to court to decide on the case as stipulated by the law within a time limit.

“We understand that not making headway with Bankole, the EFCC has perfected plans to start harassing members of his family starting with his immediate family. As reported in the media yesterday, EFCC went to search his house where his wife and two children were domiciled and harassed the wife, a trend that is now common with EFCC. We believe that the agency should have isolated the wife from such treatment of a man who is still presumed innocent.

“We gathered that EFCC has not forgiven comments credited to Bankole by Wikkileaks to the effect that EFCC is not “worth a penny” even after Bankole has publicly denied making such a statement about the organisation months ago.”

In a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, the former speaker through his counsel Dr. Yemi Oke of MJS Partners, is seeking an Or-

Samsung (LNS. 341) television sets from N295, 000.00 per unit (being the prevailing market price) to N525, 000.00 per unit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58(4) (b) of the Public

der of court directing the EFCC to release him forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit brought by way of Originating Motion seeking to enforce his fundamental human right.

A statement last night by the Speaker’s spokesman alleged that “after filling the request for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, the EFCC promptly summoned Mr. Festus Keyamo to dustup his old allegations against the speaker bordering on purchase of cars and other items to form the basis for immediate charges against Bankole to pre-empt the outcome of his fundamental human right suit.”

“It is for this reason that Mr. Keyamo immediately rushed to the same Federal High Court in Abuja to file a 16-count charge on June 7, a day after Bankole’s suit. The charges filed by Keyamo contained nothing on the allegation of N10 billion loan which formed the basis of the arrest and detention of Bankole. All items on the charge sheet were mainly from the old allegations of convoy cars and office equipment purchase.”

Procurement Act No. 14 of 2007 and punishable under Section 58(5) of the same Act. “That you, Dimeji Bankole and others now at large, on or about the 28th of May, 2008 within the jurisdiction of the

Federal High Court, being Body of Principal officers of the House of Representatives responsible for the approval of contracts in the House of Representatives, with intent to defraud, rigged the bid for

the procurement of 400 units of 40-inch Samsung (LNS. 341) television sets by refusal to follow all the procedures prescribed for public procurements in Sections 17 to 56 of the Public Procurement Act No.14 of 2007, leading to a loss of value to the national treasury and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58(4) (e) of the Public Procurement Act, No.14 of 2007 and punishable under Section 58(5) of the same Act. “That you, Dimeji Bankole and others now at large on or about the 28th of May, 2008, within the jurisdiction of Federal High Court, being Body of Principal officers of the House of Representatives responsible for the approval of contracts in the House of Representatives, with intent to defraud, did conspire amongst yourselves to inflate the cost of 800 units of Desktop Computers (HP Compaq dc 5700) by approving the purchase of the said item at the rate of N330,000.00 per unit, instead of the prevailing market price of N160,000.00 per unit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58(4)(a) of the Public Procurement Act No. 14 of 2007 and punishable under Section 58(5) of the same Act.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

NEWS

Jonathan, Ki-Moon call for global action against HIV/AIDS Continued from page 1

major stake not only in ensuring that our armed forces are protected against HIV and AIDS, but also given adequate treatment. We are committed to sustaining the momentum and indeed ensure that we increase our level of engagement with the security services in African countries to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS in the region,” he said.

The President praised KiMoon, for his consistent effort in raising awareness on HIV and AIDS. “Your Excellency, it has been 30 years since the epidemic began, the time is right for a permanent resolution.

The human social and economic costs of inaction are too costly to bear. Therefore, I pledge my nation’s full support in this endeavor,” he said.

He described the Security Council meeting as honourable and a timely initiative.

“Our deliberations here today is a declaration of solidarity against HIV/AIDS and a demonstration of the commitment of the Security Council to an issue that is quite vital to the development and security of Africa in particular, and the rest of the world,” he said.

“We note with concern the consequences of genderbased violence related to HIV and AIDS. Nigeria joins the international community in ensuring that women and girls in conflict regions are actively protected against sexual violence,” he said.

Gabonese President of Gabon, Ali Bongo, who chaired the debate, said progress has been made in training military and civilians in combating AIDS. “Today we can take stalk of the challenges to be met in the future as new factors continue to infect the dynamic complexity of the issue. There is however, need to combat sexual violence against women and children in order to combat HIV/AIDS,” he said.

The French speaking President proposed a resolution to raise more awareness among civilians, Insure operationality of AIDS treatment, and strengthen programmes to combat HIV and AIDS to ensure zero tolerance of the disease. The bill passed with 15 votes.

“Human security in the future depends on our collective ability to combat the disease today,” said Ali Bongo.

Ki-Moon stated that whenever AIDS is part of the equation, the UN is working on the solution.

“The UN is training troops to make a difference. We have continued to raise this issue and we have trained over 1500 peace keepers as counselors. We are working in Cote d’Ivoire, which has the highest AIDS rate in Africa. We also provide rehabilitating programmes.

We can help former soldiers dealing with HIV to get the proper health and care that they deserve, especially women and girls who are extremely venerable,” he said.

Osun seeks Fed Govt assistance in N1.247b anti-erosion battle

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IRED of facing perennial ecological-related problem, to which it loses more than N1 billion in its urban centres, the Osun State government has approached the Federal Government for intervention.

Among the environmental problems affecting communities in Osogbo, the state capital, Ilesha and other areas are; urban flooding, erosion and municipal waste management.

No fewer than 20 per cent of residents in the areas- cutting across urban and rural centres - in the State of the Living Spring are affected by the menace for which the state is seeking N1.247 billion to tame.

A technical design proposal for the channelisation and de-silting of two major rivers within Osogbo as well as

By Bunmi Ogunmodede

the reclamation of an illegal mining site in Ilesha painted a grim picture of the state of the environment in the State of the Living Spring.

According to the report, every local government suffers one form of ecological problem or the other.

The problems, if unchecked, could ravage physical infrastructure such as residential accommodation, roads, rail tracks and bridges, commercial and industrial properties, all of which would result to perennial wastages conservatively estimated in several millions of naira.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola has applied for federal assistance to carry out the desilting of Okoko stream and channelisation of Ogbaba River in Osogbo, as well as

the reclamation of an illegal mining site at Ilesha.

Specifically, the channelisation of Okoko stream will end the perennial flooding of adjoining communities, enhance easy accessibility for residents of Oke Ayepe, Ita Olokan, Okinni and make traffic less stressful, the governor said.

Besides, Aregbesola noted that the envisaged federal intervention will not only prevent the people against epidemics, but enhance aesthetic condition of the environment.

In his letter entitled: ReFederal Governmental intervention for channelisation, de-silting of Okoko and Ogbagba Rivers in Osogbo townsip, the governor urged the federal authority to consider the proposed projects for funding under the Federal Government Ecological In-

tervention Project.

He reminded the Federal Government that the flooding triggered by torrential rainfall in July last year resulted in loss of lives, destruction of properties worth billions of naira in the state capital and its environs.

The letter reads: “Urban flooding in one form or the other affects at least 20 per cent of residents of Osun State. It cuts across the society from the urban residents to the rural dwellers.

“Flooding is a threat to physical infrastructure including residential accommodation, commercial and industrial properties, roads, rail lines and bridges, leading to wastages estimated in millions of naira annually in Osogbo Township.

“Okoko and Ogbagba Rivers in Osogbo Township are confronted with the

problem of invasion of acquatic weeds and large debris/solid wastes identified as the major causes of the rivers over-flowing its bank.

Channelisation and de-silting of the rivers is one of the permanent solutions for the control of the urban flooding of the rivers, while effective remediation is required to redress the various degree of environmental degradation confronting the state.

“The ultimate goal of the project estimated to the cost of One billion, two hundred and forty-seven million, one hundred and twenty-nine naira only (N1,247,164,129.00), is to achieve an effective control and management of urban flooding on major roads in Osogbo Township thereby allowing free flow of traffics during and after raining season.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

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NEWS British High Commission hosts seminar on UK Bribery Act 2010 THE British Deputy High Commission in Lagos has organised a seminar on the UK Bribery Act 2010.

According to a statement from the commission’s press unit, the seminar took place last Thursday in Lagos, and it shed light on this important piece of legislation for businesses.

The theme of the seminar was “U.K. Bbibery Act 2010 Implications for Businesses in Nigeria ”.

Some of the highlights of the seminar were Analysis of the UK Bribery Act and Exposition of the Act’s potential impact on business and organisations.

Deputy British High Commissioner in Lagos Robin Gwynn said UK’s Bribery Act 2010 is part of that pattern of support for business.

He said: “It will come into force on July 1. It will equip the UK courts and prosecutors with some of the most up to date and robust anti-bribery legislation in the world, fully meeting international good practice in this area. A clear zero tolerance approach to bribery will enhance the reputation of British business in many countries with both private and public sector partners. We believe that the legislation features strongly in promoting the UK overseas as a good place to do business. It is being drawn to the attention of other governments, as a further indication of the UK’s commitment to tackling corruption. ” The Act introduces a wide reaching new anti-corruption framework for the UK. The extra-territorial provisions of the Act have implications for any commercial organisations that carry on business in the UK or those with UK connections. Any such entity may be prosecuted under the Act regardless of where the bribery takes place, and (in addition to inevitable reputational damage) could face potentially significant fines or terms of imprisonment of up to 10 years.

Senate President re-appoints Mumeh CPS SENATE President David Mark yesterday reappointed Mr. Paul Mumeh as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS).

Mumeh served as CPS to the Senate President in the sixth Senate from 2007 to 2011.

Before his appointment in 2007, Mumeh was a former Political Editor with the old Daily Times of Nigeria, PLC and an Assistant Editor with the Daily Independent Newspapers Limited.

He holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication from Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State in 1993 and Post graduate Diploma in Public Administration from the University of Abuja.

Mumeh also holds Advance Diploma in Management from the Management School, London in 2008.

Frustrated man cuts off manhood with razor blade Mr. Jamiu Sikiru, a middle-aged resident of Ijebu-Ode chops off his penis in a bid to commit suicide, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

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MIDDLE-aged man, Mr Jamiu Sikiru, who attempted to commit suicide by cutting off his penis with a razor blade at Ijebu-Ode in Ogun, has regained consciousness.

Sikiru, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on his sick bed at the Ogun State Hospital, IjebuOde yesterday, said frustration made him to carry out the act, explaining that he made several attempts to kill himself, “due to frustration and depression’’.

Sikiru had, on June 3, at the popular Oyingbo Street in the

commercial area of the town, cut off his penis with a razor blade in broad daylight. He was later rushed to hospital in a pool of his own blood by sympathisers.

He said: “On my way from Lagos sometime ago, I picked a car borris from the road side in order to use it to poison myself due to frustration, but a friend, who later saw the object, told me that it was not borris that I was holding but rather a bullet.

“It was then I decided to do away with it because I was afraid that I could be arrested if the police found out that I

was keeping a bullet.

“On a Friday after the incident, while I was returning from where I went to dispose of the bullet, I saw a police vehicle coming in my direction.

“And I thought it was me they were coming to arrest because of the bullet I went to dispose of. Immediately I saw the police, I decided to commit suicide by cutting my male organ with blade because I don’t want to be arrested.

“That was the last thing I remembered before I woke up in the hospital. What I need now is prayers for forgive-

ness for attempting to kill myself.”

Asked about his family, Sikiru said he lost his parents a few years back.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr Wellington Ogunsanya, said Sikiru would be referred to a psychiatric hospital when he fully regained his strength.

Ogunsanya explained that Sikiru was responding to treatment and that there was a symptom of depression in him.

Ogunsanya said: “I will say he is stable physically but mentally I don’t think he is

stable yet. There is symptom of depression in him.

“We are hoping that by the time his wound is healed, we will discharge him to his family and advise him to seek psychiatric evaluation.

“Although we are managing him for his depression by giving him anti-depressant, but he still needs expert evaluation.

The CMD,said that none of Sikiru’s relations had come to visit him.

According to Ogunsanya, hospital workers are assisting Sikiru with money to buy drugs and food.

Issa-Onilu to present paper in US

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• Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Inspector General of Police Mr. Hafiz Ringim and Ekiti State Deputy Governor Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, during the inauguration of the Security Alert System for the Police Command, in Ado-Ekiti... yesterday

Tambuwal’s victory triumph of reason, says IBB •Says no more culture of impunity, Executive interference

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FORMER Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, yesterday described the election of the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, as a wake-up call to enthrone the principle of separation of powers in the nation’s democracy.

He said the decision of the House would help eliminate the culture of impunity and executive interference in the activities of the Legislature.

He said it was a good omen that the House made Tambuwal’s victory a triumph of reason.

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Babangida, who made his feelings known in a statement in Abuja , through his spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said the choice of independent leadership by the House would “give Nigerians true and positive representation in the act of law making and stability of democracy.”

The ex-President said: “From my retirement abode, I feel excited about the bold and courageous step taken by the National Assembly [Upper and Lower Houses] through a show

of independence for electing their leaders; Senator David Mark as Senate President for continuity of robust Senate policies and Aminu Waziri-Tambuwal as Speaker. The Lower House must be commended for putting the Federal Constitution above partisan interest in the election of the Speaker, putting to an end, month-long scheming and manipulation.

“The bold moves of the House of Representatives will further strengthen our democratic structures and entrench a culture of separation of powers with its manifest checks and balances for

a people-driven democracy.

“It is a wake-up call and the earlier the polity allowed this culture of separation of powers to flourish, the better it would be for participatory democracy. I therefore, congratulate both leadership of the National Assembly for being true representatives of the people. Well done. I salute your courage.

“Let me assure the leadership of the National Assembly of my unflinching support. I will be ready at all times to offer my advice in whatever little way for the sustenance of democracy, rule of law and stability of the system.

HIEF Executive Officer of Media and Marketing Communication Company (MMCC GROUP), Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, will present a paper on Relational Risk and Reputational Management on June 9, at the Conference on Corporate Communication 2011, at the Baruch College, City University of New York, CUNY. The paper, co-authored with Dr. Ibrahim Ismail, Director, Executive Training at MMCC GROUP, is on Relational Risk and Reputational Management: The Case of Pfizer and Trovan Drug test in Nigeria.

According to a statement by the organiser, Corporate Communication International, (CCI), Baruch College/ CUNY, USA, “the three-day international conference, serving as a bridge between practitioners and scholars, gathers speakers from industry and universities from across the globe in a collegial environment to exchange ideas and information on relevant issues facing the corporate communication profession.”

This year’s conference will focus on issues, such as communicating through crisis and change management, corporate communication policy and strategy, cross cultural communication and stakeholder relations, government relations, image, identity, and reputation management, strategic public relations and evolving practices in media relations, performance measures for corporate communication, public diplomacy and business, etc.

CCI’s conference will explore “new practices, relationships, thinking, and attitudes created by the shifting and evolving models for business and media.” The event will hold between June 7 and 10, 2011.

Mark seeks Tambuwal, Ihedioha’s cooperation

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O ensure smooth working relationship between the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Senate President, David Mark has extended a hand of fellowship to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and his Deputy, Emeka Ihedioha.

According to a statement by the Media Adviser to the Senate President, Kola Ologbondiyan, Mark made the re-

•Senate President, Speaker agree to work for the people From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

mark in a congratulatory message to the new leaders of the House of Representatives.

He enjoined them to bring their wealth of parliamentary experiences to bear on the House.

Mark canvassed that the two chambers must work together as “a united body in

the overall interest of the ordinary Nigerian.”

The Senate President stressed that the National Assembly must work as a team and key into the transformation policy of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

He said: “I sincerely invite the new leaders of the House of Representatives to join me and my colleagues in the Sen-

ate in ensuring that the National Assembly makes laws that would impact positively on the well being of every Nigerian.”

“We (Senate and House of Representatives) jointly have a common responsibility to make laws that will deepen our democracy and make our polity stable. As the choice of the House, I believe that you will be guid-

ed by fairness, openness and justice to all in the conduct of the affairs of the House.”

“I know you have a deep knowledge of parliamentary practices and procedures to rely on. On behalf of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish you a successful tenure,” he stated.

Tambuwal and Ihedioha visited Mark and his Deputy Ike Ekweremadu yesterday.

Both parties agreed to work together in the interest of the people.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

5

NEWS IGP hands over six gunboats to Lagos Police

By Miriam Ndikanwu

•Prof. Alonge (second right) and Ajimobi (middle) with a victim of the clash at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan,...yesterday

Five victims of Oyo NURTW clash die •Ajimobi mourns medical student •Union leaders shun police invitation •Tokyo petitions governor, IGP not give room for representation.

IVE victims of Sunday’s

F

clash between rival factions of the Oyo State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at Iwo road in Ibadan, are dead.

They died yesterday at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi was informed of their deaths by the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Tope Alonge, when he visited the victims at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital.

Ajimobi regretted the death of the National President, Nigeria Medical Students Assosiation (NIMSA), Dr. Auwal Shanono.

The late Shanono, a 500-level medical student at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, was among those who died at the scene of the clash.

He was killed at Iwo-road while coming from Ife in Osun State, where he went for a national conference on maternal mortality.

Alonge said the late Shanono’s charred body was identified by his colleagues with his deformed foot, identity badge, the ring on his finger and the burnt clothes.

It was gathered that the late Shanono and his colleagues were trying to board a night bus back to the North at Iwo road, when the

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

violence started.

Alonge said: “We got in touch with the Dean of Student Affairs, ABU, who is on his way to take the embalmed body back to Zaria, along with his four friends who survived the incident.”

Ajimobi urged security agencies to perform their duties diligently and apprehend perpetrators of the crime.

He said the ban on activities of the NURTW was the first step towards restoring peace.

The governor said security agencies had been directed to dislodge all union members from motor parks, stressing that his administration would not tolerate “brigandage and thuggery.”

He said the x-rays of those injured revealed that the perpetrators of the mayhem used highly sophisticated weapons.

Ajimobi decried the ugly trend of corruption, decadence and thuggery, pledging that his administration would reverse it.

He urged professional institutions to partner his administration on development.

Alonge praised the governor for

proscribing the activities of the union, which he said had become a menace and national embarrassment.

He said of the 30 victims admitted, five were dead and 17 had been discharged.

About 20 people were feared dead in the violent clash between two rival factions of the NURTW, led

by Alhaji Lateef Akinsola a.k.a. Tokyo and Alhaji Lamidi Mukaila a.k.a. Auxiliary.

Several vehicles were vandalised, 20 shops were burnt and another 30 were reportedly looted.

Tokyo and Auxiliary shunned invitations by the Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Adisa Bolanta.

They were invited to answer charges in connection with Sunday’s bloody clash. The duo were given up till 4pm yesterday to report to the police, after which the police would resort to the use of force to bring the perpetrators to book.

As at the time of filing this report, the factional leaders had not honoured the invitation, but it was learnt that they were represented by their lawyers.

But Bolanta said he was still expecting them, because the invitation was a personal one, which does

He said they might be declared wanted, if they failed to voluntarily report to his office.

Also yesterday, Tokyo wrote to Ajimobi and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Hafiz Ringim, that he would rather give himself up to them than Bolanta.

Passing a vote-of-no-confidence on the police commissioner, Tokyo advised the governor to set up a Truth and Human Rights Commission to investigate the fracas.

He said the police would not do a thorough job because Bolanta was an interested party.

In the copy of the letter made available to our correspondent in Ibadan, Tokyo attributed the crisis rocking the union to the non-enforcement of the judgment of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, which reinstated him as the chairman as well as the retention of Bolanta as commissioner of police, in disregard to calls from groups and individuals for his redeployment, owing to his alleged partisanship in the crisis.

The letter reads: “Violence cannot stop where injustice reigns. Injustice cannot cease where court judgments are not enforced but treated with impunity.

“We therefore request that you take over the investigation of the offences beginning from 2009 till date.”

LAUTECH: Medical students declare lecture-free period

M

EDICAL students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LTH) have recognised Osogbo, the Osun State capital, as the accredited venue of their examination and training.

The students also declared May 31 to June 10 lecture

•Seek resolutuion of ownership crisis free, to enable them meet with Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his Oyo State counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on how to resolve the lingering ownership crisis.

They were hopeful that

with Ajimobi’s victory, the crisis rocking the school was over.

In a communiqué, the students said: “We believe the installation of these two wise men of sister states will bring back the healthy co-

habitation that used to exist between indigenes of both states, which was tampered with by the immediate-past administration in both states, especially as it concerns our great citadel of learning.”

The students saluted the re-

demptive role played by Aregbesola, saying he came at a time when Osun State was almost disengaged from LAUTECH. They said Aregbesola assured them at an earlier meeting that the problems facing their school would end once there was a change of government in Oyo State.

INSPECTOR-General of Police (IGP) Hafiz Ringim yesterday solicited for a special security arrangement for Lagos State.

He also handed-over six gunboats to the Police Command to strenghten security in the coastal areas.

Handing over the boats to Governor Babatunde Fashola and Commissioner of Police Yakubu Alkali at the Marine Police Headquarters in Ikoyi, Lagos, Ringim said the gesture was in recognition of the special place of Lagos as the nation’s commercial centre and its huge population.

He stressed the need to secure federal and private property in the state, citing in particular the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) facilities along the coastal line at Atlas Cove, Ibafon, Badagry, Epe, Apapa, Ijora Coal, Marina and nautical miles offshore.

Ringim said: “Consequent upon the tour of NNPC facilities and tank farms in January, it has become imperative to add six additional back-up boats for effective patrol of the facilities.

“With the inaugurationof these gunboats, I expect that the police in Lagos will be able to provide adequate security for all Federal Government installations and vital public and private assets along the riveside areas.”

He thanked Fashola for

‘Emulate Fayemi’ THE Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has called on political office holders to emulate Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and his deputy, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, by declaring and publishing their assets in the media.

CCB Federal Commissioner in the Southwest Dr. Ademola Adebo made the call yesterday, when officials of the agency visited Fayemi in his office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Describing corruption as an epidemic in the country, Adebo said asset declaration by public officers was imperative to entrench probity, accountability and transparency in governance as well as transactions in public and private institutions.

He said Fayemi was the first governor to declare his assets.

Adebo said: “You are the first governor to declare your assets and went ahead to publish them in the newspapers alongside your deputy’s. I wish all governors can do so and I thank you for making all of us proud.

“The Constitution requires that public officers declare their assets when they come into office and when they leave office.

“If the so called elites would lead by examples, things will be better in this country.

6

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

NEWS

Zoning is PDP’s headache, says Osoba

F

ORMER Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoaba, yesterday in Abuja described the zoning arrangement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its headache.

Before Aminu Waziri Tambuwal became Speaker of the House of Representatives, PDP had zoned the position to the Southwest with Mulikat Akande-Adeola as its anointed candidate.

Osoba, who addressed reporters at a reception for new federal lawmakers from Ogun State, noted that individuals should be elected based on merit and not on zoning.

The former governor, using the emergence of Governor Ibikule Amosun in Ogun State as an example, said people were clamouring for a governor from Yewa but Amosun, an Egba indigene,

•Amosun urges lawmakers to fight for Ogun From Tayo Owolabi and Genevieve Ajewole, Abuja

contested on the basis of merit and won.

He said the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) would maintain its principle on merit.

Osoba said: “Zoning is the business of the PDP. We won’t join, we operate on merit. For example, in Ogun State, they said it must be Yewa and I told them that of course it’s Yewa’s turn. But if you see somebody who has merit, who the people want, why don’t you just let him contest and win? I am happy Amosun contested on merit and won.

“We stand for merit. PDP’s zoning is their headache; they have the right to zone it

even to a useless character if they like. But we will continue to stand for democracy, for merit and for the good of this country. “(President Goodluck) Jonathan is a beneficiary of merit and democratic norms.

So, he should stand by his own words, his own actions, his own activities, and ensure that what he stood for is allowed to spread to the other arms of government, both in judiciary and the legislative arm.”

Amosun urged the new lawmakers to fight for Ogun and ensure that the state was not shortchanged in terms of revenue allocation.

He said he had no doubts that the new legislators were competent, promising that they would deliver.

Amosun said: “I have been there and I know their importance. I know that even without saying what I said tonight, they know that they really need to assist Ogun State. Of course, we have limited resources in Ogun, but there is a national purse which all the states are entitled to. But we contribute to what is there. So, they will use their own vibrancy at the Senate to make sure that Ogun State is not shortchanged.

“As a former Senator, I know what to do, and it is just to continue engaging with them to solicit for their support in all that we will be doing in Ogun State. I am sure that they are capable; they are able and they will do it.”

Stadium manager, two others arrested for alleged looting P OLICEMEN from the Ibara Division of the Ogun State Police Command yesterday arrested the General Manager of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, Mr. Ayo Olusanya, for allegedly looting the air conditioners and other facilities at the stadium.

Olusanya and the other suspectes - a driver and an administrative worker – were reportedly arrested with the air conditioners and a standing fan they had loaded in a vehicle marked

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

P6060HP2 and a Mazda pickup marked (Lagos) SK84AAA. It was learnt that the suspects were taken to Ibara Police Station for interrogation.

Some of the stadium workers discovered the alleged looting and alerted the House of Assembly during

its session.

The Speaker, Suraju Adekunbi; his Deputy, Tola Banjo; and a member representing Ifo 1 State Constituency, Adekunle Oluomo, were said to have visited the scene.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the alleged looting and the arrest, saying the suspects claimed that the items belonged to them.

Adejobi added that the suspects have, however, failed to substantiate their claims with evidence.

He said: “It is true we have some people, who claimed to be the owners of some air conditioners found in their possession at the stadium, in our custody.

“We are investigating to know the owners of the items found in their possession at that time and at that place because there is a difference between ownership and possession.”

1234567890123456 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 Why Aregbesola 1234567890123456 has not formed 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 exco, by ACN 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 From Adesoji Adeniyi, 1234567890123456 Osogbo 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 the formulation and imple1234567890123456 of people-oriented 1234567890123456 mentation policies. These committees 1234567890123456 manned by technocrats, 1234567890123456 are civil servants and credible 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 politicians.

“Evidence of this are in 1234567890123456 Youth Empowerment 1234567890123456 Osun (OYES) with the em1234567890123456 Scheme of 20,000 youths; 1234567890123456 ployment OREAP, free eye tests and •Aregbesola

T

HE Osun State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday said Governor Rauf Aregbesola had not formed the executive council because he was consulting with stakeholders to assemble the best brains.

The party noted that the absence of the exco had not affected the smooth running of the government.

ACN was reacting to the criticism by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the governor was talking too long to appoint commissioners.

In a statement by its Chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, the party said the PDP was only seeking relevance with the criticism.

It said: “PDP’s criticism is baseless because the essence of an exco is to serve as thinktank in the formulation of government policies. However, the government has been making use of committees in

glasses, loans to farmers and many other commendable programmes being implemented within a very short time.”

The party urged its critics to note the differences in the approach to governance between the current administration and that of Olagunsoye Oyinlola, adding that service to the people, and not a jamboree, would be the hallmark of the Aregbesola administration.

ACN said: “PDP is in search of relevance in Osun State but the earlier they woke up to the reality of their irrelevance in the scheme of things in this part of the country, the better.

“The people of Osun State are wiser and seeking attention through criticisms that are not constructive will further expose PDP leaders as a bunch of visionless people who had no clue about what to do with power in their almost eight years in the saddle.”

123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 •Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed with the National Sports Festival’s Torch of Unity at its reception at the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development in Ilorin, the state capital.

With him are Deputy Governor Peter Kisir (left) and Head of Service (HOS), Alhaji Dabarako Mohammed.

Reps set up five committees

T

HE House of Representatives yesterday set up five committees to enhance its parliamentary activities during a threehour closed-door session.

It also adjourned sitting till June 28.

Its members are to participate in an interactive meeting today with some nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) on how to strengthen their legislative capability.

Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal presided over the first plenary after the House was inaugurated on Mon-

•Adjourn till June 28 From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

day.

He said the House had constituted a 12-member Rules and Business Review Panel.

Tambuwal said the House would raise a 37-member Selection Committee with a member from each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The committee, which is usually under the Speaker, has the primary responsibility of appointing leaders and

members of standing and special committees.

There will also be a 37member Welfare Committee; a seven-member ad-hoc committee on Media and Public Relations; and a seven-member ad-hoc committee to review the code of conduct of members.

Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha said the House adjourned for two weeks because it needed to solve members’ office accommodation problems.

7

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

NEWS ‘I won’t violate separation of powers’

11 killed in Maiduguri explosions

From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

B

ORNO State Governor Kashim Shettima yesterday pledge to respect the democratic principle of separation of powers among the three arms of government to ensure progress.

He addressed the newly inaugurated House of Assembly in Maiduguri, the state capital, where he promised to work with the lawmakers.

Shettima solicited the cooperation of the lawmakers on laws that would engender good governance, peace, law and order, adding that these were necessary for the state to progress.

He congratulated the lawmakers on the inauguration of the seventh Assembly and the election of their principal officers, wishing them a successful tenure.

The Speaker Goni Ali Modu said the lawmakers would cooperate with the executive to provide social amenities for the 27 local governments.

He said the Assembly needed a permanent complex where lawmakers would discharge their duties more effectively.

Yakowa swears in SSG, COS •Appoints new HOS

K

ADUNA State Governor Patrick Yakowa yesterday swore in the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Lawal Samaila Yakawada and the Chief of Staff (COS), Abokie Galadima.

He urged them to ensure that government delivered democracy dividends to the people.

The governor approved the appointment of Mrs. Hanatu Ugah as the Acting Head of Service (HOS) following the voluntary retirement of the former HOS, Alhaji Balarabe Habibu Yakubu.

At the swearing-in held at the Council Chamber of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Yakowa urged Yakawada and Galadima to discharge their duties for the progress of the state.

He noted that power comes from God, adding that those saddled with positions of

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

N

O fewer than 11 persons were killed yesterday in multiple blasts in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Police Commissioner Mohammed Abubakar said Boko Haram members detonated bombs at two police stations - Gwange Police Divisional Headquaters and that of Dandal - and St. Patrick’s Church in Maiduguri.

He said 10 people died in the explosions, including three suspected members of the sect and a soldier.

It was gathered that the explosions occurred shortly after Governor Hashim Shettima addressed the House of Assembly; inspected the Baga Motor Park road network; and visted the Musa Usman state secretariat, near

From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

St Patrick’s Church.

Eyewitnesses said some Boko Haram members invaded Gwange Police Station and detonated some explosives there.

They reportedly engaged the policemen in a gun battle after the explosions.

The blasts occurred a day after motorcycle-mounted gunmen shot dead Sheik Ibrahim Birkuti, a cleric from a rival sect. The police blamed Boko Haram for Birkuti’s killing on Monday at his home in Biu, south of Maiduguri.

Birkuti had been critical of Boko Haram’s violence and belonged to the Wahabbi group, a splinter faction of Sunni Muslims.

Boko Haram is also a splinter group of Sunni Muslims pushing for the implementation of Shariah law in Borno.

However, Wahabbi has done so through peaceful means, but Boko Haram insist killing people believed to be pro-establishment until Shariah law is adopted alongside its other demands.

Boko Haram is responsible for the killings of police officers, soldiers, politicians and clerics in the North over the last year.

Its members have also attacked churches and engineered a massive prison break. But the authorities have said the attacks which intensified after April 26 governorship election kept the same political party in power.

Governor Kashim Shettima reached out to the sect to calm tension by offering an amnesty, but a man, claiming to speak for the group, told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) last month that it was rejecting the offer.

In a separate and more recent interview with BBC Hausa service, a man claiming to speak for Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the three blasts that rocked two cities in the North and a town close to the capital hours after the inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said 18 people died in the May 29 attacks.

leadership should be dedicated, committed and humble.

According to him, the challenge before his administration is enormous and requires hard work from all to met set target.

Yakowa described the office of the SSG as the government’s engine room, urging Yakawada to ensure the smooth running of public policies and their implementation.

He said: “I have no doubt that the new SSG will live up to expectation. Let us join hands together to unite the state and make it a model for others to emulate.”

Yakowa thanked the people for their support before, during and after the April elections and congratulated the newly appointed and elected officials.

Katsina Assembly holds first session From Isah Idris, Katsina

K

ATSINA State House of Assembly has held its first session after its inauguration on Monday.

Its re-elected Speaker Ya’u Umar GwojoGwojo presided over the session after the election of all the principal officers.

The officers are: Bello Isyaku Majawaya (Deputy Speaker); Abdullahi Shaibu Tandama (Majority Leader); Bala Sani Yaya (Chief Whip); Aliyu Ilyasu (Deputy Majority Leader); and Babangida Nasamu, (Deputy Chief Whip).

The position of the Minority Leader is expected to be filled after some consultation.

GwojoGwojo said it was necessary for new and returning members to adhere to constitutional requirements, especially the provision that they should hold 181 sittings per session.

This, he said, would enable the Assembly to work towards the improvement of the people’s wellbeing.

Hailing Governor Ibrahim Shema for his re-election and the achievements of his past administration, GwojoGwojo urged his colleagues to support the government to enable it implement its programmes.

GwojoGwojo urged the new lawmakers to familiarise themselves with legislative processes and procedure.

‘High legislators’ turnover hampers law making’

T

HE Chairman of Niger State House of Assembly Service Commission, Alhaji Ibrahim Samila Sangomashi, yesterday said high turnover of legislators will impede the growth of democracy.

Addressing reporters in Minna, the state capital, Sangomashi noted that the return of less than 50 per cent lawmakers to the National and House of Assemblies was inimical to democracy.

He said over 60 per cent of the old lawmakers at the National Assembly was reelected, while in Niger state, Sangomashi lamented that only 11 of the old lawmakers returned.

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

Sangomashi noted that unlike in the developed democracy, where lawmakers serve for decades, the reverse is the case here.

“This development is not good for our democracy and law making process.”

“It is sad that the turnover of our law makers seems to be the highest in the world and this is not good for our democracy. This will not in any way strengthen our democracy, because the more lawmakers are returned the more our law making process is enriched,” the Chairman stated.

•Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima (right) listening to the contractor handling the Baga Motor Park road network when PHOTO: NAN he inspected the project in Maiduguri, the state capital…yesterday

Kwankwaso converts Shekarau’s ICT centre to school From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

•Kwankwaso

K

ANO State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso yesterday directed the Ministry of Education to take over the Ado Bayero House,

which houses the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Park, and convert it to a mega secondary school.

Former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau last month commissioned the ICT Park inside the 11-storey Ado Bayero House.

At the ceremony, Shekarau expressed optimism that the park would create several jobs and attract more revenue for government.

But Kwankwaso described the centre as a white elephant which would not create wealth or jobs for the resi-

dents.

He spoke in Kano when the leader of the World Bank team on State Sector Education Reforms Project, Dr. Tunde Adekola, visited him at the Government House.

Kwankwaso said education was a potent tool for emancipating people from ignorance, disease and poverty, adding that his administration would accord top priority to the sector.

He said the decision to convert the ICT centre to a school was informed by the need to build more schools for the growing number of children of school age.

The government, Kwank-

waso said, would scout for more buildings to increase his administration’s advancement in the education sector.

He promised to re-introduce some of the policies of his last administration between 1999 and 2003, including the free feeding and uniform programmes, and initiate new ones to boost school enrolment.

Kwankwaso told the delegation that a committee had been constituted to make the state fill its quota in federal higher institutions.

Adekola said the World Bank team was in Kano to intimate the governor with the projects and programmes of the State Sector Education Reforms Project.

No plan to quit CPC, says Almakura

N

ASARAWA State Governor Umaru Almakura yesterday said he has no plan to dump the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) for another party.

He denied reports that he was planning to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement by his acting Director of Media and Publicity, Abdullahi Ogoshi, the governor described the reports as the imagination of their authors.

The statement reads: “His

From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

Excellency wishes to categorically deny these insinuations and state that they are totally false…

“From all indications, the reports are calculated and deliberate attempts to cause disharmony and friction between His Excellency and the leadership of his party, the CPC. “Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is the undisputable leader of the CPC whom His Excellency holds in very high esteem

as his leader and mentor. His Excellency will not, for whatever reason, consciously or unconsciously, do anything that would seemingly denigrate the person or status of Gen. Buhari, both as former Head of State and now as leader of CPC. “There is absolutely no friction between His Excellency and his party, the CPC, that could lead to any consideration to dump the party, barely two weeks after he was sworn in as governor on the platform of the party.

“His Excellency is in total

agreement with the principles and people-oriented policies of CPC and is set to implement them for the general well-being of the people of Nasarawa State.

“His Excellency holds the beacon of hope for the people of Nasarawa State and will be the last person to ever contemplate leaving CPC for another party. Therefore, he assures all Nigerians, particularly the leadership and members of CPC, that he remains an avowed, committed and loyal member of the party, for now and always.”

ELECTIONS 2011

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

8

NEWS Senior staff union’s conference begins

T

HE official opening of the five-day national delegates’ conference of the Senior Staff Union of College of Education in Nigeria (SSUCCOEN), begins today at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Otto/Ijanikin, Lagos State.

According to the Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the institution, Mr Adebowale Odunayo, arrival of delegates was on between Monday and throughout yesterday, ahead the official opening of the conference at the college Auditorium 2 by 10am today.

The delegates will “chart a new way forward for the colleges of education and the Nigerian Certificates of Education programmes in the country.”

Two cars stolen

T

WO vehicles, a grey Honda Accord (Hala), belonging to Mr. Fatukasi Oluwaseun and a white Toyota Camry, owned by Mrs Mercy Adamolekun have been reported

stolen.

The Honda, marked TH 544 AAA has F20231001929 and IHGCC97400A202862 as its engine and chasis numbers respectively. It was allegedly stolen last Thursday.

The Toyata car with registration number KJ 483 EKY with engine number 450587410 and chasis number JJIEOSV2100322656 was said to have been snatched at gun-point when robbers invaded her residence.

Those with useful information on the cars should contact the owners or the nearest police station.

Mrs Adamolekun’s telephone number was given as 08025844225.

•From left: Secretary-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Dr. Lateef Adegbite; Deputy Director, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Ahmad Abdullahi and the Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Studies, Professor Epiphamy Azinge (SAN), at a summit on islamic banking held at the University of Lagos...yesterday

How INEC stopped lawmakers

I

NVESTIGATION revealed yesterday how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stopped three federal lawmakers from being sworn -in on Monday.

The commission has withdrawn the Certificate of Returns issued to them after their victories in the April 9 National Assembly election.

The affected lawmakers are Senator Alphonsus Uba Igbeke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Anambra North Senatorial District,

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

Abdu Umar Yandoma of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Katsina North Senatorial District, and Bassey Dan Abia of Eket/Onna/Esit Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State.

Igbeke allegedly forged the result of the senatorial primary election of the PDP, which returned him as winner. He is currently facing a criminal charge preferred against him by the Federal

Government.

An Abuja Federal High Court also on June 1 declared Eseme Eyiboh as the PDP candidate for the Eket/ Ibeno/Esit/Onna Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State.

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

He upheld the argument of the plaintiff’s counsel,

Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) that it was conducted in violation of the party’s guideline which mandated the election to be conducted in Eket, the Headquarters of the constituency.

The electoral umpire conveyed the decision to withdraw the Certificates of Return issued to the lawmakers in a letter dated June 4 and addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly by the Secretary to the Commission, Abdullahi Kaugama.

Drama as Ebonyi elects Speaker

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HE member representing Ebonyi North West Constituency Ikechukwu Nwankwo was yesterday elected Speaker of the House of Assembly.

Others elected are Valentine Okike (Deputy Speaker), Samuel Nwali ( Majority Leader), Kingsley Ikoro ( Chief Whip), Ogbonnaya Nwaifuru ( Deputy Chief Whip)and Ikechukwu Ogbu (Deputy Majority Leader).

There was a mild drama when the Clerk of the

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakiliki

House, Mrs. Rose Nwokporo, announced the conclusion of the election without the election of Minority Leader and Minority Chief Whip.

All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) member representing Ezza North West, Enyi Enyi, drew the Clerk’s attention to the constitutional provision for the election of Minority Leader and Minority Chief Whip where there are opposition members in the

Assembly.

Subsequently, Enyi Enyi was elected Minority Leader while Joseph Nwobasi emerged the Minority Chief Whip.

The election of the members followed Governor Martin Elechi’s proclamation of the first session of the fourth Assembly at the Chambers of the Assembly.

Elechi said: “In exercise of the powers conferred on me by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I hereby issue this proclamation for the

convening of the first session of the fourth Assembly of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.”

Governor Elechi attributed the constant misunderstanding between the executive and legislature to misconception of the doctrine of separation of power.

He said: “The doctrine of separation of power is often interpreted out of context to imply either a state of total independence or state of battle of supremacy for one to outshine the other.”

I won’t disappoint my constituents, says Yola Rep

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MEMBER of the House of Representatives, Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed from Yola North/ Yola South/Girei Constituency has said that she won’t disappoint her constituents.

Aishatu, who made the pledge at a reception in her honour at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, said: “To my dear members of my constituency, as I said at the beginning, I promise you effective representation. With your votes you gave me the mandate, you have spoken and your voice will be heard loud and clear in the National Assembly.

“Your interests, your cries and frustrations will get listening ears, as we legislate in the seventh House of Representatives.

“In our oversight func-

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

tions, we will ensure the executive puts in place the right policies and executes programmes and projects that would touch the lives of the majority of our citizens.

“With your mandate, the days when the electorate will not see or have access to their representative until the next four years are over. I will soon commission my functional constituency office in Yola where I will be meeting you from time to time; I urge you to also write us on matters that require our attention for the upliftment of our communities.

“May I use this opportunity to call on all those who contested the election against us

within and across parties to join us in the task of providing good governance to our people.

“The voice of the people is the will of God. Let us all work together for the development and progress of Adamawa State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.”

In his comment, former Minister of State for

Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, praised the commitment of the federal lawmaker to public service.

He said: “We have come to celebrate, rejoice with one of us who has exemplified herself.

“She believes in a culture of service. She is a woman of substance who is committed to the growth and development of this country.”

FCTA to rehabilitate bomb blast victims in South Africa

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HE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday said it would rehabilitate victims of the May 29 bomb blast in Zuba, South Africa.

FCTA Permanent Secretary Dr Biodun Olorunfemi told reporters yesterday that the victims would travel next week.

He spoke during a visit to Asokoro and Wuse General Hospitals where the victims were receiving treatment.

He assured that the administration would ensure that the victims continue to receive treatment “even after they are discharged.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

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NEWS Gunmen abduct Edo Deputy Governor’s father-in-law

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HE father-in-law of Edo State Deputy Governor, Chief Felix Okungbowa, was yesterday abducted at his residence by unknown gunmen.

The gunmen were said to have stormed Okungbowa’s residence on Ewasede Street, Off First East Circular Road in Benin City.

No official statement has been released by the Deputy Governor, Pius Odubu,

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

who was at Urhonigbe in Orhionmwon Local Government Area at the time of the kidnap.

Police sources said the hoodlums did not give their reasons for the action nor had they demanded any ransom.

Family sources confirmed the incident and said the kidnappers were yet to make demands.

NAFDAC seals off three drug stores

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HE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control yesterday sealed off three patent pharmaceutical stores in Akwa Ibom State.

The stores were shut following a discovery that their owners were selling expired drugs and those without NAFDAC number.

NAFDAC’s Deputy Director, Port inspection Unit, Samuel Adeleke listed the affected stores as Ben Medical Store, Uyo; Edime Pharmacy Store, Ikot Ekpene and Duma Pharmacy, Uyo. Adeleke said in some of

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

the Southsouth states visited, the percentage of the passed drugs were 82.59 per cent while that of failed drugs were 17.41 per cent.

He said findings revealed that some drugs that had been banned by the Federal Government were being sold.

Adeleke listed some of the confiscated drugs as: Stralgin injection 500mg/ 5ml; Canesten 100mg; Septric; Zovirax cream; Fulcin; man and woman cream; and Vitamin A (Retimol).

Delta Assembly Speaker emerges

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HE Fifth Assembly of the Delta State House of Assembly was yesterday inaugurated with Victor Onyekachi Ochei, representing Aniocha North constituency, emerging as Speaker.

Basil Ganagana was elected Deputy Speaker.

Ochei’s election followed a nomination by the lawmaker representing Ika Northeast, Sam Obi, and sec-

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

onded by member representing Okpe Constituency, Julius Okpokpo.

Other principal officials are: Majority Leader Monday Igbuya; Chief Whip Beatrice Umawunmi–Udoh; Deputy Chief Whip Peter Owusanya; Majority Whip John Nani; Minority Leader Julius Okpokpo and Minority Whip Azuka Azaka.

• Ex-Minister of Works, Housing and Urban Development, Dr Hassan Lawal (right), at a Federal High Court in Abuja during PHOTO: NAN the hearing in a motion on bail for him...yesterday

Fayemi reconstitutes caretaker committees

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KITI State Government yesterday reconstituted the caretaker committees for its 16 local governments.

Each of the local government has seven members, made up of chairman, secretary and five members.

Governor Kayode Fayemi last month dissolved the committees he appointed on assumption of office last November.

The chairman and secretary of the local governments are: Ado Local Government, Sunday Ibitoye (Chairman), Funmilayo Adeyemo (Secre-

tary).

Ekiti East Local Government, Mrs. Omonusi Anthonia (Chairman), Ogunjobi Dele (Secretary).

Ijero Local Government, Atibioke J. O. (Chairman), Dayo Ajayi (Secretary).

Ekiti west Local Government, Sola Fakanle (Chairman), Claudius Adetule (Secretary).

Ikere Local Government, Olugbenga Omole (Chairman), Anthony Owolabi (Secretary).

Ikole Local Government, Mrs. Funke Owoseni (Chairman), Dele Olatuyi (Secretary).

Ido/Osi Local Government, Elder Ben Fatope (Chairman), Mrs. Biola Adeosun (Secretary).

Moba Local Government, Dr. Clement Ayeni (Chairman), Fadare Samuel (Secretary).

Emure Local Government, Muyiwa Abegunde (Chairman), Stephen Awopetu (Secretary).

Ilejemeje Local Government, Rev. Femi Ojo (Chairman), Omowaye Ojo (Secretary).

Ekiti Southwest Local Government, Dr. Azeez Olaniyan (Chairman), Bunmi Akinniyi (Secretary).

Gbonyin Local Government, Femi Awe (Chairman), Ayo Fadunmiye (Secretary).

Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, Femi Aluko (Chairman), Femi Akindele (Secretary).

Efon Local Government, Chief Joel Omoniyi (Chairman), Ojo Adegboyega (Secretary).

Oye Local Government, Adekoya Adewale (Chairman), Osuolale Olorunsola (Secretary).

Ise/Orun Local Government, Femi Ajayi (Chairman), Abayomi Edward (Secretary).

‘We may not pay minimum wage’

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ROSS River State Government workers may not enjoy the national minimum wage,if federal allocation to states is not increased, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Labour and Productivity, Ededem Ita Edem has said.

He said except the Federal Government adjusts the revenue formula it would be difficult for the state to pay the new wage of N18,000.

Edem spoke at a briefing on the activities and achievements of his department in the past year.

He said the state, whose

From Kunle Johnson, Calabar

monthly federal allocation can barely pay the current N5,500 minimum wage, shall not join other richer states to implement the new pay.

“The federal allocation we receive monthly cannot sustain the new wage and we shall not pretend that we are rich enough to implement it yet,” he said.

The special assistant said if the state were to pay the new wage the state would not down-size its workers because the governor was very sensitive to it.

Ringim launches six gunboats

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HE Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, yesterday reiterated government’s commitment to curb crimes on the waterways.

Ringim spoke at the launching of six patrol gunboats for the Lagos State Police Command, Marine Department.

He noted that the move was necessary because Lagos is the nation’s commercial nerve centre.

His words: “It became imperative to have six additional gun boats for the patrol of the major cities and its environment in Lagos because the state has a large area covered by water and a lot of criminal activities are said to take place in some of these places.

By Titilayo Banjoko

“With the commissioning of this six gun boats, it’s my expectation that the state will be able to provide adequate security for its citizens, especially along the riverine areas between Marina and Badagry.”

Governor Babatunde Fashola said the gunboats were necessary for social development and youth empowerment.

He said: “Crime has no place in our society, so we will invest very deeply and extensively in crime prevention to boost the capacity of security personnel to ensure the citizens continue to be law abiding.”

•Ogun State Governor (middle) with his wife, Olufunso, at a reception for him at the state lodge, Abuja...yesterday. With him from left are: Senators Gbenga Kaka; Babalola Odunsi and Gbenga Obadara

Fashola.exe, JAMB e-learning software now on Facebook

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HE Nation yesterday facilitated the release of a free phone-downloadable pilot edition of Fashola.exe, Nigeria’s first elearning software, to aid students preparing for next week’s Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

It was released on Facebook, the world’s number one social networking website, patronised by almost three million Nigerian phone users, particularly Nigerian youths.

The release medium is on the wings of The Nation’s burgeoning computer user forum, PCUser2User.

It is available for free download on the internet at www.facebook.com/

pcuser2user.

Fashola.exe is an Englishlanguage examination test and practice software sponsored by ex-students of Lagos-based Birch Freeman High School.

It was first released by the ex-students, in the thick of the April 2011 election, as a mark of honour and support for Governor Babatunde Fashola’s re-election bid. The governor was an ex- student of the school.

Publishers and sponsors of the software said the software was released to “herald the use of digital-age learning tools to teach digital-age students”.

They believe a radical change in teaching style, from

yesterday’s analogue methods to today’s digital techniques, hold the key to a reversal of the worrying trend of mass failure in standard examinations, by Nigerian secondary students.

Only last week, publishers of the novel software, announced a breakthrough release of a television-viewable version of the new last-minute examination test/practice, learning and revision tool, similar to Fashola.exe.

A 15-minute preview of the new video-based tutorial is on the internet, on the same PCUser2User page on Facebook and on Youtube.

The new e-learning tools now seemingly available in software and television-

viewable formats, offer hours of interactive tutorials using answer options to examination questions, to teach principles of the subjects. The tutorials are drawn from more than 100,000 past question and answers already available with Nigeria’s oldest Media archive, The Media Databank.

New disc-based models of the e-learning tools, will contain up to 20 hours of television-viewable test and practice tutorials as well as thousands of past examination question and answers for interactive use on computers.

The discs can also contain dictionaries, unit converters, educational games and hundreds of e-books.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

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POLITICS

‘Women should participate more in politics’ Founder of the Ekiti Development Foundation, Erelu Bisi Fayemi spoke with Correpondent SULAIMAN SALAWUDEEN on women particiapation in politics and what the foundation is doing to promote public welfare in the ‘Fountain of Knowledge’

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HAT political value does Ekiti Development Foun dation intend to add to governance and public welfare in Ekiti State?

Ekiti Development Foundation is about economic empowerment, political participation, healthcare, education and training, promoting local philanthropy, and the arts.

When communities are faced with socio-economic challenges, women are often the worst affected. This is why most of the EDF’s work will focus on women and the youth.

However, emphasis will be accorded the well-being of citizens generally. The Foundation, an initiative that will complement the developmental activities of the Dr. Kayode Fayemi administration, will run as a non-government organization. It will be launched officially on June 10, 2011 at Adetiloye Hall, Ado-Ekiti.

That means EDF will be focusing basically on the rights and needs of women and youths ?

Not at all. It will also work with and support civil society organisations, cooperative associations, networks, and community-based groups. The foundation will work with and support smaller non-government organisations based in Ekiti state financially and through capacity building to ensure these organisations achieve their aims of helping the people of Ekiti. In addition, the foundation will provide sustained technical assistance and support to the Ekiti State Government in the area of implementing programmes related to Women Empowerment and Gender Equality as stated in the current administration’s eight-point agenda.

What do all these translate to in practical terms, what will EDF be doing for the Ekiti people?

Specifically, EDF will be supporting initiatives which can empower women and youth in the state economically. Specific activities in this area will include providing capital for revolving loan funds for women’s cooperatives; training and capacity building for access to credit facilities and relevant financial assistances; support for women in agriculture; improving infrastructural facilities in our markets and financial literacy programmes to enhance basic educa-

tion on how people can financially empower themselves through other means.

What other women’s rights is EDF set to champion.

EDF intends to work on programmes that will promote the rights of women and girls in Ekiti state. The experience we had recently in the state in which a policeman raped and actually impregnated a twelve-year-old is most unsettling. Just some days later we also heard that a four-year-old girl was raped by an adult male. There was also that of Ikere which involved rape as well. These are situations that invite specific drastic interventions. Again, there will also be an emphasis on providing opportunities for more women to emerge as leaders in the state at community, local government and state levels. By encouraging a culture of popularising women’s leadership, more women will be able to come forward to serve the state in various capacities. This is important if the long-term human development goals of the state are to be met.

How do you intend to achieve in the area of political emancipation of women in the state?

The Foundation will engage in capacity building and technical assistance for women currently in leadership positions in the state. It will also run on an occasional basis a leadership academy which will focus on building the leadership skills of young people; create a database of Ekiti women professionals within and outside Ekiti state; mentoring and role-modelling programmes to encourage intergenerational learning. Again, the Foundation will partner with the government and civil society organisations in the state to promote the rights of women and girls through appropriate policy formulation and implementation and awareness creation efforts.

It appears EDF is set to revolutionise entire life of women and the youth.

Yes, and EDF will focus on healthcare as it concerns women in the state as well. There are a number of government initiatives to boost delivery of services to women in communities across the state. The EDF intends to complement efforts

• Fayemi

of the state government by ensuring that these services are gender specific, timely and accessible.

Some specific works for EDF in this area are: campaigns on safe motherhood to lower maternal and infant mortality rates in the state; sensitisation campaigns around cancers which affect mostly women such has breast, cervical and ovarian cancers; provision of mobile health clinics to support government’s efforts, particularly in remote areas and market places; awareness raising and sensitisation to implement laws against harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, child labour, female inheritance denials and conscription (forced) marriages, and so on. EDF

will also manage a multiple birth trust fund in collaboration with the ministry of women affairs.

How about education and training?

I must confess the existence of an impressive number of girls and performance in schools in Ekiti state.

In some instances, girls are doing better than boys academically.

However, there is a worrying increase in the cases of sexual exploitation, abuse and violence against girls and girl children not only in the schools but even in the communities. EDF will therefore be concerned about campaigns and projects to promote zero tolerance of all forms of abuse and exploitation of young girls, making schools and homes safe for young girls to thrive, providing vocational training opportunities for women to enable them have more choices and working with schools, parents and relevant stakeholders to ensure that schools curricular and teaching and methods are gender sensitive and take into cognisance the basic needs and rights of young girls.

When you were talking initially, you mentioned arts and culture.

How does it come into this?

I want to tell you that Ekiti State has a lot of untapped potentials in the area of preservation, documentation, analysis and marketing of its rich cultural heritage. As a foundation that promotes the well-being of Ekiti people, it is important that there should be a focus on indigenous knowledge production and management. EDF will be particularly interested in showcasing the skills and talents of Ekiti women and youth as weavers, sculptors, painters, porters and others; finding appropriate markets and products made in Ekiti state; documenting the rich history of the state in

previously under-utilised formats such as music, dance, film, documentation and so on; supporting sports facilities for young people and working in partnership with the government and the private sector on long-term projects which can serve as legacies such as museums, archives, arts festivals and others.

How does the organisation encourage local philanthropy and asset-building for local communities?

The EDF is an organization that will be relying on contributions from a range of partners which included Governments, the private sector, donor agencies, philanthropic institutions, individuals and the vast Ekiti people in the diaspora. Whilst undertaking a range of programmes to achieve its objectives within the stated areas of focus, EDF is planned to be a sustainable philanthropic institution which will outlast the political affiliations of its founder. To this end, EDF will have to build assets on a continuous basis. Examples of the ways in which EDF plans to build assets for short, medium and long-term use include resource mobilization strategy that targets support in cash and in kind from a variety of sectors. Gifts to the EDF can be in form of cash, real estate, farms, product support, stocks and so on; partnership with a number of donor partners and private sector companies to develop different EDF projects; a diversified investment portfolio, working with reputable and experienced Fund Managers and managing ‘Donor Advised funds’ which are special funds set up at the request of individuals and families with agreed guidelines and restrictions.

‘We’ll make National Assembly deliver’

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HOSE who think that the National Assembly would not deliver owing to the predominance of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislators are billed for a pleasant shocker. Our party will inject reason into legislative activities at both chambers of the Assembly.”

The above were the words of assurance by the newly sworn-in Sena-

•From left: Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly Uyi Igbe, Deputy Speaker Festus Ebea and Deputy Governor Dr Pius Odubu, during a visit to the Government House, Benin City, after the first session of the fourth assembly.

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

tor representing Ogun East, Senator Adegbenga Kaka yesterday, while speaking with The Nation on the future of the newly inaugurated Assembly.

He assured that armed with the cardinal policies of his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), all members of both chambers of the Assembly on the platform of his party were adequately prepared intellectually to change the face of legislation in the country.

“Our mission there is simple: To join others to make laws that will ultimately enable government policies that will go a long way in generation better welfare for the generality of Nigerians who have for long been starved of genuine representation especially at the federal level. I’m convinced that Nigerians are in for better days because of our resolve to serve them with our conscience,” he said.

Asked how legislators from his party would have their ways, Senator Kaka replied: “This is not about coercion, nor is it going to be about guns and what have you. It is going to be about argument, persuasion and sharing of positive ideas the best way we can. It is going to be about purposeful lobbying among ourselves and interestingly, we have men in other parties, notably the PDP who tend to share in our patriotic views.

We are all agreed that these are new moments of total rejuvenation of our entire system and we cannot afford to fail.

“We are starting a new experiment

• Sen. Kaka

which, we all believe, must centre on finding a new lease of live for our teeming people. It appears to be a generally agreed covenant which we must hold as sacred. My party believes so strongly that we must make history by prompting the executive to serve the generality of those helpless Nigerians who have us the mandate to direct their affairs in the next four years.

My party holds its allegiance to them as sacrosanct and we won’t fail them.

So, it is all about the willingness of our colleagues to share in our concern keying into them to ensure a better society.”

He urged Nigerians to keep faith with the Assembly and do their best possible to cooperate with them by performing their civic responsibilities, noting that both the executive and the legislature cannot rebuild the country without people’s unflinching support.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

BUSINESS THE NATION

Dealing with people is probably the biggest problem you face, especially if you are in business.

Yes, and that is also true if you are a housewife, architect or engineer.

–Dale Carnegie

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Multi-links, Helios Towers pact valid, says court

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HE Lagos High Court handed a setback to South Africa’s Telkom yesterday ruling disputed lease agreements between its Nigerian unit and a local company were valid.

The decision by the Lagos High Court could delay the effort by Telkom, South Africa’s largest fixed-line operator, to sell its struggling Nigerian business, MultiLinks.

Telkom said in a statement the court had ruled that lease agreements between MultiLinks and local firm Helios Towers Nigeria were valid.

Helios, which is backed by private equity group Helios Investment Partners and South Africa’s Shanduka Group, is suing Telkom for at least $251 million, claiming the South African firm walked away from a 10-year rental agreement after just three years.

Telkom had argued that the contracts were not valid, court documents have shown.

“The Lagos High Court in Nigeria found in favour of Helios Towers Nigeria in the matter regarding the validity of ... site lease agreements between Multi-Links and Helios,” Telkom said.

It also said that Helios’ damages claim for more than $250 million had not yet been set down for a hearing.

Telkom plans to sell MultiLinks for $52 million to Visafone Communications, to focus on improving its business in South Africa, where it has been hurt by fierce competition.

NNPC to flood retail outlets with kerosene • To withdraw logo from non-complying stations

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N a bid to control the worsening scarcity of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Group Managing Director (GMD), Austen Oniwon, yesterday announced that Major Oil Marketers of Nigeria (MOMAN) have accepted to make the product available in all the major marketers’ retail outlets across the country within the next 10 days.

This, he said, would be in addition to supplies from all the corporation’s retail outlets nationwide.

“The summary of what we are going to discuss today is to reassure the nation that the

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

principal stakeholders have given an undertaking that within the next 10 days, household kerosene will be available in all major marketers’ retail outlets nationwide in addition to all NNPC retail outlets nationwide,” Oniwon stated.

The GMD, who briefed journalists in Abuja on the outcome of the meeting with the marketers, assured Nigerians that the corporation has enough kerosene to serve the nation even on continuous consumption for 40 days.

His words: ”We have checked the supply volume

we have and as from today( yesterday), we have kerosene to last us 40 days of continuous consumption if no additional litre of kerosene comes in.”

He noted that the NNPC mega stations have resolved to sell the product on its own since some of the affiliate stations were not complying with the corporation’s standard.

The GMD, however noted that the corporation would soon review its business relationship with such erring stations and withdraw NNPC logo from them.

Commenting on the distribution plan, Oniwon said the refineries would contribute their quota to the supply pool for

National Consumption requirement, adding that NNPC has product that it imported to supplement the refineries.

According to him, NNPC and the marketers agreed that the kerosene will be channeled to them to ensure that it arrives at their retail outlets for all Nigerians to access.

He said: ”But we also have the refineries working and contributing to the kerosene supply pool. We believe they will continue to contribute their own quota to the national consumption requirement. NNPC has products, which it has brought into the country to supplement the refineries,” he added.

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

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

C

OMPTROLLER-Gen eral of Nigeria Cus toms Service (NCS), Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, said the service will streamline the number of its units conducting cargo examination at seaports.

Abdullahi disclosed this in Lagos yesterday at the opening of a -day Consultative Forum of the NCS and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

The CG, who was represented by Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Tariffs and Trade, Mrs Mulikat Adegoke, said the service is determined to eliminate delays in cargo clearance.

Last week, Diko directed that only resident officers from the Customs Intelligence Units (CIU) should partake in cargo examination.

Abdullahi said that the service was looking at units that should be visible at the ports to ensure efficient movement of goods.

He said that the service was determined to reach an understanding with manufacturers on Negotiable Duty Credit Certificate (NDDC) and on excise and export procedures.

The President of MAN, Chief Kola Jamodu, said that one of the significant achievements of MAN/ Customs Forum was the institution of MAN Fast Track Clearing arrangement, which worked effectively for some years.

‘Non-passage of PIB will affect sector’

DATA STREAM

MARKET CAPITALISATIONS

Customs to streamline cargo examination

S

• From left: Chief Finance Officer, Oando Plc, Femi Adeyemo; MD/CEO Oando Exploration and Production Limited, Pade Durotoye; MD/CEO Oando Supply & Trading Limited, Dimeji Edwards and Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Dr Jospeh Odumodu, at the presentation ceremony of ISO 9001:20018 to Oando Exploration and Production and Oando Supply & Trading held at the Victoria Crown Plaza Hotel, Lagos...yesterday

Power generation drops to 3200MW

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OWER generation has dropped from 3700 megawatts (MW) to 3200mw, indicating a loss of 500mw, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has said.

The Managing Director of PHCN, Alhaji Labo Hussien, told our correspondent that the drop was as a result of shortage of gas supply to the thermal power stations.

This has resulted in blackout and load-shedding in some parts of the country.

A statement issued by the PHCN said: “The management of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) regrets the inconveniences being experienced by its esteemed customers due to reduction

• 500mw lost to gas shortage

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

in generation from its power plants, which has given rise to the on-going load-shedding nationwide.

This is as a result of persistent shortfall in gas supply to Egbin, Geregu and Olorunshogo power stations by the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC).

“The Nigerian Gas Company and Shell Petroleum have attributed the gross shortfall in gas supply to the maintenance of a leak in the pipe line evacuating condensate and crude from Utorogu gas plant. This reduction has

come at a time when our dams are at their lowest level, and our ability to replace the lost thermal generation with hydro generation is severely limited.

“While we are sensitive to the plight of our customers, we appeal for understanding and assure that power supply will improve as the NGC has promised to hasten the repair process with a view to restoring normal gas supply to the affected stations.”

When contacted, Shell’s spokesman Tony Okonedo confirmed that the Utorogu gas plant was shut down last Friday, when the pipeline

was discovered to be leaking. He said the gas plant would remain shut pending investigation of leak and repairs.

“Shell regrets the inconveniences the shut down and shortage of gas supply to the power plants will cause electricity users affected by the incident,” he said.

Shell had at a recent forum lamented the increasing incidents of sabotage in its operation.

“The incidents of sabotage in our operation are not abating. I must tell you that we have recorded 35 incidents of sabotage in our operation between January and April of this year,” the company said.

OME stakeholders in the oil and gas indus try have the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) by the National Assembly would have negative effects on the sector.

The stakeholders told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday that non-passage of the bill would hinder investments and developments in the industry.

The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources said that it had spent huge sums to see the passage of the bill, which has been in the National Assembly in the last two years.

Chairman of South-West Chapter of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mr Olumide Ogunmade, said non-passage of the bill was indication of insensitivity of lawmakers to the plights of people from oil producing areas.

“The bill ought to have been passed along with other bills passed at the tail end of the National Assembly’s plenary session,’’ Ogunmade said.

He said some oil companies had expressed strong feelings on the issue to their home governments.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 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 Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1.

2.

3.

4.

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

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

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

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

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

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

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Arik Aero Arik Aero

LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

09.15 12.50 12.55 15.55

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

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

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

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

08.00 18.00

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

• From left: Director, Corporate Bank, Banca Antonveneta, Mr. Enzo Nicoli; Managing Director, Internalization, Confindustria Veneto, Mr. Roberto Ditri; and Group Managing Director/ CEO , UBA Plc and Lead Speaker, Mr. Phillips Oduoza; at a seminar organised by Banca Antonveneta, in Venice Italy last Thursday

OPEC to raise oil output target today

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HE Organisation of Petro leum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will raise its oil output target today for the first time since 2008 to help replace lost Libyan supplies and meet growth in demand later this year, according to a Gulf delegate with knowledge of the matter.

The OPEC, according to Bloomberg news, is producing 2 million barrels a day above its official ceiling, the delegate said, declining to be named because he isn’t authorised to speak publicly. All the group’s ministers agree on the need to raise output, the person said, amid rising speculation that Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s largest producer, wants to add as much as 1.5 million barrels a day to global supply.

OPEC, which pumps about 40 percent of the world’s crude, is meeting in Vienna as fighting in Libya shuts off most of the output from Africa’s third-largest producer and oil hovers at almost $100 a barrel.

Oil prices at current levels could

By Emeka Ugwuanyi with agency reports

derail a global economic recovery, the International Energy Agency’s Chief Economist Fatih Birol told reporters yesterday in Oslo.

“OPEC will increase quotas slightly to bring them closer to actual production,” said Frankfurtbased senior commodities analyst at DZ Bank AG, Axel Herlinghaus, which trades crude contracts in New York and London.

Crude for July delivery slid as much as 90 cents to $98.11 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $98.46 at 8:51 a.m. local time. The contract on Monday fell $1.21, or 1.2 percent, to $99.01. Prices are up 38 per cent the past year.

OPEC announced its biggest-ever supply cuts in December 2008 amid a collapse in demand, capping production at 24.845 million barrels a day for all members except Iraq, which is exempted from the quota system. The

group’s compliance rate with those limits was 69 percent in April, OPEC said in its most recent monthly report on May 12.

The group is likely to increase its target by as much as 1.5 million barrels a day, the head of oil- market research at Societe Generale SA, Michael Wittner, said yesterday.

“Saudi Arabia and other key members of OPEC, with the usual exceptions of price hawks Iran and Venezuela, appear to be leaning toward a quota increase because they are concerned about the negative impact of high prices on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and, ultimately, on oildemand growth,” New York-based Wittner said in a note. Morgan Stanley echoed his view in an-e-mailed report forecasting an increase of 1.5 million barrels a day this summer.

OPEC’s members are Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. Iraq is exempt from the group’s quota system

Shareholders, regulator bicker over bank deals

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ISGRUNTLED shareholders in the rescued banks face a showdown with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) after it set a September deadline for the banks recapitalise as the former have gone to court to try to scuttle the deals.

The CBN said last week the banks had until the end of September to reach recapitalisation deals with new investors or face liquidation if they refuse to accept funds from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), which would effectively mean nationalisation.

Shareholders in several of the banks have gone to court to try to scupper any deals, saying CBN Governor Lamido Sanusi should have consulted them before injecting capital into the banks in the first place and removing their management.

“Sanusi himself should be held for contempt of court,” said Sunny Nwosu, national coordinator of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), which represents minority shareholders in the rescued banks.

“If someone is taking away what belongs to us without allowing us to negotiate, or even be part of it, it’s only a matter of natural instinct ... we would have to fight back.”

The central bank in 2009 injected N420billion into nine lenders deemed by auditors to have become so weakly capitalised that they posed a risk to the entire banking system in the country.

The AMCON was set up to restore the rescued banks to zero shareholders’ funds, while new investors have been sought to bring them up to minimum capital adequacy.

Many analysts want to see a quick

resolution to the crisis and have voiced support for the CBN’s tough line, saying shareholders are being unrealistic in holding out for a better deal instead of recognising their losses.

“We don’t have an unlimited time and people need to stop throwing bottlenecks in the way,” Sanusi told Reuters last Monday.

“Liquidation is always an option.

We can always take away the bank from the shareholders and the shareholders need to understand that,” he said.

Four of the banks Afribank, Finbank, Intercontinental Bank and Union Bank have already signed merger deals, while Spring Bank Plc is about finalising its merger deal.

Two more - Bank PHB and Oceanic Bank - have held talks with potential suitors but have been unable to agree commercial terms.

IMF jobs: France’s Lagarde to visit Saudi, Egypt

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RENCH Finance Minister Christine Lagarde will visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt this weekend as she tries to shore up emerging market support for her International Monetary Fund (IMF) candidacy with a whirlwind global tour.

Lagarde is considered the favorite to replace her compatriot Dominique Strauss-Kahn at the helm of the IMF

after he was arrested last month on rape charges, but she faces a challenge from Mexican central bank chief Agustin Carstens.

After visiting Brazil last week, Lagarde met her Indian counterpart in New Delhi on Tuesday and was due in Beijing on Wednesday as she sought to win over emerging market heavyweights who have criticised Europe’s grip on the Fund’s top job.

“Here are my two new destinations after China: I will be in Riyadh on Saturday and Cairo on Sunday,” Lagarde announced on her Twitter page.

Big emerging economies argue the time has come for Europe to relinquish its 65-year hold over the IMF at a time when developing countries are increasing their shareholding and Europe itself has become a major borrower from the Washington-based lender.

UNICEM slashes cement price From Kunle Johnson, Calabar

U

NITED Cement Company of Nigeria (UNICEM), has slashed the price of a bag of cement from over N2, 000 in the region to N1, 600. The company also plans to increase its current production capacity from 1.3 million tons to 1.8 million tons this year and a further projection of 2.5 million tons by 2012.

Sales Director, William Anam, who made this disclosure in a statement issued in Calabar, said the decision to slash the price is in line with the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan.

This good news comes against the backdrop of the meeting initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan with the Cement Manufacturers Association where he directed the manufacturers to address and curb rising cement prices.

“Nationally, cement companies have risen to the challenge and UniCem, the largest producer of cement in the South-South and SouthEast, is no exception.

“In the recent weeks, there has been good news regarding the price of cement in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, as the retail price of cement has shown a downward trend.

A bag of cement in Calabar is now N1, 600 and N1, 700 in Uyo, comparative to prices in excess of N2, 000 per bag found in parts of the SouthSouth just a month ago.”

World Bank 2012 meeting holds in Japan

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HE 2012 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group will take place in Tokyo, Japan, in October 2012, the Executive Boards of the two institutions announced yesterday.

Japan was chosen as an alternative venue for the 2012 Annual Meetings, in lieu of Egypt, the original host country. Given recent developments in Egypt, the Egyptian authorities had requested to host the next Annual Meetings held abroad, which will be discussed by the Executive Boards in the near future.

The Annual Meetings serve to discuss international economic and financial developments, and policies to strengthen inclusive economic growth and help countries overcome poverty.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

17

ISSUES

• Stock Exchange building

Oil firms shun capital market • ‘We are too big to be listed on Stock Exchange’ The clamour of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the listing of persuading companies in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry may have hit a brickwall. The major exploration and production (E&P) companies claim the capital market as it is now lacks the capacity to absorb. But they proffer a way out, EMEKA UGWUANYI reports.

• STORY ON PAGE 18

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

ISSUES

Oil firms shun capital market I

N the past couple of years, major stakeholders in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) have been making efforts to attract upstream oil companies, especially those in exploration and production (E&P), into the capital market.

The efforts showed signs of paying off in early 2008 when some indigenous E&P companies showed interest in being listed on the Exchange. Some of them had even begun the process of listing before the global economic recession in late 2008.

The recession dampened the firms’ interest. Now that the global economy seems to have substantially recovered, with stock exchanges recording upward trends in stock prices, the NSE is again wooing the oil firms for listing to deepen the market.

Currently, only the products marketing arms of major oil companies in the downstream sector are listed and they are not in a hurry to expand their volume of shares.

Though the current shareholders of these petroleum products marketing companies smile home annually with handsome dividends, hardly can they give bonuses to shareholders as they (oil firms) don’t want to enlarge their volumes of shares or increase their shareholders base.

However, investigation shows that the E&P companies think the NSE currently lacks the capacity to carry exploration and production companies because their operations are very capital intensive, which the capital market seems unable to absorb.

The E&P operators, however, suggested that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as the national oil company (NOC) as well as the senior partner in the joint ventures with international oil companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria, should list a part of shares, then the IOCs should watch how its goes before listing theirs.

The setback The global economic recession, which struck in 2008, was a major setback to the efforts of getting the E&P companies listed on the Exchange. The recession saw the global financial industry crashing like a pack of cards, the stock market crumbled, the price of equities ebbed to the lowest as well as those of commodities, especially oil. The price of crude in the international market dropped by over $100 per barrel from $147 by July end to $34 a barrel in December 2008.

In early 2008, some indigenous oil firms, including Allied Energy, AMNI Petroleum and the Niger Delta Exploration & Production Plc, among others, indicated strong interests to list on the market.

Allied Energy, which is a subsidiary of CAMAC International Corporation, at a press conference in Lagos in 2008, said it was already discussing with the Listing and Quotations Committee of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, which had approved an application it submitted for its (Allied Energy) shares to be listed on the NSE. Chief Executive Officer of CAMAC, Kase Lawal, had said with the initial public offering, he expected the company to maintain an approximate 65 to 70 per cent interest in its subsidiary and projected the IPO to generate more than $500 million, which will push up the company’s market capitalisation to between $1.5 billion and $2 billion with 1.8 billion shares trading. He had also

planned the offer to be fully underwritten by Nigerian investment banks.

Lawal said: “The motivation is to grow our business in West Africa and to increase production. But even more importantly for us is to be able to share the opportunities and the wealth that we’ve been able to achieve through our investment in West Africa with the people of West Africa and Nigeria especially.

The stock exchange in Nigeria has been buoyant and among the fastest growing in the world.”

The discussion was going on smoothly and was only awaiting the approval of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) before the global meltdown.

The same thing applied to AMNI Petroleum. When the company turned 15 years, the Managing Director, as a birthday gift, promised to list the company on the stock market. The plan also was purportedly thwarted by the meltdown.

Ever since, the intending oil firms retreated from their plans.

SEC D-G reopens call for listing However, when the DirectorGeneral of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Arunma Oteh, came on board last year, she rekindled the call for upstream oil companies to list on the stock market.

She said the addition of foreign companies in industries, such as oil exploration and production, would diversify the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The banking industry makes up about 60 per cent of Nigeria’s stock market in terms of their weighting. However, the global stock market fell 34 percent in 2009 as a result of the banking crisis, which. according to the Chief Executive Officer of New York-based DaMina Advisors.

Sebastian Spio-Garbrah, was a fallout of margin loans to speculators and operators in the oil and gas industry, which led to mounting bad debts.

But Oteh said Nigeria would issue new guidelines on margin lending which will ensure that the meltdown experience would not happen again.

Ms Oteh said she is encouraging more oil companies to be listed on the stock exchange because she wants the oil firms to deepen the market. According to her, if more oil firms are listed, they will have more products to be traded upon.

She noted that even the products marketing subsidiaries of oil companies that are listed on the stock market don’t appear on the most capitalised stocks in the market because the oil firms have limited volume of shares traded upon.

They (oil companies) don’t give bonuses because they don’t want to increase the volumes of stocks traded upon, which makes the banking stocks to be always ahead of the oil stocks.

On Monday, Ms Oteh said: “We are talking to the telecoms companies, oil and gas, to first of all understand what are the issues that they will like us to look at, and we have gotten very useful feedbacks as to some of the things that should be done to continue to build up the exchange. They have also gotten very useful feed backs from us as to the process of getting listed. We started last month working with renaissance capital to organise what we call pre-initial public offer conferences so that whether its large companies or small companies they can easily be listed.”

In persuading the exploration and production companies to be listed,

• Oscar Onyema

• Ms Arunma-Oteh

‘I don’t think they have the capacity because E&P is really capital intensive.

So, if you check the total capitalisation of the stock exchange today and the amount of wealth in Nigeria today, I don’t think there is enough capacity to carry E&P companies’ • Sunmonu

she said: “The telecoms sector is a very good example of the transformation that can happen in our country, because in the last 10 years, we have seen a sector especially global telephoning that didn’t exist but today we have more than 80 million mobile phone subscribers and as a result of that, most indigenous and international telecoms companies have come here and have been able to make profit.”

What the oil companies say The major E&P companies, however, expressed reservation on the call to be listed on the stock market. They are skeptical over the ability of the market to accommodate the E&P companies because their operations are very capital intensive and are denominated in dollars.

For instance, the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited and Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, said personally that he feels the Nigeria Stock Exchange currently lacks the capacity to absorb E&P companies. Besides, he added that leadership of oil majors has not discussed the issue.

He said: “It is not an issue that we have discussed at a senior leadership level. But when I look at the Nigeria Stock Exchange at the moment, I just don’t think it has the capacity. If I just look at the Nigeria Stock Exchange right now, it is choked in my opinion, so if you try and bring in more companies into that market, the situation may worsen. I’m not even sure there is enough capital in the country to bring in into that stock market right now, that is my personal view to be honest.

“If you just look at the capitalisation in the stock exchange today and you ask yourself looking at the wealth you have in Nigeria, there is almost no room for additional input in the market to my own opinion.

“I don’t think they have the capacity because E&P is really capital intensive. So, if you check the total capitalisation of the stock exchange today and the amount of wealth in Nigeria today, I don’t think there is enough capacity to carry E&P companies.”

The way out “My own suggestion is that if the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is privatized, may be they will list a little bit of their own percentage at the stock market first as a way of generating that momentum for other E&P companies.

“As a starting point, if NNPC could probably just list 10 percent of is capital base. I think that will be a good test to know whether there is sufficient capacity in the stock exchange to absorb that.”

The Vice Chairman of ExxonMobil Nigeria, Cyril Odu, on the sidelines of a forum in Abuja told our correspondent that his personal opinion was that the NNPC should lead the way by listing a part of its shares on the stock market. He said that as the national oil company, NNPC should show the example just like what the Brazilian national oil company – Petrobras did. He said that Petrobras recent listed about four percent of its shares on the New York Stock Exchange and NNPC should also do that in the Nigeria Stock Exchange.

Currently, the only E&P company listed on the Nigeria capital mar-

ket is Oando Exploration and Production Limited, which is a subsidiary of the Oando Group - Oando Plc. The company was indirectly listed through the Group but it was learnt that the company wants to list the E&P subsidiary on the secondary market as an independent equity.

The Federal Government on Monday at the 50th anniversary of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos, promised to pursue policies and programmes that will transform investment climate in the country. President Goodluck Jonathan represented by the Vice President Namadi Sambo, said that the capital market had been a major catalyst of economic growth and development in the country.

He said that he anticipated that the Exchange would record more growth in the next 50 years given the solid foundation that had been laid.

“This will no doubt be enhanced as our administration pursues definitive policies and programmes to transform the business environment and unleash the entrepreneurial zeal of Nigerians.

“We are committed to vigorously pursuing those policies which will have the effect of strengthening investment climate and engendering requisite environment for Nigeria’s effective engagement with global economic community,” he said The president said he expected the market to play more prominent roles in providing resources to the public and private sectors for infrastructural development. He said he also expected the capital market to become the veritable gateway to Africa, while creating wealth for Nigerians and international investors.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY,JUNE 8, 2011

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

The Corrupt Judge •The NJC must be unsparing in the battle to rid judiciary of bad eggs

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HE National Judicial Council (NJC) seems determined to weed out corrupt elements within its fold and to restore waning public confidence in the judiciary. Just some days back, the NJC dismissed Justice Musa Anka of the Zamfara State High Court. The council acted on a petition written against the judge by Zamfara State Director of the State Security Service (SSS), alleging that the judge demanded and received a bribe of N200,000 from one Zubairu Abdulmalik to secure favourable judgement.

Upon report of the bribe request, Abdulmalik was asked by the SSS to play along while its operatives monitored the duo until the erring judge was apprehended. The course of justice took its full course when, in exercise of the power conferred on it by the constitution, the council at its meeting held on May 26, and upon proper investigation found Anka guilty of allegations of corruption and gratification levelled against him. His removal from office as a judicial officer was recommended forthwith.

Judges as custodians of the judicial system are expected to be above board; they must always put up conducts that will not be antithetical to their professional ethics. The request of a bribe or any other form of inducement to influence court judgements by any judicial officer is not in tandem with that sacred ethic.

We deprecate such despicable behaviour that is capable of drawing

odium upon the judiciary in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public. The judiciary has been in the eye of the storm in recent time. We recollect that not too long ago, Justice Katsina Alu, Chief Justice of the federation, and Justice Salami, President of the Court of Appeal, engaged in public show of wit that denigrated the integrity of the judiciary. Scandalously corrupt allegations were insinuated in the brickbats that left the public bewildered about the state of the judiciary.

Hardly had the tempest generated by that storm simmered down than the Anka shame came up. Also last year, the NJC unceremoniously retired Justice Idris Habib Shall of Bauchi State High Court over street fighting and alleged abduction.

Of course, the corruption ravaging the judiciary is a reflection of a larger societal malaise; it must be earnestly cured if things must be put right in the country. The nation cannot at this point in history afford to harbour a faltering judiciary. What the various misconducts unravelling in the judiciary have shown is that that important arm of government is not after all immune to corruption.

What should be done now is for the NJC to be more prompt and fair in tackling petitions against judges brought on its table. Up till now, it is sad that nothing has been done to Justice Thomas Naron of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal fame. Despite the avalanche of evidence against the judge linking him with the counsel to Olagunsoye Oyinlola in the controversial Osun petition, the man is still in service while the

establishment shamefully pretended as if nothing happened. We doubt that the matter will go away simply because the JNC failed to act. The issue will continue to dog his career. This is the fate currently suffered by Justice Ibrahim Auta, the newly appointed Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, who sentenced Ken Saro-Wiwa and others to death in questionable circumstances.

The battle against corruption in the judiciary should be a sustained one as we are sure that this arm of government still harbours men/women that are not worth the esteemed title of a judge. The struggle against judicial vermin must definitely continue.

‘Of course, the corruption ravaging the judiciary is a reflection of a larger societal malaise; it must be earnestly cured if things must be put right in the country. The nation cannot at this point in history afford to harbour a faltering judiciary. What the various misconducts unravelling in the judiciary have shown is that that important arm of government is not after all immune to corruption’

N6m Vehicle for N200,000 •Outgoing law makers reap where they did not sow

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UR greedy legislators are in the news again. Report had it (Punch, May 31, p 6) that as parting gifts for those returning and those not returning members of the National Assembly are buying the official vehicles bought for them in 2008 at the cost of N6m each for a paltry sum of N200,000.00. Its management wants to sell 469 Peugeot 407 and Toyota Camry 2008 models, which are operational vehicles, purchased for its standing committees to outgoing members. The vehicles which cost N2.814 trillion in 2008 are to be given away at a ridiculous sum of N92,800.000m in 2011. But the management is wiling to sell the cars at between 2.5m to N2.7m each. Even at this price, the cars would still be sold for less than half of their original costs in about three years ago!.

Those of us buying Tokunbo cars of Japa-

‘President Jonathan had blamed corruption in Nigeria on greed. We say excessive and inconceivable greed of our political office holders, especially our lazy legislators, many of whom do not make contributions to debates, or initiate meaningful legislation for the common good. Rather, they are always at their best when it comes to legislating on matters that concern them alone, and this is usually on matters that concern their individual bottomless pockets’

nese make pay about the same amount for eight-year-old vehicle, i.e., 2003 models.

While the suggested management prices quoted above are still on the low side, the legislators’ offer of N200,000 per vehicle is criminal. Who do they think they are? Locusts or vampires? In spite of the fact that these legislators have milked Nigeria dry for the few unproductive years they spent in the National Assembly, doing nothing in particular but collecting salaries of more than N24m a month, excluding some unknown but spurious allowances, their greedy nature inspired them to want to squander public fund to the very last day of their brief tenures with partying gifts of official vehicles.

President Jonathan had blamed corruption in Nigeria on greed. We say excessive and inconceivable greed of our political office holders, especially our lazy legislators, many of whom do not make contributions to debates, or initiate meaningful legislation for the common good. Rather, they are always at their best when it comes to legislating on matters that concern them alone, and this is usually on matters that concern their individual bottomless pockets.

We can at least heave a sign of relief that majority of them have been rejected and will never find their ways back into the National Assembly or be considered for any appointment in the present or future political dispensation. If we cannot recover the colossal amount of public funds they have squandered on salaries, allowances, useless foreign jamborees and other unspecified and unspecifiable largesse that had gone their ways since their sojourn in the National Assembly, it can at least be put on record that this crop of Nigerian legislators should go into the Guinness Book of Records as the most wasteful, extravagant, greedy, selfish and insensitive law makers (or law breakers) ever

assembled in a parliament anywhere in the whole wide world. Nigerians who are groaning under the yoke of poverty and want even in the midst of plenty should say never again to these kinds of greedy parliamentarians.

The new parliamentarians should be put under strict surveillance and their salaries and enrolments constantly monitored.

With the freedom of information bill now an act, Nigerians have the right of access to information for every kobo paid our parliamentarians monthly and precisely the kind of allowances they get which other workers do not get. Finally, their salaries and allowances should be streamlined along the wages and salaries paid to workers who labour eight hours a day as opposed to parliamentarians who work for only three days in a week.

There is no way a parliamentarian should earn more than a professor, and this is even unfair considering that most of the parliamentarians have only secondary school certificate, or OND, HND or Bachelor of Arts Degree.

For cost saving, the number of parliamentarians should also be pruned down to 75 percent, while their legislative duties should be on part-time basis – which is exactly what it is now at three days a week. Parliamentarians should obtain loans to buy whatever kind of vehicle they think they can afford while they should pay rent on their public apartments. Nowhere in the world are parliamentarians pampered with free amenity as in Nigeria. This is why Nigeria faces challenges, as its financial resources are being drained by parliamentary drones. Purchasing official cars by outgoing existing and outgoing parliamentarians is not a right but a matter of priviledge which must not be abused.

Enough of squadermania and financial recklessness. Enough of charity to the wrong people.

No time to let up on the fight

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HE battle to slow the global AIDS epidemic has made astonishing progress over the past decade, especially in countries whose survival as functioning societies had once seemed threatened. The question is whether the momentum can be maintained at a time when donations are falling, the need for treatment is rising, and research suggests that with sufficient resources the epidemic could be stopped in its tracks.

A report issued on Friday by the United Nations AIDS agency, Unaids, noted that thanks to a vigorous effort by donor nations and international organizations, the global annual rate of new cases of H.I.V. dropped by 25 percent over the last decade. AIDSrelated deaths have declined, and some 6.6 million people in low- and middle-income countries were being treated with antiretroviral drugs at the end of 2010. For them, AIDS is no longer a death sentence.

Most are likely to live near-normal lives.

But an even larger number of people in those countries, some nine million, qualified for treatment but were unable to get it, usually because there was not enough money to buy the drugs or set up clinics and train personnel to deliver the medicines. Almost $16 billion was spent to fight the epidemic in low- and middle-income countries in 2009, but at least $22 billion a year is needed by 2015. In 2009 and 2010, disbursements by donor nations declined.

Beyond the need to treat millions of people whose immune systems are weak enough to qualify for care right now lies the exciting prospect that the epidemic could be stopped if all of the estimated 34 million people infected with the virus could be treated. A pivotal study found that if an infected person was treated with drugs immediately, the risk of transmission to an uninfected partner was cut by 96 percent. The upfront costs of treating everyone would be huge, but in the long run it could well save money by greatly reducing the number of people who become infected and need treatment.

In recent years, the United States and other far-sighted donors have worked to build up the health-care systems in afflicted countries, push governments to assume more responsibility for fighting their own epidemics, and cut costs with common-sense reforms like using generic drugs, shipping by land and sea, and pooling purchases.

The United Nations will hold a high-level meeting this week to chart a course of action for coming years. It needs to press donor countries, and those with high infection rates, to do more, not less, for this life-or-death fight.

– 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

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: President Goodluck Jonathan has been trying to buy the consciences of the major opposition political parties by luring them with ministerial appointments. Rather than face the task of fulfilling his electoral promises on electricity and other infrastructural amenities, he is preoccupied with wooing opposition parties. Otherwise, what is the meaning of the meeting he held recently with the latter group other than an indication of his lack of plan for Nigeria?

Is the federal government handicapped?

President Jonathan, lest we forget, is a disciple of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The latter broke the backbone of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) by wooing Chief Bola Ige. His successor, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, broke the backbone of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) by wooing Chief Ume Ezeoke. So, what new thing is Dr. Jonathan doing by wooing Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Pa Bisi Akande to break the backbone of the ACN ?

I take solace in the words of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that: “it is a one day meeting; it is not a regular meeting”. I repeat my call on the ACN to team-up with the CPC, and not the PDP, so that Nigeria may

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Government of national unity is poison have a viable alternative if President Jonathan does not know what to do to please Nigerians.

Did opposition parties help him to assemble his fantastic campaign propaganda? It was not the opposition parties who asked him to ignore the zoning arrangement of the PDP. The former did not ask him to tell Nigerians that the

recommendations of the Electoral Reform Committee of Justice Muhammed Uwais “are what they are, mere recommendations”. The opposition parties did not write his electoral promises for him, either.

Did they?

My primary concern is that the ACN does not go the way of the AD and the Ume Ezeoke’s ANPP.

Otherwise, that will be an added misery for ordinary Nigerians who desire a better Nigeria.

I remain convinced that a viable alternative lies in the unity of the ACN and the CPC. The earlier they unite, the better for the nation.

The best option for President Jonathan is to leave the opposition parties alone and face the real

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• Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D, University of Ilorin.

Bankole/EFCC: nobody should be above the law IR: The media were awash with the story of the arrest of the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, who had, for weeks, played hide and seek game with the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. According to information which flowed from the media department of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Bankole was picked up by a team of EFCC operatives who had

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kept surveillance at his AsokoroAbuja residence, where he had been hiding since Thursday, June 2.

Bankole’s problems began when some youths wrote to the EFCC, Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, urging her to probe Bankole on the series of scams rocking the House.

Specifically, the youths under the aegis of Youth Anti-Corruption League, called on the EFCC to investigate Bankole’s roles in the N10bn loan and N2.3bn car scams

that rocked the House as well as the mismanagement of the N9bn capital budget of the House for 2008/2009.

The placard-carrying youths also appealed to the EFCC chairman to enforce the anti-corruption policy of the government by arresting and prosecuting Bankole. Spokesman for the youths, Mr. Jumoke Ilyasu, was reported to have said that Bankole must be made to account for his excesses.

UI embraces quality assurance IR: It was George Bernard Shaw who postulated many years ago that “there are only two qualities in the world: efficiency and inefficiency, and only two sorts of people: the efficient and the inefficient” Nigerian premier university, University of Ibadan (UI) took a step of self-renewal recently when it formally established the Directorate of Quality Assurance (DQA) as a strategy towards realizing its vision of becoming a world class institution for academic excellence geared toward meeting societal needs. Realizing that the first step toward a change is awareness, the university management organized a Quality Assurance seminar and workshops

challenges of governance, toward the fulfillment of his electoral promises. Let him relate with the appropriate government structures, including the legislature that represents the people. Together they will be praised or blamed, not the opposition parties.

Luckily, even as I write this article, I could hear the ACN shouting: “We will never be party to a government of national unity”.

I pray for a government of national development, not elimination of opposition desired by Dr. Jonathan in his speech.

for all the rank and file of its workers with a view to propagating the gospel of a new beginning.

The programme, brain-child of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole attracted national and international personalities including former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, Director, Academic Quality Assurance Directorate, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi Kenya, Dr. S.B. Ramon – Yusuf as well as many Directors from the NUC who painstakingly engaged the UI community on the need to embrace quality as a way of life.

Indeed, it is a welcome departure

from the ugly past when urgent matters were treated with levity and lethargy. The Directorate of Quality Assurance was set up to safeguard facts from fantasies, knowledge from illusions and intelligence from aberration. It is out to stop adherents from walking a different path from the norm.

Surely, if the Directorate works, the era of playing possum in the face of efficiency is over. It will ensure a stop of functional failure.

In the past, as a function of bureaucracy, UI had offended some of its alumni by not responding swiftly to their demands. For example, processing of academic transcript may take a week. But with the advent of Quality Assurance Directorate, such

services would henceforth be rendered faster and more satisfactorily. Students are going to be assessing their lecturers as it is done all over the world. This, certainly, will guarantee efficiency as lecturers and students play watch dog role on each other. Above all, the quality and standard in UI will be greatly enhanced, which will in turn ensure a better ranking!

Credit must be given to the VC whose creativity within a short stay in office has been bringing one leap of progress unto another.

Expectedly, UI will soon be ranked among the best universities in the world if the current tempo of creativity is maintained.

• Sunday Saanu University of Ibadan

The arrest of Bankole on Sunday is a right step in the right direction as it will send the right signal to the public that nobody, no matter how highly placed, should be above the law.

I only wish that the EFCC will extend the same vigor and zeal with which it carried out the Bankole’s operation to the investigation and prosecution of the myriad of other alleged corrupt government officials who, rather than provide good governance, got enmeshed in monumental corruption and looting of public treasury.

With the arrest and possible prosecution of Bankole, I strongly admonish the judiciary to put its house in order; this will help to speedily and judiciously determine the culpability or otherwise of the involvement of the accused in the N10 billion saga and other corruption related issues which the EFCC is investigating against him.

This also brings to fore, the issue of Special Court for corruption cases, which, in my estimation, is long over due. All corruption related cases should be taken away from the conventional courts to the special courts for the quick adjudication of corruption cases as justice delayed is justice denied.

• Anthony favour Ojelimafe Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma- Nigeria

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

‘Railway Jonathan’, ‘Railway Governor’; Change Revenue Formula, Lagos LGAs, Railway Laws!

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HE clock is ticking away the time for politicians to get ‘MAD’ and ‘Make A Difference’. Already there is one week less Tony for them to reverse the Marinho rot of a generation of corruption. Their beds are sweet to sleep in, cushioned is it true, by many untaxed allowances while the same tax authorities tax every allowance for us?

How many governors or the President have removed generators from government houses and the secretariat as solidarity with citizens and to get IPP, Independent Power Plants, going and getting the national grid right?

They should visit Lagos and a few other states and plan to catch up. The federal government has failed Nigeria due to the collective greed of the civil servants, the political class and overpowering ethnic agendas in the constitution with landmines exploding at different times and which gave federal undue power over power, railways, revenue distribution formula which they hoped never to relinquish.

Now that Goodluck Jonathan is there in that coveted seat of maximum power as President, suddenly we must make nationwide consultations. Did they consult when they held that same presidential power? Certainly Jonathan must defeat the retrogressive forces and spies. If only those retrogressive forces could be convinced that presidential and other political power is for maximum service and leave Jonathan alone to carry out his fouryear agenda in peace but with scrutiny. We know that at the end of his four years, many of the Jonathan advances may be whipped out by an incoming government anxious to wipe away a South South presidential success story.

But let us enjoy the moment. There is a South South man in ‘power’ and the heavens have not fallen. Soon there will be a woman as President.

The NASS cannot sit while the federal revenue formula is so in favour of the old military federal centre to the HE culture of chatting on Blackberry phones has gained currency these days.

Everybody is involved. So also are old students of my alma mater, St. John’s Grammar School, Ile-Ife, Osun State. One of my old ‘seniors’ in that catholic institution that made waves in academics and sports in the 60s, 70s and early 80s (schools’ standards have fallen now) has even raised the bar. He is Basil Jide Fadipe, a consultant surgeon and medical director of Justin Fadipe Hospital, Mero Heights, Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies.

Fresh from the Government College, Warri in 1972, where he obtained his Higher School Certificate, HSC, Senior Basil taught us General Science in Class Two. He loved to speak phonetics. I can remember the confusion he created when he was giving us the scientific definition of water. “Water is a natural liquid, colourless, odourless and with an inspiring taste, indispensable to all living organisms. It was his pronunciation of ‘organisms’ that created the controversy. The jinx was broken after he wrote the stuff on the blackboard and the students chorused: ‘‘Ha! O-r-g-a-n-i-s-m’’. His own pronunciation was ognism.

Anyway, last week, ‘Senior Basil’, who has developed a penchant and passion for BB chats, came up with something on Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, whose abridged version I think I should share with readers of this column. Please read on: ‘‘If I was Jonathan Goodluck, I will start my first 100 days wanting to know why the heavens chose to have me in charge of a hundred and more million people. All authorities,

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detriment of the states and LGAs. It cannot sit in any honesty while Lagos has just 20 LGA and 15million people while states with three million have 30 LGAs. President Jonathan should support these reforms.

Nigerians are not against federalism, they are against false federalism which has allowed some groups to more resources than they deserve thus depriving fellow Nigerians of their fair share. Unfortunately, due to corruption, the extra has not benefited the citizens of those LGAs that got the extra by depriving others like Lagos.

This deprivation is a huge amount, billions of naira annually, for the last 25 years, maybe 20billion+ in lost federal revenues for Lagos State, and should not be swept under the nasty NASS carpet. We expect the Lagos NASS members across party lines to loudly highlight this travesty at every opportunity.

Jonathan is talking again to the Chinese over railways.

Time to deliver to Nigerians a modern, efficient, life saving high speed railway ‘network’; not just a Lagos-Kano with slow engines. We have no standards. We demand more.

Can Jonathan become the ‘Railway Jonathan of Nigeria’?

China, France and Germany hold records for the fastest trains, 400kph or more. Can we overcome the trailer monopoly suppressing railway transport? Recently Dangote had the effontery to announce he has purchased 3000 trailers to carry cement. Parked end to end that is 3000 x 30metres long each or 9 kilometres of trailers. Bad move. Dangote, put your money in high speed railways.

Jonathan should open the railways to private investments by states and citizens.

President Jonathan, we need modern gauge and faster trains moving North-South from three or four parallel points 150 kilometres apart and East-West from four different points 150 kilometres apart forming a grid with 12-16 boxes and a cross ‘X’ line through the centre Abuja to link the four corners of Nigeria to Abuja directly. This vast 7-10,000 Kilometre railway network is a ‘Jonathan Essential’ and long overdue for the 140m Nigerian people.

Only when you start will you be surprised to see the huge numbers using the trains-like in India. Where is the

coastal ECOWAS train? Nigeria must rescue the railways from feudal federal might and the road transport mafia.

Just as in UK, there is room for both, trains and trailers.

Railway laws by NASS must decentralise railway control to regions and states to allow governors to transport and lead 3-15million people out of poverty. They must achieve their intra/interstate railway needs by 2015 or 2020 without begging Abuja. We must destroy the antirailway lobby epitomised by Buhari/ Babangida era which cost Lagos State a Metroline in 1983, keeping Nigeria in the 19th Century. Give the railways to states to run individually and jointly as with many in the North which run intercity transport. Let the federal blessing go around to include the Odu’a South West and the South South Railway, employing thousands.

Jonathan must revisit the ‘Railways Blueprint’ immediately, detect and correct regional neglect and lapses and initiate accelerated 24 hour/day work contracts with rewards with more work for quick execution. Tracks can be laid quicker, contracts executed faster with work day, night and weekends. We cannot wait four years for Jonathan to open an East-West railway.

Railways are the third emergency after power and education. To mature in 2015, Jonathan must start now on railways development including five new bridges over the River Niger and Benue River and become ‘Railway Jonathan’ supported by ‘Railway Governors’. Time is running out.

‘Nigerians are not against federalism, they are against false federalism which has allowed some groups to more resources than they deserve thus depriving fellow Nigerians of their fair share’

‘New President, new guinea pigs’ we are told, come from the heavens.

But what do the heavens want for his hundred million people?

Simple. A way of life for them, meaningfully and sufficiently good. ‘‘Advisers and colleagues may want to introduce rhetorical or intellectual complexities into determining what ‘good’ life is, and how to attain it for these millions.

They may seek to crowd your paths and desks with calibrative formulae or graphics as their barometric, raising the room temperature around your unsuspecting brain with heats jetting out of their power point techies. Please, do not fall for them, or allow your precious time be wasted by silliness packaged as intellect or savvy. ‘‘Fall for four simple tests; four, at least for now. Maybe more later.

‘There is an uncanny universality, stated or unstated, to what constitutes the good life in all humans (or even animals). Within the ‘kick-off’ segment of your ‘reign’, get your statistician (the type, unburdened with too much ivory tower sophistication) to go about, armed with no more than a paper and pencil in his hand.

Instruct him to go, jotting down how many of your senior ministers (no matter the number) rely EXCLUSIVELY (mark the word ‘exclusively’) for themselves and their nuclear relatives, on Nigerian hospitals, Nigerian banks, Nigerian schools, and, for their travel relaxations, on Nigerian local tourism. ‘‘And they do so with privileges

‘Goodluck needs no thousand bureaucrats or thousand layers of courtiers to achieve more than a name for himself. He simply needs to get his cooks to rustle up meals as good for others as for themselves’

or corridors that are neither special, contrived nor whitewashed for special effects. Simply ‘walking’ into any of these services as would any other man, wearing no crown or marked hats anywhere on his head, badges on the chest or pips on the shoulders. Then in another 12 or 24 months (or any other time span you deem reasonable), send him out again.

Still as unsophisticated as on the first outing, with same paper and pencil, new but parallel columns, have him check out the same figures again, same ministers and same criteria (EXCLUSIVE reliance) with regards to those four index facilities. If the numbers don’t look good, no matter what else does, the odds are that the man on the street is still as remote from the good life as he was before your ascent. You then have two choices: shape up or ship out. ‘‘Which cook can expect to be taken seriously who fears or finds reasons to avoid partaking of his own meals, unless of course he is ‘blessed’ with mortally hungry half or nitwits? If the people are eating the meals you serve when you and your ilk will not as much as dip a finger into those same bowls, you are KING over mortally hungry and choiceless nitwits no matter the sophistries brought to the round tables by the unoiled machinery of the courtyard. When these services are good enough for the kings and princes, be certain they are more than good enough for all. ‘‘Therefore, the only goodluck (other than the name) this president can bring in the lives of the hundred million is seek to establish standards in these four areas that will attract the ‘cook to his own meal’ without excuses or opportunistic alibis.

Imagine the gains. ‘‘When a minister of government walks ‘UNMARKED’ with his belly ache or headache or blocked tubes or failing organs into a health centre,

he is able to achieve, through his experience, firsthand informational assessment of all or most aspects of the particular services. He does so by being the PERFECT GUINEA PIG, and so, far more crucial to any national or sectoral informationbased experiments or growths than when guinea pigs are raised daily from amidst the ranks of the ordinary or luckless, for same aspirations. What is more? Because he is unmarked (no caps, sirens or numbers and ease of facelessness among several millions), SECURITY costs to his movements are nonexistent since nobody knows who he is. But equally or more important, he can get to secure correct, undoctored pictures of how that particular system truly works. The strength or weaknesses with far more reliability than a thousand bureaucrats and a thousand spreadsheets can guarantee. ‘‘When celebrities (particularly those with executive power of hire and fire) make marked or announced visits to institutions, they walk away with anything but the correct impressions. Anything (no matter how otherwise perennially and intrinsically ugly) is done to create plasticised looks to ingratiate both the MAN of the moment and his retinues of press entourage and statisticians. ‘‘So if the tradition or culture comes to be established, that those haggard benches of the hospital outpatients could be having within their seated and crowded ranks a minister of government, unmarked and unmarkable, waiting for attention, like any others on the bench, be sure those same benches will stop looking haggard or crowded and the seated, no longer subserved. Not after a few heads would have rolled a few times because of undeniable shoddiness picked up by an unmarked power machine who consented to being

Dele Agekameh guinea pig for the sake of the people he serves. ‘‘Now imagine same scenarios within the banking system, the schools, and the villages. Imagine a minister and family (unmarked) on a private holiday visit or tourism, not to Paris, but to a remote Nigerian recess, afflicted first hand with poor communications, poor rural securities, or poor health resorts. No more than a few heads would have had to roll before standards go up subsequently even in such remoteness. Talk of positive guinea pig-isms. It will require no rocket brains to jump to the conclusion that less than a year of such ministerial culture will bring to the highest standards affordable every nook and cranny of our lives as Nigerians. ‘‘Goodluck needs no thousand bureaucrats or thousand layers of courtiers to achieve more than a name for himself. He simply needs to get his cooks to rustle up meals as good for others as for themselves and then encourage everybody to visit same canteens delighting in same services. The good life would then have arrived at the doorsteps of a hundred million, with a heavenly good luck in locked steps with the Goodluck voted by the people, vaunted by the heavens!’’

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION FROM THE CELL PHONE ‘Awo’s legacy in Nigeria and particularly in southwest demonstrated a true mindful politician. If Nigerians so called politicians imbibed Awo’s classic political culture, by now the nation would’ve made a headway out of it political docile nature. Anonymous’

• Jonathan

For Olatunji Dare I appreciate Your piece on: Beyond the rites of renewal,especially from the 3rd to last paragraph. Keep it up,sir. Anonymous.

Re-who are the bombers.From every indication the Govt is not serious about finding or to disclose the perpetrators.It is evident that some people are responsible for the wicked acts not angels. Nobody should be biger to be punished. It wil apear the government. Is playing hide and seek game in disclosing the big names associated with this crime.The President once said he knew those behind the bombins. Nobody has been made known or punished till date.

Barak Obama made sure Bin Laden was caught and dealt with. Enough is enough of senseless investagations without any arrest or punishment meted out. From Past Odunmbak, Ikere Ekiti.

Thanks your digest on Nigeria, more is required to be done: create for more states to redress the imbalance l Ibadan, Kafanchan, Ikorodu & PortHakut states then we are ready for talk. God bles you, amen. Anonymous.

Thanks, Tunji for addressing the misuse of ‘Mr President’. The next issue is that of ‘comity of nations’, a work of art meaning rules of courtesy but frequently used (even by the President’s speech writers) when they have in mind the international community. Anonymous.

Mr. Dare you have given the President the antidote to a Tunisia/ Libya kind of situation which, God forbid, is the likely outcome of a renewal only stance. Anonymous.

Dare, thanks for your very candid views. Your 3rd to the last paragraph particularly appealed to me. I wish Nigeria would one day have a President who would gladly tell the citizens: “ please, fellow Nigerians, try to tell me what you don’t like about my government so that I can improve on it” Anonymous.

Once again u have made our day this Tuesday. Nigerians constantly need orientation and you show no sign of abating. From Chris Onu, Unijos.

Olatunji Dare in your: Beyond the rites of renewal: A radical transformation, indeed is required now. But under a PDP government it is impossible! Only a Jerry Rawlings type of revolution is to fix Nigeria right. From Engr. Akpenwuan, M. T. Dear Olatunji Dare, thanks for your brilliant article ‘beyond the rites of renewal’. However, some of your bright ideas seem to smart from misnomer and slight misconception. e.g., your ‘commonwealth’ may conveniently be replaced by the old

‘region’. The current six geopolitical zones may thus become six regions each run by a premier with the help of 10-12 commissioners. The existing states may then be ‘miniaturized’ into lgas each under one of the 1o-12 regional commissioners . These postulations of mine may attract severe criticisms from some selfproclaimed constitutional experts, but, if properly impldmented, may reduce considerably the present prohibitive costs of governance. From a former ‘sunday sketch’ columnist, tony biakolo, abraka.

12. ‘Beyond the rites of renewal’ is simply straight to the point. As long as the present ‘defective’ constitution is in use, so shall our ‘leaders’ continue to engage in things they ought not to do, while palpably failing to do those things they ought to have done.Why do we take delight in deceiving ourselves?Is Unitary constitution the same as federal constitution? Our lawmakers and leaders should be honest enough and do the needful please. From Adegoke O. O. Ibadan.

A question of structure was nd remains a good piece for us all Nigerians.Please endeavour to continue same as promised. Quite honestly, Prof., you are our unpaid Minister of Equity and good Governance. Let the good people listen and the establishment articulate your patriotic views. From Chris Igebu.

Agenebode. Edo-State.

For Segun Gbadegesin The north that calling for indivisible Nigeria are the one taking pleasure killing other Nigerians who is seeking for division. From Jacob Let me remind you, incase u have forgotten or better still, dont know that the north is no longer mono lithic.

From A .L .G . Abuja Your views on “Beyond the rites of renewal” in The Nation of Tuesday 31 May was quite revealing.Cheers.

Anonymous.

Jonathan victory has shown that Hausa Fulani will continue to lose elections if only they constitute North. to be relevant, they must use christians. Anonymous.

He may be desirous of transforming Imo state, but should relate the cost of such transformatns to the allocation due Imo. If he makes up with personal fund then it is charity and not governance, thus, not a good manager.

From Ozo Nonso, Nsukka.

Thanks for you writeup at the back page of the nation on 03/06/11 but tell yomi odunuga that president jonathan is acting as a democratic president and not roaring in righteous rage as he postulates. thanks. From Lucky L., PhRivers Sir, I am always sad each time I hear this “..endeavour to strengthen and reaffirm the corporate existence of Nigeria as indivisible, indissoluble and plural national state..” Song. My sadness stems from the fact that we only mouth this unity rhyme but within us we are as divided as any enemies can be. This country will only

work when we begin to tell ourselves the truth that there is nothing wrong with regionalisation of Nigeria. From Eno Imose, Uyo. Nigerian federalism lies aganist itself,causes structural imbalances there is need to adderss the national Question? Our leaders hate what is right. From BjA Dear Segun, thanks for ur comments in The Nation June 3. Northerners contribute nothing or little to national resource and yet want to continue their ‘born to rule’ misconception. Thanks.

From Chuma,Mbaise, Imo State Prof. the structure was greedily & myopically fiat.imagine 2% of the population enjoying the wealth of the nation in the name of toxic unity justice, discipline, competence, poverty, corruption have no boundary. Total restructuring of the system is the answer. From Falarungbon, Akure.

For Gbenga Omotoso Great write up as ever.You captured all so well, that I have to salute you for being painstaking.Why didn’t you write about the many balls and dinners that were held to celebrate a Jonathan to Jonathan transmission in a nation where many go to bed hungry. Is this your Jonathan the messiah we desire?

I doubt it much! From Shola Gbenga as much as I like reading your notebook, a decent newspaper such as yours should not involve in indecent alterances. At all times attempt should be made to avoid any rascality in discribing any person or a thing. Best wishes. Anonymous.

With our various “babanrigas” turbans and chietancy attires, coupled with our “I don’t care’ attitude and our crave for absolute freedom, it will be near impossible to identify bomb carriers!The remedy is in Nigerians, acceptability of one another. From Ndubuisi Sir, was Jonathan dance on the evening of his inauguration worth the blood of innocent Nigerians that died in Abuja same day?. Olatunbosun Awe, Akure, Ondo State.

Awo’s legacy in Nigeria and particularly in southwest demonstrated a true mindful politician. If Nigerians so called politicians imbibed Awo’s classic political culture, by now the nation would’ve made a headway out of it political docile nature. Anonymous.

Sir, help tell Mr President not to disappoint the Christians. Anonymous.

I agree Gbenga. Comunties do not hold the key to the treasry, but can decide who gets what and how if true Democracy’s practiced. I think that’s what Rochas meant. From Eze/Enugu.

Are you a poet? Your article is very poetic in choice of words and their arrangment. Good work. I like it. From Paul, Abuja.

Daddy, good afternoon sir. Just finished reading your column in The Nation. I hope the president and his aides get to read this, that we dont need a cosmetic mention of reforms anymore but deliberate action to move this nation forward. I pray GOD

•Awo

to grant you long life SIR. Please, how can I get the book you launched about June 12. Agba o ni tan l’orile o, igba odun,odun kan!. Anonymous.

Comment? What can we say? Let us keep up the patriotic task of rebranding. Nothing has ever been wrong. It is only “Pen robbers” that are the problem with Nigeria. You merit a copy of each of “This Country of Ours & “The Return of the Prodigal Son”. From Isaac Shuaibu.

I thank you for your write up on memories of May 29. Okorocha’s plans for Imo is not lacking in depth and dignity . With God by his side, it is possible. Don’t discourage him. Imo must be better!!! From Okpara chinedu.

(Ononenyi Umueshi) PortHarcourt.

We are elated at the turn of events in Nigeria; we who danced on Oct. 1 1960; we who had our sights focussed high up, then witnessed a Dashing of our hopes, a shattering of our dreams.

And now hope rises again. We jubilate in expectation of a new lease the kind promised by Pa Awolowo. From Isaac Shuaibu I talk on Jonah Jang who said peace will return, what hapened for past 4 yrs no peace, well we pray for peace as he said but he should not fuly hope on operation rainbow which he has just implimented. I wish him success in next 4yrs of his Governance. From Kenneth , Jos Sir, Obas in Oyo State didn’t reject the removal of Alaafin as the permanent chairman of the state’s traditional council. It was some elevated Obas that rejected the promotion. Anonymous.

Gbenga, you really travassed the whole states as if you were there on May 29. What a brilliant account. It was exacty what happened in my State (SW). Keep it up. You are a potential minister of communication.Anonymous.

Gbenga, please see my comment on ‘mem.of May 29. Nigeria’s biggest problem is not the bombings but insincerity, non-tolerance, nepotism, non-patrotism, selfishness and lack of education within us as a nation.(De Jo .phc.) Anonymous.

Your comment about Rochas is understandable because you dont know what we went through under Ohakim. You will soon know what he mean. Ify Owerri.

Thanks for your Democracy day write up in the nation newspaper of June 2,2011. Though, I was expecting to hear what too place from Benue state state,were PDP only ‘renoveted’ a school that was built before the birth of the present governor to be presented to the president as project in his last 4 four year, thanks. From Linus, Benue State.

Siasia targets 3-0 win Nigeria in crisis against Madagascar talk after stumble

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Nation Wednesday, June 8, 2011

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•Eagles in training

NIGERIA/ARGENTINA FALL-OUT

Argentina demands rematch to settle scores Pg. 24

As Ghana lines up Nigeria friendly

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

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NATION SPORT

Fulham hires Martin Jol as manager FULHAM has hired Martin Jol to replace Mark Hughes as manager of the English Premier League club.

The 55-year-old Dutchman has agreed to a two-year contract with the west London side, with the option for a one-year-extension.

Hughes resigned as Fulham manager last week after one season in charge.

Since being ditched by Tottenham in 2007, Jol has coached Hamburg and Ajax.

•Martin Jol

Chelsea to lose out on Kaka IF Chelsea wants to re-ignite their interest in Brazilian playmaker Kaka, they had better pull their fingers out quick.

The Real Madrid man is expected to leave Spain at the end of June and Inter Milan appear favourites to snap up the freescoring attacking midfielder.

Chelsea were set to nick Kaka from his previous club AC MIlan before the lure of Spain and the extra Euros persuaded him and his mother they were better off there.

But after an injury-plagued season and a falling out - football-wise with Real coach Jose Mourinho, Kaka is available.

He would cost in the region of £25m and at 29 is right at the peak of his powers.

But will Chelsea go for him now?

With Frank Lampard returning to form on the domestic front following his stop-start season, would Kaka and Lamps be able to play together.

It's a mouth-watering prospect to see if it could work.

The Brazilian influence, already gaining momentum within the Blues side could be added to.

But chief executive Ron Gourlay had better act quick.

NATION SPORT

Siasia targets 3-0 win against Madagascar

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IGERIA COACH, Samson Siasia, has told MTNFootball.com that he will be gunning for a 3-0 win away to Madagascar in September to get the Eagles 2012 Nations Cup campaign back on track.

Nigeria are three points behind Group B leaders Guinea with only the group winners assured of an automatic ticket to next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

“We can still make it. If we score three unreplied goals away to Madagascar, which is quite possible, and we beat Guinea at least 2-0 at home since they beat us 1-0 when we last visited them, then we will be home and dry. I have been told they will use the head-to-head rule in deciding the winners of the group,” Siasia told MTNFootball.com.

“It is not over now until the last game, even though the Guineans won 4-1 in their own match. If we had lost, it could have been over by now. All we have to do now is to watch our videos and make our corrections.

“We didn’t play well against Ethiopia and so we shouldn’t give any excuses.

We didn’t play like we ought to, although there were the problems of fatigue, high altitude and other minor things. But the truth is that we didn’t attack they way we should have done and that element of urgency and determination to win the game were not in our game.

“We don’t want this kind of things to happen to us anymore. So, we need to win our remaining two matches away to Madagascar and at home in Abuja to Guinea.”

Siasia continued: “This time around we are going to Madagascar with players who are very positive minded and that could go out there and do their best for the nation. I guess we played better against Argentina because the stake was high. Our bane was coming to play with Ethiopia with a relaxed kind of attitude which actually killed us.

“I think we have learnt a bitter lesson and we just have to forge ahead and make good plans to win the remaining two matches.

“I know that we need to score as many goals as possible against Madagascar and Guinea to have a chance. I can also take solace in the fact that I have a side who can score goals. We have been scoring four, four, three, three goals in our recent games.

“We just have to carry that same attitude into the remaining two matches and also defend properly and we will get there.”

NIGERIA/ARGENTINA FALL-OUT

Argentina demands rematch to settle scores •As Ghana lines up Nigeria friendly

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HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is in talks with its counterparts in Argentina and Ghana to organise international friendly matches for the Super Eagles.

SuperSport.com has learned that there are discussions on the cards with the Ghana Football Association for the Super Eagles to confront the Black Stars in August in London.

Also, the Argentina Football Association wants a rematch for its men's national team, the Albiceleste, against the Super Eagles.

The planned rematch is planned for the month of September in a yet to be named venue.

IGERIA’s CAF and FIFA instructor, Adegboye Onigbinde has said that Nigeria has box herself into a tight corner qualifying for the Gabon/ Equatorial Guinea 2012 Nations Cup. On Sunday, Super Eagles picked a 22 draw against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa. The draw has created a three-point gap between group leaders, Guinea and Nigeria with two more games to end the qualifiers.

Onigbinde who did not hide his

disappointed over the scored draw with lowly rated Ethiopia told SuperSport.com that the result has made qualification for the quadrennial football show piece more difficult.

“I was expecting a better result given their performance against Argentina.

We have a misfortune; it will be unfortunate if we did not learn anything from it. I hope Siasia who has owned up to some inadequacies in the players will learn from the mistake.

“Guinea defeated Madagascar 4-1, apart from the three points, goal difference is something, and it has really made it tight and tough for us.

“There is nothing we can do about the result, we cannot re-write it, let us leave it to the coaches to sort out the mess.” However, the former Super Eagles coach is still hopeful for a turnaround but hinted that it depends on the mindset of the players.

“Preparations for the remaining matches are important, the coaches must sit down, analyse what has been done and proffer a solution.

“Objectively, the team will need administrative support; else nothing makes it impossible for us to qualify.

“Everything however depends on the frame of mind of the players and coaches, after yesterday’s game it becomes more problematic if you have a misfortune and you did not learn from it,” he said.

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

SERENA WILLIAMS will ramp up her Wimbledon preparations as she returns to the WTA Tour in Eastbourne after almost a year out through injury.

•Serena

The 29-year-old American suffered a badly-cut foot after winning at the All England Club last year - standing on some broken glass in a German restaurant - and has not played since, undergoing two operations while also having treatment to remove a blood clot in her lung.

She returned to training in April and is hoping an appearance at Eastbourne will provide at least some preparation as she attempts to defend her crown at SW19.

In a statement released by her agent to the New York Times, Williams said: 'I am so excited to be healthy enough to compete again. These past 12 months have been extremely tough and character-building.

'I have so much to be grateful for.

I’m thankful to my family, friends and fans for all of their support. Serena’s back!'

Williams has won 13 grand slam titles, including four at Wimbledon.

UPER EAGLES’ Coach, Samson Siasia, will this week meet with the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to ensure the Super Eagles qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

NFF general secretary, Musa Amadu, disclosed Siasia will discuss with his bosses how best to topple Group B leaders Guinea and thus guarantee Nigeria an automatic passage to the Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in January.

Guinea lead the qualifying group with 10 points from four matches, while the Eagles are three points behind after they could only manage a 2-2 draw in Ethiopia on

AFCON ticket tight for us now –Onigbinde N

•Siasia

Serena targets Wimbledon success

The general secretary of the football federation in Nigeria, Musa Amadu, revealed that two international friendly games are on the cards for the Super Eagles but cannot confirm them yet.

"Yes two friendly matches are being

lined up for the men's national team.

One should come up on August 9 just before the season kicks off in Europe.

"The other one is billed for September 6. But all of these are not confirmed yet since talks are still on. In about a week or more we should get a clearer picture of the teams the Super Eagles will play and the venues for the matches," said Amadu.

Nigeria in crisis talk after stumble S

Khan eyes unification bout AMIR KHAN is set to formalise the next defence of his light-welterweight title as a unification bout with Zab Judah on July 23.

The WBA champion will put his belt on the line, with Judah bringing his IBF strap to Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas on July 23.

The Briton had claimed last week Judah would be his next opponent but the bout is set to be confirmed in a press conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday and will be televised on HBO. The 24-year-old Khan beat Paul McCloskey in April and had been linked with fights against either Timothy Bradley or Erik Morales.

Judah, 33, beat Junior Witter in 2000 and was involved in a stormy bout with Kostya Tszyu, which ended up with him throwing a stool.

He has also lost to Carlos Baldomir,

Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto.

•Khan

•Nigerian Uche Ikechukwu, left is challenged by Argentina Insua Emiliano, right,during an international friendly match between Nigeria and Argentina at the National stadium in Abuja

Sunday.

“This week, the NFF’s top hierarchy and Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, will sit down and look at all the challenges that are involved now and every step will be taken to overcome those challenges before the next game against Madagascar in Antananarivo in September,” said Amadu.

“We are fully aware of the huge task at hand and we are ready to face and conquer that particular task. Nigeria must be one of the 16 teams that will participate at the 28th African Cup of Nations to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea early next year. That is nonnegotiable.

“We did our best for the team to earn a win in Addis Ababa on Sunday, but unfortunately, the match ended in a draw and that means more work for everyone involved. We are ready to do that work in order to ensure Nigeria’s flag is flown in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea next year.”

NFF president Aminu Maigari has further assured the Eagles will fly all the way to the Nations despite the precarious position they find themselves in the qualifying tournament.

“I am very confident that we will still qualify for the tournament.

Although I was not comfortable with the result in Ethiopia, we were not disgraced and we still have the chance to get the group ticket,” Maigari told MTNFootball.com.

“Nigerians only need to rally round the team now and I know with their support we will be at the Nations Cup. It may be very difficult, but we will do it.”

Nigeria battle bottom team Madagascar away in Antananarivo on September 3, before they welcome Guinea on October 9 in Abuja.

41

Toral named new coach of Sevilla SEVILLA has named Marcelino Garcia Toral as its head coach for next season on Tuesday.

Sevilla finished a disappointing fifth place in the Spanish league last season, falling short of its goal of playing in the Champions League. Instead, it will be in the Europa League, a competition it won 2006 and 2007. ''The obligation of all those on this team is to improve on last year's results,'' Garcia said at his presentation. Our goal is to fight for the Champions League and third place (in the Spanish league), and I think we have real chances of doing so.''

His contract includes a club option for two additional seasons based on whether the team makes the Champions League, said Sevilla club president Jose Maria del Nido.

Garcia's immediate task will be firming up Sevilla's inconsistent defense which allowed 61 goals last season, fourth worst in La Liga. ''The first thing we have to do is to stop the flood of goals that Sevilla received last season,'' Garcia said.

The new manager will also have to rebuild the attack after the exit of striker Luis Fabiano and the possible departure of forward Frederic

•Toral Kanoute.

Last season, Garcia helped Racing Santander stay in the top division.

The former Sporting Gijon midfielder guided both Recreativo Huelva (2006) and Zaragoza (2009) into Spain's topflight.Garcia replaces Gregorio Manzano Ballesteros, whose contract was not renewed.

•Lehmann

CAF ANC 2012 QUALIFICATION TIE-BREAK

2011 WAFU CLUB COMPETITION

NFF explains Schalke may move for Lehmann Kwara Utd, Ghana’s Adauna meet June 19 Eagles chances

A

FTER close to four years of inactivity outside the

shores of Nigeria, Kwara United supporters will have something to cheer as the Afonja Warriors return to the sub-regional West African Football Union Club Competition with a date with Ghana’s Adauna FC on June 19 in Accra and the second leg billed for Ilorin in the first week of July.

Revealing this to NationSport exclusively was the Secretary of Kwara United, Ademola Kiyesola recently in Owerri.

“Kwara United will play in the WAFU Cup and as a matter of fact, we are going to Adauna FC of Ghana on the 19th of this month.

This goes to show to Ilorin people that our club will not only participate in the NPL but also international matches will be watched live. We are appealing to our fans to start coming back to the Stadium to come watch us as we have made it a point of duty to bring smiles back to the faces of Kwara people. We will play the first leg in Accra before the second leg here in Ilorin in the first week of July.

“We will not lag behind too in the NPL. We are currently placed 7th with 38 points and we plan to finish as high as we can get. We want to solicit the support of the just-inaugurated administration because the last dispensation really assisted Kwara United FC a great deal, and we also hope that

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

the incumbent Governor of the state, Abdulfatah Ahmed, who

was also part of that administration, will shower the club with same support,” Kiyesola told NationSport.

Calabar set to experience Copa Coca-Cola Zonal Tournament

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HE Nation’s paradise, Cross River state, is set to experience football at its finest as Copa Coca-Cola zonal tournament moves to Calabar. The exciting youth football competition which will run between the 9th and 10th June 2011 at the University of Calabar sport complex will showcase young talents from Zone B representing Calabar, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Yenagoa who will compete at the finals in July 2011.

The competition will showcase a total of 60 under-17 players contesting for the golden ticket to represent Zone B, Calabar at the finals. The 15 finalists at this stage will form the Calabar team that will head to the Screening/ Training camp in Lagos. Taribo West, former Super Eagles player, exinternational and Copa Coca-Cola celebrity coach for Calabar, will be on ground to seek raw talents during the matches.

Femi Adelusi, Project Manager of Copa Coca-Cola said “Calabar is next on the map for Copa Coca-Cola, and given what we saw at Ibadan , we are hoping to see a greater explosion in Calabar. There will be lots of optimism and energy as the young boys show off their talents. Calabar should be set to Open up to the game as Copa CocaCola brings the opportunity for young

talents to translate their football dreams into a reality."

Copa Coca-Cola Under-17 Youth Football Championship is poised to feed the talent pipeline of professional football locally and internationally as well as connect, engage and promote talents of teens on a distinctive platform that will provide an opportunity to achieve a successful career in football.

This year’s tournament themed “Open up to the game” promises to deliver a harvest of raw talent in grass root football in Nigeria as Coca-Cola Nigeria, the leading football brand, reaffirms its commitment to youth development via this platform.

Celebrity coaches in charge of the different cities of the tournament include Victor Ikpeba, Waheed Akanni, Douglas Idahosa, Dosu Joseph, Nduka Ugbade, Taribo West, Garba Lawal, and Abdusalam Jere.

Top talents from various teams will be selected and combined to form a Nigeria COPA Coca-Cola Dream Team that will represent the country at the International Football Camp/ tournament in London and enjoy the opportunity to see some of the world’s best footballers play live at an English football premiership match.

By Stella Bamawo

T

HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has stated that as long as the Super Eagles beat Madagascar in September, they only need to win by two clear goals against Guinea in Abuja in October to win the group.

In a press released sent to the Nationsports by the Super Eagles media officer, Colins Udoh, he noted that the tie-breaker to decide final group placements at the end of the 2012 CAF African Nations Cup qualifier is the head to head result between any two teams involved. This he states is clearly spelt out in Article 14 of the Regulations for the 2012 African Nations Cup. It was also the same for the 2010 edition.

The ARTICLE 14 states thus: In case of equality of points between two or more teams, after all the group matches, the ranking of the teams shall be established according to the following criteria: Greater number of points obtained in the matches between the concerned teams; Best goal difference in the matches between the concerned teams; Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the concerned teams; Greater number of away goals scored in the direct matches between the concerned teams; Goal difference in all the group matches; 14.6. Greatest number of goals scored in all the group matches;A drawing of lots by the Organising Committee of CAF.

SCHALKE are eyeing a possible move for Jens Lehmann as they bid to fill the gap left by Manuel Neuer.

Lehmann, 41, came out of retirement to play out the end of last season with former club Arsenal as they went through a goalkeeping crisis, and Schalke, another of his old sides, are considering making an approach for him.

They signed Ralf Faehrmann from Eintracht Frankfurt after Neuer joined

Bayern Munich, and general manager Horst Heldt says Lehmann is in their thinking as well.

He told dpa: "We always said that we want to hire a second goalkeeper if Manuel Neuer leaves.

"There are various scenarios and Jens Lehmann is a part of it."

The 22-year-old Faehrmann added: "I can learn a lot every day from Jens Lehmann."

I won’t turn my back on England –Crouch

ENGLAND STRIKER Peter Crouch has insisted that he is still loyal to the English team and he will continue to

•Crouch

avail himself in case he is needed. This comes after the 30-year-old striker was snubbed by manager Fabio Capello.

He has insisted that he will not turn his back on International football and will continue to be loyal to England duty.

The striker was unhappy when he was not part of the England team that played in the 2-2 draw with Switzerland. It had been reported that he might hang up his boots. With a colourfull tally of 22 goals in 42 appearences for the Three Lions, Crouch expected to be part of the team, especially since Wayne Rooney was supsepded. However, he did not even make it to the bench. Capello instead opted for Fulham striker Bobby Zamora.

The striker admitted that he was a little dissapointed not to be picked but added that he was more than willing to continue playing and therfore would not turn his back on the team.

"Do I want to carry on playing for England? Yeah, of course. I would never give up playing for my country at any stage. It's an honour," he said.

WAIVER

ENHANCEMENT

Council inaugurates healthcare committee

Traders to enjoy interest-free loans

Army organises fund management seminar

Lagos

.

CAPACITY

27

Borno

39

Palteau

40

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

WEDNESDAY JUNE 8, 2011

Page 25

Almakura appraises facilities on first day out

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Almakura

ASARAWA State Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura has embarked on a state-wide tour of public facilities with a view to ascertaining their state of health, as his tenure began.

Shortly before he was sworn in on May 29 as the third elected governor of the state , he said he was going to hitthegroundrunning.

Thefacilitytouristhereforeseenas his first step to revamping the state infrastructure.

Many believe that the state is in

From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

dire need of infrastructural development, even though it has beninexistenceforabout14years.

Lafia, the state capital has remained more or less like a local government headquarters and all successive governments came, saw and passed on, hardly making any impact.

Almost all the sectors whether agric, education, health, culture and the rest have been in limbo due to neglect. Almakura’s tour may

havesentamessagethattherecould belightattheendofthetunnel.

The people came out of their housestoapplaudhimashisconvoy drovepast.

The governor himself may have known long before now that what the people needed most from him are just few like good roads, water and power which may have informed his judgment to first of all visit these areas and see things for himself before settling down for the work.

The first port of call was the

water ministry where Governor Almakura first met the officials of the ministry before moving to see water facilities located at different areas in Lafia.

At the Ministry of Water Resources, Almakura explained that why he decided to visit there first was because water is very essential to life even as he described water situation in the state as becoming an emergency both at the urban and the rural areas but said it will be part of the focus of his government.

Continued on Page 26

Micro-credit scheme excites widows 300 benefit, others too M RS. Cecilia Ezekiel lost her husband in 1995.

Her grief was deep, but to it was added the responsibility of raising their three children, two boys and a girl.

But thanks to a small-scale micro-credit scheme, Mrs Ezekiel has been coping quite well.

She has been able to train them to a level where they can take care of themselves. Her first child has graduated from the Nigerian Maritime Academy; the second is concluding his Diploma programme at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida while the only female child is presently studying for her Diploma at the Kaduna State College of Nursing, Kafanchan.

Mrs. Ezekiel told the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mr. Mustapha Bello, an engineer, and a team of journalists that with the help of the Business Development Service (BDS) of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) supported by the World Bank and managed by NIPC, she was able to develop a business skill which has helped her achieve her dream of giving her children a good life.

The MSME project which is one of the seven pilot intervention programmes in Africa, is implemented by the NIPC and designed to boost performance and employment levels in selected non-oil sub-sector in three states.

The states are Lagos, Abia and Kaduna.

According to Bello, the project is aimed at increasing private sector investment for MSME developments by demonstrating how a combination of investment climate reforms, improve access to finance and business development service can help MEMEs grow in Nigeria.

Mrs. Ezekiel told her story.

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

“I became a widow in 1995,” she began. “He died leaving me with three children; two boys and one girl. I later heard of the Widows Multipurpose Development Association (WIMDA) and the

work they were doing. So, I came and enrolled here and learnt some hand-work.

“I started making bar soaps, but it was not moving in the market and so, I learnt how to make liquid soap, room freshener, hair cream, hot balm and pomade. I sell these

things in the village markets and with the profit I make daily, I have been able to train my children and take care of myself.

“You can see how beautiful I look and I very grateful to God, our Mummy, Mrs. Patricia Jumai Damaida (proprietor of WIMDA)

and the BDS for their help.

“I cannot say that I am not making profit or how much profit I make.

But all I can say is that the profit I have made so far can only be quantified in terms of what I have been able to achieve with it. It is in the education of my children”.

Mrs. Ezekiel is looking forward to branding her products and possibly registering them with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) so that she can market them beyond the shores of Kaduna.

Mrs. Maria Matthew, another widow who benefited from the training offered at the WIMDA centre located inside the Panaf College, in the Barnawa area of Kaduna, life seemed to come to an end when she too lost her husband.

She had five children to take care of.

But with the aid of the WIMDA training, she now offers catering services to many people in the state.

According to her, she has made a lot of profit, with which she has been taking care of herself and children.

Continued on Page 26

Mrs Ezekiel markets her products

Mrs Patricia Jumai Damaida, proprietress of Widows Centre

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

26

Widows find excitement in micro-credit scheme

•Hajia Rukkayyat Adamu runs the widows centre •Continued from Page 25 How much profit does she make in day?

“When I use N3000 to make a cake, I make a profit of about N2500. This has helped me a lot especially in taking care of my home and training my children. Just recently, I made a wedding cake for my brother in-law and I am looking forward to getting offers from people around for catering services.”

Proprietor of the centre, Mrs. Patricia Jumai Damaida said she was inspired to set up the centre in 1996 by the suffering of widows in the society. Mrs. Damaida, a former local government chairman, former Principal of the famous Kaduna Capital School, and exPermanent Secretary and Commissioner for

Education in Kaduna State, said she herself was widowed at the age of 35, with two little children to cater for.

“I became a widow 35 years ago with just two children, both of them girls. The senior one was just three and the junior one, two,” she said.

“Together, they have given me five lovely grandchildren. In those days, female children were not regarded, but we struggled and God saw us through. So, I decided to set up the Widow Multipurpose Development Association to bring together widows to learn a trade and empower them to do something better for themselves. I started the association in 1996 with 50 widows and today, we have over 200 active members even though the membership strength is over 300.

“We have four branches located at Mararaba Rido, Ungwan Romi, Sabon Tasha and Barnawa.

So many women have been part of the programme we teach here and women come from places as far as Malali, but because of the crisis, some of them have not been coming. They come here to learn skills such as tailoring, knitting, soap making etc. However, many of them learn the skill without knowing how to go about setting themselves up.

“But with the aid of the BDS, we have been able to offer them some level of assistance to start off their business. When the state government stated giving out assistance on their poverty alleviation programme, we went there and we got N1 million which we have been using to assist them in setting up their businesses.

Right now, that money is running out and we need more.”

The Business Development Service has given out about 45 grants to beneficiaries so far and has also serviced over 18000 MSME while training over 98 BDS providers.”

Afam Orji of Ogbunka Green Merchandise is

one of the BDS providers trained under the MSME project to fabricate machines to support the rice industry. Orji told Newsextra that with the support of the MSME and BDS, he has been able to train 40 fabricators and over 350 rural farmers on the use of par-boiling drums and how to remove stones from local rice and reduce the time spent in milling.

According to Orji, the old method of milling rice locally takes between 24 to 48 hours because they have to soak the rice first. But with the machine fabricated by him, the entire process now takes between four to five hours with little firewood.

He noted that the MSME has helped in invigorating his business and encouraged him not to give up.

“Before the coming of the MSME project, I was fabricating farm implements, but that one was not moving and I was losing hope and decided to give it all up. But now, with the training from the MSME, I am encouraged,” he said.

Bello, the NIPC boss, was however not happy that the MSME project will soon come to an end despite its laudable achievement. He would want the project extended, possibly to other

states. He argued that the federal government could expand the project channeling the N50 billion meant for job creation to it.

Bello said his visit to Kaduna was basically to appraise the extent of the implementation of the programmes in the state and to afford NIPC the opportunity as the implementing agency for the project in Nigeria to interact on a first hand basis with the supported institutions.

The NIPC boss said: “The project under its BDS fund has also provided grant support to over 27 Business Development Service providers who in turn are serving several thousand MSMEs in Kaduna also evident in the visit made to selected grantees, including Widows Multipurpose Development Association (WIMDA), Kaduna Business School, Economic Support Foundation of the Northern States (ESFONS) etc.

The MSME project has also worked to improve the catfish and rice industry value chains in Kaduna State by supporting technology transfer and several demonstration catfish farms. In addition, the project is working with five BDS providers to support the development of the rice industry value chain.

The project under its BDS fund has also provided grant support to over 27 Business Development Service providers who in turn are serving several thousand MSMEs in Kaduna also evident in the visit made to selected grantees

Almakura appraises facilities on first day out •Continued from Page 25 Almakura who promised to tackle the problem head on said it is time people started feeling the dividends of democracy.

The Governor who demanded to be briefed about water situation in Nasarawa State by the ministry lamented that most of the water facilities still in use in the state were those built by Solomon Lar during the old Plateau State and called for the need to resuscitate some of the facilities.

The Permanent Secretary of the Water resources Ministry, Mohammed Adarra who later conducted Governor Almakura round the site of the Nasarawa State Water Board where an overhead tank had earlier collapsed during the administration of his predecessor said the project was slated to be completed by February this year but could not meet the target owing to the collapse.

The project which according to the Permanent Secretary would take another twelve weeks before completion was described by Governor Almakura as unfortunate as it has deprived the people of Lafia from enjoy portable drinking water.

The Governor who expressed his displeasure with the development urged both the contractor and the ministry to quickly put their heads together to ensure that a solution is worked out.

Almakura who said he was so surprised by the involvement of an external consultant on the project when there are so many engineers within the ministry to handle some of these things by also supervising the consultant said the work done at the site was purely a sub standard one. The contractor handling the water project, IBRUNMS Nig Ltd. later apologised to the governor for the collapse of the tank.

He also visited the Urban Development Board where he said every state capital acts as a mirror that can be gauge as to what is happening elsewhere within the state.

His visit to some roads within Lafia he said is to enable his administration know exactly

•The people greeting and waving as the governor drove past

He appreciated the challenges facing the Urban Development Board however said it not all services that are capital intensive which the board can offer and asked to get cracking with the clearing of refuse dumps along the roads and in city centers as these constitutes health hazards to the citizenry what he is inheriting and how to boost road networks within the capital.

The Governor who said he appreciated the challenges facing the Urban Development Board however said it not all services that are capital intensive which the board can offer and asked to get cracking with the clearing of refuse dumps along the roads and in city centers as these constitutes health hazards to the citizenry.

The Governor who tour some roads that are in bad shape within Lafia to assess them ended his visit at the PHCN headquarters and was also taking round some power stations within the Capital by the Manager of the organization.

Almakura who described Power as one of the driving force behind any economy emphasised the need to ensure adequate power supply most especially within Lafia,

Describing power as one of his topmost priority, Almakura said that there was the need to address the decay in the physical infrastructure on the company.

His visit to the PHCN he explained is a fact finding mission which would lead to dialogue with the company and to find a way of ameliorating the power situation particularly in Lafia and the state as a whole.

He said these will help the people of the sate by solving power problems as they will go further in finding a way to address the incessant and the problem of Power inadequacies in the state.

Describing the present 17 mega watts of electricity to Lafia as grossly inadequate, Almakura said he hope to see the situation improved to 50 or 60 mega watts saying that no matter their efforts like the water projects for example, if power is not available, it will be futile.

Taking the Manager of the PHCN on the tour of their facilities, the Governor said his desire is to see two things happen by the end of this month which is improvement in the regular supply of power and that of water.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

27

Council inducts committee on primary healthcare

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INDFUL of the need to provide accessible and affordable primary healthcare facilities at the grassroots level, the Oriade Local Council Development Area has inaugurated its Local Government Health Authority (LGHA) and Ward Health Committees (WHC) in line with the Lagos State health reform law.

The event which was another effort towards effective community participation and ownership of primary healthcare facilities in the council took place at the expansive Yinusa Akinlola Memorial Hall. They were sworn in

by Mrs. Adebisi Isiaka, Legal Officer of the Council.

While inaugurating the committee, the Chairman of the council, Hon. Ibrahim Tunde Sanusi said the Primary Healthcare Board, the Local Government Health Authority, the Ward Health Committees and the Health Facility Management Team were established by the Lagos State Health Sector Reform Law of 2006.

He disclosed that the sole aim of the reform was addressing some of the challenges of primary healthcare implementation, especially in the rural areas.

Hon. Sanusi further revealed that failure of previous attempts at establishing an effective primary healthcare system for the country necessitated the need to revitalise the system for the benefit of the rural dwellers. He regretted that inadequate infrastructure; insufficient manpower; apathy on the part of communities with regard to appropriate utilisation of facilities and scarcity of funds to run the PHCs had been major constraints.

He noted that Oriade council area has always been in the vanguard of developing primary healthcare to a level where the facilities will be accessible, acceptable and affordable to the people.

He was optimistic that “the local government health authority would provoke an increase in the people’s appreciation of PHC facilities in their communities, thus reducing the people’s susceptibility to diseases and ill health. It will also help in achieving improvement on our health status indicators such as infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, life expectancy, among others.”

He urged the pioneer members of the LGHA to brace up as the task ahead is enormous.

He said: “I must emphasise that the work you have been called upon to do for our peo-

By Chinaka Okoro

ple is quite taxing. You must be fully prepared to provide selfless services for the benefit of your communities and the entire council area.

“Subject to the provision of the health sector reform law, the LGHA shall be required to set target in line with the overall objectives of PHC; implement broad policy measures on primary healthcare development plan; consider plans and budgetary proposals of the ward health committees; ensure coordination and integration of various healthcare services within its jurisdiction; conduct community diagnosis towards development of ward health plans…

“You are also to coordinate roll-out of integrated maternal, newborn and child health strategy and implementation of other components of the ward minimum healthcare package which include health, education, nutrition and screening for communicable and non-communicable diseases at the primary health centres.”

In his remarks, the chairman of the LGHA, Dr Emmanuel Enabulele said that for some time now, emphasis has been on the fact that healthcare delivery should start from the grassroots.

He expressed his happiness that he is a participant in the committee set up in Oriade LCDA to oversee delivery of primary healthcare to the rural populace, even as he said it was a dream come true.

He said: “We are very happy to have been given this rare opportunity in our life time to serve our people. You will notice that the members of the committee are people of integrity, people who have all it takes to serve in this kind of committee.

“Health is one aspect of life that we have to take seriously because mistakes in healthcare delivery are one thing everyone has to avoid.

We have to consider manpower training. Of course, the most important aspect of this assignment is provision of drugs as they are more vital to individual’s health. We have to make drugs available for the people.”

Dr Enabulele said provision of infrastructural facilities is another key area the committee has to grapple with, disclosing that a lot has to be done in order to bring the primary health centres up to standard.

Hon. Sanusi told Newsextra that the mem-

•Dr Enabulele

•Dr Bello

bers were appointed based on their wealth of experience and commitment to the well-being of the people, even as he added that they are expected to deploy their knowledge to transform the health sector of Oriade LCDA. He said the members are to ensure that the health sector of the council area was taken to a greater height than what it is at present. They were selected to help the council make healthcare available to the people. Their duty is to investigate the problem areas and make recommendation to the council on areas that need infrastructural and financial assistance.

He advised the people to cooperate with members of the authority in order to benefit from their services.

In a chat with Newsextra after the event, Dr Enabulele hinted that one of the strategies which the committee has to adopt to ensure the success of the assignment is total mobilisation of the members of the rural communities. He added that funds could be a hampering factor in the committee’s desire to provide best services to the people.

On how his committee would solve some financial challenges, he said: “We would approach some going concerns in the council area as well as in the state for financial assistance because, he said, government cannot do it alone. There has to be some form of partnership with government for success to be attained.”

One of the problems the committee may experience is identification of where and when a patient needs help. This, Dr Enabulele said, would pose no serious problem because “we are going to carry out community diagnosis.

This entails weighing situations to ascertain which will cause more problems and addressing it first. Is it malaria, guinea worm, bad roads, refuse disposal? This has to be carried out at the ward level before it gets to the local council level.”

Dr Ahmed Amina Bello, the Medical Officer and Secretary of Oriade Local Government Health Authority told Newsextra that the committee will work in conjunction with the local government administration in overseeing the primary healthcare centres in the local government.

She also stated that the committee would make proposals to the council on what the needs are at the ward level, even as she hinted that they are going to adopt a bottom-up approach different from the usual top-bottom method.

“Information will emanate from the grassroots to the ward and then to the local council level before they get to the state. The most important factor is community participation; because it would be a futile effort if government provides the necessary facilities and the people are apathetic about using them,” Dr Bello said.

Emotional outpouring as Bukola leaves Kwara

People let loose their bottled-up emotion. Tears flowed freely from the young and old, male and female, high and low. Some held his clothes; other held his hands and would not let him go

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HOSE who could hold their emotion merely hissed and sighed intermittently while those who could not wept and wailed openly. It was an open display of emotion by the huge crowd that saw off Dr Bukola Saraki, the former Governor of Kwara State, as he left Ilorin, the state capital for Abuja after handing over to the newly sworn in Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed at a colourful ceremony on Sunday, May 29.

The atmosphere at the Ilorin International Airport was emotionally gripping.

Before the arrival of the former Governor, a huge crowd of personalities who are indigenous to the state, party supporters and ordinary Kwarans had besieged the airport, filling every available space.

Time was 1:00 p.m. Dr Saraki had left the inauguration ground for the Presidential Lodge to prepare for his trip out of the state. His flight, which was scheduled for 2:00 p.m. was however delayed till about 4:30 p.m.

While waiting at the lodge, people trooped in endlessly to congratulate Saraki on his successful tenure, even as they wished him well in his senatorial assignments. There was outpouring of affection, with many offering prayers for the former governor.

At about 4:00 p.m., Saraki left the lodge for the airport, accompanied by a very large entourage which included the new Governor, Alhaji Ahmed. As he stepped out of the vehicle, the crowd at the airport

•From left: Senators-elect, Kabir Marafa of Zamfara Central; former Gombe State Governor, Mohammad Goje and former Governor of Kwara State Bukola Saraki during their documentation at the National Assembly ... last weekend

By Billy Adedamola

most of whom had been waiting for over three hours surged towards him.

Security men had a hectic time controlling them. They were chanting eulogies, singing, praising and hailing the man who had touched their lives in various ways.

After what seemed an eternity, Saraki managed to battle his way through the crowd and made it to the tarmac where the plane that would take him and his wife, Toyin was already waiting. After exchanging parting greetings with members of his former cabinet, personal aides, friends and associates, Bukola moved to-

wards the aircraft and hell was literally let loose.

People let loose their bottled-up emotion.

Tears flowed freely from the young and old, male and female, high and low. Some held his clothes; other held his hands and would not let him go.

The outpouring of grief displayed by the crowd over Bukola Saraki’s departure had never been witnessed before in the history of political succession in Kwara State.

Toyin, the wife, could not control her emotion as she too broke down in tears.

Bukola, who was fighting spiritedly to control his own emotion, thanked everyone for the open show of love and affection. He assured the crowd that he was

not leaving them and will always be there for them whenever they need him. The assurance notwithstanding, the crowd still would not let him go.

Finally, with the assistance of the security men, he managed to extricate himself and mounted the steps of the aircraft.

When he got to the top, he turned round to wave at the crowd. The crowd roared in response.

About 30 minutes later, the aircraft took off, signalling the end of one era; an era of good governance, promise delivery, urban-rural development and well-being of the populace. It also signaled the beginning of a new one; a new dawn in the political horizon of the state of harmony.

•Billy Adedamola is media aide to Dr Bukola Saraki.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 2011

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Traders to enjoy interestfree loans T

• Shettima

HE Borno State government has promised to pay the monthly rent of the Monday Market traders and others elsewhere for the next six months and provide them with interest-free loan to boost their business activities.

Similarly, the Gamboru market will be upgraded to a modern facility to provide a befitting place for economic transaction for the traders.

The Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, disclosed this while receiving members of Monday Market Traders Association who paid him a congratulatory visit at the, Multipurpose Hall of the Government House.

They also called on government to revisit

Wamakko receives reports on Ramadan feeding OVERNOR Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has said that the role of traditional rulers is vital in nation building just as he described them as people of wisdom who should not be relegated.’’ They need better salaries and welfare ‘’ he pointed out.

Speaking in Sokoto while receiving report from the Committee on the Review of Salaries of Traditional Rulers in the state, Wamakko said there was no reason the traditional rulers should be relegated because of their role in ensuring unity, peace and stability of the state and country in general.

According to the governor who also described them as custodians of traditional and cultural heritage, ’’ nobody will challenge or question the wisdom of the state government in that direction and come to terms with realities of the day’’ Speaking further on their importance, he said: “ they deserve better support in terms of salaries and welfare to exhibit consistency that would promote good governance, peace and stability of our great country’’

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Sokoto From: Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

Earlier, chairman of the committee and Makaman Sokoto , Alhaji Abdulakadir Sani, told the governor that the committee had exhausted all necessary and strategic sources to come out with a realistic and credible report that was based on just, equitable and fair recommendations. ‘’ We had carefully studied two previous reports and data on remuneration of traditional rulers in northern state and Sokoto province to arrive at our recommendations’’ The governor also received reports from the 2010 Ramadan Feeding Committee chaired by the Galadiman Garin Sokoto, Alhaji Aliyu Attahiru, who requested for the establishment of more feeding centres as well as increased funding for the programme to reach more areas.

According to him, the state government had expended N439 million between 2007 when the programme was introduced to date.

Emir canvasses stakeholders meeting T HE Emir of Ningi, Alhaji Yunusa Mohammed Danyaya has canvassed an all stakeholders meeting to tackle the challenges that threaten the unity of the country.

Alhaji Danyaya made the call in his palace recently while answering questions from newsmen. He said: “what we are witnessing today is worrisome because it threatens the unity of the northern part of Nigeria and the country as a whole. If we really want to address the problems, we must convey an all inclusive stakeholders meeting. The meeting will address such issues as security, violence,indiscipline and corruption.

Continuing the emir said: “ presently we are not following the footsteps of our forefathers like late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello who embraced all northerners without discrimination and treated them like members of the same family. This ideal built brotherhood , unity and faith among the citizens”

Borno From Joseph Abiodun

the issue of demolition of stalls within the market and expressed their full loyalty to the Kashim Shettima Administration.

Governor Shettima has while responding to the traders request, said he is mindful that their business fortunes had dwindled by 100 percent in view of the happenings in the state.

Government, he said, will therefore shoulder the payment of the six month rent for them until the situation improves.

The governor also explained that the reconstruction of Gamboru Market will decongest the Monday Market and provide alternative place for business transaction, adding that, this will go a long way in boosting economic activities in the state and improve the life of the traders.

Earlier, the General Manager of the Maiduguri Monday Market, Alhaji Ajia Terab who introduced the traders, said they were at the Government House to congratulate him on his victory.

The chairman of the Monday Market Trader Association,Alhaji Awana Kawurima and the ANPP Youth Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim had complained of high rent payment and sought for downward review.

• Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko (middle) inaugurating the Kagogo Rural Water Supply Project in Rabah Local Government Area of the state

Aliyu warns political appointees

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IGER State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has promised not to tolerate mistakes from any political appointees in

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By Amidu Arije

towards realising their dream of being leaders of tomorrow,” he said.

Hon. Daramola disclosed that his administration has provided recreational facilities for children and promised to engage more youths in developmental activities in the council.

The wife of the chairman, Mrs Olufunmilayo Daramola, urged the children to be of good behaviour.

“As leaders of tomorrow, you should be of good behaviour in all your endeavours. To benefit from qualitative education, you should be punctual in school. You should be obedient to your teachers, parents and elders generally,” she said.

She promised that the council will continue to give meaning to the children’s lives by creating an enabling environment for them, even as the council would encourage them to attain peak in their educational careers.

• ...... Director General National Emergency Managment Agency Alh. Muhammed Sani Sidi(left) Commander 3 Brigade, Brig Gen. Emmanuel Abejirin and Commandant General, Federal Fire Service Olusegun Okebiorun during the Signing of National Disaster Management Framework in Abuja PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

BRIEFS

Aregbesola assures Osun of clean environment GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has assured that the current state of rot in the state’s environment would be halted, saying that his government is making efforts to ensure that the people live in clean and healthy environment.

Governor Aregbesola, who gave the assurance in a statement to mark this year’s World Environment Day, said the state government was determined to reverse the current rot.

World Environment Day is a day set aside by the United Nations to stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and public action.

According to the statement signed by his spokesman, the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Governor Aregbesola said people should endeavour to regularly clear blocked drainages around them, noting that cleanliness is next to Godliness.

Niger From Jide Orintunsin And Justina Asishana, Minna

his administration, threatening that such person will be shown the way out.

According to him, “This is my final chance to correct any mistakes and because I am in my final lapse, I want to use the time to correct the shortcomings from the last administration.”

Aliyu stated this while swearing in the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Daniel Shashere, the Chief of Staff (COS), Dr. Kuta Yahaya,the new Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Danladi Ndayebo and four permanent secretaries at the Government House in Minna.

“This time around, we don’t have the chance to correct our mistakes because this is the final lapse. I, personally will not tolerate any mistake or stupidity from any officer. I don’t want bench warmers in my government this time around.

That is why I appointed people with track record.”

He then told all appointees who cannot live up to the new dispensation to quickly throw in their towel. According to him, “2015 is just around like tomorrow and we have to do our best to create a legacy. Every officer that is sworn in will have to do his best and anyone who cannot do the job should indicate and resign. If any officer does not perform well, the government will know what to do.”

Aliyu said that they should not be intimidated by anybody or society but that they should perform their duty in all diligence and without favour or prejudice adding that they should find ways and means to reach out and take care of everyone in the state and reduce the current dependence syndrome .

• Hon Daramola (second right), his wife and council officials at the ceremony

From Austine Tsenzughul Bauchi

He said the meeting would provide an opportunity to discuss openly the problems facing thwe North and the country and proffer workable solutions to them.He said: “ The Sultan of Sokoto should summon the meeting of all traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, governors and other opinion leaders in order to tackle the problem. “ On the constitutional role of the traditional rulers , the emir said “ if government gives constitutional role to traditional rulers, it’s a welcome development but in my own opinion, it’s not the constitutional role that matters. Even when the constitution does not give us responsibility, our subjects give us enough work to do.

• Yuguda They come to us regularly to settle quarrels and disagreements, we settle marital problems and other issues among all religious sects be it Muslims or Christians.They all respect the traditional institution”

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LIMOSHO Local Government Area of Lagos State and the Child Advocacy Rehabilitation and Education (CARE) marked this year’s children day in grand style.

It organized a series of events, including a symposium, a march past and dancing competition, among others, to mark the day.

The programme drew participants (students, parents and teachers) from over 74 primary schools and 21 junior secondary schools in the local government.

Speaking on the occasion, the Executive Director of CARE, Mrs Oluwafisayo Babawale, said the programme was organised to draw attention to the plight of the average Nigerian child as it relates to its education in an atmosphere of fun.

She said it was regrettable that in spite of the many challenges confronting the average Nigerian child, most of our policy makers and decision takers spared little or no time to address them, especially on such an auspicious occasion as the Children’s Day. Her words: “This is even more so when the theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Good governance: Impact on the Nigerian child’.

This underscores the critical role the government plays in the life of the Nigerian child.

“Also, one of the seven Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is ‘Education for All by 2015’. This is just about four years away, yet 40 per cent of Nigerian children between age six and 11 do not attend any primary school. In fact, despite a significant increase in net enrolment rates in recent years, it is estimated that about 4.7 million children of primary school age are still not in school.

“Even the increase in enrollment rates has also created challenges in ensuring quality education and satisfactorily learning environment as resources are spread more thinly across a growing number of pupils. It is common place to see over 100 pupils per teacher or students sitting under trees outside the school building because of the lack of classrooms.”

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By Dada Aladelokun

Hassan Nashehu has commissioned a water borehole project at 403 Electronics Maintenance Depot (EMD), Shasha, Lagos.

The borehole project, he said, would be of immense benefit to many families in many ways, especially as it would afford wives and children of the personnel, who, in the past, had to search for water in and around the base.

Speaking at the event, he urged officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to always be law-abiding and disciplined in the discharge of their constitutional roles.

The AOC, however, seized the occasion to express his gratitude and that of the Logistics Command Headquarters to the Commander, 403 EMD, Air Commodore Clifford Oche for making the borehole water project his priority on assumption of office about a year and a half ago, saying: “This is a testimony of how your commander has handled your welfare very important. When I entered this morning, one would find out that Shasha base has truly transformed. I could see the general aesthetic nature of the base”.

While identifying water shortage as one of the serious problems confronting any military base, Nashehu said it was for this reason that the Chief of Staff (CAS), Air Marshal

Mohammed Umar, upon assumption of office last year September took bold steps to address personnel welfare and motivation as his key priority.

The AOC who also inspected renovated Church and Mosque projects, as well as Air Marshal Mohammed Umar road and Senior Non-Commission Officers’ (SNCOs) 18 blocks of two bedroom flats under constructions, patted the commander on the back for the job well done.

For the personnel to give their best to the service and the country at large, Nashehu also admonished the wives to their best to encourage their husbands.

Also, he advised the residents of the base to make judicious use of the new borehole water project.

Commander, 403 EMD, Oche, in his own remark, said the idea behind the construction of many boreholes within the base was borne out of the need to provide adequate water supply: “When one of the boreholes breaks down it takes longer time to repair. In the past the children and wives of the personnel have borne the brunt, while searching for water within and around the base community.”

College graduates 31

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HE West Nigeria Christian College (WNCC) Abeokuta, Ogun State, has graduated 31 students at the 11th Graduation Ceremony of the school.

The number consists of 27 students who received Diploma in Biblical Studies while four graduated with advanced diploma in Christian Ministry.

The ceremony which took place at College’s Main Campus on Ajebo Road near Gateway Television, was declared open with a convocation address entitled: Integrating the Christian Faith with Academic Excellence delivered by Dr Nna Uluocha of the Faculty

of Social Science, University of Lagos.

The WNCC is affiliated to the Church of Christ and has been providing tuition and boarding- free education with active support from the African Christian Schools Foundation (ACSF) based in the United States of America (USA).

The Governing Board of the college consists of Dr Peter Egure (Chairman), Moses Enilobo (vice chairman), Biodun Owowlabi (Director/secretary), Trent wheeler, Anthony Akinola, Monday John Akpapan, James Beckloff and Samuel Abolarin.

Edo seals off business premises

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OME business premises operating in Benin City,Edo State, has been sealed up by the state Ministry of

Edo From Osagie Otabor, Benin

‘I’ll consolidate on 10-point agenda’ PLATEAU State Governor Jonah David Jang has said he will consolidate on the implementation of his 10-point agenda launched in 2007 as a development blue print for the state.

Jang made this known in Government House, Jos, while swearing in the new secretary to state government and the new Chief of Staff, government House.

Governor Jang had shortly after his reelection appointed Prof Shedrach Best as the new Secretary to the state government and Mr.

Bauchi

Alimosho, group Air Force chief inaugurates water project IR Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics fete children Headquarters, Lagos, Air Vice Marshal

Council remembers children T was fun for children as the chairman of the Oniru/Victoria Island Local Council Development Area, Hon. Abayomi Daramola and his wife, Olufunmilayo celebrated with pupils drawn from across primary and seconday schools in the council.

It was at this year’s Children’s Day. The council had earlier organised a match past for them at the Victoria Island Nursery and Primary School.

“This day is a special day for them and we have to celebrate it with them so that they can be happy,” Hon. Daramola said.

They were later assembled at the council secretariat for a party. Here, the chairman advised them to take their studies seriously, even as he told them to be tolerant.

“The children should make sure they are tolerant, keep to the norms of the society and avoid following bad friends. They should adhere strictly to the pieces of advice given them by their parents. They should also work

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Gyang Pwajok as Chief of Staff, Government House.

Prof Best took over from the former SSG Nde Jidauna Dimka According to Jang, “In the last four years of our first tenure, we pursued a holistic approach to the development of the state, anchored on our policy document, the 10-point agenda. The vision captured in this agenda is the transformation of Plateau State physically, socially and economically. This I am convinced we have made modest strides” •Governor Oshiomhole

Commerce and Industry over unpaid renewal fees by its owners.

Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Cordelia Aiwizie who led the operation, said the demand notice was served on the business outfits in January.

Dr. Aiwizie said many of the business owners failed to pay the required fees months after the expiration of the notice.

The commissioner emphasised that the ministry was determined to beef up its revenue generation, adding that the sealing up exercise would continue till all business owners paid their fees to the government.

• Members of the Executive Council of Lagos State Cooperative Federation (LASCOFED) at the inauguration ceremony of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

Life

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The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Text only: 08023058761

Soyinka to host 77 students –Page 32

How free is your space?

–Page 34

•Oba of Benin during his coronation, 1979

A book with long history

NCC appoints Copyright Marshals • Author spent 13 years to publish work on Benin monarch –Page 35

– SEE PAGE 30

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

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The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

A book with long history Tam Fiofori is multitalented.

He is a filmmaker, photographer, writer, media consultant and more. He is back on the arts scene. His works featured at the recent auction by Arthouse and President Goodluck Jonathan’s inauguration exhibition. He has also released an interesting photo-documentary book on the coronation of the Oba of Benin. In this interview with EVELYN OSAGIE, he talks on his venture into the world of writing and more.

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AS photography been given its pride of place in the Nigerian arts scene?

No. At a stakeholders’ meeting at the National Assembly last year, I said there was an urgent need for the nation to put photography in proper perspective. People say modern arts started with Aina Onabolu, in 1920. But that is very wrong. Modern arts in Nigeria started in the 1890s and photography is part of it. There has been this wrong impression that photography is a poor console for the art, ‘plastic art’. But I think it is time to disabuse people’s mind about it. I challenge our academics. It took the research of two-women American professors of arts to discover that J. A. Grain works had been used in Europe as at 1896. He was a Nigerian, born and bred in Bonny, who took those iconic photographs of the then Niger Delta and the Bonny area in the early 1890s.

It became popular and was published in top magazines in Europe, in addition to being used for illustrations.

I am saying we have a lot of academics writing about arts; but none has written on photography. Aside J.A. Grain, we have famous photographers such as Peter Obe, Olunloyo and Jackie Philips, who are internationally recognised for the quality of their works. But our art historians and critics are intellectually lazy. So, they have not done their homework. I am glad that institutions and many people are beginning to give photography its proper place in the hierarchy of arts. Last year, Arthouse auctioned works of three photographers, George Osodi, Amadi Obi and Dele Ojeikere. And this year, Arthouse increased the number of photographers whose works were auctioned. My works were part of those put up for auction. And two others were part of the President’s Inauguration exhibition. Interestingly, my exhibitis are works produced in 1979. One of them is on the Oba of Benin coronation. They are part of my 1979 exhibition currently in print.

How will you describe the Arthouse Contemporary auction and President Goodluck Jonathan’s inauguration exhibition?

They were exciting and encouraging, I must say. The inauguration art exhibition confirms the President’s love, respect and support for the arts. Back in 2006, as governor of Bayelsa, he funded the biggest art exhibition: Balyelsa at ten in Yenagoa and Abuja.

What inspired the writing of your books?

As a documentary filmmaker and a photo-journalist, who also has a gift of writing, I have been able to combine my gifts in practice of photo journalism. In the course of my career, on my trips to Angola, the Olympics and more, I have done features after taking photographs to enhance the shots. Although there is this saying that a photograph is worth a thousand words, words also give the picture more meaning. And that is what I have done with my book, A Benin Coronation: Oba Erediauwa. I have always been interested in culture and so, I was inspired by the Benin history and monarchy that are more than seven centuries old.

The present Oba is the 38th and the coronation, which is commemorated annually between March 23 and 30 with a series of events, is an opportunity for the Benin people to showcase all aspects of their arts and culture.

Is this your first book?

No! My first book, in terms of using photographic images and researched text, is Nigeria and the All African Games

•The coronation ceremony of the Oba of Benin by Fiofori

INTERVIEW which I co-authored with Ikedi Isiguzo, who was at that time the Sports Editor of Vanguard. But he is now chairman of the editorial board. The book was meant to celebrate 30 years of the All African Games from 1973, when it was first held in Lagos, to 2003, when it was held in Abuja.

After it came 1979, which is on the four major events I covered in 1979: the coronation of the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa; my documentation of the presidential elections that featured the late Obafemi Awolowo, the late Nnamdi Azikiwe and Shehu Shagari; I covered a traditional housewarming in Ijebu-Ode. I put them together in an exhibition

‘The Oba has been very encouraging.

Also my family have had a long-term relationship with the Benin royal family. My father taught some his brothers at Edo College. He knew the Oba when he was a student of Government College in Ibadan...His Majesty, Omo N’Oba is impressed by my efforts in putting together the photographs and materials. The Omo N’Oba congratulated and wished me good luck’

entitled 1979 and later wrote the extended articles to explain that body of work. In the political documentation, I pointed out that politicians of those days had a social responsibility: that it was admirable for Awolowo to stand and read a 12-page manifesto; and there is the photograph of Azikiwe defending his status. We didn’t see these trends in many of our past campaigns. Although with what we saw in the just-concluded election, the trend is gradually coming back. They are still debatable as to when the politicians will imbibe the trends of the 1979 election or the calibre of politicians.

What is the focus of the book A Benin Coronation: Oba Erediauwa.

The book is a pictorial account of the coronation of Oba Eradiuwa and detailed descriptive pieces explaining the significance of the ceremonies. The photographs in the book are those I took during the Oba’s coronation between March 23 and 30, 1979.

I did some research and found out that during the coronation ceremonies of any Oba, he has to re-enact the rituals that were performed by his ancestors, such as visiting sacred sites. So, I decided to document the Oba’s visit to the various sites within the seven days the coronation lasted.

So, the book literally takes the reader through the journey of the seven days ceremony. It is the history of Benin coronation, kingship and cultural activities.

At what point did you decide to write the book and how long did it take to put it together?

Nineteen years after the coronation, 1998 to be precise, looking at the pictures, I realised that I had a body of work that was enough for a book. So, I started collating them as a body of work. I met a friend, Tony Kolade, •Continued on page 31

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

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The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

‘I have always felt affinity for Benin Culture and Benin monarchy and I believe that as a modern progressive photojournalist, it’s an honour to cover the coronation of an Oba of Benin...The Benin monarchy is in the forefront of African history. We have, as Nigerians and African, to give it the honour that is deserve. That is why I poured my professional expertise towards documenting the coronation of an Oba of Benin’

•Fiofori

A book with long history •Continued from Page30

who said I should do the book to coincide with a landmark ceremony. So, we decided to do it on the 25 th anniversary of the coronation. So, it was hoped that, in 2004, the silver jubilee of the coronation, that the book of the photographs alongside the descriptive text would have been out. But it was not to be.

In 2003, I had given it to the Oba to edit which he did and sent back. But, as I said, because it is self-sponsored, I did not have enough funds or sponsorship to bring it out then. So, it took another eight years from when the first draft was ready. I sold some photographic works to the National Gallery and with the money I realised from that, I published the book.

You recently launched the book in Benin. What was the significance?

I had always wanted the book to be part of the Omo’ N’ Oba’s coronation celebration. So, when I told him, the book was ready for launch, he offered me two dates, March 26 and 30, and told his secretary to

find out which would be free. I chose the 30 th, which was 32 years to the day some of the photographs were taken, especially the photographs of the battle of Ethiope where he had to fight the Ogiame one week after his coronation.

When you set out to write the book, what did you hope to achieve; and now that the book is published would you say you have achieved it?

As a photo-journalist, you will get to the point when you realise that things you do in newspapers and magazines are transient. So, your ambition should be to do a book which is non-transient and eminent. So, in a way, my 1979 and this book are very satisfying because they are in book form and eminent. Recently, I was asked by the BBC to help facilitate a documentary that would include the Oba of Benin and the head of the team was a Ghanaian professor of art. They came, and the Omo N’Oba was gracious, gave them audience, let them film the shrines; and we went to Igun Street. When the documentary came out, they gave the Oba in

•Students of Schools Masters Academy on a field trip to Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.

the Benin Kingdom a few minutes. Other people from outside have kept telling our story.They have always told it wrongly. It is high time we told our stories ourselves.

That I ‘m doing and it’s an honour and very satisfying.

How had the Benin royalty taken it, considering that a non-indigene documented that salient part of its history?

The Oba has been very encouraging. I must say that he is, in my opinion, one of the most-educated and sophisticated rulers anywhere in the world. Also, my family has had a long-term relationship with the Benin royal family. My father taught some of his brothers at Edo College. He knew the Oba when he was a student of the Government College, Ibadan. In my father’s contribution in the book, he referred to his encounter with the Oba’s father, Oba Akenzua and Oba Erediauwa when he was a student and a sport person in Government College, Ibadan; and also as a civil servant in Enugu.

So, when the idea of the book came and I went to the palace, the Omo N’Oba received the idea very well and he asked for the book to be sent to him. For four months, he went through it and made corrections.

He, then, sent me a letter, written by the Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council, His Majesty, Omo N’Oba is impressed by my efforts in putting together the photographs and materials of the book on the coronation. The Omo N’Oba congratulated and wished me good luck. So, when I went to present the book to him on Tuesday, March 28, to inform him I was ready to launch, he received me very well and wished me luck.

As a Rivers man, one would have expected that you would be writing to preserve your traditional ruling institution.

Why did you choose to do it for a different tribe?

I am not tribal-minded. I see myself as a true Nigerian, a true African. And like the Iyase of Benin, who wrote the foreword of the book, said: ‘I am truly a non-Benin Bini

boy. And I see myself as a Bini boy. I grew up in Benin. I started primary school in Benin City. And you know when one is a child, one is highly impressionable. So, my impressionable period as a youth was spent in Benin. For me, it is only natural that home is where I grew up and spent most of my early years. Like I said in the book’s introduction, it was only natural that I had to cover the coronation of the Oba of Benin. We had lived near the palace. First, we lived in Edo College Quarters; then, we lived in what we called Clerk’s quarters in those days which is where you have the post office and Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre now. My dad took me to the Oba’s palace as a child. So, it was like coming back home to launch the book at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre.

I have always felt an affinity with Benin culture and Benin monarchy and I believe that as a modern progressive photo-journalist, it’s an honour to cover the coronation of an Oba of Benin. More so, the British in 1897, when they attacked Benin and burnt down the palace and looted it, reluctantly acknowledged and adored the grandeur of the Benin monarchy and arts.

I think it is our duty to project this beauty and grandeur majesty irrespective of where we come from. The Benin monarchy is in the forefront of African history.

We have, as Nigerians and Africans, to give it the honour that is deserves. That is why I poured my professional expertise towards documenting the coronation of an Oba of Benin.

Would you say your venture with this book has been successful?

Very successful because it is one thing taking photographs, it is another giving those photographs a lease of their own lives. It is very successful, in the sense, that eight years after I started working on it, the book is out and now has a life of its own.

As a photographer, how has the journey been so far?

The journey has been long, not smooth, but very inspiring and satisfying. As it is the reality across the world, documentary photography is not lucrative. If you want to make money, go into fashion or studio photography. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, there are not too many avenues for documentary photography. It is sad that even in our academics when they write books, they go to the Internet to source for photographs. One would have thought that our academics that are writing history books would look for photographs and encourage documentary photographers. And our newspaper and TV programmes don’t accept such. But that does not mean young people would not go into documentary photography because our role as documentary photographers is to document history and culture. But unless we put it in the public glare for them to know, Nigerians will not know where they are coming from, who they are and where they are going.

And a strength of a person is in the knowledge of himself. This is the role documentary photographers and documentary filmmakers play. I am quite happy I am at vanguard of the people doing this national work.

PHOTO: EVELYN OSAGIE

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

32

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Soyinka to host 77 students

LIFELINE

Group set to revive Igbo movie-making

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)

By Emmanuel Udodinma

N

OBEL Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has agreed to meet with the 77 students participating in this year’s essay competition being organised as part of activities marking his 77th birthday celebration in Lagos. Executive producer of project WS7728086 Alhaji Teju Kareem said Soyinka would receive the students at his Abeokuta, Ogun State home on July 14.

“I can confirm now that Prof Wole Soyinka has consented to meet the 77 students who would write the final essay. He will receive them at his Abeokuta residence on July14,” Kareem said He added that the children would also be treated to a play Ajantala Pinocchio by Bode Sowande that same evening. Other plays slated for the WS7728086 include excerpts from Kongi’s Harvest by Wole Soyinka. This excerpt was successfully staged at the just-concluded inauguration of the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, in Abeokuta.

Also, he disclosed that the elite cast confirmed that they would be performing the same play in honour of Soyinka next month.

The cast includes Kunle Bamtefa (as Oba Danlola) Jimi Solake (as Sarunmi), Taiwo Obileye (as Suprintendent) Teni Aofiyebi (as Wuraola). The play was directed by Ayo Oluwasanmi who will also direct it for Soyinka’s birthday.

Kareem hinted that state winners have started emerging in the competition. So far, Aaliyah Ovayoza Ibrahim of Zamani College, Kaduna; Aliyu Aminu of Blue Crescent Schools, Sokoto and Osunniyi Segun Emmanuel of St. Augustine College, Kabba won in their states.

•Soyinka

Other winners include Aminat Kadiri of Edidot College, Lagos and Oladipo Faith Taiwo of Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo, Osun State. These bright youngsters are expected to meet Soyinka next month as they have won places among the 77 elite students expected in Lagos for the grand finale of the essay competition.

Kainebi’s Body Parts holds at Nike Art Gallery

A

SOLO art exhibition, Bodyparts, by Osahenye Kainebi will run at the Nike Art Gallery, Lekki, Lagos from June 18 to 25. Among his works for the exhibition are: Afro love, Untitled, Interaction of body and spirit, Double faced, Walking lines, He/She, and Garden of eden. Others are Race (I), He /She (II), Lover of Pleasure,

Green land, Moment of repose, Under the influence Behind the masks, Brown skin series and Contemplation. Osahenye studied fine arts at the Auchi Polytechnic and Yaba College of Technology, Lagos majoring in Painting. He has exhibited in Germany, US, Lagos and Jo’ Burg, South Africa.

The Igbo Film Forum (IFF), a group with a mission to revive the art of movie-making in Igbo Language, will on June 26 premiere a film entitled: Ezinne.

Its National Coordinator, who produced and directed the film, Mr Harris Chuma, said it features entirely new actors and actresses and tells a story of Catholic Missionary Sisters on evangelism who got intercepted by hoodlums.

He said IFF was set up to raise awareness on the need to revive Igbo movies. IFF will also honour some pioneers and major stakeholders of Igbo Language films at an event on June 26.

Some of those to be honoured include Amaka Igwe, Ngozi Ezeonu, Eucharia Anunobi, Victor Osuagwu, among others.

Chuma said: “Frankly speaking, we need to get back to the drawing board and fashion out the best ways to resurrect our dear Igbo Language movies.

“IFF was not created to usurp the functions of existing guild and associations in Nollywood, rather it was formed to address the issue of our falling Igbo Language movies and give it a re-birth and new direction.

“Our primary focus is talent identification, development, deployment and empowerment. We have commenced the aggressive campaign on the need for every Igbo film maker to accept the new challenge.”

Chuma recalled days when Igbo movies such as Ikuku, produced by Nkem Owoh, Evil Passion and others were commercial hits, in which stars such as Kenneth Okonkwo, Nkem Owoh, Sydney Dialla , Kanayo O.Kanayo, Carol Okeke, Dan Onuigbo, Tobe Anadi, Joe Nwose played roles.

“Since 1998, there has been a decline in the making of Igbo Language films. Most film-makers now prefer English Language movies with the reason that Igbo Language movies are not commercially viable,” Chuma said, adding that his group is ready to make a change.

Riding the rough terrain of publishing Last week, the CEO of Florence and Lambard (Publishers and Booksellers), Aderonke Fetuga, marked the 10th anniversary of Monthly Judgment of Supreme Court (MJSC) in Lagos. She spoke with OZOLUA UHAKHEME Assistant Editior (Arts) on the challenges of publishing and marketing law books.

P

UBLISHER of the Monthly Judgment of Supreme Court (MJSC) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Florence and Lambard (Publishers and Booksellers) Aderonke Fetuga has identified inadequate funding and lack of access to reputable printing press as some of the major challenges confronting publishing outfits. She said her passion for books more than anything else saw her through in publishing, noting that the business climate has been unfriendly. The Nigerian banks, she said, do not believe in long-term loans.

Aderonke, who spoke with The Nation shortly before the 10 th anniversary of the MJSC in Lagos last week, said books open up the world of information and possibilities and it is chiefly through books that people enjoy intercourse with superior minds. She added that in the best books great men talk to readers, give them their most precious thoughts and pour their souls into them.

On why publishing and marketing law books, she said law reports constitute the raw materials to lawyers and the more raw materials that are available to lawyers, the more will be the quality of justice which judges have to dispense. But Florence and Lambard is not limited to marketing law books alone as it also markets other spe-

•Mrs Fetuga

BOOKS cialised publications and general books, especially for tertiary students.

According to her, what makes Supreme Court ruling unique is because it is the apex law court in the land.

The MJSC, she added is very useful for young lawyers who will not have money to buy the expensive law books. “The demand is quite good but unfortunately, people these days spend more money on infrastructure such as water, electricity supply and transport. However, most lawyers still manage to buy law books. And we encourage subscription, a culture most Nigerians have not imbibed. Up till date, we have over 500 subscribers. But our print run is 2,000 every month,” she disclosed adding that she is already working on e-marketing option to reach a wider audience.

Continuing, she said: “Our main focus is on lawyers.

We are publishers and book sellers but the Monthly Judgment of Supreme Court is the flagship of our company and we are very proud of it. And we have published it consistently in the past 10 years every month. Anybody that has done business in Nigeria successfully for 10 years deserves commendation because of the inclement

business climate.

Our clienteles are the corporations, insurance companies, law faculties, the High Courts, and practicing lawyers. We got permission from the Supreme Court to publish the monthly judgment and three other publishers are also into it.”

She explained that as publishers focusing at the tertiary level, it is capital intensive unlike the Heinemann Educational Books and Macmillan publishers. She lamented that publishing would have been a profitable venture in the country but that banks are not looking the way of publishers for credit facility. “Book selling is much easier than publishing. In publishing, I have to fight proof readers, type setters and the printers. In order to avoid all these, we had to start our own printing press, Ayoks Printing Press two years ago. Unfortunately, most printers do not understand the concept of time.

“Authors bring books here for me to sell for them and at the end of each month, they come back to reconcile accounts and I take my commission. In fact, I have marketers across the country. And I give them incentives that are better than salaries, which I think makes them work harder,” she recalled how she weathered the rough terrain of publishing business.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Basic guide to business success

I

N every economy, planning and, by extension, feasibility study is a key determinant of the success or otherwise of most socio-economic ventures. And if failure to plan, equals planning to fail, then the relevance of A hand book on feasibility study becomes imperative for all.

The 131-page book by C.A. Ogunmoyero provides the necessary techniques and requirements everyone needs to carry out a feasibility study, be it for medium or small-scale enterprises.

The early part of the book - chapter one to five - deals with definition, benefits, drawbacks, nature and stages of feasibility, market, technical and financial analysis. These aspects of the book are laced with tables, illustrations, and graphic examples that enhance the comprehension and analysis of the various elements, especially statistical data.

The author did not fail to acknowledge the significant place of market feasibility in the book as he dedicated a chapter to this aspect of the study many feel should be done independently. He discusses the different elements of a market, its area, location, cost of transportation, channels of distribution, and the general practices of trade in the market.

Beyond these, the author lists the various processes to effective market analysis.

Financial viability measurement, which is a process of confirming whether or not a project will survive financially, is the thrust of chapter six.

In this chapter, the author discusses uses of financial rates, classification of financial rate, its limitations and the techniques of measuring financial

BOOK REVIEW TITLE:

A Hand Book on Feasibility Study

AUTHOR: C.A. Ogunoyero REVIEWER: Ozolua Uhakheme viability, which he gives examples on pages 40 to 48.

The relevance of human capacity in every economic activity received

Bound to violence

H

HOODLUMS , a collection of 17 short stories of varying length, is a much awaited work from the author, Sumaila Umaisha.

For well over a decade, his stories have been read on the literary pages of major Nigerian newspapers, online magazines and one cannot forget his appearance in that seminal collection of short stories published by the Association of Nigerian Authors(ANA) in 1999 entitled Cramped Rooms and Open Spaces. Followers of Sumaila Umaisha’s writing know he has an unpretentious knack for telling stories seething with the extra-ordinary richness of emotions of the ordinary man and woman.

Umaisha tells believable stories set in familiar environment which call attention to the nobility of the human soul or the depravity that can assail it if negative extraneous impulses are not curtailed.

Many who have read his pieces here and there have wondered when he would bring out a book and the coming of Hoodlums seems to have laid to rest this concern. Readers of Umaisha’s stories before now are unanimous in their understanding of his predilection for x-raying the intentions and actions of characters in the midst of crisis, mostly violent. Going beyond the text, the author has lived most of his adult life in Kaduna, the hotbed of recurrent ethno-religious crisis in Nigeria, and it seems this fact has taken a hold of his writings, which often focus on chronicling the human-angle ends to the faceless crisis that have been bedeviling that city. Therefore, the title of Umaisha’s debut collection of short stories, Hoodlums, immediately betrays the social realism inherent in his creativity.

Four stories in the collection engage the controlling narrative construct of a writer immersed in witnessing and chronicling humans in crisis situation. “Militants” is a very topical story told in the flash fiction

BOOK REVIEW TITLE:

Hoodlums

AUTHOR: Sumaila Umaisha REVIEWER: Denja Abdullahi PUBLISHER: Hybun Publications manner on the bombing spree of the Niger Delta militants and their effects on the family particularly the young caught up in that environment. “After the Riot” takes the reader through the hallucinating mind of a man who had suffered grievous loss in a riot in which he was not even a party to the contending sides. “The Riot” tells the satiric tale of an Alhaji Ibrahim who plays Empero Nero as he watches with a binocular while the city burns, taking pleasure in exploring the sight and sounds of the unfolding carnage, only to be surprised in the end when the corpse of dear one was brought home. The title story “Hoodlums” focuses on the experience of a sensational journalist whose reports feast on and sometimes inflame riots. The journalist, Ben, one of the

adequate attention in chapter seven, in which he highlights the types of business organisation, and different structures, qualities and qualifications of a management team.

“The management must consist of people who are professionally qualified in different areas and they should be very well experienced,” he noted.

While chapter eight focuses on sensibility analysis, risks and uncertainty associated with estimated data and information curtained in feasibility study, chapter nine and 10 dwell on contents of feasibility study report, and feasibility study for small scale enterprises respectively. For a starter of small scale business, chapter eleven is part of the book that will answer most of the salient questions on various formats of a business plan; cover sheet statement of page, marketing, finance document and supporting documents. In order to localise the formats for easy understanding of readers, the author listed some examples of the formats, citing different sectors of the economy.

Notwithstanding, the few shortcomings of the book in editing/planning, the book is appropriate and useful for the general public, especially operators of small and medium-scale enterprises.

The author must address the issue of editing in subsequent editions of the book as errors in opening sentence of chapter one: (In All walks of life planing is very important) will not only discourage readers but discredit the facts and figures in the book that is supposed to be a Bible for beginners in business. most memorable characters in the book, who has a penchant for sometimes filing in “reports in advance of the events” (p17), together with a colleague, get a dose of their own medicine from a very unlikely source in an uncanny manner of retributive justice.

The author in this collection dwells on the many dour faces of politics in stories such as ‘Do or Die”, “The Godfather” and “Seat of Power”. Other stories such as “The Last Hiding Place”, “The King Himself”, “The Honourable Minister”, “The Outcast”, and “Soul Mate” explore one human angle story or the other in varying depths. Some other stories in the collection are distinguished not by their subject matter but by their form as they seem to end abruptly before they get started. This form is what short stories critics call short short story or flash fiction. Writing in the flash fiction form in the hands of a writer who is not adept at it gives the reader a feeling of incompleteness or shallow attempt at story telling particularly in the eyes of a reader at home with the expansive world of the novel or the long short story. As such stories in the collection such as “The Black Cat”, “The President’s Portrait”, “The Magic”, “Roadblock” and some of the earlier aforementioned stories, that are in the flash fiction form leave the reader with a queasy feeling of unease suggestive that the author is merely experimenting with form, sometimes not too successfully.

The short story form is one in need of encouragement in our clime and is equally one in which to have a collection of all very successful stories is nearly impossible.

Readers of even the most accomplished short stories collection coming from the stable of a renowned short story writer often come away with the feeling that some stories should not have been in the collection. In Umaisha’s Hoodlums there are definitely stories that should not have made the collection due to their thematic misalignment or should have been further worked upon for a future collection. That does not take away the many instances of brilliance in some of the featured stories, particularly those stories that are decipherable as emanating from the author’s social realist concern about living in an urban environment fraught with recurrent disharmony.

POETRY

Luxation As the various parts of the vehicle Engine begin to luxate one after the Other, I wonder: is it that the vehicle Mechanics are lusks that the Luxation Of the Various parts continues without Attempts to replace and fix back?

It is that each of the mechanics is a Lummox that a lummy work can’t be done On the vehicle engine to counter-luxate The parts? For I believe there is lumme, My prayer is that the creator of all creation Should provide mechanics and that a single Lusk shall not be found among those who Shall be found to work on the vehicle engine.

- Martin Yar Anger

Jos Repertory Theatre presents Gbagbo Jos Repertory Theatre present Ebuka Ifebunso ‘s comedy Gbagbo, written and directed by Ebuka Ifebunso from tomorrow at the French Institute, 52, Libreville Street, off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja (close to Mr. Biggs) by7.30p.m.

THEATRE

Ode to the tiger for Osofisan at 65

T

HE Vibrant Golden Profile in conjunction with Theatre Arts Department, University of Ibadan, will hold a seven-day event to mark the 65 th birthday of Prof. Femi Osofisan. It will hold at the department’s theatre. Tagged Ode to the Tiger, the event is the organisers’ way of giving back to him a bit of the happiness he has bestowed on many across the world.

Billed for June 12 to 19, the event will feature drama performances, gyration, exhibition of artistic works of Prof. ‘Femi Osofisan staged by him and by others; books written by him and about him, poetry, a film show (Ewe Oju Omi), an adaptation of Osofisan’s Restless Run of A locust by Ademola Aremu.

The celebration will also feature a play, Farewell to a Cannibal Rage, directed by Odejimi ‘Segun.

On the opening day, there will be a presentation of Altine’s Wrath, a play directed

by Ogunbode ‘Tosin and Solanke ‘Leke. A symposium on 65 seasons of the tiger’s growl/ trans-culturalism in the writing of Femi Osofisan will be presented by guest speakers Dr. Sola Adeyemi and Dr. Folake Onayemi, There will also be a dance performance of Birthdays Are Not For Dying, Yungba Yungba and a dance contest by the University of Ilorin Performing Arts Department.

•Osofisan

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

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Foreign scholars mourn Ekpo Eyo • Hold memorial service Friday, June 10 in Maryland, US

F

OREIGN scholars have continued to mourn the death of legendary museologist Prof.

Ekpo Eyo, the first Nigerianborn head of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) who died last week at his home in Maryland, US. A memorial service will hold on Friday at the Univeristy of Maryland College Park, where the late Eyo taught for many years.

The family is arranging for the return of his remains to Nigeria.

Eyo was, until 2006, a professor of Anthropology at University of Maryland in the US. A former lecturer at the School of Oriental and African Arts (SOAS), University of London, Prof. John Picton has described his death as shocking, saying he received the news with great sadness. He described the late Ekpo as a master of all fields: archaeology, field ethnography, curatorial work, museums construction and the protection of monuments.

Picton recalled that the late Ekpo and he were colleagues in what was then the Federal Nigerian Government Department of Antiquities.

“I first met Ekpo in 1961 before going to Nigeria to take up my first full-time professional post as Curator of the Nigerian Museum, Lagos. At that time Ekpo was an undergraduate at Cambridge. He had joined the Department of Antiquities several years previously as a mere museum assistant, and was then sent first to the Institute of Archaeology in London for a one-year diploma and then on to Cambridge to read for his degree in Archaeology and Anthropology. He returned to Nigeria in the summer of 1963, and we shared a house together in Jos, helping Bernard Fagg in his final months as Director of Antiquities before leaving to become Curator of the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford.

“Though Ekpo had been trained to take over as Director, at that point he was deemed by the Nigerian Civil Service to be too young for such a heavy responsibility and Kenneth Murray was brought out of retirement for a few years. Ekpo succeeded to the post a few years later, and in 1967 I had to return to Lagos from the field research to

‘Though Ekpo had been trained to take over as Director, at that point he was deemed by the Nigerian Civil Service to be too young for such a heavy responsibility and Kenneth Murray was brought out of retirement for a few years’

•Late Prof. Eyo

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

TRIBUTE which I had escaped in 1964 to work with him as Deputy Director, sharing Ekpo’s house until an apartment of my own was available. It was during this time that Ekpo carried out the archaeological research in Ife that led to his gaining the PhD at Ibadan University under Thurstan Shaw,” he said.

He noted that they supported each other in various research interests adding that ‘I stayed in Lagos while Ekpo excavated; and in return he allowed me to escape at the appropriate times to continue my Ebira research.’

According to him, Ekpo was a generous colleague, generous in his hospitality, as well as giving one the time needed to continue field research.

Continuing, he said: “During those last few years of the 60s, Nigeria was afflicted by civil war and funds were tight; and yet under Ekpo’s leadership the Department of Antiquities kept the museums open and operating to a high standard of curatorial expertise, as well as maintaining active archaeological and ethnographic research, to-

•One of the antiquities excavated by Eyo

gether with the department’s work of protecting and restoring architectural and other monuments to Nigeria’s history, and even building new museums.”

The Curator for Education, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Deborah Stokes has described Prof.

Eyo as a beloved teacher, colleague, cultural

ambassador, and scholar who she had the privilege of meeting at the National Museum in Lagos in the late 70s and early 80s.

She said Eyo left behind a great legacy of advocacy for the preservation of Nigerian cultural heritage and the history of antiquity in Africa.

According to her, Eyo was most supportive of field work being carried out to document the carving styles of traditional Yoruba artists in Southwest Nigeria. “He generously provided the platform for many researchers to come to Lagos and collaborate together while studying, sorting, and identifying the museum’s extensive Ere ibeji collection of forty-five hundred examples by state, area, carving compound, generation, and individual hand. He granted me access to the Kenneth Murray photo archive and other cataloging materials for my own research on artistic style,” she added.

Prof. Eyo specialised in African art. During his years as a professor of art history and archaeology at the University of Maryland, College Park, he directed archaeological field work at three important Nigerian sites, Ile-Ife, Owo, and Ikom. He reported the findings of those expeditions and his further research in the UNESCO Courier, The West African Journal of Archaeology, Africa Heute, Insight: The Quarterly of World Affairs, African Arts and other journals.

His recent book, From Shrines to Showcases: Masterpieces of Nigerian Art was published in 2010 by the Federal Ministry of Information and Communication, Abuja). His books include Two Thousand Years of Nigerian Art (Imprimerie Marsens, Laussane) and, with coauthor Frank Willet, Treasures of Ancient Nigeria: A Legacy of Two Thousand Years (Alfred Knopf, New York). Over the past few years, he completed a manuscript (unpublished to date) on the royal arts of Owo, a major focus of his research.

Prof. Eyo was honored in 2004 with an ACASA Leadership Award and he was named Smithsonian Regency Fellow in 1984. His work involved on-site study of the monoliths of the Cross River region of eastern Nigeria, a project funded by the French Dapper Foundation, the L.J. and Mary C. Skaggs Foundation, and the University’s Graduate School.

He was also consultant to a major exhibition of African art that opened in 1995 at the Royal Academy of Art, London. Professor Eyo was a participant in an international symposium, The Part of Archaeology in the Cross-Cultural Dialogue between North and South, held in Switzerland under the sponsorship of the SwissLiechtenstein Foundation for Archaeological Research and the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Eyo will forever be remembered for scholarly contributions and for his devotion to his family and friends.

How free is your space?

How readily are you willing to allow people get into your space? In short, how free is your space?

These questions come to mind as you walk into Adeyinka Akingbade’s on-going exhibition at African Arts Foundation (AAF) entitled My Space. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

W

ITH his on-going exhibition, My Space, Adeyinka Akingbade’s space is definitely a reservoir of exciting artistic creations. The 2011 Lagos Black Heritage painting competition winner is out with a collection of 10 works

that seeks to examine the classification of the relationships in ones life, the roles they play and spaces they occupy.

The exhibition opened on Monday, May 30 at the African Arts Foundation (AAF) at 54 Raymond Njoku Street, Ikoyi, Lagos. It will run till Monday, June 13.

According to the artist, the collection, which took him about three months to put together, is a body of work that explores the intrusion, acceptance and rejection of people within the artist’s personal space. He said further: “A person’s personal space and his corresponding comfort zone are highly variable and difficult to measure. I believe individuals living in densely populated places tend to have a smaller personal space that those living in sparsely populated areas.”

It also seeks to address the tension between society and the individual’s engagement with this imperfect world versus the individual seeking solitude.

He said: “The idiom ‘Personal Space’ has many connotations, especially in this increasing complex and modern world. Navigating through day-to-day life is now challenging with the new technologies and invasive constructs such as Facebook, Twitter, CCTV, surveillance, and marketing profilers. I also believe that ones personal space is affected by a person’s position in society, with more affluent individuals demanding a larger personal space. Numerous relationships in-

EXHIBITION volving familial ties, romantic partners, friendships and close acquaintances have a modifying influence on personal space where a greater degree of trust and knowledge is required.”

The artist musings is expressed in his 3 by 4ft paintings in mix-media. Each work paints a distinct picture of the collection’s motif.

The collection can be divided into three parts – permanence, temporal and invasion. There is the draft series which illustrates that there are those who occupy a permanent space in ones life, while others are simply temporal as depicted in Akingbade’s runway series, who live behind a lasting impression. But there are also those who invade ones space.

As you visit his exhibition, aside the draft series featuring individuals in the permanent space in the artist’s life, the Floflo series is sure to catch your eyes. The series of paintings is portraying a female character in different forms. As you look through the series, you would find the paintings Monkey no fine..., Many characters, Cup of tea, After me, guitar and Proposed ring.

What inspired the works, he was asked.

He said: “The body works is inspired by my experience as an artist. I like my peace and quiet a lot but I found that some peo-

ple would just invade my space without any invitation. And this makes me mad.

But then, after sometimes, I find that I begin to miss them, when they stop their invasion. An example of those is a lady as depicted in the Floflo series. It shows her behaviour characteristics and interaction that makes her a peculiar object of study on a personal level.

“When ever I was painting, she would often come into my space, asking for one thing or the other. After invading my space for a long time, when she stopped coming, I began to miss her presence. She had succeeded in occupying a space that her absence has created a sort of vacuum. Incidentally, hers was the first in the collection.

However, the drafts series show the people that are permanently occupying my space.

It also indicates the boundaries of their relationship with me. The red rope represents a red seal depicting permanence. “ He described his exhibition, My Space, as a body of work-in-progress, saying it is not yet completed. “I would also like to compare the world of an African to that of the Western and how theirs have influenced ours.”

Akingbade is one dynamic artist whose experience and interest in painting, graphic design and photography, inspired him to utilise a multitude of artistic mediums to express himself.

, 2011

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The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

NCC appoints copyright marshals •Impounds N22m exhibits

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HE Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has impounded suspected pirated products worth N22 million during raids across the country. Copyright inspectors also arrested 27 suspected pirates during operations in four subsectors of the industry: publishing, software, broadcast and optical disc (music and movie).

NCC Director-General Afam Ezekude, who made this in Abuja, said the commission, in consultation with stakeholders, would appoint public-spirited Nigerians as Copyright Marshals.

Addressing his first media briefing on copyright administration and enforcement in Nigeria, Ezekude said the objective was to enable the Copyright Marshals to provide Copyright Inspectors with robust intelligence on the activities of pirates, piracy syndicates and their mode of operation.

He indicated that the commission was exploring avenues of collaboration with the World Customs Organisation and countries in the West African sub-region for intelligence sharing and cross-border enforcement to check the international trafficking of pirated products across Nigeria’s borders.

The commission, he added, would also partner sister local enforcement agencies, including Nigeria Customs Service and other copyright stakeholders in its campaign for effective copyright protection, awareness generation and zero tolerance of piracy of protected works in the country.

The Director-General stated that the total value of Optical Discs seizures of CDs, VCDs and DVDs since January is about N13.3 million (N13, 291,300.00) while 13 suspected pirates were arrested during enforcement in Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Markurdi, Onitsha and Aba. Ezekude revealed that nine suspected broadcast pirates were arrested during the period while goods worth N3.4 million were seized during four antipiracy raids in the broadcast industry.

He disclosed that in the publishing industry, one suspected book pirate, Mr. Lawrence Obinna, was arrested on March 8, during a raid in Sabon Gari Market, Kano, while 6062 infringing books of various titles, authors and publishers worth an N3.3million were confiscated.

According to him, five suspected software pirates were arrested and N1.8 million worth of infringing software products were im-

Stories by Evelyn Osagie

COPYRIGHT pounded during three raids in Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja between February and March this year.

Ezekude noted that the commission has been proactive in its prosecution, adding that it has secured six judgments in the last five months while about 49 civil and criminal cases are being prosecuted in Federal High Courts across the country.

He said the commission was set to file six new criminal cases on which the Enforcement Department just concluded investigation. He noted that two of the case files arose from the arrest of a major importer/producer of pirated literary works based in Kano while the other four cases bordered on broadcast piracy in Benin, Sapele and Asaba areas.

He identified the Copyright Notification Scheme; Copyright Optical Discs Regulations 2006 and the Copyright Collective Management Organisations Regulations 2007 as the three functional administrative and regulatory schemes of the commission.

On Copyright Notification Scheme, he informed that the commission has received a 6,292 applications and issued 5,332 certificates nationwide.

He noted that though copyright, under the Berne Convention to which Nigeria is a signatory, is non-registrable, the commission initiated the Copyright Notification Scheme in 2005 as a databank of authors and copyright works.

Ezekude said since the commencement of the implementation of the Optical Discs Regulation (ODR) in November, 2007, the commission has registered 14 Replicating Plants engaged in local production of regulated products, such as CDs, VCDs and DVDs. The registered plants are: CVL Technology Ltd; Super Audio Industries Ltd; Alfa Magnetics Industries Ltd; Media Pro & Global Services Ltd; Nasima Universal Studios; Hope Rising Industries; Sky Media Production Ltd. Others are Dallah Music Nig. Ltd (Akina); Ecomax Media Technology Ltd; Nira Audiovisual Ltd; Chronotech Nig. Company Ltd; Transerve Discs Technology Ltd; Magnet Integrated Ventures Ltd; and Quartz Digital Ltd. Similarly, five mastering plants have been registered — Moorpark Industries Ltd; Innotech Industries Ltd.; Infobright Master

The Fake Prophet premieres in Abuja

•Ezekude

mentation of its statutory mandate. “We remain resolute in our drive for enhanced copyright protection, awareness generation and zero tolerance of piracy of creative works,” he stressed.

New board for NLNG prizes

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A

N advocacy film, The Fake Prophet, produced as part of the campaign against the stigmtisation of children dubbed witches in Akwa Ibom State, will premiere on June 14 at the Silverbird Cinema, Abuja.

The film highlights the dangers faced by children accused of witchcraft, and the fraudulent activities of some pastors who make money by accusing children of being ‘witches’. It also showcases the vulnerability of street children alongside the negative effect of child trafficking on the child and the society.

The Fake Prophet is a production of the child’s rights advocacy group, Stepping Stones Nigeria (SSN) in collaboration with the award-winning film director, Teco Benson.

According to SSN, the film was produced to create awareness and stimulate debates on stigmatized children.

SSN Advocacy and Campaigns Intern, Justine Atkinson, said: “We hope that the film will stimulate debate about the importance of child rights in Nigeria, and will help to put an end to the horrific abuse facing thousands of innocent children

Technology Ltd.; De Mastering Industries Ltd.; and Ecomax Media Technologies.

He stated that in collaboration with the International Federation of Phonographic Industries (IFPI), the commission has initiated the Source Identification (SID) code which, effective from January 2010, must be mandatorily used by all replicating and mastering plants in Nigeria as a security finger print at production point. This enhances the commission’s antipiracy intervention.

Ezekude indicated that the commission has carried out compliance inspection on replicating and mastering plants on March 31 and April 1 in Lagos. The exercise, he added, enabled the commission to ascertain the state of operations and level of compliance or default of the plants with regulatory requirements.

According to the Director-General, the issuance of the Copyright (Collective Management Organisations) Regulations 2007 engendered reform of the collective management organisations (CMOs) in Nigeria, resulted in the registration of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) as the CMO for the music industry.

Ezekude reassured stakeholders of the commission’s commitment to a faithful imple-

accused of witchcraft. In view of this, we have collaborated with the renowned Nigerian film director, Teco Benson, to produce this new and innovative Nollywood film. It would also hope that many people would come to watch it as we believe that doing this will generate a huge amount of interest and ultimately maximise the success of this move.”

IGERIA Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, the organisers of the Nigeria Prize for Science and the Nigeria Prize for Literature, has reconstituted the advisory boards for its prizes.

The prizes are awarded annually to works of outstanding merit in literature and science.

The boards’ reconstitution, according to a statement signed by the General Manager, External Relations, Mrs Siene Allwell-Brown, was the outcome of NLNG’s engagement forum with key players in science and literary fields.

The two-time Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo, Allwell-Brown stated, will serve as the chairman of the Literature Board while Dr Jerry Agada, president, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), would serve as his deputy. She added that the third member of the board will be a representative of the Nigerian Academy of Letters.

She also stated that the chairman of the Science Board is Emeritus Professor of Community Medicine and former director of World Health Organisation (WHO), Umaru Shehu while Prof. Oye IbidapoObe, the president of the Academy of Science, will serve as the deputy chairman.

•Mrs Allwell-Brown

Other members are professors Akinola Salau and Temitayo Shokunbi, both fellows of the Academy of Science and secretaries of the Physical Sciences and Biological Sciences.

NLNG is implementing the key players’ decision to have a lean organisation headed by iconic Nigerians with unimpeachable integrity. “Other members were nominated by the Nigerian Academy of Science, Association of Nigerian Authors and Nigerian Academy of Letters Despite the changes, excellence remains the only criterion for the award of these prizes,” she said.

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The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Ofeimun’s Feast returns for Africa’s liberation

By Evelyn Osagie

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ILENCE. The stage is set with dim lights and drumbeats in the background. The enthralling atmosphere prepares the audience for the varying performances of the evening. The chilling drumbeats usher in the rituals, chants, dances, mime, poetry, and the Priestess of Memory and other characters take you into the scenes of Africa’s struggles in Odia Ofeimun’s A Feast of Return, a Hornbill House performance.

As Nigeria joined her counterparts in Africa to commemorate Africa Liberation Day on May 25, Ofeimun’s dance drama calls for a sober reflection on Africa’s dream of freedom.

The play, written and produced by the poet, flourished in 2010, and has continued to grace the stage of various theatres across the country with impressive performances since the year begun.

Each performance is usually spiced with at least two dances from the state the train visits.

The train has gone from Lagos to Edo, Delta, Osun, Ondo, and Rivers states; and has landed twice in Abuja.

This time, it graced the stage of Cyprian Ekwensi Cultural Centre, Abuja, as part of activities commemorating the second anniversary of the late Dr. Tajudeen Abdulraheem and Africa’s Liberation Day celebration.

Through Ofeimun’s performance, guests came face to face with the African struggle for freedom spanning five decades.

The play is a pan-African production that was first produced in the 90s and staged at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Great Britain. The poet has successfully turned the production, initially set in South African milieu, into a home-based one by introducing Nigerian songs, dances and historic and mythical characters to suit the Nigerian audience.

No matter the tribe one is from, he would find one of the indigenous dances included in the performance. This venture seems to endear the audience to the performance as they are taken to their root.

The aim, Ofeimun said, is not to ‘Nigerianise’ South Africa.

“But to use the South Africa fibula as a means of telling Africa’s story in terms of common themes of ethnic fractions in competitive interaction and historical insertion of an external European force that heightens and, so to say, jazzes up the themes of assaults, deprivations and resistance,” he said.

A Feast of Return celebrates Africa’s oral tradition of dance and poetry; and showcases the African spirit in various stages of her history. The performance presents the inspiring story of a people determined to build a common morality that unites diverse nationalities, race and ethnic fractions. Aside the clamour for change by the people and African leaders (characters, which Ofeimun draws from across the continent, particularly South Africa and West Africa), the play preaches against injustice, violence and war.

Hence, Nigeria’s current political clime makes the play a timely campaign piece for social change and peace. As the scenes unfold, you see the African spirit in pursuit of political economic and cultural development. And you are taken

•A scene in Ofeimun’s A Feast of Return.

THEATRE into scenes of major stages of Africa’s history.

As in other places where the play was performed, the audiences are usually a mix crowd consisting of ruling class (state governors, politicians, top government officials), heads of organisations, scholars, literary enthusiasts, journalists, students and, particularly those forced to attend because their bosses are attending. From such undertaking, one could see a rebirth of the Elizabethan drama when the poets and playwrights usually perform for the elites; since they are being sponsored by the royalty. Whether Ofeimun is under any sponsorship or not, he seems to have successfully crossed the barricade that usually prevent the ruling class from watching such literary campaign pieces for social change.

“It is hoped that the audience would learn from the selfishness, headiness, struggles, troubles, fears, failures and successes of the progenitors as highlighted by the dance drama,” Odia once said The performance is not all about dance. The thematic preoccupations are expressed by the poetic renditions of the characters which can be seen as a form of dialogue. The characters include the Priestess of Memory (played by Efe Mayford Orhorha), the ancestors, policeman, reverend father, exiles, exprisoners, (which are acted interchangeably by Nissi George and Ombo Gogo Ombo) guerrillas and workers. The characterisation as is the scenes are fluid in nature: they seem to flow into each other without any defined distinction as is the case of most dance drama. However, one is either forced to assume

PHOTO: EVELYN OSAGIE

that the varying lighting, drumbeat, and dance could be taken as the scene demarcation. The change in the poetic dialogue of the characters may as also be seen as either and act or scene. But to fully appreciate and enjoy the ecstatic value of the performance, one would just have to go with the flow.

The priestess is the narrator and setter of scenes who is sometimes a participant in unfolding history on stage. The dances are evoked for and around her. She seems to represent the wholesome ‘memory’ that the ‘Feast invokes. As the lead character, Efe plays the priestess excellently. Her brilliant performance and delivery can be linked to the constant performing the role. The audience is mesmerised by her stance which can be attributed to her mystical, mythical character, and, especially her poetic depth. Her lines enhance the play’s preoccupations.

Ofeimun’s choice of female as the conscience of the ages and a tour guide into the scenes of major historical stages of Africa, may be related to the role of the woman as a mediator in a typical African society. However, she is not able to resolve the confusion in the end. The Bantu Poem raises question about the future: We who travel: in our many goings/and our endless returnings,/We ask: when shall we arrive?

The play is directed by John Okolo. According to the director, it was not an easy task converting the poem into drama. He said: “With poetry it was just like there was no holds barred. I was just going on and on. But the problem I had was that the poetry was not written as drama.”

The poet and his crew is bracing up for a new play entitled Nigeria The Beautiful, which, he said, will premiere on his birthday.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Waiting for the busy period while taking a nap •A commercial boat rider napping.

PHOTO: EVELYN OSAGIE

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

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ABUJA REVIEW

Minister seeks higher pay for journalists

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X- FCT Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed recently called for improved remuneration for Nigerian journalists to enable them effectively performs their constitutional role.

The Minister made the call in Abuja while receiving the National Working Committee of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by its National President, Mallam Mohammed Garba.

Stories from Bukola Amusan, Abuja

Mohammed who said that Nigerian journalists deserve improved welfare service noted that to whom much is given, much is expected.

He called on the proprietors of both broadcast and print media organisations to make additional capital investment into the industry by providing necessary modern equipment.

The Minister lauded the commitment of jour-

The performance of Nigerian media is at par and sometimes even better than their contemporaries in other parts of the globe

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HE Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board of the Federal Capital Territory is set to refund security deposits to pilgrims who performed the Hajj in 2009 and 2010.

The Board has also requested intending pilgrims who have made deposits for the forthcoming Hajj exercise and are yet to return their application form or to submit their e-passport, to do so in order to facilitate early preparation while awaiting the announcement of this year’s Hajj fare by the federal government.

A statement from the Public Relations Officer of the Board, Malam Aliyu Usman advised all those who performed the Hajj through the board to report and collect refunds of their security deposits at the Board’s zonal office, Gwagwalada.

The statement explained that pilgrims who performed the 2009 Hajj would receive a refund of N12,420, while those who performed the religious rite in 2010 are to get refunds of N12,000 only as security deposit and royalty by the Saudi Arabian government.

According to Malam Aliyu, the said funds were collected as security deposits and roy-

nalists who have defied all odds and challenges in the spirit of patriotism to put in their best in the effective and unbiased coverage of events across the country.

According to him, the performance of Nigerian media is at par and sometimes even better than their contemporaries in other parts of the globe.

The Minister described himself as a very lucky person being a member of several professional families including the media.

To show his support, Mohammed approved a waiver of the payable premium on the plot of land allocated to the NUJ in Mabushi District, Phase II of the Federal Capital City, Abuja.

Earlier, the NUJ National President commended the Minister’s giant strides especially in the area land reform.

He described the minister as a worthy ambassador of the Nigeria media.

Garba, who used the opportunity to appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan to carry professional bodies along in the appointment of members of the new Federal Executive Council, called for the re-appointment of Senator Bala Mohammed as the FCT Minister.

•Muhammed, Ex- FCT Minister

FCT pilgrims to get security deposit refund alty from pilgrims during the Hajj exercise incase of any breach of rules at Saudi Arabia.

Since the pilgrims did not violate any law, the money has to be refunded, he added.

Mallam Aliyu advised all pilgrims who performed the Hajj through the board in the years under review to report to the Zonal office of

the Board in Gwagwalada with evidence of payment (receipts) and e-passport used for the journey to collect the refunds.

According to him, the payment is expected to last for 21 days (weekends inclusive), while payment by proxy would only be entertained subject to the approval by the Director of the

The Board has requested its intending pilgrims who have made deposits for the forthcoming Hajj and are yet to return their application form or are yet to submit their e-passport to do so in order to facilitate early preparation

board after the expiration of the 21 days.

Similarly, the Board has requested its intending pilgrims who have made deposits for the forthcoming Hajj and are yet to return their application form or are yet to submit their epassport to do so in order to facilitate early preparation while awaiting the announcement of this year’s Hajj fare by the federal government.

Meanwhile, the Board has also advised its pilgrims for this year’s exercise to note that the Saudi authorities have made it compulsory for all pilgrims to declare the amount of money with them on entry into the kingdom and change their currencies only from licensed offices in the holyland to guard against falling into wrong hands.

It said the warning became necessary to prepare the minds of all intending pilgrims from the territory that the Saudi Arabian rules on maximum cash for entering into the kingdom is still in force.

Development Control serves redecoration notice on Wuse residents

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HE officials of the Department of Development Control unit have started serving redecoration notices on some residents of Wuse II Districts of the FCT. The notices were served by the Amenities Division of the department whose responsibility is to enforce the re-decoration of dilapidated buildings.

The deputy director in charge of Amenities and Aesthetics Division, Mr Adamu Abuja said residents should endeavour to comply strictly with the re-decoration notices in order to have a clean and healthy environment.

Abuja, who spoke on the exercise, said FCT residents should see themselves as partners in building a befitting and world-class city.

He warned those who are affected not to wait to be served but to be proactive by always painting their houses as at when due especially once in every three years.

He maintained that it was not enough to just paint a house but it is advisable to consult with a decorator in order to come up with aesthetically-pleasing colour combinations.

“Some buildings in the districts have lost their aesthetic value due to faded paints, damaged roofs, doors and window frames, untidy lawns, flowers, broken water pipes, and broken sewage pipes. We identified these houses and served the

•Abuja Stories From Bukola Amusan

owners with redecoration notices accordingly,” he said.

The officials also moved to the famous Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent to serve notices on owners of properties that contravened the law.

Some of the houses served with the notices include the Pencom House and other residential houses with faded or cracked

Some buildings in the districts have lost their aesthetic value due to faded paints, damaged roofs, doors and window frames, untidy lawns, flowers, broken water pipes, and broken sewage pipes fences.

According to the site officer, Mr. Patrick Nyam, the residents and corporate bod-

ies that have been served with the notices acknowledged the effort and were responding accordingly.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

There is the need to prepare finance personnel of the Nigerian Army to ensure they acquire modern skills for finance management and administration. This training session will afford us the opportunity to review our roles as finance managers and custodians of Nigerian Army funds

Army organises finance management seminar

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HE Nigerian Army has organised a seminar aimed at training its personnel in funds management. The Account and Budget department of the service was in charge of the training, whose purpose was to avail its personnel with modern skills in finance administration, and in tune with the vision of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike O. Ihejirika.

The vision of the COAS, according to the organisers is “to transform the Nigerian army into a force better able to meet contemporary challenges”.

In a welcome address, Commander of Division Finance and Accounts, 3 Armored Division, Col. Abiodun Oladele noted that the training will prepare the finance personnel for challenges ahead, expressing confidence that participants will derive maximum benefit from the training.

Chief of Account and Budget, Nigerian Army, Major-General Abdulahi Al-Muraina, while declaring the seminar open said, “There is the need to prepare finance personnel of the Nigerian Army to ensure they acquire modern skills for finance management and administration. This training session will afford us the opportunity to review our roles as finance managers and custodians of Nigerian Army funds in the recent past, asses our performances with a view to fashioning out better ways of doing our jobs in support of the vision of the Chief of Army Staff”.

He said, “ To actualise this vision there is the need for prudent and efficient management of finances of the Nigerian Army in the face of scarcity, which is why we have resolved to manage the core finance operations of the Nigerian Army efficiently and effectively in ensuring that resources are utilised in the most cost effective manner.

“Achieving these visions therefore calls for skillful and honest finance personnel who are not only conversant with methods and systems of operations but who must also key into current technological trends.

“I do expect that at the end of this training session, you would have been able to ac-

C

HANGE-A-LIFE Foundation, a nong o v e r n m e n t a l organisation, has organised a programme to educate students on how to prepare for the future by choosing the right profession.

The Managing Director, BGL Asset Management Limited, Mrs

•Children at the event

•Participants at the event From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

quire new skills and knowledge aimed at enhancing performances on the job.”

In a chat with newsmen shortly after the opening ceremony, Gen. Al-Muraina said, “The training of this category of staff is for two purposes. First is to see how we can enhance the performance of our personnel by creating that awareness for them to imbibe the new skill and knowledge required to enhance the performance of their job given the plethora of government reform. It is not going to be business as usual; there are so many regulations now that regulate our operations. Apart from the financial regulations, there are reforms going on in the country and we need to keep abreast our personnel. For instance, there is the public procurement Act. “The second thing is by this training it pre-

pares personnel for higher task, gives room for improvement and in this case the finance personnel just as is obtainable in the public service.

“We don’t really have a direct relationship with EFCC and ICPC; you know the kind of job we do is in a cycle, we budget, spend and audit. We do these in conjunction with the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Auditor-General of the Federation who audit the account of the Nigerian Army, other bodies like the stock verifier and so on. So whatever we do is for public scrutiny.

“We have not been dragged before any financial crimes; we have never been dragged before EFCC or ICPC for any reason or on our financial transactions.”

He also spoke on the plight of military pensioners in the country, saying, like other pensioners, their situation is not peculiar.

Pension administration, he said, is a very

complex procedure. “Apart from documentation and keeping the record straight, availability of funds, if funds are not available there is nothing you can do. But what we are doing now is to reform pension management in the military by computerising our operations.”

Lectures delivered at the seminar were centered on, “Imperatives of efficient and effective utilisation of resources to Nigeria army transformation, “Imperatives of Nigeria army biometric enrolment exercise to the successful transformation of the Nigerian army, and also “Imperative of timely and appropriate rendition of accounts to effective utilisation of Nigerian army resources.

NGO educates students on career guide

By Chuks Udo Okonta

Modupe Mujota, at the event in Lagos, urged the students to be focused on their best subjects and pursue their vision vigorously.

Chief Executive Officer, Kachifo Limited and a member of the NGO’s Board of Trustees, also educated the students on book publishing.

Chief Executive Officer of Beat,

Classic and Naija FM, Mr Chris Ubosi, presented awards and prizes to the NGO’s educational scheme beneficiaries who excelled in the 2010/2011 academic year. The students are Anuoluwapo Oyetunde, Uwana Umoh, Enobong Johnny, Tracy Anuna, and Bukola Akinola.

Other activities displayed at the event are pop quiz and dance competition, which were moderated by on-air personality, formerly with Sound City, Denrele Edun. There were also special giveaway prizes for the children which included Social Studies for Primary Schools Work Book One – Six donated by Kachifo Limited, notebooks and notepads donated by First Bank Nigeria Plc, Beat FM pens and Beat FM peak caps from the Beat 99.9 FM radio station.

The students were also taken to Lekki Conservation Centre, where they received a guided tour of the wildlife reserve. Other activities include sightings of the swamp outlook, bird hide view, rest stops and tree house climbing.

The NGO was founded in 2002

The NGO was founded in 2002 by award winning journalist and television producer, Funmi Iyanda to intervene in the lives of less privileged people through its educational, business, and healthcare schemes by award winning journalist and television producer, Funmi Iyanda to intervene in the lives of less privileged people through its educational, business, and healthcare schemes.

It’s educational scholarship scheme currently supports 98 children at primary, secondary, and postsecondary levels.

SLIDING TACKLE

"I'm not under pressure at all. I'm focused on getting results for the club. My team has been unfortunate not to win some of the games we have lost recently. We have been playing well but we have been unlucky most times not to score and win our games."

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

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Bukola Babes coach, Festus Allen explaining he is not under pressure to perform inspite of the three-match ultimatum handed to him to produce results for the team.

Bewarang leads NPL Team of the Week 25

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•Enyimba player in action against a congolese player

AFN gives June 15 deadline forNationaltrials

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HE Athletics Federation of Nigeria(AFN) has stated that the entries for the National trials will close on June 15 2011 during the finals of the Golden League in Warri, Delta State but warned that no entry would be received at the venue of the competition.

In the same vein, the Secetary general of the AFN,

By Stella Bamawo

Maria Wophill has disclosed that National Congress of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria which was earlier scheduled for June 22 has been rescheduled to hold on June 21 2011 in Calabar, Cross River State. All States Athletics Chairmen and Secretaries are expecetd at the event as important issues

such as the repositioning of Athletics in Nigeria.

The Technical meeting of all delegates for the 22nd Nigeria/Cross River State/ NNPC/ExxonMobil Track and Field Championships will also hold the same day.

With the final leg of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria Golden League scheduled for June 15 in the oil-rich city of Warri, the

battle for those to share in the N2m jackpot prize has been narrowed down to just four athletes.

Meanwhile, Shola Anota (Long Jump), Baba Ibrahim (Hammer), Justin Agu (800m) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps’ 4x100m women relay team are in strong the race for the jackpot. They all won their fourth legs respectively.

THREE MATCH ULTIMATUM

Bukola Babes’ coach to know fate on Sunday

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HAIRMAN of Bukola Babes, Abdul Adama has refused to be drawn into making a definite pronouncement on the future of technical adviser, Festus Allen.

The embattled 48-year old gaffer was given a three match ultimatum to either perform or be eased out.

One point out of 12 in their last four games against Kano Pillars, Sunshine Stars, Enyimba and most recently, relegation threatened Plateau United has seen Allen nervously looking over his shoulder.

Adama has now told SuperSport.com that no decision has been reached as far as the coach’s future was concerned.

“Yes, it is true he (Allen) was given a three game ultimatum

but nothing has been decided yet. We have to wait until the expiration of the ultimatum (against Rangers on Sunday) before we make a decision,” Adama said. Meanwhile, Allen has dispelled speculations that he is under pressure following the recent developments at the newly-promoted club.

"I'm not under pressure at all.

I'm focused on getting results for the club. My team has been unfortunate not to win some of the games we have lost recently. We have been playing well but we have been unlucky most times not to score and win our games," Allen had told SuperSport.com moments before their two all draw against Plateau United.

Bukola Babes enjoyed a highly successful first round as

Allen steered the unheralded side to a record unbeaten run which only came to a shuddering end at league

leaders, Dolphins. Bukola Babes are in 11th place in the NPL with 34 points from 24 games.

•Dolphin skipper Emmah Godwin (r) clears against Wale Bello of Crown FC

HE Nigeria Premier League(NPL) has confirmed on Tuesday that the interim coach of Plateau United, Bitrus Bewarang, will take charge of leading the Team of the Week for Matchday 25.

Bewarang doubled as the general manager of Plateau United but took charge of leading the coaching crew at the club in the wake of Ndubuisi Nduka’s sack following a string of poor results.

In the same vein, Plateau United also have George Akpabio in the side as a rightsided forward.

Others in the team are Juth goalkeeper, Nura Mohammed, Loveth Akubo of Lobi Stars, Chinedu Efugh of Heartland, Festus Austine of Dolphins, Onoriode Imeke of Ocean Boys and Abdulrahman Bashir of Bukola Babes.Ibrahim Ajani of Sunshine Stars, Stanley Ohawuchi of Heartland, Gbolahan Salami of 3SC and Gambo Mohammed of Kano Pillars complete the team for the week.

Nura Mohammed (Juth) is the Goalkeeper of the week. He was instrumental to ensuring that Kaduna United did not score in spite of dominating the game for longer spell at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos and creating most chances.

Right-back: Loveth Akubo (Lobi Stars): The former FC Taraba defender makes the cut after his impressive show at right-back for Lobi Stars in their one-nil win over Warri Wolves at the weekend in Bauchi.Centre-back: Chinedu

Efugh (Heartland):The big defender shook off his recent penalty misses to put in a massive performance to keep Kwara United forwards at bay though Solomon Yahaya came from the defence to score for the away team and ensure that Heartland won on Sunday.

Centre-back: Festus Austine (Dolphins): He paired well in the heart of the defence of Dolphins with Emah Godwin in a game that Niger Tornadoes’ moves to score were neutralised at every instance.Left-back: Onoriode Imeke (Ocean Boys):He grabbed one of the two goals for Ocean Boys against Gombe United. Imeke’s runs down the left flank of the home side troubled Gombe United all day in the Week 25 game between both sides. He edges Solomon Yahaya to this position.

Others are: Central midfielder: Abdulrahman Bashir (Bukola Babes):With too many attackers making the team and few of the midfielders performing on matchday 25, Bashir is named as central midfielder – a position he has played on a number of occasions this season. The player scored twice against Plateau United to save his side from losing at home.Right winger: George Akpabio (Plateau United):The Plateau United man slots into the right wing in an attacking mode following his all-round performance against Bukola Babes that earned his side a 2 – 2 draw in Ilorin.

My strikers let me down —Allen

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UKOLA Babes Technical Adviser, Festus Allen has blamed his forwards for failing to utilise numerous scoring opportunities in their 2-2 home draw to Plateau United at the Kwara State Stadium on Sunday.

In a chat with NationSport, Allen expressed disappointment in his players who failed to live up to the expectations of the fans who had trooped out in large numbers to watch the team’s first home game at the newlyrenovated stadium this season.

“I will say that my strikers let me down, especially Abdulrahaman. This is a game that we should have won convincingly and we had chances to have scored more than five goals. But any result will, however, be attributed to the coach and I can’t go inside the pitch to play. People saw all my efforts with this team but it was so unfortunate that we were drawn at home.

The draw is the second of a three-match must-win ultimatum handed to Allen by the management after he had lost the first against Enyimba, but the gaffer is optimistic

By Akeem Lawal about returning the team to winning ways.

“A three-match ban is not the end of the world. I’ve been a coach all my life and never wish to lose any game; all my intention was to win, but if the players do very well, it’s the coach that will take credit for it and if the players did not do well, it is the coach that will be blamed for it, so I take responsibility for everything.

And I want to assure you that the team will get itself back to the form we are known for,” he assured.

In a related development, the Bukola Babes management has apologised to the club’s fans for the disappointing display against Plateau United on Sunday.

In a press release signed by Bukola Babes Media Officer, Jimoh Bashir, the team manager, Alloy Chukwuemeka was optimistic the team will bounce back.

Meanwhile, the management has appointed Austin Ikpi (JP) as the executive vice chairman of BBFC, even as Ismaila Asuku Saliu was elevated to the post of head of finance and welfare.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

43

MONEY

Banking reforms, two years after Sanusi Lamido Sanusi became Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor on June 4, 2009. Since then, he has effected some changes in the banking sector. Stakeholders analyse the impact of the reform. COLLINS NWEZE writes.

S

O much seems to have changed in the banking landscape since the past two years when Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi assumed leadership of the bank. The creation of a transparent and stable banking sector where depositors have no fears of losing their money based on the apex bank’s guarantee is a major feat for the regulator.

On assumption of office on June 4, 2009, Sanusi decided to turn around the fortunes of a sector struggling with bad loans in excess of $12 billion, aside other domestic financial challenges.

Poor corporate governance practices, undue exposure to the capital market, oil and gas sectors, poor risk management, distress signs through the banks’ frequent resort to the inter-bank market and the Expanded Discount Window (EDW) were defining issues before the reforms. There were also matters relating to inadequate disclosure and lack of transparency about banks’ financial positions, making the reforms inevitable.

Responses from stakeholders “The two years of Sanusi’s leadership at the apex bank has been full of activities and eventful. But he will be remembered most for his bold and courageous action in opening the books of the banks to stop banking collapse,” said Richard Obire, former executive Director of Bank PHB. For him, although the banking crises have not been fully resolved, but the apex bank boss has provided a short-term solution to what would have been a collapse of some banks.

He said Sanusi’s next assignment should be to get the banking crises resolved completely. That, he insisted, will create the leeway for banks to provide credit to the real sector as being currently canvassed.

For him, CBN’s threat to shareholders of rescued banks to either complete the recapitalisation plan before September 30, or have their banks liquidated shows commit-

ment by the apex bank to resolve the banking crises on time.

“Sanusi would have hurriedly handed the banks over to the liquidator but exhibited restraints in dealing with the banks,” he said.

Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), Bismarck Rewane, said the goal of the apex bank remains to recapitalise the banks but the process is experiencing legal bottlenecks in many instances. He said the challenges being faced by banks in their recapitalisation plans may not pose a long-term risk.

“The negotiations will be allowed to run after the legal bottlenecks are removed,” he said in FDC’s monthly report.

Representative of BNP Paribas in Nigeria, Ronke Onadeko said she noticed that credit risk assessment and corporate governance have improved in recent years following the Central Bank reforms.

“Now, the issue of transparency is better. It is now easier for one to know where money is from and where money is going to. It is not possible now for banks to exceed their sectoral lending limits. In the past, banks went beyond and above their limits,” she said.

According to her, before now, there were creative ways banks took transactions off their balance sheets and put them on the balance sheets of their mortgage companies. There were all sorts of ways of breaking the rules which have been curbed. “We now know who owns the banks and the value of their investments. It seems the Central Bank is inside these banks sniffing around,” she said.

Corporate Governance expert, Oladele Solanke reiterated that the apex bank boss has been able to arrest the culture of impunity in the banking sector but needs to improve on board membership and constitution of Audit Committees.

“I think that in the last two years, we have seen a more transparent banking sector but much work still needs to be done in the area of Board Membership and constitution of Audit Committee. We want to see more credits extended to

Small Scale Enterprises and the real sector of the economy,” he said.

Regulator’s policy response The CBN commenced a special joint examination in conjunction with the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) to ascertain the true state of the banking industry.

The outcome of the exercise showed that eight banks exhibited imminent signs of collapse, constituting systemic risks to the financial services industry and economy.

In August 14, 2009 the apex bank replaced the executive management and in some cases boards of the banks with new ones and referred the cases of some of the principal officers to the law enforcement and prosecution authorities.

One former CEO was recently convicted and other cases are already being tried.

It also injected N620 billion into the banks in form of tier two capital to be repaid from the proceeds of recapitalisation in the near future. This has helped to stabilise the banks and restored confidence in the banking system.

There were also credit guarantees of the local inter-bank market that guaranteed foreign creditors and correspondent banks credit lines to ensure confidence in correspondent banking relationships. These actions were predicated on the need to enhance the quality of banks; establish financial stability; create a healthy financial sector evolution and ensure the financial sector contributes to the real economy.

This helped to mitigate insiders’ abuse and improved risk management and corporate governance for the banks. Other measures include the limiting of the tenure of Chief Executive Officers of banks to a maximum of 10 years among others.

AMCON establishment To boost liquidity and enhance the safety and soundness of banks, the CBN in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Finance also established the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON),

• Sanusi

which recently acquired N1.7 trillion risk assets of some banks. A new banking model was further introduced, which led to the reversal of the Universal Banking Policy, thereby minimising risk and undue adventurism among operator in the Nigerian banking system.

Revamping the real sector The CBN has approved N500 billion infrastructure fund to create liquidity and support the development of the real sector of the economy. Of the funds, N300 billion will go to power and aviation financing, while N200 billion is to be utilised for re-financing and restructuring facility (RRF) of banks’ loans portfolio to manufacturing entities.

The fund is financed through a debenture instrument issued by the Bank of Industry (BOI) and subscribed to 100 per cent by the CBN. There was also the N200 billion Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Guarantee Scheme with the

Impacts of the reforms The CBN initiatives undoubtedly served as catalyst for actualising the vision of the government of Nigeria in bridging the infrastructural gap. The apex bank said macroeconomic environment has improved considerably with inflation rate moderating to a low double digit.

The operation of AMCON has started to strengthen the balance sheet of banks while more attention is being paid to agric financing which has increased from less than one per cent to two per cent of the loans portfolio of banks.

Sanusi said he remains focused and committed to bequeathing a stable financial system that will oil the wheel of economic development on a sustainable basis. For the apex bank boss, the reforms have, in the past two years, been able to sustain Nigeria’s global financial and economic rating of BB- by Fitch.

OECD to offer treasury, debt handling services

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• L–R: Director, Operations & Business Development, Center for International Development, Harvard University, Dennis DiDonna and Business Development Officer, West Africa, Olatunde Adepoju, during the unveiling in Lagos of Entrepreneurial Finance Lab (EFL), product developed by the university.

aim of promoting access to credit

by SMEs in Nigeria among others.

HE Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and South Africa are setting up a training centre for African treasury officials on debt management.

This will enable the initiative, which will be overseen from a training centre near Johannesburg, is to build on the debt relief granted to some states five years ago and ensure they do not fall into the same trap again.

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

“Debt managers from emerging market countries such as from Africa increasingly face challenges similar to those of their counterparts from advanced markets due to pressures from global finance,” the Paris-based OECD said.

According to them, better debt public management and stronger local-currency government bond markets help to reduce the cost and risk of public debt and avoid a build-up of new unsustainable debt burdens in the post-debt relief stage. “The debt management centre, which will host seminars and training sessions bringing African and OECD officials together, should be up and running next month. With the exception of South Africa, far and away sub-Sahara’s most sophisticated economy and capital market, Ghana was the first country in the region to issue a dollar bond, with a 10-year $750 million issue in late 2007.

Gabon, Senegal, Congo Republic and Nigeria have all launched Eurobonds since then. The region’s biggest Eurobond is Ivory Coast’s $2.3 billion 2032 offering, the result of a repackaging of several existing defaulted loans. Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and Angola have all expressed a desire to launch a Eurobond, although with varying degrees of credibility.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

44

MONEY

Banks in scramble for Lagos power project B

ANKS are scrambling to finance the second phase of the Island Power Project (IPP) in Lagos, The Nation has learnt.

The first phase of 10 (MW), which was funded by Fidelity Bank Plc, was launched last Wednesday by Governor Babatunde Fashola.

It was at the ceremony that the banks made a pitch for the funding of the second phase.

The first phase is powered by gas from Shell Nigeria Gas Limited.

About 114 MW are expected to be generated under the second phase, which Fidelity and FirstBank Plc are scrambling to fund.

FirstBank Managing Director Steven Onasanya told Fashola at the event that his bank is looking forward to funding the second phase.

“My governor, I can tell you that you are the only one delaying the commencement of the second phase of the Island Power Project,” he said. That sent a signal that marketing for the second phase of the project has begun.

But Fidelity’s Managing Director Reginald Ihejiahi would not let go.

By Collins Nweze He replied that his bank was equally determined to fund the second phase. “I can assure you that my colleague woke up too late as long as this project is concerned,” he said. The audience which roared in laughter seemed to be enjoying the drama.

Ihejiahi said the project is an indication that there are huge opportunities in Nigeria and advised other state governments to emulate Lagos. He said his bank is committed to financing similar projects in other states if the conditions are right.

“We will finance similar projects in any state that shows signs of seriousness demonstrated by Lagos Sate Government. But the conditions must also be right for us to put in our funds,” he said.

Fashola during his speech tried to settle the scuffle but ended up escalating it. The governor explained that FirstBank has been around in the country for years, but was not the first comer as far as the Island Power Project is

concerned.

“There is always an advantage of being the first in every environment but as far as this project is concerned, Fidelity Bank is the first to indicate interest,” he said.

That also interested the audience who obviously were being entertained by the ensuing drama.

Fashola also confirmed that the Island Power Project which will, in the second phase, bring about 114 mega watts of electricity to other parts of Lagos, is part of government’s commitment to providing stable power to the people.

He said the 10 mega watts will power at least 20 streets in Lagos Island at night, State House in Marina, Igbosere Magistrate Court and General Hospitals in Lagos.

Fashola said the project will save over 46 per cent of revenues that the Lagos State Government currently spends on diesel and create healthier environment for over 17 million people living.

According to him, government has carried out a power audit in

Lagos State Secretariat, Matori Business District, Shomolu Business District to enable it ascertain the power needs of these environments so that they can be accommodated when the second phase of the project begins.

He said that the exercise is part of his government’s commitment to the Federal Government’s power project, and reiterated that with the new addition to the Lagos power grid will help solve the power problem in the state.

“The power that was formerly used by the people that are benefiting from the current power supply will be used by others thereby improving electricity supply in the state. It is indeed a modest beginning for Lagos State,” Fashola said.

Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas Limited, Philip Mshelbila said his company will also support the second phase of the project by ensuring that there is constant gas supply to all the phases of the project. He said that power is key infrastructure needed to revive the economy and power key infrastructures in the state.

Fidelity Bank had last year, also financed a multi dollar can manufacturing company, (GZ Industries) valued at about $80 billion. Ihejiahi had said the GZI plant was one of the most audacious projects ever financed by his bank in recent times both in terms of scope, capital outlay and benefit to the domestic economy.

He said his Fidelity Bank was delighted to fund the project because of its multifaceted benefit to the country. With an estimated installed capacity to produce about 600 million cans per annum and a daily 1.5 to 2 miilion cans a day GZI is the largest and only aluminum can plant on the African continent and compares only to CONPAC in Poland Ben in France and Rexam in Brazil.

Other notably projects financed

by the Fidelity Bank include the $25 million Akute Power Plant, a 12.5 mega watts independent plant; $25 million Dorman Long Galvanising Plant at Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos; Polo Park Shopping Mall in Enugu Kwara Mall in Ilorin; Loan syndication for MTN Group and Fidelity Agri-Nigerian Project.

The Akute Plant was financed

by Fidelity Bank in partnership with the Lagos State government to ease power supply problems in the state. The project was also carried between the Lagos Island Power Project and Negris.

The Nation learnt that top bank executives are secretly and subtly unveiling effective marketing strategies meant to reposition their institutions in the emerging competition. From new product development, raising additional capital to promises of enhanced customer care, many of the banks seem not to be leaving anything to chance.

But experts have advised that instead of engaging on unhealthy competition, banks could pool resources together to carry out huge projects through loan syndication. It now advised that more banks should be willing to share risks now than going it all alone. “In the past, if a bank brought $400 million deal, it would want to corner the entire business and make all the profits.

“But now, everything is syndicated. Banks A, B, C and D will now share risks and profits together. By the time four banks scrutinise a business model and the customer, you’re likely to find more viable business to finance. They may probably make less profit but it’s safer. But generally, banks are being more careful with shareholders’ funds than ever before,” said Kingsley Obinna, financial analyst based in Lagos.

‘No new taxes, levies’

T • L-R: Chief Economic Counselor, United States Embassy, Mr Philip Drouin and Senior Operations Counsel, Coca-Cola West & Central Africa Business Unit, Adesua Dozie, at the 125th anniversary cocktail and photo exhibition hosted by Coca-Cola in Lagos.

Skye Bank targets 5% non-performing loans

S

KYE Bank Nigeria Plc is committed to reducing its level of non-performing loans (NPLs) to five per cent this year, its Managing Director, Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, has said.

Durosinmi-Etti said transferring NPLs to Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) reduced the bank’s NPLs ratio from 11.9 per cent to 6.8 per cent at the end of the first quarter, adding that five per cent NPLs is being projected for the end of this year.

This will afford the bank the opportunity to focus on creating new opportunities.

The Skye Bank boss, who confirmed this development during the bank’s pre-2010 Annual General Meeting in Lagos, said the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has had positive impacts on the bank’s NPL and the bank will continue

to explore such benefits.

He explained that given the new prudential guidelines, more substandard and lost loans would be declassified and this would also have positive effects on the NPLs and other ratios.

For instance, the bank plans a centralisation of back office operations and establishment of a Joint Venture (JV) company to reduce operational costs between this year and 2012. The bank also plans to reduce cost to income ratio from 67.4 per cent in December 2010 to within 50 per cent to 55 per cent over a three year horizon.

The ongoing divestment of marginal oil well by Shell Corporation and its attendant opportunities as well as the bank’s decision to focus on corporate clients should lead to improved loan quality, he said.

The N11 billion additional capital base raised by the bank increased Shareholders’ Funds in excess of the N100 billion thereby making it possible for the financial institution, which also plans to play as an international bank, to explore more business opportunities. The change in the business segment regarding divestment from local subsidiaries has shifted focus to commercial banking and projects that would grow the real economy, he said.

Durosinmi-Etti said that there is a new focus on savings and current accounts rather than fixed deposits, because the banks does not want to take high cost funds unless such funds will be loaned to borrowers. “There is a strong attempt to market current accounts not fixed deposits. Time deposits are being discouraged in our bank at present,” he said.

HE Lagos State Government has refuted claims that it plans to introduce new taxes and levies.

Immediate past Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Taxation Ade Ipaye debunked the rumour at a local government revenue enlightenment seminar.

He said: “The governor cannot just wake up one day and order that people should start paying taxes for no just cause. Tax is backed by law and must be subject to ratification by the House of Assembly and accented by the governor, since they are also subject to the law”.

Ipaye disclosed that a threeyear jail term awaits any local government officials, agents or persons who mount road blocks for the purpose of revenue collection, adding that such offence also attracts a conviction to a fine of N500,000. He said the government has mapped out measures to ensure that only the stipulated local government levies approved by the House of Assembly and signed by the Governor last year are collectible at the local level.

Ipaye said the state would clamp down severely on touts who pose as local government officials to collect any levy not listed in the schedule for local government levies. He listed the 16 number levies ratified in the schedule to include Shop and

By Miriam Ndikanwu Kiosk rates, open market levy, tenement rates, licensing fee for sale of liquor, Slaughter slab license fee, in abattoirs under local government control, marriage, birth and death registration fees, Street naming fee, Motor park levy and Domestic animal licence levy.

Others include Radio and Television license fee (excluding radio and television in motor vehicles, transmitters and other communication equipments), parking fee on local government streets or roads as may be approved by the State Government, public convenience, sewage and refuse disposal fee, cemetery and burial ground permit fee, permit fee for private entertainment and merriment in public places (excluding roads and streets) and Wharf landing fees.

He also warned that local government officials who demand from anyone, an amount excess of the authorised assessment of the levy or compromise on the assessment or collection of any levy commits an office liable on conviction to a fine equivalent to 500 per cent of the sum in question and three years imprisonment . He urged residents to report officials who demand for money for levies saying all payments should be made at designated banks.

45

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

e-Business For Telcos, a new revenue source

Telecommunications operators are facing competitive threats to their profitability with service providers applying their business intelligence to find new ways to connect with customers and make money from such efforts. Is that the key to profitability? The answer, according to experts, is innovative Value Added Services (VAS), ADLINE ATILI writes

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HE telecoms market seems saturated. Device manufacturers, operating system companies, overthe- top service providers and large digital content giants are competing with operators for a share of customers' wallets. Each is developing its relationship with individual end users and enterprises. Faced with these challenges, and analysts' forecasts, the profitability of telecoms services in future appears disturbing.

The challenges A major report from Juniper Research has found that while global operator-billed revenues will exceed $1 trillion annually by 2016, mobile network operators (MNOs) face a bleak future. Reason: their costs of operation may exceed revenues within four years unless remedial action is taken.

The report found that MNO core revenues were declining in some markets— the result of market saturation as industry players continued to grapple with stagnating ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) and surging data traffic growth.

Furthermore, operators are faced with the prospect of spiralling backhaul costs because of the dramatic increase in cellular network data traffic, which more than doubled last year and is expected to increase by more than 13 times to 25,000 petabytes per annum by 2015.

A petabyte is a unit of information equal to 1000 terabytes.

“Margins will be squeezed quite dramatically if remedial action is not taken to address data traffic costs; if there is a lack of planning prior to network deployments, resulting in inefficient networks and if decisions are not made to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

“In less than three years, the mobile ecosystem has changed dramatically and definitively. MNOs, for so long the gatekeepers to the customer, have seen their traditional role eroded by a host of over-thetop players.” the Juniper report said.

The research firm said mobile operators face a struggle to recreate a role for themselves in a market now dominated by the likes of handset vendors and operating system providers.

Aside worries over eroding revenue; operators are also faced with footing the bill for boosting network capacity, buying additional spectrum, and rolling out new infrastructure to meet the rocketing demand for mobile data.

These issues have been staring mobile operators in the face for some time, but according to Juniper, there is still no way round them.

New revenue opportunity The report argues that MNOs have the opportunity to redress the balance through a series of adaptive strategies designed to optimise core revenue streams, develop new revenues and significantly reduce operating costs.

The Mobile Operator Business Models report highlights the need for MNOs to offer integrated rate plans, while also providing a wide range of segmented post-paid tariffs. It also emphasises the potential for double-sided revenue streams in areas where MNOs can leverage their existing assets.

According to the author of the report, Dr Windsor Holden, “Clearly, there is no onesize-fits-all solution for MNOs, simply because the circumstances of individual operators differ widely, even within the same market.

“Instead, we have outlined a series of measures which MNOs can select according to their particular needs.”

Industry experts advise Telcos to intensify efforts at providing more innovative and personalised Value Added Services (VAS) to

subscribers, to drive consumption of other telecoms services.

The trick, according to them, is to figure out what type of value can be added that will be truly useful and enticing to customers.

According to managementsoftware.com, VAS is an extension to the basic call/session establishment functionality of a network.

They are used as a tool for differentiations and allow the mobile operators to develop another stream of revenue.

A value added service may be ring tones, Caller Ring Back Tones, SMS and MMS services.

In some instances, a value added service is something extra that is provided to a customer at no additional charge. This is intended to make that customer use another service that may be provided for a fee.

For instance, a product or service may come with a functionality or feature that is not part of what a customer will pay for, but the customer would benefit from. But it is provided as an incentive to make the customer ‘buy’ or ‘use’ that product or service.

Experts say value added services provide advantages for both the customer and the service provider.

Customers have the opportunity to receive something above and beyond their basic needs. Providers benefit from the increased rapport with the client that is likely to translate into a more consistent flow of revenue.

These additional services often cost the provider little to nothing to provide, yet have the potential to enhance the growth and the reputation of the company significantly.

According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), for every one per cent increase in teledensity, GDP grows by 0.6 per cent.

Exploiting the $5.5 billion VAS market Informa Telecoms and Media, leading provider of market intelligence for the global telecoms market estimates the mobile VAS market in Africa to be worth over $5.5 billion.

According to its VAS report, “Over the next five years, the market is expected to grow at a strong compound annual growth rate of around 22 per cent and to be generating revenues of over $11.5 billion by 2014.

It identified Nigeria as a major VAS markets (also the continent’s top market in terms of mobile subscription numbers), forecasted to

grow to $2.01 billion by 2014, representing 17.4 per cent of the total African market.

“In 2010, it was estimated that messaging, accounted for around 80.5 per cent of the $4.5 billion mobile VAS revenues in Africa. Mobile Internet contributed to around 14 per cent of the revenues, boosted by the increase of mobile broadband networks.

“Mobile entertainment VAS, including mobile music, games, images, TV and video, generated around 3.5 per cent of the mobile VAS revenues that year.

“Mobile social networking, banking and payments, and other services accounted for the remaining two per cent of mobile VAS revenues in 2010.

“Even though the majority of mobile subscribers in Africa are prepaid users, operators are now actively trying to sell their mobile VAS to these users on a subscription basis.

“The type of subscription-based infotainment services that the operators are providing include news alerts, sports updates and daily jokes and they are hoping that these services will help them slow the ARPU decline and reduce their high churn levels.

“One of the key drivers for the growth of mobile VAS in Africa is the increasing availability of low-cost feature-rich mobile phones.

“Fixed-Internet penetration is low in most African countries and therefore the availability of low-cost Internet capable devices is driving the strong adoption and usage of mobile VAS, including mobile Internet, in these markets,” the report said.

The challenge now is to adapt VAS to provide services that positively impact the lives of not only urban dwellers but rural and ‘base of the pyramid’ (BOP) segments by enhancing their livelihoods and enriching their lives.

A subscriber, Daniel says: “There is need to customise value added services; that is something the operators should be working at to grow the market.

“I think the current VAS trends centred on ring tones, ring back tones are not enough.

Operators need to come up with more differentiated content that will cater for every subscriber.”

Barry Sher Of IVR Technologies, Inc. in an interview with Technology Marketing Corporation, a global, integrated media company said succeeding with VAS starts with

focusing on market statistics—where opportunities exist, and what is currently going on in the industry.

He said this means taking a hard look at just how competitive the market is, and the contributing factors.

He said: “The question then is: how can a provider create more revenue and reduce customer churn? It might sound obvious, but the key lies in focusing on what consumers actually want and need.

“When a provider does that in an effective way, the result is increased margins, growing subscriber bases, and the ability to retain customers.”

To Kehinde Dada, an IT expert, operators are yet to tap fully into value added services for huge profit.

According to him, the basic VAS offerings are simply not enough to woo subscribers to any network in the country; adding that more innovative value added services would boost an operator’s revenue base.

He said: “Mobile phones today have moved beyond their fundamental role of communications and have graduated to become an extension of the persona of the user.

“We are witnessing an era when users buy mobile phones not just to be in touch, but to express themselves, their attitude, feelings and interests.

“Customers continuously want more from their phone. They use their phones to play games, read news headlines, surf the Internet, keep a tab on astrology, and listen to music, make others listen to their music.

“Thus, there is a vast world beyond voice that needs to be explored and tapped to provide innovative options to Nigerian subscribers. The time is now.

“With the way competition is threatening Telcos ‘bottom line in this country, we’ll reach a stage where subscribers will begin to choose their operators on the basis of the value added services they offer.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria’s promotion of m-payment and the drive for a cashless economy will ensure that value added services form a large chunk of mobile operators’ revenue in years to come.

“The increased importance of VAS has also made content developers to work day and night to develop newer concepts and services.

Operators should take advantage of this for profitability.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

46

e-Business

E

NCC tasks engineers on alternative power supply

XECUTIVE Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr Eugene Juwah has urged engineers to assist in resolving the power supply problem in the telecommunications industry.

He gave this charge while receiving the leadership of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Abuja branch, led by its President, Paulinus Ogu He said: ‘’Power is an issue right now, and we are always ready to discuss and partner in such issues that can lead to decreasing the cost of power generation as telecoms operators use independently pro-

Stories by Adline Atili duced power today.

“We are always ready to discuss alternative power sources and wherever they are practical, we are prepared to partner in ventures of that sort. I am sure we have always collaborated with the Nigerian Society of Engineers and will continue to partner in this direction.’’

Speaking on the ongoing Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) registration, Juwah said the commission is committed to security of subscribers' data in the exercise.

He said: ‘’The government is in-

tent on knowing who owns mobile phones, with a mandate for us to lead this operation together with the operators so that there is no duplication. We have mobilised and established more than 2000 NCC registration centres across Nigeria while the operators are carrying out their own.’’

Ogu commended the commission on the exercise, saying it would enhance security of Nigerians. He pledged the support of the society to the commission and urged the commission to continue to monitor and assist the engineers in its employ to enable them improve in the profession.

•From left: Acting General Manager, Enterprise Sales, MTN Nigeria, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka; Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, Babatunde Osho and General Manager, Corporate Communications, Funmi Omogbenigun at the re-launch of MTN HyNet in Lagos.

CNN, Nokia partner on mapping technology

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NN and Nokia have announced a multi-level international collaboration where Nokia becomes part of CNN’s roster of mapping providers, delivering rich mapping services to the news network.

The collaboration harnesses the companies’ strength in global newsgathering, user-generated content, mapping technologies, and location-based services. The collaboration debuted with the use of Nokia’s 3D maps across CNN’s platforms in its recent coverage of the British royal wedding.

Managing Director, CNN Interna-

tional Tony Maddox said: “This collaboration is great as both companies share a similar philosophy in connecting people beyond borders through the combination of compelling news content and highly sophisticated technology. The international scale of each of our businesses makes the scope of the collaboration particularly exciting.”

Chief Marketing Officer Nokia, Jerri DeVard noted: “Nokia and CNN share the belief that news is now mobile, powerfully democratic, and can immediately be shared by people around the world. We are pleased that CNN wants to use Nokia’s in-

novative mapping services for its international news platform and we are excited to work with CNN to deliver compelling news service to users of Nokia phones.”

The collaboration, according to Nokia, includes the CNN App for Nokia which provides mobile access to CNN’s world, business, sport, entertainment and technology reporting. The app, available in Ovi Store, also allows users to share CNN’s news via their own social channels, and participate in the reporting process with direct access to the network’s participatory news community, iReport.

ATCON resolute in broadband pursuit

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HE Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has begun implementation of the first phase of the broadband roadmap, the Broadband for Nigeria Forum (BB4NG) charted by the association last year for broadband development.

President of the association Mr Titi Omo-Ettu said the phase, which may last a few years, involves creating awareness about businesses available in the country and motivating investments aimed at getting Nigeria on the road to broadband boon.

He said: “We have commenced implementation of the first phase of our plans. Last year, our association collaborated with the Nigerian ICT forum of partnership institutions and the Fantsuam Foundation to prepare a roadmap document and to invite Nigerians to endorse it.

“The document, as endorsed, has gone to government and our own component of the implementation has commenced. Specifically we shall further a campaign, create awareness in businesses that are available to do and motivate investments all aiming at getting Nigeria on the road to the Promised Land.

“Whoever comes to us with a col-

laboration proposal that seeks to join the train will receive our embrace. The good thing is that in all of these: campaign, awareness, investments or building infrastructure and services, there is a business to do and we shall motivate whoever comes to us to do it.”

As part of measures aimed at speeding up implementation, Omo-Ettu disclosed that in July, relevant stakeholders and investors will gather for a business and investment summit and exhibition to discuss the way forward.

He said: “For starters, at the end of July CEOs, top executives and investors will discuss at a business/investment summit and a few who already have viable solutions will exhibit them for two days. It is not a typical talk-show but a focused investment possibilities session for very top decision makers. It is an international event.

“At the summit, we will present a purpose-built publication to guide investors on what is available in Nigeria for them to do.

Thereafter, other collaboration projects will come, each with specific focus and audience.

“The campaign aspect is to jolt the government, you and I to ask

questions just in case they are too busy to be at the sessions. The good thing in all of these is that it is winwin for everybody.”

Realising that broadband is the medium that is needed to ensure a successful, sustainable, and inclusive achievement of our Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) commitment and the vision 20:2020, ATCON last year partnered with relevant bodies to create a National Broadband Policy for Nigeria. Nigerians were encouraged to read and comment on the draft document.

In July, 2010, the document was presented to the Nigerian public at a stakeholders’ forum. The discussion and observation that followed the document presentation was rich and diverse. It was observed that Nigerians are at various levels in awareness of and demand for Broadband Internet access.

To this end, high level investment summit the association will host in collaboration with BusinessWorld newspaper, with theme: Connecting the Next 50 Million Telecoms Users, will show how broadband deployment can serve as a general purpose service delivery and expose the huge businesses available to do in Nigeria.

MTN kicks off 21 Days of Y’ello Care

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EADING Telco, MTN Nigeria, has joined other operating units of the MTN Group to focus on preserving the planet’s resources through its annual staff volunteerism programme, the 21 Days of Y’ello Care.

The initiative, which has kicked off across the mobile operator’s footprints in Africa and the Middle East, will see thousands of MTN staff volunteers taking part in various environmental projects, the major one of which is tree-planting, for the next 21 days.

This year’s campaign with theme: Making a Positive Difference to the Environment, is in keeping with the United Nations’ declaration of 2011 as the International Year of Forests.

“Various authoritative reports indicate that a shift to a green economy has the potential to achieve sustainable development and poverty eradication. That means that in seeking to protect the environment, we effectively accelerate poverty eradication and development.

“Indeed, in its efforts to draw attention to the importance of our environment, the United Nations has declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests. We at MTN have applied our minds to the theme and found it worthy of the support of approximately 30, 000 of our employees spread across our markets,” MTN Group Corporate Affairs Executive, Rich Mkhondo said.

The staff volunteers will be joined by their executives, who will swop their suits for overalls and

shovels, in an all-out tree planting exercise. In addition to this, the MTN operations will roll out other environmental projects, such as environmental sanitation exercise, tree-planting, sinking of boreholes and provision of manual or solarpanelled water pumps for watering the planted trees, and other initiatives aimed at preserving the planet’s resources.

The overall target of MTN over the next three weeks is to plant a minimum of 21,000 trees across all the MTN operations. This translates to 1, 000 trees per MTN country.

However, MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Brett Goschen said the Nigerian operation plans to plant about 2,900 trees across the country in the course of the programme. According to him, each of the clusters of trees will benefit from a borehole to ensure their sustainability.

MTN Nigeria officially kicked off the programme last week with a walk aimed at drawing attention to the environment. The ‘Earth Walk,’ as the initiative is tagged, started at the company’s Golden Plaza head office at Falomo through Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi and back.

21 Days of Y’ello Care was instituted by the MTN Group in 2007 to give all MTN employees an opportunity to contribute towards improving the welfare of their communities.

It has now become a prominent feature in MTN’s calendar, and is also one of MTN’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme driven by MTN Foundation in the operator’s markets.

DStv launches mobile decoder

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STV subscribers can now watch television anywhere and anytime with the launch of the DStv Drifta, an innovative mobile decoder from DStv mobile. The launch follows a long line of technology innovations such as DStv Mobile, High Definition decoders and integrated customer service tools for customers.

With Drifta, subscribers in DStv Mobile network coverage areas including Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Onitsha, Aba, Benin, Kaduna and Enugu will have unlimited access to all the channels on the DStv Mobile DVB-H network.

General Manager of DStv Mobile, noted: “This is an exciting value added option for DStv Premium subscribers. While non-DStv subscribers can purchase a Drifta and subscribe to one of the three bouquets-the Free, the Mini and the Maxi, DStv Premium subscribers will have access to the Maxi + bouquet at no additional charge after purchasing the Drifta.”

Speaking at the launch of the device in Lagos, Chairman, Details Nigeria, Adewunmi Ogunsanya said: “Technology continues to transform the way Nigerians access news, information and entertainment. Over the years, MultiChoice has ensure that

Nigerians have access to latest news and entertainment through direct-tohome digital satellite technology.

“When we introduced DStv Mobile on DVB-H, allowing for the digital terrestrial broadcast of live television channels to mobile phones, it was groundbreaking. With the launch of the Drifta, we are again making history.

“A new technology such as mobile television requires significant amount of investment. However, it is an investment that we are committed to in order to ensure Nigerians have access to the latest media and technology available.”

MultiChoice Nigeria Director, Joseph Hundah said: “The introduction of this technology will ensure that DStv subscribers get more enjoyment and control of their television viewing.”

Explaining how the device works, he said: “The Drifta receives the DStv Mobile (DVB- H) broadcast signal and relays it over Wi-Fi capable devices, including laptops, personal computers, tablets, such as iPad, smartphones, iPhones and iPods. The device supports Windows and the iOS devices.

Additional devices such as the Balckberry OS, Symbian 3 and Android applications will also be supported.”

Samsung seeks to consolidate presence in Africa RMED with a strategy designed to capitalise on the unique dynamics of the African consumer market, Samsung Electronics has outlined its regional strategy and 2011 product portfolio at the second annual Africa Regional Forum in Kenya.

Innovations in Internet-connected TVs, consumer-inspired digital cameras and the latest mobile technology, combined with plans for developing Samsung’s regional market presence, were laid out in the context of Samsung’s unifying principle – Built for Africa.

In a statement, the company said it is through this philosophy that it achieved a remarkable 31 per cent growth rate in revenue for its Af-

A

rica operations ($1.23 billion) in 2010, contributing to the company’s $135.8 billion in global revenues – the most successful in Samsung’s history.

In line with this, Samsung extended its business footprint from 15 countries in 2009 to 42 in 2010, its distributors from 32 to 80 as well as increasing service centres from 18 in 2009 to 36 in 2010 respectively.

President, Samsung Electronics Africa, Mr K.K Park said: “We’re just getting started, our vision is ambitious.

Through our ‘Samsung Blue’ Project, we intend to become a $10 billion region by 2015, growing the market to the size of China’s. To achieve this, we will start by doubling our 2010 growth to 63 per cent in 2011.“

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

OSUN STATE POLYTECHNIC, IREE P.M.B. 301, IREE

ADVERTISEMENT FOR ADMISSION INTO FULL TIME PRE-NATIONAL DIPLOMA AND HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES FOR THE 2011/2012 ACADEMIC SESSION Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for admission into the underlisted Preliminary and Higher National Diploma Programmes which would be available in the Institution during the 2011/2012 Academic Session.

PRELIMINARY NATIONAL DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE SCHOOL OF BASIC STUDIES (i) Science Laboratory Technology (Option) (ii) Food Technology(Option) (iii) Mathematics/Statistics (Option) (iv) Computer Science (Option) (v) Electrical/Electronics Engineering (Option) (vi) Computer Engineering (Option) (vii) Civil Engineering (Option) (viii) Building Technology (Option) (ix) Quantity Surveying (Option) (x) Architectural Technology (Option) (xi) Estate Management (Option) (xii) Urban & Regional Planning (Option) (xiii) Mass Communication (Option) (xiv) Office Technology & Management (Formerly Secretarial Studies).(Option) Entry Requirement for (i ) above Minimum of 5 Passes in GCE & SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings .Passes in Mathematics, English Language and any other three from Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science and Further Mathematics.

Entry Requirement for (ii) above Minimum of 5 Passes in ‘O’ level GCE & SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings. Passes in Mathematics, English Language and any other three from English Language, Biology/Agric Science, Food & Nutrition, Chemistry, Physics and Further Mathematics.

Entry Requirement for (iii) above Minimum of 5 Passes in ‘O’ level GCE & SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings. Passes in Mathematics, English Language one of the basic sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)and any other two from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Further Mathematics, Economics, Geography, Government and Commerce.

Entry Requirement for (iv) above Minimum of 5 passes in GCE & SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings. Passes in Mathematics, Physics, English language and any other two from the following subjects: Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, Economics/Commerce, and Geography

Entry Requirement for (x) above Minimum of 5 Passes in GCE, SSCE of WAEC or SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings. Passes in Mathematics, English Language, Physics and any other two from the following: Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, Geography,, Economics, Fine Art /Technical/ Building Drawing, General Metal Work, General Woodwork, and any other trade related subjects such as Introduction to Building Construction, Blocklaying/Bricklaying, Concreting, Carpentry & Joinery, Machine Woodwork, General Woodwork Entry Requirement for (xi) above Minimum of 5 Passes in ‘O’ level GCE and SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings. Passes in Mathematics, English Language, one basic science(Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and any other two from the following Economics/ Commerce, Accounts/Bookkeeping, Government, Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, Geography, Fine Arts/ Technical / Building Drawing, and any other trade related subjects such as Introduction to Building Construction, Blocklaying/Bricklaying, Concreting, Carpentry & Joinery, Machine Woodwork, General Woodwork Entry Requirement for (xii) above Minimum of 5 Passes in GCE, SSCE of WAEC or SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings.Passes in Mathematics, English Language one basic Science(Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and any other two from the following English Language, Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, Geography, Economics, Technical/Building Drawing, General Metal Work, General Woodwork, and any other trade related subjects such as Introduction to Building Construction, Blocklaying/Bricklaying, Concreting, Carpentry & Joinery, Machine Woodwork, General Woodwork.

Entry Requirement for (xiii) above Minimum of 5 passes in ‘O’ level GCE & SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NBC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings.Passes in English Language, Mathematics and any other three from the following subjects: History, Literature in English, French, Yoruba (or any other Nigerian Language) Government, Commerce/ Economics, Principles of Accounts and Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Agricultural Science.

Entry Requirement for (xiv) above Minimum of 5 passes in ‘O’ level GCE & SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NBC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings .Passes in English Language, Mathematics and any other three from the following subjects: Economics/Commerce, Geography, Typewriting, Literature in English, Religious Studies, Yoruba, French Language, Shorthand, History, Principles of Accounts, Government, Business Methods and Physics/ Chemistry/Biology/Agricultural Science.

HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES GENERAL REQUIREMENT

Entry Requirements for (v-vii) above Minimum of 5 passes in ‘O’ level GCE & SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings. Passes in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, English Language and any other one from the following: Biology/ Agric Science, Further Mathematics, Geography, Electronics, Technical/Building Drawing, Basic Electricity, Wood/Metal Work, Blocklaying, Concreting, Carpentry & Joinery, Electornic and Cable Joining.

Entry Requirements for (viii and ix) above (a) Minimum of 5 passes in ‘O’ level GCE & SSCE of WAEC and SSC of NECO obtained at not more than two sittings Passes in Mathematics, English Language, Physics and any other two from the following : Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, Further Mathematics, Fine Art/Technical /Building Drawing, Geography and Economics . (b) National Technical Certificate of NABTEB with 5 passes in Mathematics and other four from Physics, Chemistry, Technical /Building Drawing, General Metal Work, English Language, General Woodwork, Biology, and any other trade related subjects such as Introduction to Building Construction, Blocklaying/Bricklaying, Concreting, Carpentry & Joinery, Machine Woodwork, General Woodwork.

Passes in English Language, Mathematics and Physics are compulsory.

1

National Diploma (ND) in the same discipline with a minimum of Lower Credit obtained from an NBTE accredited programme/Institution plus a minimum of one year post – National Diploma Industrial Attachment/Work Experience in the field of specialization. However, in exceptional cases, candidates with Pass Grade in the National Diploma with a minimum of 2 years post-National Diploma Industrial Attachment/Work Experience may be considered.

SPECIAL INFORMATION: There will be qualifying examination and Interview for all HND Programmes Applicants.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS (A) HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA PROGRAMME IN THE FACULTY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (i) Two year Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication (ii) Two year Higher National Diploma in Office Technology and Management (Formerly Secretarial Studies) (iii) Two year Higher National Diploma in Computer Science Entry Requirement for (i) above Minimum of 5 credits in ‘O’ level GCE and SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NBC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings in English Language, Mathematics and three subjects from Economics/Commerce, Government, Geography, His-

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

49

OSUN STATE POLYTECHNIC, IREE P.M.B. 301, IREE

ADVERTISEMENT FOR ADMISSION INTO FULL TIME PRE-NATIONAL DIPLOMA AND HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES FOR THE 2011/2012 ACADEMIC SESSION tory, Literature in English, Yoruba, any other Nigerian Language, Principles of Accounts and Physics/Chemistry/Biology/ Agric.Science.

Entry Requirement for (ii) above Minimum of 5 credits in ‘O’ level GCE and SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NBC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings .Credits in English Language and any other FOUR subjects from Mathematics, Business Methods, Typewriting, Shorthand, Literature in English, Government, Financial Accounting, Office Practice, History, Religious Knowledge, Yoruba, French Language, Commerce/ Economics, Accounts, Geography and Physics/ Chemistry/Biology/Agric Science. A minimum of pass in Mathematics is required.

Entry Requirement for (iii) above Minimum of 5 credits in ‘O’ level GCE and SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings. Credits in Mathematics, Physics and three of the following subjects: English Language, Chemistry, Biology/ Agricultural Science, Further/Additional Mathematics, Statistics, Economics/Commerce and Geography. A pass in English Language is compulsory.

(B)

HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES IN THE FACULTY OF SCIENCE i. Two Year Higher National Diploma in Applied Chemistry ii Two Year Higher National Diploma in Microbiology iii.Two Year Higher National Diploma in Food Technology iv.Two Year Higher National Diploma in Statistics

Entry Requirement for (i) above Minimum of 5 credits in ‘O’ levels GCE and SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings. Credits in Mathematics and Chemistry are compulsory, plus any other three from the following English Language, Physics, Biology/Agric Science, Geography, Economics/ Commerce and Further Mathematics . A pass in English Language is also required.

Entry Requirement for (ii) above Minimum of 5 credits in ‘O’ levels GCE and SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings. Credits in Mathematics and Biology are compulsory, plus any other three from the following English Language Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Economics/Commerce and Further Mathematics A pass in English Language is compulsory.

Entry Requirement for (iii) above Minimum of 5 credits in ‘O’ levels GCE and SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings. Credits in Mathematics, Chemistry Biology/ Agricultural Science and any other two from the following: English language, Physics, Economics/Commerce, Statistics, Food and Nutrition, Geography and Technical Drawing. A pass in English Language is compulsory.

Entry Requirement for (iv) above Minimum of 5 Credits in ‘O’ levels GCE and SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings. Credits in Mathematics, and one of the basic sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) plus any other three from English Language, Further Mathematics, Biology/Agricultural Science, Chemistry, Physics, Economics/Commerce, Geography, Government/History, Statistics, Typewriting . A pass in English Language is compulsory.

(C)

HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES IN THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (i.) Two Year Higher National Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technology (a) Power and Machine (Option). (b) Electronics Telecommunication (Option) (ii) Two Year Higher National Diploma in Computer Engineering Technology. (iii) Two Year Higher National Diploma in Civil Engineering.

Entry Requirements for (i – iii) above Minimum of 5 credits in ‘O’ level GCE and SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings . Credits in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry are compulsory plus any other two from the following: English Language Biology / Agricultural Science, Further Mathematics, Geography, Economics/Commerce, Electronics, Technical/Building Drawing, Basic Elec-

tricity/Basic Electronics & Wood /Metal Work, and any other trade related subjects such as Introduction to Building Construction, Blocklaying/Bricklaying, Concreting, Carpentry & Joinery, Machine Woodwork, General Woodwork. A Pass in English Language is compulsory.

(D)

HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES IN THE FACULTY OF FINANCIAL STUDIES (i.) Two Year Higher National Diploma in Accountancy. (ii.) Two Year Higher National Diploma in Banking & Finance

Entry Requirement for (i-ii) above Minimum of 5 credits in ‘O’ level GCE and SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings in English Language, Mathematics and any other three subjects from Economics, Government, Commerce, Geography, Principle of Accounts, Statistics, Biology/Agricultural Science/ Chemistry/ Physics.

(E)

HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES IN THE FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES (i) Two Year Higher National Diploma in Business Administration and Management. (ii) Two Year Higher National Diploma in Marketing (iii) Two Year Higher National Diploma in Purchasing & Supply

Entry Requirements for (i-iii) above Minimum of 5 credits in ‘O’ Level GCE and SSCE of WAEC, SSC of NECO or NTC of NABTEB obtained at not more than two sittings . in English Language, Mathematics and any other three subjects from Economics, Government, Commerce, Geography Business Methods, Principles of Accounts, Statistics, Physics/ Chemistry/Biology/ Agricultural Science.

SPECIAL NOTICE/INFORMATION 1.

Please note that it is compulsory for every applicant into the 2011/2012 Pre-ND programme to write the 2012 UTME .

2.

Candidates are advised to read carefully the admission requirements for their programme of study and printout before completing the application form.

3.

Candidates are advised to ensure that they personally and not by proxy fillin appropriate information and pay special attention to the arrangement of names, examination grades, examination number, examination year and the exact Industrial Training (I.T) date (HND only) (12 months from the date of ND certification for those with Lower Credit and 24 months from the date of ND certification for those with Pass Grade.

4.

Only courses duly accredited by the NBTE would be considered for the admission.

5.

Candidates are advised to keep safe their scratch card as any loss will necessitate purchase of another scratch card.

6.

Change of course after the payment of acceptance fee is not allowed.

7.

Applicants are advised to provide correct and functional E- Mail address while completing application form on-line 8.

Date of Qualifying Examination is Saturday, 27th August, 2011.

9.

The Institution would not be liable for any erroneous information contained in filling of forms.

METHOD OF APPLICATION Applicants should purchase online APPLICATION SCRATCH CARDS and collect a Flyer at N7,500.00 from OSPOLY Microfinance Bank LTD., Iree and proceed to www.ospolyiree.com to complete their APPLICATION FORMS online. Completed application forms should be submitted online not later than Monday 25th July, 2011.

Also, completed online application including the confirmation pages should be downloaded and be submitted together with photocopies of claimed credentials to the Admission Officer, Directorate of Academic Affairs, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree not later than 15th July, 2011.For detailed information on our existing programmes and admission requirements, please visit our site: www.ospolyiree.com .Our help lines are: 08154444027 and 08062762799. E-mail: admissions @ ospolyiree. com.

J. A. AKANDE REGISTRAR

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

INSURANCE

NAICOM settles N2.2b claims disputes T

HE National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) settled disputes over claims worth about N2.2billion within five years, its helmsman, Mr Fola Daniel, said.

A statement by Assistant Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr Lucky Fiakpa, quoted Daniel as saying the feat was achieved because of the commission’s resolve to commit insurers to their responsibility on claims settlement.

Daniel said in furtherance of this commitment, the commission’s Complaint Bureau was restructured and strengthened through the provision of required staff and working tools in line with its policy of zero-tolerance for nonpayment of claims.

This, he said, compelled

companies to treat claims payment promptly.

According to him, the expedition of the complaints resolution process has enabled NAICOM to monitor companies’ claims settlement excluding NICON Insurance Plc where complaints relating to pension matters are yet to be resolved.

He said: “Through the bureau, a lot of claims that were proving difficult have been paid. Apparently excited at the way the commission handled his claim issue, an Assistant Director with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) wrote to the Commission: “… Let me respectfully thank you and your management for the prompt action that compelled the insurance company

Stories by Chuks Udo Okonta

to settle my claims after 987 days.

It paid the sum of N338, 895.60 inclusive of the accrued interests for the period it held the money…..”

A loss adjuster also wrote to the commission stating: “We … wish to confirm that we have received the insurer’s cheque for the amount involved in full and final settlement of their indebtedness to our organisation. We hereby register our profound appreciation and gratitude for your prompt intervention and immediate conclusion of the matter.

“About 1,500 complaints valued at about N2.2billion was adjudicated and resolved between 2007 and April 2011. This development has increased insurance

consumer’s confidence on NAICOM and the industry.”

He said NAICOM has also instituted cordial co-existence among the operators in the industry, adding that in the past, the industry was flooded with litigations, which deterred it growth.

“Prior to this administration, the Nigeria Insurers’ Association (NIA) and the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) had instituted several suits seeking the intervention of the Court on several regulatory directives and actions.

“These suits were capable of undermining the very essence of the Commission if not managed. Following dialogue between the Commission and the two trade associations – NIA and NCRIB, the

legal challenges were dropped, paving way for out-of-court settlement.

“A major dividend of the dispute resolution with the NIA is the unconditional waiver of its claim to a return of about N1.5billion earlier collected from insurers. This money hitherto kept in a holding account pending court resolution became available to the commission for the purchase a permanent Head Office,” Daniel said.

He noted in a bid to align with international best practice, NAICOM has initiated an initiative to drive the industry’s operation on a world class information technology platform, adding that the project, which is near completion would transform the way the industry presently operates.

Pension funds to hit $30b by 2015

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ENSIONS contributions will hit $30billion in 2015, the Director-General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mr Muhammed Ahmad, has said.

Ahmad said the pension industry is growing at an average of 30 per cent per annum and could reach $30 billion over the next five years from about $13 billion as more people contribute to the scheme.

According to him, less than 10 per cent of the total working population of about 42 million has pension accounts.

Ahmad said the new pension guideline was needed to diversify pension funds from just government bonds and equities, adding that he had not received any deals for approval yet.

“Even though it’s too early, I’m not sure there’s been any infrastructure bond that has been issued to date,” he said.

He said pension fund managers could only invest 25 per cent of their assets in equities at the moment under two types of fund — a conservative and balanced fund and that the commission was considering a more aggressive fund.

He said the commission has developed a comprehensive corporate strategic plan that involves building proactivity and transparency into the commission’s regulatory activities, developing skilled manpower and strengthening the internal operations to enable it effectively and efficiently discharge its duties and obligations.

He said: “To accomplish these objectives, departments have been realigned and new ones created, with their functions and manning levels clearly spelt out and implemented. In the same vein, the commission in collaboration with other stakeholders is working assiduously to improve capacity in the industry.

“The commission as the apex authority saddled with the responsibility of regulating and supervising the pension industry, has been making efforts to ensure the prompt payment of retirement benefits as well as promoting a vibrant and sustainable industry that will positively impact on the economic development of our dear nation.

“Our regulatory and supervisory philosophy is risk-based and consultative, covering all activities of the commission, surveillance of licensed operators, compliance and enforcement, supervision of investment of pension funds and maintenance of a databank on pension matters,” he added.

An institutional framework to protect the over N2trillion pension funds contributed has been devel-

oped by the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

The Head, Communications Unit, PenCom, Mr Emeka Onuora, said the framework would checkmate sharp practices.

He noted that two kinds of pension schemes are in place, namely, Pay As You Go (PAYG) and the contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), adding that the PAYG scheme covers pensioners existing before the pension reform Act 2004 and workers exempted from the contributory pension scheme.

Onuora said the old scheme is administered by six pension departments, which are Civil Service Pension department, the Military Pension departments, Police Pension department, Custom, Immigration and Prison department, Security Agencies and Federal Capital Pension department. ”On the other hand, the new contributory pension scheme is based on individual Retirement Saving Account (RSA), that is managed by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and funding for this scheme is on monthly deduction from the employees’ salaries and the equivalent contribution by the employer,” he added.

“The alleged fraud in the office of Head of Service of the Federation, is unlikely to occur under the pension scheme administered by PenCom, adding that the new pension dispensation is predicated on structures that have adequate inbuilt control mechanism to prevent such occurrences. ”Under the new system, pension funds are not left with the employers, but are credited directly to the individual’s retirement saving accounts of the beneficiaries and neither the employer, commission nor even the pension fund administrator has access to the money,” he added.

• From left: Managing Director, FBN Life Assurance Limited Mr Val Ojumah and Director, Marsh Enegry Insurance brokers Mr Jonathan Raven, at a seminar in Lagos.

Intercontinental Wapic gets company

I

NTERCONTINENTAL Wapic Insurance Plc has named Mr Ephraims Akamihe its company Secretary and Legal Adviser.

A statement from the company said Mr Samuel Adeniyi was also appointed the Head of Investment and Mr Adesina Sodeinde, Head of Information Technology.

The statement said Sodeinde has a Bachelor of Science degree (combined honour) in Computer Science/Economics from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife in 1995 and obtained a MBA in 1999.

He worked at Intercontinental Bank Plc where he was, system

secretary, others administrator; head of Process Quality and Metrics; Head, IT Security; regional head of IT; and e-government Officer in the Bank’s E-Banking Group.

Akamihe, a lawyer and notary public, holds a Law degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1990) and was called to the Bar in 1991.

He practised with Obafemi Adewale & Co Solicitors between 1999 and 2004, where he rose to become the deputy head of chambers/managing counsel.

He worked in IGI Plc where he was deputy manager (Legal) be-

Niger Insurance restrategises

N

IGER Insurance Plc has taken steps to reposition its corporate image, the Managing Director, Justus Uranta, said.

Uranta, who spoke at a media parley in Lagos, said the company has redeployed its erstwhile corporate affairs manager, Mr Tony Ojeme, back to head its corporate affairs department, adding that the decision was aimed at enhancing the company’s visibility.

He noted that the company had to embark on restructuring to en-

sure that its customers get qualitative services at all times, noting that the company is in business primarily to meet the needs and satisfy the aspirations of its esteemed policyholders.

Uranta said the company would always strive to ensure that the shareholders keep getting better returns on their investment and that the income generated by the firm justifies its capital base.

He said the company has a policy to train and retrain its manpower since it is conscious

of the fact that human resource is the most valuable resource of the organisation.

“Today’s business is knowledge-driven, so, you need to train and retrain your manpower to be able to compete globally having seen that the world has become a global village. As it is today, there is no difference between those of us operating in Nigeria and our counterparts in London if we are able to drive our knowledge some where close to their point. So, we need this funding to improve on our bottom line,” he said.

fore joining Intercontinental Wapic. Akamihe obtained a MBA degree from University of Calabar in 2006. He is also an associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria and the UK), and has attended local and international.

He was assistant secretary of the Lagos State Law Enforcement Committee.

Adeniyi is a chartered accountant and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers of Nigeria, Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria, and an authorised dealer at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

He has the Treasury Dealership Certificate-Financial Market Dealers’ Association of Nigeria (FMDA).

He has experience in investment management, treasury, banking operations and financial reporting. Prior to his current appointment, he was at various times with GTB Asset Management Limited as head of Portfolio Management; Intercontinental Bank Plc as the security dealer from 2005 to 2008; and at CSL Stockbrokers Limited as equity dealer. Adeniyi is an astute financial expert. He obtained his MBA from the Business School, Netherland.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

51

PERSONAL FINANCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

‘Minimal overhead key to survival of small businesses’

T

O cope with the harsh economic climate, small business owners have been advised to find a way to minimise overheads : This,according an expert, is key to survival.

The Managing Director ,Serviceforts Academy ,Lagos , Efe Imiren ,while speaking on ways new entrants in business could transit into a more stable financial position, said the concern should be how to launch a business into a better position using inexpensive strategies.

She was addressing a smart income camp in Lagos.

To position her Internet start-up, Imiren said she spent little money creating all the necessary online bells and whistles from scratch.

According to her , she had explored available online tools, and did much of the work her self. By decreasing her overheads and mak-

By Daniel Essiet

ing the most of the Internet, Imiren moved into a stable financial position to weather the future.

She built a functional website which met the expectations of online customers, including features such as blogs and social networking tools.

For her, the do-it-yourself era of Web applications, makes a business person out of anyone with some good ideas, a broadband connection, and a way to get heard through created content. What beginners in business need, Imiren explained is money to purchase a domain name, get a business licence, and buy some office supplies.

Looking forward to a promising future for her company, she can relax and enjoy the fact that her information products are helping Nigerians solve their problems.

•Imiren

Making money as a song writer

O

NE of the greatest worship songwriters of all time, Lenny LeBlanc has said there are opportunities to make a living writing songs.

According to Leblanc,who was addressing a song writing forum in Lagos, song writing is a craft that can be learned like any other.He said songwriters must learn the skills they need to succeed. Some of the skills include rhyming, writing, lyric form and structure, how to get published, recording and how to make and sell own CDs. For him, there can be no substitute for a writer using the basic tools of songwriting - things such as melodic shape, structure, the craft of lyric writing, harmonic interest, making sure the song has a “hook” etc- all these things are important and can and should be developed over time. He said he tries to do everything with excellence.

According to LeBlanc , there are several money making streams available to a song writer. This include writing songs for themselves and other artists, For him, the strategy is staying in touch with new opportunities to make money from song writing. In view of increasing free download of music on line, LeBlanc noted that it is becoming difficult to make money in song writing. From the statistics published by the various rights organisations,he noted only a few published songwriters are making enough money each year to be able to devote themselves fulltime to song writing. According to him,songwriting is not a “get-richquick” scheme, nor is it for everybody no matter how keen one may initially be.

He noted that it is a business that

•Adenuga

should taken seriously if one wants to succeed.

LeBlanc explained that he writes songs not because of making money, but he loves writing songs.

The Chief Executive, Foundation of Praise Music,Wale Adenuga, said one must first understand what makes a good song.

He said one has to continue working on his song writing technique .

As an artist, Adenuga advised new entrants to get a good understanding of the music business.

He said a musician makes money from the sales of physical records, tapes, CDs, DVDs, but that the effect of downloads and piracy is affecting the fortune of the local music industry.

Music generally, he noted remains a competitive business.

Adenuga noted even when one has a hit song that would literally set one up for life, the chances of success are low, and most aspiring songwriters drop out very early.

Abroad, musicians earn money from radio airplay, television, jukeboxes, music services and live performances. Radio and television stations pay yearly license fees to the performing rights.

One of the speakers advised musicians to become friendly with the music programmes directors at radio stations, and make sure their songs are played regularly.

‘Abroad, musicians earn money from radio airplay, television, jukeboxes, music services and live performances. Radio and television stations pay yearly license fees to the performing rights’ •LeBlanc

Auto repair services, sale of spare parts

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HE economic growth of the last several years has resulted in increased disposable income. Many people have chosen to spend part of their increased income on their automobiles. As a result,

the need for reliable and convenient auto services has substantially risen as well. Increase in consumer credit products offered by banks and availability of cheaper car models, is encouraging the acquisition of new cars by more people, especially in Nigeria. The number of new cars registered in Nigeria has been on the increase in the last five years. In addition, many individuals also directly import their cars to reduce the cost of acquisition as well get better specifications. The influx of new cars has expectedly increased the need for high quality auto spare parts and service centres, especially in Lagos and other major cities where there is heavy traffic flow.

This project entails setting up of a modern ‘Auto repair services and sale of spare parts’. It proposed offering high-quality, quick and convenient auto repair services; along side, a full range of auto parts inventory with rapid shipping capability of major auto parts, for the Nigerian market on commercial basis.

The product lines to be stocked for servicing and sales will include a full complement of inventory at a typical super centre of an average that is approximately 25,000 items. Prominent among which are: Tyres; batteries. new and remanufactured parts for domestic and imported cars, including: suspension parts; ignition parts; exhaust systems; engines and engine parts; oil and air filters, belts, hoses, and air conditioning parts; lighting; wiper blades; brake parts; etc. chemicals: including oil, antifreeze, polishes, additives, cleansers and paints. Mobile electronics: including sound systems, alarms, and remote vehicle starters. Car accessories: including seat covers, floor mats, and exterior accessories. hand tools: including sockets, wrenches, ratchets, paint and body tools, jacks and lift equipment, automotive specialty tools and test gauges.

Repair service to be rendered would range from routine maintenance and refurbishments to major repairs of automobiles. Specifically, it will include the following: oil change: scheduled and unscheduled walk-in oil change service for all vehicles. Filter replacement: for all vehicle types. Preventive maintenance: regular maintenance on all vehicles with diagnostics to detect impending repairs. Tire installation, balancing and alignment: Replacement of tyres for all vehicle types, electronic wheel balancing and alignment. Brake service: general service and repair of brakes. This will include replacement of brake pads, drums and lining. Air conditioning system installation & repair: complete and partial installation of car air conditioning system. Repair of entire cooling mechanism. Belts and hoses: replacement of belts (fan belt, engine belt, A/C belt) and hoses. Engine diagnostics: Complete engine diagnostic for all vehicles. Diagnosis is capable of detecting all major and minor defects in the engine of the car. Tune-ups: Engine tune-ups and overhauling. Fuel system maintenance and repairs: Cleaning and maintenance of fuel systems to ensure smooth functioning of engine.

Transmission fluid exchange: Replacement of automobile transmission fluids with authentic fluids. Shocks and struts: Replacement of automobile shocks and struts with original spare parts. Car wash: Automated and manual car wash and detailing service. Body works: - Panel-beating.

Painting and repainting using state of the art automotive baking ovens.

Sale of spare & service parts: This will include parts of vehicles that will be used for in-house repair and/or refurbishment jobs as well as in sale to other garages and vehicle owners. Sale of car accessories: This will include general and specialised accessories for various vehicle brands.

Investment cost for execution of this service project may range from N10 million. This amount can be scaled down or increased, depending on the financial position of the promoter. The project has great economic potentials if properly planned and implemented. The returns in terms of turnover and profits are considerably very high; sometimes running over 50%. It is, therefore, recommended that interested investors contact the Consultant for help and a detailed feasibility report.

This project stands a good chance of attracting local and off-shore finance, which can be obtained from any of the commercial banks or foreign banks/ investment outfits. A well packaged feasibility report is a pre-requisite to securing finance for the project. This can be provided by the Consultant on request. For details on how to implement this project or any other, please contact us. We are willing to assist potential investors on any aspect of the project. Prospective investors may get in touch with us at the address stated hereunder.

KRIS-ED BRILLIANT LIMITED (Brilliant Consulting), By: Edwin Agbaike (Projects, Financial & Management Consultant) Tel. Nos. 08023381900; 08098525122. E-mail: krisedbrilliant@yahoo.com.

Book on entrepreneurs for launch THE congress hall of Transcorp Hilton hotel Abuja will on June 4 host a gathering of the general public as well as 500 successful Nigerian entrepreneurs to witness the presentation of a book titled, Entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

Written by Mr. James Abiona, it is a compendium that emphasizes the many economic and business possibilities in Nigeria, an effort to present the true picture of a dynamitic nation Nigeria, to the outside world and to also woo Nigerians in the Diaspora back home.

One of the chapters has highlighted the profiles of 100 outstanding entrepreneurs to give numerous examples to readers why they can also become success stories. The book also contains icons of national transformation, beautiful projects and places in Nigeria like the Obudu cattle ranch, Lagos Island, Abuja city gate, Calabar city gate, Transcorp Hilton Abuja and many other places.

Abiona, at the press briefing said, his motivation for writing the book was to promote a cause, the alleviation of poverty and encouragement of job creation. “The book is to encourage them to see the possibilities where they think there are none after all, with all the challenges a lot of foreign companies move into Nigeria everyday and they make huge turnovers.”

Amina Ayuba, a Nigerian in Diaspora who just recently returned cited an example of being the only black with a white-collar job in a threestorey building with several offices. “All the other blacks were doing the odd jobs like cleaning, washing plates etc even though some of them were graduates.”

52

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 7-06-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 1 22 27

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 8.00

Quantity Traded 299,000 200,000 204,850 703,850

Value of Shares (N) 149,500.00 100,000.00 1,687,442.00 1,936,942.00

Quotation(N) 2.20 8.63

Quantity Traded 101,747 164,111 265,858

Value of Shares (N) 218,768.70 1,411,037.35 1,629,806.05

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.41

Quantity Traded 3,131 522,033 525,164

Value of Shares (N) 1,565.50 1,194,935.65 1,196,501.15

Quotation(N) 7.51 1.32 6.00 3.90 7.35 2.65 13.48 0.55 16.20 10.21 1.12 1.45 1.01 8.38 1.04 1.81 6.25 2.28 0.91 0.98 15.00

Quantity Traded 18,113,496 811,150 641,050 194,421 9,997,127 3,282,499 5,537,372 1,268,694 9,337,577 1,516,243 303,822 2,112,035 763,800 5,267,562 217,000 422,353 6,290,487 1,650,786 2,285,875 2,898,892 35,355,066 108,267,307

Value of Shares (N) 135,465,690.08 1,070,718.00 3,839,037.00 729,836.80 73,466,929.45 8,581,442.58 74,606,930.97 697,781.70 152,024,843.06 15,613,065.58 340,280.64 3,062,450.75 771,438.00 43,961,909.50 225,680.00 764,458.93 38,829,344.57 3,763,792.08 2,087,054.25 2,890,726.76 530,420,842.90 1,093,214,253.60

Quotation(N) 4.05 251.00 6.77 92.00

Quantity Traded 5,000 92,574 750,981 915,218 1,763,773

Value of Shares (N) 20,250.00 23,066,159.80 4,885,232.83 83,962,672.54 111,934,315.17

Quantity Traded 396,223 543,275 37,857 2,250,547 3,227,902

Value of Shares (N) 9,473,567.32 5,533,800.13 4,999,512.27 107,958,841.20 127,965,720.92

Quantity Traded 3,714 102,437 50 106,201

Value of Shares (N) 40,783.24 3,020,867.13 72.50 3,061,722.87

Quantity Traded 10,000 239,400 249,400

Value of Shares (N) 5,000.00 710,215.05 715,215.05

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 5 27 32

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 17 18

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC AFRIBANK NIGERIA PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC FINBANK PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC BANK PHB PLC SKYE BANK PLC. SPRING BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 293 25 42 28 49 78 424 22 485 56 15 55 10 105 6 8 209 27 33 51 261 2,282

BANKING

BREWERIES Company Name CHAMPION BREWERIES PLC GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 77 26 169 273

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 64 47 9 43 163

Quotation(N) 24.45 10.20 132.00 48.00

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 17 1 22

Quotation(N) 11.12 29.49 1.52

‘Stock market may rebound in third quarter’ A

CUTE price inefficiencies undermine true value discovery at the Nigerian stock market as prices fail to take into consideration the full fundamentals of companies.

Managing director, Financial Derivatives Limited, Bismarck Rewane, in his latest monthly economic review and preview, said prices at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) often time, undervalue the potential of companies but rather respond to dividend payouts.

He said, rather than reflecting the actual shareholders’ value or return potential, the market responds to momentous declaration.

He noted that continuing increase in interest rate has impacted negatively on the inflow into the equities market.

Rewane, however said the stock market may trend upward in the third quarter as investors respond to interim reports and accounts for the second quarter.

“Cautious optimism from investors but value exists for the long-term investors,” Rewane said.

He added that clear policy direction and continuing economic reforms would attract institutional and international investors.

He noted that government

No of Deals 1 13 14

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.89

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 1.38

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value of Shares (N) 132.00 132.00

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC SCOA NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 39 1 62 37 68 209

Quotation(N) 2.20 35.70 7.48 0.90 40.95 27.20

Quantity Traded 31,000 162,334 300 6,795,100 170,743 577,611 7,737,088

Value of Shares (N) 68,200.00 5,719,009.89 2,133.00 6,068,594.00 6,851,250.20 15,830,804.75 34,539,991.84

Quantity Traded 21,500 355,319 30,000 406,819

Value of Shares (N) 87,290.00 19,704,181.05 109,200.00 19,900,671.05

Quantity Traded 150,000 150,000

Value of Shares (N) 108,000.00 108,000.00

Quotation(N) 46.00 20.00 18.35 14.00 90.00 4.51 6.27 35.50 400.49 0.52 0.66

Quantity Traded 25,795 688,392 5,363,212 963,737 1,807,190 404,400 664,768 46,982 16,411 260,400 32,208 10,273,495

Value of Shares (N) 1,215,852.00 13,957,389.30 98,839,107.91 13,515,279.68 162,640,467.69 1,794,380.50 4,230,123.22 1,670,067.54 6,577,215.32 131,720.00 20,935.20 304,592,538.36

Quotation(N) 1.99 27.10 3.90 1.87

Quantity Traded 116,050 17,590 262,623 10,000 406,263

Value of Shares (N) 228,778.78 463,212.50 1,022,088.75 17,800.00 1,731,880.03

CONSTRUCTION Company Name COSTAIN (WA) PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC ROADS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 15 1 22

Quotation(N) 4.27 55.50 3.47

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

Quotation(N) 0.72

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 15 59 102 84 59 25 34 13 40 5 2 438 HEALTHCARE

Company Name No of Deals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 9 GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC 14 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 25 NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC 1 Sector Totals 49

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 29 5 35

Quotation(N) 3.05 1.44 4.53

Quantity Traded 2,000 1,372,522 500 1,375,022

Value of Shares (N) 6,100.00 2,009,880.76 2,155.00 2,018,135.76

Quantity Traded 2,000 57,897 59,897

Value of Shares (N) 15,600.00 328,687.67 344,287.67

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 9 10

Quotation(N) 8.20 5.83

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 18 18

Quotation(N) 0.60

Quantity Traded 5,705,045 5,705,045

Value of Shares (N) 3,433,219.35 3,433,219.35

Quotation(N) 0.89 1.06 2.81 0.50 1.60 0.50 0.51 0.52 0.76 1.70 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 6,080,381 8,191,000 1,138,500 749,500 365,000 50,000 584,262 1,888,369 75,000 421,000 1,063,500 40,000

Value of Shares (N) 5,313,387.40 8,215,060.00 3,302,810.89 374,750.00 595,052.00 25,000.00 299,503.50 981,275.68 55,750.00 715,065.61 531,750.00 20,000.00

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC

No of Deals 46 19 11 9 17 1 10 18 6 5 4 2

‘He noted that government ban on imported food products and commitment to infrastructural development would create growth opportunities for the food and beverages and building materials sectors’

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 7-06-11

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name THOMAS WYATT PLC Sector Totals

ban on imported food products and commitment to infrastructural development would create growth opportunities for the food and beverages and building materials sectors.

Rewane, pointed out that the disparity between the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) growth rate of 7.43 per cent in the first quarter and stock market’s year-to-date return of 4.28 per cent by the end of May, reflected the absence of major growth sectors like upstream oil and gas sector at the NSE. The NSE on Monday alluded to limitations posed by the non-listing of major telecommunication and oil and gas companies.

Mallam Ballama Manu, Interim President of NSE lamented that the NSE has not been able to optimally func-

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name COURTVILLE INVESTMENTS PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

tion as the barometer of the economy due to the exclusion of major sectors of the economy from the market.

According to him, the conspicuous absence of the two of the leading sectors in the Nigerian economy; telecommunications and the upstream oil and gas, from the stock market has created a disconnect between these sectors of the economy and those traded on the stock market, which makes international investors to be uncertain about investing in the Nigerian stock market.

He implored that the international oil companies in the Nigerian upstream oil and gas sectors should also be encouraged to list their shares by removing the current operating structure that precludes them from listing.

He urged government to implement a targeted policy that would encourage major oil and gas, energy and telecommunication companies to list a percentage of their shares in the local market.

INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

1 149

0.53

12,000 20,658,512

6,120.00 20,435,525.08

Quotation(N) 1.19

Quantity Traded 344,760 344,760

Value of Shares (N) 399,866.40 399,866.40

Quotation(N) 1.25

Quantity Traded 1,962,206 1,962,206

Value of Shares (N) 2,460,411.98 2,460,411.98

Quotation(N) 0.51 0.50

Quantity Traded 400,000 362,100 762,100

Value of Shares (N) 204,000.00 181,050.00 385,050.00

Quantity Traded 1,000 5,800,000 522,300 6,323,300

Value of Shares (N) 500.00 2,900,000.00 287,265.00 3,187,765.00

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded 22,717 22,717

Value of Shares (N) 11,358.50 11,358.50

Quotation(N) 2.58 12.71 1.27 2.92

Quantity Traded 952,405 100 10,000 500 963,005

Value of Shares (N) 2,405,942.77 1,208.00 12,100.00 1,390.00 2,420,640.77

Quantity Traded 193,013 222,350 14,158 40,985 153,520 38,257 835,842 8,505 1,506,630

Value of Shares (N) 3,985,157.80 111,175.00 985,672.00 1,634,891.65 749,231.80 5,999,884.25 44,118,400.85 1,662,827.79 59,247,241.14

Quotation(N) 4.99

Quantity Traded 73,562 73,562

Value of Shares (N) 374,489.30 374,489.30

Quotation(N) 18.16

Quantity Traded 53,262 53,262

Value of Shares (N) 932,253.20 932,253.20

Quantity Traded 5,000 10,000 15,000

Value of Shares (N) 500,000.00 500,000.00 1,000,000.00

Quotation(N) 0.67

Quantity Traded 69,000 69,000

Value of Shares (N) 44,160.00 44,160.00

Quotation(N) 0.62

Quantity Traded 3,339 3,339

Value of Shares (N) 2,014.15 2,014.15

Quotation(N) 15.00

Quantity Traded 454,000 454,000

Value of Shares (N) 6,798,085.00 6,798,085.00

4,241

174,434,577

1,806,022,193.39

LEASING Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 10 10

Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 65 65

Company Name AFROMEDIA PLC DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 23 26

MARITIME

MEDIA

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name ASO SAVINGS AND LOAND PLC RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 6 11 18

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 0.55

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 PACKAGING

Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC BETA GLASS CO. PLC POLY PRODUCTS (NIGERIA) PLC. STUDIO PRESS (NIGERIA) PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 55 1 1 1 58

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name AFRICAN PETROLEUM PLC. BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 51 7 9 27 15 18 95 17 239

Quotation(N) 21.35 0.50 72.00 39.89 4.95 163.49 53.00 195.50

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 13 13 REAL ESTATE

Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 11 11

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Company Name SKYE SHELTER FUND UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRU Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 1 3

Quotation(N) 97.00 50.00

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 6

Company Name UNITED NIGERIA TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

TEXTILES

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 23 23

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

53

MONEY LINK

CBN hinges bank directors’ confirmation on credit report

T

HE Central Bank of Ni geria (CBN), said it would be guided by reports from credit bureau on the confirmation of newly appointed bank directors, The Nation has learnt.

The objective is to ascertain whether any of such directors has taken loans from the banks and if such loans are being paid as at when due.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Credit Registry Services Plc, Taiwo Ayedun, who confirmed this development in an interview, said the apex bank is bent on ensuring that only people with integrity rise to key positions in the banking industry.

“The CBN sends the list of names of directors to credit bureaux before they are confirmed. They send the names of the directors to us, we pool their credit report and send them back to the apex bank,” he said.

He explained that for every new director in the financial services sector regulated by the CBN to be confirmed, they must have good credit rating.

Appointment of bank directors with poor credit record and who have defaulted in loan repayment in the past will not be confirmed, it was gathered.

The common practice is for the apex bank to send the list of names of directors to credit bureaux to ascertain their credit rating.

When such reports are returned, only those with good credit records are confirmed.

Besides, credit bureaux also file reports to the CBN on

Ayedun said there has been significant growth in the process of pooling credit reports than was the case before the banking reforms in 2009.

However, as a relative ratio to the number of loans being processed, the banks are still not pooling credit report from all their transactions and such is the area they need to improve upon.

Ayedun said some banks believe they can only pool reports from certain class of loans, usually loans above N1 million which is a wrong practice. “All loans have a risk as long as you are part-

ing with your money.

Whether it’s N10,000 or N1 million, there is a risk of loss.

The banks should pool reports from all loans. He said his firm receives on monthly basis, requests from between 25 and 30 financial institutions including but not limited to banks, microfinance banks, primary mortgage institutions, asset management companies and commercial banks,” he said.

‘FinBank will meet recapitalisation HE management of All these innovative deadline’ count.

Finbank has said it products, she explained, are would meet the Sep-

HE Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in collaboration with deposit money banks, is looking at ways of addressing incessant cash management problems in the industry.

Therefore, the Institute and the Committee of Heads of Bank operations (CHBO), have partnered to design a framework and strategies that would produce more convenient and effective cash management system in the country.

To achieve this, the parties will hold two-day programme tagged: National Workshop on Integrated Cash Management between Thursday, June 14 and 15, 2011 in Lagos.

The programme is designed for the staff of CBN, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), banks, discount houses, cash movement firms, security agencies and other financial in-

Stories by Collins Nweze Senior Correspondent

monthly basis, he disclosed, explaining the volume of transactions carried out and how much data they have in their system at such times.

Since April last year, the CBN has issued three circulars on usage of credit bureaux by financial institutions. Under the directive, the banks are expected to pool a report from at least two credit bureaux for every credit.

But in terms of compliance, between 12 and 14 of the 24 banks are regular users of credit bureaux. The others

T

tember 30 deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for rescued banks to recapitalise.

In a statement obtained

by The Nation, the bank said ‘it is optimistic of concluding the recapitalisation process on schedule.

The Group Managing Director, Mrs. Suzanne Iroche, who was responding to questions during the Bank’s Zonal draw for the FinSplash Promo held in Lagos, said the bank has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and received a no objection letter from the CBN. Mrs. Iroche, explained that the Finsplash promo, is aimed at promoting savings

only pool reports at will, putting their loans at high risks of default. For commercial banks, compliance is estimated to be between 40 and 50 per cent.

The CBN as a regulator wants the banks to use necessary tools to reduce bad debts, which explained why the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) was set up. The banks, by complying with AMCON directives, will have more funds to do business and they should do that without compulsion.

Despite these challenges,

culture, rewarding and empowering customers for their continuous patronage and confidence in the bank.

She added that the promo has enhanced the bank’s business, assuring that FinBank will continue to develop products and initiatives that will add value to its customers and the society.

“For us as a bank, it has been a positive experience offering products that empower Nigerians and our customers in particular,” she said.

The Finsplash promo revolves around the bank’s outstanding savings products such as FinSave, Leaders Educational Account Plan (LEAP), NairaWise and the generic savings ac-

tailored to meet target savings, encourage savings culture and build stable funds for investment.

The prizes for each zonal draw range from a cash prize of N250, 000, two LCD televisions, five generators, 20 DVD players to other cash prizes of N5, 000 to be won by 10 persons and over 50 radio sets and hundreds of key rings as consolation prizes.

At the Victoria Island, Lagos Zonal draw, Miss. Blessing Mgbeokwere won the star prize of N250,000 which was presented to her at the event. The second prize of an LCD Television was clinched by Mr. Uzor Ugochuchukwu who was also on hand to receive his prize.

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 07-6-11 SYMBOL CAP GLAXOSMITH BERGER NASCON ETI CUSTOHYINS UNILEVER UBA FIDSON ACCESS

O/PRICE 29.49 27.10 11.12 6.27 15.00 2.81 27.20 6.25 1.99 7.51

C/PRICE 30.96 28.35 11.67 6.58 15.20 2.94 27.30 6.35 2.08 7.60

CHANGE +1.47 +1.25 +0.55 +0.31 +0.20 +0.13 +0.10 +0.10 +0.09 +0.09

LOSER AS AT 07-6-11 SYMBOL PLATINUM ECOBANK ETERNAOIL OCEANIC UBN CONTINSURE AFRIBANK ABCTRANTS INTERCONT WEMABANK

O/PRICE 1.01 3.90 4.95 1.45 2.28 1.06 1.32 0.67 1.12 0.98

C/PRICE 0.96 1.71 1.71 1.38 2.17 1.01 1.26 0.64 1.07 0.94

stitutions in the country.

Top on the list of speakers are, Ben Onyido, former Director of Currency and Branch Operations, CBN; Charles Nwodo, Jnr., GMD/ CEO, XL Management Services Ltd.; Sadiq Bello, Chief Compliance Officer, GTB Plc. Others are Prince Gbolahan Dada, MD/CEO, Joe-han Network Marketing; Segun Adebanji, Vice President, Alvac Nigeria Ltd. and Dr. Uju M. Ogubunka, Registrar, CIBN. Guests of Honour will be Mr. Muhammad Ndah, Director Currency operations, CBN and Mr. Yakubu Alkali, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State. It is expected that at the end of the programme, participants will be able to understand the principles of cash management in the Nigerian economy; develop optimal cash management strategies and manage the risks associated with cash handling.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

T

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 300m 244m 400m 452.3m 500m 499,8m

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

CIBN, banks move to address cash mgt hitches

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

He explained that non-compliance among banks has nothing to do with cutting cost as was the case in recent years. “I don’t think it’s an issue of cost now. We are talking of spending about N1,000 not to lose N1 million.

The banks already charge customers certain fees like management fees, processing fees and other fees. Besides, the banks push cost of credit check to the cost of the loans.

CHANGE -0.05 -0.19 -0.24 -0.07 -0.11 -0.05 -0.06 -0.03 -0.05 -0.04

Amount Sold ($) 244m 400m 499.8m

Exchange Rate (N) 153.59 153.4 153.45

Date 06-6-11 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

07-06-11 N8.231tr 25.741.94

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

06-06-11 N8.251tr 25,830.33

% Change -0.34% -0.34%

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 1.00 117.35 119.45 0.84 1.00 1,582.15 9.94 1.39 1.87 9,199.45 193.00

9.08 1.00 116.81 118.70 0.81 1.00 1,576.19 9.46 1.33 1.80 8,887.66 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

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

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NEWS

Re: Awo family without an Awo Continued from back page It is surely to the utter shame of a so-called avowed Awoist that he has exposed his absolute lack of any knowledge of Awo’s life. I would not be surprised if Omatseye was unaware, as many of his cohorts also appear to be, that I was the first person to use the broom as a party symbol when at the party’s campaign for the Federal elections that were held during my husband’s incarceration.

Omatseye’s dishonest claim of respect for Awo’s thoughts and opinions is further debunked by his notion that Awo was unable to correctly assess his wife of 48 years (at the time of his transition).

The abject insult that was heaped on my person by Omatseye, for daring to rise above partisanship and pursue the common good has caused me the kind of pain that can only be dealt with by offering it to God, whose wheel of justice may grind slowly but is guaranteed to grind exceedingly fine.

I notice a reference to ‘dynastic curse’ in the article under reference.

I totally reject that in my family, by the blood of Jesus and I decree, by His power, that any contrary pronouncement shall return to its sender.

As for the Awo family’s non-attendance at recent inauguration ceremonies, as decent and dignified people we know that etiquette does not permit you to attend functions to which you have not been invited.

My daughter, Or Awolowo Dosumu’s public career and foray into partisan politics had at various times

in the past been described in disparaging terms on the pages of The Nation. The reference to her in the article under reference is, therefore, nothing new.

I am glad, however, that, by Omatseye’s own admission and inference, all those who recently assumed governance in the Southwest have done so by riding Awo’s coat tail. What baffles me, however, is the inverted logic that suggests that his daughter had no right to his coat tail while these others do.

The mantra when my daughter was contesting, which emanated from the same group that has now metamorphosed into the conquering army of the west, was ‘a o le sin Baba k’a sin omo’ (we cannot serve the father and the child) has obviously been jettisoned as many of the children and spouses of these same people have now emerged winners in various electoral contests. One law for the goose, another for the gander.

Like her father before her, she has taken electoral defeat in her stride and has since returned to her profession as an Occupational Health Physician. In other words, she has moved on. It is about time that everyone else did too.

In any case, Dr Awolowo-Dosumu’s role and activities at the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation since its inception in 1992 have been acknowledged and recognised, even internationally, by fair-minded people who are not so blinkered by their inordinate desire to ‘own’ a legacy that belongs to all that they become economical with the truth and un-

leash despicable propaganda against people who have done nothing to deserve it.

Only two years ago, the series of activities organised by the Foundation attracted high-level national and international participation and were favourably received by the general public.

I recall that some so-called Awoists refused to support the initiative on the pretext that the support of the ‘wrong crowd’ had also been invited. Of course, this did not prevent the full participation of these ‘purists’ in the fund-raising ceremony for Sir Ahmadu Bello’s centenary celebrations, an event that was organised by the then Governors of the Northern states, none of whom belonged to the party of ‘the perfect ones’.

For clarification, I applaud the way in which the Governors and all concerned rallied to the cause of celebrating Sir Ahmadu Bello, one of Nigeria’s founding fathers. I simply quote this example to highlight the breathtaking hypocrisy of these modern-day Pharisees.

I believed then, and I still believe now that Chief Awolowo’s right to be honoured and celebrated, particularly in the territory in which he held sway and in which he performed the feats for which he will be forever remembered, should not be predicated on political party affiliation.

As far as I am aware, Chief Awolowo has not founded any of the political parties existing in Nigeria today. His political associates, those who actually knew him per-

FOREIGN NEWS Gaddafi vows to fight on

Y

•NATO jets pound Tripoli

W

AVES of NATO aircraft hit Tripoli on Tuesday in the most sustained bombardment of the Libyan capital since Western forces began air strikes in March.

By Tuesday afternoon, war planes were striking different parts of the city several times an hour, hour after hour, rattling windows and sending clouds of grey smoke into the sky, a Reuters correspondent in the center of the city said.

But Muammar Gaddafi vowed on Tuesday to fight to the death.

U.S. President Barack Obama said it only a matter of time till Libyan leader goes.

The Libyan government attributed earlier blasts to NATO air strikes on military compounds in the capital.

Bombs have been striking the

city every few hours since Monday, at a steadily increasing pace. On Tuesday they began before 11 a.m. (0900 GMT) and were continuing five hours later.

Air strikes were previously rarer and usually at night.

“We only have one choice: we will stay in our land dead or alive,” Gaddafi said in a fiery audio address, calling on his supporters to flock to his vast Bab al-Aziziya compound, which was hit several times by NATO air strikes on Tuesday.

Describing planes flying overhead and explosions around him, Gaddafi was defiant.

“We are stronger than your missiles, stronger than your planes, and the voice of the Libyan people is louder than explosions,” he said in his

•Gaddafi

customary impassioned tone.

He said he was ready to unleash between 250,000 to 500,00 armed Libyans to swarm across the country to cleanse it from “armed gangs,” a reference to rebels controlling eastern Libya.

Residents in Syria brace up for army assault

R

ESIDENTS of the Syrian town of Jisr alShughour are said to be fleeing ahead of an expected military assault, after the government said 120 security forces personnel had been killed there.

Residents still in the town have set up checkpoints to monitor any security operations, witnesses say.

The government says it will act “with force” to combat “armed gangs” that it blames for the recent killings.

Activists say the cause of the deaths is unclear, and may involve a mutiny.

They insist that the uprising against the regime of

President Bashar al-Assad is peaceful.

Following the alleged deaths among the security forces, residents of Jisr alShughour posted messages on Facebook saying they feared a slaughter. They called on people to block roads into the town with burning tyres, rocks and tree trunks.

Syrian army tanks and troop carriers backed by helicopters were reported to be on the move.

Travellers between Lattakia and Aleppo told the BBC that Jisr al-Shughour residents had erected checkpoints to monitor any security operations being prepared.

“Today the army started moving in on Jisr al-Shughour from various places, such as the [army] centre in Homs and others from an eastern centre in the Ariha region,” a witness told BBC Arabic.

“A lot of our people here have started fleeing, some fled for Turkey and others fled to [neighbouring] regions. We are extremely scared of bloodbaths in Jisr al-Shughour.”

Dozens of Syrians who crossed the northern border into Turkey are being treated in hospitals in the south-east of the country for wounds they say they received in clashes with Syrian forces, Turkish officials say.

sonally and worked with him, can be found in several different parties.

Let me remind Omatseye and others like him that Awo expounded the theory of dialectics in his last presidential address to the UPN at Abeokuta in 1983.

His thoughts and -ideas have been proved beyond any doubt to be the blueprint for Nigeria’s, even Africa’s, development and it remains a source of joy to me to see and hear people from all political parties, using him as their roadmap to success in governance. Talk about vindication!

I, and my family, refuse therefore to be hamstrung or blackmailed into going into the bondage of exclusive association with people who clearly resent and despise us and have made no secret of that fact.

We applaud all those who have tried their best to approximate Chief Awolowo’s record of service and we extend our best wishes to those, including those in Omatseye’s list, who are just setting out on their journey of governance. We pray that they may succeed, even as Awo did.

To do so, however, they have to remain faithful to his ideals and work sacrificially, as he did, for the benefit of the people in whose trust they today they occupy high office and whose expectations have been raised that another Awo era has arrived.

Finally, let me say this. When last I checked, there was no law in Nigeria that compelled anyone to go into partisan politics. Under a democratic dispensation, freedom of association is also guaranteed.

Mr. Omatseye would, no doubt,

balk at any suggestion that he should forgo any of his rights as a bona fide citizen of Nigeria, including the above-mentioned rights and liberties, under any circumstances. As. my husband always used to say (and include in many of his writings), however, you must always concede the rights to others that you claim for yourself. This is an important lesson for Omatseye.

To the uninformed, Chief Awolowo’s legacies begin and end with partisan politics. Those who know better, however, recognise that his legacies as a thinker, visionary and administrator hold far wider and more profound implications for, and potential to impact, posterity. My children know this and remain free to choose, individually and collectively, which aspect of their paterfamilias’ legacy they wish to promote and progress.

My family fully recognises, cherishes and welcomes the larger Awo family, regardless of status or location. But we will not be harassed into associating with anyone or group, no matter how loudly they proclaim their self-righteousness.

Let me end with one of Papa’s favourite quotes, ‘What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted!

Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just, And he but naked, though lock’d up in steel, Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted’.

I hope this statement will be given the same prominence in The Nation as the offensive article.

Yemeni’s leader Saleh ‘gravely EMEN’S President Ali wounded’ in rocket attack Abdullah Saleh was more seriously in-

jured in a rocket attack on his compound last week than thought, officials have told United States media.

Mr Saleh suffered 40% burns and has bleeding inside his skull after Friday’s attack, US officials told AP. The president is receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia after the attack on his palace in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.

A senior administration official told the BBC that they were not going to comment on Mr Saleh’s health.

“We’re not doctors. As [the] Secretary [of State Hillary

Clinton] said yesterday, we’re focused here and in Sanaa on working toward a peaceful, orderly, non-violent transition, consistent with Yemen’s constitution,” the official said.

The country’s acting leader, Vice-President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, has said Mr Saleh intends to return within days.

But analysts say that the severity of his injuries will have a direct impact on when - and if - he can come back to the strategically important country he has governed for 33 years, and on who will take

Volcano ash cloud from Chile disrupts flights

F

LIGHTS in several South American countries are being disrupted by clouds of ash spewed by a Chile volcano range.

Flight to and from the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, have been suspended, while in Chile, Santiago airport has also seen cancellations.

Earlier, Chilean authorities expanded the evacuation area around the Puyehue-CordonCaulle volcano range, about 800km (500 miles) south of Santiago.

It began erupting at the weekend and continues to belch a column of ash.

Aviation officials say around 60 flights - domestic and international - from Ezeiza and Aeroparque airports in Buenos Aires have been cancelled.

Disruption to travellers

seems likely to grow with the knock-on effects of cancellations The country’s main airlines - Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral - announced that they had cancelled all flights until further notice.

Flights from Santiago to various cities in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil have also been suspended by Chilean carrier Lan and Brazil’s Tam Airlines, the Spanish news agency Efe reported.

Argentine officials are monitoring the spread of the ash, and said earlier they feared some volcanic pollution could reach Buenos Aires province and the capital during Tuesday.

Several airports further south have already been closed, while border crossings between Chile and Argentina have been closed.

power if he cannot.

It was not immediately clear how severe Mr Saleh’s burns and other injuries were but, on Saturday, sources close to the president told the BBC that he had second-degree burns on his chest and face, as well as a piece of shrapnel almost 7.6cm (3in) long under his heart.

Burns are assessed according to severity, from superficial to third/fourth-degree where all layers of skin are affected.

Zimbabwe ‘phantom voters’ exposed A LEAKED version of Zimbabwe’s voters’ roll contains some 2.6m too many names, according to a report by a respected South African organisation.

There are more than 41,000 people aged over 100 - four times more than in the United Kingdom, which has a far larger population and far longer life expectancy.

“This phantom vote is more than enough to settle the outcome of any election,” said the author, Richard Johnson.

President Robert Mugabe has called for elections to be held this year.

But his long-time rival, and prime minister in the power-sharing government, Morgan Tsvangirai, says they should be held in 2012 after a new constitution has been passed to ensure they are free and fair.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

63

Tomorrow in THE NATION

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 6 NO.1784

‘Even our great thinkers that should set agenda for society are not left out; some borrow money to fete well wishers after their inaugurals. We are all involved in a culture of waste’ JIDE OLUWAJUYITAN

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

W

HEREVER he is, Mr. Audu Ogbe, former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), must be having a good laugh at the apparent discomfiture of his former party over the defeat on Monday of its official candidate for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Mulikat Akande-Adeola.

In an interview in Newswatch (October 21, 2002) in the heat of his big row with President Olusegun Obasanjo, his benefactor-turneddetractor, over the scandalous Ngigegate crisis in Anambra State, Ogbe said the only threat to the party’s hold on power was not the opposition but the party itself.

“The only threat to the PDP,” Ogbe said, “is PDP itself. The indiscipline and the selfishness within, that’s all, otherwise we have no threat.”

What Ogbe did not specify, perhaps because he was ironically a beneficiary of those twin vices (he had been imposed on the party following an earlier row over party supremacy between his predecessor, Bernard Gemade, and the president which row, in turn, had led to Gemade’s unceremonious exit) was that this indiscipline and selfishness were virtually the prerogatives of the leadership of the party; it was like its rules were made to be obeyed by everyone else but by its sanctimonious top leadership.

The row between Gemade and Obasanjo was itself predictable. During its first convention for the election of party officials following its 1999 victory, it was almost a foregone conclusion that Chief Solomon Lar, its Interim Chairman, would be succeeded by the widely respected and a chief architect of the Obasanjo presidency, late Chief Sunday Awoniyi.

But trust the man, i.e. Obasanjo, to payback good with anything but; during the elections at Eagle Square delegates were openly bribed at the behest of the presidency to vote for Gemade and against Awoniyi for no worse crime than the fact that he was well known from his days as a rising bureaucrat in the Northern civil service under the great Sardauna, for being his own man and upright.

The bribery was obviously the last desperate act of a presidency that could see its dubious whispering campaign that it would be wrong to vote a Yorubaman as party chairman when the president himself was Yoruba had fallen flat; after all everyone knew that Awoniyi had always considered himself a Northerner first and a minority Yoruba second.

In the end, Gemade defeated Awoniyi. But like all human beings Gemade in the end could stand only so much manipulation and humiliation; what had been a simmering

People and Politics By MOHAMMED HARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

PDP and power rotation

•Tambuwal

disagreement over party supremacy between him and his godfather almost from the word go finally broke into the open during its convention in November 2001, the first after Gemade’s election.

In a speech at the convention Obasanjo condemned what he described as undue party intervention in government affairs. “Party officials,” he said, “need be reminded that they are not government officials, appointed or otherwise. Party officials are remunerated from party headquarters and they must stay away from the day-to-day executive decisions of the government once the party manifesto remains the guide for the president.”

In an apparent response to the president, Gemade in effect said in an interview in Vanguard (November 11, 2001) that the presidency had made the party totally irrelevant to policy making.

“A situation where other avenues rather than

RIPPLES CORRUPT LEADERS WILL SOON FACE GOD’S WRATH–Cleric

...they should face EFCC first!

the party are the focus of actions,” he said, “is definitely not healthy and cannot guarantee the required allegiance, commitment and dedication to the party. Our candid observation is that we have only paid lip service to the concept of party supremacy.”

The division within the PDP over the concept of party supremacy which has been one manifestation of the indiscipline and selfishness within its top leadership in particular has since haunted the party. Last Monday was payback time for the leadership.

My Encarta Concise English dictionary defines discipline, among other things, as “the practice or methods of ensuring that people obey rules by teaching them to do so and punishing them if they do not.” It also defines selfishness as concern “with your own interests, needs and wishes while ignoring those of others.”

We all know, don’t we, that the best way to teach is by example. We also know, don’t we, that it is well-nigh impossible for the selfish to teach by example.

Not too long ago, the PDP sat down and decreed that it would rotate certain party and government positions among an informal six geo-political zonal structure. At first, it was essentially a gentleman’s agreement. Then in a bid to secure support for Obasanjo’s surreptitious Third Term Agenda ahead of the 2003 presidential elections, an expanded caucus of the party reduced the principle, or call it rule if you will, into writing and eventually entrenched it into its constitution.

However, no sooner did the first big test of the leadership’s commitment to the rule confront the party than the leadership shamelessly repudiated it. First, Obasanjo as the chairman of its board of trustees told an audience in far away America than no such rule ever existed in the party. Then President Goodluck Jonathan who had succeeded Umaru Yar’Adua following his death in May last year from a long illness and who himself was one of the

biggest beneficiaries of the rule told the American CNN last October that the presidency was an exception to the rule. In a nation where sycophancy seems to have since been elevated into a high art, all but a few leaders of the party chorused the godfather and his godson.

Barely several months on, however, the same party leadership has turned round to say zoning and power rotation in the party was alive and well after all. Few about-turns are more brazen and shameless.

Obviously the party leadership thought it could eat its cake and still have it. In thinking that way it apparently did so without reckoning with most members-elect of the 7th House of Representatives.

Last Monday, the vast majority of them – 252 against 90 – defied every means, fair and foul, by the party and the presidency to zone the Speaker to the Southwest, a zone that produced less than half a dozen PDP members. Instead they decided to assert the independence of the First Arm of government from undue interference by the party and the presidency – and it is said, by the First Lady, Dame Patience whose self-imposed mandate to appoint any government or party official, much less the Speaker of the House of Representatives, clearly has no legal or constitutional or even moral basis - and voted for Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal the long serving member from Sokoto State and a former Chief Whip.

Tambuwal had defied every pressure from every angle to step down for the party’s anointed speaker.

Not surprisingly some of the very self-same PDP leaders who had joined Obasanjo and Jonathan in pronouncing zoning and power rotation dead and buried or pretended it never existed are now in the forefront of those that are condemning Tambuwal’s defiance. Chief Ebenezer Babatope, a former minister and progressive-turned conservative, for one, told National Life yesterday in an interview that would surely resonate with the PDP leadership that Tambuwal would eventually pay dearly for his defiance of the party’s rule on zoning and power rotation.

“I wish the young man who emerged as Speaker the best of luck,” he said apparently tongue-in-cheek. “But he must know that he has undermined his party. He has shown disrespect to the party leadership…Nobody in history has ever conflicted with party’s supremacy and emerged victorious in the end.”

Regardless of how tenable Babatope’s version of the history of party politics is, the inescapable lesson of last Monday is that sooner or later the chickens always come home to roost.

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RIGHT OF REPLY

M

Y attention has been drawn to an article in Monday’s edition of The Nation, written by one Sam Omatseye and titled ‘Awo family without an Awo’.

Ordinarily, I do not join issues with uninformed individuals nor do I comment on articles written in uncouth and downright vile and violent language. Hypocrites that claim to be more catholic than the Pope or more Awoist than his family when they in fact hobnob with so-called pariahs when it suits them and their pockets certainly do not engage my attention, usually.

However, this piece, the latest in a long campaign of calumny against my person and family and which, if reports are to be believed, is the opening salvo of a fresh campaign apparently aimed at destroying and demystifying the Awolowo family, deserves an appropriate response, particularly since, we are informed, such campaign has been adopted as the preferred policy and strategy by a particular political party to consolidate its hold on its newly acquired political power base.

At 95, I have lived long enough to expect common civility from younger ones, assuming that they received and imbibed proper home training. Having just lost my daughter less than two months ago, I also expect that normal people would spare me

Re: Awo family without an Awo

By Chief (Mrs.) HID Awolowo

the kind of vitriolic attack that was unleashed on my person and my family, particularly as such an attack was entirely unprovoked.

It is pertinent to mention here that, for all their protestations as the true children of Awo, the top hierarchy of the leadership of the ACN has not deemed it fit to offer me their condolences on the bereavement either by telephone, letter, or personal visit, up till now.

I should certainly not expect anyone in their right mind to, in the same article, rake up the old wounds of the previous tragic loss of my first son and then proceed to question and, indeed, dismiss the notion that he could possibly have been fit to carry his illustrious father’s mantle. All in a bid to situate Mr. Omatseye’s ‘piper’ as the anointed heir of a heritage that can never be purchased.

For the avoidance of doubt, my son Olusegun was a graduate of Cambridge University and he was called to the bar in the UK after a stint at the Inner Temple, where his father also studied. These are facts that are open for verification by anyone who wishes to do so.

Our expectations of Segun were tragically cut short and it is a cruel irony that a so-called

Awoist has chosen to taunt me with this. With friends like this, who needs an enemy?

Omatseye claims that, ‘in all his tribulations, the family (Awo) had was not his flesh and blood’. One of the basic tenets of journalism is that facts are sacred but comments are free. Perhaps it should not be surprising that Omatseye failed even in this.

I would like to refer him to the dedication contained in Awo’s last book, first published in 1987 ‘The Travails of Democracy and the Rule of Law’. I quote: ‘To my children, Omotola, Oluwole, Ayodele, Olatokunbo. They also bravely weathered the fierce and howling storm from sixty-two to sixty-six; they suffered mental agony in silence; they provided besides sources of cheer for Papa and Mama, in the four-year-long journey through the dark and dreary tunnel’.

As for my personal role in my husband’s life before, during and after the crisis, I commend to Omatseye most of his publications, particularly ‘AWO’, ‘My March Through Prison’, and ‘The Travails of Democracy and the Rule of Law’.

•Continued on Page 62

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